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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, Business, Technology

Truecaller Partners with AnyMind Group to Expand Direct Sales Footprint Across MENA and Southeast Asia

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CASSABLANCA, Morocco, 27 February 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, today announced a strategic direct sales reseller partnership with AnyMind Group, a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating the growth of Truecaller’s direct advertising business across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) regions.

Under this partnership, AnyMind Group will serve as the exclusive intermediary for Truecaller’s advertising inventory across Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The scope of the partnership is focused specifically on enabling brands and agencies to leverage Truecaller’s premium ad formats to reach highly engaged, high-intent users through relevant, data-driven advertising solutions.

With a strong on-ground presence and established relationships with leading advertisers and agencies across MENA and SEA markets, AnyMind Group brings deep regional expertise that will support the scaling of Truecaller’s advertising footprint locally. The partnership is designed to empower brands with impactful placements on Truecaller’s trusted communications platform, helping drive meaningful engagement with users in these fast-growing digital economies.

Truecaller continues to see strong user adoption across MENA and Southeast Asia, presenting advertisers with significant opportunities to connect with audiences in trusted, brand-safe environments. By combining Truecaller’s global scale, proprietary data capabilities, and premium ad formats with AnyMind Group’s local market leadership and execution strength, the partnership aims to unlock the full monetization potential of Truecaller’s ad inventory in these regions.

Commenting on the partnership, Hemant Arora, Vice President & Global Head Truecaller Ads Business, said: “As Truecaller continues to expand its global advertising business, partnerships with strong regional players like AnyMind Group are critical to delivering localized expertise and measurable outcomes for advertisers. MENA and Southeast Asia represent high-growth markets with evolving digital maturity, and through this collaboration, we aim to bring brands closer to consumers via trusted and contextual communication experiences on our platform.”

Aditya Aima, Managing Director, Growth Markets; Co-MD, India and MENA from AnyMind Group added: “We are excited to partner with Truecaller to open its inventory to brands across MENA and Southeast Asia. With Truecaller’s scale and trusted user ecosystem, combined with our market depth and networks, we see strong potential to drive more relevant, high-impact advertising outcomes for advertisers looking to deepen engagement in these dynamic markets.”

This collaboration marks an important milestone in Truecaller’s broader international expansion strategy, focused on building strong local partnerships to deliver measurable value to advertisers while driving sustainable revenue growth across emerging markets.

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

About AnyMind Group
Founded in April 2016, AnyMind Group [TSE:5027] is a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The company provides end-to- end offerings to brands and businesses, publishers and influencers for digital commerce, marketing, logistics, customer engagement, data and AI utilization, publisher monetization and creator monetization. AnyMind Group has over 2,000 staff across 24 offices in 15 markets, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.

As of September 2025, the company serves over 1,000 enterprises for marketing, 190+enterprises for e-commerce, 1,800+ publishers and 2,100+ creators. More information is available on the company’s investor disclosure site.

About Truecaller and Truecaller Ads
Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 450 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company has been headquartered in Stockholm since 2009 and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. Advertising is the primary revenue stream for Truecaller. Truecaller Ads serves 5 billion impressions every day and is trusted by over 10,000 brands. Visit https://advertisers.truecaller.com  for more information.

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AMA, Business, Technology

Sage Intacct Introduces Intelligent AI-driven Automation for mid-sized businesses in Kenya

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Less manual work, smarter, AI-powered financial control, and a future-ready platform designed to scale with Kenyan businesses.

NAIROBI, Kenya, 12 February 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), has launched Sage Intacct in Kenya. The launch marks a significant step forward in how mid-sized businesses can operate, by bringing intelligent, AI-powered financial management that delivers real-time visibility and data-driven insights.

Sage Intacct is a cloud-native, AI-enabled financial management platform built to help growing organisations modernise and automate their finance operations. By embedding intelligence across core financial processes, it enables finance teams to move beyond manual tasks and focus on strategic decision-making. Key capabilities include multi-entity consolidation, real-time dashboards and reporting, and intelligent automation of workflows across core accounting functions like orders, purchasing, and cash management. Built for scalability, Sage Intacct supports complex, global operations with multi-currency, multi-entity structures and integrates seamlessly with other business systems through open APIs.

Key features and benefits of Sage Intacct include:

  • Making informed decisions: AI-powered dashboards and real-time reporting give finance teams and business leaders instant visibility into trusted financial data to help them make better, data-driven decisions.
  • Intelligent Automation of finance operations: Finance teams will no longer need to manage tedious spreadsheet tasks and manual data entry, helping save time and reducing errors.
  • Scalable innovation for growing businesses: Built on a cloud-native, future-ready architecture, Sage Intacct scales effortlessly as businesses grow, allowing them to add new capabilities and innovate without disruptions.
  • Enhanced accuracy through intelligent finance: Finance teams can easily harness the power of intelligent automation to automate processes like outlier detection and smart rules for bank reconciliation, thereby improving data accuracy and identifying potential risks or fraud.
  • Seamless integration: Finance teams can easily integrate Sage Intacct with other applications using its open architecture and library of APIs.
  • Multi-entity insights: Empowers growing multi-entity businesses with valuable insights for clarity and enhanced efficiency.

Jordaan Burger, Managing Director, Sage Africa & Middle East

Jordaan Burger, Managing Director for Sage AME, says, “At Sage, innovation is driven by our customers’ needs. Launching Sage Intacct in Kenya reflects our commitment to supporting the country’s growing community of SMBs and mid-market organisations with intelligent, AI-powered financial technology as they accelerate their digital transformation journeys. As one of Africa’s fastest-growing technology and innovation hubs, Kenya continues to set the pace as today’s finance leaders need real-time insights, intelligent automation, and scalable cloud platforms to keep up with that momentum.”

Darius Bester ACMA/CGMA, Senior Accountant, Q4 Fuel (Pty) Ltd says, “As Q4 Fuel scaled into a complex, multi-entity operation, our legacy systems could no longer keep up. Sage Intacct has transformed how we run finance across the group, giving us real-time visibility across all 28 entities, stronger control over assets and compliance, and faster, more reliable reporting. We’ve cut month-end close by up to 10 days, reduced invoice processing from a full day to just a few hours and continue to see 10–20% month-on-month efficiency gains. By integrating directly with our POS and operational systems, we’ve eliminated manual imports and improved data integrity, allowing our finance team to focus on higher-value work like inventory and margin analysis.”

As innovation continues to move at pace, Sage has an exciting roadmap for AI features that will unlock faster decision-making and give finance leaders more time to focus on impact. Sage is committed to bringing the best new technology to Kenya and the rest of Africa.

Gerhard Hartman, Vice President for Medium Business, Sage Africa & Middle East concludes: “Kenya’s Digital Economy  Blueprint and the  National AI Strategy 2025-2030, clearly signal the country’s ambition to harness AI and automation to transform critical sectors such as agriculture, fintech, public services, and innovation-led entrepreneurship. As digital transformation accelerates, businesses across Kenya are moving beyond legacy systems and embracing intelligent, cloud-based platforms. Sage Intacct is purpose-built for this moment, helping organisations not only automate and streamline financial operations, but also unlock the insight, agility, and innovation needed to lead in Kenya’s next phase of economic growth. Through intelligent automation and real-time financial insights, Sage Intacct enables finance teams in a digital-first economy.”

Following successful launches in South Africa, the UAE and other SADC countries, Sage Intacct will be brought to Kenya through certified business partners offering deep expertise in specific vertical markets.

Visit Sage Intacct Financial Management Software | Sage Kenya for more information.

Editor’s notes

Sage Intacct success stories
Sage has built a strong base of Sage Intacct clients in South Africa since launching the solution in 2020, including Wild Eye, Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund, ATKV, and Retail Capital, to name a few.

Find out how customers are using Sage Intacct to drive better business outcomes on our Customer Success Stories page.

  • Sage Intacct helped Q4 Fuel overcome manual processes, achieve a 10-day faster month-end close, and shift finance from reporting to strategy.
  • Sage Intacct gives Wild Eye the structure and visibility to make confident decisions as it grows.
  • Sage Intacct has elevated LPFF’s operational excellence and enabled it to navigate the complex and evolving legal and regulatory landscape.
  • Sage Intacct enhanced ATKV’s communication and standardised processes, enabling real-time access to information from any device.
  • Sage Intacct enabled Retail Capital’s transactions to be 99% automated.

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

About Sage
Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses served by us, our partners, and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR, and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitising business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology, and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality, and the climate crisis.

Sage Intacct is currently available to customers in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, the UAE, some SADC countries and South Africa.

Find out more: www.sage.com/en-ke/

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AMA, Business, Education, Technology

Yango Group releases its inaugural Impact Report, highlighting $4B earned by partners and growing investments in STEM talents.

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DUBAI, UAE, 22 December 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Yango Group today published its inaugural Impact Report, a comprehensive overview of the company’s social, economic, and environmental contributions across more than 30 countries. The report introduces a long-term framework for how Yango measures and communicates its value as a global technology company rooted in emerging markets.

The publication reflects Yango’s evolution from a ride-hailing service launched in 2018 into a multi-service digital ecosystem used daily by millions of people. The report outlines how Yango’s technology enables local entrepreneurship, expands earning opportunities for partner drivers and couriers, and supports the development of the skilled workforce needed for future digital cities.

Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group, described the report as a significant milestone for the company. “As we continue expanding globally, we are committed to scaling not only our technology, but also our positive impact on communities, local economies, and future generations. Our goal is to help build the digital cities and digital opportunities of tomorrow — together with the countries we serve,” he said.

Empowering local partners: $4B Earned last year

According to the report, partner drivers and couriers working with Yango services earned more than USD 4 billion in 2024. Yango’s partner network now includes 6,000 businesses, 2.1 million registered partner drivers, and 600,000 partner couriers. In the delivery segment, 40% of users are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that rely on Yango’s infrastructure to reach customers and scale their operations. These dynamics position Yango as an important contributor to economic activity and entrepreneurship across Africa and other emerging markets.

Strengthening local economies through technology

The report also details how Yango’s technology supports urban development and digital commerce. In Côte d’Ivoire, the company is piloting electric mobility initiatives that help reduce emissions and modernize transport infrastructure. Across markets, services such as Yango Buy & Sell enable small merchants to increase visibility and customer trust, reinforcing their participation in digital commerce. Meanwhile, Yango Food Delivery continues to broaden access to local restaurants and everyday essentials, stimulating consumer activity while creating flexible earning opportunities for couriers.

Investing in STEM: preparing talent for the cities of tomorrow

A major focus of the report is Yango’s investment in STEM education and digital skills training, implemented through 4 flagship initiatives that equip young people with the capabilities needed in fast-growing digital economies. The first of these initiatives is the Yango Fellowship, launched in Zambia to support outstanding STEM students with full financial assistance, mentorship, and practical workshops. The Fellowship expanded to Côte d’Ivoire in early 2025, opening new pathways for young innovators. Alongside the Fellowship, Yango has strengthened hands-on learning through mobility and smart-city hackathons, which brought together more than 800 participants across 6 African countries. These events helped learners build applied skills in data science, machine learning, and urban innovation. To broaden access to foundational digital knowledge, Yango also offered free SQL data analysis courses, completed by more than 2,000 learners in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Zambia. These courses provided essential data literacy for careers in technology-driven sectors. In Cameroon, Yango supported the Technovation Challenge, enabling 100 girls to develop technology and entrepreneurship projects under the guidance of local mentors. The initiative reinforces Yango’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young women in STEM. Together, these programs illustrate Yango’s long-term vision to help prepare young people across Africa to participate in and shape the digital cities of tomorrow.

Community investment and cultural inclusion

Beyond technology and education, the report highlights Yango Group’s community initiatives across Africa, including digital inclusion programs for visually impaired students in Angola, support for youth football academies in Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia, and public art projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These efforts reflect Yango’s belief that technological progress should advance alongside social inclusion and cultural preservation.

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

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AMA, Business, Technology

Changan Automobile and Yango Group forge a strategic partnership to drive smart mobility across Africa and the Middle East.

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Dubai, UAE, 10 November 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ Changan Automobile has announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with Yango Group, a UAE-based technology company, marking a new milestone in Changan’s ongoing expansion across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The signing ceremony took place at Changan’s Middle East and Africa headquarters, bringing together senior executives from both organisations. 

The event was attended by Li Mingcai, Executive Vice President of Changan Automobile, Fu Yuanhong, Chief Representative of the Middle East and Africa Business Division, Xiao Feng, General Manager of the Business Division, and Yin Tong, Deputy General Manager of the Business Division, as well as Mr Bolat, Senior Vice President of Mobility Business at Yango Group, accompanied by a company delegation.

Through this agreement Yango Motors, the automotive business part of Yango Group dedicated to making vehicles more accessible, will serve as an official distributor of Changan vehicles, starting in Côte d’Ivoire with plans to expand to other markets across Africa. The partnership will supply reliable and durable cars tailored to the needs of African ride-hailing markets, aiming to elevate the travel experience for local consumers while driving the growth of sustainable mobility across the region.

“Our partnership with Yango Group is part of our long-term commitment to empowering global partners and accelerating intelligent mobility development across emerging markets”, said Xiao Feng, General Manager of Changan’s Middle East and Africa Business Division. “Combining Changan’s advanced technologies with Yango’s extensive mobility network allows us to fulfill our aim to deliver greater value and an enhanced travel experience to users across the region”.

The partnership reflects Yango Group’s continued investment in developing advanced mobility ecosystems across Africa and the Middle East. As part of its global expansion strategy, Yango aims to collaborate with leading automotive brands to enhance the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of ride-hailing and car-sharing experiences in Africa and the Middle East.

“We are proud to join forces with Changan Automobile to accelerate the evolution of smart, sustainable mobility across the MEA region,” said Mr Bolat, Senior Vice President of Mobility Business at Yango Group. “Through our technology, data insights, and vast user network, we aim to help shape the next generation of ride-hailing experiences; improving accessibility, safety, and environmental impact for millions of users. At the same time, we are committed to elevating fleet quality, empowering local businesses, and supporting our partner’s drivers to deliver a consistently better experience for everyone.”

As one of the world’s largest ride-hailing platforms, Yango Ride, part of the global tech company Yango Group, operates across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America, making over 1.2 billion trips globally and supporting 2.1 million active registered drivers.

This partnership marks a transition from single-model procurement to multi-model business integration and joint brand promotion, injecting new momentum into the development of regional smart mobility ecosystems. Building on this foundation, both companies aim to expand their collaboration to new markets across the MEA region, offering consumers smarter, safer, and more sustainable mobility solutions.

Through close collaboration with Yango Group, Changan Automobile will provide ride-hailing customers across the Middle East and Africa with efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly travel options, contributing to greener, smarter urban mobility and a more connected future.

This partnership exemplifies a win-win model of resource sharing and complementary strengths, reinforcing how Chinese automotive brands are deepening their integration into the Middle East and Africa’s mobility ecosystem—driving innovation, sustainability, and growth across the region—while continuing to create long-term value in international markets.

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

About Changan Automobile 

With its CHANGAN, DEEPAL and AVATR, Changan Automobile is one of the “Big Four” Chinese automakers. It has 39 production facilities in 14 production bases around the world. It’s global R&D network connects 10 cities in six countries (Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Dingzhou and Hefei in China, Turin in Italy, Yokohama in Japan, Birmingham in the UK, Detroit in the US, and Munich in Germany), and brings together the talents of more than 18,000 engineers from 31 countries and regions. It has had a presence in the Middle East and Africa market since 1994, with cumulative sales of 400,000 units. To further expand its global footprint, in 2023 the company launched its Vast Ocean Plan. With a mission to “lead auto culture and benefit human life”, Changan is transforming itself into an intelligent, low-carbon mobility tech company that contributes to society and meets people’s needs for a better life. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.globalchangan.com/

About Yango Group

Yango Group is a tech company that transforms global technologies into everyday services tailored for local communities. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, the company reshapes and enhances leading cutting-edge technologies from around the world into seamlessly integrated daily services for diverse regions. The mission is to bridge the gap between world-leading innovations and local communities, fostering connections and enhancing everyday living experiences.

The post Changan Automobile and Yango Group forge a strategic partnership to drive smart mobility across Africa and the Middle East. appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Business

Yango Group announces strategic investment in the Kenyan fintech platform Zanifu to boost SME growth in Africa

MaraviPost

NAIROBI, Kenya, 13 October 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Yango Group, a UAE-based tech company, has announced a new investment in Zanifu, a leading Kenyan fintech platform that provides access to working capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In addition to funding, Yango Group will support Zanifu in shaping its long-term business structure and growth strategy — drawing on the Group’s operational experience across more than 30 markets. The investment underscores Yango’s commitment to supporting the growth of high-potential startups in Africa.

Zanifu has established itself as a vital enabler for small businesses by offering embedded lending solutions that help SMEs purchase inventory, manage cash flow, and scale sustainably. The company has already financed 15,000 SMEs, disbursing tens of millions of dollars in loans, and continues to demonstrate the transformative role of fintech in empowering local economies.

“Zanifu is working on exactly what we care about — building tools that help other businesses grow. By giving thousands of SMEs real access to capital, the team is enabling them to expand and succeed. We’re excited to bring our experience and expertise to help scale a business that’s delivering real impact to local communities.” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group.

The investment was made through Yango Ventures, a corporate venture fund that was launched earlier this year with an initial $20 million fund targeting early-stage startups across Africa, LATAM, and MENAP. The fund focuses on high-growth sectors such as O2O services, B2B SaaS, and FinTech, offering not just investment but also access to Yango’s global expertise, networks, and operational support.

The Zanifu investment marks a significant step for Yango Ventures, strengthening its role as a catalyst for innovation and economic empowerment in Africa’s dynamic startup ecosystem.

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

The post Yango Group announces strategic investment in the Kenyan fintech platform Zanifu to boost SME growth in Africa appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Technology

Huawei Releases “R.I.S.E” National Government Cloud Reference Architecture

MaraviPost

SHANGHAI, China, September 23, 2025 /African Media Agency (AMA)/ – At the 2025 Global Public Sector Cloud & AI Summit, Huawei officially released the “R.I.S.E” National Government Cloud reference architecture, accelerating the nation’s intelligent transformation.

Huawei Solutions Target Challenges in Public Services

Li Junfeng (Wind), Vice President of Huawei and CEO of the Global Public Sector BU

In his speech, Li Junfeng (Wind), Vice President of Huawei and CEO of the Global Public Sector BU, said that driven by cloud and AI, Huawei has built a centralized, efficient, and secure cloud foundation that supports intelligent transformation of government and public services, while supporting data aggregation, processing, and value extraction.

Shan Zhiguang, Director of the Informatization and Industry Development Dept, State Information Center, highlighted China’s ICT-driven transformation as a valuable model for global smart governance.

Representatives from DPO (Hong Kong), CCK (Tunisia), Ankabut (UAE), and AIPMC (Huadu, Guangdong) also delivered speeches at the event.

At the summit, Mr. Hong-Eng Koh, Chief Scientist of Huawei Global Public Sector BU, unveiled the “R.I.S.E” reference architecture for National Government Cloud, which involves four solutions:

  1. Resilient & Reliable Infrastructure: The National Government Cloud provides a resilient and reliable cloud infrastructure, ensuring data security and stable operation of critical applications.
  2. Secure & Sovereign: To address challenges of national digital self-reliant security, Huawei offers multiple deployment models (e.g. public cloud, full-stack dedicated cloud, and Huawei Cloud Stack). Through a unified architecture, synchronized technologies, and a shared ecosystem, these solutions support secure and reliable data storage, flow, and utilization.
  3. Innovative & AI Ready: The architecture builds three effectiveness platforms for applications, data, and AI to achieve efficient supply and use of high-quality data. Huawei provides government-specific intelligent agents and digital IDs as core capabilities of the digital public platform layer, supporting upper-layer government applications.
  4. Enriched Ecosystem: Huawei has partnered with over 100 ecosystem players across government and public sectors, helping countries accelerate digital and intelligent transformation of public services.

Huawei continues to invest in innovation, committed to delivering comprehensive solutions that address critical needs of digital and intelligent transformation in public services. Leveraging the powerful cloud-AI synergy, Huawei helps tackle key challenges. The release of the National Government Cloud reference architecture marks the beginning of a new era of “intelligent collaboration” in public service delivery.

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to deepen cloud-AI integration, driving high-quality development in the new era.

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of Huawei.

Media Contact: 

hwebgcomms@huawei.com

The post Huawei Releases “R.I.S.E” National Government Cloud Reference Architecture appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Business

Empowering Africa’s Digital Future: Yango Leaders To Join Market Expansion, Policy and Innovation Dialogues at Tech Safari Summit 2025

MaraviPost

NAIROBI, Kenya, 11 September 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Yango Group, a UAE-based technology company will participate as a Brand Partner in the Tech Safari Summit 2025, taking place on September 11 in Nairobi. This leading event brings together business leaders from international technology companies alongside regulators, local partners and experts with recognized expertise in regional expansion. The event addresses the concrete challenges of technological expansion in Africa: regulation, talent recruitment, reliable partnerships, distribution and payment systems.

Strategic participation at the heart of African issues

Yango Group’s participation in the summit is structured around two key interventions. Zanyiwe Asare, Vice President and Head of Public Policy for the African region, will speak during the panel dedicated to policy and regulatory expansion. Kadotien Alassane Soro, Regional Director of Yango for Francophone Africa, will participate in discussions on expansion in Francophone Africa.

“The Tech Safari Summit represents an exceptional platform for exchanging with the players who are shaping the technological future of Africa. Our participation reaffirms our long-term commitment to the continent and our willingness to contribute to strategic discussions on sustainable technological expansion in Africa,” said Kadotien Alassane Soro, Regional Director of Yango for Francophone Africa.

Beyond mobility, a global technological vision

Yango has a vast presence in Africa operating in over 13 countries across the region. The company started as a mobility solution later expanding to a robust ecosystem consisting of food & package delivery, mapping, digital payments—reaching millions of users. Its Super App serves as a one-stop platform connecting communities with essential everyday services, while its initiatives like Yango Fellowship support youth empowerment and digital skills development across the continent. Recently the company opened an a regional HQ for Africa in Abidjan, to reaffirm commitment to technological growth and development in Africa.

By joining the Tech Safari Summit, Yango Group seeks to deepen its network with regional and global technology leaders, foster strategic partnerships, and share expertise on the continent’s most pressing digital transformation challenges.

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

About Yango Group

Yango Group is an international tech company headquartered in Dubai, transforming globally sourced technologies into everyday services that are tailored to local communities. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, we reshape and enhance leading cutting-edge technologies from around the world into seamlessly integrated daily services for diverse regions. Our mission is to bridge the gap between leading world innovations and local communities, fostering connections and enhancing everyday living experiences. Yango provides its digital services in various industries, including ride-hailing, delivery, foodtech, entertainment among many others, across 30+ countries in Africa, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, and other regions.

Media Contact:

For more information please contact: pr@yango.com

The post Empowering Africa’s Digital Future: Yango Leaders To Join Market Expansion, Policy and Innovation Dialogues at Tech Safari Summit 2025 appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Business

ETHICORE Group Launches to Redefine Advocacy Across Africa, GCC and Near East

MaraviPost

Cape Town, Nairobi, Dubai, 1st September 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-ETHICORE Political Lobbying, ranked among the Top 10 firms in Africa and the EMEA region for government affairs and advocacy, today announced the launch of the ETHICORE Group and its first international office in Dubai, UAE – marking its expansion into the GCC and Near East.

Founded in 2009 with a single client – still a partner today – ETHICORE has grown into a trusted advisor across 29 African markets. The launch of ETHICORE Group consolidates its pan-African legacy and signals a bold new chapter as a purpose-built, international government affairs firm at the intersection of markets, governments, and society.

The Group’s expertise is anchored in five specialised, wholly owned divisions:

  • ETHICORE East – Advisory focused on Africa, GCC, and Near East market, policy, and regulatory landscapes
  • ETHICORE Lobbying – Comprehensive government affairs, lobbying, and advocacy services across Africa
  • ETHICORE Counsel – A bench of elite advisors for decision-makers and institutions
  • ETHICORE Rhetoric – Political communications and narrative strategy
  • ETHICORE Theorem – Public policy, regulatory, and geopolitical intelligence

Speaking on the expansion, Abdul Waheed Patel, Group CEO, said:

“The launch of ETHICORE Group reflects the boldness of our ambition and scale. Dubai provides a strategic hub for the GCC and Near East, complementing our 29-market African footprint. Under a unified identity and global strategy, we are deepening core capabilities, driving innovation, and creating new value for our clients – always with the ethics, precision, and quality that define ETHICORE.”

ETHICORE Group offers clients new strategic advantage, scaling an ethics-first legacy into a future-focused firm – helping private and public institutions, leaders and brands to successfully navigate, shape and influence the critical impact of policy, regulation, governments, politics and geopolitics across two dynamic regions amid critical global shifts, with confidence.

The firm’s regional and global expertise was showcased at Africa Global PR Week in Nairobi last week, where Patel shared the firm’s insights on “The Intersection of PR and Government: Advocating for Public Policy”.

With its new Dubai base, ETHICORE Group offers private and public institutions, leaders, and brands a strategic advantage: the ability to navigate and shape the complex impact of policy, regulation, and geopolitics across Africa and the GCC – at a time when global shifts demand clarity, credibility, and influence.

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

About ETHICORE Group

ETHICORE Group is a purpose-built, pan-African and international government affairs firm, globally recognised for pioneering ethical influence and engagement across Africa and beyond.

Founded in 2009, ETHICORE has championed an ethics-first approach to advocacy, partnering with corporations, industry associations, governments, and institutions. Today, ETHICORE Group equips clients to succeed at the nexus of government, policy, and public good across two continents.

ETHICORE accolades:

  • Ranked Top 10 firm in Africa and EMEA by PRovoke Media the global authority on the strategic communications, public affairs and reputation management (2025)
  • Represented on the B20 Task Forces on Integrity and Compliance, and Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems, under South Africa’s G20 Presidency (2025)
  • OECD’s “Trusted Dialogue Group on Getting Influence Right” – part of a multiyear Global Program to Galvanize the Private Sector as Partners to Combat Corruption and formulation of new OECD Guidelines on Responsible Corporate Political Engagement and the OECD Council Recommendations on Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying Influence (since 2021)
  • Political Influence Brand Category Award Winner at the Africa Brand Summit (2020)

Media Enquiries: 

media@ethicoregroup.com 

www.ethicoregroup.com

The post ETHICORE Group Launches to Redefine Advocacy Across Africa, GCC and Near East appeared first on African Media Agency.

Lifestyle

Khartoum accuses UAE of direct involvement in drone strikes on Port Sudan

Maravi Post Reporter

Sudan has accused the United Arab Emirates of carrying out a drone attack on the war-time administrative capital of Port Sudan earlier this month.

Speaking in New York on Monday, Khartoum’s ambassador to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss, alleged the operation was launched from a UAE military base with support from Emirati naval vessels in the Red Sea.

It is the first time that Sudan has accused the Gulf state of direct military intervention in its civil war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Idriss also claimed that the 4 May strike on Port Sudan was revenge for an army attack a day earlier on an alleged Emirati warplane in the RSF-controlled city of Nyala.

Khartoum recently cut diplomatic ties with the UAE, accusing it of arming and funding the rebel group in the deadly war, which is in its third year.

The UAE has denied the accusation and did not immediately comment on this latest statement.

Up until now, Port Sudan has been seen as a safe haven for government officials, diplomats, and humanitarian organisations.

But since the start of the month, it has been hit with a volley of drone strikes, largely against army facilities, the main airport, and fuel depots.

The Sudanese government is now calling on the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League to investigate the incident and hold accountable those responsible.

The war between the army and the RSF was triggered by a dispute over a transition to civilian rule.

It has devastated Sudan, pushing more than 13 million people out of their homes and spreading famine and disease.

Tens of thousands of Sudanese have died in the fighting.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/15/41/74/02/ED_PYR_1541742_20250520134309.mp4