BIBF mentoring scheme a big hit

The Central Bank of Bahrain would continue to support Bahraini youth in their determination towards a better future, said Rasheed Al Maraj, Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Governor and Chairman of the BIBF Board of Directors. 

The CBB Governor was speaking during a ceremony held recently by BIBF to celebrate the success of its Mentoring Programme held in partnership with CBB and  Supreme Council for Women (SCW). Al Maraj, on the occasion, also explained that the programme was established to develop the skill-set of students in collaboration with BIBF. The event also forms part of 2015 ‘Women in the financial and banking sector’ initiative of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and Supreme Council for Women (SCW) Chairwoman. 

Seventy students nominated by five universities - Al Ahlia University, University of Bahrain, University of Bangor-BIBF, Bahrain Polytechnic and the Royal University for Women, along with 40 mentors from fifteen financial institutions participated in the programme. The event provided students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn first-hand from industry leaders, and explore potential career paths in a vibrant, growing industry. 

The scope of the programme involved two main components – the first was a series of BIBF workshops designed to develop communication, banking, Islamic finance, insurance, and investment skills of the participants. The second component comprised of three mentoring workshops conducted on a one-to-one basis by the assigned mentors, and was hosted at their respective organisations. 

“Mentoring is a critical component of professional development and is defined as relationship in which a person invests time, expertise, and effort to increase and improve another person’s growth, knowledge and skills. Its importance is often overlooked given the dynamic and fast-paced nature of the banking and finance industry, and I am hopeful that this programme will permanently open the communication channels for the exchange of knowledge and experience between current and aspiring industry professionals,” said BIBF Director Solveig Nicklos in her speech.

The event took place at the Gulf Hotel Convention Centre in the presence of representatives from CBB, SCW and BIBF, participating mentors and mentees, and executives from the banking and financial services
sector.