By Adebayo Obajemu
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and IBDL Learning Group have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Africa’s human capital and equipping professionals, entrepreneurs and institutions with the skills needed to drive trade, industrialisation and economic growth across the continent.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
The agreement was signed by Afreximbank’s Managing Director of Human Resources, Stephen Kauma, and the Chief Executive Officer of IBDL Learning Group, Dr Khaled Khallaf.
Under the arrangement, both organisations will combine their expertise to design and implement training programmes and initiatives focused on enhancing the capabilities of businesses, professionals and public institutions involved in trade and economic development.
The collaboration is also expected to prepare African professionals with advanced competencies that will enable them to compete effectively in the global marketplace.
Speaking on the significance of the partnership, Kauma described skills development as a critical driver of Africa’s economic transformation, noting that the initiative represents a strategic investment in the continent’s future workforce and trade leadership.
He said the partnership aligns with Afreximbank’s broader objective of building the knowledge and expertise required to deepen regional integration and boost Africa’s participation in global trade.
Khallaf, on his part, said the agreement reflects a shared commitment by both institutions to empower African professionals and organisations with internationally recognised skills that can support innovation, trade expansion and sustainable development.
He added that the collaboration would help prepare current and future leaders to take advantage of opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the broader Global Africa agenda.
As part of the agreement, Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) will serve as the implementation platform for a range of capacity-building programmes designed to strengthen trade and industrial competencies across the continent.
The partners plan to introduce professional certification programmes in areas such as intra-African trade, industrialisation and trade intelligence, while also organising specialised boot camps focused on trade supply chains and e-commerce skills in collaboration with industry operators.
The partnership will further expand existing initiatives, including flagship certification programmes for African diplomats, such as the African Diplomacy Flagship Certification Programme first introduced in 2024.
In addition, the two organisations intend to roll out economic and trade-focused masterclasses for non-African diplomats, alongside conferences, workshops and webinars aimed at promoting policy dialogue, knowledge exchange and awareness of opportunities emerging from the AfCFTA.
The collaboration will also leverage digital learning platforms to widen access to professional training. Selected IBDL courses will be hosted on AFRACAD’s learning management system, while both institutions will jointly pursue marketing initiatives and other measures to increase the reach and impact of their educational offerings.
As part of the arrangement, IBDL will support efforts to secure full accreditation of AFRACAD by Missouri State University.
The partnership underscores Afreximbank’s commitment to developing the skilled workforce needed to transform Africa into a globally competitive hub for trade and industrial activity.
Founded in 2014, IBDL Learning Group is an international organisation focused on advancing business education through innovative learning solutions and professional development programmes designed to enhance global competitiveness.