diplomacy&development

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the  African Energy Chamber (AEC) The Invest in African Energy reception in Dubai on Thursday represented the fourth stop on the African Energy Chamber’s global investment tour and identified strategic areas for Middle East-Africa partnership and cooperation, including frontier exploration, upcoming licensing rounds and associated services. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( http://www.EnergyChamber.org ) united financiers and energy stakeholders from the UAE, Middle East and Africa during its Invest in African Energy reception in Dubai on Thursday, aimed at cementing deeper, longer-term and mutually beneficial relations between the two regions and advancing shared interests in diversification, energy security and infrastructure development. Following successful stops in London, Oslo and Frankfurt earlier this year, the Chamber’s global investment tour continued to Dubai – representing a global financial capital and trade center – to catalyze new pathways

Mangale’s experience in running the largest enterprise telecommunications unit in Africa uniquely positions him to continue the excellent work done to date to transform and grow SEACOM. SEACOM ( https://www.SEACOM.com ), Africa’s leading telecommunications and managed services provider, today announced that Alpheus Mangale, is joining SEACOM as incoming Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2023. He is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years’ experience across the enterprise, telecoms, financial services and technology markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He will work alongside the company’s outgoing Group Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Fortuin, for a three-month period to ensure a smooth leadership transition, at the end of which he will assume full responsibility for the business.  “I am delighted to join SEACOM at this critical time in Africa's digital transformation and the business’ own transformation. I look forward to continuing to drive the

Female African energy stakeholders, policymakers and financers explored gender inclusivity and equality during a webinar hosted by the African Energy Chamber’s African Women Business Energy Network. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( www.EnergyChamber.org ) – the voice of the African energy sector – hosted a webinar exploring gender inclusivity and equality across Africa’s energy industry and the best practices to maximize female participation in helping Africa deliver a just and equitable energy transition. Under the AEC’s African Women Business Energy Network (AWBEN) initiative, the webinar took place under the theme, ‘Harnessing Diversity and Inclusion in the energy industry in the age of Energy Transition’, and was moderated by NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the AEC with Katia Epalanga, Executive Director, Sonangol; Oluseyi Afolabi, Principal Consultant and CEO, Reservoir and Facilities Solutions Nigeria; Mojisola Iyamabo, Associate Vice President, Heirs Holdings Oil and Gas; G

MCB has recently been expanding its footprint into several African countries and is also deepening its intra-African trade financing activities.   The Board of the African Development Bank Group ( www.AfDB.org ) has approved $147 million in subordinated debt to the Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) to enhance its capital base and mobilize loan growth in the renewables, manufacturing healthcare and other sectors, including SMEs. The debt will take the form of a Basel III Tier 2 compliant bond to be issued by MCB, a leading African financial institution and one of five banks classified as a Domestic Systematically Important Bank (DSIB) by Mauritius’ central bank. MCB has recently been expanding its footprint into several African countries and is also deepening its intra-African trade financing activities, which align with the African Development Bank’s High-5 strategic targets, including to integrate Africa. The financing is expected to catalyze additional deposits to expand MCB’s loan

La MCB a récemment étendu sa présence dans plusieurs pays africains et approfondit également ses activités de financement du commerce intra-africain. Le Conseil d'administration du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement ( www.AfDB.org ) a approuvé l'octroi d'une dette subordonnée de 147 millions de dollars à la Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) afin de renforcer ses fonds propres et de mobiliser la croissance des prêts dans les secteurs des énergies renouvelables, de l'industrie manufacturière, de la santé et d'autres secteurs, notamment les PME. La dette prendra la forme d'une obligation de niveau 2 conforme à Bâle III qui sera émise par la MCB, une institution financière africaine de premier plan et l'une des cinq banques classées comme banque d'importance systémique nationale (DSIB) par la banque centrale mauricienne. La MCB a récemment étendu sa présence dans plusieurs pays africains et approfondit également ses activités de financement du

The meeting recalled the need to consolidate staffing within the ECOWAS Commission, to enhance visibility of interventions in Member States. Part of the process of renewing the Africa Programme for Peace (APP) agreement a Danish delegation visited Abuja from 22 through 24 March 2023 to interact with keys partners including the ECOWAS Commission. H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, met on March 23 with a Danish delegation led by H.E. Sune Krogstrup,  Ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of Denmark to Nigeria, supported by Mrs Stine S. Iskov, Head of Africa Policy and Development, and Mr Julian Brett, Lead Consultant. Issues related to peace and security, early warning, risk management, monitoring and evaluation, human capital development, gender mainstreaming, empowerment of women and youth, stabilization of fragile States in West Africa were discussed. The meeting recalled the need to consolidate staffing within the ECOWAS Commission, to enhance visi

The World Bank Group is a long-standing partner of Western and Central Africa. World Bank Group President David Malpass will make official visits to Niger and Togo from March 29 to April 1, 2023, to discuss regional and global priorities including strengthening security and peace, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, food security, energy access, and the importance of education, among other issues.  In Niger from March 29 to 31, President Malpass will meet with Mohamed Bazoum, President of the Republic of Niger, and key stakeholders and partners of the World Bank Group to discuss the country’s development agenda and the World Bank Group’s support to the country and the Sahel region. President Malpass will deliver the positioning speech for the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings scheduled for April 10-16 in Washington, DC. The speech will be hosted by the University of Niamey. In Togo from March 31 to April 1, President Malpass will discuss strategic area

The Vice President for Upstream Consulting at S&P Global, Matthew Rawlings, will give a presentation during the Dubai leg of the African Energy Chamber’s Invest in African Energy roadshow. Matthew Rawlings, Vice President for Upstream Consulting at private banking and intelligence company, S&P Global, will participate as a speaker and give a presentation during the Dubai leg of energy advocacy group, the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) ( www.EnergyChamber.org ), Invest in African Energy roadshow. With S&P Global serving to provide essential expertise and intelligence to governments, businesses and individuals, Rawling’s participation during this leg of the event will guide investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the innumerable opportunities on offer within Africa’s burgeoning energy sector. Taking place on 30 March at the Ritz Carlton in Dubai’s International Finance Center, this edition of the roadshow will unlock a new era of economic ties between Africa and

Merck Foundation CEO announced call for application of 2033 Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards in partnership with African First Ladies - apply now at submit@merck-foundation.com .   Merck Foundation ( www.Merck-Foundation.com ), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, in partnership with the African First Ladies, announced the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition “More Than a Mother” Awards 2022 and “Diabetes and Hypertension” Awards 2022. The awards ceremony was held via Videoconference to felicitate all the media award winners. The winners were announced and acknowledged by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” campaign. The theme of “More Than a Mother” Awards was to raise awareness on any of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/or Stopping GBV at all levels and the theme of “Diabetes and Hype

CEO de la Fondation Merck a annoncé un Appel à Candidatures pour les Prix de Reconnaissance des Médias de la Fondation Merck 2023 en partenariat avec les Premières Dames Africaines - postulez maintenant à submit@merck-foundation.com .   La Fondation Merck ( www.Merck-Foundation.com ), la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, en partenariat avec les Premières Dames Africaines, a annoncé les gagnants des Prix de Reconnaissance des Médias « Plus Qu'une Mère » et « Diabète et Hypertension » 2022 de la Fondation Merck. La cérémonie de remise des prix s'est déroulée par vidéoconférence pour féliciter tous les gagnants des prix de médias. Les gagnants ont été annoncés et reconnus par la Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck et Présidente de la Campagne « Plus Qu'une Mère ». Le thème des Prix « Plus Qu'une Mère » était de sensibiliser à l'un des problèmes sociaux suivants, tels que: briser la stigmatisation de l'infertilité, soutenir l'édu