L – R: Nigeria’s Amb. Baba Madugu, MIFA’s CEO Rita Kobler- Emiko, and Wil City’s President Hans Mäder
The Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Baba Madugu has said, “Rita Kobler-Emiko, Founder, and CEO of Specialized office for Migrants, Migrantenfaschstelle (MIFA) Wil, Switzerland has made Nigeria proud.”
Michael Rheinegger Managing Director Swiss-African Business Circle (SABC)
Preparations for the hybrid AFRICA BUSINESS DAY 2022 which will take place on the 30 June 2022 in Baden at the Trafo Event Center (registration HERE) are well on track. Over 300 participants are expected representing a variety of sectors from more than 30 countries.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has reiterated that the Shongweni Dam, located west of Pinetown, in KwaZulu-Natal, has not collapsed.
(Togo First) - Just like in June 2021, the Togolese government, following its recent decision to increase the price of petroleum products, has established a new tariff schedule for intra-urban and inter-urban transport of people and goods.
(Togo First) - During their latest council, on April 10, Togolese ministers issued a draft decree covering procedures related to the provision and execution of public-private partnerships (PPPs).
(AfDB) - African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina arrived in Dubai today at the start of a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
(BOLLORE) - From March to December 2021, Bolloré Logistics Malawi implemented the transportation for the Golomoti Solar project, by conveying an all-inclusive shipment of 221 TEUS of solar panels, batteries and equipment from China to Malawi. Relying on its expertise in this field, Bolloré Logistics was able to be part of a historic project, in producing the first solar utility-scale grid-connected battery energy storage system in East Africa.
Belief, determination and patience are the key ingredients that a pharmaceutical company invested in South Africa has consistently used over the years.
Nearly 20 Kenya-based companies have been blacklisted by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in less than two years over fraud and quality concerns in projects funded by the multilateral lenders, according to an official statement seen by APA in Kigali last Friday.
Some 40 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s people are under the age of 15, making them potential future fintech customers at a time when smartphone penetration, still under 50 percent, is rising sharply [File: Adetona Omokanye/Bloomberg]
Fintech startups drew more than 60 percent of all venture funding that flowed into Africa last quarter.
President Buhari and Mr. Antony Blinken
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed appreciation to the United States for allowing Nigeria to procure military hardware to fight terrorism in the country and the training given to the Nigerian military.
(Ecofin Agency) - Following the previous dip of remittances to sub-Saharan Africa by 0.4% in 2019 and 12% in 2020 due to the pandemic, things have improved this year. According to data from the World Bank, money sent home this year, by sub-saharan Africans in Diaspora has amounted to $45 billion. This is 6.2% higher than last year.
The Young Activists
Young activists have been swapping inspiring stories at a UN-partnered youth summit last week about how they’ve driven positive change for their communities and the environment – and how everyone can do the same.
The international community must step up support to Madagascar, where more than one million people in the south are facing severe hunger, top UN aid official there said last Thursday in a renewed appeal for solidarity and funding.
The plan by the Federal Government to sanction eligible Nigerians who refuse COVID-19 vaccination and the cholera epidemic, which has been silently growing nationwide since beginning of the year are some of the leading stories in Nigerian newspapers recently.
(Business in Cameroon) - Chinese company Yousheng Cement Co Ltd is currently finetuning the establishment of a new cement plant inside the port area in Douala. The information was disclosed by Nana Aboubakar Djalloh, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Environment, in a release inviting the population to the public sittings, on August 30-September 4, 2021, at the Joss II Government Primary School in Douala, in the framework of the project’s environmental impact assessment.
(Ecofin Agency) - The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) adopted on 29 August new key performance indicators to measure the quality of telecom services provided by operators.
Rampaging miners
On the 13th of August 202, a journalist investigating artisanal mining issues for Radio Milo based in the Siguiri Prefecture was attacked by a group of young artisanal gold miners armed with hunting rifles and knives.
Nubaysha (Photo UPU)
“Winners of the competition all display a wisdom, a strength of character that goes far beyond their years; something that makes them stand out as individuals and as ambassadors of their generation.”The Universal Postal Union’s Director General Bishar A. Hussein remarked at a special ceremony during the 27th Universal Postal Congress in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire while announcing the winner of the edition.
Masahiko Metoki of Japan new Director shaking hands with the outgoing Director
Masahiko Metoki of Japan has been elected the new Director General of the UN specialized agency for postal matters, while Marjan Osvald of Slovenia has been elected as the organization's Deputy Director General.
Group photo with the outgoing DG (center) Bishar A. Hussein (Photo UPU)
Abidjan/Bern, 9 August 2021. Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the 27th Universal Postal Congress in Abidjan, Côte d' Ivoire, the Universal Postal Union’s Director General Bishar A. Hussein highlighted the international postal sector’s innovation and creativity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Modern Ghana) Ghanaian fisheries observers are bribed, threatened and abused at sea, investigations by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) have revealed .
(Togo First) - For the second consecutive year, Togo is the country that exported the largest volume of organic soyabeans to Europe. The West African nation, according to a report recently released by the EU Commission, sent 51,000tons of the crop to the Schengen Area.
Kenya Power workers. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Kenya has been ranked as the top country in the world in reducing the population with no access to electricity, pointing to the impact of the State’s focus on rural areas for nearly a decade.
(Business in Cameroon) - In Cameroon, Mobile Money operators are calling for flexible identification rules to allow users without official Identification documents to have access to some basic services.
(Ecofin Agency) - Between the covid-19 pandemic and the Ever Given accident, the global economic environment was not conducive to increased revenues for the Suez Canal. However, the waterway generated a historic annual revenue in 2020-21.
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As part of community development in Wau, IOM does capacity building and training for youths. Photo: IOM 2020/Peter Caton
While strides have been made to ensure gender equality over the years, work is continuing to accelerate these actions. “In terms of the landscape, I can proudly say that South African women have been as a result of democracy, taking part in decision making processes and structures. We have women ministers; we have women in top management and women who own businesses. I think in 1994, this was not imaginable. The advent of democracy has made it possible for us to thrive,” says Charlotte Lobe.
African authors are not too well known in Switzerland especially the female authors as I have learned, even by the people who have a general interest in Africa or business in/with Africa.
To circumvent liquidation, proactive engagement with creditors at the early stages of financial distress is imperative
It is well documented that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on businesses. Commerce in most sectors is fighting to keep their doors open, grappling with creditors to avoid winding up proceedings and its far-reaching implications.
The fight against plastic pollution is being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the use of disposable masks, gloves and other protective equipment soars, but UN agencies and partners insist that, if effective measures are put into place, the amount of plastics discarded every year can be significantly cut, or even eliminated.
1) Pollution driven by huge increase in mask sales
The promotion of mask wearing as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19 has led to an extraordinary increase in the production of disposable masks: the UN trade body, UNCTAD, estimates that global sales will total some $166 billion this year, up from around $800 million in 2019.
Dr. John Nkengasong and Commissioner Amira Elfadil Mohammed Elfadil
Everyone knows by now that due to a combination of leadership, environment, social ecology, demographics and as yet unknown biological and other factors, Africa has been spared the worst of the havoc that COVID-19 has wreaked on other parts of the globe and was predicted to do here too.
Tamer Farouk
As the pandemic continues to influence how organisations operate and behave, African businesses need to adapt its workforce and technology considerations
Achare Takor
In response the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of Cameroon decided on a number of fiscal measures to support Cameroonian businesses and households
With every industrial revolution comes shifts to social, economic, environmental and political systems, paving the way for transformative changes in the way we live and work.
The Universal Postal Congress has re-elected Switzerland to the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union. Delegates confirmed their confidence in Switzerland in the elections at the 27th World Postal Congress in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The Universal Postal Union will be headed by Masahiko Metoki from Japan beginning from 2022.
(Ecofin Agency) - Authorities in Senegal are exploring ways to boost the cotton industry after the sector delivered poor performances in recent years. The Agricultural Research Institute (ISRA) unit based in Tambacounda announced it is currently developing new varieties to improve both the productivity and the quality of the fiber.
(Ecofin Agency) - After the first investment in Morocco’s irrigation sector in March, Amethis Mena Fund II plans new investments in North Africa.
(Ecofin Agency) - As part of initiatives to help Africa catch up with the Covid-19 vaccination campaign, France and Germany announced they are giving the continent 80 million shots of vaccines.
[Nigeria Health Watch] The National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) is the top think tank in the federation, responsible for conducting cutting edge research on national issues. Every year, the Nigerian President assigns a theme to members of the Senior Executive Course, the flagship program of the Institute, to conduct research and submit a report directly to him. The theme for members of SEC 42 (2020) was, 'Population Growth and Human Capital Development: Challenges and Opportunities'.
[Leadership] Lagos State is leading with the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria, as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that the state has 100,376 confirmed COVID-19 cases, as at 1st of July, 2022.
[Ghanaian Times] Fully recovered mentally ill patients referred by various law courts to mental health facilities, cured of the ailment, were to face forced ejection soon, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has indicated.
[Nyasa Times] The Ministry of Health has directed all health facilities in the country to stop demanding police reports before assisting people injured in various circumstances, saying the practice is not in Malawi laws.
[The Herald] Zvamaida Murwira and George Maponga in Masvingo
[SAnews.gov.za] South Africa recorded 399 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the number of laboratory confirmed case to 3 993 843.
[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Azimio-One Kenya coalition running mate Martha Karua has been featured in a song dubbed 'Heko Mama' that celebrates the strides Kenya has made.
[Daily Trust] Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, has cancelled a concert in Morocco to mourn last week's tragedy on the border of Spain's Melilla enclave in which at least 23 African migrants died.
[263Chat] Multi-Grammy award winner Rick Ross , real name William Roberts II, is expected to perform in the country on 18 November 2022, at the Harare International Conference Center.
[Nyasa Times] Music icon Lucius Banda has hit back at allegations that he sidelined Nepman on a trip to US to perform during Malawi's 58th Independence Anniversary.
[Nyasa Times] Upcoming musician Black Icee Mc has unveiled ambitions to take music to higher levels.
[Addis Standard] Addis Abeba -- There is an amazing aura of jubilation in the air. Young and old alike, we are celebrating the life and legacy of our beloved Haacaaluu Hundeessaa on the anniversary of his assassination. The Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia Canada even named June 29 as Oromiya Day.
[Nyasa Times] Malawi's First Lady Monica Chakwera has said that it is her desire to see all girls across the country be in school and attain education.
[Premium Times] "I would say that this strike, in a way, is not a waste of time for me."
[Vanguard] Some stakeholders in the education sector have continued to deep express worry over the lingering crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
[The Point] The Minister of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (MOHERST) Prof. Pierre Gomez and his delegation on Friday visited Crab Island Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) Centre.
[New Era] The odds were always stacked against Johanna Kamati, one of the few San people from Onamatadiva village in the Ohangwena region who made it through school without dropping out or at least reaching tertiary education level.
[Ghanaian Times] Papu -- Fifty young girls from two schools in the Nadowli/Kaleo District of the Upper West Region have been trained in Information Communication and Technology (ICT)to help enhance their skills in the field.
[The Herald] HOSPITALITY concern, Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) says the domestic tourism market has driven its business during the Covid-19 pandemic period when the world embarked on national lockdowns and travel restrictions to contain the disease.
[Nile Post] With just a few days to this year's Bell Lager and Swangz Avenue's Roast and Rhyme edition in
[SAnews.gov.za] Private reserves on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park and government have committed to working together on a number of areas, including tackling wildlife crime, enhancing transformation and improving the local economy.
[The Herald] President Mnangagwa is today expected to launch the three million euro Great Zimbabwe Development Project for the rehabilitation and development of the World Heritage Site in Masvingo.
[Govt of SA] Minister Sisulu is pleased with the latest numbers released today, 28 June 2022, by Statistics SA on Tourism Migration
[CAJ News] Port Louis -- Mauritius has received over 500,000 visitors since October last year when the country reopened its borders.
The 1972 World Chess Championship saw Bobby Fischer of the US challenge the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky. Fifty years later, the "Match of the Century" lives on.
Many people in Europe look forward to the summer season and finer weather. Sunshine and warmer temperatures draw us out of our homes and into parks and gardens - for a picnic, perhaps.
People who don't plan on staying overnight in the Italian lagoon city will have to pay a fee starting in January. City officials insist that the city is still open to tourists.
Matthias Grünewald's paintings are masterpieces of the late Gothic era. After four years of work, experts have restored the painter's famous Isenheim Altarpiece to its former glory.
Airlines hoping to cash in on renewed demand are facing labor agitation after firing swathes of workers during the pandemic.
After a century of restitution claims, Germany is transferring ownership of 1,130 bronzes to Nigeria. A groundbreaking step in the return of looted art.
[IPS] New Delhi, India -- The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted lives all over the world. According to this report, gender is emerging as a significant factor in the social, economic and health effects of Covid-19. Women have been hit much harder socially and economically than men. The greatest and most persistent gender gap was seen in employment and uncompensated labour, with 26% of women reporting loss of work compared with 20% of men globally in September 2021.
[Daily Trust] Commercial female drivers are not new on Lagos roads, but interestingly, more women are joining the business, Daily Trust Saturday takes a look at the trend and also interacted with some of the female drivers.
[Vanguard] SHE does not shy away from the job, which feeds her and her sibling despite the fact that the work is considered odd and reserved for the menfolk. Helen Yakubu, who is in her early 20s is not afraid to introduce herself as a laundry worker and does not hide the fact that she is happy to wash clothes and iron them for their owners at agreed fee. Perhaps, to prove how happy she is with the masculine chore, she is fond of chorusing the refrain "what a man can do, a woman can do even better".
[Tunis Afrique Presse] Tunis/Tunisia -- The first edition of the Takelsa Women's Festival was held on Thursday, under the theme "rural women's activity and contribution to achieving a healthy environment."
[FrontPageAfrica] Monrovia -- Israeli Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, H. E. Shlomit Sufa, has announced Israel's commitment to supporting Liberian women and girls in line with the government's Pro-poor Agenda for Peace and Prosperity including women's economic independence and empowerment.
[Ghanaian Times] A Gender Policy has been developed to guide the work of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) across the country.
Many Bangladeshis who come to Cyprus hoping to find work end up in refugee camps in the EU country. They blame human traffickers for their ill fate.
The 1972 World Chess Championship saw Bobby Fischer of the US challenge the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky. Fifty years later, the "Match of the Century" lives on.
Germany's long love affair with its high-speed freeways could hit a dead end as calls grow to stop autobahn extensions amid the climate crisis.
Many people in Europe look forward to the summer season and finer weather. Sunshine and warmer temperatures draw us out of our homes and into parks and gardens - for a picnic, perhaps.
Nigeria are once again favored to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. But with the field increasing to 12 teams, some will like their chances to unseat the perennial champions.
As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused to allow interest rate rises, Turkey steps toward capital controls to support its national currency, the lira. Analysts say an economic slowdown may be on the way.
[Nyasa Times] A senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) official Ken Msonda and Centre for Mindset Change (CMC) Executive Director Philip Kamangirah have dared Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima to stop harbouring ambitions of becoming president of the country in 2025.
[Capital FM] Siaya -- Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga has called on voters in his Nyanza backyard to adopt the six-piece mode of voting in what he termed as an effort to enhance the formation of a stable government if he is elected president in next month's General Election.
[Capital FM] Nairobi -- President Uhuru Kenyatta says the implementation of legislative measures targeting the operations of the Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) has been key to getting rid of the pyramid schemes menace in the country.
[Shabelle] Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mohamud Ahmed Nur (Tarsan) said relations between the two neighboring countries - Kenya and Somalia are now at their best point.
[Premium Times] The minister said maternal and parental death surveillance and response is a priority initiative for the government.
[Vanguard] President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authority on the successful berthing of the first ship at Lekki Deep Sea port.
In a video podcast, Chancellor Olaf Scholz admitted that rising prices were a major cause of concern. Ministers, trade unions, the Bundesbank and academics will convene next week as calls mount for generous pay hikes.
[Vanguard] With over 1,023 scheduled flights for the month of June, 2022, Ibom Air, stated that 58 flights were cancelled due to non-availability of Aviation Kerosene, popularly known as Jet A1.
[Namibian] FIVE of the 16 people who died in a road collision between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo in December last year were buried at Onakaheke cemetery in the Omusati region on Saturday morning.
[The Herald] NetOne subscribers say they continue to face network challenges following the recent system upgrade.
[Premium Times] The vessels came from Hong Kong.
[Observer] Augustus J. Flomo, Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Management, recently disclosed that the domestic debt portfolio of Liberia has climbed to US$708 million since December 2021.
Vera Pauw, now the coach of the Irish women's national team, has said she was sexually abused by three people employed in Dutch football during her time as a young national team player.
Home advantage spurred the Netherlands onto victory at the last Women's Euro in 2017. Now they’re happy to take a back seat as they look to defend their crown in England this summer.
[New Times] The national basketball team's winless run at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers has continued after a 63-73 loss to South Sudan on Friday, July 1.
[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Athletics Kenya (AK) president Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei has tipped the newly-selected team of junior athletes to retain Kenya's World Under 20 Championships title for the third time in Cali, Colombia.
[Premium Times] This is the first time a foreign coach will lead Nigeria to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations
[Premium Times] Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, was in Nigeria recently for a talent hunt programme through his Back2Base project
[World Bank] The World Bank today approved an International Development Association (IDA)* additional financing of $250 million to enable Benin to continue its large-scale program to provide water access to rural communities.
[World Bank] The World Bank today approved US$48.3 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA)* (50 percent grant/50 percent credit) and a grant in the amount of US$13 million from the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project.
[Egypt Online] A delegation from the Egyptian presidency for the COP27 held Thursday a meeting with Deputy Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Monique Nsanzabaganwa, where they briefed her on the latest preparations for COP27, to be held in Sharm el Sheikh in November.
[SAnews.gov.za] While the overall outlook of the national water levels improved slightly week-on-week, the Department of Water and Sanitation reiterated its call to water users to exercise maximum caution when utilising water.
[FrontPageAfrica] Monrovia -- It's been less than six months since five entrepreneurs won business growth grants of up to US$40,000. On a monitoring mission in May this year, UNDP found that the winning enterprises are putting the co-financing grants to good use as they begin implementing their business plans.
[FrontPageAfrica] Monrovia -- The Government of Liberia and its development partners on Thursday launched the National Fund Drive for the Rehabilitation and Empowerment of At-Risk Youth (Zogos), with the President of the country, Dr. George Manneh Weah calling on all citizens and friends of Liberia to take urgent and concerted action to address the problem of disadvantaged youth in the country.
[Daily News] CONTRIBUTION of research and innovation is recognized by the government as an important tool in improving and simplifying the lives of citizens in saving time on performance, increasing productivity and quality in product production and even on service delivery.
[New Era] Namibia, and more broadly Africa, can position itself to reap the benefits of artificial intelligence if it equips tomorrow's workers with the skills needed to develop solutions.
[Daily News] GOVERNMENT's efforts to develop and improve policies on science and technology contribute to motivating innovations among youth and creating more jobs.
[WHO] Development of new antibacterial treatments is inadequate to address the mounting threat of antibiotic resistance, according to the annual pipeline report by the World Health Organization. The 2021 report describes the antibacterial clinical and preclinical pipeline as stagnant and far from meeting global needs. Since 2017 only 12 antibiotics have been approved, 10 of which belong to existing classes with established mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
[New Times] Four young innovators were awarded USD 10,000 each, at the Commonwealth start-up festival, which marked the closure of the Commonwealth Youth forum on June 21.
[This is Africa] The informal plastic recycling sector in Kenya does not fairly compensate waste pickers making it a very exploitative circular economy. Mr Green Africa is changing that by purchasing directly from their sourcing agents or waste pickers, who are some of society's most marginalised people.