Muhammad Yunus receives Hillary Clinton Award

Nobel Peace Prize-winning Professor of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus has received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handed over the award to him at a programme organised at Gaston Hall of Georgetown University of the United States on Thursday.

Yunus Centre has informed this information in a release published on their Facebook page on Friday.

Hillary Clinton and the Institute for Women, Peace and Security of Georgetown University jointly give this award. Honour was given to a total of four persons in this year’s organisation. Besides Yunus, Director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) of India Reema Nanavaty and fashion designer Tory Burch have received the Hillary Clinton Award. Besides, Board Chair of Microfund for Women of Jordan Muna Sukhtian has received the Georgetown University Ambassadors Award.

Yunus Centre informed that about 400 guests were present at the programme. Among them were ambassadors of about 25 countries, entrepreneurs, university teachers and researchers.

Muhammad Yunus has a long personal friendship with the Clinton family. Hillary Clinton had come to visit Bangladesh with daughter Chelsea Clinton in 1995. At that time she directly inspected the activities of Grameen Bank.

Recalling that visit, Hillary Clinton said at the programme that the change that has come in the field of self-reliance of women, ensuring their own security and empowerment is unprecedented. She also commented that the work Professor Yunus started for the women of Bangladesh has been spread across the whole world by crossing the boundary of the country.

Muhammad Yunus said that this recognition has come at the time of celebrating 50 years of Grameen Bank. He expressed hope that the award will bring an encouraging message for the members of the ‘Grameen family’ of Bangladesh.

Raising the context of building the lives of women through microcredit, Yunus said that now self-confidence has increased among the women. They themselves are raising the words of their own problems and needs and their words have importance. Because they operate their own bank and are the owners of Grameen Bank.

Yunus called for building the next generation suitable for creating employment for others instead of searching for jobs. He said, we are not job seekers, we are job providers.

He also announced the establishment of Grameen University to build the students as entrepreneurs. According to him, the purpose of education is to build people creative and entrepreneur-minded.

President of Georgetown University Eduardo M. Peñalver, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States Tareq Md. Ariful Islam and Executive Director of Yunus Centre Lamiya Morshed were present at the programme.

The programme ended through the music performance of daughter of Professor Yunus and opera singer Monica Yunus.