Category: Africa

Source: APO

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African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), through its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, has partnered with Gebeya, a pan-African technology company with a proprietary Large Language Model and infrastructure designed for African language users, to launch the CANEX Create-thon 2026.

With a total prize pool of US$50,000, the competition is designed to help African creators turn original ideas into working creative projects, bringing together musicians, filmmakers, storytellers, game developers and other creative builders to develop projects in three categories: music, video and gaming.

Participants will have access to Gebeya’s Dala Studio platform, computing resources and practical technical support to help them develop their ideas, during an intensive four-day creation sprint scheduled to take place from 20 to 24 August 2026.

Unlike a conventional pitch competition, the CANEX Create-thon will challenge participants to build and submit working prototypes or completed creative projects. The initiative is intended to demonstrate what African creators can produce when they have access to appropriate digital tools, resources, guidance, funding and opportunities for wider exposure.

Mr. Temwa Gondwe- Director, Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank, said:

“Africa’s creators are visible and have the digital talent but have often lacked the financial backing and access to digital tools to grow their trade.  The CANEX Create-thon bridges this gap by equipping our creators with access to technology to turn their viral ideas into viable long-term businesses. Through CANEX, we are enabling creators retain more value from their work, and to build a competitive base in regional and global markets. It’s time African creators captured the true financial value of their global influence.”

The CANEX Create-thon competition will be open to amateur, emerging and established creators across Africa. Participants will not require the backing of a production company, access to a conventional studio or an existing audience.

Individual creators and teams will be eligible to participate, subject to the competition guidelines. Throughout the creation sprint, participants will be supported by between 30 and 40 ambassadors from Gebeya’s community network. The ambassadors will help participants navigate the Dala Studio platform, address technical challenges and make effective use of the computing resources available.

 Mr. Amadou Daffe, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Gebeya, said:

“The commercial momentum behind African creativity is already evident. Recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa have grown by more than 20 per cent in a single year, the continent’s gaming market continues to expand, and Nigeria’s film industry remains among the world’s largest by production volume. However, many creators still lack access to the technology and production infrastructure needed to realise the full potential of their ideas. Through Dala Studio, the CANEX Create-thon will place practical digital tools directly in the hands of creators and challenge them to build original music, video and gaming projects. We want to help African creators move from inspiration to execution and from experimentation to products that can reach audiences, attract partners and create commercial value.”

The competition will recognise and award first, second and third place in each of the music, video and gaming categories. First-place winners will receive US$7,000, second-place winners US$3,500 and third-place winners US$1,500. Additional awards of US$500 will recognise qualifying finalists, in line with the competition guidelines.

All eligible submissions will first undergo technology-assisted screening to confirm compliance with the competition requirements. Approved entries will then proceed to a public voting stage, which will determine the top 100 projects. An expert panel drawn from the creative, technology and business sectors will assess the shortlisted projects and select the winners.

The first-place winner in each category will receive the opportunity to attend CANEX WKND 2026 (https://WKND.CANEX.Africa), which will take place at the National Theatre in Lagos, Nigeria, from 5 to 8 November 2026.

Beyond the financial awards, selected winners will gain exposure through Afreximbank’s CANEX network and have the opportunity to engage with creators, businesses, investors, policymakers and creative-industry leaders.

CANEX Create-thon forms part of Afreximbank’s goal to develop and commercialise Africa’s creative and cultural industries. It will also establish a replicable model for identifying creative-technology talent and supporting the development of commercially relevant African creative products.

Registration will open on 30 July 2026 and close on 19 August 2026. Creators can register and obtain the full competition guidelines, including eligibility, intellectual property and submission requirements, at https://apo-opa.co/4yLdsw9.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

Abigail Abebe
Digital Marketing Manager, Gebeya Inc.
abigail.abebe@gebeya.com

About Afreximbank: 
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A strong supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+) and Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

About Gebeya: 
Gebeya is a pan-African AI technology company deploying AI for the next billion users by building localized digital infrastructure designed for Africa’s realities. Through AI-powered tools, accessible digital systems, and language-first experiences, Gebeya makes technology more usable, relevant, and inclusive for individuals, businesses, and institutions across the continent.

Source: APO

Fish feeds families, pays school fees and holds communities together along Togo’s coast and inland waters. Whether it continues to do so depends less on what the country’s policies say than on whether they are implemented — and that is the question stakeholders have come to Lomé to settle.

The Government of Togo, working with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), has convened national stakeholders to review and validate recommendations for strengthening the country’s fisheries and aquaculture policies, investment planning and climate resilience. The consultation and validation workshop is held under the second phase of the Fisheries Governance Project (FishGov2), implemented by AU-IBAR with financial support from the European Union.

Around the table are government institutions, fisheries and aquaculture organisations, research institutions, civil society, the private sector, non-state actors and development partners — the same actors who will have to carry the reforms once the workshop closes.

A clear test set from the opening session

Opening the workshop, Dr Lombo Yad, Technical Adviser and representative of the Government of Togo, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a productive, inclusive and sustainably managed sector — and set the standard against which the meeting should be measured.

“Fisheries and aquaculture are essential to food security, nutrition, employment and the livelihoods of many communities in Togo. This consultation provides an important opportunity to identify policy gaps, strengthen coordination and agree on practical reforms that respond to our national priorities.”

— Dr Lombo Yad, Technical Adviser, Government of Togo

“The success of this process will depend on our ability to move from consultation to action.”

— Dr Lombo Yad, Technical Adviser, Government of Togo

The recommendations, he said, must strengthen institutions, improve resource management and generate tangible benefits for fishing and aquaculture communities.

Measuring national policy against continental commitments

Participants are examining how far Togo’s fisheries and aquaculture policies, strategies and legislative frameworks align with the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) and other continental and global instruments. The PFRS sets out what African Union Member States have agreed on: sustainable fisheries management, responsible aquaculture development, regional cooperation, trade, institutional strengthening and the contribution of aquatic resources to food security and economic growth.

The exercise is deliberately practical: identify the gaps, document what already works, and name the priority actions that can realistically be taken next.

Speaking on behalf of Dr Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, Rafik Nouaili said alignment cannot stop at the review of documents — it has to show up in planning, investment, coordination and delivery.

“This workshop represents a strategic step in the implementation of FishGov2 and reflects our collective commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient governance of fisheries and aquaculture in Togo and across Africa.”

— Rafik Nouaili, AU-IBAR

“Together, we must ensure that fisheries and aquaculture become pillars of economic transformation, resilient food systems and the protection of aquatic ecosystems. This requires policies that are coherent, institutions that work together and recommendations that are realistic and implementable.”

— Rafik Nouaili, AU-IBAR

The sector that keeps missing the investment plans

One message runs through the consultation: fisheries and aquaculture are too often absent from the plans that decide where money goes. Despite their weight in food security, employment and rural development, they remain under-represented in national agricultural investment planning.

Participants are therefore assessing how the sector is currently reflected in Togo’s investment plans and how it can be positioned more firmly in national food-system planning, climate-resilience programmes and public and private investment frameworks. Getting that right is what unlocks financing for fisheries infrastructure, aquaculture production, value chains, research, data systems, ecosystem protection and community resilience.

Climate pressure is already visible on the water

Fisheries and aquaculture support the food, nutrition, income and livelihoods of millions of people across Africa. That contribution is being eroded by weak institutional coordination, inadequate investment, policy gaps, environmental degradation, overexploitation of aquatic resources and the impacts of climate change.

Degraded aquatic habitats and changing climatic conditions reduce fish production, disrupt breeding and nursery areas and weaken the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities. The Lomé workshop is therefore pressing for fisheries and aquaculture to be written into national agricultural, environmental and climate-adaptation plans rather than treated separately from them.

What Togo expects to walk away with

Participants are reviewing the findings of national policy studies, testing the proposed recommendations and adding technical input to strengthen the final reports. The process is expected to deliver:

•           validated recommendations for improving Togo’s fisheries and aquaculture policies;

•           stronger alignment with the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy and relevant international instruments;

•           clearer priorities for climate-change adaptation and environmental management;

•           improved integration of fisheries and aquaculture into national agricultural investment plans; and

•           stronger coordination among institutions and stakeholders — and clear national ownership of the reforms.

AU-IBAR reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Togo and other African Union Member States in strengthening fisheries and aquaculture governance, and in building cooperation among governments, Regional Economic Communities, technical institutions, development partners and the private sector.

“We share a common responsibility to accelerate the reforms required to secure the future of our aquatic resources. Through cooperation and a strong commitment to implementation, we can build a fisheries and aquaculture sector that is more resilient, equitable and prosperous for present and future generations.”

— Rafik Nouaili, AU-IBAR

The workshop feeds the broader FishGov2 objective of coherent implementation of the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy at national, regional and continental levels — and supports Togo’s ambition to make fisheries and aquaculture visible drivers of food security, livelihoods and sustainable economic development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

Source: APO

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, investors are looking beyond resource potential to the policy, market and geopolitical factors that will shape Africa’s next generation of mining projects. At African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, leading research and advisory firms will examine the trends influencing investment decisions and capital flows across the continent.

Taking place October 14–16 in Cape Town, AMW 2026 will feature representatives from Moore Global, Embellie Advisory and Chatham House, who will share insights on the technologies, investment strategies and geopolitical developments reshaping Africa’s mining landscape.

With Africa holding approximately 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, improving operational efficiency has become a strategic priority. During the Leveraging Advanced Technologies & AI to Transform Mining Practices for Sustainable Growth session, Danie Dörfling, Head of Business Development at Moore Global, will examine how automation and AI are helping reduce costs, improve productivity and accelerate project development. His participation comes as advisory firms increasingly support mining companies in identifying the technologies best suited to optimize operations across the mining value chain. The discussion is particularly timely as countries including Burundi, the DRC and Zambia increasingly adopt AI to accelerate mineral exploration.

With gold prices remaining above $4,000 per ounce in 2026, African governments are expanding local gold purchase programs to formalize artisanal mining and strengthen domestic value creation. Against this backdrop, research and advisory firms are providing the market intelligence and strategic guidance needed to support policy development, investment decisions and long-term sector growth. Matt Banton, Head of Mining at Moore Global, will join the Expanding Africa’s Gold Output panel to discuss strategies for improving competitiveness, increasing production and advancing downstream value addition.

Global competition for critical minerals continues to reshape investment priorities and mineral diplomacy, prompting African governments to strengthen partnerships that can unlock long-term capital while advancing industrialization goals. Olivier Barbeau, Managing Partner at Moore Global, will moderate the Mineral Diplomacy & Strategic Partnerships session, exploring how African countries can develop investment frameworks that attract sustainable investment while maximizing long-term value from their mineral resources.

Meanwhile, shifting trade policies, supply chain realignment and resource security strategies are reshaping Africa’s investment landscape. The session Africa’s Mining Opportunity in the Geopolitical Sphere will feature Remi Piet, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Embellie Advisory, alongside Christopher Vandome, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, as they examine how evolving geopolitical dynamics, trade tensions and changing alliances are creating new opportunities for African mineral-producing nations.

As investors increasingly evaluate Africa’s role in supplying the minerals needed for the global energy transition, market intelligence and strategic advisory services have become critical to identifying opportunities and managing risk. By bringing together leading research organizations, advisory firms, policymakers and investors, AMW 2026 will provide a platform for informed dialogue that supports investment, partnership development and long-term growth across Africa’s mining sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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Speaking on the opening day of the Executive Council, Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Ambassador Barry Faure, warned of the mounting economic pressure of the war in the middle east and called for urgent implementation of the Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and the need for diversified trade routes.

On the matter of economic activity and trade, Seychelles reported that the country’s tourism arrivals significantly fell by 40% in the first week of the conflict at the height of the disruptions. Several months following this development arrivals remains down by 12.5% compared to the same period last year. Minister Faure further emphasized that this challenge is further being compounded by rising shipping costs, fuel surcharges, all of which have direct impact on the Seychellois people. Minister Faure therefore, highlighted the need for stronger connectivity between the continent and its island and coastal states through regional shipping lines as a means to increase intra-african trade.

While the World Bank ranks Seychelles as having the highest GDP per capita in Africa, Minister Faure urged the Council not to measure resilience by wealth alone, stressing that a population of just 100,000 leaves it with a far narrower margin to absorb global shocks, and calling for greater recognition of the particular vulnerabilities faced by small island states though the implementation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability index (MVI) in any assessment of economic resilience.

The Republic of Mauritius, a fellow small developing island state which is also encountering similar challenges arising from the conflict in the Middle East, in their intervention extended their support towards the implementation of the MVI, a testament to the solidarity between the two countries.

Minister Faure is being accompanied by Mr. Conrad Mederic, Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ms. Trisha Hoareau, Second Secretary in the Embassy, and Mrs. Nisha Chengo, Second Secretary in the Ministry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Republic of Seychelles.