Professor Yunus speaks at NESTA; meets with Ed Miliband

Professor Muhammad Yunus was the guest speaker at an event hosted by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) in London yesterday, May 24, 2011. About 180 people, consisting of Members of Parliament, researchers, business leaders, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus with Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, at Miliband's office in London on 24th May 2011. Photo: Aidan Harris

Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus with Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, at Miliband's office in London on 24th May 2011. Photo: Aidan Harris

CEOs and students, attended this event. Participants interacted through Twitter, posting questions, comments as Liam Black, board member of NESTA, interviewed Professor Yunus. Annette Brooke, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on micro finance attended the event as well. This event was live-streamed to the Internet.

During his interview, Professor Yunus discussed how Social Business had been pioneered with the intention of harnessing the power, creativity and dynamism of the youth and business world and using that to solve social and economic problems that afflict peoples around the world.

NESTA is an independent body whose mission is to make UK's economy more innovative. NESTA is a Â£300 million fund whose primary purpose is to support social enterprise in the UK.

During his day in London, Professor Yunus met Ed Miliband, the Leader of the Labour Party at the latter's office. They discussed how to promote pro-poor development and how best to use social business to address social problems. Professor Yunus also met with Steve Hilton, Director of Strategy to the Prime Minister David Cameron at No. 10 Downing St.

Before his departure from the UK, Professor Yunus was also interviewed by David Frost for the David Frost Show. This will be aired at a later date.