Pic : Prof. Makie Taal, Vice Chancellor of the International Open University (IOU), and Dr. Mohamed Salum, IOU Tanzania Representative, held a highly productive meeting with the management of Amana Bank on 30th July 2026, hosted by Sr. Sarah Amin (Head of Human Resources) and Mr. Ally Ally (Senior HR Officer). The delegation was also privileged to meet with Amana Bank's Managing Director, Mr. Abubakar Athman.

The central focus of the meeting was to explore collaboration between the two institutions across three key areas:

Internship Opportunities — IOU students specializing in Islamic Banking and Finance would have the opportunity to undertake internships at Amana Bank, gaining practical, hands-on exposure that complements their academic training and better prepares them for the industry.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) — Through its charity program, Amana Bank would consider offering a number of scholarships to students pursuing Islamic Banking and Finance, as well as other programs at IOU, subject to the preference and final decision of the bank's board members. In brief, the benefits will be gained by both institutions and the community at large. For IOU, this would ease the financial burden on deserving students and widen access to quality education. For Amana Bank, it strengthens its CSR profile and community goodwill while helping cultivate a pipeline of skilled talent grounded in Islamic finance values. For the wider community, it means more young people equipped with relevant skills, reduced financial barriers to education, and a stronger pool of locally trained professionals contributing to economic development.
Staff Capacity Building — The possibility of offering short courses in Islamic Banking and Finance tailored to Amana Bank staff, with program design shaped around the bank's specific knowledge and training needs. The benefits will be gained by both institutions. Amana Bank staff would sharpen their technical expertise and stay current with best practices in Islamic finance, improving service quality and operational competence. For IOU, this deepens its industry relationships, creates a channel for ongoing collaboration, and positions the university as a trusted training partner for the financial sector.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both organizations agreed to formalize their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will set the implementation of all the above initiatives in motion. IOU will now proceed to draft the MoU, which will be shared with Amana Bank for review and feedback ahead of signing by both parties and subsequent implementation.

This meeting marks an exciting new chapter in IOU's partnership-building efforts, with the potential to create meaningful opportunities for students and professionals alike in the field of Islamic Banking and Finance.