Hackney Youtuber ‘Ibz Mo’ on crusade to encourage diversity at Cambridge University

Ibrahim Mohammed’s unique style has seen him gain a cult following at Cambridge – one of the most lauded universities in the world.

Studying social, political and human sciences at Cambridge University would be enough to keep most students glued to their books, but Ibrahim has the added pressure of a YouTube channel with more than 50,000 expectant subscribers waiting for the next bit of “Ibz Mo” magic.

Much of the 22-year-old’s vlogging content is inspired by his own experience, which saw an “extroverted” teenager who didn’t feel like he always belonged excel at Brooke House – otherwise known as Bsix – and bag a place at Cambridge on the back of a stellar clutch of grades.

Immensely proud of his Hackney roots, Ibrahim is determined for traditional institutions such as Cambridge to be reflective of the environment in which he grew up in.

Student Ibrahim 'Ibz Mo' Mohammed has gained more than 50,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel about life at Cambridge University. (Image: Archant)

He still has a huge connection with the Upper Clapton sixth form college, returning to mentor students and run personal statement sessions for university hopefuls regularly.

“I want to school with people from council estates and with student mums juggling their A-levels and a job – these people aren’t represented here,” Ibrahim told the Gazette.

“I was lucky I had amazing teachers who had faith in me. I love Hackney – we are unified by our cultural diversity.

“We are told at Cambridge that we are the best of the best, but isn’t it the best of the privileged?”

As well as not being afraid of dishing out stinging critiques, with Cambridge’s “whiteness” being one of his targets, Ibrahim has made videos that are as entertaining as they are informative – he gets messages from thousands of young people seeking his advice as they apply to top universities.

But Ibrahim was not always popular with his university, with his own college Wolfson saying his video posts were “controversial”, a comment he described as “soul-crushing”.

The tide has truly turned however, with the university now enlisting the tech wizard to help out with improving its social media guidelines and giving him the freedom to run his own university vlogging competition to find the next YouTube star.