In 1944, Imam Sultan Muhammad changed the name of Recreation Club Institute into the Ismailia Association for India. Ali Muhammad Macklai was appointed its President with Alijah Rajab Ali Muhammad Dandawala as Vice-President and Itmadi Rehmatuallah Virjee as Hon. Secretary. Thus, the Ismailia Recreation Club was the progenitor of the Ismailia Association. In view of his long selfless services, the Imam granted the titles of Huzur Wazir (minister in attendance) and Commander in Chief to Ali Muhammad Macklai.
The Imam intended to extend the activities of the Ismailia Association beyond the confine of India. The ball was set rolling at the Ismaili Mission Conference held in Dar-es-Salem on July 20, 1945, wherein the Imam insisted to the leaders of Nairobi that, “You must establish an Ismailia Association similar to the one in Bombay. Mr. Macklai, the President of the Ismailia Association in Bombay, has served the community, and in doing so, he spread the light of the Ismaili faith. His name shall forever be remembered in history on account of his services.”
Hence, the All-Africa Ismailia Association came into existence in 1946 with Count Muhammad Ali Dhalla as President and Wazir Ramzan Ali Dossa as Hon. Secretary. Its headquarters was first in Nairobi, then Mombasa.