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<p>Women owned businesses represent only 32 per cent of the registered companies in Rwanda, out of which only 1 per cent amount to large companies. Despite making great strides in the growth of women entrepreneurs in Rwanda, there are still multiple challenges across various dimensions of the business. Two Rwandan women entrepreneurs share their experiences and lessons from the pandemic.</p>


COVID-19: Lessons from women entrepreneurs in Rwanda

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<p>The National Bank of Rwanda has said the country’s financial sector remains sound and stable despite the novel Coronavirus pandemic. However, credit risk and capital strength remain a key concern. CNBC Africa’s Julius Bizimungu spoke to Peace Uwase, Director of the Financial Stability Department of the Central Bank of Rwanda for more.</p>


Rwanda Central Bank: Financial sector remains stable despite COVID-19 crisis

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<p>According to PwC African Equity Capital Market activity in 2020 was the lowest it has been in the last decade. It recorded a decline in value of 2 per cent and volume by 23 per cent compared to 2019. Joining CNBC Africa to discuss what we can expect from Africa’s capital market this year is Omobolanle Adekoya, West Africa Capital Markets Leader at PwC.</p>


PwC: 2020 African equity markets activity lowest in last decade

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<p>Nigeria saw its first positive quarterly growth in the last three quarters after its economy grew by 0.11 per cent in the fourth quarter of the year. This means that Nigeria has technical exited its second recession since 2016. The National Bureau of Statistics says though the growth is weak, it reflects the gradual return of economic activities. Tilewa Adebajo, CEO of CFG Advisory and Lizzie Kings-Wali, CEO of Blackstone Asset Management join CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Has Nigeria’s economy turned a corner?

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<p>Nigeria’s National Action Committee on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement has kicked off an awareness and sensitization tour across the country. The campaign aims to prepare Nigerians in the public and private sectors to take advantage of the pan-African trade agreement. Francis Anatogu, Secretary of the National Action Committee on AfCFTA joins CNBC Africa to discuss the progress of Nigeria’s AfCFTA agenda.</p>


How is Nigeria positioning to benefit from the AfCFTA?

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<p>South African civil summonses are said to have decreased by about 24 per cent  in the year 2020 .Services debt, money lent are among the main contributors to the drop.</p>


Assessing the indebtedness of the South African households

Assessing the indebtedness of South African households


<p><strong>Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed that Nigeria is planning to have at least 30 percent of its total electricity supply from renewable sources, majorly solar power in the next nine years.</strong></p>



<p>CAPE TOWN, February 15 (ANA) – Nigeria says that it wants 30% of its total power supply to come from renewable energy sources by the year 2030.</p>



<p>According to media reports, Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed that Nigeria is planning to have at least 30 percent of its total electricity supply from renewable sources, majorly solar power in the next nine years.</p>



<p>The vice president was speaking at the inauguration of a 1.12MW Solar Hybrid Project at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi on Thursday.</p>



<p>The West African country also plans to reduce carbon emission by 20% by 2030.</p>



<p>According to a report by This Day, the Vice President Osinbajo noted that the ongoing projects being executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) were critical to the achievement of that objective and reduction of Nigeria’s carbon footprints.</p>



<p>Osinbajo said that this is in line with the globally endorsed Climate Change agenda and Nigerian President’s Buhari administration’s effort to connect more communities to off-grid power and reliable energy sources, writes Vanguard news.</p>



<p>According to reports, around 85 million people lack access to electricity in the West African country.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum says that as the country recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, the government should use this particularly unique moment to reset and accelerate progress on delivering sustainable energy.</p>



<p>WEF says that the pandemic has highlighted the deep divide in Africa on energy access progress.</p>



<p>In March 2020, The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Nigerian government launched the National Electrification Project (NEP).</p>



<p>The project sought to tackle Nigeria’s critical energy access shortfalls, writes Africa Oil and Power.com.</p>



<p>African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay</p>


Engineer walking on a wind farm at sunset

Nigeria Wants 30% Of Its Power Supply To Come From Renewable Sources By 2030


<p>RUSTENBURG, February 15 (ANA) – Zimbabwe will start vaccinating people against Covid-19 this week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Monday.</p>



<p>“The first batch of vaccines for Zimbabwe has been successfully delivered. We start vaccinating Zimbabweans this week! The faster our country is protected against this virus, the faster Zimbabwe’s economy can flourish. God bless you all, God bless Zimbabwe,” he said on his Twitter account.</p>



<p>The president’s tweet followed the arrival of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China. The consignment arrived on Monday morning around 3am.</p>



<p>The country is expected to buy more than one million vaccine doses from China later in the year.</p>



<p>Zimbabwe has recorded 35,172 infections, 1,400 deaths and 30,601 recoveries.</p>



<p>It is the first southern African country to roll out the vaccine after neighbouring South Africa suspended the roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine which arrived on February 1.</p>



<p>The roll-out was suspended after a clinical trial showed the doses were ineffective against the new 501.V2 variant of Covid-19 first detected in South Africa.</p>



<p>Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said during his weekly Covid-19 update address on Sunday that the country was expecting its first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine later this week and health workers would be the first to be inoculated against Covid-19. Another batch was expected at the end of February.</p>



<p>Eswatini was expecting 108,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine later in February, but Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi said last week that the country would no longer used the vaccine following its reported shortcomings against the 501.V2 variant.</p>



<p>The country would instead enter into talks with other suppliers.</p>



<p>Namibia was also expecting to receive its first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine doses in February.</p>



<p>– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher</p>


President Mnangagwa Holds Press Conference After The Death Of Robert Mugabe

Zim To Start Covid-19 Vaccine Roll-Out This Week


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="546" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1231183428-820x546.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-397448" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1231183428-820x546.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1231183428-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1231183428-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1231183428-1536x1022.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1231183428-scaled.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Nigeria&#8217;s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala poses at her home in Potomac, Maryland, near Washington DC, as she was confirmed as the first woman and first African leader of the beleaguered World Trade Organization, on February 15, 2021 (Photo by ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The General Council agreed by consensus to select Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the organisation’s seventh director-general.</strong></p>



<p>CAPE TOWN, February 15 (ANA) – Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made history on Monday, becoming the first woman and first African selected to head up the World Trade Organization (WTO).</p>





<p>The General Council agreed by consensus to select Okonjo-Iweala as the organisation’s seventh director-general, according to a statement issued by the organisation.</p>



<p>WTO members took the decision to appoint Okonjo-Iweala at a special meeting of the General Council after a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General. <br><br>Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. <br><br>Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021.<br><br>More details soon. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTODG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTODG</a><a href="https://twitter.com/NOIweala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NOIweala</a> <a href="https://t.co/2RJkkfK2Id">pic.twitter.com/2RJkkfK2Id</a></p>&mdash; WTO (@wto) <a href="https://twitter.com/wto/status/1361318272285745152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>She is set to take office on March 1.</p>



<p>General Council chairperson David Walker said: “This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next director-general and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting.”</p>



<p>According to a statement, Okonjo-Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>



<p>“I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO director-general,” said Okonjo-Iweala.</p>



<p>Okonjo-Iweala said that a strong WTO was vital if the world was to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>



<p>“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organisation faces many challenges, but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”</p>



<p>Okonjo-Iweala’s chances of heading up the WTO were boosted by South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee’s withdrawal from the race early in February.</p>



<p>Yoo’s withdrawal came about when dozens of former US government officials urged President Joe Biden to endorse Okonjo-Iweala after the Trump administration blocked her selection in 2020.</p>



<p>– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher</p>


US-WTO-SECRETARY GENERAL-NGOZI

Nigeria’s Dr Okonjo-Iweala Makes History As First Woman And First African To Become WTO Boss

<p>Feb 16 (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa has asked the Serum Institute of India to take back 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine that the company had sent in early February, The Economic Times reported on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Last week, South Africa&#8217;s health minister said the government may sell doses of AstraZeneca&#8217;s vaccine, after the country paused its rollout following a small clinical trial that showed it offered minimal protection against mild to moderate illness from the 501Y.V2 coronavirus variant dominant in the country. (Reporting by Ann Maria Shibu and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)</p>
<p>(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Click For Restrictions &#8211; https://agency.reuters.com/en/copyright.html</p>
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South Africa asks Serum Institute of India to take back 1 mln vaccine doses-report

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<p>Once again, the Kenya, Uganda trade relations are on the verge of straining as Kampala accused Nairobi of stopping its milk from accessing the country. Kenyan farmers last year raised concerns over the influx of cheap Ugandan milk in the country which saw the price of the commodity drop. Analyst Charles Bwogi joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Trade spat between Kenya & Uganda flares up again

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<p>Burundi has said it doesn’t need COVID-19 vaccines as of yet because the recovery rate is as high as 95 per cent. This comes after neighbouring Tanzania also said it has no plan to roll out COVID-19 vaccines. CNBC Africa spoke to Serges Claver Nzisabira, Public Affairs Analyst for more.</p>


Is Burundi ready for COVID-19 vaccines?

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<p>The COVID-19 pandemic has paralysed the mining sector with production going down and mineral prices fluctuating on the international market. Rwanda has laid out plans to facilitate recovery, but how long will it take before the sector fully bounces back. Bernard Nsanzimana, Mining Governance Expert joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


How can Rwanda’s mining sector recover after COVID-19?

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<p>The International Monetary Fund says Nigeria’s Inflation could reach as high as 16 per cent at the end of the year with upward pressures from fuel and electricity price increases. Ahead of the official January inflation data, Paul Alaje, Senior Economist at SPM Professionals joins CNBC Africa for an outlook on Nigeria’s inflation.</p>


SPM Professionals on Nigeria’s 2021 inflation outlook

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<p>After one positive close last 10 trading sessions, the equities market is starting this week in positive territory driven by oil and gas, banking and insurance stocks. Onyeka Ijeoma, Analyst at Vetiva joins CNBC Africa for more&#8230;.</p>


Nigerian equities make positive start to week

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<p>KPMG South Africa says it will be ceasing all of its non- audit related services to its listed audit clients with effect from 31 March. It says this is as a result of an intensive review process. KPMG says it seeks to improve the perception of auditor independence and protecting the interests of the public. Wiseman Khuhlu, Board Chair of KPMG joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


KPMG Chair explains decision to stop all non-audit services to JSE listed clients

<p>By Jack Graham</p>
<p>TORONTO, Feb 9 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) &#8211; Countries could save millions of lives annually by 2040 if they commit to bolder plans to cut planet-heating emissions and curb global warming in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, researchers said Tuesday.</p>
<p>A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal found policies to that end could, each year, save 5.86 million lives due to better diets, 1.18 million lives from cleaner air and 1.15 million lives through more walking and cycling by 2040.</p>
<p>In 2015, governments set a global goal of limiting average temperature rise to &#8220;well below&#8221; 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times and set emissions reduction targets as a first step to getting there.</p>
<p>On Monday, however, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to take bolder action ahead of November&#8217;s COP26 U.N. climate conference and come up with stronger 2030 targets consistent with cutting emissions to net zero by 2050.</p>
<p>The new research highlighted how the potential health benefits of climate action could give added impetus to countries to submit more ambitious national climate plans ahead of COP26.</p>
<p>The nine countries modeled in the study &#8211; the United States, China, Brazil, Germany, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Africa and Britain &#8211; represent half of the world&#8217;s population and 70% of global emissions.</p>
<p>Six of them have yet to submit revised climate action plans, which were due in 2020 but put back by many countries as the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the climate summit for a year.</p>
<p>&#8220;Ahead of COP26, we&#8217;d like to see governments focus on health as one of the priorities in climate change policies,&#8221; said lead author Ian Hamilton, executive director of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.</p>
<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s good evidence to show that meeting the Paris Agreement commitments will be good for our health, and that these benefits accumulate to those individuals in the countries taking leadership,&#8221; he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.</p>
<p/>
<p>SHORT-TERM WINS</p>
<p>Using national and international data, the study analyzed emissions generated by the energy, agriculture and transport sectors, along with factors like national diets and lifestyles.</p>
<p>The researchers modeled the scenarios required for each country to meet the Paris accord, including changes like adopting cleaner energy and reducing car use, as well as to achieve global development goals such as zero hunger.</p>
<p>They found that changes towards &#8220;flexitarian&#8221; diets &#8211; with moderate amounts of animal-based foods and a high share of plant-based foods &#8211; offered the greatest health benefits as well as reducing carbon emissions.</p>
<p>For example, many deaths would be avoided by lower rates of non-communicable diseases such as obesity and heart disease, connected to excessive consumption of carbon-intensive red meat and processed foods, and lack of access to fruit and vegetables.</p>
<p>&#8220;Why wouldn&#8217;t we prioritize investments that will save more lives near-term if they give us the same amount of carbon value?&#8221; said Aaron Bernstein, interim director of The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.</p>
<p>Changing diets is a complex challenge for governments, he noted, but potential ways to do it include subsidizing healthier foods and putting a price on the emissions produced by more carbon-intensive foods that require a lot of natural resources.</p>
<p>Beef production, for instance, fuels greenhouse gas emissions as carbon-storing forests are cut down for pasture and cattle burp out methane.</p>
<p>A focus on health is one way to make climate action more personal and appealing, Bernstein added, instead of being framed as a cost now that will bring benefits for future generations.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have to make this issue relevant to today, and (talk about) improving the welfare, economic opportunities and health of people in a time frame that they can get their heads around,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>A separate study out on Tuesday found pollution from burning fossil fuels causes one in five premature deaths globally, totaling 8.7 million in 2018 and suggesting the health impacts of those emissions may be far higher than previously thought. (Reporting by Jack Graham; editing by Megan Rowling. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)</p>
<p>(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Click For Restrictions &#8211; https://agency.reuters.com/en/copyright.html</p>
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Newsletter

COVID-19: Lessons from women entrepreneurs in Rwanda

Rwanda Central Bank: Financial sector remains stable despite COVID-19 crisis

PwC: 2020 African equity markets activity lowest in last decade

Has Nigeria’s economy turned a corner?

How is Nigeria positioning to benefit from the AfCFTA?

Assessing the indebtedness of South African households

Nigeria Wants 30% Of Its Power Supply To Come From Renewable Sources By 2030

Zim To Start Covid-19 Vaccine Roll-Out This Week

Nigeria’s Dr Okonjo-Iweala Makes History As First Woman And First African To Become WTO Boss

South Africa asks Serum Institute of India to take back 1 mln vaccine doses-report

Trade spat between Kenya & Uganda flares up again

Is Burundi ready for COVID-19 vaccines?

How can Rwanda’s mining sector recover after COVID-19?

SPM Professionals on Nigeria’s 2021 inflation outlook

Nigerian equities make positive start to week

KPMG Chair explains decision to stop all non-audit services to JSE listed clients

Bolder climate action could save millions of lives each year by 2040

News Tips

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Newsletter

COVID-19: Lessons from women entrepreneurs in Rwanda

Rwanda Central Bank: Financial sector remains stable despite COVID-19 crisis

PwC: 2020 African equity markets activity lowest in last decade

Has Nigeria’s economy turned a corner?

How is Nigeria positioning to benefit from the AfCFTA?

Assessing the indebtedness of South African households

Nigeria Wants 30% Of Its Power Supply To Come From Renewable Sources By 2030

Zim To Start Covid-19 Vaccine Roll-Out This Week

Nigeria’s Dr Okonjo-Iweala Makes History As First Woman And First African To Become WTO Boss

South Africa asks Serum Institute of India to take back 1 mln vaccine doses-report

Trade spat between Kenya & Uganda flares up again

Is Burundi ready for COVID-19 vaccines?

How can Rwanda’s mining sector recover after COVID-19?

SPM Professionals on Nigeria’s 2021 inflation outlook

Nigerian equities make positive start to week

KPMG Chair explains decision to stop all non-audit services to JSE listed clients

Bolder climate action could save millions of lives each year by 2040

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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