A CYPRIOT businessman and philanthropist has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Nasos Ktorides, 44, from Nicosia enjoyed his first day on the job on Wednesday, two years after the idea was first floated. An official ceremony to announce his appointment will be held on February 29 in the capital, and attended by UNICEF officials.
Ktorides joins a long list of celebrities appointed as Goodwill Ambassadors including Richard Attenborough, Harry Belafonte, Nana Mouskouri, Susan Sarandon, Mia Farrow, Jackie Chan, David Beckham, Shakira, Roger Federer and Lionel Messi.
Past ambassadors include Audrey Hepburn, Danny Kaye Peter Ustinov and Youssou N’Dour.
According to the UNICEF website, Goodwill Ambassadors “have a wide range of talents and achievements, but they all share a commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide” and in each case, their association with UNICEF comes about they have “already demonstrated that commitment”.
According to Ktorides, the idea for his appointment was first proposed around two years ago.
In June 2011, four international personalities: the President of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit, former President Glafcos Clerides, and the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Hieronymos II, sent a written proposal to the United Nations encouraging them to use the good offices of Ktorides.
“After a lot of thought, I decided I could help,” he told the Cyprus Mail.
“It is a special honour and responsibility for me. I will give my best to respond,” he added.
Ktorides is the founder and chairman of Quantum Corporation Group and the Athanasios Ktorides Foundation.
He also served as executive vice-chairman of the Commercial Bank of Greece-Cyprus, and is the founder and chairman of Euroinvestment. He has served as financial adviser to the Dominica PM, receiving a medal of honour and diplomatic passport of the country for his contribution to the country.
In 2009, President Demetris Christofias ratified his appointment as Consul of the Commonwealth of Dominica in Cyprus.
In October 2010, the Quantum Corporation sponsored the first ever Quantum Nicosia Marathon, organised by the Athanasios Ktorides Foundation, attracting more than 5,000 people of all ages to take part.
Last year’s Nicosia marathon was cancelled in the wake of the Mari naval base blast, after the foundation suggested the money could be used instead to help with the energy crisis.
In December 2011, the Foundation signed an agreement with the University of Cyprus for the construction of Cyprus’ first photovoltaic park, dedicated to the 13 lives lost during the Mari blast. The €14m park will have an output of 10MW and will be built on land belonging to the university in Aglandjia. Funding will be provided by the foundation while the park will be used to provide for the energy needs of the university. Profits will be used to fund scholarships.
Last month, the Foundation donated clothes to 100 needy children in Dominica.
Ktorides also heads DEI-Quantum Energy which last month announced plans to set up a submarine power cable linking Israel, Cyprus and Greece, at an estimated cost of around €1.5 billion.
