Archives: Islamic News
As part of its ongoing commitment to education and community development, iib East Africa organised a storytelling session on 14 October for primary school students from Suna Al Haya at the Institut Français de Djibouti. The gathering offered children an opportunity to enjoy stories, explore new ideas, and engage in a morning filled with learning and discovery.
During the visit, the students explored the library, listened to engaging stories, and took part in an interactive activity based on the tales shared during the session. These activities provided an enjoyable way for the children to develop their curiosity and engage with reading in a welcoming environment.
The session was led by iib Brand Ambassador Amina Ali, also known as Nina, who served as both storyteller and facilitator. Her involvement encouraged the children to participate, use their imagination, and connect with the stories in an interactive and enjoyable way.
Through community initiatives like this, iib East Africa continues to contribute to children’s educational development by creating opportunities for exploration, creativity, and learning. The bank believes that encouraging children to discover books and develop an interest in reading from an early age can help build a strong foundation for their future.
iib East Africa extends its sincere appreciation to the Institut Français de Djibouti for hosting the session and helping create a welcoming space where children could discover the joy of reading. The collaboration reflects the value of community partnerships in making learning more engaging, accessible, and inspiring for young learners.
The British Embassy in Djibouti hosted a send-off event on Thursday 27 to celebrate this year’s Chevening Scholars ahead of their departure to the United Kingdom. Ilwade scholars celebrated was Ms. Ilwad Mahdi Abdi, who will be joining the University of Sussex to pursue a Master’s degree in International Law. iib East Africa is proud to sponsor Ms. Ilwad’s Chevening Scholarship, supporting her academic journey and contributing to the development of future talent in Djibouti.
The event was attended by H.E. Vinay Talwar, British Ambassador to Djibouti, and Mr Vianney Bizimana, Acting CEO of iib East Africa, alongside colleagues and guests who gathered to celebrate Ms. Ilwad’s achievement and wish her success as she begins this important new chapter.
iib East Africa’s sponsorship reflects iib’s wider commitment to investing in education, empowering young talent, and supporting the development of future leaders. iib’s involvement with the Chevening Scholarship programme began last year and has since become an integral part of its education mandate, supporting scholars in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Cape Verde.
iib congratulates Ms. Ilwad Mahdi Abdi on this significant achievement and wishes her every success throughout her studies at the University of Sussex and beyond.
London, 16 July 2026 – iibGroup celebrated a remarkable achievement at the global Euromoney Awards for Excellence ceremony, held at The Peninsula London, where the Group received three major awards across two African markets, reinforcing its growing influence in the continent’s financial sector.
The evening saw iib West Africa claim two distinguished titles, Cape Verde’s Best Bank and Cape Verde’s Best Investment Bank, while iib East Africa was named Djibouti’s Best Investment Bank. For more than 30 years, the Euromoney Awards for Excellence have recognised financial institutions that set the global standard in performance, innovation and client impact.
These awards demonstrate iibGroup’s ability to deliver excellence across diverse markets. In Cape Verde, iib West Africa’s dual recognition reflects its strength across retail, corporate and investment banking, supported by landmark initiatives such as the country’s first Blue Bond.
In Djibouti, iib East Africa, was recognised for its leadership in investment banking, with particular strengths in structured trade finance and cross-border advisory services, reinforcing its position as a trusted financial partner in the region.
“These three Euromoney awards are a significant endorsement of our approach across two important markets. They reflect the consistency of our strategy, the capability of our teams, and the confidence that our clients continue to place in us. Recognition at this level reinforces our belief that excellence, integrity, and a long-term focus remain the foundations of sustainable success.”
Sohail Sultan, Group Chairman.
The London ceremony was attended by iibGroup representatives including Sohail Sultan, Chairman – iibGroup,Joseph Carasso, CEO – iib West Africa, Mateen Beg, CFO – iibGroup, Sabiha Sultan Director – Institutional Investors and Farah Sayeed, Director – Brands & MarCom.
The latest wins build on iibGroup’s momentum in 2026, following earlier recognition at the Euromoney Private Banking Awards. The Group remains focused on expanding its private banking, investment banking, and wealth management capabilities across Africa and beyond, combining global standards with deep local expertise.
About iib West Africa (Cape Verde)
iib West Africa is a licensed banking institution based in Cape Verde, serving corporate and institutional clients across the region. The bank is committed to advancing financial inclusion, innovation, and private sector development in the region.
About iib East Africa (Djibouti)
iib East Africa is a licensed banking institution based in Djibouti, with a representative office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, serving corporate and institutional clients across the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor. The bank is committed to advancing financial inclusion, innovation, and private sector development in the region.
About iibGroup Holdings W.L.L. (Bahrain)
iibGroup is a diversified international investment and banking group with operations across East Africa, the Middle East, West Africa, and the Caribbean. The Group provides commercial banking, structured investment and advisory solutions while also deploying capital into high-impact sectors such as trade, digital infrastructure, and financial inclusion. Through its regional platforms, iibGroup supports SMEs, empowers women- and youth-led enterprises, and channels capital to industries that strengthen regional integration and sustainable growth across emerging markets.
Addis Ababa, 2nd June 2026 – Building on its successful partnership with the Chevening Scholarships programme in Cabo Verde and Djibouti, iibGroup has renewed its support for the 2026–2027 academic year and expanded the initiative to Ethiopia. This year, three fully funded Chevening scholarships will be awarded across Africa, one each in Cabo Verde, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, reinforcing iib’s commitment to education, leadership development, and capacity building across the continent.
A formal signing ceremony was held on Tuesday, 2 June, at the residence of the UK Ambassador in Addis Ababa to officially mark the partnership. The event brought together H.E. Darren Welch, UK Ambassador to Ethiopia & Permanent Representative to the African Union, and Sohail Sultan, Chairman of iibGroup. The ceremony was attended by a distinguished group of stakeholders, including S.K. Husain, Maruf Ahmed, Mateen Beg, Aynalem Ababu and Farah Sayeed, representing iib. Zafar Sultan, Scott Lewis and Ali Khuatau were also in attendance. The ceremony highlighted the collective commitment of all parties to foster meaningful collaboration and strengthen strategic partnerships in support of shared objectives.
“Over the past year, students supported through the iib Chevening Scholarships have demonstrated the transformative power of investing in talent. Their achievements are generating positive ripple effects, not only in their own lives but also across their communities. By extending this partnership to cover Ethiopia, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing future leaders and advancing sustainable and inclusive development across the continent. As an institution with an active presence in emerging markets, supporting social development is of critical importance to us. We are immensely proud to work closely with the FCDO and its local representatives on initiatives we truly believe in. Education, in our view, is fundamental to both social and economic progress, and the Chevening programme represents the very best of British values.”
Sohail Sultan, Chairman of iibGroup.
H.E. Darren Welch, UK Ambassador to Ethiopia & Permanent Representative to the African Union, stated, “This new partnership with iib will create opportunities for the next generation of women Ethiopian leaders through our Chevening programme. We are proud to be collaborating with iib to support Ethiopian talent, and through supporting scholarships in the financial sector, we will be giving opportunities to learn about the London market, one of the world’s biggest and most innovative. Through the Chevening programme, we are investing not only in education, but in the future of Ethiopia’s financial sector and its global connections. We look forward to seeing the impact these brilliant scholars will have in the years ahead.”
The Chevening Scholarship initiative, funded by the UK Government, is aimed at exceptional individuals with proven leadership potential and a strong drive to make an impact. The programme fully supports postgraduate studies at universities across the United Kingdom while also connecting scholars to an influential international community of more than 60,000 alumni spanning over 160 countries and regions worldwide.
Beyond covering tuition and living expenses, iib will provide selected scholars with mentorship, professional guidance, and hands-on exposure to its diverse portfolio of initiatives through active involvement in meaningful projects across the organisation. This continued commitment reflects iib’s dedication to developing future leaders, creating lasting social impact, and empowering talented individuals to drive innovation and contribute to sustainable development within their communities and beyond.
About iibGroup Holdings W.L.L. (Bahrain)
iibGroup is a diversified international investment and banking group with operations across East Africa, the Middle East, West Africa, and the Caribbean. The Group provides commercial banking, structured investment and advisory solutions while also deploying capital into high-impact sectors such as trade, digital infrastructure, and financial inclusion. Through its regional platforms, iibGroup supports SMEs, empowers women- and youth-led enterprises, and channels capital to industries that strengthen regional integration and sustainable growth across emerging markets.
About iib East Africa
iib East Africa is a licensed banking institution based in Djibouti, with a representative office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, serving corporate and institutional clients across the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor. The bank is committed to advancing financial inclusion, innovation, and private sector development in the region.
London, 21 April 2026 — iibGroup is proud to announce that iib East Africa has been named Best Sustainable Bank in Djibouti 2026 by Global Finance Magazine as part of its annual Sustainable Finance Awards. The recognition was presented at the Global Finance Awards Ceremony, bringing together leading financial institutions from around the world.
This marks the second consecutive year the bank has received this recognition, reinforcing its growing role in advancing sustainable finance across the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor.
The Global Finance Sustainable Finance Awards recognise institutions demonstrating strong integration of sustainability into their operations, alongside measurable contribution to economic development through responsible financing practices.
Representing iibGroup at the ceremony were Sohail Sultan, Chairman of iibGroup, and S.K. Husain, COO, who accepted the award on behalf of the bank. The recognition reflects iib East Africa’s continued focus on enabling access to finance, supporting enterprise growth, and delivering responsible banking solutions in Djibouti and the wider region.
“Sustainable finance remains central to how we operate across our markets. Our focus is on deploying capital in a way that supports long-term economic growth while enabling businesses to scale. This recognition reflects the progress we are making in delivering that impact.”
Sohail Sultan, Chairman of iibGroup.
iib East Africa continues to prioritise sustainable finance across key sectors including trade, infrastructure, and private enterprise, supporting long-term development while strengthening financial inclusion.
This recognition further underscores iibGroup’s commitment to building a responsible and impact-driven banking platform across emerging markets.
As part of our Sustainability Program, we organized a school supplies distribution initiative on September 13, 2026, in Balbala, in collaboration with the Jeune Midnimo Biyokeid Association.
This initiative aimed to support children and their families during the back-to-school period, a time when household expenses can significantly increase. A total of 150 children, accompanied by their parents, benefited from the distribution of essential school supplies, helping to ease the financial burden on families and ensuring that children could start the new school year with the necessary materials.
The school supplies distributed included backpacks, pencil cases, pens, and notebooks. Each complete set of supplies was carefully arranged and placed inside the backpacks before being distributed to the beneficiaries.
Through this initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting local communities and contributing to equal access to education.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Jeune Midnimo Biyokeid Association for its continued collaboration, commitment, and valuable support in making this initiative possible. We look forward to continuing to work together on future initiatives that create a positive and lasting impact within our community.
