WATCH: Creator of American Idol, Spice Girls, others, Simon Fuller recounts growing up in Ghana at GUBA Awards

British entrepreneur, artist manager, film and television producer, Simon Fuller has received the GUBA Awards USA nod for Public Service at a ceremony held at the Pierre Hotel in New York, Thursday.

The award presented by the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, was in recognition of Fuller’s charity works and more. Simon Fuller has championed many good causes through his working life including The Prince’s Trust, Amnesty International, Save the Children, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF, Greenpeace, WWF and Comic Relief. His idea for a philanthropic TV platform Idol Gives Back raised well over $185 million for US and African charities.

In 2009, Simon Fuller founded Malaria No More UK in London, donating resources and funds to allow the charity to lead the fight against malaria. Fuller remains a passionate ambassador for the cause and has shared his own experience of malaria with the charity.

Receiving the GUBA Awards honours, Fuller highlighted his love for Africa which started from his five years stay in Ghana as a child. He was born in Cyprus, where his father, a Royal Air Force pilot, had established a school. Later the family moved to Accra, where his father was the headmaster of the British Military School in Burma Camp.
Simon Fuller is best known for being the creator of the Idol franchise, which was first seen in the UK under the name Pop Idol, and includes American Idol in the U.S. Fuller is also the executive producer of several shows including So You Think You Can Dance and Q’Viva.

An influential figure in British popular culture, Fuller came to prominence through managing pop group the Spice Girls. He has managed a wide range of talent that includes David and Victoria Beckham, Annie Lennox, S Club 7, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Steven Tyler, Lewis Hamilton, Andy Murray, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Will Young, Emma Bunton, Lisa Marie Presley, Gary Barlow, Cathy Dennis, Aloe Blacc, Steve McManaman and others. He is in partnership with the duo Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Most of these stars were in his testimonial video for the GUBA Awards USA.