Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Grameen Bank founder Professor Muhammad Yunus has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Hillary Rodham Clinton Award’ in recognition of his groundbreaking global contributions to poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, and the expansion of social business. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton presented the award to Dr. Yunus at a high-profile ceremony held at the historic Gaston Hall of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
The event, held on Thursday evening (October 15, 2026), drew an audience of nearly 400 distinguished guests, including ambassadors from 25 countries, global entrepreneurs, researchers, and leading academics. Upon the announcement of Dr. Yunus’s name, the entire hall stood to deliver a prolonged standing ovation in honor of his worldwide impact.
Hillary Clinton’s High Praise: Commemorating Dr. Yunus’s lifelong achievements, Hillary Clinton stated, “I have personally witnessed Grameen Bank’s operations in the field. How women became self-reliant, ensuring their own security and empowerment, is unprecedented. Dr. Yunus did not just transform the lives of women in Bangladesh; he spread his innovative vision across the entire globe.”
50 Years of Microfinance & Social Business: Accepting the award, Dr. Yunus highlighted the milestone of 50 years of his work, stating that the honor would serve as a powerful message of encouragement to the Grameen family and underprivileged women worldwide. He showcased non-dividend social business healthcare models and eye hospitals as transformative frameworks for global development.
Announcement of ‘Grameen University’: Criticizing the conventional education system for turning youth into mere “job seekers,” Dr. Yunus announced plans to launch ‘Grameen University’ by late 2026. The institution aims to foster a generation of “job creators” and entrepreneurs, serving as a pillar to achieve a “World of Three Zeros” (Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions).
Four Global Awardees: Alongside Dr. Yunus, three other prominent figures were honored at this year’s ceremony: Reema Nanavaty, Director of India’s Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA); fashion icon and founder Tory Burch; and Muna Sukhtian, Board Chair of Jordan’s Microfund for Women (recipient of the Georgetown Ambassadors Award).
