Special

Animal Friends Academy is not just an app; it is the flowering of a deeply personal journey that began in a loving Nigerian home and now reaches into the hands of children and youths across the world. At the centre of this story is Emmanuel Fadipe, a man whose life has been molded by the quiet strength and relentless sacrifices …

At an online information session hosted by GAIDI gUG on 22 July 2025, the RESTART programme was introduced to members of the African community in Berlin. Presented by Ingo Müller of Social Impact gGmbH, the session offered a comprehensive overview of this initiative, which aims to empower people with refugee and migration backgrounds to pursue self-employment and economic independence in …

This is the second instalment in our review series of empowering publications by Maisha – African Women in Germany e.V., a Frankfurt-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting African women and families. In this compact yet impactful 16-page booklet, Enjoy the Time with Your Baby, Maisha offers practical and culturally sensitive guidance drawn from lived experiences. The publication provides essential tips …

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing non-communicable diseases worldwide, affecting all segments of the population and contributing to rising mortality rates. In Germany alone, the German Diabetes Centre estimates that around 8.5 million people are living with diabetes, the vast majority with type 2. An additional 2 million people are believed to be undiagnosed, meaning the total number of the …

Marie Nejar, the last known surviving Afro-German eyewitness to the horrors of Nazi Germany and a revered voice in Afro-German history, has passed away peacefully in Hamburg at the age of 95. Her death on Sunday (11 May) marks the end of an era — not only as a survivor of a time that tried to erase her identity, but …

For nearly three decades, Maisha – African Women in Germany e.V. has been at the forefront of promoting healthy living within the African community. Founded by the visionary Kenyan-born Virginia Wangare Greiner in 1996, the Frankfurt-based non-profit organisation provides support on issues such as integration, asylum, German language acquisition, entrepreneurship, psychosocial and health concerns, education and family challenges. What sets …

The city of Erlangen has bestowed its highest civic honour on Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, naming her an Honorary Citizen (Ehrenbürgerin) — a rare and distinguished recognition reserved for individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the city and society at large. The Afro-German politician “has made a lasting impact on the development of Erlangen and has promoted the well-being of …

Responding to concerns about rising cases of untimely deaths in the African community, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany (NIDO Germany) recently hosted an online health information session. The event, titled “Health is Wealth,” was organised in collaboration with the Diaspora Medical Mobile Clinic (DMMC), a collective of African medical professionals committed to improving healthcare outcomes in the community. The …

The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD) has inaugurated a new regional office in Accra, Ghana, marking a significant expansion of Germany’s academic engagement in West Africa. The office, which will initially focus on Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, is expected to strengthen scientific collaboration and enhance academic exchange between the region and Germany. The DAAD Regional Office – …

The International School of Nursing Berlin has celebrated its first graduation, marking a major milestone for a pioneering institution that’s not only training much-needed nursing professionals, but also telling a powerful story of African success in Germany. Femi Awoniyi reports The International School of Nursing Berlin (ISNB) marked a major milestone on Wednesday as it held its first graduation ceremony. …

The Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft (German-African Business Association) has welcomed the incoming German coalition government’s recognition of Africa as a strategic partner and its commitment to enhancing economic cooperation. However, the association emphasizes the need for tangible actions to realize these intentions. In the recently published coalition agreement titled “Verantwortung für Deutschland” (“Responsibility for Germany”), the CDU, CSU and SPD …

Zvilo, a working capital lender to businesses in the EU, Türkiye, Africa, and the Middle East, has made a strategic appointment with Peter Maila joining the business. Peter will spearhead Zvilo’s African expansion as CEO of Zvilo Africa and serve on executive committees at Zvilo global level. Maila joins Zvilo from FMO, the Netherlands-based entrepreneurial development bank where he was …

Modupe Laja, a pioneering Afro-German rights advocate, has been awarded the Bavarian State Medal for Social Merit (Bayerische Staatsmedaille für soziale Verdienste). She was among sixteen distinguished recipients honoured on 3 April at a formal ceremony in Munich, where the medal was presented by Ulrike Scharf, Bavaria’s Minister for Family, Labour and Social Affairs. The medal, established in 1970 by …

German higher education is witnessing a notable rise in international enrolments, with the 2024 academic year marking a significant shift in student demographics. Approximately 491,400 new students began their studies at German universities last year—a 2% increase compared to the previous year—with the surge driven entirely by foreign applicants. Recent data from the Federal Statistical Office, as reported by various …

A new study by the German Economic Institute (IW), commissioned by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), has highlighted the significant economic benefits that international students bring to Germany. The research found that international students generate a return eight times greater than the government’s investment in their education. With around 492,600 international students currently studying in Germany, the country has …

The closing event of the first UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) took place at the GLS Campus Berlin on Friday, 21 February. The event, which brought together German government officials, scholars, international guests and civil society organisations from the Black community, featured the presentation of the final report of the advisory board set up by the German …

The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and German engineering firm GAUFF GmbH & Co. Engineering KG will sign a landmark contract for an off-grid electrification project on 19 March. The signing ceremony, which will hold during the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2025, marks a major milestone in the growing collaboration between Germany and African nations in …

On 21 March 2025, Germany will mark the conclusion of the first UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) with a celebratory closing event at the GLS Campus Berlin. The event, themed “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development,” will bring together civil society organizations, government representatives and members of the African, Afro-diasporic and Black communities to reflect …

In a compelling inaugural lecture delivered on 5 February 2025 at the University of Lagos, Professor Adelaja Odutola Odukoya, a distinguished scholar in Comparative Political Economy, passionately advocated for the adoption of socialist Pan-Africanism as a transformative pathway for Africa’s resurgence and Nigeria’s development. His lecture, provocatively titled “Armageddon?”, delved into the paradox of Africa’s abundant resources juxtaposed with its …

Nigeria and Germany are deepening their economic collaboration through initiatives aimed at enhancing vocational training, fostering skilled migration and stimulating investment opportunities. A recent meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and a delegation from Germany’s IHK Giessen-Friedberg Chamber of Commerce and Industry underscored these efforts. Dr Oduwole highlighted the alignment between Germany’s …