IBA-CED and Oxfam collaborate for training on entrepreneurial ventures

The IBA Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) and Oxfam collaborated through a rigorous training program spanning over four months. More than thirty-five diversified participants from different sectors including IT, design, energy, medicine, food, cosmetics, textile, agri-business and apparel, e-learning and gender support services attended this training.

The core purpose of this collaborative training effort was to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset, encourage venture creation, enhance community outreach and engagement, and develop the necessary skills and competences of the participants to start their own business.

During the course of this training duration, participants worked on their ventures and business plans. At the end of the program, the participants were evaluated on the basis of opportunity creation, problem solutions, implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs), working towards gender equality and women empowerment. Cash prizes were distributed to the students with the best entrepreneurial venture ideas. The first prize was jointly awarded to Healthyabi and Aqua Agro. The second prize was, again, jointly awarded to Fruges and Asqurr. Lastly, the third prize was shared between Vaalo Chefs and Tech Built.

The jury members included Program Director and Associate Professor, IBA CED, Dr. Shahid Qureshi, Director Training and Development, Shell Tameer, Mr. Imran Azeem, Lecturer IoBM and Social Entrepreneur, Ms. Samiya Hameed, Assistant Manager Shariah Compliance Department, Meezan Bank, Mr. Abdur Rauf, and Project Manager EYW, OXFAM, Mr. Asher Azeem.