Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 30 April 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Yango Group has announced the 2026 cohort of its Yango Fellowship programme, selecting 24 participants from more than 600 applicants across six African countries. Over 12 weeks, fellows will develop science and technology based projects using technical skills and present them at a final Demo Day in Abidjan.
The selected fellows come from Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mozambique and Ghana, expanding the programme’s reach from two countries last year to six in 2026.
This year’s program focuses on the applied use of artificial intelligence. Participants will build solutions such as tools for health literacy, energy monitoring systems, traffic optimisation models and personalised learning in local languages.
The fellowship is structured in three stages: problem definition and market analysis, product development, and final presentation. It concludes with a Demo Day, where teams present their projects to industry experts and partners and may receive seed funding to support MVP development.
“The Yango Fellowship is part of our long-term investment in local technology ecosystems,” said Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Officer at Yango Group. “By supporting early-stage talent and enabling cross-market collaboration, we aim to contribute to the development of scalable solutions that address real needs across African markets, while helping founders build and grow products that can operate beyond a single country.”
According to the World Bank, Africa faces a shortage of more than 2.5 million STEM professionals. The programme aims to provide hands-on experience and strengthen pathways into technology careers through mentorship and project-based learning.
In previous cohorts, participants developed solutions across health, education and engineering. Some graduates secured internships across partner organisations, while others received funding for community initiatives. Alumni have gone on to launch startups, digital products and non-governmental projects, continuing their work beyond the fellowship.
Women, Financial Services, Telco and Southern African CMOs dominate the list of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Brand Builders
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 30 march 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Brand Africa, in partnership with African Business magazine, MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent) and the African Media Agency, today launched the inaugural Africa CMO 100 (ACMO100) — recognising the 100 most impactful marketing, brand and reputation leaders shaping Africa’s story, identity and prosperity.
The full list and in-depth analysis will be featured in the April 2026 issue of African Business, available first week of April, and across partner platforms at brandafrica.net, africabusiness.com, mipad.org and africanmediaagency.com.
Brand Africa’s independent research over 15 years has consistently found that while 68% of Africans believe in Africa, only 18% of the brands they most admire are African. ACMO100 exists to recognise and connect the leaders best placed to change that. “CMOs and senior brand leaders are among the most powerful architects of Africa’s future. Through strategy, stewardship and influence, they shape narratives, build trust, and guide the preferences of hundreds of millions of people. ACMO100 exists to recognise, celebrate and connect these leaders.” — Thebe Ikalafeng — Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa
The inaugural ACMO100 honourees will be celebrated at Brand Africa Week, Addis Ababa, 22–26 May 2026.
ACMO100: AFRICA’S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL MARKETING LEADERS
One hundred leaders across six African economic regions — including the diaspora — spanning twenty countries and more than 50 distinct role titles. The list is ordered alphabetically by country of origin. All 100 honourees hold equal standing. The list carries no internal ranking.
THREE FINDINGS FROM THE INAUGURAL LIST
01 — A Female-Majority Profession. 62% of honourees are women — a majority across every region. The diaspora cohort is 75% female; East Africa reaches 72%; North Africa, 71%. In Africa, women are not emerging talent waiting for their moment: they are running marketing for the continent’s most consequential brands.
02 — Finance and Telecoms Dominate. Financial services — banking, insurance and fintech — leads with 31 honourees, reflecting the scale of Africa’s financial inclusion wave and the premium brand trust commands in markets where millions are transacting formally for the first time. Telecoms and technology account for a further 20. Together, these two sectors represent more than half the list — and the deepest pools of marketing talent on the continent.
03 — Three Hubs, and a Rising Fourth. Southern Africa leads with 39 honourees, anchored by Johannesburg — the marketing capital of the continent. West Africa contributes 20, with Nigeria’s 17 entries anchoring a market of extraordinary commercial depth. East Africa’s 17 are shaped by Kenya’s Safaricom ecosystem and Nairobi’s competitive consumer market. The most instructive story is North Africa: 14 entries, with Morocco alone accounting for seven — more than Egypt and Algeria combined — signalling Casablanca’s emergence as a new continental marketing hub.
Southern Africa — 39 Honourees Anchored by South Africa, which accounts for 31% of leaders by country of origin. Cohort: Abey Mokgwatsane, Alison Hastings Badenhorst, Andisa Ntsubane, Andrea Quaye, Beyers Van De Merwe, Bronwyn Pretorius, Bunmi Adeniba, Chantal Sombonos-Van Tonder, Doug Place, Dries Van der Sandt, Dudu Mokholo, Faye Mfikwe, Firoze Bhorat, Francois Viviers, Gugu Mthembu, Happy Ngidi, Ilze Bylos, Ivan Serra (Mozambique), Jessica Motaung, Khensani Nobanda, Levie Nkunika (Malawi), Lorraine De Graaf, Lucia Maseko, Matilda Nyathi (Zimbabwe), Mmaphuti Rankapole, Mosala Phillips, Mphothe Elizabeth Mokwena, Mzamo Masito, Nontokozo Madonsela, Raquel Capitão (Angola), Sithembile Ndaba, Sobhuza Ngwenya (Malawi), Suneeta Motala (Mauritius), Sydney Nhlanhla Mbhele, Thabang Ramogase, Tim Ekandjo (Namibia), Vaughan Croeser, Vilosha Soni and Vuyokazi Henda.
West Africa — 20 Honourees Nigeria’s 17 entries anchor a market of extraordinary commercial depth. Cohort: Adewunmi Desalu, Amaechi Michael Okobi, Anthony Chiejina, Bamise Oyegbami, Bolanle Kehinde-Lawal, Cherry Eromosele, Chinedu Zephaniah, Diran Olojo, Emeka Oparah, Idemudia Dima-Okojie, Ifeoma Agu, Ilyas Kazeem, Julien Zayro (Côte d’Ivoire), Maureen Ifada, Noel Kojo-Ganson (Ghana), Oluyomi Moses, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Sandra Handou Koné (Côte d’Ivoire), Sarah Agha and Tolu Alero Ladipo.
East Africa — 17 Honourees Anchored by Kenya at nine, shaped by the Safaricom ecosystem and Nairobi’s competitive consumer market. Cohort: Abdulkadir Mamma Hussein (Ethiopia), Anne Joy Michira, Catherine Ndungu, Fatema Dewji (Tanzania), Isabelle Kariuki-Rostom, Kitenda Robert Gobii (Uganda), Lemma Yadecha Gudeta (Ethiopia), Martine Gatabazi (Tanzania), Neemarose Singo (Tanzania), Nelly Wangui Wainaina, Ope Lawal, Rosalind Gichuru, Sylvia ElSheikh (Uganda), Vivian Achieng Oyugi, Wangechi Gitahi, Warau Kahoro and Zizwe Awuor Vundla.
North Africa — 14 Honourees Morocco alone accounts for seven entries — more than Egypt and Algeria combined — reflecting its position as a francophone-Arabic-European commercial crossroads. Cohort: Anne Ezeh (Egypt), El Hadi Mohamed Hamma (Algeria), Fadwa Bisbis, Ghada Hammouda (Egypt), Isabelle Hajri (Algeria), Mahmoud Taha (Egypt), Mehdi Yaroub, Mounir Jazouli, Nadia Rahim Guérin, Sakina El Fares, Salma Bencherif, Salma Hamdouch, Samia Dziri (Algeria) and Shams Adly (Egypt).
Central Africa — 2 Honourees Bienvenu Mayamonuswa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Yves Kom (Cameroon).
Diaspora — 8 Honourees Based in the USA and UAE, running marketing at Visa, Unilever, Doordash and BET Media Group — underscoring the mobility of African-origin talent at the top of the world’s most competitive brand portfolios. Cohort: Dara Treseder, Esi Eggleston Bracey, Frank Cooper III, Kimberly Evans Paige, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, Linda Kouam, Najoh Tita-Reid and Tarek Abdalla.
THE BAOBAB | ACMO HALL OF FAME
Brand Africa has also announced the inaugural Baobab | ACMO Hall of Fame — honouring a select number of African and diaspora brand leaders whose benchmark careers have made an enduring contribution to Africa’s brand narrative. Named for Africa’s most iconic and enduring tree, the Baobab honours legacy, not a moment. Inaugural recipients: Bozoma Saint John (former Uber and Netflix CMO); Bernice Samuels (retiring MTN Group Executive for Brand and Marketing); Sylvia Mulinge (CEO, MTN Uganda; former Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom); and Souheil Badaa (former CMO, Novartis Group; founder, Tanakoo) — icons whose work has defined, elevated and expanded the possibilities of African-led brand leadership.
BRAND AFRICA WEEK — ADDIS ABABA, 22–26 MAY 2026
The inaugural ACMO100 honourees will be celebrated at Brand Africa Week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — the historical capital of the continent — in the week of Africa Day. Brand Africa Week 2026 will bring together the ACMO100 Celebration, the unveiling of the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands® and the Brand Africa Dialogue — planned to be the most impactful convening of continental CMOs in Africa’s history.
“MIPAD exists to celebrate and elevate the most influential people of African descent — and ACMO100 does exactly that for the world of marketing and brand leadership. For the first time, the architects of Africa’s most powerful brands are being recognised on their own terms. That is long overdue, and it matters deeply to the diaspora.” — Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman, MIPAD (USA/Nigeria)
THE ACMO METHODOLOGY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
The ACMO100 selection is governed by a rigorous, three-step process designed to reflect the realities of marketing leadership across a continent where function often outpaces title.
Collation draws on three independent sources: nominations by the ACMO Review Committee; review of the marketing leadership behind brands featured in the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands® and comparable rankings over the preceding three years; and research into CMOs behind award-winning and/or impactful work.
Evaluation applies a consistent set of criteria to every nominee: active leadership in Africa or the diaspora; a minimum of five years in senior marketing decision-making; and standing as the highest-ranking functional marketing, brand or communications leader in their organisation.
Verification and vetting ensures that every name on the list has earned its place through demonstrable impact, influence and integrity — not title or visibility alone.
The list carries no internal ranking. All 100 honourees hold equal standing.
The integrity of ACMO100 is anchored in the independence and calibre of its governance. The ACMO Review Committee is an independent, Africa-wide body of distinguished practitioners with a deep understanding of the marketing and brand industry and its most influential individuals — drawn from every major region of the continent and the diaspora. The Committee is intentionally diverse in discipline, geography and background. It brings together former CMOs now in general management and board roles; founders and chief executives of leading African agencies; editors and publishers of the continent’s foremost business media; heads of national marketing associations; academics and researchers from leading African institutions; and respected independent voices from strategy, creative, media and digital.
Committee members are ineligible for inclusion during their tenure; current CMOs do not participate in nomination or adjudication, ensuring complete independence. The panel spans more than 20 countries across all African regions and the diaspora — its diversity in discipline, geography and seniority is central to the credibility of the process.
Southern Africa: Thulani Sibeko, CEO – COID and Social Insurance, Rand Mutual (RMA) (South Africa); Trevor Ncube, Chairman & Director, Alpha Media Holdings (Zimbabwe); Laz Jacobs, Founder & Executive Director, Paragon TBWA (Namibia); Dr Pepe Marais, Group Chief Creative Officer, Joe Public (South Africa); Sechaba Motsieloa, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Kansy Group (South Africa); George Damson, President, Institute of Marketing in Malawi; Dr Tumelo Chaka, Managing Executive, The Strategists (South Africa); Christine Ramela (Mozambique); Mwewa Besa, President, Institute of Marketing in Zambia; Brian Yuyi, CEO, Marketing Association of South Africa; Professor Alistair Mokoena, Executive Dean, Johannesburg Business School (South Africa); Dr Tendai Mhiza, CEO, Integra Africa (Zimbabwe); Gillian Rusike, Founder & CEO, Marketers Association of Zimbabwe; Adv Phelane Phomane, Founder & Managing Director, Tangerine Connect (Lesotho); Dale Hefer, CEO, Integrated Marketing Council (South Africa).
West Africa: Seyi Ademola-Adeoye, Senior Research Fellow, Pierrine (Nigeria); Kwame Senou, Executive Director, THOP (Côte d’Ivoire); Steve Babaeko, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, X3M Ideas (Nigeria); Ade Adefeko, Vice President, Corporate & Government Affairs, Olam International (Nigeria); Sharon Mills, Lead Consultant, SMC Consulting (Ghana); Daniel Kojo Soboh, Executive Director, EMY Africa (Ghana).
East Africa: Malik Shaffy Lizinde, Founder & CEO, 63 INC (Rwanda); William Kalombo, Marketing Africa Magazine (Kenya); Melvin Mwakugu, Independent (Kenya); Jacquie Muhati, Deputy Marketing Director, NCBA (Kenya); Barian Shah, Managing Director, Evolution Events (Tanzania); Aron Simeneh, Creative Director, Kin Creatives (Ethiopia); Joseph Kanyamunyu, Chief Executive Director, Publicis Africa Communications (Uganda); Frakline Kibuacha, Marketing Director, GeoPoll (Kenya).
Diaspora: Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher, African Business (UK/Tunisia); Denver Phiri (UK/Zimbabwe); Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman, MIPAD (USA/Nigeria); Moky Makura, Executive Director, Africa No Filter (UK/Nigeria); Terhas Asefaw Berhe, Managing Director, Brand Comms (UK/Eritrea); James Woods, Globiq International (UK/Malawi); Akin Naphtal, Founder & CEO, InstinctiveWave Group (UK/Nigeria); Cyrille Djami, Founder & Manager, Comms of Africa (France/Cameroon), and Ndeye Diagne, Chief Client Officer, Kantar (France/Senegal).
“The ACMO Review Committee brings together some of the sharpest and most experienced minds on the continent. Their role is to ensure that every name on the ACMO100 list has truly earned their place through impact, influence and integrity.” — Omar Ben Yedder — Publisher, African Business
Brand Africa is the continent’s leading brand-led platform to inspire an African renaissance founded on the conviction that brands drive the growth, reputation and competitiveness of nations. Since 2011, its flagship initiative, the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands®, has tracked brand performance, consumer perception and brand equity across the continent – providing the most authoritative pan-African brand intelligence. Brand Africa convenes leaders, shapes narratives and advances the case for branding as a driver of Africa’s prosperity. www.brand.africa
ABOUT AFRICAN BUSINESS
African Business is Africa’s foremost pan-continental business magazine, providing authoritative journalism, analysis and intelligence on business, finance, trade and policy across Africa and the global African diaspora. Published by IC Publications, it reaches a senior readership of business, government and civil society leaders across Africa and internationally. www.africabusiness.com
ABOUT MIPAD
MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent) is a global civil society organisation that recognises, celebrates and networks the most influential people of African descent across the world. Its annual recognition spans business, politics, culture, science and civil society, with a mission to advance the social, economic and political empowerment of people of African descent globally. www.mipad.org
ABOUT AFRICAN MEDIA AGENCY
African Media Agency (AMA) is the trusted pan-African communications agency helping organisations connect with African audiences. Founded by Eloïne Barry, AMA integrates public relations with digital and creative communications to establish clients as market leaders across the continent. AMA’s services span press release distribution, PR strategy, digital creative and media training through its not-for-profit AMA Academy. A member of IPREX and the PRCA. www.africanmediaagency.com
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 25 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – African Media Agency (AMA) has won the 2026 Africa SABRE Award in the Western Africa category. The ceremony took place on March 17 at The Venue Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, South Africa. This accolade recognises the Abidjan-based pan-African firm’s high-impact Public Relations campaign for Bluemind Foundation, a mental health advocacy organisation founded by Marie-Alix de Putter. Through strategic narrative crafting, AMA scaled Bluemind’s ‘Heal by Hair’ initiative into a global movement, turning African hair salons into hubs for mental wellness.
AMA’s Mandate to take an African Solution for Mental Health Global As the mental health crisis affects 13.9% of the world’s population, including nearly 150 million people in Africa, AMA’s work for ‘Heal by Hair’ positioned the training of hairdressers as certified Mental Health Ambassadors as a scalable, African-born solution that can be applied anywhere around the globe.
However, to reach the goal of supporting one million women across Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo by 2030, Marie-Alix de Putter’s initiative required a strategic shift from a local grassroots effort to a visible, continent-wide movement. This pursuit set high objectives for AMA to achieve global visibility and leverage international media recognition, consequently helping Bluemind Foundation secure the funding and strategic frameworks necessary for sustainable expansion across the continent and beyond.
Visibility and Impact Relying exclusively on earned media, AMA successfully elevated Bluemind Foundation’s credibility and visibility among funders, partners, and policymakers, with coverage generating an estimated 353 million views worldwide.
AMA’s Partnerships and Funding Impact “To move the needle on funding for Bluemind Foundation, we had to do more than just get publicity. We had to prove we deeply understood the mental health sector and the specific needs of women in these markets,” African Media Agency Founder & CEO Eloine Barry explained.
“It was essential for our agency to lean into our expertise in Francophone Africa. This regional experience was a strategic tool to align Bluemind’s vision with what global partners actually care about. For us, it really wasn’t just about a headline but about building the credibility that turns a story into a funding partner’s will to renew funding, so an African solution to mental health can scale globally.”
Indeed, the compound effect of widespread media exposure helped Bluemind Foundation to establish strong partnerships with 27 organisations and structures, including the Ministries of Health in Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), and researchers from DIAL – University Paris Saclay and Santa Clara University to conduct the rigorous evaluation of the programme’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) renewed its support for Bluemind Foundation with Stage 2 funding to enable a larger-scale impact evaluation in Togo from 2025 to 2027.
This visibility translated into measurable community impact, including a 104% increase in trained hairdressers, a 180% rise in certified mental health ambassadors, and an estimated 212,000 women reached directly.
Bluemind Foundation’s Founder and President, Marie-Alix de Putter says, “AMA understood early that Heal by Hair was not just an innovation but a shift in how mental health is addressed and how mental wellness is promoted. They held the narrative to that level from our launch to the pages of The New York Times and everything in between. I’m grateful for their intelligence, discipline, and care.”
About African Media Agency (AMA) African Media Agency (AMA) is a women-owned, award-winning pan-African agency providing high-impact strategic communications globally. The firm specializes in reputation management, digital strategy, and content development to drive measurable results.
AMA’s expertise spans across sectors like finance, health, and technology, and the creation of compelling narratives for diverse audiences. Headquartered in Abidjan, the agency has offices in Accra, Johannesburg, Durban, and New York, maintaining a presence in 30+ African markets.
LOME, Togo, 27 February 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – The Bluemind Foundation announces that its Founder and President, Marie Alix De Putter, has been selected to join the Praxis Africa Accelerator, an internationally recognized ecosystem supporting founders committed to building organizations that change systems, not just outcomes.
Praxis brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders who view enterprises and organizations not merely as economic instruments but as architectures capable of sustainably transforming social systems. Rooted in a tradition of rigorous ethical and spiritual reflection, the ecosystem supports leaders for whom faith is an inner discipline in service of the common good.
This selection comes at a moment of strategic acceleration for the Bluemind Foundation, a pioneer of an innovative community-based mental health model deployed in Francophone Africa, notably in Togo, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire.
A SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH
French-Cameroonian, Marie-Alix De Putter has developed over the years a thesis that has become central to her work: mental health is health; it is a social, cultural, and political infrastructure. Her work raises a crucial question of public governance: what becomes of a society when psychological suffering remains invisible, underfunded, and politically marginalized? From this inquiry, she founded the Bluemind Foundation and designed innovative community-based interventions that bring care to where trust already exists, build bridges with public systems, and make mental health legitimate, measurable, and fundable. The Heal by Hair program, which trains hairdressers as mental health ambassadors, exemplifies this socially rooted engineering, designed from the outset for institutional integration. In less than five years:
Over 300,000 women have received early support;
Public campaigns have reached more than 350 million people;
Strategic partnerships have been established with universities, governments, and international institutions;
A scientific evaluation protocol, supported by the Development Innovation Fund, is currently underway in Togo
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND A NEW PHASE OF STRUCTURING
Joining the Praxis program represents international recognition of the model developed by the Bluemind Foundation.
It will strengthen governance structures before scaling, deepen sustainable funding and public integration mechanisms, and embed the Foundation within an international network of impact funders, granting access to patient capital aligned with its mission. At the same time, it will enhance coherence between organizational culture, performance, and institutional accountability.
The Foundation is preparing for regional scale-up, with an ambitious multi-country impact goal by 2030: • 5,000 trained hairdresser-ambassadors;
3,000 active community hubs ;
Over 5 million women and youth with structured access to mental health support. To meet the extensive needs in West and Central Africa, the Bluemind Foundation is entering a new phase of capital structuring for broader deployment, combining philanthropic funding, institutional partnerships, and sustainable public integration mechanisms.
From Lomé (Togo), the Foundation is structuring an African model designed for the realities of the continent and the world, with a clear mission: to make care accessible to everyone, everywhere, every day.
A UNIQUE VOICE IN CARE GOVERNANCE
Marie-Alix de Putter’s path was forged by an experience of devastating personal loss. While four months pregnant, she lost her husband to assassination. That rupture became the lens through which she understood everything that followed: when care systems are absent or inaccessible, suffering is never private—it becomes economic, institutional, and political.
Her approach combines systemic design, scientific rigor, strategic storytelling, and institutional negotiation. An author with three Master’s degrees and an Executive MBA, trained at Harvard Business School and Oxford, Marie-Alix de Putter regularly speaks in academic, economic, and political arenas on public health, leadership, and organizational transformation.
Her leadership has been recognized as a Desmond Tutu Fellow (AFLI), Best Woman Leader in Africa (AIFA), one of the 30 Most Innovative People in Africa (Quartz), and with inclusion in the Biographical Dictionary of French Protestants. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Le Monde, BBC, The Guardian, Vogue, Jeune Afrique, Der Spiegel, and other major international media.
A STRUCTURING MILESTONE
“If redemption were a spectrum, Praxis would sit at its most demanding edge. I enter the inaugural cohort of the Praxis Africa Accelerator with gratitude and gravity, aware that as impact grows, responsibility deepens. At a pivotal moment for the Bluemind Foundation, Praxis strengthens not only our strategy but also our internal architecture—the moral and organizational discipline necessary to scale without diluting meaning and values. This important milestone belongs to every Blueminder who engages, often away from the headlines, where systems are fragile and the cost of inaction is measured in (young) lives.” – Marie-Alix de Putter, President and Founder, Bluemind Foundation
This selection marks a key step in the Bluemind Foundation’s international positioning and confirms its ambition: to to embed African community-based mental health models — culturally legitimate, scientifically evaluated, and economically viable — into the institutions that shape public life.
The Bluemind Foundation is a pioneering non-profit mental health organization that integrates care into everyday spaces, starting with hair salons, turning everyday spaces into genuine lifelines. It empowers local communities across Africa and beyond through innovative, scalable, cost-effective, evidence-based solutions that change lives where care is most needed. The mission of the Bluemind Foundation is to bring hope, dignity, and mental well-being to everyone, everywhere, every day.
For more information about the Bluemind Foundation and its initiatives: X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
DUBAI, UAE, 22 December 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Yango Group today published its inaugural Impact Report, a comprehensive overview of the company’s social, economic, and environmental contributions across more than 30 countries. The report introduces a long-term framework for how Yango measures and communicates its value as a global technology company rooted in emerging markets.
The publication reflects Yango’s evolution from a ride-hailing service launched in 2018 into a multi-service digital ecosystem used daily by millions of people. The report outlines how Yango’s technology enables local entrepreneurship, expands earning opportunities for partner drivers and couriers, and supports the development of the skilled workforce needed for future digital cities.
Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group, described the report as a significant milestone for the company. “As we continue expanding globally, we are committed to scaling not only our technology, but also our positive impact on communities, local economies, and future generations. Our goal is to help build the digital cities and digital opportunities of tomorrow — together with the countries we serve,” he said.
Empowering local partners: $4B Earned last year
According to the report, partner drivers and couriers working with Yango services earned more than USD 4 billion in 2024. Yango’s partner network now includes 6,000 businesses, 2.1 million registered partner drivers, and 600,000 partner couriers. In the delivery segment, 40% of users are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that rely on Yango’s infrastructure to reach customers and scale their operations. These dynamics position Yango as an important contributor to economic activity and entrepreneurship across Africa and other emerging markets.
Strengthening local economies through technology
The report also details how Yango’s technology supports urban development and digital commerce. In Côte d’Ivoire, the company is piloting electric mobility initiatives that help reduce emissions and modernize transport infrastructure. Across markets, services such as Yango Buy & Sell enable small merchants to increase visibility and customer trust, reinforcing their participation in digital commerce. Meanwhile, Yango Food Delivery continues to broaden access to local restaurants and everyday essentials, stimulating consumer activity while creating flexible earning opportunities for couriers.
Investing in STEM: preparing talent for the cities of tomorrow
A major focus of the report is Yango’s investment in STEM education and digital skills training, implemented through 4 flagship initiatives that equip young people with the capabilities needed in fast-growing digital economies. The first of these initiatives is the Yango Fellowship, launched in Zambia to support outstanding STEM students with full financial assistance, mentorship, and practical workshops. The Fellowship expanded to Côte d’Ivoire in early 2025, opening new pathways for young innovators. Alongside the Fellowship, Yango has strengthened hands-on learning through mobility and smart-city hackathons, which brought together more than 800 participants across 6 African countries. These events helped learners build applied skills in data science, machine learning, and urban innovation. To broaden access to foundational digital knowledge, Yango also offered free SQL data analysis courses, completed by more than 2,000 learners in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Zambia. These courses provided essential data literacy for careers in technology-driven sectors. In Cameroon, Yango supported the Technovation Challenge, enabling 100 girls to develop technology and entrepreneurship projects under the guidance of local mentors. The initiative reinforces Yango’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young women in STEM. Together, these programs illustrate Yango’s long-term vision to help prepare young people across Africa to participate in and shape the digital cities of tomorrow.
Community investment and cultural inclusion
Beyond technology and education, the report highlights Yango Group’s community initiatives across Africa, including digital inclusion programs for visually impaired students in Angola, support for youth football academies in Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia, and public art projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These efforts reflect Yango’s belief that technological progress should advance alongside social inclusion and cultural preservation.
LAGOS, Nigeria, 10 December 2025-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-The EU–ECOWAS Scholarship Programme for Sustainable Energy, funded and launched in September 2022 by the European Union in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and delivered by the British Council, is celebrating the achievements of its first cohort of scholars whose research is already contributing to the region’s green-energy transition.
The programme provides fully funded master’s degrees in sustainable energy at nine specialised higher-education institutions across Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.
Demand for the programme has been exceptionally high. From 10,442 applications, scholarships were awarded to 72 academically outstanding candidates from 11 ECOWASmember states — with over 40% female representation.
The programme aims to strengthen human-capital development in the West African electricity sector by supporting postgraduate training and enhancing the capacity of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant education in sustainable energy and energy-efficiency systems. Alongside rigorous academic study, scholars received research support and mentorship to advance innovations that directly benefit the region.
All 72 scholars under the programme completed their research work in sustainable energy. Today, we highlight five scholars who illustrate the transformative impact of the programme through research that addresses real-world energy challenges in West Africa — from electric mobility and air-quality monitoring to renewable-energy optimisation, environmental data systems, and national energy-demand reduction.
Research Highlights from Five EU–ECOWAS Scholars
1. Blessing Nneka Ben-Festus (Nigeria)
Research: IoT-Enabled Predictive Maintenance and Energy Optimisation in Modern Inverter Systems
Institution: University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Blessing developed one of the first locally relevant Battery Management Systems (BMS) for Nigeria’s widely used inverter systems. By integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) with machine-learning-based predictive maintenance, the study demonstrates how low-cost hardware and advanced analytics can dramatically improve safety and energy performance in household backup-power systems.
This Battery Management System (BMS) is capable of delivering:
A three-sensor platform monitoring voltage, current, and temperature
A remote-data system using an Arduino microcontroller and a Global System for Mobile Communications module
Machine-learning models achieving 99% accuracy in predicting battery ageing and 92% accuracy in decision-tree diagnostics
Proven improvements in battery safety, lifespan, and reliability
Impact for ECOWAS: Improved safety, lower household costs, enhanced confidence in decentralised solar and inverter systems, and reduced energy waste across the region.
2. Ruth Mawunyo Kokovena (Togo)
Research: Building a Low-Cost Environmental Monitoring System to Support Renewable Energy Planning
Institution: University of Lomé, Togo
Ruth developed SISEE, an affordable, multi-sensor environmental monitoring system designed for regions where high-precision weather stations are too costly to install or maintain. The system captures temperature, relative humidity, solar irradiation, tide levels, and GPS location, using open-source software and low-cost sensors.
SISEE is capable of delivering:
Temperature accuracy nearing ±0.5°C, comparable to entry-level commercial stations
Over 80% correlation in solar-irradiation tracking
Effective monitoring of tidal variations for coastal energy planning
Real-time data transmission and visualisation
Impact for ECOWAS: Supports solar-resource assessment, coastal-energy planning, climate-monitoring infrastructure, and decentralised data collection for national energy strategies.
3. Godwin Josiah Ajisafe, (Nigeria) – Under the supervision of Ayodele T. R & Ogunjuyigbe A.S
Research: Determination of the Functional End-of-Life Threshold of Electric Vehicle Lithium-ion Batteries under Urban Lagos Driving Conditions
Institution: University of Ibadan, Nigeria
This study provides the first Lagos-specific model for predicting the end-of-life of Electric Vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries under real urban driving and environmental conditions. Machine-learning algorithms — including Support Vector Regression, Random Forest, and Decision Trees — were trained using local data such as temperature, humidity, traffic intensity, driving behaviour, and charging patterns.
The model is capable of delivering:
Near-perfect predictive accuracy (Coefficient of Determination R² = 0.999)
Identification of heat and stop-and-go traffic as major contributors to battery degradation
Strong foundations for EV-fleet management, charging-infrastructure planning, and battery-recycling initiatives
Impact for ECOWAS: Enables realistic EV-policy development, supports circular-economy planning, and strengthens regional capacity for clean transport systems.
4. Kevin Konan N’guessan (Côte d’Ivoire) Research: TGIME-ES: A Sustainable Energy Management and Solar Integration Solution for National Energy Demand Reduction
Institution: INP-HB, Côte d’Ivoire
Kevin developed TGIME-ES, an intelligent-energy-management solution that reduces electricity consumption while enhancing solar integration. The system was deployed across residential, commercial, and industrial sites.
TGIME-ES is capable of delivering:
22,962 kilowatt-hours of energy saved in four months
2,149,745 West African CFA francs in cost savings
28% reduction in electricity bills
National-scale modelling showing TGIME-ES can slow demand growth by more than 50%
Impact for ECOWAS: Offers a scalable, locally developed approach to energy-efficiency, reduced grid pressure, and improved adoption of solar technologies.
5. Patience Yaa Dzigbordi Quashigah (Ghana)
Research: Machine-Learning-Based Performance Analysis of Two Low-Cost Sensors for Measuring Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and Fine Particulate Matter (PM₂.₅)
Institution: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana
Patience evaluated two low-cost air-quality sensors, costing approximately USD 100, as alternatives to reference-grade stations costing up to USD 250,000. Using machine-learning calibration, the study improved the accuracy of monitoring carbon dioxide (CO₂), fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), ultra-fine particulate matter (PM₁), coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀), temperature, humidity, and methane (CH₄).
These sensors are capable of delivering:
Clear model ranking, with Random Forest performing best
Reliable environmental data after machine-learning calibration
Insights into sensor limitations and calibration techniques
Evidence that low-cost networks can support large-scale monitoring
Impact for ECOWAS: Enhances affordable air-quality monitoring, supports solar-energy forecasting, informs emissions policy, and enables community-level environmental awareness.
Overall Programme Impact
These five research projects demonstrate the success and strategic relevance of the EU–ECOWAS Scholarship Programme for Sustainable Energy. Together, the scholars’ work:
Strengthens regional capacity for renewable-energy innovation
Provides scientific evidence for policy and infrastructure planning
Supports environmental monitoring and public-health initiatives
Advances energy efficiency, electric mobility, and solar deployment
Builds a new generation of skilled experts driving West Africa’s green-energy transition
The programme is creating a pipeline of talented professionals equipped to support ECOWAS member states in accelerating sustainable-energy adoption, reducing emissions, and improving energy security across the region.
Geneva, Switzerland, 19 November 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/-Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancers by integrating cancer and chronic disease services into primary health care. This approach aims to bring essential health services closer to communities and ensure women have equitable access to quality care.
Cervical cancer accounts for almost 41% of all cancers among women in the country, followed by breast cancer at 13%, according to Zimbabwe’s National Cancer Registry. To address the burden, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, is implementing measures to strengthen integrated cancer services across the health system.
In July 2025, WHO handed over medical equipment worth US$ 20 000 to the MoHCC to support service delivery at the primary health level. The specialized equipment can be used to screen for noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.
Building on this support, MoHCC and WHO held training of trainers sessions in August 2025 for health professionals from Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South provinces.
“Many cancers are preventable. Let us spread the word and let all women know about it,” says Esther Ngaru, one of the trainees and reproductive health officers at MOHCC.
Twenty-five health professionals were trained on integrating the management of breast and cervical cancers, mental health and chronic diseases, as well as coordinated provision of prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care services.
The trainers are spreading this knowledge to frontline health workers to strengthen prevention, screening and treatment at community level.
“Thanks to this training, our screening will be more effective than ever,” says Audrey Musorowembudzi, a nurse at Hurungwe Rural Health Centre. “At my facility, I will share this knowledge with my colleagues so that no woman is left behind.”
In Karoi, a town in Mashonaland West Province, seven primary health care nurses and village health workers have already benefited from these trainings.
Village health worker Angeline Mukusa from Chigumbura Village says she will use the lessons learned to raise awareness in her community. “Cancer is a major concern where I live,” she says. “I will encourage early detection and HPV vaccination for girls. Cancer is treatable if detected early and this will save many lives.”
According to the district’s medical officer Dr Munyaradzi Chidaushe this approach is already improving service delivery. “This work is transformative. Village health workers can identify and refer women suspected of breast or cervical cancer more easily. Prevention is key to protecting communities,” he says.
These activities are part of the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS) project, led by the WHO Regional Office for Africa with support from Roche. Implemented in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Zimbabwe, the project aims to strengthen integrated breast and cervical cancer services within primary health care. Zimbabwe was selected because its established cervical cancer programme provides a foundation for integrating additional services for cancer and chronic diseases.
“Through the commitment of health workers, the leadership of MOHCC, and the support of WHO and partners, Zimbabwe is taking a decisive step towards reducing the burden of breast and cervical cancer,” says Dr Desta Tiruneh WHO Representative in Zimbabwe. “These efforts bring the country closer to a future where no woman dies from a preventable or treatable cancer and where health systems truly serve communities with equity and compassion.”
A decade of owner-focused partnerships drives record growth for the Dubai-based hotel management company
DUBAI, 15 October 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Aleph Hospitality celebrated its 10th anniversary this September, marking a decade-long expansion from a single hotel in 2015 to 50 operating hotels across 39 cities and 23 countries in the Middle East and Africa in 2025.
The Dubai-based hotel management company disrupted the traditional hotel management model a decade before global competitors entered the region and grew to become the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa.
Aleph Hospitality’s 10-year rise can be accredited to several factors: market foresight, a scalable tailored-to-fit hotel management model, agile operations, regional expertise and focus on driving benefits to owners to maximise their returns. The company’s close and collaborative relationship with hotel owners is a key component of its exponential growth, leading to over 60% of existing hotel owners entrusting multiple properties to Aleph Hospitality’s management.
In 2025 Aleph Hospitality secured the largest ever hotel management portfolio deal in the region with African Hotel Development Group for the management of 26 ONOMO-branded hotels across 15 African countries. The same year, the company won Leading Hotel Management Company in the Leaders in Hospitality Awards 2025 by Hotel & Catering Middle East.
Previous milestones include the opening of a regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the opening of the landmark complex Jewel of the Creek which comprises 20,000sqm of retail space, an 86-berths marina and two branded properties with a total of 770 keys: Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences and Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek. In a first for the region, Aleph Hospitality manages this complex with two different brands with clustered support functions.
To reinforce its regional expertise and responsiveness to hotel owners, Aleph Hospitality will be opening four new regional offices in 2026: Casablanca in Morocco, Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Town in South Africa and Nairobi in Kenya. The company has also announced a Luxury Division to provide dedicated attention to its growing portfolio of luxury hotels. Having reached its long-standing goal of operating 50 hotels by 2025, Aleph Hospitality has set itself a new ambitious goal: operating 100 hotels by the end of 2029.
Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality said: “Pioneering a new business model requires patience, and the determination to remain steadfast in a vision that anticipated industry change a decade ahead. It is deeply rewarding to see that foresight validated today and that our business model has proven to be both resilient and successful.”
Neil George, Executive Director of Aleph Hospitality added: “It took considerable market education to introduce a model that, although well proven in the rest of the world, was new to our region. The results of those efforts are now evident. Our focus for the future is clear: to continue to deliver locally smart, world-class owner-centric hotel management services across the region.”
Headquartered in Dubai, with regional offices in Riyadh, Casablanca, Abidjan, Cape Town and Nairobi, Aleph Hospitality is the first and largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa. Aleph Hospitality manages over 50 hotels, representing 7,000+ rooms across 23 countries and 39 cities. Working for hotel owners, either with a franchise for branded properties or as a white label operator for independent hotels, Aleph Hospitality handles all aspects of hotel operations at any stage of development – from site and brand selection to technical assistance, pre-opening and day-to-day operations. Aleph Hospitality’s regional expertise has earned the trust of leading brands such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Accor, Best Western, Rotana, Wyndham and Onomo. Visit www.alephhospitality.com
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 8 October 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Goya by Yango, the premium ride-hailing option designed to elevate the everyday ride experience in Abidjan and integrated within the Yango SuperApp, is proud to announce an exclusive collaboration with Kente Gentlemen, a premium fashion brand celebrating Ivorian craftsmanship. This partnership brings the artistry of local design into every Goya ride, combining comfort, elegance, and cultural sophistication.
Since August 2025, Goya by Yango partner’s drivers have been wearing specially designed custom polos crafted by Kente Gentlemen, made from locally sourced, high-quality fabrics. This initiative highlights Goya’s commitment to cultural elegance, attention to detail, and the refinement of every aspect of the premium experience.
Founded in 2017 and based in Abidjan, Kente Gentlemen is a young, opulent brand committed to ethical production and consumption. At the heart of its creations lies the iconic Kente fabric, a symbol of heritage and identity across West Africa, which serves as both inspiration and foundation for the brand’s designs. For this collaboration, Kente Gentlemen drew from Goya by Yango’s brand palette, blending its refined color codes with locally sourced, great quality materials. Each polo is meticulously handmade, combining traditional African tailoring techniques, resulting in garments that embody cultural richness and modern elegance.
This collaboration represents a natural synergy between two brands united by a shared vision: elevating everyday experiences through design, precision, and purpose. By merging Goya’s premium mobility with Kente Gentlemen’s timeless style, every ride becomes more than just transportation – it becomes an expression of culture and refinement.
This collaboration underscores Goya by Yango’s commitment to combining premium mobility with cultural sophistication. Every partner’s driver undergoes an 8-step verification process and training aligned with premium hotel hospitality standards, ensuring that each journey is conducted with professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail. Rated 4.75 stars or higher, Goya chauffeurs provide a consistently refined and comfortable ride, allowing users to enjoy a seamless travel experience enriched with style and heritage.
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 7 October 2025 – African Media Agency (AMA), a leading pan-African communications and public relations firm, is pleased to officially announce its collaboration with Yango Côte d’Ivoire, which began in February 2025.
This partnership reflects Yango’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Côte d’Ivoire and supporting its growth through a structured corporate communication strategy and targeted media initiatives. AMA is leveraging its expertise to highlight Yango’s local initiatives and position the brand as a trusted technology partner for Ivorian communities.
“Our mission at AMA is to support innovative organizations that are driving meaningful and lasting change across Africa. By partnering with Yango Côte d’Ivoire, we aim to amplify the impact of its commitments and raise awareness of its solutions tailored to local realities,” said Eloïne Barry, Founder and CEO of African Media Agency.
Since February, AMA has been implementing a public relations and corporate communication strategy to support Yango’s various activities, with a particular focus on media engagement, awareness campaigns, and the promotion of the company’s social and economic initiatives.
Through this collaboration, AMA reaffirms its role as a trusted partner for technology companies operating in Africa, while continuing its mission: to provide organizations with the tools to effectively reach their audiences through credible, strategic, and contextually relevant communication across the continent.
About African Media Agency (AMA) African Media Agency is a pan-African integrated communications agency that combines public relations, creative services, and digital marketing. With offices in New York, Abidjan, Kampala, and Johannesburg, and a presence in 28 African countries, AMA helps its clients tell their stories with impact and engage their target audiences effectively.
Press Contact Roland Klohi roland@africanmediaagency.com
