JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 31, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org/) and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business & Entrepreneurship (MBSC) celebrated the graduation of the participants of the Strategic Business Leadership Program, recognizing 30 leaders from 15 IsDB Member Countries and Muslim communities.

 




  

Jointly developed by IsDBI and MBSC, the program combines executive education with practical learning to help leaders strengthen strategic execution, innovation, organizational transformation, and sustainable value creation.

The Strategic Business Leadership Program benefited from the support of 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 International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

The graduation ceremony took place on 27 August 2026 at the IsDB Headquarters in Jeddah. It brought together senior representatives from the IsDB Group, MBSC, and program partners, along with the graduating participants.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute, emphasized the importance of investing in human capital, knowledge, and institutional capacity to help Member Countries address emerging challenges and unlock new opportunities. He thanked ICIEC, ICD, ITFC, MBSC and all the team members who contributed to the success of the program.

The ceremony featured keynote remarks from Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, CEO of ICIEC and Acting CEO of ICD, and Mr. Nazeem Noordali, COO of ITFC, whose participation underscored the Group’s commitment to strengthening private-sector development, trade, investment, risk mitigation, and economic opportunity across IsDB Member Countries.

Dr. Zeger Degraeve, Executive Dean of MBSC, reflected on the partnership with IsDBI and commended the caliber of the graduating cohort, emphasizing the importance of translating leadership learning into tangible organizational and societal impact.

Dr. Muhammad Azam Roomi, Professor of Entrepreneurship at MBSC and Faculty Director of the program, highlighted the practical dimensions of the learning journey, including entrepreneurial thinking, strategic decision-making, innovation, and opportunity recognition and urged the participants to change lives.

Mr. Yahya Rehman, Head of IsDBI’s Knowledge Leaders Section, highlighted the Institute’s role in developing human capital and providing knowledge-based solutions that contribute to sustainable economic advancement across IsDB Member Countries.

Two representatives of the graduating cohort, Mr. Hesham Ahmed Suqail and Ms. Mahwish Naeem, also shared the participants’ perspective, reflecting on the program’s value, practical learning experience, and opportunity for peer exchange across countries and professional backgrounds. They expressed their gratitude to the IsDBI and MBSC for the life changing experience and learning.

The ceremony concluded with the award of certificates and recognition of program partners. The graduation marks the beginning of the participants’ next stage of leadership, equipping them to contribute to stronger organizations, more innovative businesses, and greater economic and societal impact in their respective countries.

The IsDBI–MBSC partnership provides a continuing platform for developing leadership capabilities across the IsDB ecosystem and empowering a new generation of leaders to translate knowledge into action and learning into sustainable development outcomes.

DAKAR, Senegal, May 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Canon Central & North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com), a global leader in imaging solutions, has forged a strategic partnership with SOS Children’s Villages in Senegal, a non-governmental organisation supporting vulnerable youth, to expand its flagship Miraisha skills development initiative. This collaboration underscores Canon’s commitment to sustainable youth empowerment and meaningful social impact, with Senegal identified as a key strategic focus market for 2026.

 

Expanding Canon’s African Footprint

Miraisha’s expansion in Senegal builds on Canon’s decade-long commitment to blending innovation with tangible community impact across Africa. Through this initiative, vulnerable youth and NGO staff gain access to hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world platforms that nurture creative expression and strengthen skills in photography, videography, and visual storytelling. Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director at Canon Central and North Africa, said, “Across Africa, young people are creative, resourceful, and driven to share their own stories. Our responsibility is to equip them with the tools, skills and confidence to transform that potential into sustainable livelihoods. Turn those talents into livelihoods Senegal is a key market for us, and this partnership reinforces our long-term commitment to advancing youth employability while empowering organisations to amplify their impact through compelling visual storytelling.”

 

Miraisha in Motion: Youth Creativity Meets Opportunity

Rooted in Canon’s philosophy of Kyosei, living and working together for the common good. The Miraisha initiative equips young people aged 18–35 with practical training in photography, videography, and digital storytelling. By combining technical expertise, mentorship, and real-world experience, the programme transforms creative potential into tangible career pathways and sustainable opportunities. This partnership serves as a natural extension of the mission of SOS Children’s Villages in Senegal. Since the mid-1970s, the NGO has supported children and youth with care, education, and community support across eight regions, emphasising the importance of developing employable and creative skills for resilience and independence.

 

Programme Highlights

Designed to deliver measurable long – term impact, the partnership provides targeted training and mentorship for youth and NGO staff. SOS communications teams will participate in an intensive three-day workshop focused on advocacy-driven photography and videography, strengthening their ability to communicate impact through powerful visuals. Youth workshops in Dakar and Kaolack will host 20–25 participants at each site, by the end of the training two chosen students will go on to receive a three-month mentorship with a dedicated Canon trainer to further enhance their skills.  To ensure sustainability, photography clubs across SOS Children’s Villages sites will be established to encourage peer learning, creative collaboration, and continuous skills development.

“This partnership empowers vulnerable youth by giving them more than just technical skills – it gives them confidence and a voice,” said Papa Daouda Diop, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Senegal. “Visual storytelling is crucial for our advocacy and fundraising, helping us share the realities our children face and the progress they make. Beyond stronger communications, these skills open new opportunities for employment and independence.”

Building on Proven Success Across Africa

The expansion of Miraisha in Senegal builds on a decade of transformative impact across Africa, where the programme has equipped thousands of young people in photography, videography, and digital storytelling. In Kenya, workshops at KCA University have enabled students to transition into freelance careers and creative entrepreneurship. In Nigeria, street photography sessions in Lagos enabled participants to build professional portfolios that led to paid assignments. In Morocco, collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages strengthened NGO communication channels while opening freelance opportunities for youth. These success stories demonstrate how Miraisha consistently translates creative skills into livelihoods and stronger community communications. Collectively, these success stories highlight Miraisha’s consistent ability to convert creative talent into sustainable livelihoods while strengthening how communities and organisations share their stories.

 

Senegal: A Strategic Focus Market

With over half its population under 25, Senegal faces both promise and challenge. Only 48.2% of youth participate in the labour market, compared to 69% of adults, reflecting persistent barriers to employment and limited access to practical training and skills in the creative industries. NGOs and community groups also require stronger communication tools to advocate and engage donors. Canon’s investment in Senegal directly responds to these interconnected needs, reinforcing the country’s strategic importance as a priority market for its social impact initiatives in 2026.

 

Looking Ahead

Canon’s partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Senegal underlines its ongoing investment in the country’s youth and creative industries. As Miraisha grows in West Africa, Canon aims to serve as a driver of community skills and empowerment. By enabling young people to tell their own stories through visual storytelling, the company is helping unlock pathways to economic opportunity while advancing meaningful social impact across the continent.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s youth, representing over 400 million voices, are driving the continent’s ambition for growth, innovation, and sustainable development. The THE Africa Universities Summit 2026 (www.TimesHigherEd-events.com) will convene in Nairobi on 30-31 March to explore how higher education can unlock human capital, fuel entrepreneurial success, and promote inclusive growth across the continent.

 

The summit will bring together leaders from universities, business, and civil society for dynamic discussions, hands-on workshops, and visionary keynotes, focusing on four critical themes:

• Addressing world challenges: Uniting global and local collaborations to tackle pressing challenges, harnessing research and innovation for sustainable solutions.
• Innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups: Empowering entrepreneurial mindsets, strengthening start-up ecosystems and driving digital innovation.
• Work readiness and skills development: Preparing future-ready graduates through employer partnerships, innovative curricula and tailored support.
• EDI and gender equality in higher education: Championing inclusion and gender equality to create institutions that reflect Africa’s diverse societies.

The summit will feature over 60+ speakers from across Africa and beyond, including:

• Chérifa Abdelbaki, UNESCO Chairholder, University of Tlemcen
• Letlhokwa Mpedi, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Johannesburg
• Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice-Chancellor, Makerere University
• Caroline Nyaga, Founder & CEO, Women in STEAM Initiative
• Tonny Omwansa, CEO, Kenya National Innovation Agency
• Anicia Peters, CEO, National Commission on Research, Science and Technology

Attendees can expect 30+ hours of content, 9+ hours of networking and opportunities to engage with over 350 participants from more than 150 organisations and universities.

Last year’s summit in Rwanda highlighted the power of collaboration, inspiring actionable strategies for innovation, workforce development and equity in higher education.

Leonard Musyoka, Registrar and Chief-of-Staff at the University of Nairobi, reflected on the 2025 summit: “Attending THE Africa Universities Summit was an intellectually enriching experience! The topics were timely, thought-provoking and expertly curated, sparking meaningful conversations in the African higher education sector. Highly recommended for anyone eager to engage with cutting-edge ideas and a passionate community!”

With less than a month to go, tickets are selling fast. Join us in Nairobi to shape Africa’s higher education future, connect with thought leaders and explore new opportunities to advance talent, innovation and inclusion.

For more information and to register, visit https://apo-opa.co/4biKl8F.