Apprentice star is on a mission to fight HIV in Africa

A FORMER Apprentice contestant is at the centre of a drive to fight the HIV and Aids epidemic in Africa after having a "road to Damascus" moment.

Raef Bjayou, who was the 10th contestant to be "fired" by Sir Alan Sugar in last year's series, says he no longer wants to chase millions in the City.

He will instead concentrate his efforts on ensuring that a billion condoms are given out across the continent's worst-affected regions.

Mr Bjayou, 28, from Fulham, said: "I've had a 'road to Damascus' moment. I am mentoring a young businessman, Troy Kennedy, who came up with this great plan, and together we are trying our best to publicise this and get some major companies on board. We are hoping to arrange some publicity stunts - perhaps put a giant condom on Nelson's Column."

Mr Bjayou's import-export company, Infinitate, recently stopped trading amid claims that it had fallen victim to the credit crunch.

But Mr Bjayou insisted today he had "wound down" the business so he could seek charity status for a new company of the same name, which would help facilitate the Condoms 4 Africa programme.

There are thought to be 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa living with Aids or HIV. He said: "I have a real love of Africa. I travelled in Gambia and Senegal. I was also involved in an irrigation project in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, and distributing home HIV test kits.

"I faced death in July 2005. I was in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, in the middle of an assignment distributing the home HIV test kits and our hotel room was besieged by political rebels.

"I saw these crazed maniacs running around so we fled the hotel room and I heard gunfire heading in my direction - so I legged it. It didn't put me off going back to Western Africa which I particularly like. My friends will tell you that I wax lyrical about Africa.

"The people there are so gentle and genuine. Senegalese and Gambians are just wonderful people."

Mr Bjayou, who said he would be "religiously watching" the new series of The Apprentice which starts tonight, was approached by Mr Kennedy, a 20-year-old budding philanthropist from Norbury in January.

Mr Kennedy said: "Raef has been great, offering support, his experience and contacts. Condoms for Africa is all about using the distribution network of companies such as Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Unilever to get condoms out to Africa's remote areas. These companies have long arms and a wide reach."

Their attempts to persuade big businesses to join their campaign will be shown on a forthcoming Channel 4 TV series called Battlefront.

The fifth series of The Apprentice begins tonight at 9pm on BBC One.