IAABD was founded in 2000 by individuals with the vision of building a leading association of academicians, practitioners, government leaders and policy makers in business and development areas from Africa, Caribbean, North America, Europe, and South America.
The Founders included:-
- Professor Sonny Nwankwo – University of East London, UK
- Professor O. Ben Oumlil – Western Connecticut State University, USA
- Professor and Dean Alphonso Ogbuehi – Park University, USA
- Professor Joseph Aiyeku – Salem State College, USA
- Professor Robert Rugimbana – Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
- Professor William Darley – Kind Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
- Professor Frank Manu – Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Ghana
- Professor Jerry Kolo – American University in Sharjah, UAE