Category: English

Source: APO

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According to the GoDaddy (www.GoDaddy.com) 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Survey, nearly half of small businesses in now primarily operate online, using websites, marketplaces, or social media to sell. This shows a clear shift as entrepreneurs embrace digital channels to reach customers, grow sales, and stay competitive in today’s market.

Social Media: A Key Tool with Real Challenges

Social media plays a major role in how small businesses operate and grow. 80% of entrepreneurs say it’s important to their sales strategy, and half (50%) say it’s very important. It has also become the top place to learn about running a business: 59% turn to social media for insights, ahead of traditional educational resources like books and blogs (40%), and artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT (37%).

But while the value is clear, so are the challenges. When it comes to managing their social media presence, many entrepreneurs struggle with content. 37% say it’s hard to come up with engaging ideas for posts, and another 33% don’t have enough time to create and post regularly. Even when content is shared, converting engagement into sales remains difficult—51% say they have trouble converting followers into customers, and 54% can’t reach the right audience.

“At GoDaddy, we realize how much potential entrepreneurs have—and we also understand how hard it is to turn online effort into real growth,” said Selina Bieber, Vice President of International Markets at GoDaddy. “That’s why we’re focused on giving them smart, easy tools like Show in Bio (https://apo-opa.co/4lzcLPc) that can help turn social engagement into actual sales, without adding more work.”

These hurdles show that while social media is essential, it’s not easy. Entrepreneurs need smarter tools and support to turn digital activity into real business growth.

The Rise of Digital-First Small Businesses

Running a business today means going beyond a physical store. While 31% of small businesses still work mainly from a physical location, the online world is catching up with 19% now run their business primarily through their own website. Another 28% operate mostly on social media.

Sales channels also reflect this shift. Though 36% sell in person, 18% use online stores or marketplaces, and another 31% sell directly through social media.

This mix of physical and digital approaches shows that small businesses are finding new ways to meet customers—whether in-store, online, or on social media. The ability to combine different methods indicates a significant evolution in business’ ability to adapt to customers’ needs and preferences.

The Need for Smarter Tools and AI Support

As entrepreneurs go digital, many know exactly what would help them sell on social. More than half (59%) say they need better ways to reach the right audience, almost half (48%) want simpler tools for creating and posting content, and over a third (39%) want insights into what is working and is not, highlighting a clear demand for practical, time-saving solutions.

The Opportunity Ahead

As more small businesses move online, the need for effective tools and support continues to grow. GoDaddy is committed to helping entrepreneurs succeed with easy-to-use solutions like Show in Bio (https://apo-opa.co/4lzcLPc), GoDaddy Studio (https://apo-opa.co/3GwhNgA), and GoDaddy Airo® (https://apo-opa.co/3TrhKFF) all designed to simplify digital marketing and turn engagement into real results.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GoDaddy.

About GoDaddy:
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services, and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

Source: APO

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Today in Al-Alamain City, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said the two Presidents held a closed bilateral session of talks, followed by an expanded meeting attended by the two countries’ delegations. The talks focused on ways to foster closer bilateral relations as well as developments in the region and the continent.

Concluding their meeting, the two Presidents held a joint press conference.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO

On 30 June 2025 in Ouagadougou, representatives from six member countries of the Desert to Power Initiative (https://apo-opa.co/3GlwfrL) approved key strategic documents to boost independent power production in the Sahel, at the fifth ministerial meeting of the project, spearheaded by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org).

This crucial meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of progress made in implementing the Desert to Power Initiative, and to approve two key strategic documents: the Joint Protocol for Independent Power Producers (IPP) and the Strategy for the Promotion of Green Mini-Grids.  

The IPP Joint Protocol, developed in close collaboration with the Desert to Power Taskforce and the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), establishes standardised principles and documents to facilitate the development of large-scale solar power plants under public-private partnerships (PPPs). The aim of the mini-grid strategy is to determine a framework to accelerate implementation and encourage participation. 

The meeting was chaired by Yacouba Zabré Gouba, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries, and attended by the energy ministers of Djibouti, Niger and Chad, as well as representatives of their counterparts from Mali and Mauritania. 

The ministers welcomed the project’s significant progress, particularly the implementation of over 15 projects, the first few of which are already operational. They also stressed the importance of capacity-building efforts.  

Discussions continued at a technical workshop on financial modelling, aimed at strengthening financial analysis tools for the viability of Sahelian national utilities. There was active participation by the general managers and financial directors of the national utilities at this meeting. 

Thanking the African Development Bank for supporting participating countries through the Desert to Power Initiative, Gouba said the meeting had given them a fresh start. “We must double our efforts and work in synergy to achieve the set objectives,” he declared. 

Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for f Electricity, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, congratulated the ministers, observing that the validated Common Protocol constitutes an important lever for accelerating the development of privately financed solar projects for the benefit of the Sahelian people.  

He also called on countries to take advantage of Mission 300 (https://apo-opa.co/3TVVxzJ), a bold effort between the African Development Bank and the World Bank that seeks to provide electricity access to an additional 300 million people in Africa by 2030.   

“Mission 300 is a movement based on coordinated action, committed political leadership, and focused delivery from which we cannot afford to leave any country, ”Kariuki said. 

On the sidelines of the gathering, participants visited the Gonsin photovoltaic power plant, located to the northwest of Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. The 42 MWp plant, built as part of the Desert to Power Initiative, boasts a 10-megawatt storage system, providing a clear illustration of the tangible results and impact of the Initiative in Burkina Faso. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact: 
Communication and External Relations Department, 
media@afdb.org

Source: APO

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The Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries has called for coordination of resources in order to maximise the impact Early Childhood Development (ECD) have in society.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Makhi Feni, said the ECD centres are an empowerment tool whose role and importance should never be forsaken.

“It is really concerning to the committee that we read of challenges besieging the ECD sector when we had just transferred the function to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) Surely, our portfolio will not and must not fail our children, as there was a reason to migrate the function to education.”

“This is a function that requires everyone and any help with regards to the welfare and foundation phase education of our children. We are building a nation; and our actions include budget allocated for this specific function must support that,” emphasised Mr Feni.

Weekend reports indicated that several ECD centres, and some attached to schools, struggled with basic necessities like water, sanitation and food items especially in the rural Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.

Mr Feni said the committee would love to receive an update briefing on empirical and manifest challenges since the migration of the function to the DBE.

“We do not want a system that breaks our children and their early educators either through budget constraints or infrastructure. We call on the minister and the provincial MECs to prioritise the work around ECD centres. These are areas where our children spend the longest time without parental supervision and outside their homes.”

The committee also noted the challenges around payment of student teachers and tutors in Quintile One schools. Mr Feni said the committee accepted the fiscal constrained environment the DBE operated in. “But we do not want the challenges to become a phenomenon; the DBE must attend to this matter urgently wherever it is manifest.”

“Salaries of teachers are a no-go area for cuts and hiccups. These are meagre salaries, it is not as if these teachers are paid millions.”

Mr Feni said the committee’s interest was a functional system where all parents see value and trust that their children will turn out responsible and accountable young adults whose skills will be relevant to a 21st Century economy.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

Environmental hate group Greenpeace has once again launched an attack on the African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/) and Africa’s energy sector, citing the continent’s efforts to accelerate development as a coordinated attack on the right to dissent. Using the example whereby a jury in North Dakota issued a landmark ruling, ordering Greenpeace to pay $660 million in damages for malicious interference with the Dakota Access Pipeline, the organization has declared that companies such as the African Energy Chamber (AEC) utilize Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation – SLAPP suits – to intimidate and silence critics.

Let us be clear: lawsuits like the example above are not tactical weapons to intimidate: it is a clear example of justice being served to organizations attempting to dismantle global development and community empowerment. The examples shared by Greenpeace are not “corporate weaponization of the law to dismantle civil society opposition” – it is a clear example of justice.

Greenpeace has proven time and time again that it does not in fact care about people; it operates under a mandate to attack the energy industry. The AEC has been consistent in its calls, advocating for justice, inclusive development and equitable investments. On the other hand, Greenpeace has been consistent in its attacks, targeting projects that stand to make a difference in the world. As we have said before, the organization’s methods go beyond protesting – they involve a calculated strategy of misinformation, disruption and direct interference with energy infrastructure. When faced with the consequences of their actions – in this case, $$660 million worth – the organization blames investors, they blame the justice system and they blame the energy sector.  

Africa is so close to unlocking significant economic development. With 125 billion barrels of crude oil, 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and abundant renewable energy potential, the continent is working hard to bring tangible benefits to its communities. Africa is not pursuing ambitious projects with the aim of exporting. Africa is accelerating development with the aim of creating greater value from its oil and gas resources – resources that western nations have long-benefited from.

Organizations such as Greenpeace claim to stand on behalf of “concerned citizens,” yet they so carefully ignore the very citizens set to benefit from Africa’s oil and gas resources. We have said it time and time again, with over 600 million people living without access to electricity and over 900 million people living without access to clean cooking solutions, Africa cannot afford to leave these resources in the ground. This very statistic has led the citizens of Africa – not only corporations – to rally behind the call to “make energy poverty history.” And it is large-scale oil and gas projects that will achieve this goal. From Namibia’s Orange Basin to Libya’s Sirte to Angola’s Kwanza and Mozambique’s Rovuma, Africa’s oil and gas basins will transform the continent. Major investments stand to do more than extract resources, they create jobs, develop infrastructure, boost skills development and give hope to millions of Africans. These projects are being developed in close coordination with environmental groups.  

Take the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a vital infrastructure project set to connect Uganda’s oilfields with Tanzania’s Port of Tanga. EACOP developer TotalEnergies has placed environmental protection and community engagement at the very heart of development. The project is being developed through specialized measures geared towards protecting the environment as well as the rights of local communities. Environmental and Social Impact Assessments were carried out in compliance with the standards of the International Finance Corporation, third-party reviews were conducted, regular engagement with impact communities is deployed. Right from the design phase of these projects, special attention has been paid to information, consultation and consensus-building with all stakeholders. Over 70,000 people were consulted for the ESIAs and more than 20,000 meetings have been held to date with the populations concerned and civil society organizations. The project is an example of how oil companies are in fact working in close partnership with environmental authorities.

Greenpeace’s attacks on the industry go beyond infrastructure. The organization strongly opposes oil and gas exploration, disrupting seismic data acquisition and drilling. Campaigns have been launched against Shell in South Africa, and as a result, the country has been unable to understand the wealth of resources it has offshore. Greenpeace is seeking donations to support its efforts to block development in South Africa, calling “To Hell with Shell.” Similarly, the organization is opposing Africa Oil Corp as it strives to unlock new development opportunities in South Africa. Greenpeace is appealing an Environmental Authorization received by Africa Oil Corp to conduct exploration. In Mozambique, Greenpeace has called for investors to stop financing vital projects, including major LNG developments that could transform southern Africa into an energy hub. By accosting funders, they have impacted developments in the Rovuma basin, leaving millions in energy poverty without a second thought. But the question is, why Africa? Greenpeace are fiercely opposing African exploration efforts but ignoring projects in other regions such as the Middle East. This is an intentional attack on the continent.

Greenpeace is right. The lawsuit against it is not an isolated event – it is a demonstration of how Greenpeace continues to blame others for the damages it causes. Organizations such as the AEC have tried again and again to work with environmental groups, but they are not interested in partnerships. They only want disruption. Sustainable development is about people, it is about inclusivity and it is about democracy. We should ask ourselves: will we allow environmental groups to dictate what Africa deserves? Will we allow these groups to attack projects, prevent growth and disrupt the livelihoods of people? Or will be make energy poverty history and transform the lives of African people?  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

African exploration and production company Petralon Energy is on track to boost Nigerian crude production by a further 2,500 barrels per day (bpd), following drilling activities at the Dawes Island field. The company has recently completed a new well at the field, aligning with plans to maximize output at the field. Operated by Petralon Energy subsidiary Petralon 54 Limited, the field is situated in Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) 259.

The milestone comes as Petralon seeks to unlock greater value from Nigeria’s offshore oil resources. The company invested $25 million in the drilling program and development initiatives at the field between 2014 and 2022, officially securing a 100% stake in PPL 259 following the implementation of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act in 2021. The production milestone underscores the instrumental role indigenous operators play in Nigeria, with future drilling activities set to further consolidate Petralon’s position in the country’s upstream sector. Petralon is a Platinum Partner of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference, taking place September 29 to October 3, 2025, in Cape Town.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Beyond PPL 259 and the Dawes Island field, Petralon is pursuing non-operated interests in Oil Mining License (OML) 127 and OML 130, seeking to unlock new resources and enhance revenue generation. The company owns a stake in Prime Oil & Gas, which holds an 8% interest in OML 127 and a 16% stake in OML 130. OML 127 features the Agbami field while OML 130 contains the Akpo, Egina and Preowei fields. Net production from the producing Akpo, Egina and Preowei fields averages 51,000 bpd. Both asses are situated in the deep offshore, showcasing gross 2P reserves of 270 million barrels and 638 million barrels, respectively.

Meanwhile, Petralon has also been strengthening its ownership stakes across the African upstream industry. The company holds an indirect equity interest in Prime Oil & Gas, which recently finalized its merger with Africa Oil Corp. Petralon has emerged with a 4.24% stake in the expanded entity. The transaction aligns with Petralon’s broader intentions to strengthen its presence in Africa. The newly-expanded entity now operates a strong portfolio that includes deepwater assets in Nigeria alongside ventures in Namibia, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. With the merger, the expanded entity benefits from a strengthened balance sheet as well as new opportunities for regional growth.

Stepping into this picture, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 supports indigenous operators in Africa as they strive to further expand their presence across the upstream market.

“By connecting global financiers and operators with African partners, the event positions collaboration at the forefront of investment and development. As a Platinum Partner, Petralon underscores its vision to expand its upstream portfolio of operated and non-operated assets, while engaging with potential partners to unlock greater value from the continent’s oil and gas resources,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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Amid the challenges faced by conflict-affected communities in Mozambique, women have emerged as strategic agents of change. Rabeca Gerente Almeida Thomas, 51, is one such transformative example. A pastor, mother, and respected community leader in Báruè district (Manica Province), Rabeca transitioned from faith leader to peacebuilder — a journey that symbolizes the power of local women’s leadership in building more just and resilient societies.

Rabeca is one of 240 Peace Sentinels trained under the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) project, implemented by UN Women and partners such as CESC, Lemusica, GMPIS, and Hikone, with financial support from the Government of Norway. The initiative aimed at ensuring that Women and girls contribute to and to have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and to benefit equally from the prevention of conflicts and disasters in Mozambique.

When Rabeca first joined the training sessions on conflict mediation, human rights, and gender justice conducted by CESC and its partners, she had no idea just how deeply it would change her and her community. She learned not only how to navigate disputes but also how to challenge the barriers that kept women from having a voice in local decisions.

As her confidence grew, Rabeca didn’t just use her skills; she multiplied them. Women sought her guidance, and slowly, change unfolded. Her training unlocked doors, not just for her, but for every woman inspired by her courage.

“After the training, I started working with women’s groups and establishing safe spaces where they can share experiences, seek support, and find collective solutions. Today, I speak with confidence about peace, justice, and rights.”

Since joining the project, Rabeca has exceeded the original goal by creating eight safe spaces — places for protection, support, and community mobilization, essential for women and girls at risk. One of these spaces was set up in the home of a local leader, showing the growing engagement of men as allies in the cause.

These spaces have directly helped prevent at least six cases of forced and early marriages and continue to provide ongoing support to vulnerable girls and women. Nationally, more than 55 safe spaces have been established by peace sentinels across nine districts.

Political Participation in Action: Rabeca as Election Observer in 2024

A landmark in Rabeca’s journey was her accreditation as an observer in the 2024 presidential elections. In a context where women’s political participation still faces numerous barriers, her role underscores the vital contribution of women not only as voters but as guardians of transparency and integrity in democratic processes.

She is part of a group of three women peace sentinels who monitored incidents of gender-based electoral violence and advocated for inclusive and secure voting. In total, 2,454 women were reached through awareness campaigns led by the peace sentinels via community radio and dialogue spaces on political participation and gender equality.

Rabeca also played a strategic role in promoting interparty dialogue. Through her leadership and mediation skills, she helped bring together representatives from the three largest political parties in Báruè to sign a Women’s Peace Commitment Declaration, overcoming historical divisions and reinforcing women’s role as unifiers in social cohesion efforts.

In addition to her contributions to conflict mediation and political engagement, Rabeca leads five community savings groups, involving around 115 women. These groups serve as an economic empowerment and social protection strategy, promoting not only income generation but also autonomy and solidarity among women in communities deeply affected by conflict.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Source: APO

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The WHO Country Office in Egypt supported the Ministry of Health and Population in launching the Middle East and North Africa’s first field epidemiology training programme (FETP) focused on vector control. Supported by the Pandemic Fund, it aims to strengthen national capacity in detecting, preventing and responding to vector-borne diseases.

The training involved 32 participants, mainly agricultural engineers from the human and animal sectors. It is designed to build workforce capacity to manage and respond to vector-borne disease outbreaks by strengthening and fostering multisectoral collaboration and communication across the human, animal and environmental health sectors using the One Health approach.

The training combines short classroom-based modules with extended field placements. Over 6 months, participants attend 3 workshops, each followed by field assignments to reinforce practical skills. The programme allocates 20% of training time to classroom instruction and 80% to hands-on fieldwork across different governorates.

Egypt FETP comprises competency-based, mentored training that helps public health professionals enhance their field epidemiology knowledge, skills and competencies. Established in 1993, it has trained and graduated 385 epidemiologists. FETP operates at basic, intermediate and advanced levels.

WHO Egypt has continued to provide technical support to Egypt’s FETP, including updating training materials, mentoring participants, reviewing reports, abstracts and manuscripts and offering logistical support such as organizing workshops and other fieldwork activities.

Successful implementation of the training will enhance Egypt’s capacity for prevention, preparedness, detection and response to outbreaks, contributing to the safeguarding of public health and health system resilience.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Source: APO

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Many residents of Gogrial West County are unaware of their fundamental right to be protected, often silently enduring violence, theft, or domestic abuse.

Despite being a relatively peaceful part of Warrap State, people living here are sometimes subject to conflicts and their consequences, crime, risks related to climate change and, last but not least, the frequent incidents of domestic violence mostly suffered by women and girls. 

“They, like everyone else, have the right to live safely and with dignity,” stated Bakhita Burke, Gender-Based Violence Coordinator at Women for Change, a women-led non-governmental organization, adding that a lack of tangible conflict is no guarantee of peace on the home front.

“Behind closed doors, many women continue to suffer,” she said, remarking that recent months have seen a concerning increase of suicides related to physical abuse. 

Ms. Burke and some other 50 invited guests, including political and community leaders, survivors of violence and other stakeholders, discussed a variety of topics, all related to advocacy for human rights, at a workshop in Kuajok facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). 

Another such issue is cattle raiding and the profound distress this harmful and unlawful practice causes. Alongside gender-based violence, cattle theft emerged as another significant issue during discussions. Daniel Mangar, Executive Director for Gogrial West County, elaborated on the profound economic and emotional distress caused by these incidents.

“These thefts may seem minor to outsiders, but they create fear, tensions and financial losses for anyone affected,” commented Mariang Martin Agoth, Executive Director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, highlighting the importance of partnerships.

“Humanitarians step in precisely where government resources fall short, trying to make sure that displaced families and other vulnerable community members are not forgotten.” 

Lucy Okello, a Protection, Transition & Reintegration Officer serving with UNMISS, reflected on the bigger picture and the people of South Sudan the peacekeeping mission is here to serve. 

“Each statistic we discuss represents real families, facing real and severe hardship. Our talk today must be translated into actions tomorrow.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) began airdropping emergency food assistance to thousands of families in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, where surging conflict since March has forced families from their homes and pushed some communities to the brink of famine.

These distributions mark WFP’s first access in over four months to deliver life-saving food and nutrition assistance to more than 40,000 people facing catastrophic hunger in the most remote parts of Nasir and Ulang counties, areas only accessible by air.

“The link between conflict and hunger is tragically clear in South Sudan and we’ve seen this over the past few months in Upper Nile,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. “Without a major scale-up in assistance, the counties of Nasir and Ulang risk slipping into full-blown famine. We urgently need to get food to these families, and we are doing everything possible to reach those who need it most before the situation spirals.”

More than one million people across Upper Nile are facing acute hunger, including over 32,000 people already experiencing Catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC5) – the highest level of food insecurity. This figure has tripled since armed conflict flared in March, triggering mass displacement, including across the border into Ethiopia where WFP is providing life-saving food aid to around 50,000 people who have fled from Upper Nile in search of food and safety.

WFP aims to reach 470,000 people in Upper Nile and Northern Jonglei through the lean season – the hungriest time of year, which runs through August – but continued fighting and logistical constraints have hindered access and a comprehensive response. WFP has only been able to reach 300,000 people in Upper Nile so far this year. 

The main river routes into the state must be reopened urgently in order to reach hungry families with sustained humanitarian support. These routes are the most cost-effective way to reach large swathes of Upper Nile and northern Jonglei states to deliver crucial assistance but have been blocked by active fighting since mid-April. WFP has 1,500MT of food ready to transport once river routes are operational again.

“Where we have been able to consistently deliver, we’ve seen real progress,” McGroarty said. “In the first half of this year, we pushed back catastrophic hunger in areas of Jonglei State through regular deliveries of food assistance, and we can do the same in Upper Nile. But if we can’t get the food to people, hunger will deepen and famine is a real and present threat.”

A global funding slowdown is worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan. Nationwide, 7.7 million people – 57 percent of the population – are facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger. An unprecedented 2.3 million children are at risk of malnutrition.

Due to funding gaps, WFP has prioritized assistance with reduced rations for only the most vulnerable 2.5 million people—just 30 percent of those in acute need – to stretch limited resources. WFP urgently needs US$274 million to continue life-saving operations through December.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).