Villa College Launches V-Ignite Business Incubation Centre and Rebrands Business School

Villa College has officially launched the V Ignite Business Incubation Centre and rebranded its Faculty of Business Management as the Qasim Ibrahim School of Business.

The launch event was held today at the college, with Minister of Economic Development, Hon. Mohammed Saeed, serving as the guest of honour. The ceremony was also attended by heads of several government agencies and representatives from various industries.

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During the event, Dean of the Qasim Ibrahim School of Business, Abdullah Nafiz, emphasised that the rebranding was not just a change in name but signalled a strategic shift with an ambitious vision. He outlined the school’s aim to become a world-class business institution and shared a brief overview of how this future would be realised.

Following Nafiz’s introduction, Minister Saeed officially rebranded the faculty with the unveiling of a video presentation.

Dr Damith Gangodawilage, Director of the newly established Centre for Innovation Enterprise Development and Deputy Dean of the business school, provided further insight into the centre’s purpose and future plans.

Dr Damith who played a key role in the centre’s creation, highlighted the rapid establishment of the incubation centre and thanked the partners involved for their support.

“This incubator and co-working space came into existence within a month thanks to the cooperation and encouragement of our partners. It marks a historic milestone in the country,” he remarked.

Dr Damith also explained that the V Ignite Business Incubation Centre would serve as a hub where experts across various fields would offer mentorship and advisory services.

The centre’s partners include several prominent organisations, such as the Business Centre Corporation, Huawei, Women in Tech, Dhiraagu, Spark Hub, Soneva Namoona, Oxiqa Pvt Ltd, Asia Pacific Institute of Money and Entrepreneurship Development, Square Hub, Fenaka, Kandoofa Corporation and Villa Shipping and Trading Company.

As part of the event, seven Villa College students from various programmes delivered elevator pitches, showcasing their innovative business ideas.

In his speech, Minister Saeed addressed the importance of business incubation centres and their potential contribution to the country’s economy. He encouraged students to make the most of the opportunities provided by the new facility.

Vice-Rector Dr Ali Najeeb also spoke at the event, outlining the programmes offered by the newly renamed business school. He explained that the decision to name the school after Qasim Ibrahim was made in recognition of his significant contributions to the business and economic landscape of the Maldives. Dr Najeeb also expressed gratitude to the industries and professionals who helped bring the V Ignite Business Incubation Centre to life.

The establishment of V Ignite marks a significant development for Villa College and reflects the institution’s broader goals of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the Maldives.