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Tag: Wofai Samuel

  • Wofai Samuel participates in YALI LL Design Charette in Rwanda

    Wofai Samuel participates in YALI LL Design Charette in Rwanda

    The United States Agency for International Development – USAID, is partnering with Arizona State University – ASU International Development Initiative, to implement a USAID $80 million award to empower Africa’s youth through the Young African Leaders Initiative Legacy Localization (YALI LL) Project.

    Over 150 stakeholders from participants drawn from the YALI RLC Alumni Community across various countries in Africa, YALI Regional center staff in four centers across Africa, heads of Higher education institutions, YALI LL, partners from the United States Agency for International gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, for the YALI Design Charette, to Explore ways in which YALI Africa will be sustained and build consensus around its governing and organizational structure.

    In a statement released to the media, Ms. Wofai Samuel, an Alumni of YALI West Africa, Accra, stated that the Project is informed by the U.S.-African Leaders Summit held in Washington, D.C. in 2022, where His Excellency, President Joe Biden administration announced new and expanded initiatives to empower African institutions and people.

    Excited about the implementation, Wofai said that YALI was among the U.S. Government Exchange Programs the White House renewed its investment in.

    I remain a perfect and committed advocate for propagating the initiatives and financial investments of the Government of America in empowering African Institutions and people, whether it is in the area of humanitarian work, social, economic, or otherwise.

    It is my second time in Kigali, Rwanda, and I am so excited to have been chosen to represent Nigeria in this Dialogue. Three other counterparts were also picked from Ghana, the Gambia and Liberia.

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    This medium avails me an opportunity to express my gratitude to the Chief of Party, YALI RLC, West Africa Accra, Dr. Esi Sey, whose leadership continues to empower innovation among alumni communities and create networking opportunities. Her administration has been visibly beneficial to YALI RLC Alumnus across West Africa, especially with activities like the Annual Homecoming, many of us have gotten to interact with people from other regions, met USAID Officials, won grants and funding, amplified our work and voices through the RLCs media pages amongst others. I am also grateful to Nii Tackie-Otoo of YALI LL and Joyce Ogesi for their unflinching support throughout our engagements in Kigali”.

    “We are thrilled to be working with Arizona State University as we continue to provide young African leaders, both men and women, the opportunity to have an impact on their communities, their countries, and their continent,” says Denise O’Toole, acting YALI coordinator for USAID/Education and Youth Division Chief USAID.

    In a statement, Dr. Esi Sey stated “the platform will build on YALI successes at the four YALI RLCs located in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa under an umbrella organization called YALI Africa”.

    “There is no way to work through any issue in Africa, whether it’s health, food, climate, without considering and understanding how youth are going to factor in. It’s a thread running through all African issues and discussions, the end goal is a program designed by Africans, led by Africans, supporting Africans”, Stephen Feinson, Managing Director of the International Development Initiative in Arizona State University mentioned.

    At the Design Charrette, Ms. Wofai Samuel was selected as a member of the YALI LL Roadmap Advisory Group. This Group is tasked to deliberate on potential countries where YALI Africa can be situated and provide inputs on a governance structure for YALI Africa including its constitution according to the outcomes of the deliberations on the white paper presented at the Design Charrette.

    The Alumni Panel focused on the Impact on YALI on Africa’s Youth and the potentials for the future. Samuel participated in this panel alongside a few other Alumni, and further engaged in the USAID YALI Impact video stories from Alumni.

    Samuel is listed as one of the Top 100 Career Women in Africa for 2024, by 9to5 Chick.

  • Minsk: Wofai Samuel chairs ministerial discussions for Belarus, Africa forum

    Minsk: Wofai Samuel chairs ministerial discussions for Belarus, Africa forum

    The two-day Belarus-Africa Forum with the theme: New Frontiers, organized by the Development Bank of Belarus, Arican Export-Import Bank and the Government of Belarus, in collaboration with the Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support of the Belarus Ministry of Agriculture, was held in Belarus – Minsk recently

    The forum had Prime Ministers, Ministers, Financiers from the Public and Private sectors as well as key decision makers from the highest levels of government across Africa and Eastern Europe.

    Nigeria’s Wofai Samuel, engaged ministers and prime ministers in an objective but very detailed and frank conversation which was segmented in two phases and lasted over two hours.

    The first Ministerial discussion was focused on: The Roles of public sector, in promoting economic and trade relationships, in support of African and Belarusian businesses.

    The Panelists’ were:  Hon. Marcos Alexandre Nhunga –  Minister of Agriculture, Angola.  Hon. Mou Ambrose Thiik – Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, South Sudan.   His Excellency, Mr Igor Brylo, Vice Minister of Agriuculture and Food, Republic of Belarus.       His Excellency,  Mr. Dmitry Korchik, Vice Minister of Industry, Belarus. Antonio Sozinho and Aleksei Bogdanov.

    Wofai Samuel asked His Excellency, Mr. Dmitry Korchik, Vice Minister of Industry, Belarus about Africa, being an alleged risk encapsulated industry, by this ” I mean,  global financial institutions have often argued that risks associated with intra – African trade were high thus justifying the reason for their reluctance to finance intra African trade. Do you agree with that assessment or their risk appetite for intra African trade is simply too low”.

    Wofai Samuel further questioned Hon. Mou Ambrose Thiik, Deputy Minister, Ministry of finance and economy South Sudan about the fact that Countries are benchmarked largely with ease of doing business. How do we motivate public private partners to contribute to development of much needed infrastructure for promotion of growth and trade between Belarus and Africa, not leaving everything to government.

    The Second Ministerial Panel was focused on Africa and Eastern Europe: Belarus as a Gate way to leverage Economic and Trade Cooperation between the two regions was the theme for the second Minsterial Panel, which was also anchored by Wofai Samuel.

    Her Excellency- Sibanda Thusi  Nomasonto – Ambassador of South Africa in the Russian Federation.  Hon. Sani Yaya, Minister of Finance and Economy – Togo.  His Excellency, Mr Valentin Rybakov- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Belarus. Seregie Kalechits, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus constituted this panel.

    Wofai Samuel, the moderator asked about the growth and development opportunities offered by the Eurasia union Africa partnership, asking them to highlight steps that should be taken to seize advantage of these opportunities cos the market is dynamic.

    Valentin Rybakov, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus, said that the country believed that the time had come to enhance relations with Africa and identified the areas of common interest to include agriculture, land development, industrialization and public development.

    He said that with the increased Belarusian focus on Africa, the country’s trade with the continent had grown from almost no value a few years ago to current annual figures running into millions of dollars.

    Belarus was not just interested in trading with Africa by simply buying and selling but wanted to collaborate with the continent through launching and cooperating in businesses promoting and creating jobs across the continent. It also wanted to participate in the continent’s industrialistion.

    Wofai said EAEU is forging strong alliance with both the EU and China / what are some of the key lessons we can learn from these partnership as we seek to enhance regional trade between the two trading blocks to enable us achieve the most positive results.

    South African Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Sibanda Thusi Nomasonto responded by saying as much as Africa should maintain it’s standards, Africa needs to be more flexible with its bilateral relationships with other countries out of Africa.

    “The ease of doing business should be worked upon. Africans’ should start by working productively together before seeking collaborations with other countries; it has to begin with us she added. Belarus and Eastern Europe alone cannot achieve the desired results for Africa if we do not work in unity.

    It is my wish that the next Belarus – Africa Forum be held in Africa; this will enable the people of Eastern Europe and Belarus, explore our continent and see realistically the opportunities we have to share with the world.

    Mr Igor Brylo, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Food, Belarus mentioned that the relationship should be a symbiotic and mutually benefitting one. Belarus has so much to offer Africa; Africa should also look inwards on what she can offer Belarus.

    His Excellency, Mr. Dmitry Korchik, Vice Minister of Industry of the Republic of Belarus said Africa has benefitted from various trade agreements including the economic partnership agreement, African growth and opportunity act among others signed by Africa with its partners. Africa should learn from these partnership as we seek to enhance regional trade between the two trading blocks.

    In the next few years our success story and positive growth interms of finance, investment and fostering a mutually productive relationship between both regions should be such that other regions can emulate, Wofai Samuel concluded.

    Wofai Samuel took time out to visit Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Belarus after the entire event.

  • Oil and gas experts meet in private drinks reception

    Oil and gas experts meet in private drinks reception

    The Private Drinks Reception, for 2017, organised by the Oil and Gas Council, took place in Lagos – Nigeria.

    The gathering which was held for three (3) hours was attended by senior executives from across Nigeria’s oil and gas, and finance and investment communities. The senior executives came together to facilitate new investment, encourage business development, share best practice, guarantee peer-to-peer networking, offer new industry insight.

    Officials from the upstream, LNG/midstream, downstream and oilfield services leaders, as well as recognised energy experts and business leaders from investment banks, law firms, management consultancies, commodity trading firms, were present.

    Lagos VIP Drinks Reception by the Oil and Gas Council was sponsored by Streamsowers & Köhn and was indeed a great night of networking and meeting up with old friends.

    Present at the event, included; Simon Hoare – M.D EMEA – Oil and Gas Council, Martin Traschel – M.D PetroAfrique, Adeyemi Akinsanya Associates,  Casper Kaars-Sijpesteijn – First Exploration & Petroleum,  Chief Sastry Karra – CEO Karra Oil and Gas Limited,  Babafemi Onasanya – G.M Sub Surface Oando, Chigozie Hilary – Streamsowers and Kohn, Wofai Samuel – Media Personality, Isi Omenai – Commercial Lead – South Atlantic Petroleum, Ulf Jungclaussen – M.D ILF Consulting Engineers, Giorgio Macchiavello – M.d DormanLong Engineering, Ade Adekola – CEO Leidenschaft,  Uche Nwamara – General Councel – First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, Tunde Elesin – DeltaAfrik, Olumide Adeosun – PWC ltd, Paul Ehimen – Commercial Advisor- PetroAfrique, Victor Aniche, Jason Birtwistle, Imebong Etuk – Gastech Group, Ayokanmi Aderibigbe – Templars, Anu Bello, Hedo Chinyeaka – Century Energy Group, to name a few.

    Veteran Nigerian Broadcaster, Wofai Samuel who enjoys a valued relationship between herself and the oil and gas council, was well presented at the event in a pink vintage dress.

  • Wofai Samuel hosts top dignitaries at 6th e-banking retreat

    Wofai Samuel hosts top dignitaries at 6th e-banking retreat

    The 6th edition of the annual committee of e-Banking Heads retreat with the theme ”Disruptive Technology and the future of payment”  was held at Transcorp Hilton recently in Abuja and was hosted by Veteran Nigerian Broadcaster, Wofai Samuel.
    The Chairman, Dele Adeyinka said the event has become an annual gathering of all stakeholders in Nigeria’s electronic payment industry for accessing the progress made and collectively chart the course for the development of the industry.
    “Over the years, the event has featured themes that focused on current trends in the banking electronic industry and this year was no exception, said Adeyinka
    The committee of e-Banking Industry heads is constituted of the upper echelon of electronic business industry practitioners in all the banks in Nigeria.
    The host, Wofai Samuel stated that ” today, technology affects practically all human endeavours and we are all aware of the impact of technology on our business of payment and banking services”. she added that she was humbled with the committee of e-Banking Heads platform.
    Stakeholders also maximised the opportunity for learning, networking and relaxation.
    Some of the dignitaries present at the two-day event included: Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairman board of directors, First Bank Nigeria. Mitchelle Elegbe, M.D Interswitch; Agada Apochi ,M.D Unified payment services limited; Ade Shonubi , M.D Nigeria Inter-banking Settlements system- NIBSS,among others.
  • Nigerian companies shine at regional awards

    Nigerian companies shine at regional awards

    Three Nigerian companies, MOJEC Power, Solar Nigeria, and GVE Projects Limited, Nigeria made the country proud at the third edition of the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) award held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
     
    The award ceremony recognised and celebrated   industry pioneers and in eight different categories.
     
    The executive director of  MOJEC Meter Company and MOJEC Power Chantelle Abdul, won the Outstanding Woman in Power Regional Award. Ms Abdul led the growth of a family business into one of the most iconic brands in the Nigerian power sector today as well as the largest smart meter manufacturing company  in Nigeria and  West Africa.
     
    Solar Nigeria Program Nigeria, won the CSR Initiative of the Year award while  the Best Renewable Energy Project was won by GVE Projects Limited, Nigeria.
     
    Future Energy Leader Award for young entrepreneurs who are under 35 years was won by the Project Development Associate, Quaint Global Energy Solutions Fadekunayo Adeniyi, while Arnergy, Pay-As-You-Go Solar Home System won Innovation Award. 

    A Ghanaian,  Mahama Kappiah, the Executive Director, ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Ghana won the Special Recognition Award, while the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) walked away with the coveted Excellence in Power Transmission /Distribution Award.

    The host, Wofai Samuel described the event as excellent, adding: “We are celebrating Africa and Africans that are using their resources, energy and ingenuity to improve the region.  There are eight categories of awards. They recognised individuals and organisations who have contributed immensely in the past year to the West Africa power industry sector.”