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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship (MBSC) Celebrate Graduation of First Cohort of Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program

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IsDBI

Twenty-nine entrepreneurs from 20 IsDB Member Countries successfully completed the program, which included online learning modules as well as rigorous in-person training delivered by MBSC faculty and IsDBI experts

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, December 14, 2025/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org/) and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship (MBSC) celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program, a flagship joint initiative designed to nurture entrepreneurial leaders across IsDB Member Countries.

 

The ceremony took place on 11 December 2025 at the IsDB Headquarters in Jeddah, under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, President of the IsDB. It brought together senior officials, faculty members, program sponsors, distinguished guests, and IsDB Group staff.

Twenty-nine entrepreneurs from 20 IsDB Member Countries successfully completed the program, which included online learning modules as well as rigorous in-person training delivered by MBSC faculty and IsDBI experts.

Eng. Adeeb Al-Aama, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), represented the IsDB President during the ceremony. In his speech, Eng. Al-Aama commended the participants for their dedication and highlighted the strategic importance of supporting young entrepreneurs in driving sustainable development, job creation, and innovation.

The Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program was implemented with sponsorship from three IsDB Group entities, namely the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and ITFC.

In a speech on behalf of the sponsors, Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, CEO of ICIEC and Acting CEO of ICD, noted that the sponsorship by the three entities reflects their shared commitment to supporting entrepreneurship as a driver of private-sector growth and social impact.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of the IsDB Institute, emphasized the Institute’s long-term vision of nurturing entrepreneurial capabilities as a catalyst for development and economic resilience across Member Countries. He noted that the strong partnership between the IsDB Institute and MBSC stands as a model of effective collaboration, combining academic excellence with development impact to serve the needs of Member Countries.

Dr. Zeger Degraeve, Executive Dean of MBSC, commended the graduates for their high engagement, intellectual curiosity, and determination. He reaffirmed MBSC’s commitment to equipping emerging leaders with world-class entrepreneurial capabilities rooted in rigorous academic standards and practical skills.

The ceremony also featured remarks from Graduate Representatives, Ms. Ahd Abu Alrob and Mr. Nurgozha Kaliaskarov, who shared their reflections on the program’s potential transformative impact and highlighted the diversity and collective strength of the cohort.

The event concluded with a Faculty Perspective delivered by Dr. Muhammad Azam Roomi, Program Director and Professor at MBSC, who praised the participants’ resilience and entrepreneurial mindset. He emphasized that the program’s success reflects not only the curriculum but also the collaborative spirit between MBSC, IsDBI, and the IsDB Group entities.

Throughout the program, participants received advanced training in entrepreneurial strategy, innovation, leadership, negotiation, business modeling, and financial management. They also benefited from mentorship, team-based exercises, and practical assignments designed to strengthen real-world decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The graduation ceremony also highlighted the formation by the cohort of a joint entrepreneurial alliance, initiated by the participants, to foster long-term collaboration, knowledge sharing, and partnerships. Additionally, participants will apply their expertise in social impact measurement to evaluate the program’s effect on entrepreneurial ventures across Member Countries.

The IsDB Institute and MBSC reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their strategic partnership and expand future cohorts of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program, thereby advancing their joint mission to empower entrepreneurs and foster innovation-led, sustainable development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

Business

Canada–Africa Financing Forum to Convene Investors and Decision-Makers in Cape Town – May 14, 2026

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Ateau Zola

This timely Forum comes on the heels of commitments announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, deepening Canada–Africa commercial ties and expanding investment partnerships

TORONTO, Canada, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business (https://CanadaAfrica.ca) will convene investors, financiers, policymakers, and industry leaders in Cape Town on May 14, 2026 for the Canada–Africa Financing Forum—a high-level platform focused on unlocking capital and accelerating deal flow across African markets.

Registration is open (http://apo-opa.co/4vZN6oV)

This timely Forum comes on the heels of commitments announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, deepening Canada–Africa commercial ties and expanding investment partnerships. The program connects leaders from venture capital, private equity, and institutional investors to examine where capital is moving—and where the next opportunities lie—supported by Canadian project partners with proven capacity to deliver on-the-ground.

Delegates will engage directly with finance and investment decision-makers, following the program opening, featuring messages from President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Mark Carney, in addition to high-level Ministerial representation.

This Forum is about capital deployment, not just conversation

“This Forum is about capital deployment, not just conversation,” said Garreth Bloor, President of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business. “We are convening investors, institutions, and project leaders who are actively shaping transactions across Africa—and connecting them directly with Canadian partners who are ready to work together.”

The Canada–Africa Financing Forum reflects the Chamber’s role as a privately financed, market-led platform advancing Canada-Africa trade and investment through world-class networking and information-sharing events.

Why Attend

  • Direct access to active dealmakers and capital allocators
  • Insights into where capital is being deployed and key players delivering major projects
  • Opportunities to build partnerships across Canada and African markets
  • Participation in a curated, high-level environment focused on execution

Secure Your Place

Space is limited and demand is strong.

Apply to secure your place (http://apo-opa.co/4vXb9oz)

Read More and View the Program (http://apo-opa.co/4vZN6oV)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

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ORUN and 1xBET Partner to Support a Dynamic Creative Africa

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MIR Holding

During the MASA 2026 edition, held from April 11 to 18, 2026, ORUN and 1xBET implemented the We Champion Talent program, an initiative aimed at promoting African talent and advancing the development of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs)

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –As part of the Innovation Village co-organized with MASA at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan from April 14 to 18, ORUN (https://ORUN.Africa) announces the rollout of its partnership with 1xBET to support a creative Africa that is structuring itself, professionalizing, and scaling across the continent.

We aim to demonstrate that it is possible to support African talent, narratives, and creative ecosystems over the long term, with ambition and consistency

Designed as a space of convergence between heritage, innovation, and knowledge transmission, the Innovation Village features scenography crafted by Ivorian artisans, a program of panels and masterclasses on creative industries, an immersive experience produced by Orun Studios, and a major institutional highlight on April 17. Its narrative platform is built around three pillars: memory, structure, and transmission. The initiative aims to position cultural and creative industries as an economic driver for the continent.

“The Innovation Village was conceived as an act of construction. By partnering with organizations such as 1xBET, we aim to demonstrate that it is possible to support African talent, narratives, and creative ecosystems over the long term, with ambition and consistency,” said Habyba Thiero, CEO of Africa Currency Network and President of ORUN.

This vision aligns with ORUN’s broader ambition to produce, structure, and internationalize African creative industries through events, content, and strategic partnerships.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ORUN, part of African Currency Network (ACN).

 

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MIR Holding Reaffirms Its Commitment to African Creative Industries Alongside ORUN at Marché des Arts du Spectacle Africain d’Abidjan (MASA) 2026

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MIR Holding

More than event support, this partnership reflects a commitment to backing platforms capable of structuring value chains, increasing the visibility of talent, and fostering the emergence of strong African creative infrastructures

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –On the occasion of MASA 2026, held from April 11 to 18 in Abidjan, MIR Holding (https://MIRHolding.odoo.com) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth of African creative industries by partnering with ORUN as part of the Innovation Village, hosted at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan. This presence reflects a clear intention to support the scaling of cultural and creative industries so they can fully contribute to job creation and value generation across the continent.

 

Co-organized by ORUN and MASA, the Innovation Village brought together over several days scenography designed by Ivorian artisans, a program of panels and masterclasses dedicated to creative industries, an immersive experience produced by Orun Studios, and a key institutional highlight on April 17.

At MIR Holding, we believe that Africa’s future will also be shaped by its ability to structure its narratives, its talent, and its creative value chains

Built around three pillars — memory, structure, and transmission — the initiative carried a renewed ambition for culture: positioning it as a concrete lever for economic structuring and African projection.

By supporting this initiative, MIR Holding aligns with a broader dynamic aimed at strengthening connections between creation, entrepreneurship, content, youth, and growth ecosystems. More than event support, this partnership reflects a commitment to backing platforms capable of structuring value chains, increasing the visibility of talent, and fostering the emergence of strong African creative infrastructures. MIR Holding stands among the main partners of the Village, alongside Africa Currency Network and other stakeholders engaged in this vision.

“With ORUN, we are not only seeking to make culture visible. We aim to help provide it with a framework, a reach, and a trajectory. What is at stake here is the continent’s ability to better transform its creative energy into sustainable value, real opportunities, and influence,” said Habyba Thiero, CEO of Africa Currency Network and President of ORUN.

Mouhamed Dieng, President of MIR Holding, added: “Supporting Africa’s creative industries is not about backing a secondary sector. It is about investing in one of the continent’s most powerful spaces for storytelling, youth, innovation, and competitiveness. At MIR Holding, we believe that Africa’s future will also be shaped by its ability to structure its narratives, its talent, and its creative value chains.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MIR Holding.

 

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