RFU chair Tom Ilube receives honorary doctorate from BCU

The first Black chair of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) expressed his desire to follow in his mother's footsteps by positively impacting the lives of thousands of young people through education.

This statement came after he received an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU).

British entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Ilube CBE, who founded the Hammersmith Academy in London and the African Gifted Foundation, a UK-based education charity focusing on science and technology in Africa, has also held non-executive positions with the BBC and WPP, the world's largest advertising company.

“My mother was a teacher for her whole career, in London, in Uganda and in Nigeria,” says Mr Ilube.

“She transformed the lives of tens of thousands of students over 40 years.

“My father’s life, from a small village in Nigeria, was also transformed by education.

"I want to have the same transformational impact on the lives of other young people through education.”

The African Gifted Foundation founded the African Science Academy (ASA) in 2016, the first all-girls science and mathematics academy on the continent.

Since its inception, ASA has educated around 200 young women from 14 different countries, with 95% of its students earning full university scholarships. Additionally, the academy has trained 200 teachers across Ghana, benefiting thousands of children and enhancing STEM education in the region.

“I wanted to create a unique institution, designed specifically for young women,” said Mr Ilube, who was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to Technology and Philanthropy. “We want to encourage those with a passion for science and technology to transform the continent.”