Category: English

Source: APO

By Isha Johansen, former CAF (www.CAFonline.com) Executive Committee Member and the first West African woman to serve on the FIFA Council.

For years, Africa has been known for its growth story. Investment has flowed, new tech has been  growing fast, and a young, active population has inspired hope for the future.  Women’s football now offers another lens through which to consider that progress.  Following the conclusion of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, Casablanca and Fez, the question is what happens next: whether the momentum generated by the tournament can translate into sustained investment in women’s football, stronger structures and more opportunities for the next generation of players. This tournament was much more than sport. It was a moment to spotlight gender equality, inclusion, and the changing role of women in African sports.

For too long, women’s sports have been seen as charity projects or CSR boxes to tick; not real investments. That’s changing. Stadiums are filling, fans are showing up, and real money is finally coming in. The message is clear: women’s football is no longer a side issue; it’s a huge opportunity Africa can’t afford to ignore.

Global revenues from women’s sports are expected to reach at least $3 billion in 2026, an increase of 340% in four years (https://apo-opa.co/3U7pm41). In Africa, the true value is still unknown. Most of the investment comes from sports associations, governments, and a handful of sponsors. Ticket sales and big broadcast deals are exceptions, not the rule. So women’s sports here are half-in, half-out: there’s new investment, but plenty of hurdles remain.

Some progress has been made, however. This year, the Confederation of African Football doubled Women’s Africa Cup of Nations prize money to $5.8 million, with $2 million for the winners. Last year, Nigeria’s NWFL Premiership landed its biggest private investment, a ten-year, ₦20 billion partnership, while South Africa’s Women’s League secured a R17 million naming rights deal.

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations featured 16 teams, and money from TV and sponsors went up by 40%. Matches were shown on more than one hundred channels. Real interest grew across the continent. Africa’s fans,  young and energetic, followed their teams on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Despite the progress and growing support from fans,  challenges remain. Top female players are leaving for Europe or the US, where their skills are valued and rewarded. Without money from TV deals or steady support from local fans, women’s sports here will keep relying on outside help and quick fixes.

In South Africa, a few years ago, women’s national team players earned just a tenth of what the men did. The gap is closing, but it’s not gone. Women are still few in sports leadership roles, and coaching jobs mostly go to men. But pioneers like South Africa’s Desiree Ellis and Kenya’s Beldine Odemba show what’s possible when women get a real shot: excellence follows.

Mentorship is central to that possibility. Behind every player and coach who broke through, there was almost always someone who opened a door, offered guidance, or made room at the table. Formal mentorship programmes, pairing rising talent with experienced players, coaches, and administrators, gave young women a clearer path into leadership roles that had long been closed to them. To turn potential into progress, more is needed than just a few stars. Governments, sports bodies, and private investors must team up by building partnerships, investing in training grounds, leadership, mentorship, and the kind of infrastructure that lasts.

The private sector can’t afford to sit this out. New models like sportswomen-driven content, streaming platforms, and direct fan engagement can break old barriers. Organisations like Tibu Africa, a leading NGO empowering young people through sport, show how football can drive wider social change by building opportunities and breaking down barriers. Their work reminds us that every girl deserves a shot at the game and demonstrates the impact that partnerships between the private sector, government, and civil society can have.

Governments must make investing in women’s sports worthwhile, guarantee fairness, and keep things transparent. Regional bodies should align standards, share resources, and channel funds into grassroots development. And media matters too: having more women on camera or working behind the scenes changes opinions and gives new role models the chance to shine.

TotalEnergies’ partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is more than a sponsorship. It’s a commitment to building African football from the grassroots up, creating lasting opportunities for players, fans, and communities. Supporting CAF helps raise the visibility of women’s football and strengthens the sport as a force for unity and inclusion across the continent. This investment reflects an alignment of values: sustainable development, community empowerment, and celebrating Africa’s potential.

If Africa misses this window, old gaps will widen, and the chance to lead in women’s sports could be lost. But if we step up now, the rewards are huge: jobs, tourism, and growth everywhere you look. This tournament is more than a trophy. It’s a test of whether Africa will build up its talent or watch it leave. The final whistle will pick a winner, but what happens next will show whether Africa is ready to make women’s football central to its future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Source: APO

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Kowatek Solar LTD (www.Kowatek.com) observes that two neighbouring markets have moved distributed and grid-support solar from announcement to money, offering a practical template for the segment Nigeria’s new Distributed Renewable Energy Fund is designed to finance.

On 2 October 2026 the African Development Bank said Qair’s Gassi and Lamadji hybrid plants in Chad had reached financial close and first disbursement. The projects total 30 MWp of solar with 8 MWh of battery storage, under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Tchadelec. A €37.9 million package was structured by the Bank with Proparco, the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa and the Green Climate Fund. The plants sit inside Desert to Power and Mission 300.

In Kenya, the Off-Grid Solar Access Project is the parallel story for places the grid will not reach soon. Contracts worth about $64 million have been signed as part of the $150 million World Bank-backed KOSAP programme, covering 113 mini-grids in arid and semi-arid counties and stand-alone solar for hundreds of clinics, schools and offices. The wider programme targets more than two million people in 14 counties, including stand-alone systems and about 146 solar mini-grids.

The common design is hybrid: solar, storage, and a clear customer, whether that customer is a utility, a clinic or a trading community. Nigeria’s $300 million DRE Fund is built for the same design, at larger scale and with more emphasis on local developers. For Nigerian estates, hotels and clinics specifying a similar hybrid plant, Kowatek Solar publishes system types and a consultation path at https://www.Kowatek.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kowatek Solar LTD.

Reference links:
Primary public sources used in this release (checked October 2026):
Chad Gassi and Lamadji — allAfrica / AfDB — https://apo-opa.co/4sizvI4
Kenya KOSAP contracts — Renewables Rising — https://apo-opa.co/4i4MNDg
KOSAP scope — Kenya News Agency — https://apo-opa.co/4hUDVRP
Nigeria DRE Fund — Punch — https://apo-opa.co/4i6RDQe
NEP mini-grids — TechCabal — https://apo-opa.co/4hX2YSM
Kowatek Solar — https://www.Kowatek.com
Company: https://www.Kowatek.com  |  https://apo-opa.co/4i3hv0R

Media contact:
Kowatek Solar LTD
Royalty Plaza, 261 DBS Road, Central Area, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria
Tel: +234 817 539 3233
Email: info@kowatek.com
Web: https://www.Kowatek.com

​About Kowatek Solar:
Kowatek Solar LTD (www.Kowatek.com) designs and delivers premium solar, lithium storage and hybrid power systems for homes, estates, businesses, hotels, churches, schools and industrial sites. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Asaba, Delta State, with an international track in Canada, the company focuses on engineered systems that reduce diesel dependence and keep essential loads online. Learn more at https://www.Kowatek.com and https://apo-opa.co/4i3hv0R.

Source: APO

AI course enrollments in South Africa increased 75% year over year, while enrollments in critical thinking courses rose 132%, according to Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/3Uvuyir). South Africa also ranks second among the 11 Sub-Saharan African countries covered and 73rd globally on the report’s new AI-Human Skills Synergy Index.

The Index, the first of its kind, measures the extent to which learners across 98 countries are developing AI skills alongside the human skills needed to apply them, while accounting for each country’s broader AI readiness.

The findings come as South Africa seeks to strengthen the connection between skills development and employment. A World Bank analysis (https://apo-opa.co/4zFx7xu) identifies persistent recruitment challenges in software development, networking, and cybersecurity, despite high unemployment. It also finds that nearly half of job postings seek transferable skills such as communication and problem-solving. These findings reinforce the importance of developing technical and human skills together to meet employers’ needs.

Now in its eighth edition, the Global Skills Report 2026 draws on a subset of learning data from more than 300 million learners across Coursera and Udemy. The report combines insights into AI and human skills development with broader national readiness data from Oxford Insights’ Government AI Readiness Index.

Trending AI learning themes in South Africa include generative AI, data and analytics, and agentic AI and AI agents. Other prominent themes include model- and assistant-specific skills, and AI development frameworks and infrastructure. Enrollments in AI security increased 236%, agentic workflows grew 195%, and generative AI rose 161%.

Learners in South Africa are also developing the human skills needed to evaluate AI outputs and communicate their implications. Communication and presentation, stakeholder alignment and influence, and planning and prioritization are among the trending human skills themes, together with emotional intelligence and empathy, and critical thinking and judgment. Alongside the 132% increase in critical thinking enrollments, complex problem-solving grew 28% year over year and innovation rose 19%.

The report examines which AI and human skills learners develop together more distinctively than the global average. In South Africa, learners pair AI and machine learning foundations with both communication and presentation, and critical thinking and judgment. They also pair data and analytics with communication and presentation. These combinations can help people explain AI concepts and results clearly, assess model assumptions and limitations, and communicate analysis to technical and nontechnical audiences.

As employers seek evidence of job-relevant capabilities, micro-credentials offer individuals a way to demonstrate specific skills verified through assessment. They give employers evidence of what candidates know and can do, complementing other qualifications and practical experience. Coursera’s report shows that micro-credential enrollments in South Africa rose 31% year over year overall, with AI-related micro-credential enrollments increasing 74%.

Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: “South Africa’s growing participation in AI and human skills learning provides a strong foundation for workforce development. The opportunity is to connect that commitment to learning with the capabilities employers need and clearer routes into work. Employers and educational institutions can help by aligning learning with specific roles, creating opportunities for practical experience, and recognizing skills demonstrated through assessment. Strengthening those connections can help more South Africans turn their learning into career opportunities and contribute to productivity as businesses adopt AI.”

Access Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026 here: https://apo-opa.co/3Uvuyir.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coursera.

About Coursera:
Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. Coursera partners with leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. Coursera’s platform innovations — including AI-powered personalized guide and features, like Role Play and Course Builder, and role-based solutions like Skills Tracks — enable instructors, partners, and companies to deliver scalable, personalized, and verified learning. Institutions worldwide rely on Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, students, and citizens in high-demand fields such as GenAI, data science, technology, and business, while learners globally turn to Coursera to master the skills they need to advance their careers. Coursera is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp. Coursera recently combined with Udemy to create one of the world’s most comprehensive skills development platforms.

Source: APO

AI-related micro-credential enrollments in Ghana increased 95% year over year, while critical thinking enrollments rose 66%, according to Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/3U7dXRV). Ghana also ranks eighth among the 11 Sub-Saharan African countries covered and 89th globally on the report’s new AI-Human Skills Synergy Index.

The Index, the first of its kind, measures the extent to which learners across 98 countries are developing AI skills alongside the human skills needed to apply them, while accounting for each country’s broader AI readiness.

The findings come as Ghana advances efforts to connect AI development with workforce readiness. Its National AI Strategy, launched in April 2026, emphasizes ethical AI, data governance, infrastructure, and workforce preparation. The government has also announced a US$250 million investment to establish an AI Computing Centre. Alongside these efforts, the One Million Coders Programme aims to equip one million Ghanaians with digital skills, including AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics.

Now in its eighth edition, the Global Skills Report 2026 draws on a subset of learning data from more than 300 million learners across Coursera and Udemy. The report combines insights into AI and human skills development with broader national readiness data from Oxford Insights’ Government AI Readiness Index.

Across Ghana, enrollments in AI courses increased 34% year over year. Trending AI learning themes include prompting and AI interaction, data and analytics, and generative AI, together with model- and assistant-specific skills, and agentic AI and AI agents. Enrollments in agentic workflows rose 137%, while generative AI increased 115%. AI security enrollments grew 235%.

Learners in Ghana are also developing the human skills needed to evaluate AI outputs and communicate their implications. Communication and presentation, critical thinking and judgment, and data storytelling are among the trending human skills themes, together with ethics and governance, and people leadership and management. In addition to the 66% increase in critical thinking enrollments, complex problem-solving grew 39% year over year and innovation rose 27%.

The report examines which AI and human skills learners develop together more distinctively than the global average. In Ghana, learners pair critical thinking and judgment with both AI and machine learning foundations, and data and analytics. They also pair prompting and AI interaction with stakeholder alignment and influence. These combinations can help people assess model assumptions and limitations, judge whether data supports a conclusion, and translate stakeholder needs into effective prompts while building agreement on how the outputs should be used.

As learners develop these capabilities, micro-credentials offer a way to demonstrate specific skills verified through assessment, giving employers evidence of what individuals know and can do. These credentials can complement other qualifications and practical experience as people prepare for new roles or responsibilities. Coursera’s report also shows that micro-credential enrollments in Ghana increased 21% year over year overall.

Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: “Ghana’s growth in AI and human skills enrollments provides a foundation to strengthen workforce readiness. The next priority is to help more people turn that interest into capabilities they can demonstrate. Employers and educational institutions can work together to align learning with industry needs and create opportunities for learners to apply their skills through projects and workplace experience. This can support the goals of the One Million Coders Programme by strengthening employability, enabling entrepreneurship, and helping more Ghanaians participate in the digital economy.”

Access Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026 here: https://apo-opa.co/4dE6pN5.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coursera.

About Coursera:
Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. Coursera partners with leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. Coursera’s platform innovations — including AI-powered personalized guide and features, like Role Play and Course Builder, and role-based solutions like Skills Tracks — enable instructors, partners, and companies to deliver scalable, personalized, and verified learning. Institutions worldwide rely on Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, students, and citizens in high-demand fields such as GenAI, data science, technology, and business, while learners globally turn to Coursera to master the skills they need to advance their careers. Coursera is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp. Coursera recently combined with Udemy to create one of the world’s most comprehensive skills development platforms.

Source: APO

AI-related micro-credential enrollments in Nigeria increased 93% year over year, while critical thinking enrollments rose 113%, according to Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/4zBHe67). Nigeria also ranks fifth among the 11 Sub-Saharan African countries covered and 81st globally on the report’s new AI-Human Skills Synergy Index.

The Index, the first of its kind, measures the extent to which learners across 98 countries are developing AI skills alongside the human skills needed to apply them, while accounting for each country’s broader AI readiness.

The findings come as Nigeria expands efforts to prepare its workforce for the digital economy. Its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy emphasizes developing both technical and human skills to support AI adoption. In September 2026, the Federal Ministry of Education launched the Digital Training Academy, targeting 32,000 Nigerians with government-funded access to digital skills training and professional credentials through learning platforms including Coursera. The initiative also supports participation through access centers offering computers, internet connectivity, and learning support.

Now in its eighth edition, the Global Skills Report 2026 draws on a subset of learning data from more than 300 million learners across Coursera and Udemy. The report combines insights into AI and human skills development with broader national readiness data from Oxford Insights’ Government AI Readiness Index.

Across Nigeria, enrollments in AI courses increased 28% year over year. Trending AI learning themes include generative AI, data and analytics, and agentic AI and AI agents, together with prompting and AI interaction, and model- and assistant-specific skills. Enrollments in AI security grew 137%, generative AI increased 126%, and agentic workflows rose 95%.

Learners in Nigeria are also developing the human skills needed to organize AI-enabled work and evaluate its results. Planning and prioritization, communication and presentation, and ethics and governance are among the trending human skills themes, together with data storytelling, and critical thinking and judgment. Alongside the 113% increase in critical thinking enrollments, complex problem-solving grew 59% year over year and innovation rose 6%.

The report examines which AI and human skills learners develop together more distinctively than the global average. In Nigeria, planning and prioritization is a common thread across three pairings: AI workflows, integration, and orchestration; agentic AI and AI agents; and AI and machine learning foundations. These combinations can help people organize AI-enabled tasks, allocate their attention, and focus effort on the work that matters most.

Evidence of business adoption reinforces the relevance of developing and demonstrating these capabilities. The World Bank’s World Development Report 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/3VR7Wcy) reports that AI use among formal Nigerian firms with at least five employees rose from less than 5% in 2022 to about 40% in 2025. Against this backdrop, micro-credentials offer individuals a way to demonstrate specific skills verified through assessment, giving employers evidence of what they know and can do. Coursera’s report shows that micro-credential enrollments in Nigeria rose 33% year over year overall, with AI-related micro-credential enrollments increasing 93%.

Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: “Nigeria’s learners are investing in AI credentials while strengthening the human skills needed to put their knowledge to work. The next opportunity is to make those pathways accessible to more people and connect them with employment and entrepreneurship. Government, employers, and educational institutions can support this by addressing barriers to participation, supporting people to complete their training, and helping them demonstrate their capabilities. Bringing these elements together can help more Nigerians use AI to solve problems in their workplaces and businesses, extending the benefits of adoption across the economy.”

Access Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026 here: https://apo-opa.co/4zBHe67.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coursera.

About Coursera:
Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. Coursera partners with leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. Coursera’s platform innovations — including AI-powered personalized guide and features, like Role Play and Course Builder, and role-based solutions like Skills Tracks — enable instructors, partners, and companies to deliver scalable, personalized, and verified learning. Institutions worldwide rely on Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, students, and citizens in high-demand fields such as GenAI, data science, technology, and business, while learners globally turn to Coursera to master the skills they need to advance their careers. Coursera is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp. Coursera recently combined with Udemy to create one of the world’s most comprehensive skills development platforms.

Source: APO

Strategic partnerships and meaningful community engagement are powerful instruments for transforming lives, nurturing hope and strengthening the bond between the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the communities it serves.

The Kenya Defence Forces Golf Association (KDFGA), in partnership with Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club and Kenafric Group, conducted a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) outreach benefiting pupils of Moi Forces Academy and Moi Airbase Primary School.

Led by KDFGA Chairman Brigadier Victor Kangethe, alongside East Africa Junior Golf Rankings (EAJGR) Commissioner Mr James Rattos and other representatives, the initiative brought festive cheer to the learners through donations of books, slippers, biscuits and sweets ahead of the long school holiday and Christmas festivities.

Beyond the donations, the outreach underscored the value of military–private sector collaboration in advancing children’s welfare, supporting education and fostering a culture of compassion and shared social responsibility.

The initiative reaffirmed KDFGA’s commitment to leveraging strategic partnerships beyond sporting excellence to make a positive impact on communities, demonstrating that the spirit of service extends beyond the military’s core mandate to nurturing young lives, inspiring hope and investing in future generations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

The Public Relations Division of the Ministry of Agriculture reported that exemplary Eritrean farmer Ms. Rozina Mebrahtom was honored as one of the “FAO 100 Women Heroes 2026” by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy, on 16 October 2026, in connection with World Food Day celebrations.

Ms. Rozina was selected from among over 600 exemplary women from 131 countries, becoming one of the 100 honorees and a source of pride for Eritrea in general and Eritrean women farmers in particular.

According to information obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization, Ms. Rozina earned this recognition for her ability to restore land, conserve natural resources, and champion organic farming. She made intensive efforts to transform rugged, barren, saline land unsuitable for cultivation into fertile and productive agricultural land.

The report further stated that she demonstrated these achievements through her commitment to environmental responsibility, sustainable agriculture, food security, and improved livelihoods, making a significant impact on agricultural and food systems.

Ms. Rozina Mebrahtom is an exemplary farmer engaged in integrated farming, including crop and vegetable production and livestock development, in Mesalih, in the Tekondae administrative area, Adi Keih sub-zone, Southern Region.

It is recalled that Ms. Rozina also received an award at the National Potato Conference held in Asmara in 2022 for the high yield of selected potato seeds achieved on her farm.

Ms. Rozina explained that her husband began the farming venture. After he passed away 12 years ago, she and her children spent ten years hauling sand, fertile soil, and manure from other locations to transform the site into fertile agricultural land.

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

Source: APO

Every child in Kakuma and Dadaab deserves quality learning and a clear pathway into Kenya’s education system.

To achieve this, the Ministry of Education and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are assessing primary and secondary schools in the two refugee camps from 14th to 21st October 2026.

The findings will show where learners and schools need the most support. They will guide targeted, evidence-based interventions to close those gaps and help shape the gradual inclusion of refugee learners into the National Education System.

The exercise is part of the Secondary Education Equity and Quality Improvement Programme (SEEQIP) and the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Programme (KPEELP).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Education, Kenya.