Jack Ma, the founder of the Alibaba Group and once China’s richest man, has been appointed as a visiting professor at the African Leadership University (ALU) in Kigali, according to an announcement by the university. The ALU, which started in Mauritius in 2015 and expanded to Rwanda in 2017, aims to develop a new generation of African leaders.
The university’s founder, Dr Fred Swaniker, expressed his excitement at the opportunity for young African entrepreneurs to learn from one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs. In a statement released on the university’s website, Swaniker said that Ma’s teachings would inspire students to “think big” and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
While the ALU made the announcement, Ma has yet to confirm the appointment himself. However, the Jack Ma Foundation, his charity, stated that he has a passion for education and wishes to share his journey of learning with young people. The foundation also said that Ma has been a university teacher for six years and enjoys teaching.
This appointment is not Ma’s first as a visiting professor. Last year, he was named a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo in Japan and Tel Aviv University in Israel. Last week, Hong Kong University announced that Ma had agreed to teach entrepreneurship for three years.
Ma’s appointment comes amid speculation that he has fallen out of favor with the Chinese government. Ma criticized the government’s policies last year, which led to the cancellation of the initial public offering of Ant Group, Alibaba’s financial affiliate. Since then, Ma has kept a low profile, and his whereabouts have been unclear.
The ALU’s appointment of Ma as a visiting professor is a significant milestone for the university, which aims to create a new generation of leaders who can change Africa. The terms of Ma’s appointment remain unclear, and it is not yet known if he will teach at the university remotely or on campus.
Ma’s appointment is expected to provide a major boost to the ALU’s reputation and attract more students to the university. With the support of Ma, the ALU is well-positioned to help young African entrepreneurs achieve their dreams and transform the continent.
