Category: Africa

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Conference to reflect on 30 years of the PPSA

Source: Government of South Africa

The 30 Year Anniversary International Conference of the Public Protector is set to reflect and celebrate the role played by the independent institution’s existence in South Africa’s development.

Acting spokesperson of the Public Protector of South Africa (PPSA), Ndili Msoki said the historic event will bring together experts and leaders from across South Africa and the globe, including civil society, academia and faith leaders to reflect on the three decades of the institution.

“The program is packed with reflections of our transformative journey and discussions on combating maladministration, corruption, enhancing ethical governance and shaping a resilient future for democracy and service delivery in public administration,” Msoki said in an interview with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Friday.

To be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (ICC) from 13-15 October 2025, the conference will be held under the theme: “30 years of strengthening constitutional democracy- a transformative journey.”

Attendees of the conference will among others deliberate on the enhancement of public participation and citizen-centred governance and the transformative journey of the PPSA in strengthening good governance and accountability. It will also place the spotlight on the building of consensus on the meaning of democracy and its viability.

Msoki added that established in terms of section 181 of the Constitution, with a mandate to support and strengthen constitutional democracy, the PPSA is an institution that the people of South Africa can rely on. 

“We are on a drive to digitise the institution,” he said adding that the move streamlines and makes processes efficient. The digitisation also give complainants access to the progress of reports the institution is working on.

“It also allows them to track the movement of their complaints online and free of charge. This makes it possible for people anywhere in the country, anyone who has access to the internet, to be able to access our services by means of lodging complaints and following up on them.

“We’re also in the process of amending the Public Protector Act, which is the piece of legislation that gives rise to the Public Protector, to, amongst other things, strengthen our independence, and also to criminalise the non-implementation of the Public Protector’s remedial action,” he explained.

The PPSA has also embarked on a drive to improve the skills of its investigators.

“We’ve been lucky to have received an allocation from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account which reaffirms that the Public Protector is an anti-corruption agency, because those funds are reserved for those sorts of institutions,” he said.

The PPSA entered into an agreement with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners in September 2024 to collaborate in areas of mutual interest where both institutions committed to work together in the areas of training and combating fraud.

The first person to hold the office of the PPSA was Selby Baqwa, appointed on the inception of the office in 1995. He was succeeded in 2002 by Lawrence Mushwana, in 2009 by Thuli Madonsela and in 2016 by Busisiwe Mkhwebane. The current Public Protector is Kholeka Gcaleka who assumed office with effect from 1 November 2023. 

Gcaleka is among those expected to address the event as well as former Public Protectors, representatives from oversight bodies as well as Cabinet Ministers. –SAnews.gov.za

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Ministro do Mar enaltece cooperação com Japão no Fórum Económico Japão–Cabo Verde

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Ministro do Mar, Jorge Santos, que lidera a delegação cabo-verdiana atualmente em missão ao Japão, destacou na quinta-feira, 9 de outubro, a excelência da cooperação entre Cabo Verde e o Japão, durante a sua intervenção no Fórum Económico Japão–Cabo Verde, realizado em Tóquio.

Um evento de grande importância para a promoção da cooperação económica com o Japão, realizado no ano em que se comemoram os 50 anos do estabelecimento das relações diplomáticas entre os dois países, iniciadas a 11 de julho de 1975, e que teve lugar num momento igualmente marcante para Cabo Verde, que celebra o 50.º aniversário da sua independência nacional.

O governante destacou os projetos estruturantes desenvolvidos ao longo dos anos com o apoio japonês, nomeadamente nas áreas das infraestruturas, pescas, segurança alimentar e educação, bem como a participação ativa de Cabo Verde na Expo Osaka 2025, que celebrará, já nesta sexta-feira, o Dia Nacional de Cabo Verde, uma data simbólica para reforçar a cultura, identidade e projeção internacional do nosso país.

Perante uma audiência composta por empresários e investidores japoneses de diversos setores, o Ministro apresentou as ambições estratégicas de desenvolvimento de Cabo Verde, sustentadas no Plano Estratégico de Desenvolvimento Sustentável II (2022–2026) e na agenda “Cabo Verde – Ambição 2030”.

“As nossas prioridades incluem a diversificação do turismo, o desenvolvimento das economias azul, digital e verde, a transição energética, a ação climática e o fortalecimento do capital humano”, afirmou.

O Ministro destacou ainda a importância do vasto território marítimo cabo-verdiano (734.000 km² de Zona Económica Exclusiva) como um ativo fundamental para o desenvolvimento sustentável do país e para a captação de investimentos.

Expressando o firme interesse de Cabo Verde em atrair investimento japonês, o governante garantiu que o país oferece condições únicas e vantajosas, nomeadamente, a estabilidade política e institucional, segurança jurídica, paridade cambial com o Euro, liberdade de circulação de capitais, incentivos ao investimento, boa governança, acesso preferencial aos mercados europeu e americano, integração plena na Zona de Comércio Livre Continental Africana, e um clima atrativo para viver e investir.

No que toca às infraestruturas de apoio ao setor privado, o Ministro sublinhou os investimentos em curso, como a expansão de aeroportos e portos, o novo porto de cruzeiros, e o desenvolvimento de parques tecnológicos voltados para a inovação.

Um dos destaques da sua intervenção foi a economia azul, setor em que Cabo Verde pretende afirmar-se como plataforma marítima e logística internacional, com oportunidades de negócio em áreas como a pesca, aquacultura, transbordo, bunkering, reparação naval e investigação marinha.

Referindo-se à frutífera cooperação já existente com o Japão no setor das pescas, o Ministro mencionou a presença da empresa Japan Tuna, reforçando o interesse em expandir esta parceria com outras empresas japonesas do ramo.

“O nosso objetivo é posicionar Cabo Verde como uma base logística de excelência para a pesca japonesa no Atlântico Médio”, afirmou.

No setor do turismo, pilar central da economia cabo-verdiana, o país está empenhado em diversificar a sua oferta, incluindo o turismo cultural, náutico, de cruzeiros e de natureza, estando plenamente aberto a turistas e investidores japoneses.

O Ministro apresentou ainda oportunidades nos setores energético e da água, destacando a meta de atingir 35% de penetração de energias renováveis até 2026, e 50% até 2030. No setor da água, sublinhou os investimentos em dessalinização e reutilização segura de águas residuais, com forte integração de energias limpas, visando maior sustentabilidade hídrica.

“O objetivo do Governo de Cabo Verde é construir resiliência económica, ambiental e social, promovendo um desenvolvimento sustentável”, enfatizou o Ministro do Mar que assumiu que o Governo está convicto de que os investimentos japoneses gerarão benefícios significativos tanto para os investidores como para o país, contribuindo para uma parceria mutuamente vantajosa e duradoura.

Na parte final da sua intervenção, o Ministro convidou oficialmente os empresários presentes a visitarem Cabo Verde, conhecerem de perto as oportunidades existentes e investirem num país estável, aberto ao mundo e preparado para receber investimento de qualidade.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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Ministro da Saúde acompanha andamento das obras do Hospital da Trindade retomadas em Setembro

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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Com o objetivo de se inteirar do andamento das obras em curso para a construção de raiz do novo Hospital da Trindade e acompanhar de perto a execução do projeto, o Ministro da Saúde Jorge Figueiredo, deslocou-se, ontem, 09 de outubro, às instalações do Hospital da Trindade para uma visita de trabalho.

A visita que durou mais de uma hora, serviu para o Governante constatar, in loco, o nível de andamento dos trabalhos, conhecer as especificidades do projeto, os constrangimentos enfrentados e os prazos assumidos.

Jorge Figueiredo, manteve ainda encontro com os engenheiros e arquitetos da ICV (Infraestrutura de Cabo Verde), onde explicaram as particularidades do projeto que inicialmente era apenas para remodelação do edifício construído nos anos 80, e que devido aos graves problemas encontrados na estrutura do edifício, a quando da demolição ditou um novo projeto para reconstrução de uma nova infraestrutura de raiz.

Os trabalhos retomaram-se deste o dia 04 de setembro, com um prazo de execução de 14 meses e um orçamento de mais de 230 mil contos financiados através do fundo Kuwait e do Governo de Cabo Verde.

O objetivo do Governo é construir um novo edifício moderno para melhorar as condições de atendimento aos pacientes no serviço de psiquiatria do Hospital Dr. Agostinho Neto e dotar o país de um centro com melhores condições estruturais e que respeite as normas e os protocolos internacionais para o tratamento das patologias mentais.

Trata-se de um empreendimento de saúde com 5 blocos que vão desde área administrativa, a enfermaria, o bloco técnico áreas para cozinha e conexos e uma área para oficinas ocupacionais como ateliê de música, entre outros.

Nesta visita, o Ministro da Saúde esteve acompanhado do Conselho de Administração do HAN, da Diretora Nacional da Saúde em Substituição, dos Diretores dos Serviços de Seguimento e Avaliação e de Gestão das infraestruturas e Equipamentos de saúde, bem como do Diretor do Serviço de Psiquiatria do HAN.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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Sudan: United Nation (UN) Human Rights Chief appalled by continued killing of civilians in El Fasher

Source: APO – Report:

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday condemned in the strongest terms the continued killing and injuring of civilians in El Fasher. This follows reports that at least 53 civilians were killed and more than 60 injured by the Rapid Support Forces between 5 and 8 October alone. Preliminary information from the area suggests the number may be even higher.

“I am appalled by the RSF’s endless and wanton disregard for civilian life,” said Türk. “Despite repeated calls, including my own, for specific care to be taken to protect civilians, they continue instead to kill, injure, and displace civilians, and to attack civilian objects, including IDP shelters, hospitals and mosques, with total disregard for international law. This must end.”

The UN Human Rights Office has confirmed that at least 46 civilians were killed in artillery and drone strikes in the Abu Shouk and Daraja Oula neighbourhoods and the Abu Shouk IDP camp. This includes at least 14 civilians who were killed during attacks on 5 and 7 October on the Saudi Hospital – the last major functioning health care facility in North Darfur. The hospital, which has repeatedly come under attack, was already operating at a reduced capacity, before suffering further substantial damage in these latest attacks.

At least seven other civilians were reportedly summarily executed in home-to-home searches during RSF ground attacks. Initial information indicates that these killings may have been ethnically motivated, targeting members of the Zaghawa community.

“I urge the RSF – indeed all parties to the conflict – to draw lessons from this week’s conviction of Ali Kushayb by the International Criminal Court for the war crimes and crimes against humanity he committed in Darfur,”said Türk.

The High Commissioner also reiterated his call for UN Member States with direct influence to take urgent measures to protect civilians and to prevent further atrocities in El Fasher and across Darfur.

– on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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Dr Kalilou SYLLA succeeds commissioner Massandje Toure-Litse as Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture

Source: APO – Report:

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A citizen of Côte d’Ivoire and holder of a PhD in Economics from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan, where he has been teaching since 1997, Dr Kalilou SYLLA took up his post on the 1st of October 2025 as Head of the ECOWAS Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, replacing Ms Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, who has been called to other high responsibilities by her country.

Prior to his appointment, Dr Kalilou SYLLA, who has 27 years of professional experience, served as Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire, where he coordinated foreign trade policy and served as chief negotiator for trade agreements and at the WTO. He has also worked to mobilise and support private sector actors on issues related to foreign trade, as well as the modernisation and digitalisation of the foreign trade sector.

Former Chief of Staff at the Ministry for African Integration, he coordinated negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and relations with regional organisations such as ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS and the African Union.

His time at the ECOWAS Commission between 2007 and 2012, as Head of the Office of the Commissioner for Macroeconomic Policies, enabled him to acquire in-depth knowledge of the institutional functioning of the organisation.

He has also headed pan-African structures such as the Network of West African Farmers’ Organisations and Agricultural Producers (ROPPA) and the Pan-African Farmers Organisation (PAFO), where he has helped to strengthen the capacities of agricultural actors and mobilise innovative financing for the sector.

A specialist in macroeconomic, trade and agricultural policies, Dr Kalilou SYLLA has worked on the formulation and implementation of regional integration programmes, strategic planning, the free movement of goods and people, and the competitiveness of agricultural sectors. He also has expertise in managing projects funded by partners such as IFAD, the European Union, the World Bank and UNDP, demonstrating recognised expertise in resource mobilisation and international cooperation.

At the head of the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, the new Commissioner’s main mission will be to strengthen the economic and food resilience of the West African region.

His priorities will be to accelerate agricultural transformation, promote food security, stimulate regional trade and strengthen the competitiveness of ECOWAS economies in a global context marked by crises and geopolitical changes.

The new Commissioner has several publications to his credit. These include “Corruption on the roads in Africa in a context of conflict. Experience of Côte d’Ivoire. Multidisciplinary Journal of Economics and Social Affairs”, published in 2018, as well as “Socio-economic impact of the 2002 political-military conflict in Côte d’Ivoire”. In 2015, he published “Youth in West Africa, a potential for building”; and in 2012, a book entitled “Emerging from underdevelopment: what new paths for West Africa? (Volume 1) Historical aspects, institutions and integration.

He has also received several distinctions, including that of Officer of the Ivorian Order of Merit in 2019, winner of the CODESRIA Prize for Research on Civil Society and AIDS in 2003, the Prize for Excellence in Economics from the University of Abidjan in 2000 and the Prize for Excellence for the best doctoral thesis in economics from the University of Abidjan in 2018. Dr Kalilou SYLLA is fluent in French and English. He has a basic knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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Seychelles participates in the 24th Republic of Seychelles participated in the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya

Source: APO – Report:

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The Republic of Seychelles participated in the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit of Heads of State and Government, held from 7 to 9 October 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya. The Seychelles delegation was led by Mr. Conrad Mederic, Permanent Representative to the African Union and Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles accredited to Kenya. He was accompanied by Ms. Trisha Hoareau, Second Secretary from the Department of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles.

During the Summit, H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, officially assumed the Chairmanship of COMESA, taking over from H.E. Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi. The symbolic handover was marked by the presentation of the COMESA gavel, signifying the transfer of leadership.

The Summit was convened under the theme: “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth’’. Discussions emphasised improving access to markets and strengthening regional and global value chains. In addition to economic discussions, the Heads of State reviewed the outcomes of the 20th Meeting of the COMESA Committee on Peace and Security, convened virtually from 29 to 30 September 2025, underscoring the importance of peace and stability as prerequisites for sustainable economic development.

During the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 8 October 2025, Ambassador Mederic provided an update on Seychelles’ ongoing Presidential elections, following the first round held on 27th September. He reaffirmed the country’s commitment to democratic principles and constitutional processes. He also expressed the Government’s appreciation to the COMESA Secretariat for the pre-election assessment conducted in July, and to the COMESA-AU observer mission for their continued support throughout the electoral processes.

The next Summit will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2026.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Republic of Seychelles.

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Vocational Training to Youth in Central Region

Source: APO – Report:

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Three months of vocational training has been provided to 492 youth, including 290 females, in Tiravolo sub-zone in the Central Region. The training was organized in collaboration with the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students branch in the Central Region and Vocational Training Centers.

Accordingly, 122 youth were trained in administration, 91 in first aid, 81 in computer technology, 78 in video and graphics editing, 66 in ideology, and 54 in video and still photography.

Noting the importance of equipping youth with vocational skills alongside academic education, Ms. Leul Asrat, administrator of the sub-zone, called on the trainees to apply the knowledge they gained from the training for the benefit of the society.

Mr. Samson Kifle, head of the union branch in the region, on his part, said that the program was part of the union’s mission to equip youth with vocational skills and called on the trainees to continue developing their skills through practice.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

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Senior Sudanese Delegation Returned Home

Source: APO


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A senior Sudanese delegation led by Prime Minister Dr. Kamil Idris returned home in the late morning hours today, concluding a fruitful two-day working visit.

In a statement to the local press at the airport, Dr. Kamil stated that the agreements previously reached in the political, social, cultural, and economic fields to further strengthen the brotherly and historical ties between the two countries will be reinvigorated to ensure their full implementation in the period ahead.

Dr. Kamil further underlined Sudan’s appreciation of Eritrea’s firm position calling for the resolution of the conflict in Sudan by the Sudanese people themselves, with the modest contribution of its friends and neighbors, and without the compounding interference of extraneous forces.

The senior Sudanese delegation included Ambassador Mohi El-Din Salem, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Khalid Ali Aleisir, Minister of Culture, Information, and Tourism.

The delegation was seen off at Asmara International Airport by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Ambassador Isa Ahmed Isa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

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Government, TikTok talks collaboration

Source: Government of South Africa

Government, TikTok talks collaboration

Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Kenny Morolong, on Thursday met with the executives from TikTok South Africa to explore potential areas of collaboration between government and the popular short-form video platform.

The engagement, held at GCIS in Hatfield, Pretoria, formed part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between government and digital platforms in promoting accurate information, online safety and digital literacy among citizens.

TikTok’s government relations team outlined the platform’s ongoing work with regulators and policymakers, particularly in enforcing its community guidelines, a global code of conduct outlining what is and is not permissible on the platform. 

The company said it works closely with government institutions, including the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), to counter misinformation, especially during election periods.

“Our approach to content moderation combines artificial intelligence tools and human moderators based in Singapore and London. We take down harmful content and respond to requests from government in line with our moderation workflows and community guidelines,” the TikTok team explained. 

The platform also contributes to digital skills development through campaigns that promote responsible online behaviour and educate users on how to report content or understand how TikTok’s algorithms operate.

Deputy Minister Morolong welcomed the engagement, noting that the partnership could support government’s broader communication objectives, including combating misinformation and disinformation online.

“Collaboration in this regard would be an important one as the role of GCIS is to ensure that the public is informed,” Morolong said, adding that the partnership will go a long way.

Morolong explained that the GCIS is entrusted with providing information to the general public.

During the meeting, TikTok proposed exploring opportunities to train government communicators on the platform’s content policies and verification processes, and to whitelist official government accounts to prevent automated systems from misclassifying government adverts as political content.

TikTok reaffirmed its global policy on political advertising, stating that while it does not allow creators to campaign for political parties or candidates, it supports public-interest and government-centric campaigns aimed at education and awareness.

The platform further highlighted opportunities for government to partner with vetted TikTok creators to amplify messages on national campaigns. 

“We can assist by identifying content creators aligned with government messaging, provided we receive clear briefs on the objectives, audience, and key messages,” TikTok’s operations team said.

The company also shared insights into its monetisation programme for content creators, data analytics capabilities for campaign measurement, and its contribution to the Audio-Visual and Online Safety White Paper process in South Africa.

GCIS Acting Deputy Director-General for Content Processing and Dissemination, Sandile Nene echoed the Deputy Minister’s comments, saying TikTok platform would assist government messaging on the public. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin

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Affluenz Magazine Celebrates 50 Women Transforming Real Estate in Africa and the Middle East

Source: APO

Affluenz Magazine, a leading luxury and business publication, unveils a landmark feature spotlighting 50 Women Transforming Real Estate Across Africa and the Middle East. This edition elevates the industry’s most influential female leaders, showcasing how they combine profitability with purpose to drive one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors. It is also part of the magazine’s wider initiative to secure developmental funding for real estate firms across the Middle East and Africa.

From Lagos to Dubai, Accra to Kuwait City, Nairobi to Cairo, these women are redefining how real estate is financed, developed, and consumed. They are setting global standards in sustainability, driving inclusive growth, and proving that women are not just participants in the industry but architects of its future.

In Nigeria, Saadiya Aliyu, Managing Director and CEO of Urban Shelter Limited, continues to expand one of West Africa’s most respected real estate portfolios. Alongside her, Ichechi Chinarhu Okonkwo, CEO of Victoria Crest Homes, and Dr. Jayne Obioma Onwumere, co-founder and Group Managing Director of PWAN Group, are pioneering affordable housing solutions that bring homeownership within reach for thousands of families. Margaret Oki, Chief Executive Officer of Orwell Properties Management Limited, is emerging as a formidable force in property management, building a business model that aligns long-term asset value with tenant satisfaction. Sade Balogun, Founder and CEO of Amen Estate and Director of Redbricks Homes, is redefining luxury residential communities in Nigeria, while Dr. Ibukun Adebayo, Managing Director of Rock Realty, is spearheading innovative approaches to urban real estate investments.

In Ghana, Dr. Theresa Oppong-Beeko, CEO of Manet Group, has developed some of the country’s largest residential and commercial projects, while Hanna Atiase, CEO of E. Wells Realty and Consultancy, is bridging real estate investment with diaspora wealth creation.

In the Gulf, Muna Easa Al Gurg of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group and Amira Sajwani, CEO of PRYPCO, are expanding Dubai’s reputation as a global hub for innovation in property development. Nadia Zaal, co-founder of Zaya, has transformed the luxury housing market with her commitment to sustainable communities. In Kuwait, Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar, President of the National Bank of Kuwait Group, brings financial expertise to real estate investment, while Mayan Adnan Mahmoud in Bahrain is pioneering new valuation practices at Carlton Real Estate.

Elsewhere, Rawya Mansour, founder of Egypt’s RAMSCO, is blending sustainability with property development, while Nasra Nanda, CEO of the Kenya Green Building Society, is leading the charge for greener construction across East Africa.

This feature is more than recognition; it is a signal of where the market is headed. As Africa and the Middle East accelerate urbanization and infrastructure investment, these 50 women represent the vanguard of an industry that stands at the crossroads of culture, capital, and community. Their leadership demonstrates that real estate is not only about building structures but also about building economies, opportunities, and enduring legacies.

Speaking on the feature, Adedotun Olaoluwa, Publisher of Affluenz Magazine, said, “These women embody the resilience, vision, and innovation that will define the future of real estate across Africa and the Middle East. Our goal is to shine a global spotlight on their achievements while creating pathways for developmental funding that can scale their impact and transform entire communities.”

Complete List https://apo-opa.co/46LIxnD

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Affluenz (formerly Pleasures Magazine).

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