Category: English

Source: APO

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Seven months after breaking ground, the Government of Liberia has completed and officially turned over the Beh Town Public School in Dewoin District, Bomi County, providing the community with improved classrooms, more than 200 student chairs, whiteboards, and a better environment for teaching and learning.

The new school is part of the Ministry of Education’s wider effort to ensure that more children can access and benefit from public education. Registration from Kindergarten through Grade 6 is now free, removing an important financial barrier for families. Bomi is also one of seven priority counties under the Back to My Classroom Campaign, which is working to return out-of-school children to education.

At the dedication, Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah joined county and district authorities, traditional leaders, teachers, parents, students, and community members in formally handing the facility over for use.

With the school now completed, the Ministry’s work continues through teacher support, stronger school management, and measures to help children enroll, attend regularly, and progress in their education.

Beh Town reflects the broader direction of the Ministry’s reform agenda: investing in public schools while removing the barriers that prevent children from accessing and benefiting from education.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Education: Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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The Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has committed Uganda to kickstarting processes to further deepen and strengthen bilateral and parliamentary relations with Pakistan.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Oboth emphasized that Uganda is identifying a select group of countries to establish stronger bilateral ties, naming Pakistan as a key ally.

The meeting took place on Monday, 14 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference being held in Cape Town, South Africa.

The pledge signals a focused trajectory for Uganda-Pakistan relations, prioritizing legislative cooperation in trade, economic diplomacy, capacity building, research, climate change, and educational exchanges. The two leaders stressed the necessity of moving beyond ceremonial engagements to establish operational frameworks that create genuine opportunities for the citizens of both nations.

Developing his remarks on parliamentary diplomacy, Speaker Oboth highlighted the historical ties between the two countries, noting that Pakistan remains a key partner whose citizens actively contribute to Uganda’s economic landscape. He pointed to the Pakistani community residing and operating businesses in Uganda as a strong foundation for expanded bilateral engagement.

“Uganda is willing and ready to strengthen this relationship so that we offer our citizens greater opportunities,” Oboth said.

“Pakistan has been a key ally of Uganda, with several Pakistanis residing and doing business in Uganda”.

Emphasizing that legislative bodies must play a direct role in national and economic development, Oboth urged parliamentarians to use legislative tools to advance international trade, tax frameworks and economic diplomacy. He urged parliaments to look beyond traditional ceremonial roles to tackle pressing socio-economic priorities.

“This friendship puts in place grounds for deeper bilateral engagements between the two countries, including exchange programmes. [Parliament of Uganda] is ready to share experiences in areas of capacity building, education, research and information sharing,” Oboth said.

Addressing shared global concerns, Speaker Oboth reiterated Uganda’s commitment to jointly combat climate change alongside willing international partners. He specifically commended Pakistan’s leadership and commitment in addressing climate issues on the international stage.

The bilateral discussions also recalled past cooperation between the two legislatures within the Commonwealth framework. Speaker Oboth acknowledged Pakistan’s appreciation of Uganda’s support in the election of the Pakistani Speaker as President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in the meetings that were held in Cameroon in October 2014. In particular, Oboth cited the contribution of former Ugandan Speaker, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, who spearheaded the establishment of East African Community (EAC) and Africa-level parliamentary caucuses. Oboth also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support to Kadaga during her tenure as Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women’s Forum.

Responding to Oboth’s remarks, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, welcomed Uganda’s commitment and expressed gratitude for Uganda’s support during his election as CPA President at the CPA meetings held in Cameroon in 2014. Sadiq noted that Uganda’s influence was instrumental in convincing African countries to back Pakistan’s candidature.

Speaker Sadiq informed the meeting that Pakistan has formally decided to focus on Africa in its foreign policy agenda. He noted that significant potential exists between Uganda and Pakistan, which the two countries should actively embrace through Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) frameworks.

Sadiq shared that Pakistan initiated formal Parliamentary Diplomacy in 2014 and remains willing to cooperate with Uganda across international forums such as the CPA and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). .

On climate action, Speaker Sadiq highlighted global warming as a primary concern for Pakistan, stating that Pakistan’s Parliament and school systems have adopted innovative approaches such as going paperless to combat climate change, an area where Pakistan seeks to cooperate with Uganda.

Closing the session, Speaker Sadiq invited Speaker Oboth to visit Pakistan in the near future to engage directly with the Parliament and government officials, reaffirming both nations’ shared commitment to strengthening Uganda-Pakistan parliamentary diplomacy.

Speaker Oboth was accompanied by a Ugandan parliamentary CPA delegation that included Hon. Emely Kugonza (NRM, Buyanja East), Hon. Naome Kabasharira (NRM, Rushenyi County), Hon. Otim Benard (NRM, Maruzi North County), Hon. Fortunate Rose Nantongo (NUP, Kyotera District), Hon. Silas Aogon (Kumi Munic.), Hon. Adrine Katusiime (NRM, Sheema District). These were also joined by Hon. Paul Omiat Amoru the High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda to the Republic of South Africa.

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

Source: APO

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• The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, has launched a dedicated staff transportation initiative aimed at improving employee welfare, easing daily commuting challenges and enhancing productivity across the institution, in a further demonstration of the Commission’s commitment to building a modern, people-centred and results-driven regional organization.
• The initiative was unveiled during a brief ceremony at the Commission’s new headquarters in Abuja, attended by the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Anthony Oluwatosin Ogunjimi, senior officials and members of staff. Although modest in format, the event carried significant institutional importance, reflecting a leadership philosophy that places staff welfare at the heart of organizational performance.

The programme begins with an initial fleet consisting of one 25-seat staff bus and two 18-seat commuter buses, which will operate scheduled services between designated pick-up locations and the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters. The transportation service is designed to reduce the financial and logistical burden associated with daily commuting while ensuring safer, more reliable and more predictable travel arrangements for staff members.

Speaking during the launch, President Diop noted that the effectiveness of any institution depends fundamentally on the well-being and commitment of its workforce. He emphasized that leadership must not only formulate policies but also respond to the practical realities faced by employees in their daily lives.

The President explained that the transportation initiative forms part of a broader effort to improve staff welfare and create an enabling work environment that allows personnel to perform at their highest level. By reducing commuting-related stress and expenses, the programme is expected to improve punctuality, strengthen staff morale and contribute directly to institutional efficiency.

“If you take care of people, people will take care of the job,” President Diop stated, underscoring the principle guiding the initiative.

The launch also reflects the broader transformation currently underway at the ECOWAS Commission. Following the recent transition into its new headquarters, the institution has continued to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness, modernizing administrative systems and fostering a workplace culture that promotes excellence, accountability and service delivery.

For many staff members, the transportation programme represents more than a logistical arrangement. It is a tangible response to a long-standing concern and a demonstration that employee welfare remains a strategic priority for the Commission’s leadership. By investing in practical solutions that directly affect the daily lives of personnel, the Commission is reinforcing the connection between staff well-being and institutional performance.

The initiative is expected to evolve progressively, with the possibility of expanded routes and additional capacity as operational requirements and staff needs continue to be assessed.

As ECOWAS advances its vision of a more integrated, prosperous and secure West Africa, the Commission’s leadership maintains that achieving regional ambitions begins with strengthening the institution itself. The launch of the staff transportation service therefore represents not merely the deployment of vehicles, but the implementation of a people-focused policy that translates listening into action and commitment into measurable results.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

The Office of the President has today announced the appointment of the Board of Directors of the Seychelles International Mercantile Banking Company Limited (Nouvobanq), for a three-year period effective 15th September 2026.

The Board will be chaired by Mr Conrad Benoiton, with Ms Jennifer Morel serving as Vice Chairperson.

The full composition of the Board is as follows:

Mr Conrad Benoiton — Chairperson
Ms Jennifer Morel — Vice Chairperson
Mr Christophe Edmond — CEO/Executive Member
Mr Philippe Pierre — Deputy CEO/Executive Member
Ms Emmaline Camille — Member
Ms Odile Vidot — Member
Mr David Howes — Member
Mr Michael Bluemner — Member

The Board will be responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight of Nouvobanq, ensuring sound corporate governance and supporting the Bank in the effective delivery of its mandate and continued contribution to the development of Seychelles’ financial sector.

The President has wished the Chairperson and members of the Board every success in the discharge of their responsibilities.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

KoçSistem (https://KocSistem.com) and KoçDigital, two of the leading players in Türkiye’s technology ecosystem, have strengthened their growth plans in the Saudi market with two new strategic partnerships. The agreements were announced at LEAP 2026, held in Riyadh from August 31 to September 3. KoçSistem signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GAPP, a Saudi ICT and digital signage solutions provider, to accelerate the rollout of its digital publishing platform Pixage in the country. KoçDigital entered a strategic partnership with Mannai Information Technology Saudi Arabia to develop new opportunities in artificial intelligence, IoT, cloud and industry-specific digital transformation solutions.

LEAP 2026 brought more than 200,000 attendees to Riyadh, along with global technology companies, investors and public sector representatives. For KoçSistem and KoçDigital, the event served as a platform where technology and expertise developed in Türkiye met new applications in the Gulf market, and where new partnerships with the local technology ecosystem took shape.

A new growth opportunity for Pixage in Saudi Arabia

The Memorandum of Understanding KoçSistem signed with GAPP aims to expand the range of applications for Pixage in Saudi Arabia and to position the platform in a variety of digital communication projects. The partnership is intended to bring Pixage into wider use across Saudi institutions and projects, and to strengthen KoçSistem’s technology portfolio in the region. It forms part of the company’s strategy to broaden its operations in the Gulf and to increase the international use of the technology it develops in Türkiye.

Developed by KoçSistem, Pixage is a cloud-based solution that allows digital screens in different locations to be managed from a single central platform. It supports the planning, distribution and simultaneous publishing of content across settings such as airports, hospitals, retail outlets and corporate campuses. Its ability to integrate with IoT systems gives organizations a way to run large screen networks from one point and to vary content by location, time and target audience.

KoçDigital and Mannai focus on digital transformation

The strategic partnership KoçDigital has launched with Mannai Information Technology Saudi Arabia brings together complementary capabilities from both companies. KoçDigital’s expertise in technology, solution architecture and industrial transformation meets Mannai’s local market knowledge, integration capability and managed services experience. The two companies aim to develop new client opportunities in artificial intelligence, the internet of things, cloud technologies and industry-specific solutions, and to deliver scalable offerings for the digital transformation needs of organizations in Saudi Arabia.

A local partnership model for growth in the Gulf

With these two agreements, KoçSistem and KoçDigital are carrying the technology and expertise they have built in Türkiye into the Saudi market through regional partnerships, while building a closer relationship with the local technology ecosystem in line with their long-term growth plans in the Gulf.

Mehmet Ali Akarca, CEO of KoçSistem and Vice Chairman of KoçDigital, said:

“Taking the technology we develop in Türkiye and the experience we have accumulated into different markets around the world is an important part of our growth strategy. Saudi Arabia holds a significant place in that strategy, with its strong economic transformation, its technology investments and its digitalization vision. The two partnerships we announced at LEAP 2026 are concrete steps toward our goal of establishing a long-term technology presence in the Gulf by combining our strengths with the local ecosystem.

Our aim here is not simply to export technology. It is to build a structure that understands the needs of the region, develops solutions together with local partners and creates long-term value.”

The two agreements extend a regional growth strategy that KoçSistem has been pursuing through local partnerships and offices across the Middle East. KoçSistem and KoçDigital are part of Koç Group, Türkiye’s largest industrial and services conglomerate.

– on behalf of KoçSistem.

Media contact:
Merve Güngör, Brand Director
mervegungor@cpartner.com.tr

Source: APO – Report:

The Office of the President has today announced the appointment of Mrs Muriel Morgan as the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA), following the resignation of Ms Wendy Boniface. 

Mrs Morgan brings extensive experience in management, administration, strategic planning, marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement, gained across both the public and private sectors.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Marketing from Curtin University of Technology, obtained in 2009. 

Mrs Morgan began her professional career with Mauritius Commercial Bank (Seychelles), where she served as Marketing, PR and Communications Manager from 2010 to 2015. She subsequently joined Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd as Marketing Communications Manager and later served as Brand Manager at Seychelles Breweries Limited. Her private-sector experience has provided her with a strong background in strategic planning, brand and product development, communications, market analysis and stakeholder engagement. 

She later worked as a Business Consultant before joining the Ministry of Lands and Housing as Ministerial Attachée. In that role, she was involved in addressing complex land and housing matters, developing customer service initiatives, coordinating with other Government entities and managing the Minister’s Secretariat. 

Mrs Morgan subsequently served as Principal Secretary for Lands from September 2021 to March 2023, where she was responsible for the effective management of State land, oversight of the State land budget and the development of the State Land Policy 2022. Most recently, from May 2023 to June 2026, she served as General Manager of Mahe Design and Build and Associated Companies, with responsibility for the effective administrative management of the companies. 

In her new role, Mrs Morgan will support the Chief Executive Officer in the overall management and administration of the Seychelles Licensing Authority and contribute towards strengthening the Authority’s operational effectiveness and the delivery of efficient and responsive licensing services.

Mrs Morgan’s appointment takes effect on 15th September 2026.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

A seminar on eradicating harmful practices was organized for members of the committee overseeing efforts to eliminate harmful practices and protect the rights of children and women in Afabet.

Mr. Mahmud Mohammed-Seid, head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare office in the sub-zone, commended the committee’s activities in administrative areas and schools, as well as its work with the National Union of Eritrean Women, religious leaders, and other institutions. He said that the seminar will contribute significantly to achieving better results.

At the seminar, participants received an extensive briefing on harmful practices that adversely affect health and are prohibited by law.

Highlighting the importance of the seminar in reviewing efforts to protect children’s rights and eliminate underage marriage, female genital mutilation, and other harmful practices, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed-Nur Rejib, administrator of the sub-zone, called for similar seminars to continue.

The participants called for stronger involvement by the Ministries of Health and Education, the Police, and the National Union of Eritrean Women in efforts to prevent underage marriage.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.