AFRICA

WhatsApp launches Campaign against Fake News in Nigeria

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 …

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Adama Barrow reelected Gambian president

Incumbent president of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, has won the country’s presidential election held on Saturday December 4. Mr Barrow, who contested the election under the flagship of the National People’s Party (NPP), polled 457, 519 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ousainou Darboe, of the United Democratic Party (UDP). Mr Darboe garnered 238, 253 votes, according to results released …

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Ford Foundation, Open Society launch Fund against Sexual Violence in West Africa

With $3.75 million in seed funding, Kasa! hopes to raise $10 million in total to support sexual violence survivors and feminist and women’s rights organisations over the next five years LAGOS, Nigeria, December 3, 2021 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Today, the Ford Foundation and Open Society Initiative for West Africa, announced their commitment of $3.75 million to launch Kasa! Ending Sexual …

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G-PAD: Speakers identify main challenges to sustainable development in Africa

Distinguished speakers from different walks of life addressed the 2021 G-PAD Forum on Thursday 25 (November), discussing the issues surrounding sustainable development in Africa. Among the keynote speakers at the opening of the conference, holding on 24-25 November with the theme ‘Transformative Partnerships for Sustainable Development in Africa’, were Philip Keil, Executive Director, SEZ – Foundation for Development Cooperation, Baden-Württemberg; …

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Nigeria: Minister announces launch date of new national airline 

Nigeria’s new national carrier is expected to take off in April 2022, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has announced. This follows the approval for the establishment of the national carrier, called Nigeria Air, by the federal cabinet on Wednesday at a meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Sirika, who made the announcement …

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NIDO Germany holds conference on increasing diaspora impact on Nigerian development

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Germany e.V. will launch a series of formal conversations on how the diaspora could have a more impactful effect on homeland development in December. The first edition of the ‘Development Roundtable’, as the series is called, will hold virtually on 4 December 2021, with the theme “Driving diaspora engagement towards the realisation of the …

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G-PAD 2021 to hold fully virtually, Lead Africa International announces

The 2021 G-PAD Forum, taking place on 25-26 November and which was initially planned to be a hybrid event, will now hold only virtually. The organisers of the annual conference, Lead Africa International, a global non-governmental organization dealing with development issues, announced the change of format on Thursday, explaining that the rising coronavirus infection figures and the need to protect …

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Survey reveals African youth’s attitudes to other Africans and the continent

Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, 10 November 2021 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Young people in North Africa are unlikely to befriend, date or marry someone from sub-Saharan Africa. This revelation was made in the ‘One Africa?’ report which unpacks narratives about Pan-Africanism and continental integration. The research polled 4500 people aged 18 to 35 in Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, …

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How to reduce the human toll of climate crises in Africa – African expert

As world leaders gather for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021, an African expert explains how insurance could achieve four times the impact of post-disaster aid in the continent —— By Amadou Diallo, Regional Disaster Risk Financing Coordinator, Crisis Anticipation and Risk Financing at Start Network DAKAR, …

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Nigeria launches Africa’s first digital currency

President Muhammadu Buhari launched a digital currency for Nigeria on Monday in Abuja. The eNaira will complement the physical naira. “We have become the first country in Africa and one of the first in the world to introduce a digital currency for our citizens,” Buhari said at the event, which took place at the State House. He added that the …

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Meet Africa’s IT Role Model for Girls

LAGOS, Nigeria, October 12, 2021 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Speaking to Victory Yinka-Banjo is like drinking a fizzy drink. She bubbles with ideas and confidence. Little wonder that this 17-year-old Nigerian was chosen to be this year’s youth ambassador for Africa Code Week, the continent’s biggest digital skills youth initiative. Even at her young age, Victory is no stranger to publicity. …

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New insurance policy will protect people in Senegal from drought

DAKAR, Senegal, 7 October 2021 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- A global network of humanitarian agencies, including Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, Plan, Oxfam and World Vision, have signed a climate risk insurance policy that will protect up to 160,000 people in Senegal from the effects of drought. One of the first of its kind, the policy will …

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Global Nigerian Diaspora Conference holds on 2 October

A conference bringing Nigerians from across the globe together will hold on 2 October. The Nigeria Global Diaspora Conference, a one-day hybrid (physical and virtual) event, focuses on how to better engage Nigerians in diaspora in the development of their homeland at a time it’s going through many challenges. Organised by the Society of Young Nigerians in Diaspora for International …

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Ford, MacArthur Foundations to spend $5m on Youth Development in Nigeria

The Ford and MacArthur Foundations have announced the launch of Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), to the tune of US$5 million to support and strengthen youth leadership ecosystem in Nigeria. The Foundations in close partnership with Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability & Professionalism (LEAP) Africa, in charge of fund management will build on momentum in the region, inspired by the youth-led #EndSARS movement. …

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ECOWAS imposes sanctions on Guinean military leaders

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions, including a freeze in financial assets and travel bans, on members of the new Guinean military government. This followed the Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS member-states on the political situation in Guinea and Mali on Thursday (16 September). The bloc has …

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German Africa Award 2021 goes to Ethiopian rights activist

German Africa Prize 2021 has been awarded to Ethiopian human rights activist Daniel Bekele. The Prize is awarded annually by the German Africa Foundation (Deutsche Afrika Stiftung e.V. or DAS) to “outstanding individuals for their long-standing endeavours to foster democracy, peace, human rights, art, culture, the social market economy and social concerns” in Africa. An independent 24-member jury of experts …

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Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking agency gets new director

President Muhammadu Buhari has fired Senator Basheer Mohammed, Director-General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and appointed Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi to replace him. Mohammed had been appointed on 27 May 2021 to replace Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim. Ms Ibrahim herself had only been on the job for less than six months before her removal, having been …

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