Category: English

Source: APO

As the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 unfolded, TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), Official Global Partner of the tournament, was actively extending the matchday experience beyond stadiums and screens through a series of Technology Carnival activations and offline watching parties that took place across multiple African countries.

Launched alongside the tournament and running throughout the AFCON competition period until 18 January 2026, these activations were designed as immersive, fan-first experiences that brought football, technology and entertainment together in public spaces, retail locations and pop-up venues.

Across North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and key AFCON markets, fans gathered at TECNO-organized watching parties featuring live match screenings, interactive product displays, AI-powered demonstrations, performance shows, interactive games, lucky draws and temporary pop-up stores. These shared spaces allowed visitors to engage with TECNO’s AI ecosystem while celebrating the collective energy, emotion and passion that defined African football culture.

At each activation, TECNO showcased how AI-driven technology enhanced the way fans experienced the game, from understanding match dynamics to capturing and sharing standout moments. Visitors discovered TECNO smartphones and devices in hands-on environments, exploring features designed to make football moments clearer, smarter and more immersive.

AFCON Retail Events Deployed Throughout the Tournament

Running in parallel with the offline watching parties, TECNO also rolled out a wide range of AFCON-themed retail events, which were active across multiple countries and continued until 18 January, with schedules adapted to local markets.

These in-store activations translated the excitement of AFCON directly into everyday shopping experiences through interactive consumer mechanics, including :

• Cashback promotions via lucky draw on selected devices such as POP 10, SPARK 40 and CAMON 40
• Points-based rewards through TECNO’s Points Mall
• Interactive AFCON TECNO AI Analysis experiences that allowed fans to explore AI-driven insights around ongoing matches
• “Rank Your Own AFCON Team” challenges, encouraging fans to build and debate their ideal tournament line-ups
• Additional localized games, giveaways and fan engagement activities

By integrating football culture into retail environments, TECNO ensured that fans remained connected to the tournament not only during match time, but throughout their daily routines.

Making AFCON a More Participatory Experience Through AI

These Technology Carnival activations reflected TECNO’s broader ambition to make football more participatory, more interactive and more emotionally engaging. Rather than positioning AI as a distant technology, TECNO presented it as an intuitive companion that enhanced how fans followed matches, relived key moments and expressed their passion throughout the tournament.

As an Official Partner of the Confederation of African Football, TECNO activated across stadiums, fan zones, retail spaces and communities, ensuring that AFCON 2025 was experienced not only as a competition, but as a continent-wide cultural celebration powered by TECNO AI.

As the tournament came to a close and momentum peaked during the final stages, TECNO’s Technology Carnival emerged as a powerful demonstration of how technology, football and community came together, transforming every match, reaction and celebration into a moment worth powering.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.

Source: APO

We, Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, comprising Ibadan Archdiocese (https://www.IbadanArchdiocese.org), Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo Dioceses, after our first meeting for 2026 at the Jubilee Conference Centre, (JCC) Ibadan, having prayerfully deliberated on pertinent issues of Church and national interest, hereby issue the following Communique:

1. The Saving Mission of Jesus Christ

The Church exists to advance the mission of Jesus Christ. That mission expressed by the Saviour in the gospel of St. Luke offers liberty to captives, good news to the poor and hope for the oppressed. We thank God for the activities and events of the Jubilee Year of Hope which were recently concluded and which reassured our faithful and people that with God, hope does not disappoint us. We invite the faithful to continue to expand the frontiers of hope in our society by promoting at every opportunity the Social Teachings of the Church also known as Catholic Social Teachings (CST). The four cardinal principles of CST, namely: the Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life, the principle of Solidarity, the principle of Subsidiarity and the Common Good have proven to be very effective and reliable principles for social engineering and the advancement of the society in many parts of the world. We call on our experts, Priests and Religious to study, dissect and disseminate this treasure of the Church’s solicitude so that it becomes a veritable tool for the formation of our citizens and the development of our nation.

2. The Foundational Role of Catechesis

At the close of the Jubilee Year ceremonies Pope Leo XIV started his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council in an effort to re-present to the faithful the treasures of the historic event. Catechesis stands at the centre of the pastoral enlightenment of the faithful. It helps the faithful enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and the Sacred Tradition and their application to life today. It nurtures them to live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives, especially through a life of prayer, justice, and loving service. It is incumbent that pastors of the Church continually teach and instruct the faithful in the tenets of the faith so that they can apply the faith to the vicissitudes of their daily life experience and encounter. Given the complexities of contemporary life and modern ideologies, ongoing catechetical formation is obligatory for all segments of the faithful especially the young people who are the main target of the new ideologies. As Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, we therefore recommend as a basic catechetical text for all our faithful, adult men and women, the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church (YOUCAT), a very well prepared, analytical and colourful catechism presented in very accessible language for this age and time. The text, charitably sourced for our Ecclesiastical Province has now been endorsed by all the Bishops for use in Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province. We desire that it be put to good, profitable use by youths and adults including teachers and families as a spiritual resource.

3. Nigeria’s New Zeal in Tackling Insecurity

We support the recent zealous change in approach of the Federal Government to the issue of insecurity in Nigeria aiming to stem the continuous loss of lives to mindless aggressors and criminals all over the country. A few developments in recent times have shown that when governments demonstrate the political will to act, even insecurity can be curtailed. We urge the government at all levels to sustain the current zeal to tackle insecurity through courageous policies and action, collaboration with external and internal organizations and with countries that can help our cause, adequate funding and equipping of the security agencies and continuous education of the public towards enhanced security. Federal, State and Local Authorities must be in agreement in criminalising and prosecuting banditry, kidnapPing, insurgency and all sorts of criminality if the current effort is to succeed. We call on all Nigerians to unite in the effort to reestablish security, peace and safety of all, regardless of religion, tribe or status. All life is sacred and nobody has the right to take someone else’s life or seize or destroy somebody else’s property without serious consequences. In this regard, the equal application of the law to all without fear or favour is a necessary strategy.

4. Ongoing Tax Reforms

The ongoing tax reforms have generated controversies all over the country in spite of the spirited effort of the authorities to explain its merits and benefits for the poor and the less privileged among us. Unfortunately, agents of misinformation have also been hard at work to discredit the new scheme in spite of the consultations that preceded its legislation. We urge the government and concerned authorities to continue to do all they can to allay the anxieties of the people, give the reforms a human face and give the most vulnerable among us the latitude to get used to the new tax regimes before applying the full force of the law. Altogether, fairness, transparency and accountability must govern the conduct of government and the tax authorities in this entire process.

5. The Education Sector

The recent signing of the agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) after sixteen years of failures and disappointments, deserves an unmitigated commendation. This noble gesture including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund should be extended to private and mission universities given that they all train future leaders of the Nigerian nation. We urge that this commendable way forward which is expected to put an end to strikes and stress in the Nigerian Universities be closely monitored and implemented. We are also pleased by the presidential grants and loans to Nigerian youths for university education, for entrepreneurial and skills development, investments, the new National Policy on Almajiri Education and other programmes aimed at empowering and securing the future of Nigerian youths. Convinced that education is the bedrock of the development of any nation, we enjoin State and Local Governments nationwide to apply themselves manifestly to the improvement of educational facilities and to staff welfare in their jurisdictions. All such programmes must be periodically evaluated in order to eliminate bottlenecks and entropy in the system so as to attain the desired result.

6. Tackling Nigeria’s Sundry Challenges

Rebuilding a welfarist society in Nigeria will require the cooperation of all segments and sectors of the Nigerian society. The Government and sundry authorities must however play the roles for which they occupy their exalted offices. These include security of life and property, provision of basic healthcare, critical infrastructure like stable electricity, water supply, motorable roads, incentives for agriculture, employment facilities and so on. For example, government must quickly address the strike of the health workers in Nigeria which has lasted for almost 2 months, and which has subjected the common people to considerable suffering and to scant access to healthcare, causing needless deaths and suffering. Anything short of this is unacceptable and tragic. Nigerians surely deserve better than what obtains at present whereby major road arteries between major cities especially in the Southwest remain deplorable and often impassable. While many relevant Federal Ministries continue to underperform, many corelating Ministries at the State Levels remain comatose and even moribund. In spite of many commendable initiatives from the Federal Government to kickstart and energize many critical sectors in Nigeria much more needs to be done overall to truly bring Nigeria back onto the path of progress and peace, as a country where everyone can call home.    

7. Prayer Works With Good Works

As we embark on a New Year 2026, we, pastors of souls, call on all Nigerians while working for better times, not to relent in praying for our leaders and for the good of Nigeria. As a prayerful nation, prayer must be accompanied by a commitment to good works wherever we find ourselves. Whether as civil servants, workers in the public or private sectors we all have an obligation to work assiduously for justice, equity and the rule of law in order to make Nigeria great and better again. For this, tempting as it may be, we all must resist negativity and cynicism because we have no other country but this. We must pray for a change of heart and work harder as we embrace a better future with hope. This is not only desirable but possible according to the promise of Almighty God through the Prophet Ezekiel: “I shall gather you back from the peoples, I shall collect you in from the countries where you have been scattered … I shall give them a single heart and I shall put a new spirit in them; I shall remove the heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they can keep my laws and respect my laws and respect my judgments and put them into practice. Then they will be my people and I shall be their God’ (Ezek. 11: 19-20).      

Most Rev ‘Leke Gabriel Abegunrin
Chairman  

Most Rev John Akin Oyejola
Secretary                                                   

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan.

Source: APO

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The Administration of the Southern Region recently conducted an annual assessment meeting on cultural and sports activities in region in Mendefera.

During the meeting, heads of culture and sports branches from the region’s twelve sub-zones presented their annual activity reports. Extensive discussions followed, focusing on the achievements, strengths, and challenges encountered in the implementation of cultural and sports programs.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Abraham Yohannes, Director General of Culture and Sports, stated that significant archaeological exploration and excavation activities have been carried out in the Adewhaza area of Mendefera Sub-Zone, as well as in the Hadamu and Adi-Deglel areas of Dekemhare Sub-Zone. He further noted that research has been conducted on the nomenclature, origins, and meanings of villages and historical sites across the Southern Region.

The Governor of the Southern Region, Mr. Habteab Tesfatsion, expressed the regional administration’s readiness to strengthen its contribution to ongoing efforts aimed at fostering competitiveness and a spirit of victory among athletes. He called on relevant institutions and government bodies to ensure that athlete transfers are conducted in accordance with the law and that equity is maintained, emphasizing the need to develop and advance all sports disciplines within the framework of the allocated budget.

For his part, the Chairperson of the Southern Region Congress, Mr. Welday Gebre, underscored that cultural and sports activities are complementary and serve as essential foundations for societal development and continuity. He called for intensified efforts to promote a culture of reading among all segments of society.

Participants discussed the reports in detail and adopted various recommendations.

Furthermore, it was noted that key priorities of the 2026 Action Plan include enhancing research on tangible and intangible cultural heritage, conducting awareness-raising campaigns on the preservation of historical relics, strengthening the Awra Award, and improving artistic capacity, among other initiatives.

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

Source: APO

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H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, emphasized that Egypt’s participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos comes within the framework of its commitment to strengthening global dialogue on international economic issues, trade, and artificial intelligence. She noted that this participation takes place alongside government officials, decision-makers, and heads of global companies.

This came during the Minister’s interview with CNBC Arabia. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the most prominent economic developments in Egypt, the performance of growth indicators during the current fiscal year, as well as the features and objectives of Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that Egypt concluded FY 2024/2025 with a growth rate of 4.4%, while the first quarter of FY 2025/2026 recorded a growth rate of 5.3%, exceeding expectations. This was driven by growth in the industrial sector and the strong performance of the tourism, communications, and information technology sectors.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that the tourism sector witnessed a notable increase in tourist arrivals and revenues, reaching unprecedented levels. She also stressed that economic growth in Egypt has become diversified and no longer dependent on a single sector. The real economy is experiencing broad momentum as a result of ongoing reforms, reflecting the beginning of a genuine recovery in preparation for a strong economic takeoff.

The return of navigation in the Suez Canal and its impact on economic growth

Regarding the impact of the return of navigation to the Suez Canal on growth indicators, the Minister mentioned that the first quarter of FY 2025/2026 saw a positive contribution from the Canal after two years of negative contributions. She noted that major global shipping companies have begun to return, which will lead to increased positive contributions during the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed that the Suez Canal represents a vital artery for global trade, with around 12% of global trade passing through it. Stability of navigation in the Canal contributes to reducing the cost of transporting goods and thus curbing global inflation rates. She added that this represents a positive signal for Egypt, the region, and the world, as the Canal enhances global supply chains and facilitates trade flows.

Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development as a strategic framework for growth

The Minister also referred to the second edition of Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development. She underscored that Egypt possesses an integrated economic model based on increasing productivity and expanding exports, following massive investments in infrastructure over recent years.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat explained that the first edition of the Narrative was launched last September and was developed through an extensive societal dialogue involving more than 120 experts. This resulted in a clear executive plan that will be presented to the new House of Representatives.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat added that the second edition includes a full pillar on human development, considering the citizen as the core of the development process. The Narrative is not limited to economic and fiscal policies, but extends to social dimensions such as education, comprehensive health insurance, and social protection.

The National Structural Reforms Program

In response to questions on whether Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development is a crisis-management path or a pathway for economic growth, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed that the objective is to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth based on continuous structural reforms over the medium and long term.

The Minister pointed out that the government has a clear and publicly announced structural reform plan with performance indicators and implementation timelines. She also noted the application of program- and performance-based budgeting across all ministries, ensuring the achievement of specific targets, including per capita growth and the private sector’s contribution to GDP.

Fostering the role of the private sector in economic activity

With regard to the private sector’s contribution, the Minister mentioned that the government is working to govern public investments in order to allow for an expanded role for the private sector in economic activity. The private sector currently accounts for about 65% of total investments, with a target to exceed 70% by 2030.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat added that this approach is based on structural reforms in tradable sectors such as tourism, agriculture, energy, communications and information technology, and manufacturing industries. She emphasized that the industrial sector is currently witnessing a strong resurgence, reflecting growing confidence in the Egyptian economy, particularly in light of available investment opportunities and Egypt’s strategic location as a hub for manufacturing and exporting to Africa and Europe.

The National Structural Reforms Program

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also spoke about the National Structural Reforms Program, explaining that it is one of the most important pillars of economic reform in Egypt. The program aims to achieve three main objectives: macroeconomic stability, improving the business environment and competitiveness, and supporting the green transition and new and renewable energy.

She confirmed that the program is characterized by full transparency, as its details have been published publicly for the first time. The Minister also clarified the responsibilities of each ministry and the timeline of implementation progress, thereby opening the door to local and foreign investments.

Improving the quality of life for citizens

In concluding her remarks, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat reiterated that the primary goal of economic reforms is to improve the quality of life for Egyptian citizens. She noted that the reforms are based on an interconnected cycle that begins with macroeconomic stability, passes through structural reforms that support economic, human, and industrial development, and culminates in the creation of decent job opportunities and improved public services. The Minister added that this year’s World Economic Forum theme is “A Spirit of Dialogue” which fully aligns with the direction of the Egyptian state.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat further noted that these reforms aim to create adequate fiscal space for both investment and current spending to improve quality of life, in addition to enhancing private sector investments to increase employment opportunities and achieve sustainable development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

Source: APO

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In less than a decade, Senegal has reduced its maternal mortality rate by more than 50%, from 392 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2015 to 153 in 2023. Behind this progress, however, a more complex reality persisted: in many health facilities, women continued to experience childbirth marked by fear, lack of information and impersonal health care. 

Tina, 32, a mother of three, remembers her first two deliveries as moments filled with anxiety: limited explanations, minimal communication with health staff and a feeling of being alone in the face of pain. “They were very difficult births for me. After my first experience, I carried that fear with me during every pregnancy,” she says. 

Tina’s experience is far from unique. Her story reflects the reality faced by many women in Senegal, despite the significant progress made in maternal health outcomes. 

To address these challenges and ensure that every birth is a positive experience, the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP), with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and a major donor, introduced the Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) initiative. This approach aims to place dignity, emotional well‑being and women’s choices at the centre of health care practices, going beyond survival alone. 

Respectful Maternity Care is built on three essential pillars: birth preparedness for pregnant women; use of the Labour Management Guide by health workers and psychological support for women throughout pregnancy and during childbirth. 

“The goal goes far beyond survival,” explains Dr Ousmane Dieng, Maternal and Newborn Health Expert at the WHO Country Office in Senegal. “It is about offering every woman a positive experience in which she feels heard, informed and fully involved in her childbirth.” 

At the Yeumbeul Reference Health Centre, in the suburbs of Dakar, the RMC approach has been implemented for two years. Every other Wednesday, women who are six months pregnant or more meet with midwives for birth preparation sessions. These sessions follow a comprehensive curriculum covering the biological aspects of pregnancy, danger signs, simulations of childbirth positions, breathing techniques, mobility exercises and newborn care. 

Following a pilot phase conducted between 2019 and 2023 at the Yeumbeul reference hospital, the initiative has been scaled up since November 2023 to all health facilities in the health district of the Yeumbeul North and South municipalities. To support effective implementation, 45 midwives in the district have been trained in this approach and more than 430 women have received support. 

For her third pregnancy, Tina participated in the programme. Aware of her previous experiences, the midwives reassured her and taught her techniques to better manage pain, understand the different stages of labour, and prepare mentally for childbirth. Sitting in the postnatal ward of the Yeumbeul hospital, Tina gently cradles her newborn as she recounts her story. “During labour, I was assisted by the same midwife who had guided me during the preparation sessions. Together, we practiced the exercises again and it allowed me to experience the birth of my son differently—with more confidence and calm,” she says. 

This birth‑preparation approach, combined with the use of the new Labour Management Guide, helps reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths. The guide simplifies the monitoring of labour and enables early detection of complications, while promoting a more humane approach to care. WHO has supported the training of 2700 midwives in its use across the country. 

“Before, midwives were very focused on complex charts, sometimes at the expense of continuous support,” acknowledges Dr Alassane Tall, Head of the Gynecology Unit at Yeumbeul Hospital. “Today, the tool is more intuitive and allows more time for listening to women and adapting care accordingly.” 

To support this shift, WHO has also assisted in the adaptation and dissemination of a complementary module on stress management for midwives, with 235 health professionals trained. Beyond technical procedures, the emphasis is placed on communication, adaptation to each woman’s needs and the well‑being of midwives, thereby strengthening the quality of care. 

“The preparation sessions with pregnant women allow us to better anticipate their needs and build a relationship of trust by integrating listening and emotional support into care, beyond technical acts alone,” says Gnima Sonko, Senior Midwife at the Yeumbeul Health Centre, trained with WHO support. “The modules focused on strengthening our own mental health help us work with greater peace of mind, which directly improves the quality of support we provide to pregnant women.” 

This integrated approach is transforming the childbirth experience. “Every woman deserves to experience childbirth in dignity and safety. This is a fundamental right, not a privilege,” stresses Dr Michel Yao, WHO Representative in Senegal. “Collaboration between the Ministry of Health, health districts and WHO is essential to scaling up these good practices.” 

For Tina, the change was tangible: “My baby was born in joy, not fear. I am leaving with a light heart.” A testimony that shows how humane health care transforms lives — one pregnancy, one birth, one family at a time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Senegal.

Source: APO

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On January 20, commencing at 4:30 p.m., for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. HORII Iwao, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, received a courtesy call from Mr. Patient KETU CIRIMWAMI, Chief of Staff to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Democratic Republic of the Congo. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows:

1. At the outset, State Minister HORII welcomed Chief of Staff KETU CIRIMWAMI’s visit to Japan and expressed his expectation for further cooperation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as DRC is serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for two years from 2026. State Minister also welcomed the progress in bilateral cooperation following the two visits to Japan by H.E. Mrs. Judith SUMINWA Tuluka, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, last year.
2. In response, Chief of Staff KETU CIRIMWAMI stated that DRC would like to further deepen cooperation both bilaterally and in the international arena, including the UN Security Council.
3. They also exchanged views on regional issues, such as their policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, cooperation toward the realization of UN Security Council reform, and efforts to maintain and strengthen the international order based on the rule of law. They concurred to cooperate closely in the international arena.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.