GIBS MBA graduate wins Intl Student of the Year Award

Olebogeng Glad Dibetso

Dibetso was awarded the accolade, which comes with the role of honorary global ambassador for the period of one year and a GBP1 000 prize, at a gala dinner recently in London. Dibetso held off strong competition from the other five finalists shortlisted from well-recognised and accredited international business schools to win this year's award.

Dibetso is currently based in Nigeria where he was recently promoted to MD of Dimension Data West Africa. His move to Nigeria followed the completion of his MBA degree at GIBS, where he graduated with distinction, including 15 subject distinctions and three top subject awards.

An inspiration to many students

"We would like to offer our congratulations to Glad. He has been an inspiration to many students as he continues to work closely with the school on other mentoring programmes," said Professor Nicola Kleyn, executive director: academic programmes of GIBS. "He was an exceptional student at GIBS and is an astute business person. This award is testimony to his accomplishments."

Of the award, Dibetso said: "It is a great honour to receive this award. There has never been a winner from an African business school; this award is not only for me but for the whole continent. My MBA qualification has brought out the best in me; I have become a truly all-rounded professional.

"I would like to encourage professionals who want to propel their careers to the next level to look at embarking on the MBA; this has been an amazing journey for me."

Dibetso will be donating his winnings to his favourite NGO, BizSchool, which was founded by GIBS' director Jonathan Cook and Sarah Myerscough in 2008, and of which Dibetso is a board member.