Equity Bank, GT Bank, and Capitec are the preferred retail banks among citizens of Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, respectively, even as 80% of the adult population in Africa do not use formal or semi-formal financial services, according to the results of a new straw poll survey conducted by leading mobile research firm GeoPoll on the state of retail banking in three of Africa’s biggest economies. While financial penetration remains low in Africa overall, 95% of survey respondents in Nigeria, 94% in South Africa, and 90% in Kenya indicated that they maintain at least one active bank account, according to…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Winners in the Middle East & Africa Aviation 100 Awards Category were chosen through customer surveys conducted by Airline Economics Magazine. Ethiopian outperformed major airlines in the Middle East and Africa to win this prestigious award. “It is a tremendous honour to be recognized as Airline of the Year and to stand out from among the major Middle East and African carriers through a vote of the readers of one of the most renowned aviation magazines. I am particularly inspired by this award since our remarkable success and fast growth in all aspects of our business has gradually started to…
The African Leadership University (ALU) and GE Africa announced have launched off the ALU Africa Industrial Internet Program. Powered by GE, the program combines the best of GE’s technical expertise with ALU’s unique learning model in a 12-month professional training program that merges the essential business and technical skills necessary for African professionals to succeed in a digital industrial environment. The program, which begins in January 2018, reemphasizes GE’s position as the world’s premier digital industrial company. In an increasingly connected industrial ecosystem, a staggering amount of data is being generated every moment. Commonly termed ‘Industrial Internet’, it involves connecting software, industrial applications…
Simba Corporation recently embarked on a reshuffle that lead to the appointment of Adil Popat as the new group executive chairman of the company, leaving his old role to one able Dinesh Kotecha. Prior to this Mr Popat held the position of group chief executive officer since 2007. As he takes over the new position, he is expected to repeat his past success, as the group chief executive, that saw the company grow in both the hospitality and motor industry as a result of implementing a massive diversification strategy. The strategy aims to help the company grow its business in…
After the success of Merck Africa Luminary in Germany, Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire, Merck Foundation, a non-profit company and a subsidiary of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the Fourth edition of their annual “Merck Africa Asia Luminary” on the 24th and 25th of October 2017, in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Africa Fertility Society and the International Federation of Fertility Societies- IFFS. Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, chairman of the executive board and family board of E.Merck KG emphasized: “Merck is a value driven company, and that is one of the reasons why Merck through its foundation is committed to support…
By Peter Wanyonyi The biggest crisis story in the last two months was, undoubtedly, the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, which lost contact with traffic controllers on March 8, 2013. It led to the largest ever multinational search and rescue effort, but what was remarkable in the initial stages of the effort was the astonishing level of confusion and conflicting information emerging from both Malaysian Airlines headquarters, as well as the Malaysian government. The airline’s reputation will take years to recover, if at all, and the communications debacle surrounding the flight highlights the importance of having a communications plan…
Ethiopian strategic partner, ASKY Airlines, has finalized preparations to resume services to and from the West African cities of Monrovia, Freetown and Banjul effective November 1, 2017. In addition to providing essential inter-Africa connectivity, the new routes also provide connectivity to many of Ethiopian Airline’s international flights including its services from/to London Heathrow with connections via Accra. “Air connectivity is a vital component and key driver of economic development. As an indigenous African Airline, we have always been committed to connect African states together and with the rest of the world through an efficient and seamless network. In line with…
The Esperanza, the largest ship in the Greenpeace fleet is currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of its tour of the coasts of Central African countries with a message: “Give the Congo Basin forest a chance”. It is also the slogan of the ship tour that began in Cameroon on October 13 and will end in the Republic of Congo on November10. The Esperanza docked on Tuesday, 24 October at the port of Boma, in the Kongo Central province, traveled the waters of the Congo River to anchor at the port of Matadi for ten days. It…
Zambia has become the first Southern African member country of AfricaFinance Corporation (AFC), a leading development finance institution for infrastructure in Africa. The accession of Zambia to AFC membership marks a significant milestone in the Corporation’s mission to address Africa’s infrastructure needs and build the foundation for robust economic development across the continent. To date the Corporation has invested $4.5 billion in projects across 28 African countries and in a wide range of sectors including power, telecommunications, transport and logistics, natural resources, and heavy industries. Zambia’s membership accession supports AFC’s membership expansion strategy and the continued alignment of its country…
The African Development Bank has called for global support for Africa’s young farmers and “agripreneurs”, highlighting how agribusiness is the answer to the continent’s youth employment. In collaboration with the Initiative for Global Development, the Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD), Michigan State University, Iowa State University, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the AfDB brought together stakeholders to discuss how to expand economic opportunities for Africa’s youth throughout the agricultural value chain, from lab to farm to fork. The session titled “Making Farming Cool: Investing in future African farmers and Agripreneurs” was held on the sideline…