Muhammadou M. O. Kah

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Ambassador
Muhammadou M.O. Kah
Permanent Representative of Gambia to UN
Assumed office
May 2020
Preceded byYusupha A. Kah.
Vice President at American University of Nigeria
In office
2017–2020
Vice Chancellor at University of the Gambia
In office
2009–2015
Personal details
Born
Muhammadou M.O. Kah

(1966-05-06) 6 May 1966 (age 58)
Banjul, Gambia
Alma mater
Occupation

Muhammadou M.O. Kah (born May 6, 1966), is a Gambian academic and diplomat.[1] He has been serving as the Ambassador of the Gambia to Switzerland and permanent representative of the Gambia to the United Nations Organisations at Geneva (UNOG), WTO and other International Organizations in Switzerland since 2020.[2][3] Prior to his appointment, he was vice president at American University of Nigeria responsible for academic affairs, based in Nigeria since September 2017.[4] Between 2009 and 2015, Kah was vice chancellor of University of the Gambia, as the first Gambian born to provide leadership for the University.[5][6] Addition to this, since 2008, he served as founding chairman at Zenith Bank Gambia Limited, a subsidiary of Zenith Bank in The Gambia, until 2020.[7][8]

Kah holds all bachelor, master, and PhD degrees in information &technology management from Stevens Institute of Technology, U.S.[9] As an academic, since 1995, he served in various positions for high education institutions in U.S, Europe, and Africa, including assistant professor at both Howard University (1996-2000) and Rutgers University (2000-2005) in U.S,[10] founding dean at American University of Nigeria in Africa (2005-2009), vice chancellor at University of the Gambia in Africa (2009-2015), vice rector at ADA University in Europe (2015-2017), and vice president at American University of Nigeria in Africa (2017-2020).[11]

Early life and education[edit]

Kah was born in Banjul, Gambia on 06 May 1966, where he grew up and completed his elementary and secondary education. Kah attended Stevens Institute of Technology, U.S, he graduated with bachelor's degree in information &technology management in 1989. In 1990, he further enrolled at the same institution to pursue a postgraduate degree, and he earned a Master of Science in information &technology management there in 1992. Kah continued his enrollment at Stevens Institute of Technology in same year to pursue a PhD in information &technology management, where he earned the degree in 1999.[12] He also holds a Master of Science in Finance from George Washington University since 1999.[3]

Career[edit]

Academic[edit]

Kah after earning master's degree in information & technology management from Stevens Institute of Technology, he began his career at Bloomfield College. Between 1995 and 1996, he was a director at the institution responsible for research and planning based in New Jersey, U.S. Subsequently, Kah joined Howard University in Washington, D.C where he served as assistant professor in IT department until 2000. Later on, he joined Rutgers University to serve in same position based in New Jersey, U.S until 2005. [13]

In 2005, Kah moved from U.S to Nigeria, he held position of dean at American University of Nigeria based in Adamawa State, Nigeria until 2009.[14] Addition to this, between 2008 and 2020, he served as founding chairman of board at Zenith Bank Gambia Limited, a subsidiary of Zenith Bank in Gambia.[15] In 2009, Kah was appointed as vice chancellor at University of the Gambia, based in Banjul, Gambia as the first Gambian born to provide leadership for the University.[16] The position he served for six years until 2015 when he moved to Eastern Europe in Azerbaijan to become vice rector at then startup institution, ADA University, responsible for technology and information.[17][18] Kah served for two years, in September 2017, he returned to American University of Nigeria, Nigeria and he was appointed vice president responsible for academic affairs at the institution until August 2020.[19]

Diplomacy[edit]

In August 2020, Kah was appointed by government of The Gambia as the Ambassador Extraordinary and plenipotentiary of The Gambia to Switzerland and permanent representative of the Gambia to the United Nations Organisations at Geneva (UNOG), WTO and other International Organizations in Switzerland.[20] Since then he has served addition roles including. From June 2021 to July 2023, Kah was Vice Chairman for UNCTAD’s Commission on Science and Technology Development and a member of the Advisory Board of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Bureau (TDB).[21][22] In 2022, he was elected the Vice President (Africa) for the UN Human Rights Council.[2][23] He is a founding Board member of The International Digital Health and AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR).[24]

Recognitions[edit]

Kah has received awards and honors including:

  • 2014: The Gambia National Leadership Award.[25]
  • 2010 and 2014: The Gambia National Merit Award. [12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Prof Kah says Gambia university tuition affordable, students disagree - The Point". thepoint.gm. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  2. ^ a b "UN Human Rights Council has elected Gambia's Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the UN organisations in Geneva, WTO as the vice-president of the Human Rights Council". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "New Permanent Representative of the Gambia presents credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva". The United Nations Office at Geneva. United Nations. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  4. ^ "(PanAfrican ACT AFRIQUE Group) Prof. Muhammadou M.O. KAH, new chairman of the board". www.mamopanel.org. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  5. ^ College, Green Templeton. "Sankofa: Let's go back to our good roots". Green Templeton College. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  6. ^ "Indonesian Ambassador meets UTG Vice Chancellor - The Point". thepoint.gm. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  7. ^ https://allafrica.com/stories/201303050752.html
  8. ^ "eLearning Africa 2023 stresses how education and technology can secure Africa's future prosperity - Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah". ITEdgeNews. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Prof. Muhammadou M.O.Kah | WSA". Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  10. ^ Rutgers University. "Master of Business Administration". catalogs.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  11. ^ "Pr Muhammadou M.O. KAH – ACT GROUP". act-afrique.com. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  12. ^ a b "Malabo Montpellier Panel - Muhammadou M.O. Kah". Malabo Montpellier Panel. The Malabo Montpellier Panel 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah Participants at World Science Forum". World Science Forum. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Provost Kah Chairs National Committee of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to Review Operations of Nigeria's Galaxy Backbone". American University of Nigeria. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Democracy and Human Rights in The Gambia Since 2017". www.africanstudies.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  16. ^ "UTG gets new vice chancellor, as Prof Kah ends tenure". Gambia News - The Point. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  17. ^ "ADA University Honours Professor Muhammadou M.O. Kah". The Standard Newspaper Gambia. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  18. ^ "ADA University, Baku, Azerbaijan Honours Professor Muhammadou M.O. Kah". Gunjur Online. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  19. ^ co-signatories, Various (2020-04-16). "COVID-19: An open letter from African intellectuals to Africa's leaders". African Arguments. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  20. ^ "Ambassador Prof. Kah endorsed for UN top job". The Point. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  21. ^ "International Center for Law and Religion Studies | Muhammadou M.O. Kah". Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  22. ^ "Bureau of the CSTD | UNCTAD". unctad.org. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  23. ^ https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/bureau-16th-cycle
  24. ^ "I-DAIR Board". I-DAIR. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  25. ^ "4 Win First Gambia Leadership Award - 2014". The Standard Newspaper Gambia. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2023.