The AMIP programme, Mrs Kilonzo added is designed to introduce some of the world’s brightest young business talent to executive suites across Africa as part of a strategic effort to improve the competitiveness of Africa’s private sector.

Students who secure internship at CMA, under the AMIP programme will enjoy hands-on experience and exposure in the regulation and development of the capital markets industry in Kenya and the East African region. As part of the intensive programme, each student will be assigned a strategic task to complete over a10-week period.

Mrs Kilonzo explained, “AMIP is designed to give the students an opportunity to gain invaluable insights and contribute to key projects to assist in the growth of the Authority.” She went on to say, “The Authority is proud to be associated with this unique opportunity to be part of a continental initiative to create a large, diverse network of talented prospective professionals with a hands-on perspective of the job market.”

On his part, Tony Elumelu Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Wiebe Boer, described the partnership with CMA as an invaluable opportunity to provide strategic short-term opportunities for business students from Africa’s top business schools, as well as for students and graduates from top-tier business schools in Europe and the United States.

“At the Foundation, we work to ensure that entrepreneurs and indigenous businesses have what they need to thrive. We are looking at practical ways we can merge business leadership training, private sector development and public service. Working with CMA – a public sector agency with substantial influence over creating the right enabling environment for the private sector – through AMIP allows us to touch on all of these goals.”

Besides the opportunity at CMA, AMIP associates are placed in fast-growing African-owned enterprises with strong management teams. AMIP operates throughout Africa with 2011 associates placed in businesses in Accra, Lagos and Nairobi . In 2012, Dakar and Kigali will be added as host cities as well as locations in Central and Southern Africa.

The AMIP programme is expected to increase international interaction between business schools by enlarging the pool of high-quality on-the-job training programmes in business leadership and policy development available in Africa. The programme also provides access to talent pipelines for fast-growing African companies that they might not otherwise have access to.

*The African Markets Internship Programme (AMIP) is a flagship initiative of The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Leadership Development Department. AMIP places MBA talent from top-tier business schools in Africa, Europe, and North America in fast-growing African-owned businesses and private sector-facing government institutions in Dakar , Accra , Abuja , Lagos , Douala , Lusaka , Kigali , and Nairobi .

*The Tony Elumelu Foundation is an Africa-based and African-funded not-for-profit institution dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa. As a 21^st century catalytic philanthropy, the Foundation is committed to the economic transformation of Africa by enhancing the competitiveness and growth of the African private sector. Founded in 2010 by Tony O. Elumelu, MFR, the Foundation identifies and addresses systemic challenges that inhibit African entrepreneurs. For more information, please visit www.tonyelumelufoundation.org

*The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) was set up in 1989 as a statutory agency under the Capital Markets Act Cap 485A. It is charged with the prime responsibility of both regulating and developing an orderly, fair and efficient capital markets in Kenya with the view to promoting market integrity and investor confidence.

The regulatory functions of the Authority as provided by the Act and the regulations include; Licensing and supervising all the capital market intermediaries; Ensuring compliance with the legal and regulatory framework by all market participants; Regulating public offers of securities, such as equities and bonds & the issuance of other capital market products such as collective investment schemes;

Promoting market development through research on new products and services;

Reviewing the legal framework to respond to market dynamics. Promoting investor education, public awareness and protecting investors’ interest.