Honouring Dr Mahmoud Youssef Baker: A legacy of rich humanitarian service

DR Mahmoud Youssef Baker, the visionary founder and former CEO of Iqraa Trust, bid a heartfelt farewell to his colleagues and friends at a ceremony held in Durban on Saturday.

- MERCURY REPORTER

YAKOOB Paruk, Dr Mahmoud Youssef Baker, MS Paruk and Shabir Chohan. I Supplied PROFESSOR Mohsin Ebrahim, Dr Mahmoud Youssef Baker, Dr Mohamed Solwa, Professor Mohamed Mostafa and Dr Mohamed Khan. I Supplied MBALI Mhlize, Philani Mazibuko, Dr Mahmoud Youssef Baker, Fawzia Peer and Zama Sishi. PROFESSOR Salim Abdool Karim, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim and Dr Mahmoud Youssef Baker. I Supplied

(I Supplied I Supplied I Supplied)

The gathering was more than a ceremony; it was a tribute to his legacy, marking his poignant return to his native Egypt.

Baker's relationship with South Africa started more than 30 years ago, when he was requested by his boss the late Sheikh Saleh Kamel, founder of Saudi Albaraka group to travel from London to South Africa to help establish Albaraka Bank in South Africa.

Accordingly, Baker started to visit South Africa regularly. In addition to this, Baker was working and moving between about 30 countries worldwide as an economic advisor but after 20 years he decided to settle in South Africa to realise his dream of dedicating the rest of his life to serve humanity.

That marked the birth of Iqraa Trust, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to serving humanity and promoting education in South Africa.