SBS Partners with the International Finance Corporation to Launch the Second Cohort of the Somali Investment Academy (SOMINA)

This morning, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), we officially launched the Second Cohort of the Somali Investment Academy Programme (SOMINA), a milestone initiative designed to empower Somali leaders with the tools to shape a confident, competent, and competitive future.

At the heart of SOMINA lies a powerful belief: Africa is our home, and we must shape it into what we envision. Dr. Caesar Mwangi, Executive Dean of SBS, emphasized that impactful partnerships such as the one between SBS and IFC reflect SBS’s enduring vision of transforming Africa through leadership and innovation. “Together, we can do more,” he noted.

Ambassador Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, in his keynote address, described SOMINA as both timely and transformative. “We are no longer waiting for change—we are driving it. SOMINA is more than an academic programme; it is a platform for Somalia’s future.”

Established through a Cooperation Agreement between SBS and IFC in 2020, SOMINA is designed to strengthen the management and business acumen of mid- to senior-level Somali professionals in both public and private sectors. The programme delivers intensive, hands-on training in governance, operational structures, international financing, and investment readiness. Ultimately, SOMINA aims to equip Somali organizations with the skills and knowledge needed to attract global investment—including from IFC and other development finance institutions—by helping participants understand risk, investor decision-making, and global best practices.

Through SOMINA, Somalia is preparing for a better future and actively building one.

Learn more about the SOMINA Programme here

Article by Juliet Hinga