Category: Africa

Source: APO

Canon Central & North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com), a global leader in imaging solutions, has forged a strategic partnership with SOS Children’s Villages in Senegal, a non-governmental organisation supporting vulnerable youth, to expand its flagship Miraisha skills development initiative. This collaboration underscores Canon’s commitment to sustainable youth empowerment and meaningful social impact, with Senegal identified as a key strategic focus market for 2026.

Expanding Canon’s African Footprint

Miraisha’s expansion in Senegal builds on Canon’s decade-long commitment to blending innovation with tangible community impact across Africa. Through this initiative, vulnerable youth and NGO staff gain access to hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world platforms that nurture creative expression and strengthen skills in photography, videography, and visual storytelling. Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director at Canon Central and North Africa, said, “Across Africa, young people are creative, resourceful, and driven to share their own stories. Our responsibility is to equip them with the tools, skills and confidence to transform that potential into sustainable livelihoods. Turn those talents into livelihoods Senegal is a key market for us, and this partnership reinforces our long-term commitment to advancing youth employability while empowering organisations to amplify their impact through compelling visual storytelling.”

Miraisha in Motion: Youth Creativity Meets Opportunity

Rooted in Canon’s philosophy of Kyosei, living and working together for the common good. The Miraisha initiative equips young people aged 18–35 with practical training in photography, videography, and digital storytelling. By combining technical expertise, mentorship, and real-world experience, the programme transforms creative potential into tangible career pathways and sustainable opportunities. This partnership serves as a natural extension of the mission of SOS Children’s Villages in Senegal. Since the mid-1970s, the NGO has supported children and youth with care, education, and community support across eight regions, emphasising the importance of developing employable and creative skills for resilience and independence.

Programme Highlights

Designed to deliver measurable long – term impact, the partnership provides targeted training and mentorship for youth and NGO staff. SOS communications teams will participate in an intensive three-day workshop focused on advocacy-driven photography and videography, strengthening their ability to communicate impact through powerful visuals. Youth workshops in Dakar and Kaolack will host 20–25 participants at each site, by the end of the training two chosen students will go on to receive a three-month mentorship with a dedicated Canon trainer to further enhance their skills.  To ensure sustainability, photography clubs across SOS Children’s Villages sites will be established to encourage peer learning, creative collaboration, and continuous skills development.

“This partnership empowers vulnerable youth by giving them more than just technical skills – it gives them confidence and a voice,” said Papa Daouda Diop, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Senegal. “Visual storytelling is crucial for our advocacy and fundraising, helping us share the realities our children face and the progress they make. Beyond stronger communications, these skills open new opportunities for employment and independence.”

Building on Proven Success Across Africa

The expansion of Miraisha in Senegal builds on a decade of transformative impact across Africa, where the programme has equipped thousands of young people in photography, videography, and digital storytelling. In Kenya, workshops at KCA University have enabled students to transition into freelance careers and creative entrepreneurship. In Nigeria, street photography sessions in Lagos enabled participants to build professional portfolios that led to paid assignments. In Morocco, collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages strengthened NGO communication channels while opening freelance opportunities for youth. These success stories demonstrate how Miraisha consistently translates creative skills into livelihoods and stronger community communications. Collectively, these success stories highlight Miraisha’s consistent ability to convert creative talent into sustainable livelihoods while strengthening how communities and organisations share their stories.

Senegal: A Strategic Focus Market

With over half its population under 25, Senegal faces both promise and challenge. Only 48.2% of youth participate in the labour market, compared to 69% of adults, reflecting persistent barriers to employment and limited access to practical training and skills in the creative industries. NGOs and community groups also require stronger communication tools to advocate and engage donors. Canon’s investment in Senegal directly responds to these interconnected needs, reinforcing the country’s strategic importance as a priority market for its social impact initiatives in 2026.

Looking Ahead

Canon’s partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Senegal underlines its ongoing investment in the country’s youth and creative industries. As Miraisha grows in West Africa, Canon aims to serve as a driver of community skills and empowerment. By enabling young people to tell their own stories through visual storytelling, the company is helping unlock pathways to economic opportunity while advancing meaningful social impact across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/4tYj6IP) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com

Source: APO

Polygon (https://PDOOH.co.za), Africa’s largest aggregated programmatic digital out of home (pDOOH) publisher network, has announced the launch of its first full-scale Display & Video 360 (DV360) campaign in Nigeria; a milestone that highlights the growing maturity of pDOOH across the continent.

The campaign, executed in Lagos State for Schweppes, represents the first time a Google-based enterprise media buying platform has been used to deliver a pDOOH campaign at scale in Nigeria. It also marks Polygon’s first fully realised campaign in the market, following a series of earlier test runs.

At the centre of the campaign is a highly localised dynamic creative optimisation (DCO) approach, which sees the development of more than 500 unique creative executions, each tailored to the precise location of a billboard and its surrounding retail environment. Consumers are served context-specific messaging that directs them to nearby Schweppes stockists, with copy dynamically calling out store names and proximity – for example, “Get yours at Sessy and Folly Enterprises – just 140m away!”

Says Remi du Preez, Managing Director at Polygon: “This campaign is an exciting example of where the medium is heading in Africa, as we move beyond static messaging into something far more responsive and relevant.”

The campaign is currently live across Lagos, with screens strategically positioned in high-traffic roadside environments. Polygon’s infrastructure enabled the geofencing of retail locations within a defined radius of each screen, ensuring that messaging remained locally relevant and actionable. The campaign roll-out also saw the use of one of West Africa’s largest digital screens – a 600sqm large-format site – creating an even greater sense of presence for the brand.

Beyond its immediate impact, Du Preez says the campaign serves as a broader proof point for the African market. “Programmatic DOOH in Africa is now fully operational, scalable and delivering at a global standard. What we’ve demonstrated here is that markets like Nigeria can support geo-targeted, data-driven, dynamic campaigns in the same way more mature markets do. The infrastructure works.”

He adds that unlocking new markets often depends on early adopters willing to test and learn, but that success tends to accelerate momentum quickly. “In every new market, you need a client that’s willing to lead. Once that first campaign proves itself, confidence follows – and we’re already seeing increased interest from advertisers looking to enter the Nigerian pDOOH space.”

Polygon currently has access to the majority of roadside DOOH inventory in Nigeria, spanning key urban centres including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Kano,  positioning the network to scale future campaigns rapidly.

Du Preez says that this latest campaign forms part of Polygon’s broader strategy to build a unified DOOH ecosystem across Africa, offering advertisers a single point of entry into a fragmented but rapidly evolving media landscape.

“And now – by linking media exposure to real-world proximity and behaviour – we’re moving closer to bridging the gap between brand and performance in OOH, which is something advertisers have wanted for years,” concludes Du Preez.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Polygon.

About Polygon:
Polygon is a programmatic aggregated digital out of home (DOOH) publisher network, making up a network of thousands of screens. The network is specifically designed to maximise performance in omni-channel advertising campaigns while integrating accredited audience data using world-class technology. Polygon offers advertisers a single point of entry into the continent’s largest network of DOOH inventory, allowing them to target audience sets across multiple touchpoints and venues along the customer journey.

Source: APO

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Enlit Africa 2026 returns to Cape Town with a focused opening sequence built for decision-makers who need practical clarity, not theory: an early-morning investment-led breakfast followed by two keynote anchors that tackle delivery realities in Africa’s power, energy and water systems.

Taking place on 19–21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Enlit Africa convenes stakeholders from across the electricity value chain and the water ecosystem. The programme is anchored by the 2026 theme: Compounding impact: small changes, outsized outcomes – a deliberate focus on the operational decisions, governance shifts and financing mechanisms that translate intent into measurable system performance.

19 May: Project & Investment Network Business Breakfast (07:00–09:30)

The week starts with the Project & Investment Network Business Breakfast, featuring keynote commentary from Bruce Whitfield followed by a fireside chat between Bruce Whitfield and Goolam Ballim (Chief Economist and Head of Research, Standard Bank Group).

The breakfast is designed for participants focused on bankability, procurement confidence and the practical steps that move projects from intent to execution. It unpacks what financiers are actually pricing, what evidence strengthens confidence in delivery, which behaviours and signals measurably improve fundability and why Africa is more geopolitically relevant than ever before.

19 May: Keynote 1 – Africa in the AI Age (10:30–12:55)

The first keynote anchor, Africa in the AI Age, is hosted by Enkromelle Andrew (Master of Ceremonies) and opens with a welcome from Chanelle Hingston (Group Director, Power, Energy & Water, VUKA Group).

A ministerial address by the Honourable Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy is followed by a focus on digital power, storage and AI, with a keynote contribution from David Sun (Vice President and CEO of Electric Power Digitalisation Business, Huawei).

The keynote then moves into a panel discussion on the role of AI and digital technologies in Africa’s energy evolution, with panellists including Carol Koech (CEO, GEAPP). The morning concludes with an in-conversation session moderated by James Mackay (CEO, Energy Council of South Africa) with senior business leaders including Dan Marokane (Group Chief Executive, Eskom), and leaders in industry.

20 May: Keynote 2 – How coordinated energy and water planning could change African resilience (09:30–12:00)

The second keynote anchor turns to a reality shaping resilience across the continent: energy security and water security are increasingly inseparable but planning and funding remain fragmented.

Under the guidance of MC Enkromelle Andrew, the session includes a perspective on the water–energy nexus from Sabine Dall’Omo (CEO, Siemens South Africa which convenes a high-level panel on taking water–energy coordination beyond theory, with panellists including Darshana Myronidis (Global Group Director of Sustainability, Virgin Group), Deerosh Maharaj (Executive Head: Energy, Infrastructure & Mining, Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking), Sabine Dall’Omo (CEO, Siemens South Africa), and JP van der Merwe (Chief Foreign Direct Investment Officer, Wesgro).

Across the Business Breakfast and both keynote anchors, Enlit Africa 2026 is designed to deliver high-signal discussions focused on delivery, governance and the actions that improve system outcomes at pace.

Enlit Africa, created by VUKA Group, will take place on 19–21 May 2026 at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa. The full programme and registration information are available at: www.Enlit-Africa.com 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

About Enlit Africa:
Enlit Africa convenes stakeholders across the power sector value chain to address the commercial and operational realities of delivery. The programme brings together leaders across finance, utilities, government, industry and technology to accelerate bankable investment, system readiness and measurable outcomes.

Enlit Africa is supported by leading industry sponsors already confirmed for 2026 including
– Huawei (Diamond Sponsor);
– ACTOM, Conlog, Eskom Rotek, Lucy Electric, Macrocomm, Ontec, Vodacom Business and Standard Bank (Platinum Sponsors);
– Allbro, Eskom, Department of Electricity and Energy, Landis + Gyr, Siemens and Steinmuller Africa (Gold Sponsors);
– ABB South Africa, Andritz Hydro GmbH, Australian Winders, CBi electric: African Cables, Doble Engineering, EBM, Enertech International, EWSETA, G3-Alliance,  Hitachi Energy South Africa, Holley Technology, McWade, WEG Africa, Howden Africa, Nuriflex, Revive Electrical Transformers, Neelkanth, and NECSA (Silver Sponsors).

More information and ticket information can be found at www.Enlit-Africa.com

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa’s energy, mining, mobility, green economy, and retail sectors through events, content, and strategic networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa. www.WeAreVUKA.com        
 

Source: APO

Parliament on Tuesday, 05 May 2026 passed the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 adopting amendments that significantly narrow its scope, remove contentious provisions and introduce safeguards aimed at aligning the law with the Constitution and existing regulatory frameworks.

The Bill, which had attracted intense public interest over controversial clauses in its original form was considered during a packed plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker, Anita Among.

The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Hon. David Muhoozi who moved and justified the motion, said Uganda faces challenges that threaten its ability to self-govern.

Presenting the majority report, the Chairperson of the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye said the scrutiny process drew from extensive consultations involving over 200 stakeholders across government institutions, civil society, the private sector, academia and the diaspora.

He noted that although the objective of protecting Uganda’s sovereignty is legitimate, the original drafting of the Bill was overly broad and risked far-reaching consequences.

“The amendments are intended to harmonise the definitions with the scope of the Bill to limit the application of the law to only agents of foreigners and not any other person,” the report stated in part.

A key outcome of the amendments is the restriction of the law strictly to agents of foreigners, with earlier provisions that applied to any person deleted. 

Clause 2 was revised to ensure the Act targets only individuals or entities acting on behalf of foreigners in specified influence-related activities, particularly in political processes and public decision-making.

Lawmakers also overhauled key definitions narrowing the meaning of “foreigner” and excluding Ugandan citizens living abroad. 

The definition of an “agent of a foreigner” was refined to cover only those who formally and knowingly act on behalf of foreign interests to influence policy, elections or national security.

“The amendments exclude the application of the Bill to Ugandan citizens residing outside Uganda,” the committee noted.

Parliament further deleted the definition of “person” and introduced clearer terms, including “political activities”, to enhance legal precision.

The House also scaled back the powers of the minister, removing provisions that allowed the minister to declare any person a foreigner and replacing broad discretionary authority with more structured, rules-based mechanisms.

The committee warned that the original provisions risked creating a permission-based system that would undermine legal certainty and constitutional safeguards.

In a significant policy shift, Parliament replaced blanket ministerial approval requirements, particularly on foreign funding, with a declaration regime. Clause 22 now requires agents of foreigners to declare funds rather than seek prior approval, a move the committee said would avoid disruption to financial flows and economic activity.

The amended law also introduces wide-ranging exemptions to protect key sectors. 

Financial institutions, academic and research bodies, health facilities and individuals receiving funds for legitimate commercial or domestic purposes are excluded.

Lawful financial flows such as diaspora remittances, foreign direct investment, trade and humanitarian assistance are explicitly protected.

To address concerns about duplication, Parliament adopted recommendations exempting entities already regulated under existing laws, with the committee warning that the original Bill risked creating overlaps in regulation.

Lawmakers further revised criminal provisions, introducing clearer definitions of offences and requiring proof of intent, while reducing penalties from 20 years’ imprisonment to a maximum of 10 years.

Several controversial provisions were removed, including mandatory mental and physical health examinations for applicants and inspection powers without court orders. Timelines and procedural safeguards were introduced to ensure transparency and adherence to natural justice.

Clause 13 of the Bill prohibits economic sabotage, attracting a fine of Shs2 billion for legal entities and Shs1 billion for individuals, or 10 years’ imprisonment.

Economic sabotage is defined as an agent of a foreigner who knowingly publishes false information or participates in any disruptive act that weakens, undermines or damages the economic system.

Despite the amendments, several Members of Parliament led by Hon. Jonathan Odur (UPC, Erute County South) tabled dissenting reports strongly opposing the Bill.
Odur said 18 amendments were proposed by the Attorney General rather than the originator of the Bill and alleged that the co-chairpersons of the committee were partial, claiming microphones of members opposed to the Bill were switched off.

Ndorwa County East, Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba said the Bill criminalises free speech and infringes on Article 1of the Constitution by interfering with the sovereignty of the people.

Kilak South County, Hon. Gilbert Olanya argued that the Bill fundamentally contradicts the Constitution and poses risks to civil liberties, the economy and Uganda’s global standing.

Hon. Abdallah Kiwanuka (NUP, Mukono County North) said several amendments were made to the Bill, estimating them at up to 87 per cent, which he argued exceeded the permissible threshold.

Busiro County East Representative, Hon. Medard Sseggona said there was insufficient consultation, arguing that Parliament conducted the process within its precincts without broader public engagement. He also described the Bill as redundant in addressing any mischief.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi raised a procedural concern on Clause 2, citing Rule 215(2) of the Rules of Procedure regarding minority reports. 
He questioned why members presenting the minority reports likeHon. Jonathan Odur, were given less time.

Ssenyonyi also raised concern over a letter reportedly written by the President disowning the Bill and argued that the extent of amendments effectively transformed it into a new piece of legislation.

“There is precedence set by this House where ministers have been told, with so many changes, just withdraw the Bill … because the majority of the clauses were amended,” he said.

The Speaker, however, said the amendments had not altered the object of the Bill.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

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The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) (www.SECAM.org), the body for communion, consultation, and coordination of the Catholic Church in Africa and the neighbouring islands, is deeply concerned about the recent events in the Republic of South Africa, which have been marked by acts of xenophobic violence against nationals of other African countries.

In these particularly grave circumstances, SECAM expresses its fraternal and ecclesial solidarity with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) for its prophetic stance in support of African migrants who are victims of discrimination and xenophobia. It also extends its sympathy to all victims of this violence and to their families, who have been severely affected.

At the heart of this crisis lies a fundamental challenge to the human conscience. Biblical revelation teaches that every person is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27), a truth that underpins the infinite dignity of every human being, regardless of their origin, nationality, tribe, culture, or migration status. SECAM strongly reiterates that this dignity must remain the primary criterion for all social organisation and public policy. Any violence directed against foreigners constitutes not only a grave violation of the human person but also a negation of the foundations of universal brotherhood and the Africa we want.

SECAM reaffirms the need for a balance between the legitimate sovereignty of states and the imperative requirement for migrants to respect the laws and customs of their host country. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.” (CCC, n. 2241).

The acts of violence recently witnessed in South Africa constitute a serious violation of African principles and continental law. They undermine the fundamental rights guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, notably the right to life, dignity, security, and equality before the law. They also contradict the continent’s core values, such as African solidarity, the spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are – and the ideals of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.

In light of this situation, SECAM calls on the Government of the Republic of South Africa to take urgent, concrete, and sustainable measures to ensure the protection of all persons living on its territory, in accordance with its continental and international commitments. It urges the Government to conduct impartial investigations, identify and prosecute those responsible for these acts, put an end to all forms of vigilante justice, and strengthen the legitimate authority of the State.

SECAM also calls on the African Union to fully assume its role as guardian of continental values, to ensure the effective implementation of African legal instruments on human rights, and to encourage the establishment of prevention and early warning mechanisms against xenophobic violence. The credibility of Africa, which aspires to become a key player on the international stage, is at stake.

SECAM calls on people to reject all forms of violence, all rhetoric of hatred and stigmatisation, to reject discourse that divides African peoples, and to promote a culture of encounter, dialogue, and African brotherhood.

Following the example of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–35), we are all called to rediscover an ethic of closeness, where the stranger is not perceived as a threat but recognised as a brother or sister of whom we are the guardians.

At this critical juncture, SECAM reaffirms its resolute commitment to migrants, the poor, and the most vulnerable, to promote a society founded on justice, peace, and human dignity, as well as on dialogue between African peoples and nations. It invites all men and women of good will to work tirelessly towards building a reconciled Africa, faithful to its profound vocation to be, from Cairo to Cape Town, a family of peoples united in dignity and solidarity.

Finally, SECAM assures all victims of xenophobic violence of its spiritual, pastoral, and supportive closeness: dear brothers and sisters, you are not alone; we will never abandon you!

+ Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo
Archbishop of Kinshasa
President of SECAM

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).