Connect with us

General

Tackling Child Mortality, Global Environment Issues, Disability

Published

on

More than 400 delegates from 120 countries met at Nova SBE Campus, Cascais, turning Portugal into a global hub for start-ups and digital innovators on the subject of “Purpose driven digital Innovation.” About 82 international jury members have selected 9 Global Champions 2019 from the 45 WSA winners 2018, awarded by the City of Cascais, the Republic of Austria and UN-representatives at the festive Gala on March 13 at the WSA Global Congress in Cascais.

Many people are suffering because they don’t have a chance to health treatment or have access to information, while the industrialised society lacks the integrity to include and empower. Impact is vital in the sense of the word. Digital Content is bringing knowledge to places where it has not been yet, it integrates and enables.

Social benefit, sustainable impact, global diversity and digital innovation were the core themes of the WSA Global Congress 2019 – and the Global Champions. The 3 day congress showed how concern and distress give rise to innovative solutions, and how need can foster invention and sustainable design. The Nova SBE campus became a hub for unique knowledge exchange with 400 participants and outstanding international best practices of digital innovation with impact on society and mentors for 3 days.

Based on the UN goals for a true information society (UN WSIS) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), 82 international jurors selected the 9 WSA Global Champions from Kenya to Pakistan, based on their presentation at the Congress and their social and local impact from the 45 WSA winner projects – with Africa making a strong showcase of innovation.

Prof. Peter A. Bruck, Chairman of the World Summit Award Board of Directors: “The 9 Global Champions show just a small portion of what social innovation can do around the world with digital, content-based solutions. Thanks to the City of Cascais, we have brought this Austrian initiative to Portugal for the first time and opened a showcase for products from all member states of the United Nations that make a difference. WSA and the Global Champions selected here in Cascais show that innovation comes primarily not from the pursuit of profit and quick money, but from commitment to avoid suffering and alleviate need. This results in sustainable positive transformations of our society. “

The outstanding digital innovations were honoured at the festive Gala ceremony on March 13th.

Guest of honour H.E. Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal states: “WSA presents a display of impressive digital projects from around the world embraced by entrepreneurs and aiming at improving the quality of our society while solving real life problems. More than 400 participants from 120 countries met in Portugal at this 2019 World Summit, turning Cascais into a global hub for start-ups.”

WSA GLOBAL CHAMPIONS 2019

The winner in the Government & Citizen Engagement category was Chaos AI from Finland, an innovative team providing a multi-stakeholder decision tool for estate planning based on AI – making estates focused on the inhabitants and environmental protection.

Irelands Complete Anatomy was selected Global Champion in the category Health & Well-Being. The international jury states: “Most innovative. Using VR to enable medical students to learn the human body structures saves time and valuable resources.”

“Pakistani girls have few alternatives in getting this information. Getting female health information from a trusted source is crucial all over the world to reduce female and child mortality and empower women.” a Jury member pointed out, as to why Global Learning & Education champion AI chatbot Raaji from Pakistan was awarded.

Multi-facet digital platform Kuza One from Kenya educates small-holder farmers in Africa concerning environmental Agriculture and Entrepreneurship and was selected by the Jury for Environment & Green Energy: “It could be a winner in education. Could be a winner in many categories. It is a real winner.”

AFROCOMIX from Ghana won the Championship for Culture & Tourism, benefitting the lives of multiple creators of African Culture with a monetization platform, “… telling African Stories – and these stories need to be told to present African heroes”, the Jury states.

Business & Commerce solution Sokowatch from Kenya was a favourite among the winners because it works on so many levels for “…providing small retailers with services and an affordable credit line, closing the gap of last mile delivery and supporting small entities.”

From Japan, Wheelog convinced with empowering wheelchair users in the Smart settlements & Urbanization category. The Jury concludes: “Creative, innovative and addressing a pressing problem. Creates sense of inclusiveness. Can scale globally.”

Enablement through digital solutions also made the Championship in the Inclusion & Empowerment category: “Feelif from Slovenia is a tablet for blind people. It is much more affordable than any given alternative hardware, providing access to internet for blind people.”

The highly competent WSA Young Innovators Global Champions LEAF from the USA proved that fintech can serve the most vulnerable of all, refugees and the stateless, who are provided with a block chain technology to preserve and transfer their money through digital currency – across borders.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

General

AXA Mansard’s Ngozi Ola-Israel Wins Women Tabloid’s CFO of the Year Award

Published

on

ngozi ola-israel

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Chief Financial Officer of AXA Mansard, Ms Ngozi Ola-Israel, has clinched the CFO of the Year award of the prestigious Women Tabloid Awards, a platform designed to celebrate trailblazing women redefining success and challenging stereotypes across industries and geographies.

Ms Ola-Israel is one of the leading CFOs on the continent as she was recognised as one of the Top 50 CFOs in Africa in 2024

She thanked the organisers of the awards for the honour and going above and beyond to spotlight the incredible work and impact of women across sectors.

“My emergence as the 2025 CFO of the Year is further proof of AXA’s commitment to inclusive protection and to creating an environment where people are empowered to care and dare

“I am incredibly grateful for the people I work with. Their collaboration and dedication have shaped this journey, culminating in this award.

“Recognition like this only happens when you’re surrounded by people who challenge you to be your best and support you through it all.

“This honour will fuel my resolve to continue giving my best, mentoring others, and creating opportunities that elevate women, the finance profession, and impactful leadership,” she enthused.

On her part, the Chief Client Officer of AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Ms Rashidat Adebisi, said the recognition of her colleague is another testament to the remarkable role she and her team continue to play in the company’s success, despite the challenges of the dynamic operating environment.

“On behalf of the board and management, I congratulate our dear CFO. This is a well-deserved recognition.

“Under her leadership, we have achieved sustained financial growth, strengthened our market positioning, and enhanced corporate governance.

“Her visionary leadership was instrumental in the successful implementation of IFRS 17, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and global best practices,” she stated.

Ms Ola-Israel, a respected voice in the finance community, is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.

With over a decade of dedicated service at AXA Mansard, she began her journey as Group Head of Financial Control and rose to the position of CFO in 2017.

Under her leadership, the company surpassed its 2024 revenue targets by 32 per cent and recorded a nearly 50 per cent increase in share price.

She also served as Chief Data Officer from 2019 to 2024, leading enterprise-wide data transformation and strategy.

Her influence extends to board-level roles as a non-executive director at AXA Mansard Investments and APD, where she contributes to governance and performance oversight.

Ms Ola-Israel has led several transformative initiatives, including the development of KPI and premium financing dashboards, a car valuation model that improved claims integrity, a remote vehicle inspection tool, and a comprehensive value chain analysis that enhanced operational efficiency and customer experience.

Beyond finance, she is a passionate mentor and advocate for gender equity. She founded the Finance Community at AXA Mansard to promote continuous learning and mentor aspiring women board members through WIMBIZ. She also plays a key role in AXA Mansard’s sustainability agenda, embedding ESG strategies into operations and strategic planning.

She has spoken at major industry events, including the 2024 International Conference for Women in Insurance.

Continue Reading

General

Nigeria Calls for Calm Amid Deportation Threats from Ghana

Published

on

Nigeria and Ghana

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has moved to quell rising worries amid an alleged call for the deportation of Nigerians from Ghana.

The Chairman of the commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of NiDCOM, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, made the call following tensions between citizens of the two West African countries.

She said the issue was already being handled at the diplomatic level by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Business Post reports that the statement followed the backdrop of a trending video on social media showing some Ghanaians demanding the immediate repatriation of Nigerians from their country.

“The attention of NiDCOM has been drawn to a disturbing video on social media showing protest by some Ghanaians, calling on the authority to send Nigerians back to Nigeria.

“I appeal for calm and urge Nigerians living in Ghana not to be provoked or go into violence with anyone, as the issue is being handled at the diplomatic level by the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu.

“Anyone using inciteful words, on both sides should desist henceforth, as such statements are capable of escalating the matter,” the NiDCOM head said, urging Nigerians to disregard the videos circulating that Nigerians’ shops and properties were being destroyed by Ghanaians.

According to the NiDCOM boss, there is no evidence to that effect and so Nigerians must at all cost try to prevent any reprisal attacks.

She lauded the Ghanaian and Nigerian High Commissioners for their efforts to control the situation.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa added that the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs was already in touch with Ghanaian authorities, and had taken some pro- active measures toward finding an amicable resolution, stressing that the blanket outrage against Nigerians living in Ghana and branding them as criminals should be condemned by all.

This, according to her, is because Nigerians are not criminals but good ambassadors wherever they find themselves, advising that the bad ones among them should be fished out to face necessary sanctions.

“Ghana and Nigeria are like siamese twins. They are brothers, and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration, should continue to live in peace like brothers,” she added.

Continue Reading

General

NAICOM Limits Insurtech Firms From Oil, Gas, Marine, Crypto Businesses

Published

on

NAICOM Conplaint Management Portal

By Adedapo Adesanya

Insurance technology (insurtech) companies will be limited from participating in businesses in the oil and gas, marine, aviation sectors, among others, and engaging in cryptocurrency transactions.

This is part of new guidelines published by the industry’s regulator, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) effective from August 1.

According to the guidelines for insurtech operations in Nigeria, issued on Wednesday via its website, NAICOM noted that these cannot be carried out without its approval, noting that insurance businesses like “oil and gas insurance, marine and aviation insurance, retirement life annuity, and insurance of government assets and liabilities for ministries, departments, and agencies. Launching products or using dynamic pricing without actuarial support or prior approval from the Commission, and complete reliance on artificial intelligence systems to decline claims without human intervention.

“Crypto-based transactions: Acceptance of premiums or settlement of claims in cryptocurrency without prior approval of the Commission. Data privacy violations: Sharing of personal data without explicit consent, in breach of NDPR or related frameworks. Manipulative platform design (Dark Patterns): Interface design tactics that mislead users into purchasing or renewing an insurance policy. Cross-border digital sales without approval: Offering insurance to foreign jurisdictions without prior approval of the Commission.”

They are also barred from physical marketing of insurance products as done by conventional insurance operators.

In terms of the minimum capital threshold, NAICOM said that for standalone insurtech, it will be the higher of “a. N1.5m per category of general or non-life insurance business or risk-based capital determined from time to time by the Commission. b. N1,000,000,000 per category of life insurance business or risk-based capital determined from time to time by the Commission; or c. Such other amount as may be prescribed by the commission from time to time.”

For insurtech partnering with insurance institutions, the regulator pegged the minimum capital requirement at N10 million as of the date of application and shall continue to maintain the same throughout the license period.

It added a professional indemnity of not less than N100 million or as may be prescribed by the Commission from time to time.

The commission warned that it may increase from time to time the minimum capital requirement.

Also, players in this sector would be required to submit to the commission audited annual financial statements not later than the first quarter of the subsequent year.

NAICOM has warned that once the guidelines become effective on Friday, all insurance institutions and insurtech firms operating under any agreement, whether called insurtech business or otherwise, shall comply with the provisions of these guidelines within 30 days of their coming into effect.

Continue Reading

Trending