(Ecofin Agency) - Kenya Commercial Bank is close to concluding a loan for a maximum amount of $150 million to strengthen its capital and support SMEs that develop environment-friendly projects. Particular focus is on women-led businesses.
Mr. Stephen Akanbi Adewumi Ilebiyi, (alias Baba, Oga and Uncle Steve) the Doyen of Nigerians in Switzerland succumbed to death on 14 December 2020 after a protracted sickness, aged 96 years.A former president of Nigeria Union of Switzerland has been described by many Nigerians as a true friend, role model, a mentor, accessible, humble.

Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, founded and based in Nairobi, Kenya, is a leisure lifestyle brand offering seasonless, timeless, transcendent casual and semi-formal wear heavily influenced by her upbringing and surroundings.
The Ethical Fashion Initiative, a joint venture from the UN and World Trade Organisation’s International Trade Centre, has selected three Kenyan brands - Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, Suave, and Hamaji to participate in its second accelerator programme.
The African Energy Chamber (the Chamber) has announced that it would launch its first-ever advisory board book. The book is titled African Energy Road to Recovery: How the African Energy Industry can reshape itself for a post-COVID-19 comeback.
CONDA - The Integrated Programme for Local Development and Combating Poverty (PIDLCP) this year allocated 295.6 million Kwanzas to the Conda Municipal Administration, coastal Cuanza Sul province for the execution of 45 social projects.
His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has unveiled the Le100 Billion Munafa Fund, the National Microcredit Scheme for 2021 to 2023 to support small and medium enterprises.
(Ecofin Agency) - Kenya has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new reform program with a financial package.
SOUTH AFRICA – Africa Oil & Power (AOP) has announced the appointment of Yolisa Nyoka as its new Director of Programming, effective February 1. Nyoka has been recently nominated for the 2021 African Women Industrialization Award in recognition of her contributions to the events industry.
Togo – REGUS, the world’s largest provider of flexible workspaces, arrives in Togo. It will offer a wide range of ready-to-use workspaces ranging from private offices to co-working, meeting rooms and business lounges, according to Regus source.
Mrs. Esther Ore Omosewo, the first female professor of physics education in Nigeria has been inducted into the Governing Council membership of the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators - IARSA.
“When we took over the reign of NIDO Swiss, on 14 December 2019, our focus was to rebrand and change the organization’s image which had been bastardized.” Johnson Odibo, the president of NIDO Swiss asserted in his annual report at the organization’s Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 5 December 2020.
The United Nations is marking 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, spotlighting their vital role in human nutrition and food security, as well as urging efforts to improve sustainable production and reduce waste.
NIGERIA - Over 1,250 professionals took part in the 6th edition of African Insurance Awards held virtually on Friday, 18 December 2020. The African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) appreciating the roles paid by all the participants and the judges expressed it gratuities to all of them.
(Togo First) - The committee of ministers of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) project met in Lomé recently to discuss operational aspects of the infrastructure through which natural gas is transported from producing countries (Nigeria, mainly) to countries that import the fuel (Benin, Ghana, and Togo).
(Togo First) - Orabank Togo and Togocom will launch Mbanking, a service that allows its users to transfer money between the bank and a mobile wallet.
A United States human rights group, Article3.org, has honoured retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu with the Human Rights Global Treasure Award “in recognition of his lifelong commitment to advancing peace, equity, equality and human rights.”
The organisers of Mining Indaba online conference “are extremely pleased to confirm that His Excellency, Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed his participation at the online conference.”
For a nation that prides itself on being on the global forefront of new technologies and science, particularly health care, Switzerland has an astoundingly poor record for dealing with Covid-19. The Lake Geneva region, which borders locked-down France, ranks as one of the worst coronavirus hotspots in Europe. Many Swiss, too, act as if there is no pandemic by crowding into shopping malls or socialising without masks.
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has earmarked two billion dollars to empower smallholder farmers in Nigeria, according to the National Coordinator for the agency, Princess Gloria Akobundu.
The 6th edition of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) conference held on 02and 03 December in South Africa explored post-pandemic recovery for the African markets and addressed women’s economic empowerment.
DHL has appointed Clement Blanc as Managing Director for its business in South Africa, one of the key markets for the logistics giant in the fast-growing region according a press release for the company.
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UAE makes Avani Barbarons Resort Available to Seychelles
SEYCHELLES, 04 April 2020
Under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the ‘Avani Barbarons Seychelles Resort’ will be made available to the Government of Seychelles to be used by the Department of Health as a facility to accommodate their health personnel and supporting frontline service members, in the efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to our weekly brief on the spread of COVID-19 and the actions that Africa CDC is taking to help member states, Africa CDC has begun to share a weekly brief detailing the latest changes in scientific knowledge and public health policy changes, as well as updates to the latest guidance from WHO and others.
(Ecofin Agency) - Zimbabwean Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa announced this week the country will take delivery of 800,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine by March 2021.
The donation of 100,000 units of election thumbprint pads to the Niger Independent National Electoral Commission towards the conduct of the second round of presidential election dominates the headlines of the Ghanaian press on Thursday.
The Federal Office of Public Health in lieu of the steadily declined in the number of new infections with the corona virus in recent weeks plans to re- open the lockdown on 1 March.
In response to reported cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Republic of Guinea on Sunday 14 February confirming seven cases and three deaths, Sierra Leone has activated Emergency Response System in readiness to fight the virus.
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in its release announced personnel changes for several Swiss representations abroad and at its head office in Bern for 2020/2021.
ANGOLA - The increase in trains on the Benguela Railway (CFB), in 2021, is a strong possibility with the recent reception of two more locomotives ordered from General Electric.
ANGOLA - The Agricultural Development Institute (IDA) will open, in January 2021, agricultural training schools in the municipalities of Icolo and Bengo, Viana, Cacuaco and Quiçama, in the province of Luanda, announced the director of the institution, David Tunga.
ANGOLA - The government of Cuanza Norte wants to reactivate the irrigated perimeter of Mucoso, due to the agricultural potential for generating jobs and exporting products.