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Tag: Africa

  • Africa knows its best interests

    Africa knows its best interests

    By Charles Onunaiju

    Nearly 50  years after Nigeria’s charismatic former military head of state,  the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed,  warned from the hallowed rostrum of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), in January 1976,  that “Africa has come of age and it is no longer under the orbit of any extra-continental power,” a German diplomat, Weert Borner, reportedly cautioned leaders of West African countries against partnership with  the Russian Federation in their respective countries at a recent event.

    Gen. Mohammed had cautioned then that, “for too long has it been presumed that an African needs outside experts to tell him who are his friends and who are his enemies,” and added that “the time has come when we should make it clear that we can decide for ourselves; that we know our own interests and how to protect those interests; that we are capable of resolving African problems without presumptuous lessons in ideological dangers which more often than not, have no relevance for us, nor for the problem at hand.” Gen. Murtala Mohammed spoke against the background of the infamous letter from the then US President Gerald Ford, warning African leaders against the continent’s effort to bring unity among pro-independence forces in Angola.

     Weert Borner, Germany’s Consular General in Lagos, reportedly spoke at an international conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA) in Lagos. The German diplomat reportedly warned, “do not regard Russia under President Putin as a reliable partner on peace and stability in the region. From Russia’s direct neighbourhood to various parts of Africa, Putin’s Russia is playing a power and resource game without respect for the true interests of the respective countries in the region.”

    The German diplomat is among the archetype of “outside experts” that Gen. Muhammed warned against several years ago, that would tell the African “who are his friends and who are his enemies.”

    Since 2022, when the simmering Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out into an open proxy war, with the 32-member US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) vowing to inflict “strategic defeat” on Russia, various European countries, especially Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Poland have made it a key part of their diplomatic activity to rupture, by all means, the long  historic Africa-Russia relations inherited from the era of the defunct Soviet Union, to which the Russian Federation is the major successor state.

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    Both at the multilateral forum of the United Nations and bilateral platforms, these countries have arm-twisted and pressured African countries to line up behind their agenda of inflicting “strategic defeat” on Russia; a project which has turned out to be a geo-political fantasy from the reality of actual combat in the battlefields and the compulsive failure to isolate Moscow on the world stage. African countries have maintained a pragmatic approach to the conflict, which consists of adding their voices to the call for a negotiated settlement through diplomatic engagement, which contrasts with NATO’s inflammable actions of pouring more weapons into the conflict.

    Africa’s cautious and pragmatic approach is based on the reality that Russia, being a nuclear power with the largest numbers of the deadly warheads in its arsenal, can be forced to unleash it, if cornered, and bring humanity to an end. While leaders of Western European countries and its NATO alliance can gamble on this end-time scenario, they have no right to force others, especially Africans, to share in their geopolitical containment strategy, which can backfire with unpredictable consequences.

     Telling African leaders, especially in the ECOWAS region, to beware and stay clear of “Putin’s Russia” is an outdated diplomacy of fear- mongering that no longer works. Having prodded Ukraine to poke fingers at the eyes of her stronger neighbour, with her reckless ambition to join NATO, and also the open maltreatment of ethnic Russians, what has Ukraine achieved except its cities in ruins, nearly two million dead, over six million in exile and in internal refugee camps, with European leaders bantering Ukraine’s beleaguered leader, Mr. Zelenskyy. Europe had an opportunity to end the conflict when it first broke out in the 2010s.

    Germany and France were key European countries that acted as guarantors under the 2014 negotiated settlement of conflict held in Belarus capital, Minsk, from which there were two major agreements ending the conflict then, called Minsk 1 and 2.

    Germany’s long-serving leader then, Angela Merkel, and her France counterpart, Francois Hollande, both explained later that the agreement produced at the negotiation was intended as a hoax, to deceive Russia and buy time for Ukraine to re-arm and create a “strong army.”

    Following the start of the war in 2022, a process of negotiated settlement was started in Istanbul, Turkey, and again, according to the head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, an agreement which would have ended the war a few months after it started was derailed, when the then British former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, ostensibly acting on behalf of NATO, urged the Ukrainians to walk away from the Istanbul process and just  “fight.”

    While these are the unassailable facts in the trajectories of the escalations of the conflict to its current phase, the NATO establishment and their media outlets label all such factual chronicles as mere “Russia-narratives,” which they claim are being routinely fed to Africa, with their arrogant assumptions that Africans are unable to decipher facts from fictions. 

    African leaders have at several forums made clear that Africa of the 21st century prefers to be a pole of international stability, demonstrating even-handedness on global issues, instead of being a pawn in the geo-political contests of major powers. Africa’s space is large enough to accommodate all partners, especially those who respect the integrity of the continent to choose and decide what is best for her.

     Peace and stability are essential prerequisites for sustainable and inclusive development in Africa, and the need for it cannot be allowed to be trifled with by diplomats whose goal is merely to score geo-political points against their rivals. Those countries in the West African sub- region – Senegal, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger – who kicked out American and French military forces, know best the reality and experiences they have lived through with the military presence of these powers, and are best placed to decide what comes next for them, and not a German diplomat living in the safe and exquisite corner of Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos.

     At least, he should say what Germany brings along to support the sub-region in addressing the security concerns and not to engage in fear-mongering about “Putin’s Russia.” It appears Western Europe and its NATO alliance are yet to come to the reality that Africa’s partnerships with China, Russia, India, Turkey, Brazil, Vietnam, Republic of Korea etc. are the existential fact of Africa’s irreversible embrace of the emerging multilateral international system, and which have so far delivered concrete returns in the many areas of Africa’s priorities of economic growth, poverty reduction, peace and stability, and mutual political respect.

    It is also a well-known fact that military procurements and training in Africa are carried out now with more diverse partners, thereby eliminating the lethargic conditionalities imposed by Western Europe and their NATO alliance in such an important field of cooperation. Except such traditional partners in Europe and their diplomats engage in understanding the evolving realities, especially as Africa seizes the opportunities of the shifting international landscape to diversify her partnerships, their approach would continue to look like the discredited old gunboat diplomacy.

    As it is typical of Africa, even far before the emergence of its modern states, Africa never forgets her old friends, even those with a colonial record of brutal domination and exploitation and, therefore, welcomes everyone to the cooperation safari of win-win outcomes.

    •Onunaiju writes from Abuja

  • Insurance is enabler of Africa’s infrastructure

    Insurance is enabler of Africa’s infrastructure

    With a rapidly growing population and accelerating urbanisation, Africa faces an urgent need for expanded and resilient infrastructure.

    Besides, unlocking investor capital for infrastructure development hinges on effective risk mitigation.

    This was made known report by insurers and reinsurers under the umbrella body of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) at the opening ceremony of the 51st Annual Conference holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    The report stated that the continent has a huge infrastructure shortfall and infrastructure financing deficit.

    For example, only 43 per cent of Africa’s population has access to all-season roads, 50.7 per cent of sub-Saharan Africans lack electricity access, and infrastructure inequality between urban and rural areas remains significant.

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    “These shortfalls hinder intra-African trade, raise production and logistics costs, and leave communities vulnerable to economic and climate-related shocks.  According to the African Development Bank, Africa needs $495.6 billion annually to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and $86.7 billion annually to advance African Union’s Agenda 2063 – both of which are dominated by infrastructure needs – and it estimates that the financing gap for these targets stands at a staggering 81 per cent of the total need.

    “Domestic public funding is constrained by limited revenues and high debt servicing costs. While fiscal reforms are essential, they face considerable hurdles. To accelerate infrastructure development, Africa must urgently further mobilise alternative financing sources, alongside boosting donor inflows and concessional financing to help reduce debt vulnerabilities,” the report said.

    AIO said unlocking investor capital for infrastructure development hinges on effective risk mitigation.

    “Africa’s infrastructure investment environment is shaped by complex risk factors, including political and economic instability, regulatory uncertainty, insufficient data, lack of transparency, weak cross-border coordination, and in some cases inadequate project preparation. These risks drive up capital costs and deter long-term investment. This is where the re/insurance sector plays a pivotal role. As risk experts with strong credit ratings and specialised solutions – such as performance guarantees and coverage against property, liability, credit and political risks – re/insurers help to de-risk infrastructure investments and protect assets across their lifecycle.

    “Moreover, insurers with long-term liabilities are increasingly aligning with the low-carbon transition and represent a significant, largely untapped pool of institutional capital. With the right frameworks, they can become powerful enablers of resilient, sustainable infrastructure across Africa. Call to action for all stakeholders.

    “The report finds that bridging Africa’s infrastructure gap requires cross-sector collaboration and coordinated actions by all stakeholders. For example, for governments and regulators, key recommendations include implementing reforms to foster a stable macroeconomic environment, promoting intra-Africa coordination, involving re/insurers early-on in projects to benefit from the sector’s extensive risk expertise, promoting public-private partnerships and blended financing structures, and enabling innovative risk mitigation solutions and risk-sharing initiatives.

    “The report also emphasises the need to foster efficient, liquid domestic capital markets to mobilise domestic capital and reduce currency risk and external debt, including by recognising infrastructure as a unique asset class and reducing capital charges for infrastructure assets. Institutions such as Africa Re, the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) and various regional risk pools are already making meaningful progress in supporting Africa’s infrastructure development. However, broader participation across the insurance sector is urgently needed to expand these efforts and build a continent-wide risk resilience framework,” the report added.

  • Nigeria leads Africa’s start-ups with $4.7b capital raising

    Nigeria leads Africa’s start-ups with $4.7b capital raising

     Since 2019, start-ups in Nigeria have raised a total of $4.7billion with an estimated average gross domestic product (GDP) purchasing power parity (PPP) of $5.500 while Kenya with a total of $3.5billion and $6,000 PPP.

    According to Wikipedia, a country‘s GDP at PPP is the value of all final goods and services produced within an economy in a given year, divided by the average (or mid-year) population for the same year. This is similar to nominal GDP per capita but adjusted for the cost of living in each country.

    Data obtained from a document entitled: Africa: The Big Deal, South Africa followed Kenya with $2.9billion and $15,000 PPP while Egypt’s $2.7billion and $13,000 PPP made it the fourth on the continent in the $1billion and above category. The four countries are popularly referred to as the Big Four.

    In the $100m and $1billion category are countries such as Algeria with $8188 million and $14,000 PPP; Tunisia with $183million and $11.5,000 PPP, Ghana with $470million and $6.500; Morocco with $277million and $10,000PP; Senegal secured $414million and $3.800 PPP. Others are Benin with $133million and $3.800 PPP, Benin-$133million and $3.800 PPP, Tanzania-$291million and $2.900 PPP; Uganda-$194million and $2.400 PPP; and DRC $114million and $1.200PPP.

    The document also showed that Mauritius, Namibia, Sudan, Cameroon, Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mali, Zimbabwe, Togo and Sierra Leone fall into the $10million and $100million cash raise bracket.

    According to the document, in 2023, the ‘Big Four’ attracted 87per cent of all the start-up funding in Africa, their largest share since 2019. They were home to 71per cent (357 out of 500) of the start-ups who raised $100k or more on the continent last year. Given their weight, their ranking pretty much mirrors the regional one, with Nigeria’s story quite different from the others’.

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    With just under $800million raised in 2023, Kenya attracted the most funding, 28 per cent of the continent’s total. While it suffered a decline (-25per cent YoY), its share of Eastern Africa’s funding grew from 86per cent in 2022 to 91per cent in 2023. 93 start-ups raised $100k or more during the period (19per cent of Africa’s total).

    In Egypt, there were 48 such ventures raising $100k+ in 2023, the lowest number out of the Big Four. But thanks to a YoY decline (-20er cent) more moderate than Kenya and most importantly Nigeria, it was enough for the country to claim the second spot. Egypt’s share of North African funding grew substantially from 72per cent in 2022 to 95per cent in 2023 (+23pp, by far the strongest progression), due both to the magnitude of MNT-Halan’s fundraising, and Algeria and Tunisia’s inability to repeat their strong 2022 performance.

    South Africa’s share of regional funding remains the highest at 97per cent. The 70 start-ups who raised $100k or more in the country cumulated $600m in funding i.e. 21per cent of the continent’s total. South Africa was the only one of the Big Four not to see its total funding shrink between 2022 and 2023 (+eight per cent YoY).

    According to the report, Nigeria is the country where the most dramatic change happened in 2023. While the country still claimed the highest number of start-ups to raise $100k or more (146, 29per cent of the continent), the amount they raised was divided by 3 YoY (-67per cent) to reach $410million, compared to $1.2billion in 2022, and $1.7billion in 2021. As a result, its share of Western African funding continued to drop to reach 68per cent, down from 85per cent in 2021, and 77per cent in 2022. This is the lowest regional share of any Big Four market since we started collecting the data in 2019.

    Of course, even though it represents only 13per cent of the funding, there is a wealth of activity beyond the Big Four. Encouragingly, 29per cent of the start-ups who raised $100k or more in 20213 were located outside the Big Four.

  • UI teacher urges Africa to harness AI for development, protection

    UI teacher urges Africa to harness AI for development, protection

    A lecturer at the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, who is a visiting scholar at the Karatina University, Kenya, Dr. Ayodele Alonge has called on Africa to actively harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to uplift, empower, and protect the African continent.

     Alonge, who is the convener of the International Conference on Sustainable Knowledge Systems, held at Karatina University, Kenya, reflected on strong international commitment towards harnessing A.I for public good.

     The conference, themed, ‘Artificial Intelligence, Libraries, and the Future of Sustainable Knowledge in Africa,’ was in collaboration with the University, drew participants from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Netherlands, U.S. and others joining virtually.

    Alonge who maintained that Africans must not only use AI as a tool for prompt research work or findings but embed their stories, ethics and aspirations into its usage.

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    He said, “Africa must not only use AI, we must shape it. We must embed our stories, our ethics, and our aspirations into every line of code.”

     He noted that there was need to adapt AI tools to African languages and rural contexts, curriculum reforms to include AI, data ethics and governance as well as policy frameworks where governments are advised to regulate AI to align with development goals.

    He said “the event sparked critical conversations on ethical AI integration, cultural preservation, and Africa’s digital transformation. It underscored the urgency of balancing innovation with equity in shaping the continent’s knowledge ecosystems.”

  • Five Africa’s loudest countries in 2025

    Five Africa’s loudest countries in 2025

    Africa is a continent full of life, colour, and energy. When people talk about the “loudest countries” in Africa, they don’t just mean noise from cars or crowds. The word “loud” here can also describe a country’s culture, music, and influence in politics.

    In some places, cities are full of honking horns, busy markets, and constant activity. In others, it’s the music, festivals, and strong public voices that make them stand out. Some countries are also “loud” because of how they speak up in world politics and lead in African affairs.

    Here are five loud African countries that are known for being loud in sound, culture, and leadership.

    1. Nigeria: Home to Lagos, one of the most densely populated and noisy cities in Africa. Nigeria is also culturally “loud” with its booming music industry (Afrobeats), vibrant film scene (Nollywood), and highly expressive population.

    2. Egypt: Cairo is famous for its chaotic traffic, busy streets, and 24/7 city life. Egypt also maintains a strong voice in regional and global politics.

    3. South Africa: Cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town are known for their nightlife and busy urban centers. South Africa also has a strong media presence and political influence in the region.

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    4. Kenya: Nairobi is a bustling hub of economic and social activity with high noise levels from traffic and markets. Kenya is also culturally vibrant, especially in music and art.

    5. Ghana: Accra, the capital, is known for its lively streets, festivals, and music scenes. Ghana is increasingly influential culturally across the continent.

  • Braye: A refreshing new voice of Africa

    Braye: A refreshing new voice of Africa

    Emerging Nigerian singer and songwriter, Braye is a diamond in the rough. Just like diamonds, the truest artists are born under the kind of pressure that could make or break the toughest among us.

    Despite facing several obstacles that could eliminate him from making music, the Port Harcourt-born minstrel keeps proving his talent to the world.

    “Even with constant moving around, sleeping in a friend’s car some nights, and my dad not being too happy about my decision to pursue music, I just found a way,” Braye explains.

    “I feel like I’m meant to make music. I just wanted it too much not to take it seriously.” His journey fuels his art; therein lies Braye’s strength: a determination to live and create on his terms.

    A refreshing new voice emerging out of the continent, Braye has taken it upon himself to make the type of reggae, soul, and jazz-infused music that raised him and imbue them with the sounds of his native Nigeria and Accra, Ghana, where he went to school.

    After years spent honing his craft, Braye is ready to harness the opportunities abounding in his path and release his full potential.

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    Braye is gearing up to release his first-ever project titled, ‘I Wish I Had More Time EP’ on Friday, May 30th. This release follows his recent single ‘Bossa Nova.’

    Listening to greats like Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Sam Cooke, and Ray Charles developed his taste for nostalgic composition and expression. His background in fiction writing informed his vulnerable yet assured songwriting.

    A child of the internet, Braye used YouTube to teach himself guitar and piano and commune with producers.

    “I spent a lot of time alone just listening to many different kinds of music, learning everything I could. I didn’t record or make any videos until I was confident to see myself for the musician that I am.”

    And when he felt like he was finally ready to let the world in, Braye shared snippets of his work on Instagram. For alté star Boj, one video was all the evidence he needed.

    The wheels started turning quickly after that, and the generational talent found himself in the heart of Nigeria’s music industry, developing a fresh new sound, gaining attention for his pen and spellbinding solo work.

    Whether it’s a hum, the strum of his guitar, or his endless repertoire of lyrics, music flows from Braye. “This is everything that I want to do, this is what my life is tailored towards, just creating stuff that people can hold on to, that people can experience.”

  • Africa’s AI pioneer unveils tools toy transform PR in Africa

    Africa’s AI pioneer unveils tools toy transform PR in Africa

    Africa’s leading voice in AI-driven communications, Celestine Achi, is set to launch a groundbreaking suite of tools on May 21, 2025, aimed at redefining public relations strategy across the continent and globally.

    At the heart of the launch is his new book, AI-Powered PR: The Essential Guide for Communications Leaders to Master Artificial Intelligence—a strategic manual combining case studies, tools, and actionable prompts to guide professionals through AI integration in content creation, media intelligence, stakeholder engagement, and sentiment analysis.

    Complementing the book is AI-Powered PR: The Interactive Experience, a first-of-its-kind gamified platform where users step into the role of a digital PR strategist, navigating high-stakes scenarios in crisis management, campaign design, and audience analytics.

    Achi is also unveiling two key frameworks designed to accelerate AI adoption in communications including AI-PR Maturity Model and TABS-D Framework.

    According to Achi, the AI-PR Maturity Model is a diagnostic tool that helps organizations assess their AI readiness, benchmark against industry standards, and create tailored advancement plans.

    While the TABS-D Framework is a five-phase methodology: Train, Adapt, Build, Ship, Deploy. The roadmap takes organizations from foundational AI literacy to full-scale implementation, ensuring practical, ethical, and performance-driven use of AI in PR.

    Already applied by Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency, the TABS-D™ model has driven the development of AI-powered citizen engagement systems and scenario-mapping dashboards. Pan-African NGOs credit the AI-PR Maturity Model™ with helping secure new grants by demonstrating measurable steps toward communications excellence.

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    Achi’s larger goal is to train 100,000 African communicators in AI leadership by 2030, through books, certification programs, podcasts, and a growing digital learning community.

    “Africa doesn’t need to catch up—we need to lead,” Achi said. “This is about equipping a generation to shape narratives, own data, and deploy technology responsibly.”

    Endorsed by Dr. Ike Neliaku, FNIPR, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the book is seen as a vital contribution to the future of the profession.

    AI-Powered PR (Print): selar.com/aipoweredprprint

    AI-Powered PR (Digital): selar.com/aipoweredpr

    Official Website: www.aipoweredpr.com

    With this launch, Celestine Achi isn’t just releasing a book—he’s laying the foundation for Africa’s leadership in the AI-powered future of global communications.

  • Africa’s carbon markets set for rapid growth in 2025, poised to lead with climate justice

    Africa’s carbon markets set for rapid growth in 2025, poised to lead with climate justice

    Africa’s carbon markets—both voluntary and compliance—are projected to experience significant growth in 2025 and beyond, driven by the continent’s abundant natural resources and rich ecosystems.

    A new report, 2025 African Carbon Market Outlook, released by the Africa Carbon Trade Network, underscores that Africa is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in carbon trading, provided the expansion is aligned with climate justice and social integrity.

    The report emphasised that as these markets grow, there is increasing scrutiny on the social and ecological impacts of carbon offset projects. The demand for social integrity in these initiatives is emerging as a critical concern for stakeholders across the continent.

    Okoh Austine Sadiq, lead author and Editor of the Carbon Free Africa Network, noted that Africa’s carbon markets are projected to grow annually by 15 to 20 percent, potentially creating 30 million jobs by 2030 and generating up to $120 billion in revenue by 2050.

    The formal launch of the report is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

    Sadiq added that African nations are making bold moves to develop robust carbon market frameworks. These include the introduction of carbon taxes, establishment of emissions trading systems, and creation of national registries.

    The report identifies countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Ghana as frontrunners in aligning their policies with global carbon pricing mechanisms. 

    It also highlights growing interest from the private sector, with international companies, climate finance institutions, and development banks investing heavily in African carbon offset projects.

    Key sectors expected to attract major investments include renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and forest conservation.

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    “We mustn’t underestimate the challenges,” Sadiq said, adding, “there is a pressing need for greater liquidity as smaller carbon projects often struggle to gain traction due to financing constraints. Many African nations also face technical barriers, such as lack of infrastructure and expertise in carbon project development.

    Continuing, he said, “the challenge is to ensure the democratization of Africa’s carbon markets as regional integration deepens. We must provide the enabling conditions where smaller scale projects, especially those led by local communities, and small-holder farmers can have greater access to funding and resources.”

    He hopes that with the right investments, governance frameworks, and technological innovations, Africa is well positioned to become a global leader in carbon off-setting, driving both climate mitigation and sustainable development.

  • Kiev’s rejection of truce dangerous for the world, Africa.

    Kiev’s rejection of truce dangerous for the world, Africa.

    • By Lazarus Oden

    Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday rejected a three-day ceasefire proposal announced by Russian President, Vladimir Putin ahead of Moscow’s Victory Day Parade on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. Zelenskyy also warned that Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of foreign dignitaries attending events in the Russian capital, escalating tensions amid the ongoing war.

    The Kremlin had framed the proposed truce as a goodwill gesture to test Kyiv’s commitment to peace negotiations. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on April 28 that the ceasefire aimed to “assess Ukraine’s readiness for dialogue” and allow families to commemorate the wartime sacrifices of Soviet soldiers. The initiative follows a similar, short Easter ceasefire declared by Russia in March, which Kyiv dismissed as insincere.

    In his address, Zelenskyy accused Moscow of using the offer as a propaganda tool. He also warned that Ukrainian intelligence could not rule out risks to international leaders traveling to Moscow, citing “potential security threats.”

    As the war enters its third year, the collapse of even symbolic truce initiatives raises fears of prolonged bloodshed. For civilians in cities like Kharkiv and Donetsk, the cycle of violence—and the absence of respite—remains unbroken. At a time when the world is hungry for signs of de-escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, President  Zelenskyy’s decision to reject Russia’s proposal for a three-day truce on Victory Day (May 9) is worrying, especially for African countries.

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     For Africa, which has historically advocated diplomatic conflict resolution, such actions undermine fragile attempts at dialogue and exacerbate the effects of the crisis, which are felt even beyond Europe.

    For a continent where tens of millions of people depend on grain and fertilizer exports from the Black Sea region, the escalation of the conflict threatens food security. Short-term truces, even symbolic ones, open up space for humanitarian corridors, evacuation of the wounded and delivery of aid. Rejecting such a gesture reinforces the cycle of violence, leaving millions of people without protection.

    For African countries, where many perceive the conflict as a “European war,” this position reinforces the image of Ukraine as a player who ignores reality. This is especially sensitive for the BRICS, where South Africa is a key member. Moscow and Beijing can use this fact to accuse Kiev of unwillingness to negotiate, which will weaken international support for Ukraine. 

    Zelenskyy’s statement about “non-guaranteeing the security of world leaders in Moscow” also raises questions. For countries where terrorism and inter-ethnic conflicts remain a reality, such words can be perceived as an attempt at intimidation that will deter partners from developing countries from participating in the dialogue. Among the guests will be Ibrahim Traoré and the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of South Africa, Matsie Angelina Motshekga

    The conflict in Ukraine is not just a struggle for territory but also a test for the international community. For Africa, where the memory of colonial wars and internal conflicts is still fresh, it is important to show that compromise is possible even in the most difficult situations. We continue to call for negotiations, even if they begin with symbolic steps such as a three-day truce. History teaches that the path to peace does not begin with victories, but with a willingness to listen to each other.

  • NITDA, GEF renew strategic partnership to boost Africa’s tech entrepreneurship

    NITDA, GEF renew strategic partnership to boost Africa’s tech entrepreneurship

    A major highlight of the GEF Business Mixer held in Accra was the renewal of the strategic partnership between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF).

    Representing the Director-General, Dr. Aristotle Onumu, NITDA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Africa’s tech-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

    The signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalises a strengthened collaboration aimed at supporting digital startups, fostering innovation, and accelerating Africa’s global technology competitiveness.

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    Speaking at the event, Dr. Summy Smart Francis, Project Lead for GEF, stressed that partnerships like NITDA’s are essential for transforming Nigeria’s “pregnant ideas” into scalable solutions that can revolutionize industries and communities.

    The renewed MoU sets the foundation for deeper public-private sector engagement, ensuring that GEF 2025 serves as a launchpad for the next generation of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs.

    GEF, the world’s largest entrepreneurship event, is scheduled to take place from November 21 to 23, under the theme: “The AI Entrepreneur: Creating a Sustainable Future.”