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Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi&#39;s COVID-19 update on 29 March 2021:

New cases: 5 Total cases: 17,326 Active cases: 227 New recoveries: 14 Total recoveries: 16,427
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (29 March 2021)

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Total cases: 21,490 (+71) Recovered: 19,860 (+75) | 92.4% Active cases: 1,325 In critical condition: 13 Tests: 1,130,945 (+7,044) Test positivity rate: 1% Vaccinated: 348,926 (+0) Deaths: 305 (+4) | 1.4%
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda. Media files

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (29 March 2021)

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Pulse (www.Pulse.africa), Africa’s leading innovative media company, has appointed  Chijioke Dozie as Chairman of its pan-African Board of Directors.

Chijioke Dozie is the Co-Founder &#038; Co-CEO of Carbon, a leading online financial services platform. Previously, Dozie was an investor with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and started and led several companies across Africa. Dozie holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MSc Finance from the University of Reading and a BA Economics from the University of East Anglia. He has been awarded as an Endeavor entrepreneur. Dozie’s experience spans across private equity, principal investing, venture capital, entrepreneurship and management.
Speaking on the appointment, Founder &#038; Publisher of Pulse, Leonard Stiegeler said: &#8220;Pulse aims to scale its mission of information and engagement for its young audience across Africa &#8211; and we will innovate in media and marketing along the way. I could not imagine a better partner on our board than Chijioke Dozie to achieve these goals. Chijioke is an exceptional entrepreneur and innovative leader with vast experience in building and growing companies. I am looking forward to our continued collaboration.&#8221;
Chijioke Dozie commented: &#8220;Accurate information and quality engagement are important aspects of young peoples&#39; lives. Simultaneously, young people across Africa can deliver leap-frogging innovation in media, marketing and production &#8211; especially when they are enabled to do so. I am happy to be supporting Leonard and his team on their mission with Pulse.&#8221;
In addition, Pulse has just made key leadership additions to its team in Nigeria, including Kanyinsola Aroyewun as Head of Marketing &#038; Content Growth for Pulse, Chuey Chu as Head of Content Partnerships at Pulse Nigeria and Rose Umane, who joins as Head of Digital Strategy for Pulse Nigeria. These additions and appointments are part of the company’s aim to drive growth in various strategic areas:
 	Kanyinsola Aroyewun joins Pulse from She Leads Africa, a digital media company with an African outlook, where she worked as Senior Digital Associate. Kanyinsola will work with the extensive Pulse content team and partners across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Senegal &#8211; to drive the growth of Pulse’s media platforms in all operative markets. 
 	Rose Umane joins the Pulse team from her previous role as Head of Digital Monetization and Partnerships at BellaNaija, a Nigerian digital media company. She brings her vast experience to the role of sales strategy &#8211; consulting the company’s corporate partners on best-practice media and marketing. 
 	Chuey Chu returns to Pulse after a highly successful previous stint with the team. He will lead Pulse Nigeria’s content partnership efforts, engaging influencers and contributors, distribution partners and other external partners. This is in line with Pulse’s aim to build a vibrant content and creator ecosystem around its channels. 
Commenting on the new team additions in Nigeria, Moritz Boullenger, Managing Director of Pulse Nigeria remarked: “This is an exciting time for Pulse Nigeria and Pulse as a whole: we have made key additions to our marketing, content and sales teams and are positive about our direction. Together with our existing team members the new colleagues will drive innovation and growth in media and marketing for our users and partners.”
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pulse Africa.
Links:  Pulse Website (Corporate) &#8211; Pulse.africa
You can follow Pulse on: LinkedIn (http://bit.ly/36MEXYo) Instagram (https://bit.ly/3kmbH1r) Facebook (https://bit.ly/2RtjvSK)  Twitter (http://bit.ly/2Z5qwfv)

Pulse: Pulse is Africa’s leading innovative media company.
It informs and engages Africa’s young audience &#8211; and provides expansive media reach and creative marketing solutions to its partners.
Pulse’s mass media platforms and social media channels reach millions of users monthly. Pulse TV is its innovative video producer, creating formats across all channels. The Pulse Network brings together top media assets &#038; creators. Pulse Studio is its creative brand &#038; content studio, supporting clients to express their own media vision. Pulse Marketing is its 360 degree digital marketing partner, providing comprehensive marketing solutions. Pulse Products is an offering to Pulse’s users that is enabled by its media brand, content and distribution.
Media files

Pulse appoints Chijioke Dozie as Chairman & and adds top executives to its Nigerian team

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Painters, photographers, sculptors, choreographers, stylists and musicians &#8211; African culture is packed with young talent from a wide range of disciplines. “Y’Africa”, a contraction of “Africa Ya lelo” or “Africa today” in Lingala, is a TV series which puts emerging artists in the spotlight.

Each episode presents a portrait of three artists who tell their story through their work, while acting as a guide to the cities where they live.

Developed by Orange (https://oran.ge/2QIesRe), the program aims to offer African culture, in all its forms, an opportunity to shine and to strengthen the local presence of the Orange (www.Orange.com) brand in Africa.

Season 1 highlighted the diversity of African talent

Launched on February 6, season 1 of “Y’Africa” revealed the journeys of thirty-nine artists from ten different countries through thirteen episodes (each twenty-six minutes long). The documentary series was broadcast in 2020 on television channels in fifteen African countries.

The influencer [1] campaign carried out by Totem Experience, and a team of thirty-four, generated over 13 million post and story views with an exceptional level of engagement &#8211; three times the average. 

The enthusiasm generated by “Y’Africa” on television and on the web led us to decline the first season in two original spin-offs this spring:
 	Short portraits of the thirty-nine artists will be available on the Orange YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/3dmD0Hh). 	The thirteen television episodes will be adapted into a podcast which will be available on all the usual platforms. 
The positive feedback, in the form of audience engagement on social networks and the enthusiasm of African TV channels, encouraged Orange to go again with a second season.

Launch of Season 2

Season 2 of “Y’Africa” will be made up of eight new episodes (each twenty-six minutes long) presenting twenty-four artists from eight different countries: Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Tunisia.

The executive producer will once again be Fame Productions, and it will be directed by Dan Assayag. The concept remains the same: a dive into the journey of each artist who, through their portrait, also acts a guide to their city.

It is due to be broadcast in the same fifteen countries from fall 2021. Season 2 of “Y’Africa” will also receive a special broadcast on the Orange YouTube Channel. Additional exclusive content (long sequences, making-of, podcasts, etc.) will also be available online.

Béatrice Mandine, Executive Director of Communications, Engagement and Brand: “I am delighted with the success of the first season of Y’Africa which drew a wide audience to these artist portraits and generated plenty of attention on social networks. This original concept proved its value through the quality of its content, a wide choice of artists and the emotions it inspired in viewers. Building on the very positive feedback we received, we are pressing ahead and are starting shooting for season 2.”

Alioune Ndiaye, CEO of Orange Africa and the Middle East, continues: “The first season of Y’Africa was a great success. This audiovisual program showcases the richness of cultures and the creativity of African youth. The season 2 will enable us to discover new talented artists, I am looking forward to listening their testimonies”.
[1] From January 21 to June 28, 2020 on Facebook and Instagram in ten countries (CI Mar Sen Tu Cam Mal Bur Gui Mada DRC).
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange.
Press Contacts:  Ariane Chan ariane.chan@orange.com +33 6 48 01 45 24
Nathalie Chevrier nathalie.chevrier@orange.com + 33 6 48 52 75 83
About Orange: Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications carriers with a turnover of €42.3 billion in 2020 and 142,000 employees as at 31 December 2020, of whom 82,000 are in France. The Group has a total customer base of 259 million customers worldwide at Thursday, December 31, 2020, including 214 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its new &#8220;Engage 2025&#8221; strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).
To find out more (online and via your mobile device), go to: www.Orange.com, www.Orange-Business.com or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr.
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.
Media files

Orange is launching season 2 of “Y’Africa”, the TV show for African culture

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Tomorrow the UCI World Tour peloton will take on the next of the Flanders Classics, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, a race that was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be a familiar 184km route, with numerous cobble road climbs in the final half of the race, set to provide the stage for an exciting race.

Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) will look to take the momentum gained at Gent-Wevelgem, where Giacomo Nizzolo placed 2nd, into Dwars Door Vlaanderen.
The in-form Nizzolo will again lead our lineup, with Dimitri Claeys, Victor Campenaerts, Max Walscheid, Lasse Norman Hansen, Emil Vinjebo and Andreas Stokbro completing our roster.
A big thanks to Rudi Keyser for sending through a video lineup announcement (https://bit.ly/3rBQaVI) of our Dwars Door Vlaanderen team.
Lars Michaelsen &#8211; Sport Director
Tomorrow&#39;s race, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, presents us with another opportunity to show our jersey and colours during a key period in the cycling season. The Flanders Classics might use similar roads, but each race has its own unique characteristics, based on where and how frequently the climbs are positioned and which specific climbs are used. Tomorrow we will have more climbing toward the back end of the race, and this should define the outcome of the race.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.
Media files

Dwars Door Vlaanderen provides exciting midweek classics opportunity

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Today, the Republic of Kenya has joined The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business (www.CanadaAfrica.ca) as a full member of the 27-year-old organization, committed to accelerating Canada-Africa trade and investment. 

‘On behalf of the board, I am pleased to welcome an African hub and a leader on the continent,’ said Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Chair of the Board, speaking live from the organization’s offices in Ottawa.
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. 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 excited by this new partnership with the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business. We look forward to benefiting from the expertise and knowledge of over a quarter a century promoting trade and investment between Canada and Africa,’ underscored Mr. Stephen Lorete, the Charge d’Affaires at the Kenya High Commission in Ottawa.
‘Kenya is a leading and one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with many attractive trade and investment opportunities, across many sectors, and we invite the Chamber’s membership and the general Canadian business community to take advantage.’
A packed program of action immediately accompanies the Republic of Kenya’s accession to The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business. Over the next two months three (3) major events are scheduled to take place. These are:
 	The Second Session of the Binational Commission meeting between Kenya and Canada with a strong trade and investment component taking place in Nairobi, Kenya between 13th-15th April 2021. 	An upcoming mid-April announcement on a historic MoU with The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and representatives of Kenya’s private sector &#8211; following a seminar held last year in Nairobi with Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng and companies from both countries. 	A Virtual Trade Mission from Canada to Kenya in the second half of May 2021 
‘Apart from my country of birth, there is no other nation on the continent in which I have spent more time than in the incredible country of Kenya,’ says Garreth Bloor, President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
‘Today we are honoured to welcome a leading economy, comprised of some of the world’s top business leaders. The opportunities are immense and work toward realizing Canadian trade and investment in Kenya is already well-underway.’
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
Queries: 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
Media files

CORRECTION: Kenya joins The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Today, the Republic of Kenya has joined The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business (www.CanadaAfrica.ca) as a full member of the 27-year-old organization, committed to accelerating Canada-Africa trade and investment. 

‘On behalf of the board, I am pleased to welcome an African hub and a leader on the continent,’ said Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Chair of the Board, speaking live from the organization’s offices in Ottawa.
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. 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 excited by this new partnership with the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business. We look forward to benefiting from the expertise and knowledge of over a quarter a century promoting trade and investment between Canada and Africa,’ underscored Mr. Stephen Lorete, the Charge d’Affaires at the Kenya High Commission in Ottawa.
‘Kenya is a leading and one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with many attractive trade and investment opportunities, across many sectors, and we invite the Chamber’s membership and the general Canadian business community to take advantage.’
A packed program of action immediately accompanies the Republic of Kenya’s accession to The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business. Over the next two months three (3) major events are scheduled to take place. These are:
 	The Second Session of the Binational Commission meeting between Kenya and Canada with a strong trade and investment component taking place in Nairobi, Kenya between 13th-15th April 2021. 	An upcoming mid-April announcement on a historic MoU with The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and representatives of Kenya’s private sector &#8211; following a seminar held last year in Nairobi with Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng and companies from both countries. 	A Virtual Trade Mission from Canada to Kenya in the second half of May 2021 
‘Apart from my country of birth, there is no other nation on the continent in which I have spent more time than in the incredible country of Kenya,’ says Garreth Bloor, President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
‘Today we are honoured to welcome a leading economy, comprised of some of the world’s top business leaders. The opportunities are immense and work toward realizing Canadian trade and investment in Kenya is already well-underway.’
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
Queries: 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
Media files

CORRECTION: Kenya joins The Canada-Africa of Business

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

GDN Studios, part of The Guardian Group, has announced the premiere and cinema release of its debut film Eyimofe (This is My Desire), following an extensive tour of the global film festival circuit. The movie will have its Nigerian premiere on Sunday, April 18, just days before opening in cinemas on Friday, April 23.

Eyimofe has been praised by international audiences, festival directors, critics and industry media as an outstanding effort by Arie and Chuko Esiri, brothers and co-directors of their first feature film. The movie takes an unflinching look at the pressures of everyday life in Nigeria, the desperate measures people take to survive, and the unrelenting desire to escape to a better life abroad, by whatever means. It traces the parallel lives of Mofe, a stoic electrician and part-time security guard, and Rosa, a struggling hairdresser, both trying to navigate illegal ways of fleeing the country.
Eyimofe has represented Nigeria globally, having been selected for festivals in twenty countries to date. These include the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival 2020, where it had its World Premiere; the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival; and the American Film Institute (AFI) Film Festival. It has garnered several festival awards including ‘Winner, Best Fiction, New Filmmakers’ at the São Paulo International Film Festival (Brazil), and ‘Winner, Achille Valdata Award’ at the Torino Film Festival (Italy).
According to executive producer Toke Alex Ibru, the film has exceeded expectations. “We’ve been encouraged by the tremendous reception the film has received in London, Berlin, São Paolo (Brazil), Los Angeles and other cities. It’s really exciting to bring Eyimofe home to Nigeria and see how audiences react to seeing our lives portrayed onscreen in such a realistic way.”
Co-directors Arie &#038; Chuko issued a statement to mark the film’s release. “Eyimofe is very special to both of us – not just because it’s our first full-length feature, but due to the amazing support we have received from the cast, crew, and a host of backers. We’re grateful to GDN Studios for allowing us to tell this touching story without compromising on production values and for helping to give the film the global exposure it has received. Audiences abroad have taken this movie to their hearts and we look forward to having Nigerians embrace it, even as they discuss some of the issues it raises about the human condition.”
Some of the film industry’s leading international publications have been very positive about Eyimofe. Variety (USA) said that the film is “a clear-eyed portrait of a vibrant informed by two talented native sons”; the British Film Institute’s Sight &#038; Sound called it a “stunning feature debut” and Frieze (UK) suggested it was “an outstanding story of interwoven tales”. The Hollywood Reporter said it was “carefully observed and well-performed drama… a love-hate letter to a great and flawed city, from two talented young filmmakers”.

The premiere of Eyimofe – This is My Desire takes place on Sunday, April 18, at EbonyLife Place in Victoria Island, Lagos, and opens in cinemas on Friday, April 23 in selected cinemas across Nigeria. For further information, visit www.Eyimofe.film.
 Nigeria Release Teaser &#8211; EYIMOFE This is My Desire: https://bit.ly/3m2xu0i
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GDN Studios.
Synopsis: Tragedy and fate intervene as two Nigerians try to better the lives of their families. Eyimofe (This is My Desire) is a film about two people’s quest for what they believe will be a better life on foreign shores.
After Mofe loses his family and Rosa fails to deliver on a promise, their travel plans collapse forcing them to reconsider living abroad. As time passes and wounds heal, they learn the future they desperately seek can be built at home.

About GDN: An extensive range of locations, production services and post-production services under one roof. We also offer much more to cover all your project needs.
We enable and facilitate entertainment, media and creative projects in Nigeria for production or co-production. This is made possible by our ecosystem of partners, deep knowledge of the market, government support, and access to funding participation from major banks and institutional partners.
Our dedicated team will help you take care of end-to-end needs including legal and permits, security, medical assistance, insurance and logistic requirements to ensure every aspect of your experience with us is world class. Whatever your production needs, GDN Studios will deliver.

About The Guardian: The Guardian is an independent newspaper, established for the purpose of presenting balanced coverage of events, and of promoting the best interests of
Nigeria. It owes allegiance to no political party, ethnic community, religious or other interest group. Its primary commitment is to the integrity and sovereignty of the Federation of Nigeria and beyond that to the unity and sovereignty of Africa.
The Guardian is a liberal newspaper, committed to the best traditions and ideals of republican democracy. It believes that it is the responsibility of the state not only to protect and defend the citizens, but also to create the conditions, political, social, economic and cultural, in which all citizens have duties as well as rights.
The Guardian does not, in principle, object to the ideology of the free enterprise, since this would be inconsistent with its commitment to individual liberty and freedom. But it believes that the state must intervene judiciously in the economic life of the nation, in order to minimise the adverse effects of free enterprise without prejudice to the right of individual citizens to exploit labour and capacity for their own benefit.
The Guardian believes it is the duty of the state to ensure that less privileged citizens have reasonable and fair access to the basic necessities of life.
The Guardian will at all times uphold the need for justice, probity in public life, equal access to the nation&#39;s resources, and equal protection under the laws of Nigeria for all citizens.
The Guardian believes that Nigeria is a legitimate member of the international community, but holds that she can best fulfil her international obligations only if her own security and integrity are assured.
The Motto of The Guardian is Conscience, Nurtured by Truth.
* The Guardian was first published a weekly on February 27, 1983. It went daily five months later on Monday, July 4, 1983.
Media files

Award-winning movie Eyimofe returns to Nigeria after successful run at world’s top film festivals

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

In Africa, a continent where gender inequality is already a serious threat to development, Covid-19 is further impacting economic opportunities for women. At the March edition of Canon’s Africa Frontiers of Innovation series, four leading women shared how they choose to challenge barriers in business and the arts to succeed professionally.

Achieving the UN’s goal of gender equity by 2030 may be harder to achieve than pre-Covid-19 as women have been shown to bear a greater negative impact economically. Studies have shown that women bear the economic brunt of the pandemic and are carrying the bulk load of unpaid care work. According to a McKinsey report, more than one in four women in the USA are considering downscaling their careers or leaving the workforce.

In Africa, where gender inequality is said to be one of the greatest threats to the future, 70% of women remain financially excluded. According to Forbes Africa, none of the continent’s 18 billionaires is female.

At the most recent edition of Canon’s Africa Frontiers of Innovation on March 24, 2021, three leading photographers – Aisha Augie, Gulshan Khan and Sarah Waiswa chatted with business leader Irene Ochem, CEO of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), about how they choose to challenge gender inequality and how they overcome barriers to professional success.

The Africa Frontiers of Innovation series, presented by imaging leader Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com), brings together thought-leaders from across the continent to discuss solutions to contemporary issues, including the Covid-19 pandemic. The monthly sessions are broadcast on social media and hosted by award-winning Kenyan journalist Victoria Rubadiri.

The March episode, in keeping with International Women’s Day, focused on women trailblazers. Canon is a long-standing champion of gender equality, with more than half of leadership positions filled by women. This is a figure far above the norm in corporate Africa. “Supporting women to rise in the workplace is a natural part of Canon’s corporate philosophy of Kyosei – working together. We believe in empowering people and creating equal opportunities,” said Mai Youssef, Corporate Communications and Marketing Services Director, Canon CNA.

According to Nigerian-based Ochem, African women face many hurdles as entrepreneurs and professionals. These include securing finance, getting into markets and few networking opportunities. “Generally, the African corporate sector is run by African men and a few African women. Women do not have equal access. There is a gap and our job is to close it.”

Whilst all the panellists talked of having to overcome major barriers, they also highlighted opportunities and insights that come from being a woman. “When there is a crowd of photographers trying to catch ‘that shot’, I stand out because I’m female. Sometimes I get pulled to the front. It comes with good and bad. For me, it’s mainly been good,” said Augie.  Four proven tools for empowering women were unpacked at the session – social media, mentorship, celebrating success and networking.

Social Media South African photographer Gulshan Khan, the first African woman to be hired regularly by Agence France Presse (AFP) and first female South African Canon Ambassador, said social media has helped secure commissions that she wouldn’t have had access to before. “Social media opened up the field. I put my work on these platforms and it started getting traction. It helped me be seen by editors.”

Sarah Waiswa, an award-winning documentary and portrait photographer based in Kenya, believes social media has been a game-changer. “These days you don’t need anyone’s permission, you can self-publish and get your work out there.”

For public servant, communicator and mixed media artist Aisha Augie, social media has brought greater work prospects. “In Nigeria, politicians use images as social proof, to bridge the gap between government and the people. Photography and videography have become an integral part of every communication plan because people want to see what has been done and hold those in power accountable.”

Augie’s also seen her followers be inspired: “Social media has been a space to share my story and this has shown other women that’s it’s possible to pursue a career in photography.”

Mentoring Mentorship has been an important element in helping level the playing field and creating opportunities for young women. “In the beginning, I didn’t know how to navigate this industry. People reached out to me a lot and the exchange of information and knowledge was invaluable,” said Khan, who believes in sharing expertise from a place of abundance rather than fearing competition.

Waiswa founded the African Women in Photography collective as a circle of support. “Whether it’s an online webinar, one-on-one conversations or sharing job openings, mentorship is extremely important. Walking with others gets you further than walking alone.”

Ochem believes winning women have a responsibility to pave the way for others to follow. “Peer-to-peer learning is powerful. When we reach the top the door mustn’t close behind us. We must leave that door open for more women to come in.”

Celebrating Success Ochem is the convenor of the AWIEF Conference and Awards. She is certain that celebrating success encourages women to rise to greater heights. “Sometimes it’s a lack of confidence that holds women back. If you believe you are capable, it becomes a reality.

“Recognising achievements is very powerful. The exposure can attract potential investors and make it possible to scale, to grow. Seeing sisters who have done it, women who are creating jobs and building the African economy is highly motivating.”
Canon celebrates achievement with their Canon Ambassadors Programme. This includes a growing number of African women photographers and film-makers: Yasmin AlBatoul (Algeria), Laura El-Tantawy (Egypt/UK), Yagazie Emezie (Nigeria) Menna Hossam (Egypt), Georgina Goodwin (Kenya), Gulshan Khan (South Africa), Aïda Muluneh (Ethiopia) and Sarah Waiswa (Kenya/Uganda). Says Khan, &#8220;I am reminded how very important it is to be visible, to take up space, to be proud of this work.&#8221;

Networking Networks – like the Canon Ambassadors Programme and the African Women in Photography collective – can be instrumental in helping women navigate their way forward.

“Women do not have access to networks that men do. In corporate Africa there is a typical ‘men’s club’ ethos,” claims Ochem. “We work around this by creating a network for women entrepreneurs; we become their connection.”

Augie has found networking invaluable, particularly in areas where local resources are limited. “I’m from northern Nigeria and it can be difficult to rent or source specialised cameras. People in your network will loan their equipment to you. You make connections who have connections. You pass on work. When I can’t take a commission I refer to those I know.

She says that funding often comes via networks: “If you want to do a project or exhibition, sponsorship is almost always found through someone who knows you. Networking is key.”

The pandemic created new relationships said Waiswa. “Through the internet, it’s been  possible to connect with people you would never have thought of; it’s opened up spaces which may not have happened previously.”

Encouraging signs Despite the many obstacles, all four women are excited about the future. They celebrated the recent election of Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president and several other encouraging signs.

One of the few positives from the Covid-19 pandemic has been breaking into new work. “International clients, unable to fly in their usual journalists and photographers, were forced to consider the local pool of talent,” explained Waiswa. “It’s sad it took something so drastic, but we welcomed the work and exposure.

“Whilst Covid has been quite a dark time, there has also been light. It has shown us the value of life, how fickle it can be and to consider our place in the world; what we can do to make a difference and an impact. Although the pandemic has limited our ability to travel, it has made us look inward, and perhaps that’s where our focus needs to be.”

For Khan, this is a time for transformation and healing. “Now more than ever we are having conversations. We need to keep this momentum going. We can only shine when we are rubbed up against each other. It can be uncomfortable but it’s the only way we are going to progress.”

Ochem is excited. “We are more aware of our rights, especially young women. Many innovations are coming out of the continent. We are gradually getting buy-in from men, who are starting to understand that gender equality benefits everyone. It’s not just a human right. &#8211; all the research and analysis shows that when men and women have equal opportunities, there is development.”

“The pandemic has complicated many people’s lives, which is why these conversations in the Africa Frontiers of Innovation series are so valuable at this time,” commented Youssef. “We hope that the practical strategies for success discussed with inspire and encourage women everywhere,” said Youssef.

Canon’s Africa Frontiers of Innovation will continue to explore contemporary challenges with African thought-leaders every month through 2021. To be part of the conversation follow Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) on Facebook (https://bit.ly/3sEGDyO) or LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2P9VK4N).

References:
 	Covid-19 &#038; gender equality: https://mck.co/3uaYWfl 	Women leaving the workforce: https://mck.co/2QHrVZw 	70% of Africa’s women are excluded: https://bit.ly/39sYhxH 	Africa’s billionaires: Forbes Africa – Feb/March 2021 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).
Media Contact: Canon Central and North Africa Mai Youssef e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group &#8211; PR Agency Rania El Rafie e. Rania.elrafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa: Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2015 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region &#8211; by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com.
Media files

Women Trailblazers – Choose to Challenge

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

In its third year, the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition gives African entrepreneurs a unique platform to showcase their talent and grow their businesses; ABH, which is the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program in Africa, annually awards 10 outstanding finalists with a share of a US$1.5 million grant; Applications are now open in English and French for “heroes” across all sectors and African countries, with special emphasis on those working to achieve the UN SDGs.

The “Africa’s Business Heroes” (ABH) prize competition (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program spotlighting and celebrating Africa’s entrepreneurial talent, opened applications for its third annual edition.

Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, across every sector, age group, and gender will now be able to submit their applications, in either French and English, for a chance to compete for a spot among the Top 10 finalists. The central theme of this year’s competition, “It’s African Time”, is a bold call to action for all talented African entrepreneurs who are challenging stereotypes associated with &#8220;African time&#8221; through their businesses, to leverage the ABH prize to scale their efforts as well as share their stories of how they’ve driven change and solutions.

ABH is part of the Jack Ma Foundation’s long-term commitment to help support and foster an inclusive and strong Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. ABH will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs over a ten-year period and allocate grant funding alongside training, mentoring and learning programmes, as well as access to a community of like-minded African business leaders.

At the grand finale later this year, ten finalists will take the stage to present their businesses and share their visions to an esteemed panel of judges, to win a share of the US$1.5 million grant. The journey to the Finale will include several rounds of rigorous evaluation panels, as well as access to a community of international leaders and innovators, industry experts, investors and accelerators, through a number of multi-disciplinary bootcamps and training sessions.

In 2020, the ten outstanding finalists (https://bit.ly/3wlDA0G) &#8211; half of whom were female – were selected from over 22,000 applicants across all 54 African nations. They represented eight African countries &#8211; Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe &#8211; and various industries including agriculture, fashion, education, healthcare, renewable energy, and financial services.

“I am proud to have been named the winner of the 2020 Africa’s Business Heroes prize. The competition was an incredible journey. 2020 was a challenging year that made us refocus from profitability to survival. I hope my win inspires Africans to believe that we have what it takes to make an impact, no matter where we are. The Prize is helping us scale our energy solution across East Africa, and we remain focused to change how Africa cooks, one kitchen at a time,” said Chebet Lesan, Founder and CEO at BrightGreen Renewable Energy.

The journeys of Chebet and her fellow finalists will be featured in the televised ABH show, which will air in four episodes across Africa and online, later this year. The show will give exclusive access to the 2020 edition, following the finalists as they go head to head in the pitch to the finale judges. With the show, ABH hopes to provide a masterclass in entrepreneurship and inspire aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses across Africa to pursue their business dreams. The 2019 documentary “Looking for Africa’s Heroes (https://bit.ly/3wjNTlZ)” featuring the first edition of ABH was recently shortlisted by global film festivals including RapidLion &#8211; The South African International Film Festival and AmDocs &#8211; the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival.

“As we open our third annual pitch competition, we want to recognize Africa’s extraordinary entrepreneurs, whose business ventures not only are successful and profitable but are generating positive impact on their local communities. Despite the incredibly difficult conditions faced by entrepreneurs and small businesses around the world over the past year, Africa’s entrepreneurship has been experiencing an incredible upward trajectory, showing the magnitude of potential and opportunities yet to be seized. Therefore, Africa’s Business Heroes is excited to join forces with our partners to identify, spotlight and support even more passionate, innovative, and determined entrepreneurs across Africa.” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International, Jack Ma Foundation.

Global leaders Graca Machel, Chair of the Graca Machel Trust Board and Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-General and Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens serve on the ABH advisory board. In addition, Anita Erskine, UN SDG Advocate and Founder of the STEM Woman Project, will continue to serve as the official host of “Africa’s Business Heroes” program. This year, ABH will continue to work with its Anchor Partners across the continent &#8211; African Leadership Group (www.ALGroup.org), Ashesi (www.Ashesi.edu.gh), Dalberg (www.Dalberg.com), Janngo (www.Janngo.com), and RiseUp (www.RiseUp.co), with more to be announced in due course.

Applications will be open online until June 7 with semi-finalists announced in August, and the top ten finalists for 2021 unveiled in September. To apply and for more information about ABH, please visit: www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org and follow us on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3ddXou2), LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/31trJiD), Instagram (https://bit.ly/3sCcz6C) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3rv6g3H).
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).
Press Contact: Holly Zhao (+1)5054693316 holly.zhao@alibaba-inc.com
Miriam Forte (+44)7534247780 m.forte@alibaba-inc.com
About Africa’s Business Heroes: The Africa’s Business Heroes prize competition is the flagship philanthropic initiative spearheaded by the Jack Ma Foundation aimed at supporting and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs across all sectors, who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future of the continent. Over a ten-year period, ABH will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs and commit to allocating grant funding, training programs, and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Each year, the ABH prize competition and show will feature ten finalists as they pitch their business to win a share of $1.5 million in grant money. Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation, created the prize after he made his first trip to Africa in 2017 and was inspired by the energy and entrepreneurial potential of the young people he met with.
Media files

Applications Open for 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Leading pan-African fintech company, Accelerex Ghana (www.GlobalAccelerex.com.gh), has hit a new milestone, after being granted an enhanced Payment Service Provider (PSP) licence from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), under the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019 (Act 987). This makes Accelerex Ghana the only fintech organization currently within the enhanced PSP category that provides physical e-payment devices, merchant acquiring, and agency banking solutions in Ghana.

The move followed on the heels of the ISO 27001:2013 and PCI-DSS certifications recently obtained by the company and will open the Ghanaian market to more electronic payment and transaction possibilities across different platforms and channels.
Speaking on the achievements, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Accelerex Ghana, Sebastian Yalley, noted that: “through our continuous product innovation and impeccable attention to customer needs, the company has gradually emerged as the financial technology company of choice for Ghanaian businesses.”
He further stated that, “at Accelerex, standardization and compliance remain the bedrock of our operations across all subsidiaries in Africa. We believe that having this licence from the Bank of Ghana is a demonstration of our commitment to the Ghanaian market, and serves as the foundation for rolling out simple, secure, and convenient e-payment and digital transaction solutions for all customer segments. We intend to use this as a leverage to deepen our existing relationships with our bank clients. In that same spirit of collaboration, we are open to working with other fintech companies to deliver superior value to customers.”
Buoyed by this major milestone which permits the company to offer electronic payment platforms and applications, agency banking, merchant payment collections, payment terminal management and terminal aggregator management systems, Accelerex Ghana is eyeing the retail segment with its new revolutionary products &#8211; RexPay and RexRetail, set to launch in Q2 of 2021. These products will help the company deepen its footprints in Ghana and cement its position as a leader in the e-payment space.
RexPay (https://bit.ly/31vEj0X) is an online payment gateway that helps social media sellers and corporate organizations receive payments in a fast, convenient and secure manner, even without owning a website. Customers enjoy multiple payment options and can make payments seamlessly wherever they are. Sellers can sign up easily to the RexPay platform in less than five minutes, then begin to receive payments instantly.
RexRetail, an all-in-one solution for small and medium-sized retail shops, helps retailers automate their everyday operations. It is a superb tool for inventory management, customer relationship management and seamless accounting. More importantly, RexRetail supports business owners with a reporting and analytics tool that helps them keep track of the performance of their business.
A member of the Accelerex Holdings Group, with footprints in Nigeria and Kenya, Accelerex Ghana commenced operations in the country in 2019 as a financial technology company offering offline and online payment services to its target markets. Its parent company, Accelerex Holdings, recently secured a US$20million investment from African Capital Alliance to drive new product development and expand to South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire and Tanzania.
Accelerex Ghana has a strong bias for innovation, world-class technology and excellent customer service. It intends to extend availability of its products and services to different categories of businesses in Ghana with the aim of spreading accessibility of financial technology and digital payments. Visit www.GlobalAccelerex.com.gh for more information.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Accelerex. Media files

Accelerex offers Ghanaian Customers more Digital Payment Options

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
Several heads of state and government, the United Nations and heads of multilateral development finance institutions on Monday called for expansion of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, under which low-income countries have suspended paying down debt during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The initiative should be widened beyond low-income countries and its current expiration extended to offer much-needed fiscal space, panelists urged in a discussion of international debt architecture and liquidity. The meeting also called for Special Drawing Rights to be reallocated to poorer countries.


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica and UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened the virtual meeting.

African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) President Akinwumi A. Adesina took part in a roundtable event with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva; World Bank President David Malpass; OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría; World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and Inter-American Development Bank President Mauricio Claver-Carone.

Debt distress is placing achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals at risk, Guterres said. He commended ongoing efforts to widen debt relief and improve access to special drawing rights but urged more. “I’m calling for bolder and more ambitious measures. A new debt mechanism could provide a menu of options, including debt swaps, buybacks and cancellations,” he said. “This is also the moment to tackle longstanding weaknesses in debt architecture,” he added.

Holness issued a blunt warning. “Debt servicing has come at tremendous socioeconomic costs to our populations, which have borne the burden of steep costs in public expenditures.” He also praised the G20’s decision to extend the debt suspension initiative. “I believe there is a sound basis for it to be further extended to next year.  Consideration should also be given to expanding its beneficiaries to include highly-indebted middle-income countries,” he said.        

Economic recovery would require a comprehensive approach to increasing fiscal space for poor nations, Georgieva noted. This must include “measures to include revenue collection, spending efficiency, the business environment, as well as very substantial international support, grants and concessional lending.”

She said the IMF had discussed a proposal to allocate an additional $650 billion in special drawing rights, enabling member countries with strong economic fundamentals to divert reserves to low-income and vulnerable countries.

African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi A. Adesina said Africa’s economic recovery would hinge on securing equitable access to vaccines and developing solutions for debt distress. “Africa needs debt relief, debt restructuring and debt sustainability,” he said, pointing out that in the absence of reallocations, low-income countries would receive only about 3.2% of special drawing rights.

The Bank Group President called for the formation of an African financial stability mechanism, modeled on the European Stability Mechanism,  to provide jointly guaranteed emergency support. “The mechanism will provide a much-needed fiscal safety net for African economies and help to avoid regional spillover effects of countries falling into illiquidity and insolvency.”      

“Trade and debt sustainability are closely linked,” said the WTO’s Iweala. “By closing off export opportunities and lowering commodity prices, Covid-19 has worsened debt dynamics for many developing countries.”  She called on governments to “deliver results” at the WTO this year, to reinforce the rules of global trade and pave the way for low-income countries to earn foreign exchange earnings.

The meeting titled, Financing for Development in the Era of Covid-19 and Beyond, was made up of many sessions.
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.

Increase debt suspension arrangements to offer low-income and middle-income countries fiscal space – heads of state

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

A warm welcome and congratulations to the many companies who have opened or published via their Press Office Newsrooms so far this year &#8211; among them such staunch brand communicators as LG South Africa, Uber, Duke Advertising, Ofyt Agency, Pep South Africa and many other diverse organisations &#8211; from advertising to agriculture. Here’s a checklist of tips for successfully starting and managing your owned newsroom on Biz:

1.     Your own owned media: Opening a Press Office is an exciting step for brands and brand owners! Take complete control of brand communications with quick turnaround in a high traffic business marketing environment on Bizcommunity.
2.     The first impressions to many more impressions: Create the best first impression of your company, organisation or brand. Easy newsroom set-up to your specifications by our team, will go on to deliver 1,000s more impressions for your company news.
3.     Your instant communications hub: The Biz Press Office Newsroom acts as your company’s own digital communications hub, easily accessible by PR and brand communicators to be able to plan, publish, monitor and track your brand communications.
4.     Content publishing made easy: The press release is king, but newsroom practices are advancing all the time. Brand campaigns, multimedia, stakeholders, interviews or brand tie-ins offer an essential part of the PR mix on Africa’s biggest business marketing website.
&#8220;Newsrooms are conversation starters… the window into company life… a unique opportunity to speak directly to your audiences; including the media, bloggers and influencers, investors and stakeholders, your customers and sometimes the general public.” Press Pages
5.     Many happy returns: Put the icing on! Newsroom management is being cited as a new specialist skill set, where best results are achieved by independent or internal PR professionals or communications specialists. Newsroom ownership extends the brand journeys right into the business media for maximum impact, awareness and returns.
6.     Where PR and business marketing meet: Where PR agencies or communications specialists stay in-the-know about planned brand activity, ensuring brand publishing is seamlessly and timeously integrated into marketing communications and campaign follow through!
7.     New Biz comm. channels: These days the brand and business communications journey does not end on TV, YouTube or social media. Owning a newsroom allows marketing communicators and PR agencies end-to-end control over brand content in the valuable business-to-business space.
“End-to-end control over brand content in the valuable business-to-business space.”
8.     Brand longevity is the new goal: Extend the longevity and success of valuable brand stories and back stories published front-page and archived via your Biz Press Office newsroom.
9.     Multi-Brand, Multi-Region: Multiple brands or marques in the stable may be showcased via your newsrooms, bringing all your product lines under one virtual roof.
“In the past, many companies may have been content with announcing corporate appointments, new accounts or award wins, but new trends see newsroom management as a specialised skill, offering many more with opportunities to tactically take business and brand marketing relationships to the next level!”
10. Share those stats: Possibly the most exciting aspect of owning a newsroom is the all important measurability factor. Easy login to Biz Press Office Newsroom analytics allows PR and brand communicators to monitor and feedback traffic and engagement stats generated by their releases back to stakeholders or use in compiling virality case studies and awards entries.
“Bizcommunity pageviews may be many times those generated by social media or company websites and useful in compiling virality case studies and awards entries.” &#8211; Angie White, Biz Press Office manager
First quarter most-read Biz Press Office Newsroom releases
1.     Sportscene shines a light on TFG&#39;s digital transformation
Issued by TFG
8,628 impressions
2.     Sport and entertainment agency Levergy appoints Ray Langa managing director
Issued by Levergy
3,176 impressions
3.     Akademia wins CIMA Excellence Award
Issued by CIMA
2,680 impressions
4.     Jabulani Sigege appointed as ECD for Wunderman Thompson
Issued by Wunderman Thompson SA
2,099 impressions
5.     Wunderman Thompson SA&#39;s leadership expands with industry heavyweights
Issued by Wunderman Thompson
1,850 impressions
6.     The new social networks
Issued by Meltwater
1,664 impressions
First quarter Press Office Newsrooms:
Welcome to the following organisations who have recently opened Biz Press Office Newsrooms:
·        TR Brand Communications
·        Venture Workspace
·        Old Friends Young Talent
·        Briefly
·        AnimMate
·        Africa Demolition Contractor
·        SMMEStart
·        GreenCape
·        Lumminos
·        Afri.Can
·        Duke
·        Superunion
·        The Publicity Workshop
·        Codehesion
·        Setup a Startup
·        LG
·        Uber
·        Brand Reserve Co
·        Leather Gallery
·        Propell
·        Nalesa Media
·        G3G
·        Learning Curve:
·        dotGOOD
We invite you to make use of a Biz Press Office Newsroom on the indispensable platform for sharing your company news, brand marketing, brand communications and advertising within 19 industry communities &#8211; from Africa to the world.
We absolutely love talking brand content strategy. Contact sales@bizcommunity.com to take your brand communications to the next level.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Bizcommunity. Media files

10 ways for companies to successfully start and manage a newsroom

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

It’s been ‘smoking hot’ at Kwik Delivery (www.Kwik.delivery) these past 5 days with amazing updates rolling out of the workshop. On March 29th, 2021 Kwik Delivery released Magento Version 1.0 of the Kwik Delivery plugin. Four days earlier, it had released the version 2.0 of its WooCommerce plugin (version 2.0) for merchants and eCommerce businesses.

Both plugins were developed to allow large and small merchants to offer Kwik Delivery’s on-demand, just-in-time delivery service to all their customers. This eases the stress/need of constantly arranging for delivery or worrying about on-time delivery once purchases are made. Kwik platform delivers within 2 hours of order placement in Lagos and within 1 hour in Abuja.

“With only a few clicks, merchants and eCommerce businesses can provide quick, efficient, and affordable delivery services to their customers after purchases,” says Romain POIROT-LELLIG, Founder &#038; CEO of Kwik Delivery. “That ease of business and the convenience it affords merchants are what Kwik Delivery brings to the commerce in Africa through this plugin.”

This new version of the plugin (both for WooCommerce and for Magento) has the following new and exciting features:

 	Instant Notification &#8211; Merchants can now get instant notifications on their dashboards when an order is placed on their websites. This makes it faster to assign orders to a rider. 	Cash on Delivery payment option: Merchants now have the option to let customers pay on delivery after purchase. Kwik Delivery would collect the cash on behalf of the merchant and remit within 24 hours. 
The Magento version of the Kwik Delivery plugin is a new addition to the growing list of platforms with FREE Kwik Delivery plugin. Other platforms include; WordPress/WooCommerce, Shopify and Prestashop.

Kwik Delivery plugin was first released on September 14th, 2020, becoming the first-ever African last-mile WooCommerce delivery plugin. The statement made by Olivier DECROCK, Chief Technology Officer at Kwik Delivery at the first release, “We will continue to innovate . . .” proves true today as the plugin continues to improve and expand across platforms. “We are moving at a rapid pace to provide the delivery value so important to Africa’s eCommerce framework,” says Olivier DECROCK on the recent developments. “More and more online merchants are springing up and more businesses are going virtual. It is our responsibility to create that ease of logistics necessary for the growth and sustenance of eCommerce in Africa. The plugins we’ve released over the months is just one step in that direction.”

Kwik Delivery is an on-demand, last-mile delivery platform that connects African businesses to independent delivery riders. Kwik Delivery is the trading name of Africa Delivery Technologies SAS. The mobile app is available on iOS and Android.

Since its launch in 2019, Kwik Delivery has remained committed to fostering commerce across Africa through outstanding delivery technology. Updating the WooCommerce plugin is a show of such commitment and drive for innovation towards enhancing commerce in Africa.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kwik.
For more information about the Kwik Delivery Woocommerce or Magento plugin and how to install them, go to http://developer.kwik.delivery, or send an email to hello@kwik.delivery for further inquiries.
Media files

Kwik Delivery releases new Delivery Plugin for Magento and the version 2.0 of its WooCommerce plugin

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

It’s been ‘smoking hot’ at Kwik Delivery (www.Kwik.delivery) these past 5 days with amazing updates rolling out of the workshop. On March 29th, 2021 Kwik Delivery released Magento Version 1.0 of the Kwik Delivery plugin. Four days earlier, it had released the version 2.0 of its WooCommerce plugin (version 2.0) for merchants and eCommerce businesses.

Both plugins were developed to allow large and small merchants to offer Kwik Delivery’s on-demand, just-in-time delivery service to all their customers. This eases the stress/need of constantly arranging for delivery or worrying about on-time delivery once purchases are made. Kwik platform delivers within 2 hours of order placement in Lagos and within 1 hour in Abuja.

“With only a few clicks, merchants and eCommerce businesses can provide quick, efficient, and affordable delivery services to their customers after purchases,” says Romain POIROT-LELLIG, Founder &#038; CEO of Kwik Delivery. “That ease of business and the convenience it affords merchants are what Kwik Delivery brings to the commerce in Africa through this plugin.”

This new version of the plugin (both for WooCommerce and for Magento) has the following new and exciting features:

 	Instant Notification &#8211; Merchants can now get instant notifications on their dashboards when an order is placed on their websites. This makes it faster to assign orders to a rider. 	Cash on Delivery payment option: Merchants now have the option to let customers pay on delivery after purchase. Kwik Delivery would collect the cash on behalf of the merchant and remit within 24 hours. 
The Magento version of the Kwik Delivery plugin is a new addition to the growing list of platforms with FREE Kwik Delivery plugin. Other platforms include; WordPress/WooCommerce, Shopify and Prestashop.

Kwik Delivery plugin was first released on September 14th, 2020, becoming the first-ever African last-mile WooCommerce delivery plugin. The statement made by Olivier DECROCK, Chief Technology Officer at Kwik Delivery at the first release, “We will continue to innovate . . .” proves true today as the plugin continues to improve and expand across platforms. “We are moving at a rapid pace to provide the delivery value so important to Africa’s eCommerce framework,” says Olivier DECROCK on the recent developments. “More and more online merchants are springing up and more businesses are going virtual. It is our responsibility to create that ease of logistics necessary for the growth and sustenance of eCommerce in Africa. The plugins we’ve released over the months is just one step in that direction.”

Kwik Delivery is an on-demand, last-mile delivery platform that connects African businesses to independent delivery riders. Kwik Delivery is the trading name of Africa Delivery Technologies SAS. The mobile app is available on iOS and Android.

Since its launch in 2019, Kwik Delivery has remained committed to fostering commerce across Africa through outstanding delivery technology. Updating the WooCommerce plugin is a show of such commitment and drive for innovation towards enhancing commerce in Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kwik.
For more information about the Kwik Delivery Woocommerce or Magento plugin and how to install them, go to http://developer.kwik.delivery, or send an email to hello@kwik.delivery for further inquiries.
Media files

KWIK DELIVERY releases new plugin for Magento Delivery plugin and version 2.0 of its WooCommerce plugin in 5 Days!

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Today, the Republic of Kenya has joined The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business (www.CanadaAfrica.ca) as a full member of the 27-year-old organization, committed to accelerating Canada-Africa trade and investment.

‘On behalf of the board, I am pleased to welcome an African hub and a leader on the continent,’ said Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Chair of the Board, speaking live from the organization’s offices in Ottawa.

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. 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 excited by this new partnership with the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business. We look forward to benefiting from the expertise and knowledge of over a quarter a century promoting trade and investment between Canada and Africa,’ underscored Mr. Stephen Lorete, the Charge d’Affaires at the Kenya High Commission in Ottawa.

‘Kenya is a leading and one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with many attractive trade and investment opportunities, across many sectors, and we invite the Chamber’s membership and the general Canadian business community to take advantage.’

A packed program of action immediately accompanies the Republic of Kenya’s accession to The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business. Over the next two months three (3) major events are scheduled to take place. These are:

 	The Second Session of the Binational Commission meeting between Kenya and Canada with a strong trade and investment component taking place in Nairobi, Kenya between 13th-15th April 2021. 	An upcoming mid-April announcement on a historic MoU with The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and Kenya’s private sector, following a seminar held last year with Minister Mary Ng and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in Nairobi 	A Virtual Trade Mission from Canada to Kenya in the second half of May 2021 
‘Apart from my country of birth, there is no other nation on the continent in which I have spent more time than in the incredible country of Kenya,’ says Garreth Bloor, President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

‘Today we are honoured to welcome a leading economy, comprised of some of the world’s top business leaders. The opportunities are immense and work toward realizing Canadian trade and investment in Kenya is already well-underway.’
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
Queries: Garreth Bloor President The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business Tel: +1.647.667.1223 Email: garreth@canadaafrica.ca
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Kenya joins The Canada-Africa of Business

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“We still do not know the full impact that the deadly militant attack in Palma, northern Mozambique, has had on children, but we fear that it will be brutal.

“Palma was already hosting well over 35,000 people forcibly displaced from other areas of the province due to previous attacks. Half of them are children. The district has been cut off by road due to insecurity for the past months, with minimum supplies and assistance provided by air and sea. Until small amounts of food and other supplies started coming in recently, much of the district beyond the provincial capital had been virtually inaccessible to humanitarian workers struggling to provide assistance. As of today, the three remaining functional health facilities are no longer operational and the main hospital has been destroyed.
“What is happening to children in Palma is catastrophic. Children across Cabo Delgado province must be protected and provided with lifesaving assistance – especially the 350,000 children who have been displaced by armed conflict.
“UNICEF will continue working with partners to meet children’s urgent needs.
“UNICEF calls on all parties to do everything in their power to keep children out of harm’s way, to protect aid workers, and to enable rapid, unimpeded and sustained access to civilians in need of assistance.&#8221;
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

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