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Arsene Wenger addressed the CAF Executive Committee meeting on Saturday; FIFA’s (www.FIFA.com) Chief of Global Football Development’s spoke about the FIFA global report; Youth development, FIFA support and improved competitions were all discussed.

Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, spoke about the desire “for each member association to reach their full potential…and to give every player a chance” when presenting the recently-published FIFA global report: Increasing Global Competitiveness (https://fifa.fans/3tQoFJm) to the CAF Executive Committee meeting (https://fifa.fans/3yjMZXv) in Kigali on Saturday.
The report followed an unprecedented 14-month-long study analysing youth football and talent development practices and structures around the world. And as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development explained, its focus extended far beyond the game’s elite.
“It’s not only about creating stars,” said the former Arsenal manager. “It’s about influencing people’s lives in a positive way. If we achieve the two, even better. But we want people to have a positive experience through football.
“What was important for us is to know what’s going on in the world, and ask: how can we help you? This is a global report but there is an individual report for every single country. Now what is important is to act. First comes the diagnosis; after, the action.”
The report (https://fifa.fans/3eSjlRs) concluded that a great number of talented footballers remain undiscovered due to a plethora of factors, including shortcomings in planning, education, infrastructure and financial resources. But despite evident disparities between nations and continents, Wenger stressed a need to find solutions regardless of the environment.
As he explained “In the best academies, at U-16 level they have approximately 200 training sessions a year. It’s a lot, and they play many games too – in Europe, on average around 45 games a year.
&#8220;That means if you look at countries with no organised competitions and less than 200 training sessions, they’re starting at a huge handicap.
&#8220;We can speak about countries that have ideal conditions but, personally, I believe that not having ideal conditions is not an excuse. The coach who wants to develop players always finds a solution.
&#8220;Coaches are people who find resources when the conditions are not ideal, and I have experienced that. So if we have not enough competitions, we compensate by making more training sessions of quality.&#8221;
FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development also fully intends that FIFA will play a key role in finding and implementing those solutions. 
FIFA’s Talent Development scheme will enter its second phase later this year when the world governing body’s technical team follows up with the Member Associations to set out individual long term plans to improve the state of youth development. This will be supported by a new online resource made available in the coming months to provide immediate practical assistance.
“We will create an academy online in August,” he said. “That will help you to develop coaches, educate coaches and develop training sessions online for every age category. It will be a complete support to develop top-level training sessions.”
FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development concluded by stressing the need for international tournaments to help drive the raising of standards. Making football truly global by increasing competitiveness in competitions such as the FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ was at the heart of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s Vision 2020-2023 (https://fifa.fans/3tZu6Wi), and he offered for debate a potential route towards that objective.
&#8220;“One of our ideas is to align and harmonise the world match calendar and have at the end of every year a big competition – one with meaningful, top-level games. We will of course consult everybody and we start with you today,” FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development told the CAF Executive Committee meeting. “We will ask the question and you can give us your opinions – we are very open to that.
&#8220;We believe that, to improve, you need better education and you need better competitions. For example, we have 211 countries at FIFA and 133 of them have never been at the World Cup. That is absolutely massive because being confronted with top-level competition gives you a good opportunity to improve. And I believe when federations have a better chance to go to the big competitions, they will do more to develop their players.
&#8220;We want each member association to reach their full potential, and the conclusion we have from our study is that, basically, not many are doing that. We want to be part of solving that and giving every player a chance, raising standards of youth development, bring balance and increase global competitiveness. That’s our main target.”
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
Contact for African media: AfricanMedia@fifa.org
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Wenger: We want to give every player a chance

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Africa’s underinvested youth are in need of urgent attention  and youth entrepreneurship investment banks must become the focus of global support, the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) head Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina said Monday in a discussion on scaling up financing for the continent’s youth.

Adesina was speaking at a virtual roundtable at which he presented a novel concept for youth entrepreneurship investment banks. The roundtable, organized by the African Development Bank, came a day ahead of the Summit on Financing African Economies convened by President Emmanuel Macron.
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya, Jean-Michel Severino, CEO of Investisseurs et Partenaires; Ashish J. Thakkar, CEO of Mara Phones; Yana Kakar Global Managing Partner Emeritus at Dalberg Advisors; Yvonne Otieno, CEO, Miyonga Fresh Greens, and other representatives of the private sector joined in the meeting.
Otieno urged the world to believe in the youth and to put their hands in their pockets. “Take a risk on us. You will never regret it,” she said in a moving presentation in which she described her career trajectory which began in a bookshop, progressed through journalism, to starting her own business growing French beans on 1.5 acres of land.
“Failure is only a weakness if you don’t learn from it,” said Otieno.
With lack of access to finance a serious bottleneck, the proposed youth entrepreneurship investment banks would coordinate financial and non-financial actors and partners to more effectively support youth entrepreneurs.
 “We must support the youth to go beyond looking for jobs. We must unleash the entrepreneurial drive and capacities of the youth to create jobs, Adesina said. “We must grow, finance and support large scale successes of youth -led businesses in Africa.”
Speaking immediately after Dr. Adesina’s opening remarks, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya expressed strong support for the initiative. “Spain welcomes the African Development Bank’s youth entrepreneurship investment initiative, geared towards unlocking entrepreneurship and promoting the growth of businesses of the youth.” she said.
Thakkar, chair of the African Development Bank’s Presidential Youth Committee, advised that the youth investment banks would need to be  scalable and self-sustaining.  He said it was very important to create the right incentive structures for governments to encourage the private sector to play a key role. 
Research suggests that Africa needs to create 18 to 30 million jobs annually through 2030, and Ladi Balogun, CEO of First City Monument Bank Group, reiterated the urgency of this challenge. He said time was of the essence in terms of mounting a response as well as accelerating decision-making processes for the extension of financing to entrepreneurs. He also advised working through local money managers to achieve scale.   
“We have a ticking time bomb on our hands,” Balogun said.
Participants also commended the African Development Bank for taking a lead role in the effort to support youth entrepreneurs, as well as calling on the Bank to play a number of roles.  
Yana Kakar said the African Development Bank has an important knowledge transfer role to play. She added that the Bank has much to share about what is needed in tech-enabled segments versus what might be needed to enable entrepreneurs in more production-oriented segments.
The African Development Bank has demonstrated its strong commitment to the youth of Africa through its Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy to help create 25 million direct and indirect jobs, and empower 50 million youth by 2025. The institution has also set up a $40 million trust fund in partnership with several European countries to advance youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Olufemi Terry Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank email: o.terry@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.

Youth are Africa’s best asset; invest in them – African Development Bank President Adesina

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As French and African leaders gather on May 18 in Paris for the France-Africa Summit, Mozambican leaders and Total have a brilliant opportunity to push for the resumption of LNG projects in Mozambique and get things going. Even if exploitation of natural resources is not particularly on the Summit&#39;s agenda, there will be no better chance for the gas-rich country to showcase its solutions and arrangements to the issues posed to its gas industry. Notably, as one of the delayed projects involves a consortium led by French supermajor Total, who on April 26 issued a force majeure declaration to its LNG project in the Cabo Delgado province due to the security situation at the moment.

Total&#39;s force majeure declaration has sent the project into a delay, negatively impacting Mozambique’s economic outlook, several international and local companies and workers who are now uncertain when the project and their operations will resume. Make no mistake this has put a lot of companies and even some workers and even communities in Cabo Delgado&#39;s livelihoods at risk.
The African Energy Chamber (&#8220;AEC&#8221;) recognizes Total&#39;s and the Mozambican government&#39;s effort over the past three weeks to figure out solutions and arrangements to address the security issues in Cabo Delgado. We continue to believe that Total&#39;s LNG project should resume sooner than later, with even more decisiveness and resolve, under the leadership of President Filipe Nyusi with whom the AEC has had recent conversations. The Terror attacks have given President Filipe Nyusi’s presidency a clear focus: to protect the Mozambique people and investors and defeat terrorism while expanding and promoting economic growth. The African Energy Chamber is encouraged that President Nyusi administration’s response, which has been a combination of military action and strong defensive measures to protect everyone in Mozambique.
“We are encouraged by the meeting between President Nyusi and the Total Chairman Patrick Pouyanné. The assurance of a return to Mozambique by Mr Pouyanne is step in the right direction and credit should be given to all parties for the hard work. We continue to believe that Mozambique deserves the respect and support it needs to stabilize the region and get the Mozambique LNG project back up and running again, the cool-off period of the force majeure should be an opportunity to set up better local content structures, fix what is not working,  push for an enabling environment and for a stronger comeback for Mozambique’s energy sector”. Stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber
“We should not forget that Mozambique will be producing Africa’s only Carbon neutral LNG that will be exported and used domestically in a world which is focused on reducing our net carbon footprint from well to wheel. Business gumption and political will is needed at this time but make no mistake Mozambique LNG is going to happen and there are better times ahead.” Concluded Ayuk
Hope and certainty is needed now more than ever for local companies and everyday people to be part of the gas projects, that have suffered unimaginable losses at the hands of the terrorists. 
The oil and gas industry has a much more significant role to play in making sure that the projects have lasting stability. We have to rethink how we have been operating as an industry regarding the use of domestic gas. The declaration that there is an availability of domestic gas for Mozambique’s economic development is not sufficient. The energy sector should work with government on the right pricing for domestic gas that creates local petrochemical industries that outperform their competition. This would create a much more lasting effect in Mozambique, as it would create countless jobs and bring life to an otherwise stagnant economy and communities.
To increase the effect in the Mozambican economy, the way we manage local content should also be addressed. We should consider results based local content programs and maybe have some set aside programs that are more inclusive of the population of Cabo Delgado. Such programs should include training and development and entrepreneurial drive to open doors of opportunity to everybody. We in the energy industry must seriously rethink the way these programs are being developed, as they could be an excellent solution for the security issues in Cabo Delgado. More qualified jobs mean fewer disqualified criminals. Mozambicans can no longer be the last hired and the first fired. We should strive to give this opportunity to everybody. We must protect the contracts of local companies during this period of force majeure and also workers. Mozambican workers and service companies do have rent, school fees, loans, and other engagements and we must be sensitive not to continue being that industry of that past that does not care about people.  At the end of the day, it is their resources that  our industry is extracting.
The multilateral institutions and the energy industry should take advantage of this force majeure suspension period to work with the government to create a rapid and immediate program that will develop indigenous Mozambican companies to develop their technical, financial, and administrative capabilities so they can add actual value to the energy projects. We have witnessed multiple cases where indigenous companies are left behind due to the lack of capabilities, but the fact is, they never stood a chance in the first place.  It is imperative for the transfer of technology and training to occur. This period of force majeure should not be a signal to go to sleep. On the contrary, it should be a wake-up call for capacity building of local companies. This way, when the project resumes (which it will), these companies will be capable of providing higher quality services, further accelerating and supporting the growth of the Mozambican economy.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
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Total’s Mozambique LNG Project to take center stage at the France Africa Economic summit

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Novartis (www.Novartis.com) has delivered 1 billion courses of antimalarial treatment, including 430 million pediatric treatments, largely at no profit since 1999; With other innovations, the Novartis artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) contributed to reduce malaria deaths by nearly half over the same timeframe [1]; Novartis continues to invest in research and development for next-generation antimalarials to combat the threat of artemisinin resistance.

Novartis announced today that it has delivered one billion courses of antimalarial treatment since 1999. More than 90% of this artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) was supplied without profit to malaria-endemic countries around the globe.

ACTs are the standard of care for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria, the most deadly form of the disease, responsible for over 99% of cases in Africa and half of cases in Asia [2]. Since the turn of the century, ACTs have transformed malaria treatment and contributed to the dramatic reduction in malaria deaths.

Working with Chinese partners, Novartis launched the first fixed-dose ACT (artemether-lumefantrine) in 1999. Artemisinin is a natural compound found in the plant Artemisia annua, or sweet wormwood, and has shown to clear malaria parasites in the blood. ACTs combine an artemisinin derivative with a partner drug to reduce the risk of resistance if artemisinin is given alone.

Adoption of ACTs as first-line treatment by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been critical to the global malaria response. Since 2000, the WHO estimates that 1.5 billion malaria cases have been averted and 7.6 million lives saved.1 Along with malaria prevention tools and better diagnostics, ACTs remain a key component of the global drive to reach malaria elimination.

In 2001, two years after the launch of its ACT, Novartis signed an agreement with the WHO, committing to make the antimalarial available without profit to the public sector of malaria-endemic countries. Although the agreement expired in 2011, Novartis continues to provide treatments on the same terms as before.

“This is a landmark moment in the fight against malaria. Over the last 20 years, Novartis has delivered one billion treatments in more than 70 countries,” said Dr. Lutz Hegemann, Group Head, Corporate Affairs and Global Health, Novartis. “We could not have achieved this milestone without the support of our global partners and those we work with on the ground in endemic countries.”

Children bear a significant burden of malaria disease and death. This led Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) to partner on the development of the first dispersible ACT formulated specifically for children. Of the 1 billion treatments delivered, more than 430 million are the pediatric formulation launched in 2009. This pediatric treatment has contributed to a significant reduction in malaria deaths in children: in 2010, a child died every 30 seconds from malaria and now it is estimated that a child dies every two minutes. Although this is a massive improvement, there is still a long way to go.

Novartis continues to spearhead the use of ACTs to treat malaria. The company is now testing a new ACT formulation for infants weighing less than five kilograms in collaboration with the PAMAfrica research consortium led by MMV. This is one of the most vulnerable groups affected by malaria, for whom there is currently no approved treatment.

Over the last few years, worrying signs have been observed of emerging drug resistance to ACTs in South East Asia, and more recently in Africa. If widespread resistance to ACTs occurs, particularly in Africa, new effective treatments will be urgently needed. In 2018, Novartis committed to invest more than USD 100 million over five years to further advance research and development of next-generation treatments.

Novartis pipeline in malaria
Novartis currently leads five malaria development programs worldwide, featuring three compounds that employ new mechanisms of action and activity against artemisinin-resistant strains of the disease.

KAF156 (ganaplacide) belongs to a novel class of antimalarial compounds that act against both the blood and liver stages of the parasite&#39;s lifecycle. It demonstrated activity against both P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria, including artemisinin-resistant parasites. Novartis leads the development of this compound with scientific and financial support from MMV and from EDCTP via the WANECAM2 Consortium.

KAE609 (cipargamin) is another novel antimalarial compound demonstrating rapid clearance of parasites pre-clinically and in patients. Novartis is leading the development of KAE609 with financial support from the Wellcome Trust and in collaboration with the PAMAFRICA Consortium supported by EDCTP and led by MMV.

In 2020, the company discovered another novel malaria compound, INE963, which has an entirely new mechanism of action which will begin clinical trials in 2021. INE963 is a fast-acting, long-lasting antimalarial which holds promise for a high barrier to resistance. It was discovered with support from MMV and received the organization’s “Project of the Year” award in 2020.
References
 	World Health Organization, World Malaria Report 2020. Available at: https://bit.ly/3hwKoU4 	World Health Organization, Malaria Key Facts. Available at: https://bit.ly/3uXfmIO 
Read more: https://www.novartis.com/our-impact/malaria https://www.novartis.com/news/world-malaria-day-2021
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Novartis.
Disclaimer This media update contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “potential,” “can,” “will,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “look forward,” “believe,” “committed,” “investigational,” “pipeline,” “launch,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this media update, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this media update will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this media update as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this media update as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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About Novartis: Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.Novartis.com.
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Novartis reaches milestone delivery of 1 billion courses of antimalarial treatment

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Independent South African arbitrator ruled Lesotho breached contract in 2018; awarded €50 million to Frazer Solar; Government of Lesotho has neither engaged in legal process nor paid damages owing; US action against assets owned by Lesotho forms part of a worldwide enforcement strategy.

Lawyers acting for Frazer Solar GmbH (‘FSG’), a solar energy developer, have begun a worldwide enforcement action against assets held by the Kingdom of Lesotho. Enforcement follows a full and final arbitration ruling in South Africa against the Kingdom of Lesotho, which awarded €50 million in damages to FSG.
In 2019, FSG was forced to take legal action against the Government of Lesotho (‘GoL’) following a series of contractual breaches, and in 2020 was awarded substantial damages by an independent South African arbitrator. To date, GoL has neither engaged with the legal process nor provided FSG with any explanation of the contractual breaches.
Enforcement activity has now commenced in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia as part of a global enforcement strategy which will seize assets held by the Kingdom of Lesotho and obtain payment of the amounts due. Ms. Emma Lindsay of Withers Worldwide is representing FSG in the United States.
In 2018, following extensive dialogue with the Office of the Prime Minister of Lesotho, FSG signed a binding agreement with GoL to provide up to 40,000 solar water heating systems, 20MW of solar photovoltaic capacity, 1 million LED lights and 350,000 solar lanterns nationwide. The project was financed by the German government and would have formed the first phase in a wider program developed by FSG to support Lesotho’s energy transformation by turning the country into a net exporter of electricity, while improving electricity security and increasing government revenues.
In October 2018, the project’s progress stalled when GOL’s Ministry of Finance refused to finalise and execute the project’s financial agreements. Following this breach, FSG commenced arbitration proceedings in South Africa. No explanation for this refusal has been provided to FSG by the GOL, but the resulting legal action concluded that a competing project had been prioritised.
Commenting on enforcement activity, global counsel for FSG, Mr. Hussein Haeri, Partner and Co-Head of International Arbitration, Withers LLP, said:
‘The Government of Lesotho was given an outstanding opportunity to transform access to clean, renewable energy and to eradicate the use of damaging, polluting alternatives nationwide. Instead, it prevented the project from proceeding, contravened its legal obligations and left Frazer Solar with no alternative than to bring legal proceedings.’
Since 2018, FSG has continued to demonstrate a positive contribution to renewable energy infrastructure in Southern Africa. For example, in March 2021 FSG completed a nationwide solar healthcare project in the Kingdom of Eswatini, delivering hot water to every single government health clinic.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Withers LLP.
Notes to Editors Frazer Solar v. The Kingdom of Lesotho (2020) Frazer Solar (FSG) contends that the Government of Lesotho (GOL) failed to fulfil its contractual obligations under the supply agreement, and in July 2019 gave notice to GOL concerning the commencement of arbitration proceedings, in line with the dispute resolution mechanism agreed by both parties.
As a deterrent for breaches of the contract, both parties agreed to a ‘liquidated damages’ clause in the supply agreement, which allocated a pre-agreed and capped sum to be paid in the event that either party did not fulfil its contractual obligations.
The independent arbitrator directed the GoL to pay FSG damages of €50 million, in addition to pre-award interest of €754,273, and post-award interest of 1.7% per annum.
Media Contact: Jhasler@sfassociates.ltd
About Frazer Solar: Frazer Solar is a global developer of nationally significant renewable energy projects, with a particular focus on developing countries in Africa. Frazer Solar is able to supply solutions including solar thermal, solar photovoltaic capacity, battery storage and a wide range of energy efficient products; for both grid-tied and off-grid applications. Frazer Solar’s flagship development is a large-scale solar-storage project in the Southern African country of Eswatini which will be owned and operated by Frazium Energy, an Australian independent power producer (UIPP) company that focuses on developing, owning and operating renewable energy projects globally. The Eswatini project will deliver 200 MWH daily to the South African Development Community (SADC) grid.
This project follows the successful provision of solar water units at every government medical clinic nationwide in the Kingdom of Eswatini benefitting 10,000 people per day. Prior to COVID-19, 82% of government medical clinics had no access to hot running water, making the completion of this project one of the most significant healthcare successes in recent history for Eswatini. The project was co-financed by Frazer Solar and the German government.
For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/3fti7Lo.

Kingdom of Lesotho Faces Worldwide Enforcement Action Following 50 million Euros Damages Award

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The Mauritanian Bank for International Trade (BMCI) (www.BMCI.mr) has partnered with TagPay to roll out its digital bank Masrvi, aimed at providing digital, value-added financial services to its customers.

Powered by TagPay, Masrvi was launched at the end of April and responds to Mauritanians’ banking needs by providing secure and accessible banking services, across the country through mobile networks, whilst offering convenience. Masrvi enables BMCI to provide its customers with secure, simple, fast, and easy-to-access banking products and services that can be tailored to their needs, all with a convenience that traditional banks cannot match.

Moulay Abbas, President of BMCI says: “By leveraging TagPay’s next-generation Core Banking System and their teams’ project expertise, we were able to launch our digital bank, Masrvi, in record time. Within a month of launching, we have a network of 52 branches and more than 200 partner-businesses that accept Masrvi and the numbers continue to grow. Thanks to the proven robustness, agility, and short time-to-market of this solution, we will be able to rapidly grow our customers. This will help strengthen Masrvi’s product line and enable us to offer a full range of banking and financial products in the very short term.”

Commenting on the successful launch of Masrvi, Yves Eonnet, CEO of TagPay said: “By using TagPay’s next-generation Core Banking System, the Masrvi solution is leveraging an innovative and intuitive technology platform that offers a full range of banking functions. Thanks to its open architecture, flexibility, and scalability, the solution will allow the rollout or update of features the digital bank wishes to market. Certainly, Masrvi will promote financial inclusion and integration in Mauritania.”

Anyone with a cell phone, regardless of their wireless carrier, can download the Masrvi application. This enables them to open a digital bank account and conduct several types of transactions such as withdrawing, depositing, and transferring money, paying bills and retailers, and recharging phone credit.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Mauritanian Bank for International Trade (BMCI).
Media Contact: Leila Ben Hassen leila@bluejaycommunication.com
Nicolas Pinto Nicolas.pinto@tagpay.fr
About TagPay: TagPay (www.TagPay.fr) is an international fintech company that provides an open, flexible, and scalable next-generation Core Banking System (CBS). This solution allows financial institutions (retail banks, digital banks, and payment and electronic money institutions, etc.) to better meet their customers’ expectations with new digital financial products.
For further information on TagPay’s next-generation Core Banking System (https://bit.ly/3tPH3SJ).
About BMCI: The Mauritanian Bank for International Trade was created in 1974 under the name BAAM before becoming BMCI in 1986. BMCI is now a leader in the Mauritanian banking market. It is the largest bank in terms of total assets, number of customers and total deposits, and has the largest network of branches in the country.
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Mauritanian Bank for International Trade launches digital bank, Masrvi, powered by TagPay

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The African Union Development Agency NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) (https://bit.ly/3w9P1aI) and the Ecobank Group (www.Ecobank.com) its strategic partner on the development of the 100,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Initiative, are set to launch the financing component as from 27 May 2021.

AUDA-NEPAD launched the 100,000 MSMEs Programme to accelerate African economic transformation, provide the needed skills, and build resilience against the economic shock triggered by the global pandemic. The ‘100 000 MSMEs’ initiative seeks to build the capacity of 1,000,000 enterprises in Africa through entrepreneurial and business training to improve access to finance and new markets while establishing networks for support and incubation to bolster their success.

“Across the globe, MSMEs are the biggest and the best engine of innovation, social transformation and economic development and growth. AUDA-NEPAD is deeply convinced that Africa structural transformation will be driven by youth and women led businesses and innovations.” said Amine Idriss Adoum AUDA-NEPAD, Director of Programme Delivery &#038; Coordination Directorate.

AUDA-NEPAD and the Ecobank Group announced their collaboration in May 2020 and agreed to tackle three main pillars in supporting MSMEs in coming out of the devastating economic impact of COVID-19: namely, MSME Academy, MSME Finance and MSME Marketplace. The MSME Academy was launched in August 2020 in 8 countries. Both institutions will now proceed to launch the MSME Finance pillar in the same countries, namely Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Togo. A total sum of $ 2.0million will be extended in the form of working capital to beneficiaries who meet the set criteria across the eight (8) countries in this first phase.

“After an unprecedented year in 2020, the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt across African economies with an increased and urgent need to support MSMEs Businesses which are the backbone of our economies. As a financial institution, we reaffirm our commitment to support the ‘100,000 MSMEs’ initiative. Following the successful launch of the MSME Academy, we are now going ahead with the financing component. We look forward to celebrating the businesses who will successfully go through this training program and who will meet the criteria for financial support” said Josephine Anan-Ankomah, Ecobank Group Executive Commercial Banking.

Objectives of the 100,000 MSME Finance
 	Expand the reach of the 100,000 MSMEs initiative to youth across the continent and enable linkages into the wider entrepreneurship ecosystem that benefit the youth after training; 	Generate relevant data on MSMEs to enhance evidence-based policy recommendations to AU decision bodies as well as facilitate engagement with ecosystem partners such as financiers and links to trade and markets; and, 	Enable bottom-up engagement with youth and women entrepreneurs to ensure that youth and gender development policies benefit from their voice and participation as citizens of the continent. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank.
Media Contact: Teko Nhlapo Communications and Advocacy Officer AUDA-NEPAD tekoh@nepad.org
Christiane Bossom Corporate Communication Manager Ecobank Group groupcorporatecomms@ecobank.com
About AUDA-NEPAD: The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (www.NEPAD.org) is the development agency of the African Union, coordinating and executing priority regional and continental development projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated realization of Agenda 2063 – Africa’s vision and action plan. We are mandated to strengthen capacity of Member States and regional bodies.
About Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (‘ETI’ or ‘The Group’): Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (‘ETI’) is the parent company of the Ecobank Group, the leading independent pan-African banking group. The Ecobank Group employs over 14,000 people and serves about 28 million customers in the consumer, commercial and corporate banking sectors across 33 African countries. The Group has a banking license in France and representative offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Beijing, China; London, the UK and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The Group offers a full suite of banking products, services and solutions including bank and deposit accounts, loans, cash management, advisory, trade, securities, wealth, and asset management. ETI is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchanges in Lagos, the Ghana Stock Exchange in Accra, and the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières in Abidjan. For further information please visit www.Ecobank.com.
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AUDA-NEPAD and Ecobank Group partnership moves to finance phase under the 100,000 MSMEs Initiative

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The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.theBAL.com) today announced a multiyear partnership with Flutterwave that makes the payments technology company an associate partner of the BAL. The inaugural BAL season tipped off yesterday at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with 12 teams from across Africa competing in the new professional league. The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30.

Flutterwave, which was founded in 2016 and recently named among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies, provides innovative payment solutions to more than 290,000 businesses and has an infrastructure reach in more 33 African countries, including Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The partnership will leverage the BAL and Flutterwave’s shared commitment to driving economic growth across the continent through the launch of a digital campaign that will provide select African entrepreneurs and small businesses with the opportunity to travel, connect and engage with other African markets.

“As a lifelong Basketball fan, I am excited that we are able to team up with the BAL as it tips off its inaugural season,” said Flutterwave Chief Commercial Officer Ifeoluwa Orioke. “There’s progress going on in Africa, and this is the time to tap into the enthusiasm of young people to unite the continent and open doors for young Africans through sports.”

“Technology plays an important role in basketball and our ability to make our content and products accessible and convenient for fans to consume,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “This partnership also reflects our ambition to play a role in the industries that will shape the continent’s economic growth, facilitate entrepreneurship and strengthen the continent’s position on the global stage.”

Champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia earned their participation in the inaugural season. The remaining six teams, which come from Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda, secured their participation through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Regional Office Africa across the continent in late 2019.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Media Contact: Yvon Edoumou Basketball Africa League +221 77 637 3401 yedoumou@thebal.com
Hudson Sandler Flutterwave flutterwave@hudsonsandler.com
About Flutterwave: Flutterwave is a payments technology company that helps businesses all over the world expand their operations in Africa and other emerging markets, through a platform that enables cross-border transactions via one API. Flutterwave has processed over 140 million transactions worth over USD $9 billion to date and serves more than 290,000 businesses. The company’s key advantage is international payment processing in 150 currencies and multiple payment modes including local and international cards, mobile wallets, bank transfers, Barter by Flutterwave etc. Flutterwave has an infrastructure reach in over 33 African countries, including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa etc. For more information on Flutterwave’s journey, please visit: www.Flutterwave.com.
About the BAL: The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA, is a new professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa. The BAL, which is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Regional Office Africa has organized in Africa and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America.  Fans can follow the BAL @theBAL on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and register their interest in receiving more information at www.theBAL.com.

Basketball Africa League and Flutterwave Announce Multiyear Partnership

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The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has signed a trade finance agreement with Commercial Bank Kyrgyzstan (CBK). The US $4 Million facility, which is the second Line of Trade Finance Facility that ITFC is extending to CBK, is aimed at supporting import and pre-export financing needs of its private sector clients, including SMEs, whilst enhancing the Bank’s capacity and offering of Islamic finance instruments and products.

This financing is in line with the “Restore” initiative of IsDB Group’s “3R” strategy aimed at supporting member countries in their recovery from the adverse socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The partnership, signed by Mr. Abdihamid Aweis Abu, ITFC’s General Manager, Trade Finance and Mr. Dastan Kurmanbaev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of CBK falls under the three-year, US $150 million Framework Agreement, signed between ITFC and the Kyrgyz Government in 2019 and will make way for further cooperation between the two parties to drive private sector development in the country.

Commenting on the agreement, Abdihamid said: “Commercial Bank Kyrgyzstan has become a trusted partner in ITFC’s quest to drive private sector development in member countries. The SMEs sector in the Kyrgyz Republic is still underdeveloped and faces a number of challenges including access to long-term financing. This latest financing agreement with CBK aims to bridge the financing gap to increase the competitiveness of SMEs, particularly now as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic, and enhance their integration into regional and global value chains through trade.”

The Kyrgyz Republic became an ITFC member country in 2019 and has since received trade finance and development support to grow its economy across key sectors including agriculture, private sector, and SMEs. The country is also key to ITFC’s objective to expand the reach of Islamic financing in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).
Media Contact: Tel: +966 12 646 8337 Fax: +966 12 637 1064  E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org Twitter: @ITFCCORP  Facebook: @ITFCCORP  LinkedIn: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) 
About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC): The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided US$53.9 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.

Kyrgyz Republic’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Sector to Benefit from International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation’s (ITFC) US $4 Million Line of Trade Financing Facility

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Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com), the leading business and investment platform for African markets, and Absa Group, one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups, are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration, aimed at supporting the development of business and investment on the continent, and the growth of Absa Group as a leading African retail, corporate and investment bank.

The new alliance combines Absa Group’s position as experts in providing a gateway to opportunities in Africa, with Invest Africa’s well-established network, in order to promote trade and investment across the African continent.

The collaboration will include a programme of initiatives such as events, podcasts and reports, focused on the growth of business and investment in Africa and the development of sustainable finance. As trusted on the ground partners and an African diversified bank of significant stature, with the global connectivity to deliver Africa, Absa Group’s focus for the collaboration will centre on furthering local financial solutions in African markets, and growing the group’s market position both across the Continent and globally.

Karen Taylor, CEO of Invest Africa said, “The role of the financial services sector in driving economic development across Africa has never been more important than now. We are delighted to be able to support Absa Group as the leading African Retail, Corporate and Investment bank and to help the organisation realise its mission to provide sustainable access to financing across Africa.”

Cheryl Buss, Chief Executive of Absa International, commented, “As an authentically African bank with a deep understanding of the continent, we help clients build fit-for-purpose solutions that drive growth. As such, we are delighted to be collaborating with Invest Africa. Association with such a well-established organisation is a significant part of our commitment to act as a corridor to the continent and support international companies who are, or are interested in, conducting business in Africa.”
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.
Press contacts: Invest Africa eleanor.brown@investafrica.com
Absa Group Andile.Makholwa@absa.africa
Absa Africa Regional Office Jerome.Raman@absa.africa
Aspectus Kate.Evans@aspectusgroup.com
About Absa Group Limited: Absa Group Limited (‘Absa Group’) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups. 
Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
Absa operates in 14 countries. The Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, and securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States.
For further information about Absa Group Limited, please visit www.Absa.africa.
More about Invest Africa: Invest Africa is a leading business and investment platform, using over sixty years’ experience in Africa to provide its members with unique information and exposure to business opportunities. Headquartered in London, Invest Africa also operates from three additional chapter cities: Johannesburg, New York and Dubai.  
Our vision is to play a central and influential role in Africa’s socio-economic growth by guiding sustainable capital towards key prospects on the continent. As a trusted entry point into Africa, we support and connect business and investment through a unique range of services and events. We believe that a responsible and profitable private sector has a crucial role to play in Africa’s development and aim to connect businesses across Africa and to support entry-level participants into the African investment ecosystem.
For more information, please visit: www.InvestAfrica.com.
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Invest Africa and Absa Group announce strategic collaboration

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The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business (https://CanadaAfrica.ca) is delighted to announce Mr. Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard’s ascendancy to the organization’s Senior Advisory Board, after unanimous approval of the by Board of Directors.

The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business is an independent, not-for-profit organization with strong working links with both Canadian and African businesses and governments, who are among its members. Leading CEOs and Heads of State &#8211; alongside investors, entrepreneurs and policy-makers &#8211; are among the hundreds of speakers and tens of thousands of delegates to in-person and virtual events.

“We are immensely honoured to welcome a leading global media icon &#8211; and a son of Africa &#8211; to our senior board, as we drive a new chapter in Canada-Africa trade and investment,” says the Chairman of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, Mr. Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, speaking from the Chamber’s Ottawa offices.

“Our existing work with APO Group has seen millions of dollars in media exposure across the continent. We believe Mr. Pompigne-Mognard and APO Group will be key to our next phase of dramatic growth as a 27-year-old institution committed to Canada-Africa trade and investment”.

Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com) founded APO with savings of €10,000, as start-up capital. The objective was to provide international and African media access to reliable news about the continent’s economy, businesses, and investment.

Today APO Group has helped communicators relay compelling, uniquely African stories to audiences, enabling a change in the African narrative to a more positive tone.

The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business began work with APO Group this year, following major engagements in Canada and Africa, including with Prime Minister Trudeau, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement leadership, as well as African Heads of State and Cabinet Ministers.

“Mr. Pompigne-Mognard will no doubt play an important and strategy role in Canada-Africa trade and investment in the context of our mandate to accelerate the commercial ties between this great G7 nation and our incredible continent, Africa” added Mr. Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, in his remarks from Ottawa.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
Media Contact: Garreth Bloor President The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business Tel: +1.647.667.1223 Email: garreth@canadaafrica.ca Manulife Building RTO 55 Bloor Street West PO Box 19553 Toronto Ontario M4W 3T9
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The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business welcomes Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard to its Senior Advisory Board

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The African energy sector continues to solidify partnerships with German investors and technology with the aim of leading energy businesses from Germany, Europe and across the African continent. From upstream to downstream, Africa’s energy sector must accelerate its transition to net-zero, continue to adopt new technologies and start to embrace digitization and decentralization over the next decade.

The 14th German African Energy Forum in Hamburg hosted by Afrika Verein continues this dialogue and pushes for investment with a clear focus on highlighting the entire African energy mix, together with economic cooperation between Germany and Africa.

As stated by Afrika-Verein, &#8220;the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the ongoing digital transformation of economies need a green, smart and quick response from the energy sector. Power generation is still one of the main enablers for inclusive economic growth in Africa.&#8221; With this said, the African Energy Chamber strongly endorses and supports the 14th German African Energy Forum in Hamburg in its efforts to do so.

In the same manner, there is a strong need for German and African businesses and policymakers to support policies that create an enabling environment for investment in a fair and evolving industry. Germany’s march to net-zero transition can’t be met if Africa is behind. The African energy sector’s ability to support the rapidly increasing demands for electricity, the deployment of smart infrastructure to manage energy more effectively, gas monetization, combating energy poverty and the approach we take to financing Africa’s clean energy transitions in a post Covid era makes this forum more important than ever.

The 14th German African Energy Forum is set to provide key market insights, trends and opportunities over the next decade as the energy sector prepares to support a global green economy.

“Year after year, Afrika Verein has been consistent in keeping Africa at the center of German foreign policy and energy policy. Their ability to bring together key stakeholders from Africa and Germany to work on energy matters including Germany and Africa is inspiring” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

“We are going to need a real net-zero transition that takes into consideration policy, regulation, innovation, technology and investment in Africa. A disorderly transition creates a stronger impulse for job losses, geographic inequity and a deterioration in inequality. In return, economic disenfranchisement can reduce public support for environmental policies over time Germans and Africans need to work together to avoid it.” Concluded Ayuk.

The Africa Energy Chamber believes Hamburg will be a great place for energy investors, project developers, policy makers and innovators to share insights and expertise on key transition trends and opportunities in Africa.

 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
To participate, contact the Afrika Verein by visiting www.energyafrica.de/en/home or emailing Berit Bürger at buerger@afrikaverein.de to book your ticket and register here: https://bit.ly/2RfGRPr #ChamberNews #EnergyAfrica21.
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Hamburg’s German African Energy Forum to jumpstart Africa’s Economic Transformation

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Download the photo in High Definition: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/files/download/d4bd559c0811b05
Read more in English or French via the following links:

APO Group &#8211; Africa Newsroom / Press release | Call For Entries: Rugby Africa’s Inaugural Media &#038; Photography Awards (africa-newsroom.com)

Rugby Africa / Communiqué de presse | Appel à candidatures : Prix inaugural des médias et de la photographie de Rugby Afrique (africa-newsroom.com)

 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
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Photo News Release: Call For Entries – Rugby Africa’s Inaugural Media & Photography Awards

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Former NBA player Ben Uzoh became the first player to score in the newly-created Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.theBAL.com), but the historic game belonged to host Patriots Basketball Club of Rwanda who defeated Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers 83-60 on Sunday at Kigali Arena.

Although the Hoopers had a promising start, they struggled to adjust to the Patriots’ aggressive defence.
And turning the ball over 20 times didn’t help.
Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, who came off the bench, and Prince Ibeh led the Patriots comeback, and the Nigerians couldn’t find any answers.
And to make matters worse for the Hoopers, they got in foul trouble early in the second quarter, and things were never the same.
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, who established a record for most steals in a single game in the FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers in February, proved crucial defensively on Sunday, making the Hoopers look helpless.
Trailing 18-17 at the end of the first quarter, Ibeh thought it was about time to turn things around.
Ibeh’s two thunderous dunks early in the second quarter ignited the Patriots to a 13-0 run as the hosts took absolute control of the game, and they never looked back, leading at one point by as many as 29 points.
Costner Brandon led all scorers with 20 points and Ibeh contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in the winning cause.
Patriots guard Kenneth Gasana, who contributed seven points and four assists, paid tribute to his team.
“We played good inside, we limited a lot of inside points and we took advantage of the turnover that they had,” the Rwandan international said, adding that “it feels good to start the BAL with a victory.”
Talking about Ibeh’s performance, Gasana added: “He’s a beast, I loved the way he played. He really protected the paint.”
Taren Sullivan did a bit of everything trying to keep the Rivers in the game, but his team-high 15 points weren’t good enough to avoid the Nigerians’ defeat.
In his professional basketball debut, Jermaine Cole scored three points, wih two assists and three rebounds.
Patriots resume their Group A campaign on Tuesday, facing Madagascar’s GNBC, a team they beat twice in the BAL Qualifiers.
Meanwhile the Hoopers return to action on Wednesday against Tunisian champions US Monastir.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
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Patriots rally to defeat Rivers Hoopers in Opener of Basketball Africa League

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Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) presents the Inaugural Media &#038; Photography Awards this season. According to Coralie van Den Berg, General Manager at Rugby Africa, two creatives, will have the opportunity to walk away with a whooping US$1500. For the love of the game, we are inviting submissions from Cape Town to Cairo and all the beautiful cities in between.

As part of Rugby Africa&#39;s work to grow the culture of our sport across the continent, the criteria for media and photography will be cognizant of submissions that value the promotion and progression of the game as we love it, throughout the continent. Over the years, many moments have shaped the face of Rugby on the continent, and we would like to hear from the women and men, who have been there to capture them.

As a show of support to journalists and photographers who have the invaluable task of documenting the game for fans and players alike, the inaugural Media &#038; Photography Awards, represents a new era of sharing and appreciation of our sport, which has brought so many together. The applications will be open as of 17 May and will close on 17 July. This will see the winner announced on 18 August.

We are putting a very deliberate focus on the heroines and heroes, outside the field of play, working tirelessly to promote Rugby in every corner of the continent, a sport that continues to change and bridge lives.

But we know that great content can come from anywhere, so even you can submit your “drop-kick at posts” in this exciting new competition. Fans and players together are the pulse of every game, both young and old, so the competition is open for all to participate and take part in the action &#8211; we would be honoured to consider your submission. If your friends and family like it, there is a great chance that our judges will like it too.

Over the years Rugby has increasingly made its mark as entertaining pastime for many, but more than that, it has elevated the promise of brand Africa through exploits of countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and others. As the bastillion of Rugby on the continent, Rugby Africa is impressed by the far-reaching achievements of all stakeholders in the game, which has ensured broad based recognition of the sport, as it should be.

According to Khaled Babbou, President of Rugby Africa, Rugby Africa is a continental pillar of the sport, as a regional association of World Rugby. For many years, it has worked at different levels with member nations, involved in the official practise of 15s and 7s Rugby in different parts of Africa. Both women’s and men’s rugby is promoted by Rugby Africa. The Men’s and Women’s Rugby Africa Cup and Sevens tournaments as well as the U20 Barthés Trophy are some of the key drivers of the work we do on the continent. From our 39 member nations, 24 are full or associate members of World Rugby, which bears testament to our representation and commitment to being a progressive leader in the game.

Further to this, our dedicated scrum of team members continues to grow and nurture relationships with local rugby unions, through collaboration, offering workshops, programs, tournaments, and other platforms of engagement around the game.

According to Herman Mensah, Head of Finance committee of Rugby Africa, Rugby Africa has also evolved with the sport through the years. Recently in 2019, Rugby Africa’s competitions were redesigned to improve representation through continental and regional tournaments. Fixture additions included The Men’s and Women’s Rugby Africa Cup, several regional Sevens tournaments, continental Men’s, and Women’s Sevens tournaments and the U20 tournament. These have fuelled the exposure of Rugby not only as a sport, but as a fan favourite of choice, for millions in audiences across the continent.

As a continental sensation, Rugby has endured the test of time as a sport, from humble beginnings, it has grown into a multinational phenomenon, best witnessed in popular culture, through the all decisive Rugby Africa Cup. On the world stage, we are proud to have taken the cup home as a continent, most specifically through South Africa (the current world champions), bearing witness to the strong support the sport has received across the board.

For more information on how to enter, prizes you can expect and who the judging panel will consist of, visit the below links for the two separate awards:
 	Media Award: http://bit.ly/Rugbymen 	Photography Award: http://bit.ly/Rugbypen Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
For media enquiries please contact: N: Lerato Chiyangwa  E: Rugby@apo-opa.com
coralie@rugbyafrique.com +27 76 300 0201
News &#038; results: Follow @RugbyAfrique on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Website: http://www.RugbyAfrique.com/
About Rugby Africa: Created in 1986, Rugby Africa, previously the African Confederation of Rugby (Confédération Africaine de Rugby – CAR), is one of the six regional associations composing World Rugby (WorldRugby.org), the international organization responsible for the governing of Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens. Rugby Africa unites all African countries which play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes the qualifying competition for the Rugby World Cup, and Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. Rugby Africa has 39 members.
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Call For Entries: Rugby Africa’s Inaugural Media & Photography Awards

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MyOffice (https://MyOffice.ru/en/), the Russian developer of office software for joint work on documents and communications, announced that a memorandum has been signed with the Ministry of Primary Education of the Republic of Cameroon for the supply of 1 million licenses of MyOffice software to all schools around the country over a period of 10 years. The signing ceremony took place in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, with the direct support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, represented by Mr. Anatoliy Gennadyevich Bashkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Cameroon.

The memorandum was signed by Mr. Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, Minister of Primary Education of the Republic of Cameroon, and Mr. Jafar Hilali, founder and managing partner of Carousel Finance SA, a master partner for distribution of MyOffice in African countries. The signed memorandum provides for collaboration in the form of a public-private partnership, under which Carousel Finance SA is to supply 1 million MyOffice licences to primary and secondary schools in the Republic of Cameroon over a period of 10 years, and the educational institutions will receive MyOffice software free of charge.

The memorandum was signed during a business mission held in the country, which entailed a series of meetings at the highest state level. For example, at a meeting with Mr. Joseph Dion Ngute, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon, the parties discussed the current challenges in the sphere of information security faced by leaders of the republic, and discussed proposals for developing a digitization program in the country using Russian software.

&#8220;Signing the memorandum became a logical continuation of the collaboration with MyOffice. Last year, we initiated pilot projects for implementation in 10 schools around Cameroon, which demonstrated their effectiveness as part of the school program. Our approach to teaching children involves not only the transfer of fundamental scientific knowledge, including natural sciences, but also the development of digital literacy skills among the younger generations. We are interested in using the safe Russian software MyOffice in our teaching practices, and starting from today, it will be delivered to all schools around the country,&#8221; declared Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, Minister of Primary Education of the Republic of Cameroon.

&#8220;MyOffice arouses genuine interest among African countries that are taking their first steps on the road to civilization and facing new challenges in the field of IT. The Republic of Cameroon was one of the first to prioritize the development of its digital sovereignty; it recognized the need to upgrade its own proprietary infrastructure, and has already seen the first positive results of pilot projects to implement Russian software. The official agreement was a confirmation of the Government of the Republic of Cameroon&#39;s serious interest in switching to modern and safe MyOffice products,&#8221; stated Jafar Hilali, founder and managing partner of Carousel Finance SA, a master partner for distribution of MyOffice in African countries.

&#8220;The Republic of Cameroon aims to become a leader on the African continent by providing its citizens with modern digital services and support. Today, 14% of the population have Internet connection, and the total length of high-speed communication lines exceeds 8,000 km. It is clear that implementing digitization in the country would be impossible without first providing training and developing digital literacy. Switching to the modern Russian software MyOffice in Cameroonian schols will make it possible to achieve this goal more quickly and easily,&#8221; believes Gleb Cheglakov, managing partner of Carousel Finance SA.

&#8220;We see great potential in developing the Russian-African partnership, and believe that the Republic of Cameroon is one of the most attractive countries for Russian business, since it shows stable population growth and economic prosperity. According to the World Bank, the population size has increased by 27% in the last ten years alone, and the per capita GDP has grown by 41% over the same period. The signing of the high-level memorandum highlights the mutual interest and expands new horizons for development of the private-public partnership,&#8221; pointed out Dmitry Komissarov, General Director of MyOffice.
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About MyOffice: MyOffice is a Russian IT company that develops secure office solutions for document collaboration and communications. The MyOffice platform includes a complete set of essential desktop, mobile and web applications for intercommunications and working with documents on PCs, tablets and smartphones anywhere in the world. MyOffice solutions ensure complete control over data, meet the industry&#39;s security standards, are suited for organizations of any size and for home use, and are available in 13 languages. MyOffice has been creating high-tech products since 2013. Over 300 major organizations and public bodies in Russia are already using the company&#39;s solutions: Russian Mail, the Federal Tax Service, the Russian Guard, Russian Railways, the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, Rosatom Corporation, Gazprom, Aeroflot, TASS, etc. Educational institutions across Russia have also chosen to use MyOffice products. The company&#39;s partner network includes over 1,500 authorized partners in all regions around Russia and abroad. All MyOffice solutions are on the Domestic Software List and comply with all Russian laws. Media files

Ministry of Primary Education of the Republic of Cameroon will receive 1 mln licenses of Russian MyOffice software

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Merck Foundation (https://Merck-Foundation.com) in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health continues to provide their scholarship of one-year Post-Graduate Diploma and two-year Master degree in both Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetes for 628 doctors from more than 42 African, Asian and Latin American countries.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks World Hypertension Day 2021 in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Medical Societies and Academia, through their long-term commitment towards building Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Endocrinology care capacity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.


Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark ‘World Hypertension Day’ every day by providing Cardiovascular, Diabetes and endocrinology care specialty training to African doctors, in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health, and to doctors from Asian and Latin American countries as well. I am very proud to say that we have so far provided these scholarships to over 628 Medical postgraduates from 42 countries. Additionally, doctors are also enrolled for a three-month Diabetes Master course in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, so as to advance their clinical knowledge in tackling these non-communicable conditions”.

Dr. Florence Akumiah, Merck Foundation alumnus from Ghana says, “I feel very privileged and happy to be part of this program. I have successfully completed the two-year Master course in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, and the course has enabled me to broaden my understanding of cardiovascular and related diseases and eventually help me in treating the patients better. I am now able to come up with a proper management plan for Hypertension and Diabetes patients. I thank Merck Foundation for their efforts, they are doing a commendable job by providing training for doctors like me who are eager to learn and serve their communities.”

“As a response to COVID 19, we adopted an online medical education strategy to scale up our efforts to improve access to quality healthcare solutions widely and effectively. We are committed to enrolling more doctors to scholarships in more specialties such as respiratory, acute, Paediatric, oncology, reproductive, urinary to be able to build a platform of healthcare experts and transform the healthcare sector in underserved communities”, explained Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation has so far enrolled and trained 628 doctors for these scholarships from 42 countries including Bangladesh, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinee Conakry, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru,  Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
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About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality &#038; equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (bit.ly/2MU6Fht), Twitter (bit.ly/3scVf8t), Instagram (bit.ly/3boJ0jr), YouTube (bit.ly/3sf4aWX) and Flicker (bit.ly/3snPHZ8).
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Merck Foundation marks “World Hypertension Day 2021” in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health via training  future cardiovascular, Diabetes, and endocrinology experts in Africa

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