Advisory Board

H.E. Olesegun Obasanjo

One of the most internationally revered African leader after Nelson Mandela, President Obasanjo’s name stands tallest in the Hall of Fame of Nigerian history -a man who has bestrode Nigeria’s history like a colossus not only as three-term president and War General but also as elder Statesman still at the forefront of guiding the destinies of not only Nigeria bur Africa as a whole. Many call President Obasanjo a living legend of Africa. For the past 50 years, he has been a major driving force in the intricate political, socio-cultural and economic systems of Nigeria President Obasanjo is the heart of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), a group of ten distinguished individuals who, at the highest levels, advocate for equitable and sustainable development in Africa, a member of the Club de Madrid, a group of more than 80 former leaders of democratic states who are committed to strengthening democratic leadership and governance and has also recently appointed Special Envoy by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ethem Sancak

Sancak g according to his principles of local development and Turkey’s leadership in global competition founded Hedef Pharmaceuticals. Hedef became an international brand in a short time and Sancak formed a strategic partnership with Alliance Boots in 2001. He was the Chairman of the Board of Directors atHedef Alliance and served as a member of Executive Committee of Alliance Boots until 2014.He also established Medical Park Hospitals Group With the foresight of “New Turkey vision can only be preserved with the help of international media power”, Sancak bought Türk Media Group and Star Media Group and formed “ES Media Group” in 2013 and later in the same year, he bought BMC, a Turkish leader in industry Sancak has immense management and membership experience in a very broad range of NGO’s. Sancak was elected “Business Administrator of the Year” in 2001, and “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2005. He received the “National Sovereignty Outstanding Service and Honor Award” from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 2007. In recognition of his services as Honorary Consul of Brazil in Istanbul from 2006 to 2010, he was honored by the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Lula da Silva, with the Medal of Rio Branco, the highest service medal in Brazil. Together with Dr. FuatSezgin, who introduced the share of Islamic civilization in the foundation of modern science to the whole world, Sancak founded the Foundation for the Study of Islam and History of Science in 2010. Sancak served as the Chairman of the Executive Board at Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association of Turkey from 2004 to 2010 and as a Board Member and the Head of Social Affairs Commission at TÜSİAD from 2007 to 2008. He also served as the Vice Chairman of Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Member of the Board of Directors at Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, Board Member at TEGV, Executive Committee Member at ERG, Founding Member of TÜSEDAD, Board of Trustees Member at TESEV, High Advisory Board Member at Darüşşafaka Society, Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) Headquarters Intra-Party Democracy Arbitration Committee Member. He was awarded the Turkish Red Crescent Gold Medal in recognition of his sensitivity and assistance in the India and Pakistan earthquakes. EthemSancak is married and has three children.

Ahmed Kassam

Special Advisor to Heads of Government in 7 African countries Deeply involved in Innovative Technology, Media and e-Governance for over 20 years Founder of the eAfrica Development Corporation Frequent speaker at key events around the World, including the G8 Africa business summit, the World Economic Forum, United Nations, NEPAD and many Government events