Pic : Prof. Makie Taal, Vice Chancellor of the International Open University (IOU), together with Dr. Mohamed Salum, IOU Tanzania Representative, had the privilege of meeting Mr. Mrisho Mbwembwe, CEO of TAMPRO (Tanzania Muslim Professionals Association) on 31 July 2026.

The meeting opened with Prof. Makie Taal introducing IOU to the CEO of TAMPRO, followed by Mr. Mrisho providing an overview of TAMPRO's mission and operations.

TAMPRO is a prominent local organization that unites Muslim experts and intellectuals for community development, professional networking, and socio-economic initiatives. It also operates financial services through TAMPRO SACCOS, based in Mkwajuni, Dar es Salaam, offering interest-free (bila riba) financial solutions.

TAMPRO's core objectives and activities include:

Professional Networking — Uniting professionals across various sectors to foster mentorship and contribute to national development.
Community Impact — Managing social welfare and religious funds such as Zaka to support community growth.
Development Projects — Undertaking structural and land acquisition initiatives, including the development of Waqf infrastructure.

The meeting proved highly beneficial, revealing significant common ground between the two institutions. There is a clear opportunity for IOU to partner with TAMPRO, as this network offers a pathway to reach millions of people across Tanzania. Both sides recognized the need to formalize this relationship through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines how the two organizations can collaborate and benefit from each other's resources.