Category: English

Source: APO

CEM Africa 2026 concluded at the Century City Conference Centre following three days of strong engagement across Africa’s customer experience community.

The 14th edition welcomed 970 attendees from more than 260 companies across 20 countries, bringing together senior CX, customer service, marketing, digital, technology and transformation leaders alongside solution providers and industry partners.

The event achieved a Net Promoter Score of 69, reflecting a strong response from delegates and reinforcing the relevance of the CEM Africa platform.

Across the programme, delegates had access to 43 workshop and breakout sessions and 10 main stage content sessions, with feedback consistently highlighting the quality, relevance and practical value of the content.

Discussions tackled the issues shaping CX today, including AI adoption, trust, customer intelligence, employee experience, digital transformation, customer journeys and the growing pressure to demonstrate measurable business value.

Standout voices and timely conversations

Under the theme “Trust, Technology and the Human Future of CX in Africa”, the programme combined global perspective with distinctly African CX challenges and opportunities.

Business journalist and best-selling author Bruce Whitfield delivered “The Trust Advantage”, exploring the role of trust in reducing friction and creating stronger business outcomes.

Zahirah Variawa, Founder of The Fourth Thread, opened Day Two with “The Moments People Remember: Why the Experiences We Create Matter More Than We Think”, placing human connection firmly at the centre of customer experience.

Martin Urrutia, Head of Global Retail Experience at The LEGO Group, delivered “Experience Is the Brand”, examining how organisations can design experiences that differentiate, scale and build loyalty.

From the public sector, Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director-General at the Western Cape Government, presented “Citizen Experience by Design: Building Trust Through Better Public Services”, highlighting the importance of experience design in strengthening trust between institutions and the people they serve.

Together, these sessions reinforced one of the strongest messages to emerge from CEM Africa 2026: technology is reshaping customer engagement, but trust, relevance and human connection remain fundamental to great experience.

Engagement across every part of the event

CEM Africa 2026 was designed to encourage participation beyond the main stage.

Delegates moved throughout the venue between keynote sessions, 43 workshops and breakouts, panel discussions, solution demonstrations, the exhibition and direct conversations with technology providers and peers.

Day Zero set the tone with The Social Club: Play. Taste. Connect, live podcast discussions and opening drinks, creating an informal environment for the community to connect before the main conference programme began.

Across Days One and Two, engagement continued through the exhibition, matchmaking and smaller-format sessions, while Matchmaking and Happy Hour and the CEM Engage Party created further opportunities for delegates, speakers and partners to build relationships outside the formal programme.

The event closed with WiN CX Africa, bringing female leaders together around leadership, safety, trust and inclusion in customer and employee experience.

Strong response from partners

Sponsors and exhibitors also reported a highly positive response, with partners contributing actively to both the content programme and the wider event experience.

NiCE, Lead Sponsor of CEM Africa 2026, played a prominent but integrated role throughout the summit, bringing practical perspectives on AI-powered customer experience, enterprise AI agents and the evolving relationship between human and AI-enabled service.

The wider partner community contributed expertise across Voice of Customer, customer intelligence, automation, conversational engagement, journey orchestration, contact centres and CX measurement, helping ensure that technology conversations remained grounded in real operational and commercial challenges.

The numbers behind CEM Africa 2026

The post-event results underline both the scale of the community and the depth of engagement across the programme:

970 total attendance

260+ companies represented

20 countries represented

43 workshop and breakout sessions

10 main stage content sessions

+69 Event NPS

For CEM Africa, the NPS of 69 is particularly significant. It is not simply a measure of satisfaction, but an indication that delegates found genuine value in the content, connections and overall event experience.

“The response to CEM Africa 2026 has been incredibly encouraging. What stood out was the level of engagement across every part of the event, from the main stage and workshops to the exhibition, matchmaking and networking functions. An NPS of 69 reinforces that the community is finding real value in these conversations and in the connections CEM Africa creates.”

Terry Southam, Group Director retail – VUKA Group

Momentum builds towards CEM Johannesburg Edition

With the Cape Town flagship complete, attention now turns to the CEM Johannesburg Edition, taking place on 10–11 November 2026 at NH Hotel in Sandton.

The event expands to a full two-day format in 2026, bringing together senior CX decision-makers, practitioners and solution providers around practical workshops, peer-led insight, solution discovery and purposeful business networking.

The strong response in Cape Town is already carrying forward into Johannesburg, with growing interest from delegates, speakers and commercial partners.

Download the CEM Johannesburg Edition Sponsorship Brochure

Download Sponsorship Brochure (https://apo-opa.co/4ymJqhg)

Register your interest to attend

Register Interest (https://apo-opa.co/4igD4LH)

Explore the CEM Johannesburg Edition

Visit the CEM Johannesburg Edition website (https://apo-opa.co/4igK6jK)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Media Contact: 
Steven.dennett@wearevuka.com
Marketing Manager
VUKA Group / CEM Africa
www.CEMAfricasummit.com  

About CEM Africa: 
CEM Africa is Africa’s leading customer experience summit and a platform for the people and organisations shaping the future of customer engagement across the continent.

Through its flagship Cape Town summit, the CEM Africa Awards and regional Editions, CEM Africa connects senior leaders, practitioners, technology providers and innovators around practical insight, collaboration and the business value of stronger customer experiences.

Source: APO – Report:

The people shaping the creative identity of Africa and the Middle East will gather in the City of Cape Town from 4 to 9 October for Loeries (www.Loeries.com) Creative Week 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/4iPX2gz), a six-day programme bringing together creative professionals, brands, agencies, marketers, media, educators and emerging talent from across the region.

More than an awards event, Loeries Creative Week creates a meeting point for the ideas, conversations and relationships that move the creative industry forward. It combines the recognition of outstanding work with opportunities to learn from leading creative thinkers, encounter new talent and examine how creativity is responding to changing cultural, commercial and technological realities.

The week will culminate in the Loerie Awards on 8 and 9 October 2026, when the regions’ most impactful creative work will be recognised.

The 2026 edition returns to the City of Cape Town, which will once again provide the setting for judging, learning, industry exchange and celebration. With its concentration of agencies, production companies, design businesses, educational institutions and cultural organisations, Cape Town gives delegates direct access to one of the region’s most active creative economies.

Loeries Creative Week will play host to a number of creative events including the Loeries International Seminar of Creativity, where more than a dozen speakers from around the world will share creative insights and inspiration. Additionally attendees will get to experience the MasterClasses, the Loeries Expo and the highly-anticipated Loeries Official Afterparty to be held at Cabo Beach Club.

“Loeries Creative Week is constantly innovating and this year will provide another opportunity for the industry to not only experience a wide range of events but also access to the latest thinking on how to create breakthrough  work,” said Loeries CEO, Preetesh Sewraj. “We will also be bringing some legends of the global communications industry to Cape Town, including Susan Credle, from the USA, and Dörte Spengler-Ahrens, from Germany.”

This year will also introduce changes to the Loeries award categories, reflecting the continued evolution of creative practice and the need to recognise both the thinking behind the work and the new talent shaping its future.

The new Creative Strategy category has been created to celebrate the ideas and strategic thinking that enable outstanding creative work. It will recognise the role that insight, problem-solving and clear strategic direction play in producing ideas that connect with audiences and deliver meaningful impact.

The Young Directors Award, another new addition for 2026, will create an opportunity to recognise emerging film directors from across Africa and the Middle East. By placing young directors within the region’s leading creative awards platform, the category is intended to give new filmmaking voices greater visibility and strengthen pathways into the wider industry.

The Audio & Radio category has also been expanded to include new subcategories, acknowledging the growing range of ways in which audio is being used across broadcasting, digital platforms, branded content and emerging formats.

Together, the changes underline the Loeries’ role not only in recognising established excellence, but in continually examining where creativity is moving and who should be brought into the conversation.

“The City of Cape Town is a truly global city which is why attendees from across Africa and the Middle East feel at home to celebrate their work, perspectives and talent during Loeries Creative Week. said Leonora de Souza-Zilwa, Director of Film & Events for The City of Cape Town. “We are such proud hosts of The Loeries and look forward to welcoming everyone to The City in October.”

Tickets and attendance information available at https://LoeriesCreativeWeek.com

– on behalf of Loeries.

General Queries:
Operation executive
Cherise John
cherise@loeries.com

Media Contact:
on behalf of Loeries
Ima Peter
ima.peter@razorpr.co.za

Loeries Creative Week 2026 returns to Cape Town with new awards categories:
Loeries Creative Week will return to Cape Town from 4 to 9 October 2026, bringing together creative professionals, brands, agencies, marketers, media, educators and emerging talent from across Africa and the Middle East.

The first 2026 announcement positions Creative Week as a regional meeting point for judging, learning, talent development, industry exchange and the recognition of work that influences business and culture.

The 2026 awards will also introduce a new Creative Strategy category and the Young Directors Award, created to recognise emerging film directors across Africa and the Middle East. Audio & Radio has been expanded with additional subcategories.

The Loeries Awards Nights take place on 8 and 9 October. For more information visit https://www.Loeries.com

Source: APO – Report:

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From September 1 to September 6, Mr. ONISHI Yohei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe to attend the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.

1. Attendance at the Presidential Inauguration

On September 3, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI attended the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony of H.E. Mr. Carlos Manuel Vila Nova, President of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, held in the capital, Sao Tome, as well as a luncheon hosted by the President and the First Lady.​

2. Courtesy Call on President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova

On September 4, the day following the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Carlos Manuel Vila Nova, President of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, during which he presented a letter from Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, and conveyed Japan’s congratulations on President Vila Nova’s reelection. Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI also congratulated Sao Tome and Principe on the 50th anniversary of independence, commemorated last year, and stated that he was pleased to be the first Japanese government official at the ministerial level to visit Sao Tome and Principe, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sao Tome and Principe. In response, President Vila Nova welcomed Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI’s visit, expressed his appreciation for Japan’s assistance to date, and conveyed his intention to further strengthen bilateral relations.

3. Informal Talk with Prime Minister Americo d’Oliveira dos Ramos and Minister of Environment, Youth, and Sustainable Tourism Nilda Borges da Mata, and Courtesy Call on Minister of Foreign  Affairs, Cooperation, and Communities Ilza Maria dos Santos Amado Vaz

On September 3, at the margins of the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI held informal talks with H.E. Mr. Americo d’Oliveira dos Ramos, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, and H.E. Ms. Nilda Borges da Mata, Minister of Environment, Youth, and Sustainable Tourism.

On September 4, Vice-Minister ONISHI paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ms. Ilza Maria dos Santos Amado Vaz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Communities of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, and conveyed Japan’s desire to further deepen bilateral relations toward the next 50 years, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sao Tome and Principe. Minister Dos Santos Amado Vaz expressed her gratitude for Japan’s assistance to date and stated her intention for Japan and Sao Tome and Principe to continue collaborating across a wide range of fields.

4. Meeting and Informal Talks with High Levels from Participating Countries

On the evening of September 3, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Manuel Augusto Lima Amante da Rosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Community, and Defense of the Republic of Cabo Verde. The two sides congratulated each other on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which was commemorated last year, and exchanged views on ways to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Furthermore, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI held informal talks with H.E. Mr. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Gabonese Republic, H.E. Mr. Luis Montenegro, Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, and H.E. Mr. Tete Antonio, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola.​

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Source: APO – Report:

For years, residents of Amaki Boma in Maridi County have struggled to cross a waterway to access already scarce healthcare, schools and markets, particularly during the rainy season when water levels surge to dangerous levels.

To strengthen community safety and connect them with essential services, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan funded the construction of the new Amaki Bridge.

The initiative is already having a significant impact.

“It is helping women in labour, especially those who are struggling to deliver, because they can be quickly transported to the hospital. If an ambulance is available, it can also come and pick up the women to provide immediate care. It really is lifesaving,” explains resident, Yomima Amuna.

Beyond healthcare, the improved road connection is opening new opportunities for farmers who previously had difficulty transporting their produce to markets. Previously, farmers had no choice but to sell their crops locally because of the challenges reaching the town.

“Now that the bridge has been repaired, we can transport our agricultural produce to bigger markets for sale,” she says.

According to Stanley Joseph, Amaki Boma area chief, motorbikes previously became stuck in the water, with their engines sometimes submerged, making the crossing both difficult and dangerous.

“The bridge will help prevent people from drowning while trying to wade through the water.”

The improved connectivity is expected to also benefit farmers and traders travelling to areas further afield, including Maridi town, Mvolo County and other elsewhere.

For UNMISS, the bridge is critical to ensuring that peacekeeping patrols can access the area and that peacebuilding activities can be conducted in remote, conflict-affected areas.

“It gives us easy accessibility to go and support the government in protection of civilians and other peace engagements,” explains UNMISS representative, Bazawi Thomas Felix.

The Amaki Bridge is part of UNMISS’ efforts to support communities through quick impact projects aimed at improving access, strengthening livelihoods, and creating conditions that support the protection of civilians.

For residents of Amaki Boma, the bridge represents more than a new crossing.

It offers safety as well as the opportunity to strengthen community connections and resilience.

– on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO – Report:

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The artificial lake is one of the latest outcomes of a quick impact project, initiated by the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

While UNMISS is mandated by the Security Council to protect civilians in restive parts of the country, part of its tasks include supporting the communities peacekeepers serve, from building roads to building peace.

Cattle conflicts

The reservoir project in Terekeka responds not only to the chronic lack of water in the area, but also to a key driver of conflict, with ongoing competition between farmers and cattle keepers over scarce water and grazing resources.

The intention was clear from the outset: provide farmers with a reliable water source for their crops while reducing the need for cattle keepers to venture onto farmland in search of water for their livestock, a perennial source of tension and violence.

“This project is particularly close to our hearts as it directly addresses both humanitarian challenges and conflict triggers, and the impact is already visible,” said UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Lawson Assagaya at a recent ceremony handing over the reservoir to the community.

Location is key

The location was carefully chosen, far enough from farms to reduce competition, yet close enough for farming communities to benefit, UNMISS said.

The hope is that the reservoir will create new opportunities for herders and farmers to co-exist peacefully, and signs of change are already emerging.

New cattle camps have already begun to settle around the reservoir, encouraging those displaced by conflict, including members of the Wonduruba Mundari community, to begin returning home.

Brighter future

Cattle keeper John Kenyi, a father of three who is expecting his fourth child, has long hoped to see changes that would, among other things, give his children a brighter future.

“It’s devastating to see how our peaceful people end up fighting over scarce resources and lack of coordinated migration patterns rather than working together,” he said. “Every day I hope for unity to return.”

For Mr. Kenyi, cattle are not simply a status symbol, but an investment that can help pay for his children’s education, an approach he says he learned from neighbouring farming communities.

“I don’t know if I would say that we were brothers, but we are certainly one community,” he said. “It gives us pride that this county is now re-emerging as a place people can call home.”

Working together

This sense of unity also emerged during the reservoir’s construction, according to the Point Investment Company, the project’s local partner.

When workers arrived at the site, they found no road suitable for the heavy machinery needed to begin work.

As news of the project had spread, farmers and herders from surrounding communities quickly arrived with tools to help clear and build a pathway to the site.

“What was particularly special about constructing this project was the excitement of the Rego payam community,” said Point Investment Company project manager Juman Emmanuel. “You could really see how energised everyone was about this new water source.”

Boost from nature

Nature also provided an unexpected boost to the project when workers struck an underground water source that began naturally filling the roughly 3,200-square-metre reservoir.

The discovery meant the cement lining originally planned was no longer an option as it could contaminate the clean groundwater.

“When we saw the water coming out from underground, we were all relieved,” the construction workers said. “This meant that the Rego communities will have an even more sustainable opportunity to be safe now.”

Renewed hope

The project was completed in just one month, leaving the community with a sustainable water source that can continue replenishing the reservoir even when rainfall becomes scarce during the dry season, UNMISS said.

Whether the reservoir will ultimately help reduce cattle-related violence remains to be seen, but its impact is already extending well beyond supplying water.

In a community long divided by competition over scarce resources, the project has brought farmers and herders together around a shared resource and fostered renewed hope that Rego can once again become a place people call home.

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO – Report:

Driven by desperation to find food for their families, women in Uganda’s Karamoja Region have resorted to climbing up mountains to crush rocks in search of gold to feed their families.

Unfortunately, they also bring their children, who are often struggling with malnutrition. 

Food insecurity has been worsening in several districts in Karamoja, driven by recurring climate shocks, the pressures of the lean season, and growing household debt. Livelihood systems have not fully recovered from successive shocks, leaving communities highly vulnerable.

More than 40,000 people are in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Sytem’s Phase 4, which means they are barely able to eat a meal a day, and more than 432,000 who are in Phase 3, face significant food shocks. For many families, recovery remains fragile, and gains risk being reversed.​

“I came to the mountains to provide for my family,” said Adong, one such mother. “I know the conditions are harsh for a baby here, but I had to bring him because he is still breastfeeding.”

Fortunately for Adong and other women who work on a quarry on Mount Moroto, health workers have been determined to help them.

Taking action

In Moroto, one in five children under five is acutely malnourished, the highest rate in Karamoja. For many caregivers, the challenge is not just to identify children for treatment, but to ensure they receive it in time.

The nutritional situation is concerning in Karamoja, especially for children and mothers, with an estimated 122,000 children under five that require treatment for acute malnutrition.

Knowing mothers, young men, babies, traders come together at the quarry, a nutrition outreach team from Kakingol Health Centre III made the climb to them instead, in June 2026. With support from UNICEF and the OCHA-managed Uganda Humanitarian Fund, the team worked with a Village Health Team – made of community volunteers – to set up services at the quarry.

During a morning, Adong’s child was screened and vaccinated along with more than 60 other children. 

For mothers like Adong, travelling long distances to health facilities can mean losing a day’s income. Bringing services closer helps families access care without giving up the work they rely on to survive.

Since April, humanitarian partners have reached nearly 700,000 people in Karamoja and refugee-hosting districts with life-saving nutrition and health services.

– on behalf of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).