7 July, 2011 – The Director of the Library of Alexandria, Professor Ismail Serageldin, who witnessed the beginning of the uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, will deliver this year’s Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, which will focus on Pluralism, Cohesion and Social Participation for a Just Society.
He is Professor of the International Chair Savoirs contre pauvreté (Knowledge Against Poverty), at Collège de France, Paris. Serageldin has also served in a number of capacities at the World Bank, including as Vice President for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (1992-1998), and for Special Programs (1998-2000).
He has published over 60 books and monographs and over 200 papers on a variety of topics including Nurturing Development (1995), Sustainability and the Wealth of Nations (1996), Architecture of Empowerment (1997), Biotechnology and Sustainable Development: Voices of the South and North (2003, with G. Persley), Reflections on our Digital Future (2006), Inventing our Future: Essays on Freedom, Democracy and Reform in the Arab World (2nd edition 2007), Freedom of Expression (2007) and Islam and Democracy (2008).
He holds multiple awards, including the First recipient of Grameen Foundation (USA) Award for a lifetime commitment to combating poverty (1999), Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters awarded by the government of France (2003), The Jamnalal Bajaj Award for promoting Ghandian values outside India (2006), Order of the Rising Sun – Gold and Silver Star awarded by the Emperor of Japan (2008), Champion of Youth Award by the World Youth Congress, Quebec (2008), Knight of the French Legion of Honour awarded by the President of France (2008), Millennium Excellence Award for Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize, by the Excellence Awards Foundation, Ghana (2010).
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Cairo University and Master’s degree and a PhD from Harvard University and has received 30 honorary doctorates.
This lecture has been made possible through the support of SAP as primary donor with supporting contributions of the Swedish Postcode Lottery and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
The following events will be taking place:
| Event | Date & Time | Venue | Speaker / Panellist |
| Press briefing | Thursday 21 July, 14h00 | Nelson Mandela Foundation, 107 Central Street, Houghton | Prof Ismail Serageldin |
| In conversation with Youth: “The shape of tomorrow: the seven pillars of knowledge” | Friday 22 July, 10h00 | University of Johannesburg (Soweto Campus) | Prof Ismail Serageldin |
| “Knowledge beyond books: The rebirth of the Bibliotheca Alexandria” | Friday 22 July, 16h30 | Nelson Mandela Foundation, 107 Central Street, Houghton | Prof Ismail Serageldin, Minister Naledi Pandor, Prof. Njabulo Ndebele, Prof. Mamokgethi Setati |
| Ninth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture:“Pluralism, Cohesion and Social participation for Social Justice” | Saturday 23 July, 14h30 | Linder Auditorium, St. Andrews Road, Parktown | Prof Ismail Serageldin |
This lecture has been made possible through the support of SAP as primary donor with supporting contributions of the Swedish Postcode Lottery and the Coca-Cola Foundation.