The Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s leadership in advancing social and economic development in Morocco, expressing his appreciation for the Royal initiatives for Africa.
This position was expressed in the Joint Summary of Meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and ASEAN Secretary-General.
In this document, Kao, who is on his first visit to Morocco and Africa, praised “His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s leadership in advancing social and economic developments towards ensuring continued stability, prosperity and development in the country.”
He also commended “the major socio-economic and infrastructure developments and the successful reforms achieved in Morocco.”
Kao also praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s enlightened vision for the African continent through the Strategic Royal Initiatives.
In this regard, he noted with appreciation the Atlantic Initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, namely the Initiative to enable Atlantic Ocean Access for Sahel states, the Africa-Atlantic Gas pipeline (AAGP) and the Atlantic African States Initiatives.
The ASEAN Secretary-General underlined that Morocco’s “numerous assets make it an attractive platform for trade and investments for ASEAN governments and business communities.”
He added that the “partnership between both sides will facilitate the access of ASEAN to the African space and the opportunities offered under the Atlantic Initiatives in the region.”
Mr. Bourita and Kao agreed that Morocco offers an important gateway for ASEAN Member States to Africa. In the same vein, ASEAN represents a real opportunity for Morocco to develop and open up for more economic cooperation with the region in particular and with Asia as a whole.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn is paying a working visit to Morocco from June 24 to 26 at the invitation of Mr. Bourita.
This regional grouping includes the 10 countries of Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Senior representatives of the United States and Nigerian governments, along with business leaders from both countries’ private sectors, convened in Abuja to officially launch the working group meetings of the United States–Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP). This landmark Partnership, established under a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, aims to deepen bilateral commercial cooperation and expand economic opportunities in both nations.
Four senior U.S. and Nigerian officials led the dialogue: Ambassador Richard Mills, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, U.S. Department of State; Julie LeBlanc, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honorable Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment; and Ambassador Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
U.S. Ambassador Richard M. Mills, Jr., remarked during the inaugural session, “The Commercial and Investment Partnership, or CIP, is one of the top priorities of my tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, so it gives me immense pleasure to see the launch of the working groups come to fruition. The CIP underscores the United States’ strong commitment to further enhancing our bilateral commercial and investment ties, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities that benefit people across both our great nations.”
The inaugural discussions focused on three working groups: agriculture, the digital economy, and infrastructure. The working groups – comprised of U.S. and Nigerian private sector participants – began their work by nominating group leads and identifying non-tariff barriers to trade and investment. Their goal is to foster job creation, encourage private sector engagement, and recommend solutions to policymakers to address key challenges in these critical sectors.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa, Thomas Bruns stated that, “The U.S.-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership reflects our shared commitment to deepening economic ties, fostering innovation, and expanding opportunities for businesses in both nations. The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration is proud of its work to foster international commerce and, as the U.S. Government’s voice for the U.S. private sector, we are thrilled to launch these working groups with our Nigerian counterparts. By strengthening collaboration in sectors that are engines of growth for both our nations—including infrastructure, agriculture, and the digital economy—we can advance prosperity, create jobs, and build a foundation for sustainable economic growth that benefits our people and lasts for the long-term.”
The four senior U.S. and Nigerian principals agreed to review progress on a biannual basis and to identify future areas of cooperation. The next formal meeting of the CIP will take place in Fall 2025.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.
The Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Kao Kim Hourn, expressed his unwavering support for Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in Rabat on Tuesday.
This position was expressed in the joint summary made public at the end of the meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and Kao, who is on a working visit to Morocco from June 24 to 26.
In this joint summary, the two sides have stressed “their unwavering support to the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of UN Member States, which include ASEAN Member States and Morocco, as well as the non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
The meeting between the two senior officials also provided an opportunity to underline the excellent ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and ASEAN, which comprises the 10 countries of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei-Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia), and to discuss actions to be taken to strengthen relations between the Kingdom and this regional grouping, both in terms of substance and scope.
Kao, on his first visit to the Kingdom and to Africa, expressed his high appreciation of Morocco’s actions and commitment to strengthening cooperation with ASEAN and its member states.
In this respect, “he welcomed Morocco’s presence and commitment to various structures in the ASEAN regions, such as the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).”
In addition, the ASEAN Secretary-General noted with satisfaction Morocco’s active participation in various ASEAN events, including seminars and workshops on human rights, economic cooperation, transport, social welfare and development, connectivity and smart city development, among others.
For his part, MFA Bourita stressed that the strengthening of relations between Morocco and ASEAN is in line with the strategic vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to diversify the Kingdom’s partners and promote strong, mutually supportive South-South cooperation.
He reiterated Morocco’s readiness to support and collaborate with ASEAN in many sectors, in a win-win approach, both with the Organization and with all its member states.
The Minister expressed his thanks to Kao, and through him to ASEAN member states, for their support in Morocco’s bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner in September 2023.
The two sides also welcomed the holding of the second meeting of the ASEAN-Morocco Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AM-JSCC) in Jakarta on November 27, 2024, while the 3rd session is scheduled for November 2025.
The two officials underlined the importance of the training programs offered by the Moroccan Institute of Training, Research and Diplomatic Studies (IMFRED) to diplomats from ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat.
They also welcomed the fruitful cooperation programs existing between ASEAN member states and Morocco, through the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), for ASEAN member states and African countries.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has launched the “365 Days of Fresh Feed” project in the Tajoura district of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, to support the development of the livestock sector and contribute to sustainable feed production.
The “Hasılmatik: 365 Days of Fresh Feed” project was implemented by TİKA in cooperation with the Municipality of Tajoura. The project, introduced for the first time in Libya, is expected to significantly improve feed production efficiency.
TİKA’s Tripoli Coordinator, Ali Suha Bacanakgil, stated that the project would have a transformative impact on the livestock sector and emphasized the goal of expanding it across the country. “In this project, wheat and barley seeds turn into fresh fodder within 7 to 10 days. The feed produced by Hasılmatik is much more efficient than dry feed. Animals can consume it entirely, including its sprouts and roots, with 100% digestibility,” he explained.
Bacanakgil underlined that the project was carried out with a spirit of social solidarity and noted their intention to increase the number of local stakeholders and expand cooperation with municipalities and agricultural cooperatives.
Tajoura Deputy Mayor Ayman Al-Salim highlighted the issue of groundwater scarcity in the region, stating that the project offered a significant solution to this problem in terms of livestock production. “A simple system, low water usage, and high productivity—this project will revitalize animal husbandry. We thank TİKA,” he said.
Mahmoud Marwan, one of the local farmers benefiting from the project, emphasized that the “365 Days of Fresh Feed” system saves both land and time and noted that the resulting product is suitable for cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.
Supported by TİKA, this project stands out as a model initiative promoting sustainable agriculture and livestock farming in Libya.
– on behalf of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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His Excellency Mr. Pirkka Tapiola, Ambassador of Finland to Seychelles, paid a farewell courtesy call on President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House this morning, marking the conclusion of his diplomatic mission of just over three years.
During the cordial meeting, President Ramkalawan expressed profound gratitude for Ambassador Tapiola’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Seychelles and Finland. The Head of State commended the Ambassador’s pivotal role in fostering strong diplomatic ties and extended his best wishes for success in his upcoming posting.
The substantive discussions encompassed Seychelles’ economic development and social transformation. Ambassador Tapiola commended the nation’s exemplary democratic governance, recognizing Seychelles as a beacon of democratic leadership across the African continent. The dialogue addressed contemporary global challenges, including maritime security and sustainability initiatives, and strengthening collaboration through EU channels.
President Ramkalawan conveyed appreciation for the enduring friendship between the two nations, which established bilateral ties on March 27, 1987. He extended best wishes for Ambassador Tapiola’s continued diplomatic endeavors.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Ambassador Vivianne Fock-Tave, Director General for Bilateral Affairs Ms. Lindy Ernesta, and Desk Officer for Finland Mr. James Carpin.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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In 2005, a young man from northern Uganda walked into the offices of the World Health Organization (WHO) with a heart full of hope and a 60-day contract in hand. Today, 20 years later, Patrick Wokorach is still walking through those doors—now as a seasoned shipping assistant, a veteran of public health emergencies, and a living testament to resilience, dedication, and purpose.
At just 27, Wokorach joined WHO as a Program Assistant under the Northern Uganda Recovery Program, a role that aligned perfectly with his personal mission: to help rebuild his then war-torn homeland. “My greatest motivation to join WHO was to have a direct involvement in supporting the people of northern Uganda where I come from,” he recalls. “At the time, there was an ongoing civil war with our people living in camps, facing many health challenges.”
Since then, Wokorach has worn many hats—supporting the functions of procurement, fleet management, travels and protocol, logistics, and now shipping. But his core mission has remained unchanged: to serve. Whether responding to cholera outbreaks, Ebola epidemics, Marburg, natural disasters like floods or providing operational support, Wokorach has been on the frontlines, often sacrificing personal milestones for the greater good.
“One time in 2017, three weeks to my wedding, I had to go and respond to the Ebola disease outbreak in Bundibugyo district,” he says with a smile. “I only returned about four days to the wedding!”
His journey is not just one of professional growth but also personal transformation. “I joined WHO as a single young man. I got married and had all my children while here. My eldest child is 18 years old. By all standards, this is no mean achievement,” he emphasizes.
Wokorach’s story is also a lesson in adaptability and lifelong learning. “Twenty years in one organization provides a lot of learning,” he says. “I have come to appreciate that our vision might stay the same, but the situations, dynamism, approaches or even the environment keeps changing but you one must remain resilient, focused and hopeful.”
Despite the high-pressure environment of emergency responses, Wokorach thrives. His calm demeanor and strong work ethic have helped him navigate even the most challenging situations, including the insecurity in northern Uganda during his early days at WHO.
Balancing such a demanding career with family life is no small feat, but Wokorach credits open communication and intentional quality time for keeping his family bonds strong. “They understand the kind of work I do and what it requires of me,” he says. “So, I make sure whatever little free time I have is quality family time.”
To his colleagues, Wokorach offers a simple but powerful message: “WHO is a great organization to work in. I encourage colleagues to enjoy their work, support one another, and have a positive mindset. All will be well.”
As he marks two decades of service, Patrick Wokorach stands as a quiet hero in the world of public health—a man whose journey from a 60-day contract to 20 years of unwavering service is nothing short of inspiring.
– on behalf of World Health Organization – Uganda.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Oscar Gakuo Mwangi, Adjunct Associate Professor, Departnent of Social Sciences, Pwani University
Kenya has once again been reminded of brutality within its police force. Two events in mid-June 2025 pointed to the grave challenge that Kenya must confront to reform the service.
The first was the death in police custody of a teacher and blogger. A few days later a bystander at the scene of a protest in Nairobi was shot and severely injured by police.
The use of excessive force to disperse and arrest peaceful demonstrators has got worse since the nationwide protests by young Kenyans in June 2024. Police have also been behind disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Excesses by the National Police Service have prompted action in the past. Repressive laws have been repealed and mechanisms are in place to identify, report and punish police excesses.
Wide-ranging policing reforms mandated by the 2010 constitution have also been carried out since 2013. As part of these reforms, the Independent Police Oversight Authority was set up to investigate police wrong-doing. The conviction and dismissal rates are low, however, because of defective prosecutions, poor investigations, witnesses fearing retribution or victimisation, lack of evidence, and lengthy court trials.
I am a political scientist with a focus on Kenya’s security sector. It is my view that the quest to change police behaviour in Kenya must go beyond the rule book, recriminations and repeated political proclamations of police reform.
In my view real change will come about only if the state, firstly, puts funds into the recurrent and development expenditures of the police. The aim should be to ensure these institutions are able to enforce compliance and accountability. Secondly, the state needs to strengthen its partnership with local-level civil society organisations affected by policy brutality. And lastly, it must set up digital channels that people can confidently use to lodge their complaints.
Funding gaps
The National Police Service is underfunded. This has constrained its ability to maintain law and order. It has:
inadequate and poorly maintained equipment and gear
insufficient monthly fuel allocations for patrols and other critical functions
poor training and operational physical facilities.
Added to these constraints are dehumanising working conditions and deplorable living conditions. This undermines their morale and ability to deliver quality services.
Another blow to police morale is the entrenched culture of corruption. Corrupt practices skew recruitment, transfers, deployments, promotions and procurement.
At the same time, the police service is expected to deal with a host of domestic and global security challenges. These include cybercrimes, cross-border security, violent extremism and terrorism.
Money needs to be allocated to improve facilities, equipment and gear. This should also enhance its logistical and technological capabilities, and provide affordable and decent housing and medical cover for its officers.
Providing adequate resources can also counter the culture of corruption, which is often driven by poor renumeration and working conditions.
Budget allocations should sustain police reforms. This should include:
Partnerships with communities
Community policing in Kenya makes a significant contribution to local-level security. This form of policing is citizen-centred with an emphasis on addressing crime risk factors by encouraging citizen participation.
Also known by its Kiswahili name, Nyumba Kumi, meaning “Ten Households”, the key strategy is anchoring community policing at the household level. Despite several problems associated with formulation and implementation, community policing in Kenya has improved local-level police-community relations in some areas of the country.
The community policing strategy is aimed at addressing emerging security needs such as infiltration by terrorist groups. It serves the whole of Kenya in terms of local-level security and is viewed as one of the key areas of police reform and a shift to democratic policing.
Community involvement can address the lack of trust between citizens and police officers due to police bias or brutality. But this is a gradual process that happens through daily interactions between communities and the police.
Public participation channels
Public participation is enshrined in Kenya’s constitution as one of the principles and values of good governance. By establishing a complaints and redress mechanism, public participation can become an integral component of promoting effective handling of complaints.
The constitution has created different institutions to address public complaints. These include the Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman), Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and the Independent Police Oversight Authority. Some of these have digital public complaints systems, which provide more confidentiality and better access for people.
Other channels of handling complaints include civil society actors and the media. Civil society organisations provide civic education and mobilise citizens to take part in monitoring and evaluation government’s performance.
Making these channels more effective could help absorb public anger that could turn into violence.
Conclusion
Police brutality in Kenya has arisen through historical, social, economic and political factors. Mitigating it therefore requires a long-term, combined top-down and bottom-up approach.
Genuine political support from the country’s political leaders is essential to instil positive attitudes about Kenya’s political and security institutions. It also requires genuine support from local-level or grassroots communities. This, in turn, entails communities trusting each other and building social cohesion.
– Kenya police brutality – it will take more than laws and public anger to change behaviour – https://theconversation.com/kenya-police-brutality-it-will-take-more-than-laws-and-public-anger-to-change-behaviour-259327
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Issouf Binaté, enseignant-chercheur, Université Alassane Ouattara de Bouaké
Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa as the geopolitical and economic landscape in the region shifts. In Senegal, the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has entered a key partnership in the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, Karpowership, a company providing electricity via floating power plants, now supplies energy to eight African countries. But Turkey’s not stopping there. As part of its soft power strategy, it is also winning hearts and minds through education and culture while deepening trade and security ties.
Historian Issouf Binaté, who has studied Turkey’s growing presence in west Africa, breaks down how Ankara is positioning itself as an alternative to both former colonial powers and newer global players competing for influence on the continent.
What drives Turkey’s growing influence in west Africa?
Turkey’s foreign policy in west Africa leans on two main pillars.
The other is more grassroots, led by non-state actors such as religious foundations and NGOs.
These groups laid the groundwork for Turkey’s African expansion long before Ankara officially stepped in.
A key player in Turkey’s earlier outreach was the Gülen movement, named after preacher Fethullah Gülen (1941–2024). The Gülen movement pioneered Turkey’s soft power approach with “Turkish schools”, starting with the Yavuz Sultan Selim and Yavuz Selim-Bosphore high schools in Dakar in 1997.
Also at the end of the 1990s a network composed of Turkish business leaders and social activists under the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, which claimed over 100,000 member companies, expanded Turkey’s influence across Africa. At that time, Turkey had only three diplomatic representations for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
The more recent contact with Africa comes at a time when western hegemony faces growing criticism from a new generation of Africans engaged in decolonial movements. Gülen-affiliated institutions now number 113, alongside religious and secular schools run by other groups like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi. Since the 2016 political rift between Gülen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, these schools were gradually transferred to Maarif Foundation, Turkey’s state-run overseas education arm.
Back in 2003, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions across Africa. Today, that number has grown to 44, bolstered by Turkish religious foundations (like Mahmud Hudayi Vakfi and Hayrat Vakfi), NGOs, and entrepreneurs who have filled the gap left by the Gülen movement.
Another powerful player in Turkey’s Africa strategy is Turkish Airlines, now one of the top carriers on the continent. It is now flying to 62 airports in 41 African countries.
What role do west African students trained in Turkey play?
By investing in education, Turkey didn’t just open its doors to African students. It also planted the seeds for a long-term influence strategy. These students, and more broadly young African migrants trained in Turkey, are now among the key messengers of “Turkishness” back home.
In doing so, Ankara is following a familiar path once used by colonial powers. They used student mobility as a powerful tool for their diplomacy.
Then, in the 1990s, Turkey continued this effort through a scholarship programme for African students, supported by the Islamic Development Bank. During this period, Turkey launched the Büyük Öğrenci Projesi (Great Student Project), which provided scholarships to international students.
Starting in 2012, this programme was re-branded as YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı, or Directorate for Turks Abroad and Related Communities). It introduced reforms, including a digital application process for scholarships via an app on the YTB website. This shift caused a dramatic spike in interest. Applications soared from 10,000 to 155,000 between 2012 and 2020.
For non-scholarship students, Turkey simplified visa processes, reduced tuition fees, and offered other incentives. These measures contributed to a significant increase in the number of applicants to study in Turkey. As the number of universities in Turkey jumped from 76 to 193 between 2003 and 2015, the country became increasingly attractive.
By 2017, Turkey had become the 13th most popular destination for students from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Campus France (a platform that supports international students studying in France). By 2019, there were an estimated 61,000 African students studying in Turkey.
Now, nearly three decades into this strategy, many of these former students are stepping into new roles. They are taking over from Turkish entrepreneurs in fostering socioeconomic ties with Africa. They also act as bridges, promoting Turkish universities and supporting visitors in areas like medical and industrial tourism.
In Istanbul, some run cargo companies – some of them informal – that ship goods to Africa. Others are working to formalise these ventures and build long-term economic bridges. Groups like Bizim Afrika, a network of African Turkish-speakers, and the Federation of African Students in Turkey (founded in 2019), are playing key roles in shaping this next chapter of Turkey–Africa relations.
How is Turkey’s strategy in west Africa different from that of China or France?
In substance, Turkey’s strategy isn’t so different from that of France or China. It also carries traces of colonial thinking, even though its approach leans more on religious soft power like building mosques across Africa. Unlike France, which used force in its colonial past, Turkey is trying to gain influence through other means. It uses familiar tools: embassies, schools, cinema, security services, and development agencies.
While access to Europe, the US and Canada has become more difficult due to stricter visa rules, Turkey has opened its doors. It eased visa procedures for African business people, expanded its universities, and promoted medical tourism.
Turkey has become a hub for several sectors. It’s a major centre for nose surgery (rhinoplasty), hair transplants, and textiles. Its textile industry now supplies traders at Makola Market in Accra, Adjamé’s Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Grand Marché in Bamako.
Turkey’s presence in Africa is now visible in several symbolic ways. You can see it in Maarif schools, murals at Abidjan airport, the “Le Istanbul” restaurant in Niamey’s government district, or the National Mosque in Accra, modelled after Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
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Turkey’s engagement is a work in progress. But its outreach to Africa is already yielding results. Trade volume reached US$40.7 billion in 2022. The return of the first waves of African students trained in Turkey has shifted the dynamic. Cooperation no longer relies solely on Turkish business people and social entrepreneurs.
Even though African elites often speak English, French or Arabic, new voices are emerging. Young people trained in Turkey are beginning to find their place. Many work in import-export, construction, and even Islamic religious leadership. This trend points to promising prospects for long-term ties.
For Turkey, Africa represents a continent with major economic opportunities. Becoming a trusted partner is now a key goal. On the diplomatic level, Turkey gained observer status at the African Union in 2005 and has hosted Turkey-Africa summits in Istanbul since 2008.
This growing involvement suggests that Turkey’s role in Africa is likely to last. It will depend on the continent’s market needs, especially at a time when many African countries are rethinking their relationships with traditional western powers and international institutions.
– Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa – what’s behind its bid for soft power – https://theconversation.com/turkey-is-stepping-up-its-influence-in-west-africa-whats-behind-its-bid-for-soft-power-256929
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
Oluchi Nwagboso, a Field Engineer at SLB, is part of a new generation of talent driving innovation and sustainability in Africa’s energy sector, her story is one of curiosity, determination and a deep commitment to making a lasting impact both on the field and in the lives of others.
Oluchi’s passion for energy was sparked at a young age. “It began with a high school project powering a lightbulb with a battery,” she recalls. That simple experiment ignited a desire to understand how the world is powered, setting her on the path to engineering. As she advanced in her studies, Oluchi became increasingly aware of the energy challenges faced by communities across Africa, which inspired her to join the sector with the goal of contributing to a future where energy is reliable, sustainable and affordable for all.
In her role at SLB, Oluchi has worked on a range of impactful projects that have shaped both her technical expertise and sense of purpose. A standout achievement was introducing a new drilling fluids technology – the Rheoprofiler 200 – to SLB’s clients in Namibia. As the first engineer, and notably the first female engineer, to represent SLB in Namibia since it launched operations there in 2022, Oluchi played a pivotal role in demonstrating how innovation can drive efficiency, reduce waste and support responsible energy development.
Beyond the technical arena, Oluchi has dedicated herself to mentoring young minds. While still a student, she tutored and guided 15 high school students initially in South Africa, and more recently in Namibia, encouraging especially young women to explore science and engineering. “Impact isn’t only measured in technical achievements – it’s also in the lives we uplift and the futures we help shape,” she says.
Oluchi credits SLB’s culture of continuous learning and support for helping her grow from a trainee to a confident field engineer. Through technical schools in the UAE and the U.S., day-to-day mentorship and hands-on experience, she has developed the skills needed to thrive in high-stakes environments. This growth aligns closely with her long-term goal: contributing to the development of a sustainable energy sector in Namibia that fuels economic growth and provides access for all.
A defining moment in her career came during her first offshore rotation as a field engineer. Faced with logistical inefficiencies, Oluchi proposed and implemented a new delivery schedule for essential components, improving both timelines and costs. The experience reinforced her belief in taking initiative, advocating for change, and trusting her judgment – even early in her career.
To young women aspiring to enter the energy industry, Oluchi offers this advice: “Embrace and own your personal narrative. Your background, experiences and unique perspective are what make you stand out. Be confident, stay curious and never stop learning. The energy industry needs more voices like yours – bold, authentic and driven to make a difference.”
Oluchi’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and the support of an empowering environment and learning communities. Her achievements reflect the impact that driven individuals can make when given the opportunity to grow and lead. While her story is uniquely her own, it resonates with the broader vision shared by many across the continent, including networks like the African Energy Chamber’s AWBEN, that believes in empowering women to innovate, lead, and shape Africa’s energy future. By celebrating stories like Oluchi’s, we highlight the importance of creating inclusive spaces where talent, regardless of background, can thrive and drive meaningful change.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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The National Football League (www.NFL.com) hosted a women’s flag football coach education clinic in Cairo, Egypt as part of an ongoing strategy to accelerate the development and growth of the game across Africa.
36 participants from Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco received both classroom and on-field learning, as the clinic looked to improve the skills of new and experienced coaches – helping to promote and enable further long-term flag football engagement and participation on the continent.
Expert coaches delivering the sessions included:
Ameena Soliman – Philadelphia Eagles’ Director of Football Operations and Pro Scout
Afia Law – NFL Flag international development lead
Elisa De Santis – French national flag team captain and IFAF and NFL Global Flag Ambassador
Kris Durham – Head of Development at the NFL Academy Europe-Africa
Jordan Mabin – Football Development Manager at the NFL and former NFL player
Fast-paced and accessible for all, flag football is spearheading extraordinary participation growth worldwide with more than 20 million players in 100 countries and women and girls driving some of the largest growth in participation.
The women’s flag football coach education clinic in Cairo follows one held in Ghana in April 2025, which saw 50 coaches and officials from Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda attend the event as football development efforts continue to focus on engaging and upskilling more flag football coaches across the region.
The NFL also hosted a series of wraparound activities in Cairo including:
Led by two-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Africa Lead Osi Umenyiora, the NFL hosted a football talent identification event with prospects from 5 different African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya and South Africa. Athletes showcased their skills and abilities with the potential to advance to the NFL Academy Europe-Africa program in Loughborough, U.K. or the International Player Pathway (IPP) program — two core pillars of the NFL’s global football development initiatives.
In collaboration with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and the Egyptian Federation of American Football (EFAF), U13 teams of boys and girls from Africa competed in an NFL Flag Continental Championship. The tournament saw Egypt claim the title to become the first ever African youth continental champions.
Earlier in the week, 11 teams from eight nations, spanning the African continent, participated in Africa Flag – the first of IFAF’s continental championships series for 2025, with Nigeria crowned champions across both the men’s and women’s event. The tournament is the starting point for what will be the biggest and most important competition cycle in flag football history, culminating in the Olympic Games LA28.
– on behalf of National Football League (NFL).
Multimedia links:
Youth flag tournament – This is the one Egypt won – https://apo-opa.co/44ff9Ul
Talent ID and Women’s coaching clinic – https://apo-opa.co/4ehf3A5
For more information on IFAF:
Visit: www.AmericanFootball.sport
For more information on NFL Flag, the official flag football program of the NFL:
Visit www.NFLFlag.com
