Tag Archives: Financial Inclusion

AMA, Business, Environment

Nigeria’s Heat Crisis Is Fueling a New Wave of Startups

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LAGOS, Nigeria, 29 April 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – As heat intensifies across Nigeria, a new cohort of ventures is developing solutions to protect crops, reduce food spoilage and livestock losses, and equip hospitals and outdoor workers to anticipate and withstand extreme conditions.

BFA Global, FSD Africa, ClimateWorks Foundation, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Nigeria have selected 10 early-stage ventures to join the inaugural cohort of the TECA Heat Action Wave (THAW) program focused on accelerating solutions to extreme heat.

The 10 selected ventures are:

  • Ofemini Global Limited provides a heat-resilient logistics platform that helps farmers transport perishable goods efficiently, reducing spoilage caused by extreme temperatures through optimized routing and heat monitoring.
  • Agiletech Operations Consulting Limited provides a hyperlocal early-warning system that delivers climate and heat alerts through accessible channels, enabling farmers and micro-entrepreneurs to anticipate risks and take preventive action.
  • Emplaris develops a predictive energy and heat-risk intelligence system for healthcare facilities, helping hospitals anticipate outages and manage equipment stress during extreme heat events.
  • Doorcas Africa delivers an AI-powered livestock health and co-ownership platform that enables early disease detection and prevention, helping farmers reduce heat-related livestock mortality and improve productivity.
  • Farmxic offers an AI-driven soil and crop diagnostics platform that helps farmers adapt to heat-induced soil degradation and crop stress through real-time insights and personalized recommendations.
  • Farm Fresh Grocery Ltd. builds a climate-resilient agricultural system combining heat-adaptive beekeeping, herb production, and consumer products to stabilize yields and supply under rising temperatures.
  • Farmslate Technologies Limited provides a climate intelligence platform that translates satellite and weather data into actionable insights, enabling farmers and financial institutions to manage heat-related risks and improve decision-making.
  • Let-It-Cold offers a solar-powered, portable cooling solution that helps small businesses and households preserve perishable goods during extreme heat and power outages.
  • Pod develops a climate-resilient sanitation system that prevents failure and contamination in heat- and flood-prone environments through on-site treatment and water reuse.
  • TheHyWing Ltd provides a climate-smart digital health platform that combines heat alerts, AI diagnostics, and telemedicine to prevent heat-related health risks among outdoor workers and vulnerable populations.

Together, the ventures address some of the most immediate and under-addressed impacts of extreme heat across Nigeria, including food spoilage and cold chain gaps, heat-induced soil degradation and crop stress, livestock disease and productivity loss, health risks for outdoor workers, and system failures in energy, healthcare, and sanitation infrastructure. They range from early-stage concepts to minimum viable products, reflecting both the urgency of the problem and the early development of solutions in this emerging space.

The cohort reflects a growing innovation ecosystem across Nigeria, with ventures operating in multiple regions. The companies are based in Lagos, Kaduna, and Edo States. This geographic spread underscores the breadth of climate innovation emerging across the country and reinforces TECA’s commitment to supporting founders building locally relevant solutions nationwide.

Selected from a competitive pool, the ventures will each receive $56,000 in funding along with hands-on venture-acceleration support, including user validation, product development, business model design, and investor readiness. Each team will work with embedded venture builders and technical experts to accelerate their path to scale. Six of the ten selected ventures have a female co-founder.

“Extreme heat is rapidly becoming one of the biggest operational risks facing African economies, yet it remains dramatically underinvested,” said Tyler Ferdinand, TECA Director at BFA Global. “Through TECA’s Heat Action Wave, we’re backing entrepreneurs building the tools, services, and financial products that will allow people, businesses, and cities to function in a hotter world. Our goal is not only to support these ventures but to prove that climate adaptation can become a powerful new investment frontier.”

Juliet Munro, Director, Early Stage Finance, at FSD Africa, said: “If climate adaptation finance is going to scale in Africa, it has to be grounded in real, investable solutions. This group of innovators tackling extreme heat is important because it shows what those solutions look like in practice, and that’s what gives markets the confidence to follow. At FSD Africa, our role is to help turn early innovation like this into something markets can actually back.”

“The cost of inaction on climate change is growing, as over 70% of workers around the world are at risk from deadly extreme heat. At the same time, momentum for adaptation is growing, as we see both more funding and more innovation. These new business ventures are strong, community-led solutions that can accelerate resilience in Nigeria and more broadly in the West African region,” said Jessica Brown, Senior Director of Adaptation and Resilience at ClimateWorks Foundation.

“Responding to climate change is central to Nigeria’s future growth and resilience. The UK is excited to support this cohort of ambitious Nigerian businesses developing transformative solutions to extreme heat. TECA’s Heat Action Wave is part of a broader UK partnership with Nigeria that backs private sector–led innovation, creates jobs, and drives shared prosperity for both our countries as we transition to a greener economy,” said Temi Akinrinade, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Nigeria.

The program will run through 2026, culminating in demo days and investor engagement opportunities, with follow-on support available for top-performing ventures.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of BFA Global

About BFA Global
BFA Global is an impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people and the planet. We partner with leading public, private and philanthropic organisations, global and local, to catalyse innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets. Since 2006, we have completed 646 projects completed in over 107 countries, supported 250+ ventures in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, who have collectively raised $1B+ in follow-on funding, and have a survival rate above 80% (global average is ~20%), and built a network of 100+ global and African investors, innovators, and funders. Learn more at https://bfaglobal.com/.

About FSD Africa
FSD Africa is a specialist development agency funded through UK Development operating in more than 30 countries working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to achieve policy and regulatory reform, capacity strengthening, and improving financial infrastructure, to address systemic challenges in Africa’s financial markets. Since 2017, the organisation’s strategy has evolved to prioritise solutions to Africa’s most critical challenges: economic, social, and environmental. The organisation has worked to promote investment into the continent’s green economy, as well as its rates of financial inclusion and gender equality. FSD Africa – previously known as Financial Sector Deepening Africa – was founded in 2012 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information, please visit:https://www.fsdafrica.org

About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a catalyst for accelerating climate progress, driving bold solutions that benefit people and the planet. We connect funders and implementing organizations worldwide to create and scale transformative solutions across sectors and geographies, achieving faster, greater impact together. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working alongside 80 funders.

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AMA, Business

New Insights from BFA Global Reveal What It Really Takes to Increase Women’s Incomes

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NAIROBI, Kenya, 21 April 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – BFA Global today released new findings from its Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Opportunity Leads Umbrella Program, identifying five critical, interconnected domains that drive income growth for low-income women micro-entrepreneurs. The insights emerge from a two-year collaboration with 11 enterprises in Kenya through the WEE Program.

The insights challenge the notion that income growth follows a simple, linear path. Instead, it shows that sustained income gains depend on a set of reinforcing conditions working together.

“We started with a simple question: what does it really take to increase incomes for low-income women in practice, not just in theory,” said co-authors Phoebe Kiboi and Maha Khan. “What we found is that no single intervention works in isolation. Income growth happens when multiple factors align.”

Through the program’s interventions, 1,800 women micro-entrepreneurs saw their incomes rise by an average of 49 percent, equivalent to an additional $85 per month.

The insights identify five interconnected domains that determine whether women can translate opportunity into sustained income:

  • Support Structures: Factors such as childcare, time, mobility, and social norms shape whether women can participate in economic opportunities at all. Enterprises that design around these realities can unlock participation at scale.
  • Skills and Confidence: Skills training is most effective when it builds both technical capability and self-belief, and when women have real opportunities to apply what they learn.
  • Networks: Peer networks provide critical support systems, enabling access to capital, customers, and information. These informal structures often act as the backbone of women’s economic activity.
  • Productive Capital and Assets: Access to capital drives growth only when it is appropriately timed and tailored. Misaligned financial products can hinder rather than help progress.
  • Market Linkages: Connecting women to markets creates opportunity, but sustained income depends on the strength of the other four domains.

When one domain is missing, progress stalls. Skills without market access do not translate into income. Capital without capability creates risk, and market access without support structures excludes those who need it most.

The insights emphasize the need for more integrated approaches that align multiple domains rather than optimizing individual interventions in isolation. For more information, see the key findings.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of BFA Global

About BFA Global
BFA Global is an impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people and the planet. We partner with leading public, private and philanthropic organisations, global and local, to catalyse innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets. Since 2006, we have completed 646 projects completed in over 107 countries, supported 250+ ventures in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, who have collectively raised $1B+ in follow-on funding, and have a survival rate above 80% (global average is ~20%), and built a network of 100+ global and African investors, innovators, and funders. Learn more at https://bfaglobal.com/.

The post New Insights from BFA Global Reveal What It Really Takes to Increase Women’s Incomes appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Business

Brand Africa announces the inaugural Africa CMO 100

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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).

North Africa: Youssef Cheikhi, CEO, Brendz (Morocco); Youssef Othmani, CEO, Gopinion (Algeria); Siham Malek, Managing Director, Integrate Consulting (Morocco).

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

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Brand Africa

ABOUT BRAND AFRICA

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

MEDIA CONTACT
Lebogang Serapelwane | Brand Africa | E: lebogang@brandleadership.com

Eloïne Barry | African Media Agency | E: eloine@africanmediaagency.com

www.brand.africa

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AMA

From potential to skills and real jobs: how young women are powering change in Western and Central Africa

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Young women attending a training in Chad. Credit: Miguel San Joaquin.

Washington, USA, 27 March 2026 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- When you think about sub-Saharan Africa, and about the young women who live across the region, what comes to mind? Many are mothers. Many are tireless workers. Many are the emotional and practical backbone of their households and communities.

But the picture is also changing. Increasingly, more young women are finishing high school, enrolling in university, getting better jobs, and building careers beyond the home. This has not always been the dominant narrative in West and Central Africa, where even today about 40% of young women are neither in school, in training, nor employed.

Linking learning and skills opportunities with access to jobs and real economic pathways for about 3 million women

Across Western and Central Africa, the Sub-Saharan Africa Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend project — known as SWEDD+ — is supporting that change of trajectory.

Building on the original regional SWEDD project launched in the Sahel in 2015, the broader SWEDD/SWEDD+ initiative has reached nearly 3 million women and adolescent girls by linking learning and skills opportunities with real economic pathways and access to maternal and child health services. About 255,000 of these women have gained practical skills and entered the workforce with confidence through the program’s economic empowerment activities. SWEDD+ is expanding the participation and leadership of women and girls while also strengthening institutional capacity for equal rights for women across the region.

Women’s individual stories, spanning fields from skilled trades to healthcare to entrepreneurship, show what becomes possible when talent meets access to opportunity.

“Now we’re motivated and earning money to support our families. We’re happy to bring solar energy to the villages.” Angelique ,Benin.

Angelique and Odette at work. Credit: Miguel San Joaquin.

Angelique and Odette, from Benin, left school in fifth and fourth grade when their families could no longer afford the fees. Today, their path looks very different. Thanks to SWEDD, both young women got trainings in a non-traditional economic activity: building electrification and solar photovoltaic installation. They now have a better job and have been working for over two years with a private company installing solar panels. The pride in their voices is unmistakable. “Now we’re motivated and earning money to support our families,” Angelique says. “We’re happy to bring solar energy to the villages.”

Leaving school because of financial hardship is still a common reality across West and Central Africa. Harmelle, also from Benin, had to leave school at age 14. She married soon after and became a mother, but two years later her husband died, leaving her in a precarious financial situation. A turning point came when she and her twin sister enrolled in a SWEDD entrepreneurship program that provided training and a starter kit for snail farming. With it came something just as important: peace of mind. “When I started farming, there were some difficulties,” she recalls, “but then we began earning money, and everyone was better off.”

Harmelle and her twin sister. Credit: Miguel San Joaquin.

In Chad, Djogoita was inspired by her father, a police officer, to find her own way to serve her community. She chose midwifery and the role has given her both purpose and confidence. “When they bring me a pregnant woman or a child from 0 to 14 years old, I can use the knowledge I gained through my training to help them,” she explains with a great satisfaction of having a fulfilling job.

Djogoita and her father. Credit: Miguel San Joaquin.

Investing in women: one of the smartest economic bets to powering local economies

Across Western and Central Africa, the transformation is underway. With the right skills, support, and opportunities, a new generation of women and girls is not only increasing their own economic independence: they are powering local economies and investing back into their families and communities. The lesson is clear: when young women are given the tools to succeed, the returns reach far beyond the individual. Investing in women and girls is not just the right thing to do; it is one of the smartest economic bets West and Central Africa can make.

Creating more and better jobs across the region is central to the World Bank Group’s mission. By equipping young women with relevant skills and connecting them to real economic opportunities, programs like SWEDD/SWEDD+ directly advance this agenda — turning human potential into productive employment that fuels inclusive and sustainable growth.

In this International Women’s month, the stories of Angelique, Odette, Harmelle, and Djogoita remind us that the future of the region’s growth and resilience is already taking shape: one young woman at a time, trained, employed, and empowered to drive change in her community.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Word Bank Group.

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AMA, Business

Flocash and Quest Financial Services Partner to Launch Revolutionary Prepaid Visa Card in Zimbabwe

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Revolutionizing Payments with Secure, Convenient, High-Limit, Multi-Channel & Globally Accepted Solutions

HARARE, Zimbabwe, 03 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – Flocash, a leading global digital payment solutions provider, today proudly announces a strategic partnership with Quest Financial Services to launch a new, accessible prepaid Visa card in Zimbabwe. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enhancing financial inclusion and providing secure, convenient digital payment solutions for consumers nationwide through an innovative Visa Card for travellers, professionals, students, freelancers, and SMEs who require seamless domestic and cross-border payment capabilities.

Under this partnership, Flocash leverages its robust and secure payments technology platform to manage card transactions, ensuring reliability and global acceptance. Quest Financial Services, a trusted name in Zimbabwe’s financial and remittances space, will directly sell the card and manage customer-facing services.

The new prepaid Visa card will empower Zimbabweans with a safe and efficient tool for everyday financial transactions. Key features and benefits include:

  • Nationwide Accessibility: Customers can easily purchase and reload the card with cash at any Quest Financial Services’ branch across Zimbabwe. They also have other in-app top-up options from local wallets and bank accounts.
  • Global Visa Acceptance: It can be used for purchases online and in-store at millions of merchants worldwide where Visa is accepted, including for secure online services and subscriptions.
  • Enhanced Security: As a prepaid solution, it helps users manage their budgets effectively and minimizes the risks associated with carrying cash. The card is protected by Visa’s advanced security features.
  • Financial Inclusion: It provides a viable electronic payment option for a broad spectrum of the population, including those who may not have ready access to traditional banking products.
  • High Transaction Limits: It supports payments for travel, tuition, business needs, and online transactions.
  • Real-Time Card Control via Mobile App – Clients can block/unblock the card, track activity, and receive instant alerts. Every transaction is clearly visible in the app, helping users track spending effortlessly.
  • Virtual Card Issuance: Clients can generate secure, single-use virtual Visa card numbers for safe online payments.

“We are thrilled to partner with Quest Financial Services to bring this innovative prepaid solution to Zimbabwe,” said Sirak Mussie, a managing director at Flocash. “Our mission is to enable digital commerce and financial access in growth markets.

By combining Flocash’s advanced payments technology with Quest’s local network and trust, we are delivering a powerful tool that meets the digital payment needs of Zimbabwean consumers.”

“With this card, Zimbabweans can now enjoy higher limits, full control via mobile app, multiple top-up channels, and added security through virtual cards, empowering them to transact with confidence both locally and internationally,” he added.

James Msipa, the managing director at Quest Financial Services, said, “This partnership with Flocash aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing practical and innovative financial services to Zimbabweans. The launch of this Quest Prepaid Visa Card offers our customers unprecedented convenience and security, allowing them to participate fully in both the local and global digital economy. It offers high transaction limits, seamless multi-channel loading, and advanced digital controls that simplify financial management for our customers. We are excited to roll this out through our branches nationwide.”

The new prepaid Visa cards will be available for purchase at all Quest Financial Services branches starting 4 March, 2026.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Flocash

About Flocash:
Flocash is a leading provider of payments technology and processing services across the Middle East & Africa, serving consumers, businesses, and financial institutions. With a presence in over 60 countries, Flocash enables digital businesses and consumers to connect to the global digital economy securely and reliably.

About Quest Financial Services:
Quest Financial Services is a provider of financial solutions in Zimbabwe, offering a range of services designed to meet the evolving needs of individuals and businesses. With a branch network and a customer-centric approach, Quest is committed to driving financial empowerment and accessibility across Zimbabwe.

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AMA, Business, Technology

Nigeria to Host 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo Under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President

MaraviPost

Conference to Convene Global Leaders on Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy
for a Borderless Economy

ABUJA, Nigeria, 02 February 2026-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Preparations are underway for the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo (RACE 2026), Africa’s flagship platform on regulatory technology, digital innovation, and policy reform, scheduled to hold from 20–22 May 2026 at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Conference will be held under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), and in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)—underscoring its strategic importance to Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic transformation agenda.

Anchored on the theme “Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy for a Borderless Economy,” RACE 2026 will convene regulators, policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, investors, and development partners to shape the future of Africa’s digital and regulatory landscape in an era of accelerating cross-border trade and financial integration.

As Africa advances the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—a single market of over 1.4 billion people and a projected value of US$3.4 trillion—the Conference will address one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: how to align technology, regulation, and policy to enable seamless, trusted, and inclusive economic activity across borders.

“RACE 2026 is positioned as a strategic policy and innovation platform—where technology-enabled regulation becomes a catalyst for trust, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth across Africa,” Cyril Okoroigwe, Chair Organising Committee.

A Platform for Regulatory Innovation and Economic Empowerment

The Conference will spotlight how RegTech, SupTech, artificial intelligence, digital identity, interoperable payment systems, cybersecurity, and data-driven compliance solutions can reduce friction, lower risk, and unlock opportunities for governments, businesses, startups, and citizens.

Key outcomes will focus on:

  • Building trust through technology-enabled regulation and smarter supervision
  • Strengthening digital infrastructure for interoperable payments, identity, and data exchange
  • Driving inclusion for SMEs, startups, women, and underserved populations
  • Modernising policy frameworks to support innovation while safeguarding financial integrity

High-Level Engagement and Global Participation

RACE 2026 will feature 50+ world-class speakers, 10 thematic tracks, and over 1,000 in-person and virtual participants from across Africa and the global financial and technology ecosystem. The hybrid event will include ministerial dialogues, regulators’ CEO forums, innovation showcases, and curated B2B and B2G networking sessions.

A major highlight will be the Global Startup World Cup – Regional Challenge, positioning Abuja as a launchpad for Africa’s most promising technology startups to compete on the global stage.

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President / Executive Secretary, Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI):

“The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo aligns strongly with Nigeria’s commitment to economic and financial inclusion. By bringing together regulators, innovators, and policymakers, the Conference provides a critical platform to harness technology and smart regulation as tools for trust-building, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth—both within Nigeria and across Africa.”

Call to Action: Registration and Partnerships

Attendance at the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is strictly by registration, which is mandatory for all participants. Early registration is strongly encouraged due to limited capacity and high-level security protocols at the venue.

Organizations interested in partnerships, sponsorships, exhibitions, or strategic participation are invited to engage with the Organising Committee.

📩 Partnership & Sponsorship Enquiries:
Email: info@regtechafricaconference.com

🎟 Registration & Event Information:
🌐 Website: www.regtechafricaconference.com

Positioning Africa for a Borderless Future

Through strategic media engagement and the #BorderlessAfriconomy and #RACE2026 campaigns, the Conference aims to reshape global narratives—presenting Africa not as a high-risk market, but as a policy-aware, innovation-ready, and investment-attractive continent.

The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is expected to play a defining role in advancing Africa’s journey toward borderless economic empowerment, where trust, technology, and policy work together to deliver shared prosperity.

Event Details:
📍 Venue: State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja
📅 Date: 20–22 May 2026
🌍 Format: Hybrid (In-person & Virtual)
🔗 Website: www.regtechafricaconference.com

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of RegTech Africa.

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AMA

Benin: 10,000 Women Entrepreneurs Receive Business Development Support

MaraviPost

Washington, USA, 16 January 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-The World Bank approved $100 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Benin promote access to finance and growth for women entrepreneurs in both the formal and informal sectors.

The Women Entrepreneurship Development and Access to Finance Program (WEDAF) is a results-based program (PforR). It will support the government in setting up a Women’s Business Center and provide more than 10,000 women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with access to loans, training, mentoring, and career advice. This results-based program will competitively select a cohort of promising enterprises led or owned by women-Les Agodjié, who are the champions of women’ s entrepreneurship. These Agodjié Champions will benefit from a package of support, including technical assistance, access to tailored financing instruments, investment readiness support, market access, as well as structured mentorship, to position their businesses as flagships of the Beninese economy and engines of job creation.

“In addition to the challenges that all businesses face, women face specific barriers that limit the creation, development, and growth of their businesses. The WEDAF program aims to accelerate the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses and strengthen their role in creating jobs and wealth,” said Mamadou Tanou Baldé, World Bank Acting Country Manager for Benin. “When women entrepreneurs have access to finance, training, and mentorship, their business performance and job creation increase significantly.”

This program benefits from substantial complementary support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. The latter will bring its expertise in capital structuring, its ability to mobilize regional investors, as well as its technical expertise, through tailor-made advisory services. It will help overcome capacity, formalization and financing barriers faced by women entrepreneurs. In addition, IFC will offer its own financing solutions, focusing on SMEs with commercial potential, while increasing the number of women-led businesses benefitting. This will involve current and future investments as well as advisory services – such as the Banking on Women program – for the benefit of partner financial intermediaries.

“Only 3.9% of women-managed businesses have access to bank loans, and many operate in a market segment underserved by microfinance institutions or commercial banks. This program is a real opportunity to turn women entrepreneurs into true national champions,” says Vincent Arthur Floreani, IFC Country Officer for Benin.

This program is aligned with the National Policy for the Development and Promotion of SMEs 2025-2035. Its objective is that by 2035, Beninese MSMEs will operate competitively in an adequate institutional framework and a business environment conducive to wealth creation and decent and sustainable jobs.

Contacts
In Cotonou:
Gnona Afangbedji,
+229 01 90 07 4732
yafangbedji@worldbank.org

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AMA, Technology

Yango Group announces strategic investment in Gigmile to accelerate Africa’s last-mile delivery and logistics innovation.

MaraviPost

ACCRA, Ghana, 12 December 2025-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-Yango Group, a global tech company bringing advanced technology to local communities, has announced a strategic investment through Yango Ventures in Gigmile, a vehicle financing and financial services platform for gig workers in Africa. The investment marks Yango Ventures’ continued commitment to supporting high-potential startups across emerging markets and strengthening digital infrastructure across the continent.

Gigmile is building the infrastructure for last-mile delivery in Africa by equipping gig workers with access to vehicle financing, software tools, and operational support. This strategic partnership will support Gigmile’s regional expansion and help improve delivery efficiency and financial inclusion across the continent.

“Gigmile is working on a problem we understand deeply: how to build delivery systems that work for businesses and for the couriers who keep them running. Our experience in urban logistics gives us a strong foundation to help them scale responsibly and efficiently. We’re proud to support a team that shares our commitment to building practical, tech-enabled infrastructure across Africa.” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group.

Gigmile is addressing one of the continent’s most dynamic and fast-growing sectors: last-mile delivery. By combining technology, flexible financing models, and data-driven workforce management, the company empowers gig couriers with the tools they need to operate efficiently and earn sustainably. Yango Ventures’ investment will fuel product development, strengthen operational capabilities, and accelerate Gigmile’s expansion across multiple African markets.

Yango Ventures focuses on early-stage startups from Seed to Series B in sectors such as O2O (Online-to-Offline), B2B SaaS, and FinTech. With an initial $20 million fund and plans for scalable growth, the corporate venture arm continues to expand its portfolio with companies building transformative, tech-driven solutions in high-growth regions across Africa, MENAP, LATAM, and beyond.

The investment in Gigmile reflects Yango Group’s broader strategy to support digital transformation and technological progress worldwide. Through Yango Ventures, the company continues to back promising entrepreneurs by offering access to capital, operational expertise, and a global network that accelerates scalable, community-driven growth.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Yango Group

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AMA, Technology

2025 State of RegTech in Sub-Saharan Africa Report Launched, Highlights Surge in Supervisory Technology and Financial Inclusion

MaraviPost

LAGOS, Nigeria, 11 December 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-RegTech Africa today formally announces the publication of the 2024 State of RegTech in Sub-Saharan Africa Report, a comprehensive, data-driven industry report examining the rapid evolution of regulatory innovation across Africa’s financial ecosystem. The report provides strategic insights into the growth of RegTech and SupTech, regulatory innovation, financial inclusion, and the critical role of technology in strengthening consumer protection across emerging and complex markets.

The report positions Sub-Saharan Africa as one of the most dynamic frontiers for regulatory technology, driven by the expansion of FinTech, mobile money, cross-border payments, and real-time digital supervision. It highlights how regulators and financial institutions are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence, machine-readable regulation, and cloud-based architectures to manage risk while expanding access to formal financial services.


Cyril Okoroigwe, Chief Executive Officer, RegTech Africa, said:

“This report marks a defining moment for Africa’s regulatory and digital finance ecosystem. RegTech is no longer a back-office function, it is now core infrastructure for trust, stability, and inclusive growth. The report captures how African regulators and market participants are moving from reactive compliance to proactive, technology-driven supervision.”

The publication also underscores the growing adoption of Supervisory Technology (SupTech) by central banks and financial authorities, signaling a structural shift towards real-time, data-driven oversight across the continent.


Commenting on the broader implications of the report, Dr. Tunde Ibidapo-Obe, CEO, Regfyl, stated:

“The findings of this report clearly demonstrate that Africa is shaping a uniquely innovative model of digital regulation. The convergence of RegTech and SupTech is enabling safer markets, stronger consumer protection, and scalable financial inclusion that other regions are increasingly studying and learning from.”


The 2024 State of RegTech in Sub-Saharan Africa Report serves as a strategic benchmark for policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, FinTech leaders, investors, and development partners seeking to understand the next phase of digital financial infrastructure in Africa.


Access the full report at: https://regtechafrica.com/state-of-regtech-in-sub-saharan-africa/

For Partnership & Research Collaboration: info@regtechafrica.com

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of RegTech Africa.

About RegTech Africa 

RegTech Africa is a leading platform advancing regulatory technology adoption through research, policy engagement, industry convening, and capacity building across emerging markets.

The post 2025 State of RegTech in Sub-Saharan Africa Report Launched, Highlights Surge in Supervisory Technology and Financial Inclusion appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Technology

Nigeria Sets the Stage for Global Regulatory Technology Leadership as 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo Heads to Abuja

MaraviPost

LAGOS, Nigeria, 11 December 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Under the distinguished patronage of the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic & Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), with the collaboration of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo will convene global leaders in policy, finance, and technology from 20th to 22nd May 2026 at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, Nigeria.

Anchored on the theme, “BUILDING TRUST, INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICY FOR A BORDERLESS ECONOMY,” the conference is positioned as a premier global platform for shaping the future of trusted digital financial systems, cross-border trade, and regulatory innovation.

The event will bring together heads of government and regulatory agencies, central banks, financial intelligence units, multinational financial institutions, technology leaders, investors, and policy architects to align strategy around the infrastructure, governance, and digital trust frameworks required to unlock Africa’s full participation in the global digital economy.

“Regulatory technology is no longer optional. It has become the backbone of secure, inclusive, and sustainable economic systems. The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo represents Nigeria’s commitment to leadership in shaping global standards for trust, transparency, and cross-border economic collaboration,” Cyril Okoroigwe, Chair Organizing Committee. 

A central highlight of the event will be the hosting of the prestigious Global Startup World Cup Tournament – Regional Challenge, providing African startups with a world-class stage to pitch their solutions before an international panel of judges, venture capitalists, and industry experts. Winners of the regional challenge will proceed to compete at the grand finale in Silicon Valley, for a $1,000,000 investment prize, unlocking access to global investors, accelerators, and strategic partnerships.

“By bringing the Startup World Cup Regional Challenge to Abuja, we are not only showcasing African innovation, but connecting it directly to global capital, mentorship, and markets,” Graham Olasukanmi Lawal, Director Partnerships, Regtech Africa.

The three-day event, which provides strategic platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration will feature strategic ministerial dialogues, closed-door executive roundtables, investment-focused breakout sessions, technology showcases, and curated networking platforms designed to foster impactful public–private partnerships.

Sponsorship and Strategic Partnership Opportunities

Public and private sector organizations, multinational corporations, development finance institutions, technology firms, and venture funds are invited to participate as strategic sponsors and partners. Curated partnership opportunities are available across policy leadership, infrastructure development, innovation acceleration, and market expansion pillars.


“This is a rare opportunity for forward-looking institutions to align their brands with the future of regulation, trust infrastructure, and borderless digital commerce in Africa and beyond,” Mr. Lawal noted.

The conference is expected to attract thousands of participants from across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.


Registration & Partnership Opportunities Now Open

To explore partnership opportunities or register interest, please contact: info@regtechafrica.com

For further details, visit: www.regtechafricaconference.com.

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of RegTech Africa.

About RegTech Africa 

RegTech Africa is a leading authority advancing the adoption of regulatory technology and digital trust infrastructure across the African continent. Through world-class conferences, research, and multi-stakeholder collaborations, RegTech Africa fosters innovation that strengthens financial stability, accelerates inclusion, and enhances regulatory excellence.

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