Brand South Africa Evaluates 15th BRICS Summit

By Nathaniel Nyika Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the beating heart of Africa’s economies. According to the World Economic Forum, as engines of growth, SMEs are responsible for around 80% of the continent’s employment, ultimately helping to reduce poverty and income inequality, enabling the establishment of a new middle class and driving demand for new goods and services. That’s why creating an enabling environment for SMEs to access finance will enhance their ability to not only contribute to Africa’s labour force but also facilitate the continent’s development and economic growth while driving the innovation needed to help solve the

By Nneka Okumazie How many startups in Africa can say that their existence is the reason a major problem was solved in Africa, for the majority of Africans? Some may easily dismiss this as not being a part of their mandate, but maybe looking at what they do through that lens could make their services more useful to their people. The startup scene in Africa is full of activities, but there is no evidence that those activities are connected to solving major problems on the continent, as most of the problems that Africa faces are still there, or worse, with

By Jerome-Mario Utomi Wikipedia, the world information horsepower, defined Social Responsibility as an ethical framework in which individuals or corporations are accountable for fulfilling their civic duty and taking actions that benefit society. Viewed from a simpler prism, it means that individuals and companies must act in the best interests of their environment and society as a whole. The above subject (Social Responsibility) recently came flooding after listening to the news report that Ewuru Education Incentive Programme Organizers, a voluntary, non-governmental, non-political organisation, on September 12, 2023, donated hundreds of thousands of learning materials to Uweifo Primary School, Ewuru, Ika

By Franco Macchiavelli The 15th BRICS Summit, hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg from 22 to 24 August, culminated in the widely anticipated announcement of a soon-to-be expanded BRICS bloc, with the admission of six new member countries to this economic grouping from January 2024. In the build-up to this year’s BRICS Summit, there has also been some speculation that the grouping might discuss the issuance of a joint currency to compete with the dollar as the reserve currency with world hegemony. However, this issue was not addressed during the event. South Africa’s representative stated that such an approach was

By Modupe Gbadeyanka The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) have completed the one-year internship programme organised for seven young graduates as part of the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development Initiative. The interns who were selected from the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Joint Qualification System (NOGICJQS) received trainings on Earth Science, Reservoir Management and Drilling & Completion. Speaking at the graduation ceremony held in Abuja, the Executive Secretary (NCDMB) Mr Simbi Kesiye Wabote, commended Chevron for its efforts in developing human capacity and transferring knowledge to young Nigerians. He noted that other operating

By Dipo Olowookere Largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, QNB Group, was recognized once again as the most valuable banking brand in the region with brand value worth $4.2 billion, according to The Banker’s 2018 Brand Finance Global 500 report published in its February edition. QNB’s brand value has grown to $4.2 billion compared to $3.8 billion in 2017, an 11 percent year-on-year increase, while the Group’s Brand Strength Index (BSI) has increased from 76.4 out of 100 to 78.4 out of 100, driven by its constant strong financial performance and growing international expansion. QNB also marked

By Adedapo Adesanya   The Naira depreciated at both the Investors and Exporters (I&E) and Interbank segments of the foreign exchange market on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. At the I&E window, the local currency dropped for the second straight trading session by 38 Kobo or 0.11 percent against the US Dollar to trade at N363.33/$1 in contrast to N362.94/$1 it traded on Monday. This followed the pressure on the local currency as the demand for forex increased during the session, resulting in higher turnover at the close of transactions. Trades valued at $586.22 million were carried out at the market segment

By Modupe Gbadeyanka The Airtel Touching Lives Season 7 would be used to achieve the ambitious sustainability agenda announced in 2021 by Airtel Africa, the parent company of Airtel Nigeria, the chief executive of the subsidiary firm, Mr Surendran Chemmenkotil, has said. Airtel Touching Lives is the flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiative of Airtel Nigeria. It is a platform the organisation uses to empower and uplift underprivileged people across the communities where it operates. Airtel Touching Lives takes a reality television show format, allowing the public to nominate causes, communities, and underprivileged persons/people with special needs. The

By Adedapo Adesanya The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has told the European Union (EU) that replacing Russian crude oil lost by an unprecedented possible ban from the region would be nearly impossible. OPEC Secretary-General, Mr Mohammad Barkindo, said this in a speech at a high-level meeting between OPEC and the EU on Monday. “We could potentially see the loss of more than 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil and other liquids exports, resulting from current and future sanctions or other voluntary actions. “Considering the current demand outlook, it would be nearly impossible to replace

By Dipo Olowookere The management of First Bank Nigeria Limited has reacted to the viral media reports that its Chairman, Mrs Ibukun Awosika; its Managing Director, Mr Adesola Adeduntan; have been convicted of court contempt over the failure of the lender to pay N122 billion bond it guaranteed to pay. Below is the full reaction of the bank to the issue. RE: CONTEMPT ORDERS AGAINST FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED AND ITS OFFICIALS BY HONOURABLE JUSTICE I.N BUBA OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT, LAGOS, OF 6TH JUNE, 2018. On 6th June, 2018, Honourable Justice I.N Buba of the Federal High

By Dipo Olowookere Nigeria’s former Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina J. Mohammed, who is presently the new United Nations Deputy Secretary, as emerged one of the winners at the New African Woman magazine’s Woman of the Year Award. Also, the fearless Gambian human rights activist, Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajan, won New African Woman magazine’s Woman of the Year Award at the their Award ceremony that took place in Dakar this week. Jallow-Tambajan was instrumental in galvanising the opposition that eventually beat long-term now exiled leader, Mr Yahya Jammeh. Held at a glitzy Gala Dinner at the Terrou-Bi hotel in the Senegalese capital

By Kester Kenn Klomegah Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and French Total Energies CEO Patrick Pouyanné witnessed, in late January, the signing and exchange of fresh additional agreements that permit prompt resumption of the natural gas exploration projects in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique. The construction of the gas liquefaction plant, extracted from the seabed (about 40 kilometres offshore) is the largest currently financed private investment in Africa. But, the natural gas project was suspended in March 2021 after an armed attack that left the province devastated, with about 3,100 deaths and more than 817,000 residents displaced. At the modest ceremony, President