Category: English

Source: APO

Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), the flagship philanthropic initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has unveiled its 2026 Top 100 entrepreneurs, selected from more than 24,000 applications from all 54 African countries.

Download Infographic: https://apo-opa.co/4v3n7w5

For the first time in ABH’s history, the competition has expanded its first round of finalists from a Top 50 to a Top 100 cohort, creating more visibility and opportunity for entrepreneurs across regions, sectors, and business models. The expansion reflects the growing depth, competitiveness, and commercial maturity of African entrepreneurship as ABH approaches its 10-year milestone.

The 2026 Top 100 represents 27 countries, with an average founder age of 38 and an average business age of 6.5 years. Half of the cohort are returning applicants, underscoring the continued value entrepreneurs see in the ABH platform and the strength of its pan-African community.

This year’s applications came from every region of the continent. Women represented the highest share of entries since the competition launched in 2019 and there was also increased participation from emerging startup hubs such Angola, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Madagascar, and Mozambique. ABH is grateful to the hard-working Round 1 judges who selected the Top 100 from more than 24,000 applicants, with strong representation from key sectors like AI, agriculture, fintech, health, and climate.

A Snapshot of Africa’s Entrepreneurial Momentum

The 2026 Top 100 cohort offers a strong picture of the diversity, resilience, and economic contribution of African entrepreneurs. Collectively, the Top 100 businesses generated USD 170 million in 2025 revenue, employed 6,200 people, and served 10 million customers. These figures underscore the role entrepreneurs are playing not only in building commercially viable companies, but also in creating jobs, widening access to essential products and services, and advancing inclusive growth across Africa.

Top 100: By the Numbers

• Operating Countries Represented: 27
• Average founder age: 38
• Average years in business: 6.5
• Gender representation: 33% women founders; 67% men founders
• Francophone/French-language representation: 13%
• Returning applicants: 50%
• Top operating countries: Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya (15 entrepreneurs each), followed by Rwanda (9) and South Africa (6)
• Leading sectors: Agriculture (21), Financial Services (12), Manufacturing (10), Healthcare (10), and Energy (9)

Key Sector Trends Driving the Cohort

The businesses represented address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges through scalable, regional solutions. The cohort also points to important shifts in the continent’s entrepreneurial landscape. Key trends include:

• Agri-Tech Dominance: Comprising 21% of the cohort, agriculture has evolved beyond traditional farming into tech-enabled, value-added models.
• Tech-Driven Financial Inclusion: As the second-largest sector (12%), Financial Services is leveraging machine learning and alternative data to provide paperless credit scoring for unbanked small businesses, resolving core frictions across markets
• Recycling & Environmental Protection: 7% of the ABH Top 100 operate in this space, shifting toward high-margin circular economy models that combine profitability with social impact through value-added processing and emerging ESG/carbon credit monetization.
• Decentralized Manufacturing Growth: Manufacturing accounts for 10% of the cohort and spans 9 diverse countries (including Cabo Verde, Namibia, and Ethiopia). This geographic spread indicates industrialization is accelerating beyond major economies, propelled by AfCFTA incentives, import substitution, and rising local demand.
• AI as a Tool for Practical, Sector-Specific Innovation: 32 of the Top 100 entrepreneurs are integrating AI across 12 African countries to address concrete market challenges: improving low agricultural productivity through predictive crop and soil insights, expanding access to credit through alternative scoring, closing education gaps through personalized learning, easing healthcare shortages through triage and decision-support tools, and reducing logistics inefficiencies and supply chain waste through smarter routing and demand matching.

The full list of the ABH 2026 Top 100 entrepreneurs can be found here (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org).

Speaking on the significance of this year’s Top 100 cohort, Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Managing Director, Africa at ABH, said:

“The expansion from the Top 50 to the Top 100 reflects the extraordinary evolution of entrepreneurship across Africa. The 2026 cohort tells an important story: African entrepreneurship is becoming broader, deeper, and more commercially mature. These are not just promising ideas; they are real businesses operating across 27 countries, generating USD 170 million in annual revenue, employing 6,200 people, and serving 10 million customers. We are seeing strong innovation from established hubs as well as from emerging ecosystems that have often been underrepresented. By expanding the cohort, ABH is creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs to access visibility, recognition, community, and long-term support.”

Commenting on this year’s selection process, an ABH Round 1 Judge: Johan de Visser, Regional Manager, Africa at PUM & Founder of Africa Business Coaching, said:

“The quality of applications this year was exceptionally strong. What stood out was the level of innovation, clarity of vision, and deep understanding of local market challenges from founders across the continent. The Top 100 includes businesses that are already serving customers, creating jobs, and building scalable solutions across critical sectors, from agriculture and financial services to healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and climate. Expanding the cohort allows ABH to spotlight more of the entrepreneurs shaping Africa’s next phase of growth.”

Now in its 8th year, the ABH Prize Competition celebrates visionary leaders driving inclusive and sustainable growth across the continent. Since 2019, ABH has grown into one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurship platforms, directly awarding 70 entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, global exposure, and ecosystem-building opportunities. ABH has also supported more than 5,000 entrepreneurs through programs including ABH ScaleUp and attracted more than 160,000 applicants to date.

The Top 100 will now advance to the next stage, where judges will evaluate the cohort to determine the Top 20 semi-finalists. The Top 20 will pitch live on August 21-22 in Nairobi, Kenya, competing for a place in the ABH Top 10 and a share of the USD 1.5 million grant prize.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).

About Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH):
Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic initiative in Africa, in partnership with Alibaba Philanthropy, dedicated to identifying, supporting, and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs. Through grant funding, training, mentorship, and ecosystem support, ABH is building a pan-African community of entrepreneurs creating positive impact across the continent. Visit www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org to learn more.

Source: APO

enza (www.enzaGroup.Global) is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a Payment Service Provider Enhanced licence by the Central Bank of Ghana.

The award of the PSP Enhanced licence marks an important milestone for enza, Ghana’s financial services sector, and the continued development of regulated digital payments infrastructure across Africa.

The Bank of Ghana’s licensing and oversight framework has been developed to support a safe, efficient and innovative payments ecosystem. The Central Bank’s framework states that effective payment system oversight is intended to promote the safety, security and reliability of financial transactions, which are vital to monetary and financial stability, while also promoting innovation, competition and financial inclusion in the use of payment products.

Hany Fekry, Group Chief Executive Officer of enza, said:

“We are delighted and deeply proud that enza has been awarded a PSP Enhanced licence in Ghana. This is a significant moment for our business and an important step in our mission to liberate the world of payments across Africa. Ghana has long been one of the continent’s most dynamic digital finance markets, with strong regulatory leadership, an innovative financial services sector, and a clear commitment to expanding secure, inclusive and modern payment services.

With this licence, enza is well positioned to work with banks, financial institutions and  fintechs to deliver world-class payments technology that is adapted to Ghana’s local market conditions, supports growth, and enables its partners to serve consumer and business customers more effectively.”

enza will enable customers using its technology to differentiate themselves in the Ghanaian market by combining deep African payments expertise with world-class payments technology designed for speed, scalability and local relevance.  The business will launch its innovative payments capabilities with its first customers over the summer months.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of enza.

Media Contact:
Vicky Key
Marketing Director
vicky@enzagroup.global

About enza:
enza empowers Africa’s financial institutions with the innovation needed to compete, liberating the world of payments for more inclusive, opportunity-led commerce. Founded in 2023, enza is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with regional offices in Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.  enza’s innovative payment solutions deliver the flexibility and agility its customers need to increase competitiveness, capitalise on new markets, and develop new revenue streams.

Source: APO – Report:

.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, stated that the reception ceremony included the guard of honor salute to President Tshisekedi, the playing of the national anthems of both countries, and a commemorative photo session. This was followed by a bilateral meeting between President El-Sisi and President Tshisekedi, then an expanded session of talks attended by the delegations of both countries, and a luncheon hosted by President El-Sisi in honor of President Tshisekedi and his accompanying delegation.

President El-Sisi welcomed President Tshisekedi on his fourth visit to Egypt in recent years, reflecting the depth and distinction of Egyptian-Congolese relations. The President praised the momentum witnessed in bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

President El-Sisi also congratulated President Tshisekedi on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which falls at the end of the current month.

For his part, the Congolese president expressed his appreciation for the warm reception he always receives during his visits to Egypt, affirming his country’s gratitude for Egypt’s support in various fields. President Tshisekedi also praised President El-Sisi’s keenness to strengthen relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Egypt’s efforts to promote peace across Africa in general and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular.

The two presidents discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. President El-Sisi stressed the need to continue efforts to boost trade exchange and investments between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of convening the Joint Committee and establishing implementation programs and mechanisms to monitor progress in bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest.

President El-Sisi also highlighted the extensive expertise of Egyptian companies, particularly in the fields of energy and infrastructure, expressing Egypt’s readiness to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo in all sectors.

President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting Egypt’s constructive engagement in supporting international and regional efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in eastern Congo, including through the full implementation of the Washington and Doha agreements.

In this context, the Congolese president expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s constructive role, while President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s constant readiness to exert every necessary effort to bring positions closer together, end the ongoing conflict, and address its humanitarian repercussions.

The two presidents further discussed developments in cooperation among Nile Basin countries, stressing the need to respect international law governing transboundary international rivers. In this regard, President Tshisekedi praised Egypt’s consensus-oriented approach and its support for the development aspirations of Nile Basin countries, emphasizing his country’s keenness to maintain and foster coordination with Egypt on this matter.

Following the talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding. Then, they held a joint press conference, during which President El-Sisi delivered an official speech.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

President Isaias and his delegation, who are on an official visit to Egypt, yesterday visited a number of industrial plants and logistics facilities in the Greater Cairo and Suez zones.

The visit by President Isaias and his delegation included Gyto Pharma, the Suez Canal Industrial Zone, a cement and steel factory, Egypt’s Basic Industrial Corporation, as well as Ain Sokhna Port Terminal.

Upon visiting the industrial plants and logistics facilities, President Isaias and his delegation were provided briefings by authorities and managers of the institutions focusing on the objectives, vision, economic significance, and type and scale of production of the facilities, supported by video and photo presentations. They also expressed readiness to cooperate and work in partnership with Eritrea, as well as to contribute to capacity development and technology transfer.

The plants and facilities that President Isaias and his delegation visited are engaged in producing different types of medicines, solar energy systems supported by robotic technology, steel and cement for construction and other purposes, chemical fertilizers, as well as putting in place port and logistics service infrastructure.

President Isaias and his delegation also today made a tour of the new Administrative Capital in Cairo Governorate and various public service pavilions and infrastructure projects under construction. He also held discussions with project managers focusing on the prospects for future cooperation in the sectors.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) 2026 is set to become a focal point for how the country’s hydrocarbons reforms are translating from policy into practice, as government stakeholders, PDVSA and international operators work to define the practical routes for investment entry into the oil and gas sector. With reforms now moving into implementation, attention is shifting from regulatory design toward the mechanisms that will determine how participation is structured, financed and sustained.

Venezuela’s current framework is being operationalized through a limited set of established and negotiated channels, including participation in PDVSA joint ventures, crude-backed repayment structures and production-linked agreements tied to existing oilfields. International operators such as Chevron, for instance, remain active within existing joint venture structures, including Petropiar in the Orinoco Belt and Petroboscán in western Zulia, which continue to underpin production and export activity under PDVSA-led arrangements.

Alongside joint venture activity, crude-based repayment mechanisms are becoming an increasingly important financial pathway for foreign participation. These arrangements – including crude-for-debt structures and production-linked repayment agreements – allow international partners to recover value through physical oil cargoes or allocated output rather than conventional financial transfers.

Companies such as Repsol and Eni have operated within similar frameworks, where repayment structures effectively shape cash flow recovery, exposure management and the timing of capital return. However, these mechanisms continue to operate under constraints, including delayed settlements, non-standard payment schedules and ongoing uncertainty around contract enforcement, all of which continue to weigh on long-term reinvestment planning. VEW 2026 will help stakeholders assess how these frameworks can be refined to improve predictability, strengthen implementation and support more scalable and sustained investment participation.

Beyond hydrocarbons, Venezuela is beginning to open selective pathways in the power sector. Recent policy discussions and incremental reforms have pointed toward greater private participation in electricity generation, alongside early-stage efforts to improve operational efficiency across the grid and expand space for independent power producers. While still in a gradual phase of liberalization, these developments suggest an additional entry point for international and regional investors, particularly in generation, infrastructure rehabilitation and distributed energy solutions.

As reforms progress, VEW 2026 will serve as a key platform for aligning policy intent with operational realities, bringing together public and private stakeholders to assess how existing mechanisms are functioning in practice and where adjustments may be needed. Key issues such as payment timing, contractual enforcement and risk allocation remain central to the investment environment, shaping whether current frameworks can support scalable reinvestment or remain limited to sustaining baseline production. Beyond policy direction, the event will help clarify investment entry points and how capital can be deployed across both hydrocarbons and emerging power sector opportunities.

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

Source: APO

.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured the World Health Organization (WHO) of Uganda’s continued commitment and preparedness to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation and swift public health interventions to prevent the spread of the disease.

The President made the remarks today during a meeting with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at State House Entebbe. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the WHO Uganda Country Office. President Museveni informed the WHO delegation that Uganda remains vigilant and has put in place robust measures to contain the outbreak within its borders while also working closely with neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where some of the
cases have originated.

The President revealed that he had already held productive discussions with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, on strengthening collaboration between the two countries to limit the cross-border spread of Ebola. “We have been engaging our counterparts in the DRC to ensure that we work together in addressing this challenge” President Museveni noted.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, briefed the meeting on the current status of the outbreak, stating that Uganda is presently managing nineteen confirmed Ebola cases. According to Dr. Atwine, fourteen of the nineteen cases involve members of the same family who entered Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She, however, reported encouraging progress in the containment efforts, noting that no new Ebola case had been registered in the previous three days.

“Our surveillance and response teams remain fully engaged. We continue to monitor contacts, strengthen screening measures, and ensure that all suspected cases are promptly identified and managed,” Dr. Atwine said. She further disclosed that the Ministry of Health had identified four strategic locations within the Democratic Republic of Congo, close to the Uganda-DRC border, where medical camps would be established to support local health authorities in managing Ebola cases.

The proposed treatment and response centers are intended to serve communities near the border and reduce the number of Ebola patients crossing into Uganda in search of treatment. Dr. Atwine explained that many Congolese patients have increasingly sought treatment in Uganda due to the confidence they have developed in Uganda’s ability to effectively manage epidemics and public health emergencies. The Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, highlighted the significance of the initiative, saying it would strengthen cross-border disease control efforts and help address the outbreak closer to its source.

Dr. Baryomunsi noted that establishing treatment facilities within the DRC would significantly reduce cross-border movement of Ebola patients while supporting local response efforts. President Museveni welcomed the proposal and advised that the treatment centers be established as close to the border as possible to effectively serve vulnerable populations.

“It should be near the border, not far inside the DRC, because we are targeting those who are trying to escape and seek treatment elsewhere,” the President advised. The President also highlighted the difficult but necessary decision by the government to suspend this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo, one of the country’s largest annual religious gatherings.

The annual event typically attracts more than three million pilgrims and visitors from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, West Africa, and other parts of the world. President Museveni said suspending the celebrations was an important public health measure aimed at preventing a possible surge in infections. Dr. Tedros commended Uganda for taking decisive action, describing the suspension of the Martyrs Day celebrations as a courageous and responsible decision.

“Thank you for stopping the Martyrs Day celebrations. It was going to be a super-spreader event,” Dr. Tedros told President Museveni.

The WHO Director-General praised Uganda’s leadership and the country’s proven capacity to respond effectively to public health emergencies, citing its experience in handling previous Ebola outbreaks and other infectious diseases.

He pledged the World Health Organization’s continued support through financial resources, logistics, technical expertise, and additional personnel to strengthen Uganda’s response efforts.

Dr. Tedros further welcomed Uganda’s innovative approach of extending support beyond its borders by establishing treatment facilities near affected communities in the DRC. He also encouraged President Museveni to continue engaging President Tshisekedi and other regional leaders in coordinated efforts to address the outbreak and prevent its spread across the region. The meeting underscored the strong partnership between Uganda and the World Health Organization in safeguarding public health and demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening regional
preparedness, surveillance, and response mechanisms against Ebola.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.