ABUJA, Nigeria, January 5, 2022/ — CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, and the scientific committee felicitated 13 winners of best African Women Researchers and best Young African Researchers of MARS Awards 2021 ceremony via videoconference for their valuable research work and contribution to empowering women and youth in STEM; Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for …

Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament representing Germany on the platform of the Green Party, pays tribute to Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the South African Anglican bishop and theologian known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist who died at the age of 90 on 26 December. —– The South African Archbishop of the Anglican Church passed …

The minimum wage and Hartz IV rate will rise in the new year just as postage rates and the prices of petrol and diesel will go up. New regulations on plastic shopping bags and beverage cans and plastic bottles enter into effect as well. Here are some of the changes most likely to affect most people living in Germany —– …

Céphas Kosi Olatidoye Bansah, the Togbe Ngoryifia of the Hohoe Gbi Traditional Area, Ghana, has been living in Germany since 1970. After he was named chief of the 300,000-strong community of Ewe-speaking people in 1992, Bansah chose to continue living in Germany instead of returning home. The master agricultural machinery mechanic and master motor vehicle mechanic, who is better known …

Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the South African Anglican bishop and theologian known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist, died at the age of 90 on 26 December. The clergyman, who in 1984 received the Nobel Prize for Peace, emerged as one of the most prominent opponents of South Africa’s apartheid system of racial segregation and white minority …

The year 2021 has been characterized by thirteen elections in Africa – in Uganda, Niger, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Zambia, Somalia, Cabo Verde, Gambia, and Libya. Of these 13 elections, only those in Zambia, Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe could be considered free and fair. Why are elections failing in Africa? …

In view of the high infection figures and the new coronavirus variant omicron, the federal states are again tightening their coronavirus pandemic containment rules. From 28 December, an upper limit of ten persons, usually aged 14 and over, will be in force in all federal states. This applies, for example, for private meetings at home or in public as well …

Maisha – African Women in Germany e.V. recently celebrated 25 years of its existence in Frankfurt. Maisha, which means “life” in Swahili, is a self-help organisation of African women in Germany founded in 1996 by Virginia Wangare Greiner. The occasion, attended by members as well as friends and partners of the organisation, was a milestone for self-organisation in the African …

In his first government declaration, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, following up on his election campaign promises, announced plans to make naturalisation easier and create more opportunities for more participation in society for people with a migration background. Germany is a country of immigration, now it must now become an even better country of integration, he added. —— Chancellor Olaf Scholz has …

President George Manneh Weah of Liberia has expressed his excitement at the election of football legend Samuel Eto’o as President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT). Eto’o defeated Seidou Mbombo Njoya, who serves as Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Saturday. The Liberian Leader, a football great himself who is the only African to have won …

African tech startups raised a record-breaking $4.42 billion in funding in 2021, with the investment in African innovation almost doubling since 2020. With this increase in funding, comes an increased demand for hands-on support and access to markets from startups in Africa. Therefore, the Telecel African Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) powered by Startupbootcamp (SBC) AfriTech, has opened applications for its …

The French ambassador to Ghana has praised the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), saying it’s of the standard of Dubai and Europe. Speaking about her first impression arriving in Ghana, Ambassador Anne Sophie Avé told a radio interviewer (Accra100.5FM’s mid-morning show Ayekoo Ayekoo) on 8 December that “the first impression is: Wow!” “When you arrive in Kotoka, you say: ‘Ok, where …

The Nigerian government has announced that the Siemens AG power project which plans to grow the country’s power delivery to 25,000 megawatts will be revived in the first quarter of 2022. The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, made the announcement on Thursday, explaining that the German firm, Siemens AG, would begin operations in Nigeria soon and that activities to get …

Former Cameroonian international Samuel Eto’o was elected president of the country’s football federation on Saturday. The four-time African Footballer of the Year defeated rival Seidou Mbombo Njoya, the fourth vice-president at the Confederation of African Football with 43 votes to 31. Seven candidates should have contested the elections, but five of them pulled out on the morning of the elections. …

The Johannesburg-based writer, filmmaker and photographer Lidudumalingani is the new curator of the African Book Festival in Berlin. Taking place from 19th-21st August 2022, the event will once more bring together the stars of contemporary African literature in the German capital. In 2016, winning the Caine Prize for African Writing propelled Lidudumalingani to literary stardom. Shortly after he was awarded …

WhatsApp, has announced the launch of #YouSaid, a campaign to educate people on how to verify information they come across before passing it on, to help reduce the spread of false news in Nigeria. The campaign offers tips for WhatsApp users to spot false news and take responsibility in minimising its spread, by encouraging people to think carefully and check …

About ten weeks after the Bundestag elections, the new Federal Government is in office. The Social Democrat Olaf Scholz has been elected as the new Federal Chancellor by the federal parliament. Carsten Hauptmeier introduces Angela Merkel’s successor. The social democrat Olaf Scholz heads the new governing coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP as federal chancellor. Olaf Scholz, who already …

Mauritius is set to become a plastic free island that will help protect the nation’s wildlife and place the country on the path to a green economy. Early this year single use plastics were banned in and over the next three years the Mauritian government will be putting in place further regulations and restrictions to rid the island of plastics. …

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 8 December 2021/ African Media Agency (AMA)/: The Financial Mail Adfocus has honoured renowned marketer, Thebe Ikalafeng, with the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to marketing, branding and the industry in a standout global African career that spans over 25 years. The Jury agreed that not only is Ikalafeng a legendary marketer, but what set …

Like in every month, new laws and other changes enter into effect in December 2021. We have summarised the most important ones for you here. —- Prescription drugs become 20 cents more expensiveOn 15 December, a law comes into force that makes prescription drugs more expensive. The prices for pre-packaged medicines will generally increase by 20 cents. Deutsche Bahn Winter …