Category: English

Source: APO

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit 2025 recently. It was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation & President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative and H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola & Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”, along with First Ladies of Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation expressed, “I am very happy to have welcomed my dear sister, H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, First Lady of the Republic of Angola & Ambassador of Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’ for the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025. We had a very meaningful discussion and will soon be initiating our joint programs in the country to transform the public healthcare landscape and raise awareness about a wide range of social health issues.”

H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, First Lady of the Republic of Angola & Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” said, “I am looking forward to start the implementation of the Educating Linda Program which aims to empower girls through education and end child marriage, this program is very close to my heart as I consider it one of my main objectives as the First Lady of Angola; and as an African woman, I strongly believe that girl Education is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment. Moreover, I am also looking forward to providing scholarships for our local doctors to build and strengthen healthcare capacity in our country.”

Watch the Speech of The First Lady of Angola & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother during the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025 here: https://apo-opa.co/47tdbD2

Watch the video of Merck Foundation CEO, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej receiving H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola & Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”: https://apo-opa.co/46ahYXw

On day 2 of the Summit, Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative- MFFLI committee meeting was conducted between The First Ladies of Africa and Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, where the African and Asian First Ladies shared the impact report of Merck Foundation programs in their respective countries, and future strategy was discussed.

Watch the video of MFFLI committee meeting: https://apo-opa.co/468Ry8z

During the Summit, a strategy meeting between Merck Foundation CEO, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej and  The First Lady of Angola was also held to define strategies to build healthcare and media capacity in Angola to address a wide range of social and health issues.

Watch video of the meeting here: https://apo-opa.co/45S7hdt

“Merck Foundation has always believed in the importance of building healthcare capacity and has been working for it since 2012. We have so far provided 2280 scholarships for doctors from 52 countries in 44 underserved medical specialties. We will soon be enrolling doctors from Angola in various medical specialties in partnership with the First Lady and Ministry of Health of Angola“, added Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation together with the office of  First Lady of Angola has organized 3 editions of their Online Health Media Training to encourage the journalist to be the voice of the voiceless and create a culture shift around critical social issues like supporting girl education, ending GBV and FGM, women empowerment, and health issues like diabetes and hypertension awareness.

Merck Foundation also announced the Call for applications for their 8 important awards in partnership with The First Lady of Angola for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.

The 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative was streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation:

@ Merck Foundation: Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/4pe3EGf), X (http://apo-opa.co/3JPQsr6), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/46bYX7k), and YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4pbbW1F).

@ Rasha Kelej: Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/4mVMxaS), X (http://apo-opa.co/47s6Zv3), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/4mLGqpm), and YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4pi5RAO).

Link to the YouTube live stream of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation First Ladies High Level Panel: https://apo-opa.co/4mRvKWe

Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:

• 2280+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for doctors from 52 Countries in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.  

Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:

• 3700+ Media Persons from more than 35 countries trained to better raise awareness about different social and health issues
• 8 Different Awards launched annually for best media coverage, fashion designers, films, and songs
• Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa
• 8 Children’s Storybooks in three languages – English, French, and Portuguese
• 7 Awareness Animation films in five languages – English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes & Hypertension and supporting girl education.
• Pan African TV Program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community
• 950+ Scholarships provided to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls to empower them to complete their studies
• 15 Social Media Channels with more than 8 Million Followers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard:
Facebook: http://apo-opa.co/4pe3EGf
X: http://apo-opa.co/3JPQsr6
YouTube: http://apo-opa.co/4pbbW1F
Instagram: http://apo-opa.co/46bYX7k
Threads: http://apo-opa.co/4gd29ny
Flickr: http://apo-opa.co/465889r
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/3V8eHTJ

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/4pe3EGf), X (http://apo-opa.co/3JPQsr6), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/46bYX7k), YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4pbbW1F), Threads (http://apo-opa.co/4gd29ny) and Flickr (http://apo-opa.co/465889r).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

Source: APO

.

The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 – Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders, scheduled for October 1–3, 2025 in Cape Town – will feature representatives from the continent’s top gold-producing countries and companies. Collectively, these stakeholders account for the majority of Africa’s gold output and are expected to showcase strategies, policies and projects strengthening the continent’s economic growth, industrialization agenda and position in the global market.

Ghana

Ghana – Africa’s largest gold producer and the world’s sixth largest – will be represented by Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, in the Ministerial Forum. Minister Buah is anticipated to highlight policies transforming gold extraction, beneficiation and investment attraction, anchored by the ministry’s six-pillar strategy. Ghana’s gold output reached 130 tons in 2024, with exports rising 53.2% to $11.64 billion.

The country’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector will also feature at AMW. Kwaku Nsiah-Asare, CEO of Typhoon Greenfield Development – Ghana’s first ASM company compliant with London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) standards – will speak in the ASM Regulation: Balancing Formalization and Livelihood Protection panel, where he is expected to showcase ASM sector’s contribution to industry growth.

Mali

Africa’s second-largest gold producer, Mali – which recorded output of 67.7 tons in 2024 – will be represented by the Chamber of Mines of Mali. CEO Fousseni Togola will participate in the Gold Economy: Value, Processing and Global Market Positioning panel, where he is expected to showcase investment opportunities as the country strengthens cooperation with global partners and modernizes its sector under the new Mining Code.

South Africa

As one of the continent’s most established gold producers, South Africa will be represented by Thabiso Sekano, Head of Mining and Metals at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Sekano will join the Investor Perspective: Financing Africa’s Minerals Industrialization panel, where he is expected to discuss IDC’s strategy to revitalize South Africa’s mining sector and unlock new opportunities in gold production.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe – Africa’s eighth-largest gold producer with 49 tons of output in 2024 – will be representated by Winston Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, alongside representatives from the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe. Minister Chitando will participate in the Ministerial Forum, where he is expected to emphasize investment prospects within Zimbabwe’s gold value chain.

Namibia

Representing Namibia, B2Gold Namibia will participate in discussions on the future of gold mining in Africa. John Ross, the company’s Country Manager, will feature in the Africa’s Gold Economy panel, where he is expected to present expansion strategies for the company’s operations, including the Otjikoto Mine – Namibia’s second-largest gold mine.

Emerging Producers

AMW will also spotlight measures adopted by emerging gold producers – including Nigeria, Egypt and Uganda – to unlock large-scale gold production. Egypt will be represented by Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum Resources and Mineral Resources while Nigeria will be represented by Oladele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Uganda by Humphrey Asiimwe, CEO of the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Mines.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

About African Mining Week (AMW) 2025​:
AMW serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Source: APO

African economies have been challenged to boost their investment in research to power the continent’s industrial transformation by accelerating development of homegrown innovations that reinforce autonomy, sustainability, and technological sovereignty.

Speaking during the official launch of the African Research and Innovation Hub (ARIH) on the sidelines of the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, the Group Chief Economist and Managing Director for Research at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Dr. Yemi Kale noted that while Africa accounts for less than 3% of global research output, it bears a disproportionately higher share of global challenges.

“Even more concerning, our research and development spending averages under 0.5% of GDP, far below the global average of 2.2% and far less than the over 4% invested in countries such as South Korea and Israel. However, history shows us that deliberate investment in research ecosystems has been the foundation of industrial transformation. Sustained competitiveness requires research, innovation, and the industrial capacity to transform ideas into products and services that can stand at the frontier of global markets,” Dr Kale said.

The hub is a joint initiative of Afreximbank, the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat that aims to promote and commercialise African research and innovation. It provides a platform for academics, researchers, and students to contribute their knowledge and expertise towards advancing Intra-African trade and industrialisation.

“ARIH’s mission is to transform intellectual capital into industrial competitiveness and trade-led growth. Studies indicate that if Africa merely doubles its R&D spending to 1% of GDP by 2030, we could unlock an estimated $60–70 billion annually in additional value across agriculture, digital technology, and manufacturing. This would boost productivity, reduce import dependence, and expand Africa’s share of global trade,” Dr Kale argued.

Throughout IATF2025, ARIH is running sessions bringing together participants from academia, enterprise, policymakers and investors. Besides the co-convenors, Algeria’s Ministry of Higher Education is providing technical coordination for the sessions that include roundtables and pitch sessions for innovative projects and startups. University lecturers and students, as well as scientists and researchers affiliated with National Research Institutions from Africa, and the Diaspora including the Caribbean, have the opportunity to showcase their innovative research and scientific prototypes.

Hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, IATF2025 is co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, and is projected to facilitate trade and investment deals worth over US$44 billion. IATF is a platform for businesses to showcase their goods and services to visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. IATF aims to tap into opportunities from AfCFTA’s single market of over 1.4 billion people and GDP of over US$3.5 trillion. The ongoing IATF2025 is in its fourth edition with the last three editions of IATF cumulatively generating over $118 billion in trade and investment deals and attracting more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors.

For more information, please visit www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media contact:
media@intrafricatradefair.com  
press@afreximbank.com

About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development.

Source: APO

.

As the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) kicked off its second day, Global Africa Diaspora Day brought together Heads of State, senior government officials, business leaders, and cultural icons from across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora – with the renewed vision to bring unity and economic sovereignty.

Held at the Centre International de Conferences (CIC) in Algiers, Global Africa Diaspora Day opened with remarks from H.E. Mr. Sifi Ghrieb, Acting Prime Minister of Algeria. This was followed by powerful statements from H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria and Chaiman of IATF, Prof Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank; H.E. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados; H.E. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis; and H.E. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, who all rallied for unity between Africa and its Diaspora.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Benedict Oramah, emphasised that Global Africa must evolve into a cohesive market of nearly two billion people: “The work ahead of us is to use the force of our collective endeavours and knowledge to build a solid economy for ourselves and by ourselves. We must produce within our communities, sell within our communities, and take pride in consuming what is produced within our communities.”

Prof. Benedict Oramah added: “Our concept of Global Africa can be defined as Pan-Africanism underpinned by markets and by the capital we own and control. Today’s event is pivotal in driving that new agenda.”

Reinforcing this message, Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, explained how Africa and its Diaspora are working towards building bridges and having a bright future together: “Global Africa is not a new idea. It is the continuation of a great journey to mend a past that was broken and to secure a future rooted in unity and sovereignty.”

The full list of Ministers and Executives involved in the morning session included:

• H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria and Chairperson of the IATF Advisory Council 
• Hon Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
• Hon Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
• Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada (CARICOM) who send a pre-recorded statement
• Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister of Grand Bahama, The Bahamas
• Dr George Elombi, Executing Vice President Governance, Legal and Corporate Services and Incoming President, Afreximbank
• Mrs Kanayo Awani. Executing Vice President Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank

Special addresses were also delivered by world-leading creatives Mr. Ozwald Boateng, the Ghanaian-British fashion designer, and Mr. Chafik Gasmi, Algerian architect and creative director. Ramirez of Grenada, showcasing the richness of African and Diaspora creativity.

Prof. Benedict Oramah also highlighted the planned creation of a Global Africa Commission alongside cultural initiatives such as sports activities between Africa and the Caribbean.

The panel on The Global Africa We Want: Business Collaboration Without Borders was headlined by Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister of Grand Bahama, Bahamas, and moderated by Mucha Hazel Nyandoro (UK/Zimbabwe). Contributions came from Ms. Sunmbo Olatunji (Nigeria), Ms. Kaye-Anne Greenidge (Barbados), Mr. Mouloud Khelif (Algeria), Dr. Fouad Bousetouane (Algeria/USA), and Mr. Okechukwu Ihejirika (Afreximbank), who each shared practical ideas for strengthening cross-border collaboration

The day concluded with a conversation on “Decolonising Narratives: Africa’s Voice in the Global Discourse” and was moderated by Mr. Karim Zéribi (Algeria). The panel featured Amb. Orlando Romain (Grenada), Ms. Lavaille Lavette (USA), Mr. Noureddine Zahzah (Algeria), Ms. Naïma Yahi (Algeria), and Mr. Temwa Gondwe (Afreximbank), who discussed ways to reshape global narratives and amplify African perspectives.

For more information, please visit www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media contact: 
media@intrafricatradefair.com
press@afreximbank.com

About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development.

Source: APO

Liquid C2, a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has announced a partnership between its Cloudmania business and global independent software vendor AvePoint (https://www.AvePoint.com/) (Nasdaq: AVPT). Under the agreement, Cloudmania will distribute AvePoint across Africa, opening new markets and opportunities for secure cloud adoption across the continent.  

“Partnering with AvePoint is another significant milestone in our journey to becoming the leading provider of cloud solutions in Africa. Incorporating AvePoint’s globally proven solutions into our services enables us to strengthen our existing offerings, equipping our partners and customers with the tools they need to close cyber security gaps, ensure compliance, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth,” said Oswald Jumira, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid C2.  

The partnership will see AvePoint’s specialised data protection, governance, migration, and SaaS management tools integrated into Cloudmania’s comprehensive portfolio of Microsoft-based solutions. These additional solutions will complement Cloudmania’s current services and help partners and resellers across all industries deliver more secure, scalable, and efficient digital services.  

“Africa is one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing markets for cloud. Our exclusive partnership with Cloudmania means we can bring our innovations to a wider audience, empowering organisations of every size and sector to protect their data, streamline their operations, and realise the full value of their digital transformation strategies,” said Mohammed Helaly, Sr. Sales Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa 

Hosted on Microsoft Azure and leveraging regional data centres, AvePoint’s solutions meet local compliance requirements while maintaining the highest security standards. This, along with simplicity and ease of deployment, provides a cost-effective and reliable alternative to traditional storage-based backup models. 

The partnership between Liquid C2’s award-winning distribution business unit, Cloudmania, and AvePoint is another example of how collaborative partnerships are empowering African businesses through holistic technology solutions that enhance operational resilience and enable digital transformation.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

About Liquid C2: 
Liquid C2, a subsidiary of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, delivers cutting-edge cloud and cybersecurity services and solutions. Committed to facilitating digital transformation, Liquid C2 is positioned to provide comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the evolving demands of the digital era by empowering businesses to navigate the complexities of the modern digital landscape securely. The company’s offerings span cloud solutions that enhance accessibility and scalability, and robust cybersecurity services to safeguard sensitive data and elevate security and compliance posture to ensure businesses remain seamlessly connected and protected. https://LiquidC2.com/ 

About Cloudmania: 
Launched by Liquid C2 in 2021, Cloudmania is the distribution business unit of Liquid C2. Cloudmania offers cutting-edge solutions to provide a full suite of partner-focused products and services. The organisation was awarded a Microsoft Partner of the Year in Ethiopia 2022 and Côte d’Ivoire in 2023 The company has opened its doors to numerous countries across the African continent, including South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo serving the mission to bring about digital disruption using the power of the cloud. For more information https://Cloudmania.africa/ 

About AvePoint: 
Beyond Secure. AvePoint is the global leader in data security, governance, and resilience, going beyond traditional solutions to ensure a robust data foundation and enable organizations everywhere to collaborate with confidence. Over 25,000 customers worldwide rely on the AvePoint Confidence Platform to prepare, secure, and optimize their critical data across Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, and other collaboration environments. AvePoint’s global channel partner program includes approximately 5,000 managed service providers, value-added resellers, and systems integrators, with our solutions available in more than 100 cloud marketplaces. To learn more, visit https://www.AvePoint.com/