Once abundant along Africa’s coastlines, the African penguin is now critically endangered, facing extinction.
But there is hope. A collective of sustainable, purpose-driven brands is stepping up to support the fight to save the African Penguin, and through your purchases, you can help raise critical awareness and funds for their conservation.
The Fight
The statistics are staggering. Over the past decade, the African penguin population has plummeted by 97%. Fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remain in the wild, their survival threatened primarily by human-driven pressures: overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.
These seabirds, instantly recognisable in their black-and-white “tuxedos,” are more than just charming coastal residents. They are icons of South Africa’s natural heritage and vital indicators of ocean health. Their recent reclassification to “critically endangered” is not just a change in status; it is a call for urgent, united action across conservationists, communities, businesses, and individuals.
How To Make a Difference
These products celebrate the beauty of the African penguin while directly contributing to conservation and community upliftment.
Sharon B
These design lifestyle products capture moments inspired by the beautiful abundance of South Africa’s natural fauna and flora, the African Penguin and our wild coastline waters.
Whimsical Collection
Reduce, reuse, and recycle with environmentally friendly shopper bags made from PET bottles into recycled fabric. This proudly SA company celebrates everything fun and whimsical about our African wildlife.
Envirokid
Support local handmade toys like classic wooden pull-along African Penguin toys by Envirokid. All handmade in Cape Town, they strive to use raw, environmentally conscious materials – their ethos is all about fun, education, and promoting learning about nature, development of skills, and new traditions.
Recycled Flip Flop Studio
Sustainable Art through innovation is showcased by a Cape Town-based studio Recycled Flip Flop Studio, founded by Davis Ndungu, who recycles discarded flip flops into African Penguin sculptures.
Waddle On
Socks hatched in Cape Town- by Waddle On Socks are the ultimate gift for penguin lovers and funky sock collectors alike. Lovingly designed and inspired by founder Martine Viljoen’s years of working with their real-life waddling counterparts, a portion of all proceeds is donated to SANCCOB.
Birdlife SA
Shop for the Birds! These bracelets are all handmade by members of the Ocean View Association for Persons with Disabilities. For every bracelet sold, a portion of the proceeds goes to the Save our Penguins Fund.
Relate
Each beaded bracelet by Relate is hand-beaded by seniors in South African townships, providing vital income for artisans while raising funds to protect the African Penguin.
African Creative
When you purchase an African Penguin plush toy from the African Creative range, a portion of the proceeds directly supports seabird rehabilitation at SANCCOB. This critical work aims to reverse the penguins’ decline and protect the broader biodiversity essential for our planet’s future.
Geneva, Switzerland, 04 February 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-“When I heard the town crier announce that health workers were coming for free screening, I felt afraid: if they told me I had the disease, how would I get treated? But I thought of my children and decided to go,” says Awa, 48, a mother of six living in Ipendo, in Burkina Faso’s Centre-West region.
Like Awa, thousands of women in the country have long lived with this concern, given the challenges in accessing health services. Their situation illustrates a major issue: cervical cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers among women in the country.
Before the implementation of WHO’s global strategy to accelerate its elimination, screening coverage was very low—less than 8%—and rural areas were particularly disadvantaged. Women had to travel dozens, sometimes hundreds, of kilometres to reach an equipped centre, often without financial means for transport or care. Trained health professionals were scarce and awareness was almost nonexistent.
To overcome these obstacles, the Burkinabe government took bold measures, explains Dr Nayi Zongo, oncologist, public health physician and coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme (PNLC). “The government adopted a decree making screening and treatment of precancerous lesions free of charge. It also equipped some peripheral health centres and introduced mobile clinics to reach women.”
These mobile clinics have become a symbol of health equity: they travel to villages, farms, markets and even family courtyards. Women no longer need to leave their agricultural or domestic activities to get screened. “Screening is brought closer to communities, allowing women to continue their activities while safeguarding their health,” emphasizes Dr Zongo.
The Burkinabe initiative stands out for its synergy of several strategic approaches: removing financial barriers (free care), overcoming geographic barriers through mobile clinics and mobilizing communities. The country also integrated awareness campaigns through TV and radio spots and popular events like “Pink October” and created a national cancer coalition bringing together civil society, community leaders and the media to generate demand. This comprehensive approach has turned the fight against cervical cancer into a national cause.
WHO’s support was crucial in making this vision a reality. The Organization provided technical assistance for developing national guidelines, trained health professionals in detecting and treating precancerous lesions and supported community mobilization. “WHO stood by us to strengthen our capacities and ensure that every woman, wherever she lives, can access this vital service,” says Dr Zongo.
The results are impressive. In just one year, from October 2024 to September 2025, 468 mobile clinic missions were organized in various localities. These missions raised awareness among nearly 2 million women, conducted over 106 000 screenings, performed 715 removals precancerous lesions and carried out over 100 advanced examinations to confirm diagnoses. These figures are more than statistics: they represent lives saved and families preserved.
For WHO, this success illustrates the power of collaboration. “Burkina Faso shows that with strong political commitment and context-appropriate solutions, it is possible to overcome barriers that once seemed insurmountable,” says Dr Seydou Coulibaly, WHO Representative in Burkina Faso. He stresses the exemplary nature of this initiative in Africa: “Removing financial and geographic obstacles through free care and mobile clinics is an inspiring model for other countries.”
In villages, these efforts translate into real stories. Awa, the mother of six, describes her daily life: “We work in the fields, garden and sell vegetables at the market. When we heard about the screening, I was scared. But other women’s testimonies convinced me. On the day of the test, the health workers explained every step. When the result came back negative, I felt great relief. Today, I advise all women to get screened. If the disease is detected early, treatment is easier,” she says confidently.
For many women like Awa, these mobile clinics represent much more than a medical service: they often provide the very first opportunity to hear about cervical cancer, understand the risks, and learn that it can be prevented. This initial information is a decisive step, as it opens the door to prevention and care.
Beyond health, this initiative touches on dignity, social justice, and the future of families. Every mobile clinic that arrives in a village carries a message: health is a right, not a privilege. And in Burkina Faso, that right is becoming a reality.
Washington, USA, 02 February 2026 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/-The World Bank Group has appointed Johan A. Mistiaen as the new World Bank Group Country Manager for Niger, effective today.
In this role, Mr. Mistiaen will lead the World Bank Group’s engagement in Niger—spanning the World Bank (IBRD and IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)—working closely with the Government of Niger, development partners, the private sector, and civil society towards advancing the country’s development priorities.
“Joining our team, clients, and partners in Niger is a privilege. I look forward to continuing building and enriching our strong partnership with Niger and leverage support from across the World Bank Group to help further the country’s efforts to promote inclusive growth and create more and better jobs,” said Johan A. Mistiaen, World Bank Group Country Manager for Niger.
A Belgian national, Mr. Mistiaen has been with the World Bank Group since 2004, serving in multiple leadership capacities, including as Practice Manager for the Poverty and Equity Global Practice in Western and Central Africa. His prior roles include Program Leader for Equity, Finance, and Institutions (EFI) for both the Kenya Country Management Unit in Nairobi and the Senegal Country Management Unit in Dakar. Mr. Mistiaen holds academic qualifications in biology, economics, and statistics from the University of York (UK) and the University of Maryland (USA). He has contributed to applied economics through publications in journals and edited volumes, focusing on welfare measurement and policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
The World Bank’s (IDA) active portfolio in Niger comprises 23 operations—13 national and 10 regional —totaling about $4.45 billion in commitments, with investments in transport, water, energy, and agriculture, alongside support for governance, human capital, urban and social development, environment, and the digital sectors. IFC’s committed investment portfolio in Niger stands at $50 million, primarily in infrastructure and finance. MIGA has $2 million in exposure in the mobile money sector and indirect exposure through West African Development Bank lending operations.
“It is with profound sadness that we share that on Tuesday afternoon, Jordy Glassner passed away peacefully at her home. She was simply the best,” a statement read via Glassner’s Instagram on Wednesday, January 14.
The statement continued, “In lieu of private messages, we encourage everyone near and far to share any stories, memories, or words about Jordy in the comments. Everyone deserves to know how much she meant to the world. ❤️.”
Alongside the message was a photo of Glassner smiling for the camera while holding her son, Brody.
Users took to the comments section to share their condolences and pay tribute to the podcaster.
“Heartbroken to see this. I followed Jordy’s journey with GBM alongside my dad’s who passed away a year ago. The most awful disease that has stolen the most incredible people from us. Sending love to the family and the friends who I know are like family ❤️,” influencer Hannah Matthew wrote.
Another user added, “Jordy came into my life at 12 years old – she was my best friend’s older sister’s best friend. I was on the sideline watching them go through high school. Jordy felt like an older sister during these pivotal years of my life. I was so jealous of those iconic side bangs …. But most importantly, Jordy’s kindness, confidence, and humor was something I was so lucky to look up to. Sending so much love to all of the people who she loved and loved her.”
In August 2023, Glassner shared that she had been “experiencing episodes of arm weakness and numbness” for several weeks.
“On August 22nd, something felt different – the numbness lingered longer than usual. Call it intuition or a gut feeling, but I knew I had to take it seriously. I decided to go to the ER, just to be safe,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “After a CT scan and an MRI, the unexpected news came – I had a brain tumor. It was a shock, to say the least. But it’s a reminder that our bodies know when something’s not right. Trusting your gut can lead you down the right path.”
Glassner explained that she underwent surgery soon after, noting that “the entire tumor was removed” and she was “recovering well.”
“Each day is a blessing, and this whole journey has made me appreciate life even more,” she wrote. “So, if you ever feel like something’s off, don’t hesitate. Your body might be trying to tell you something. I’m sharing this not to seek sympathy, but to encourage all of us to stay in tune with ourselves. Let’s be thankful for each day and never take our health for granted.”
She concluded, “I couldn’t have survived the last few days without my most amazing village of family and friends supporting me every step along the way. I’ll never be able to verbalize how much I love and appreciate each and every one of you.”
“It was a blow,” Glassner recalled via Instagram of receiving the diagnosis in August 2023. “Not the news we were hoping for. So unlikely for a young, 31 year old woman with no previous health risks or complications. Wednesday was a sad griefy day in my orbit as we let the reality settle in. Tears, cuddles, lots and lots of food and company. And despite it all, I felt more at peace and hopeful than I had since I stepped into the ER. If I’m rare enough to be on this side of the statistics, why can’t I be rare enough to beat the odds?”
She continued, “Thank you from the deepest parts of my heart and soul for wrapping me and my community in love, light and hope. Every message, text, picture, hopeful story… i could only hope everyone can know what it means to feel so deeply cared for. Keep it going, we still need it as I enter this next step 💕.”
NAIROBI, Kenya, 10 December 2025-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-There is a $130 billion annual investment gap hindering the world’s mission to achieve universal access to climate-resilient water and sanitation services by the year 2030, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) reports. In Africa, the gap is estimated at no less than an additional $30 billion annually.
In October 2025, nearly 50 ministerial level delegates worldwide gathered in Madrid at the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting to discuss ways to better integrate water, sanitation, and climate action goals at a governmental level.
For participating African delegates, this was an opportunity to include African perspectives on the global stage ahead of COP30 and the UN 2026 Water Conference. It was also essential to help establish the globe’s five-pillar guidelines.
5 critical Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Climate statistics in Africa calling for critical measures
Priority #1: Embed water, sanitation, hygiene, and climate priorities into national adaptation plans, climate commitments, and development strategies.
In 2018, 71% of African countries were in the medium-low to very low categories of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) implementation, according to a report by UNEP. Fast forward to 2024 and UNEP’s “Progress on implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management” report revealed that none of the African sub-regions are on track to achieve the aspirational global SDG 6.5 target of ‘Very High’ (91-100%) IWRM implementation by 2030.
There lies a critical gap in governance due to these stagnations that isolated sector projects cannot fix. It’s time for nations to move beyond fragmented management and operationalize political and institutional integration.
Ministers must work to embed water, sanitation, and hygiene mandates directly into central national adaptation plans and broader development strategies. Governments have the power to secure the political leverage and institutional coherence required to turn these IWRM metrics around, to accelerate progress and reach the SDG targets.
Inclusive, Rights-Based Services
Priority #2: Use data to identify and reach the most vulnerable populations, children, women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and displaced communities, while promoting transparency and community participation.
As women, girls, and children remain the most vulnerable, these stats are concerning for Africa.
The failure to achieve universal access is a clear indication that broad, generalized interventions are not sufficient. To close this gap and prioritize those suffering most, governments must immediately implement inclusive and rights-based services.
The only way to move beyond these alarming statistics is to use high-quality, disaggregated data to accurately identify, locate, and track the concerned underserved communities and groups of people. This should ensure that future WASH investments are precisely targeted, transparent, and driven by the needs of the most vulnerable.
Resilient Systems and Risk Management
Priority #3: Incorporate climate and environmental risk assessments into planning, and promote nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration.
A September 2025 publication by the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) underlined the direct link between climate change, water scarcity, and displacement on the continent.
The study asserts that 2 million people in East Africa have been displaced due to drought and conflicts, with migration into urban areas straining cities like Nairobi.
In 2024, Earth.org warned that climate change could displace up to 700 million people in Africaby 2030 due to increasing water scarcity and related shocks. With the figure currently standing at 400 million, the High-Level Leaders Compact priority for resilient systems and risk management is legitimately high on the agenda.
To build true resilience against these shocks, leaders must move beyond reactive measures and proactively incorporate climate and environmental risk assessments into all levels of urban planning. Investing in nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration is essential to stabilizing these vulnerable regions.
The approach is straightforward: Address the root environmental degradation driving these migration crises.
Sustainable and Innovative Financing
Priority #4: Mobilize domestic and international resources through green and blue bonds, results-based financing, and public-private partnerships.
According to the World Bank, public-private partnerships account for only 3 percent of total water sector investment in Africa, with state-owned enterprises and public entities providing the remaining 97 percent of investment. This is far below private participation in other infrastructure sectors, underscoring the need for stronger mechanisms to attract and sustain investment in water.
Unlocking greater resources will require improving incentives for investors, strengthening project pipelines, and deploying targeted de-risking instruments that reduce uncertainty while safeguarding public value. Ensuring coherence with the High-Level Leaders Compact on Water Security and Resilience will further help align public and private action.
With these conditions in place, tools such as green and blue bonds, results-based financing, and well-structured public-private partnerships can more effectively expand financing for water security and sanitation systems.
Political Leadership and Accountability
Priority #5: Ensure that water and sanitation remain at the top of global and national policy agendas, including through mutual accountability frameworks such as those facilitated by Sanitation and Water for All (SWA).
Sub-Saharan Africa losesan estimated 5% of its annual GDP due to poor sanitation, lack of water or its contamination. Highlighting the seriousness of the matter and the responsibility of ministers, a preamble statement from the High-Level Leaders Compact on Water Security & Resilience declares:
“We acknowledge that fragmented policies, weak coordination, and insufficient and inefficient financing continue to challenge progress. Addressing these barriers requires strengthened political leadership, inclusive whole-of-government collaboration, inclusive governance, and more predictable and efficient investments that meet the needs of all people, particularly the most vulnerable.”
In the aftermath of the Madrid Commitment on Water Security, Sanitation & Climate Resilience
As the rest of the world, African ministers have pledged to “collaborate with Sanitation and Water for All partnership to track progress through systematic monitoring, aligned with national systems and global frameworks like SDG 6 indicators, broad multi-stakeholder collaboration, and continual adaptive learning.”
The compact produced at the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting has been endorsed by 29 states, more than half of which are African.
Indeed, Burundi, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda and The Gambia joined the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW), the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in the Water and Sanitation Sector (CONIWAS), UNICEF and 14 other organizations in endorsing and pushing for the implementation of the five global priorities identified in the High-Level Leaders Compact on Water Security & Resilience.
The door remains open for more governments to join this compact and express their serious intention to achieve sanitation and water security as well as resilience which is needed for healthy populations, economic development, and environmental sustainability
For 15 years, the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, hosted by UNICEF, has united governments, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to advance the human rights to water and sanitation for all. With over 500 partners worldwide, SWA drives political commitment, strengthens institutions, and promotes accountability to achieve lasting results.
Geneva, Switzerland, 27 November 2025-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-To strengthen health systems and help protect people from economic strain when seeking care, the World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region and the African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) are deepening collaboration to improve how countries measure health spending and monitor financial protection.
By enhancing health data quality, this partnership is helping governments make informed decisions to ensure resources are used where they matter the most, advancing towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
A series of trainings organized by WHO and STATAFRIC are equipping countries with the practical skills to compile and interpret National Health Accounts (NHA) using the System of Health Accounts (SHA 2011) framework. This global standard provides a clear picture of health spending and supports more responsive, people-centred health systems.
To build these skills, a three-day workshop took place in Accra, Ghana, in September 2024. Representatives from 18 Anglophone Member States joined technical experts and international partners to explore how to harmonize health expenditure reporting and improve collaboration between national statistical offices and ministries of health.
Participants discussed global health-spending trends, exchanged country experiences and identified pathways to strengthen institutional coordination, highlighting both shared challenges and opportunities for stronger collaboration to develop harmonized data standards for Africa.
“By speaking a common statistical language, African countries can better understand where and how resources are used and how to channel them to protect their populations,” said Dr José Awong Alene, Head of the Statistical Systems Coordination and Innovation Division at STATAFRIC.
Following the Accra workshop, a second sub-regional training convened in Dakar, Senegal, from 14 to 17 October 2025. Co-organized with the World Bank, the workshop gathered experts from 25 francophone countries to strengthen skills in monitoring financial protection in health, including analysing household survey data to identify when health costs become a barrier to care.
Using STATA, a software that helps analyse large sets of data, the groups reflected on what the numbers reflect about access to care. Real examples and policy discussions underscored how clearer and disaggregated data can help countries understand who is most at risk of financial hardship and use this information to support more equitable health decisions.
“In Africa, millions of families still face financial hardship due to health spending. Reliable, comparable data are essential to guide policies that ensure no one is left behind,” noted Dr Mady Ba, Head of Emergencies at the WHO Office in Senegal.
In 2026, the collaboration will expand with two additional workshops for francophone and anglophone countries. These sessions aim to help countries translate stronger data into stronger policies, reinforcing the connection between health financing information, policy and action. This initiative aligns with the African Union’s Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2) and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, while supporting progress towards SDG 3.8 on universal health coverage and financial protection.
“Reliable data are the backbone of effective health systems. Through this collaboration with STATAFRIC, we are empowering countries to produce and use credible evidence that drives smarter investments, strengthens accountability and ultimately improves people’s lives,” emphasized Dr Adelheid Werimo Onyango, Director of the Health Systems and Services Cluster, WHO Regional Office for Africa.
This joint effort equips countries with the tools they need to generate trusted, comparable statistics to inform evidence-based decision-making, increase domestic investment in health and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage. It also reflects the One African Approach to Data, bringing regional and global institutions together to ensure every country has the capacity to measure what truly counts: people’s health and well-being.
About STATAFRIC The African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) leads the coordination and harmonization of statistical systems across the continent. It works closely with regional and international organizations to ensure Africa-wide comparability and quality of data for monitoring the Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.
The mother of Ronan Thompson, who inspired Taylor Swift’s track “Ronan,” penned an emotional online tribute to Tatiana Schlossberg.
Maya Thompson, whose blog detailed her late son’s battle with neuroblastoma and moved Swift, 35, to pay her respects through her art in 2012, took to Instagram on Sunday, November 23, to reflect on Schlossberg’s essay for The New Yorker that detailed her own terminal cancer diagnosis.
Maya included a screenshot of the essay, published by the outlet one day prior and serving as the first public reveal of Schlossberg’s diagnosis, alongside a lengthy message to her followers.
“Tatiana is not imagining this pain. She is living inside it. She is trying to memorize the faces of the people she loves. She writes about her son and how she watches him play, trying to hold every detail in her mind,” Maya wrote. “Reading her words brought me back to the hospital nights.” (Schlossberg shares two children with husband George Moran: a 3-year-old son and an 18-month-old daughter.)
Ronan died in May 2011 after suffering Stage 4 neuroblastoma. He was three days away from his fourth birthday.
Schlossberg, 35, who is the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and a cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., revealed in her essay that she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. She has been given one year to live.
Tatiana SchlossbergCraig Barritt/Getty Images for New York Magazine
Maya’s tribute continued, “Never in my life have I cried the way I cried reading this article. When writing tells the truth, it does more than inform. It reaches in and touches something wordless. I paid to read it, and I would pay again. It should be placed gently into the hands of anyone who still believes life arrives with certainty. Anyone who has not yet had their world changed by a single sentence from a doctor. Anyone who has forgotten how sacred a heartbeat really is.”
Maya then wrote of the heartbreaking impact she felt when reading Schlossberg’s words. “But I do not just understand this piece. I live inside it because of Ronan,” her caption read. “My son taught me what it means to love while time is running out. He taught me that hope and fear can live in the same breath. He showed me that memory is something you begin to protect the moment you realize you might outlive the moments you wish could stay. Once you have lived that kind of truth, you no longer look at life the same way. You listen deeper. You hold tighter. You begin to love in a way that doesn’t wait for permission.”
Maya Thompson and Ronan ThompsonCourtesy of Maya Thompson/Instagram
Reflecting on the time she spent with Ronan inside the hospital throughout his illness, Maya recalled, “The hushed voices. The thin blankets. The long shadows across the floor. The way courage sometimes looks like simply staying in the room when your heart wants to run. I felt all of it again. The ache that never really leaves. The quiet kind of love that keeps you breathing even when everything hurts.”
Turning back to Schlossberg, Maya continued, “She writes about her husband sleeping on the hospital floor. She writes about life beginning and ending at once. She writes with clarity and tenderness, like someone who loves this world too much to ever be ready to leave it.”
Taylor SwiftJeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Maya concluded her passage with comments regarding the devastation of such an experience on a family’s life. “This is what illness really is. Not statistics. Not charts. It is someone counting ordinary moments as though they are diamonds. It is someone realizing they might become memories before they are ready,” she wrote. “It is someone whispering the names of the people they love into the night and hoping they will be remembered.”
LAGOS, Nigeria, 29 August 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-In recent years, more and more Nigerians have turned to trading in financial markets as a way to diversify their income and find new opportunities to earn money. With the growing interest in forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, great trading opportunities are attracting both novice investors and experienced market participants.
However, the reality is sobering and contrary to expectations, because statistics show that the majority of traders lose money. This applies not only to beginners, but also to experienced traders who fail to adapt to the constantly changing market conditions. Understanding the reasons for losses and mistakes, such as CFD trading risks, can be the first step to building a sustainable growth strategy. The trader should consider whether they understand how CFDs work and whether they can afford to take the high risk of losing money. To ensure that you fully understand the risks associated with margin trading, you can explore the Risk Disclosure info of such brokers as JustMarkets.
Why most Nigerian traders lose their deposits
1. Frugal trading and lack of discipline
Many traders enter the markets without clear rules, allowing emotions and financial pressure to dictate their decisions. “Frugal trading” is the tendency to trade based on immediate personal financial needs rather than a sound trading framework. This approach often results in forced trades with low risk/reward ratios. When traders feel pressured to “make money today” to cover bills or obligations, discipline becomes secondary, and market noise and volatility begin to seem like a distant opportunity to make money.
2. Not having a trading plan and blindly following signals
A trading plan defines which markets to trade, entry and exit rules, risk per trade, and maximum daily loss limit. Without one, traders act reactively, jumping from one trading framework to another based on social media posts, chat room tips, or unverified advice from other traders. Blindly following these signals without understanding basic analysis and evaluating the signals yourself is one of the fastest ways to lose capital.
3. Lack of knowledge and understanding of market mechanics
The market is influenced by economic data, geopolitical events, interest rate changes, investor sentiment, and liquidity flows. Many traders do not understand how these factors interact. For example, not knowing how a central bank interest rate announcement affects currency volatility can lead to entering positions at the most dangerous times. Without this basic knowledge, traders are essentially gambling rather than engaging in real, thoughtful trading.
4. Overconfidence and lack of clear trading objectives
Success in a few trades often breeds overconfidence, even among experienced traders. Traders increase position sizes without adjusting their strategy, take unnecessary risks, or ignore stop-loss rules. Likewise, the lack of specific daily, weekly, or monthly goals makes it impossible to measure progress or maintain a consistent approach. Over time, the lack of structure undermines discipline and leads to significant drawdowns. Without a clear trading plan, even deep technical knowledge and extensive experience may not be enough for long-term success.
How to try mitigate risks
Despite all the dynamism and unpredictability of the financial markets, a small percentage of traders consistently grow their accounts. They treat trading as a business, not as a hobby or a quick-money machine. These traders are distinguished by careful risk management, constant learning, and the ability to adapt.
But two components that are indispensable on the path to long-term success are iron discipline and patience:
Iron discipline
In trading, discipline means sticking to your plan regardless of ups and downs, losses, market conditions, and personal life. It involves strictly adhering to predetermined entry, exit, and position sizing rules. For example, if your plan states that you only risk 1% of your deposit per trade, you stick to this rule even after a series of profitable trades tempts you to “step on the gas.”
Iron discipline protects traders from impulsive decisions dictated by fear or greed. This includes:
Adhering to stop-loss levels. Experienced traders never move their stop-loss levels too far to avoid taking an excessive loss.
Avoiding revenge trading. Resisting the urge to jump in after a loss to “cash back” when the necessary setup is not available.
Following a schedule. Only trade during certain hours and in markets where your strategy has the highest probability of success.
In practice, disciplined traders often make fewer trades than their undisciplined counterparts, but their trades are of higher quality and better aligned with their system. Over time, discipline develops into consistency, and consistency leads to profitability.
Patience
Patience in trading means waiting for the right situation, rather than forcing a trade because “the market is moving.” It also means allowing trades to close out according to analysis, rather than closing them prematurely out of fear or excitement.
Successful traders understand that sometimes it is better not to trade. They wait for conditions that match the criteria of their strategy rather than chasing every price move. This patience extends to the big picture, knowing that significant account growth is the result of hundreds of well-executed trades over months and years, not days.
Patience is also essential in the learning process. Mastering a trading strategy, understanding market behavior, and refining a psychological approach takes time. Those who rush to “get it done” without putting in the necessary hours of practice almost always make a critical mistake.
The Path Forward for the Nigerian Trader
Trading offers Nigerians a way to diversify their income beyond a traditional job or small business. The potential rewards are real, but so are the risks.
To move from a losing majority to a winning minority, traders need to:
Develop and follow a structured trading plan.
Invest time in learning market fundamentals and technical analysis from reliable education materials of such brokers as JustMarkets.
Keep your risk per trade small and consistent.
Avoid making emotional decisions under financial pressure.
Focus on developing iron discipline and patience as daily habits.
In financial markets, capital preservation is the foundation of growth. Those who protect their account balance through disciplined risk management have the time and opportunity to let profitable setups work to their advantage.
Successful traders do not chase every price move. They are the people who have the discipline and patience to enter the market when their strategy will bring the most benefit, and those who step aside when conditions are unclear.
JustMarkets is a globally recognized multi-asset broker providing reliable and transparent trading services since 2012. The company has earned over 60 industry awards, highlighting its excellence in the financial sector. JustMarkets offers a diverse array of trading instruments, including forex, stocks, commodities, indices, metals, energies, and cryptocurrencies, serving clients in over 160 countries.
The company is renowned for its competitive pricing, featuring low spreads and zero commissions. JustMarkets caters to both new and experienced traders by providing a wide range of services designed to enhance their trading experience.
Days before South Africa’s president meets his U.S. counterpart at the White House this week, Afrikaner farmers at the center of an extraordinary new U.S. refugee policy roamed a memorial to farm attacks in their country’s agricultural heartland, some touching the names of the dead – both Black and white.
Here in Bothaville, where thousands of farmers gathered for a lively agricultural fair with everything from grains to guns on display, even some conservative white Afrikaner groups debunked the Trump administration’s “genocide” and land seizure claims that led it to cut all financial aid to South Africa.
The bustling scene was business as usual, with milkshakes and burgers and tow-headed children pulled in wagons.
The late President Nelson Mandela – South Africa’s first Black leader — stood in Bothaville over a quarter-century ago and acknowledged the increasing violent attacks on farmers in the first years following the decades-long system of apartheid. “But the complex problem of crime on our farms, as elsewhere, demand long-term solutions,” he said.
Some at the agricultural fair said fleeing the country isn’t one of them.
“I really hope that during the upcoming visit to Washington, (President Cyril Ramaphosa) is going to be able to put the facts before his counterpart and to demonstrate that there is no mass expropriation of land taking place in South Africa, and there is no genocide taking place,” John Steenhuisen, minister of agriculture, told The Associated Press. He will be part of the delegation for Wednesday’s meeting.
The minority white Afrikaner community is in the spotlight after the U.S. granted refugee status to at least 49 of them claiming to flee racial and violent persecution and widespread seizures of white-owned land — despite evidence that such claims are untrue.
While many at the agricultural fair raised serious concerns about the safety of farmers and farm workers, others were quick to point out that crime targeted both Black and white farmers and farm workers, as shown by South Africa’s crime statistics.
Thobani Ntonga, a Black farmer from Eastern Cape province, told the AP he had been attacked on his farm by criminals and almost kidnapped but a Black neighbor intervened.
“Crime affects both Black and white. … It’s an issue of vulnerability,” he said. “Farmers are separated from your general public. We’re not near towns, we are in the rural areas. And I think it’s exactly that. So, perpetrators, they thrive on that, on the fact that farms are isolated.”
Other farmers echoed his thoughts and called for more resources and policing.
“Crime especially hits small-scale farmers worse because they don’t have resources for private security,” said Afrikaner farmer Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt. He and other farmers wondered why they would leave the land where they have been rooted for decades.
Ramaphosa, himself a cattle farmer, also visited the agricultural fair for the first time in about 20 years — to buy equipment but also do outreach as many in South Africa puzzle over the Trump administration’s focus on their country.
“We must not run away from our problems,” the president said during his visit. “When you run away, you’re a coward.”
Applying to be a refugee
The fast-tracking of the Afrikaners’ refugee applications has raised questions about a system where many seeking asylum in the U.S. can languish for years, waiting.
The State Department has not made details of the process public, but one person who has applied to be resettled told the AP the online application process was “rigorous.”
Katia Beeden, a member of an advocacy group established to assist white South Africans seeking resettlement, said applicants have to go through at least three online interviews and answer questions about their health and criminal background.
They are also required to submit information or proof of being persecuted in South Africa, she said. She said she has been robbed in her house, with robbers locking her in her bedroom.
“They’ve already warned that you can’t lie or hide anything from them. So it’s quite a thorough process and not everyone is guaranteed,” she said.
By the numbers
Violent crime is rife in South Africa, but experts say the vast majority of victims are Black and poor. Police statistics show that up to 75 people are killed daily across the country.
Afrikaner agriculture union TLU SA says it believes farmers are more susceptible to such attacks because of their isolation.
Twelve murders occurred on farms in 2024, police statistics show. One of those killed was a farmer. The rest were farm workers, people staying on farms and a security guard. The data don’t reflect the victims’ race.
Overall across South Africa last year, 6,953 people were killed.
Government data also show that white farmers own the vast majority of South Africa’s farmland — 80% of it, according to the 2017 census of commercial agriculture, which recorded over 40,000 white farmers.
That data, however, only reflects farmers who have revenue of $55,396 a year, which excludes many small-scale farmers, the majority of them Black.
Overall, the white minority — just 7% of the population is white — still owns the vast majority of the land in South Africa, which the World Bank has called “the most unequal country in the world.”
According to the 2017 government land audit, white South Africans hold about 72% of individually owned land — while Black South Africans own 15%.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on the long-term health repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in its newly released World Health Statistics Report 2025. The report reveals a staggering decline in global life expectancy, which dropped by 1.8 years between 2019 and 2021 – the sharpest fall in recent history, effectively reversing a decade of health gains.
The pandemic’s toll extended beyond direct mortality. Increased levels of anxiety and depression during the crisis shaved six weeks off the global healthy life expectancy, offsetting progress previously made in combating noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
“The 2025 World Health Statistics report shows that the world is failing in its annual health checkup,” said Samira Asma, WHO Director of Data Analytics and Delivery for Impact. “But countries have shown that rapid progress is possible. What we really need to do is to recommit to the world with timely, reliable data where programmes are continuously improving and premature deaths become rare.”
Mixed Progress Towards WHO’s Global Health Goals
The report highlights mixed results in achieving WHO’s Triple Billion targets. While an estimated 1.4 billion more people were living healthier lives by the end of 2024 – surpassing the goal of one billion – progress in other key areas lagged behind.
Only 431 million additional people gained access to essential health services without financial hardship, far from the target. Additionally, just 637 million more people were better protected from health emergencies, underscoring significant shortfalls in resilience and preparedness.
Maternal and child health gains have also stalled. While maternal deaths dropped by over 40% and under-5 child mortality was halved between 2000 and 2023, recent years have seen this progress plateau. The WHO warns that without urgent action, the world could miss the chance to prevent an additional 700,000 maternal deaths and 8 million child deaths between 2024 and 2030.
NCDs on the Rise, Premature Deaths Escalate
Noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke, now account for more than half of deaths in people under 70.
“Mortality rates have improved in that age group, but the number of deaths due to NCDs has increased,” noted Haidong Wang, Acting Director of WHO’s Department of Data and Analytics. “Tobacco use remains a major factor, and although alcohol consumption has decreased in some regions, progress has stalled in others. Poor management of hypertension and diabetes, along with persistent air pollution, continues to endanger global health.”
The world is currently off track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature NCD mortality by one third by 2030.
Key Challenges Undermining Health Progress
The WHO points to several compounding factors undermining global health efforts:
A projected shortfall of 11.1 million health workers by 2030, with the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions bearing nearly 70% of the gap.
Resurgence of malaria since 2015 and ongoing challenges with antimicrobial resistance.
Incomplete recovery in childhood vaccination rates, with coverage yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
A persistent burden from air pollution, malnutrition, and unsafe living conditions.
Furthermore, recent disruptions in international aid threaten to destabilize progress, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO is calling for sustained and predictable financing from both domestic and global sources to safeguard hard-won health gains and address emerging threats.
Despite the grim findings, the report also offers signs of hope: tobacco use continues to decline globally, and alcohol consumption fell from 5.7 to 5.0 litres per capita between 2010 and 2022. Improvements in air quality, access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene have contributed to healthier living conditions for millions.
The WHO urges urgent and coordinated global action to correct course and reignite progress toward 2030 health targets.
