To promote religious education, to train the missionaries and teachers and to establish an independent Ismailia Association in Africa, Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah had called the first Ismailia Mission Conference on Friday, the 20th of July, 1945 at Dar-es-Salaam. About a hundred delegates and observers were invited, and the Imam inaugurated the conference in the auditorium of the Aga Khan's Boys High School, Kisutu Street, Dar-es-Salaam.

Some of the eminent persons, who attended the conference were Rai Hamir Lakha (1888-1963), Haji Muhammad Fazal, Amir Ali Khudabaksh Talib (d. 1959), Ghulam Hussain Juma Patel, Kadar Ali B. Patel, Dewan Ghulam Hussain Jindani (1891-1983), Varas Kassam Sunderji Samji, Count Abdullah Hashim Gangji (1906-1982), Count Fateh Ali Dhalla, Count Hassan Kassim Lakha (1892-1982), Varas Hashim Jamal, Varas Amershi Kanji, Dewan Sir Eboo Pirbhai (1905-1990), Varas Ismail Jivraj Pirani, Varas Kanji Nanji, Chief Wazir Kassim Ali Hassan Ali Javeri (1877-1968), Count Kassam Ali Rajab Ali Paroo (1906-1998), V.M. Nazer Ali, Bahadur Ali K. S. Virjee, Count Ibrahim Nathoo (1905-1962), Count Ibrahim Jamal (1880-1970), Dhanji Bhatia, Alijah Nimji Zaver Kassam, Varas Ismail M. Jafar Chhotubhai (1904-1978), Shamsuddin Ahmed Mohammad, Hasan Ali Virani, Huzur Wazir Ali Muhammad Rehmatullah Macklai (1894-1971), etc. On this occasion, the Imam delivered a historical speech. The Conference lasted for three days, and as a result the decision was taken to create a separate Ismailia Association in Africa. It was also resolved to set up the first Ismailia Mission Centre in Dar-es-Salaam to train the missionaries and teachers.