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Tag: Sierra Leone

  • EAIF commits XOF 23.5 Billion to Sonatel’s Receivables-BackedAAA-Local-Rated Bond 

    EAIF commits XOF 23.5 Billion to Sonatel’s Receivables-BackedAAA-Local-Rated Bond 


    The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company, today announced a commitment of XOF 23.5 billion to a XOF 75 billion receivables-backed bond issued by securitisation vehicle Fonds Commun de Titrisation de Créance (FCTC), to support Sonatel’s expansion, modernisation and digital transformation plan in Senegal, and beyond.

    Sonatal is a leading West African telecommunications carrier with the largest network in Senegal. The group has developed one of Africa’s most extensive telecommunications networks and provides global telecommunications solutions in fixed and mobile telephony, mobile banking, television and internet services for individuals and businesses operating in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau. 

    Proceeds from the bond will diversify Sonatel’s sources of funding and be broken into two “cells” – the first of which will be XOF 60 billion, in which EAIF will invest. The provision of finance unlocks fresh capital to boost the company’s network and improve its technology and equipment – supporting the deployment of digital infrastructure including subsea international cables, fibre to the home, cloud, new towers powered by hybrid and solar solutions and the roll-out of 5G across key markets.

    Sonatel’s commitment to expanding access to last-mile connections in new homes unlocks Africa’s disruptive potential – enabling digital access in areas underserved, in line with the PIDG ambition to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9, on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. 

    EAIF will act as an anchor investor alongside the International Finance Corporation (IFC), building on the Fund’s anchoring role in Sonatel’s oversubscribed bond issuance in 2020, where the group raised XOF 100 billion to extend and enlarge its 4G + network in urban and rural areas and to upgrade service platforms. Fulfilling a similar role in West Africa’s first-ever asset-backed security, the Fund and the IFC leverage their convening power and derisking abilities to mobilise private capital from local and regional investors through the innovative financing instrument, with Invictus Capital acting as arranger in the transaction. 

    The new bond issuance’s AAA rating enables Sonatel to fund from its balance sheet and encourages similar corporate issuances that stimulate the flow of international and domestic capital to pioneering African businesses. 

    Commenting on the transaction, Folatomi Fayemi, Investment Specialist at Ninety One, fund manager of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, said, “Sonatel is at the forefront of an exciting movement driving digital transformation and expanding connectivity where needed. Once again, we are proud to support Sonatel’s growth ambitions, enabled through capital markets innovation that unites international and local finance. This transaction provides a replicable and scalable model to stimulate economic growth and advance digital technologies, which supports efficiency, digital access and productivity across the African continent.”

    Olivier Buyoya, IFC Regional Director for West Africa, said, “IFC is proud to be part of such a milestone in the history of securitization in the region and the telecommunication field. Through this partnership, we will reach our joint objective of reducing the digital divide and positioning Senegal as a hub for digital transformation in the region, thus providing new growth opportunities for stakeholders and creating thousands of jobs in the telecommunications sector.” 

  • Winners emerge at the 2023 Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Awards

    Winners emerge at the 2023 Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Awards

    …FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, Receives the Inaugural AWIEF Lifetime Leadership Award

    The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has announced the winners of the 2023 AWIEF Awards during a glamorous awards ceremony that took place on Friday night in Kigali, Rwanda.

    Many inspirational and outstanding African women entrepreneurs excelled this year in creating opportunities and positively impacting lives and communities, driving growth for Africa. Out of the 24 powerful women founders and entrepreneurs selected in September as top finalists by an international and independent panel of judges, 8 winners were announced at the awards ceremony that took place at Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali. The 24 top finalists represented women founders operating in a diverse range of sectors from 14 African countries: Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

    The AWIEF Awards ceremony and gala dinner was a culmination of a highly successful two-day AWIEF2023 Conference that attracted more than 500 delegates from over 50 countries, 41 of them African countries.

    Each year the AWIEF Awards recognise, honour, and celebrate outstanding women entrepreneurs and business owners in Africa and across industry sectors, for their economic performance and contribution to Africa’s growth and social development.

    This year’s event unveiled the inaugural AWIEF Lifetime Leadership Award. This award was bestowed on Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and contributions to the world of sports. It was also a tribute to her inspiring impact and accomplishments on a global scale, as the first non-European, the first African and first-ever female to lead FIFA as Secretary General in its 116-year history.

    “What an honour to receive the inaugural AWIEF Lifetime Leadership Award. This award is not just for me, but all the people who have dedicated their lives to our game and helped us transform women’s football over the last few years. They have created a beautiful legacy – a FIFA that is focused on football and is respected by international organisations, and a sport that captures the hearts and minds of boys and girls around the world and brings them joy and happiness,” said Ms Samoura.

    “We have given more girls and women the chance to play football, even in countries where it would have been considered almost impossible only a few years ago.”

    Going further in her acceptance speech, Ms Samoura urged women to “invest in African football” as it offers a huge untapped potential.

    She said, “Then of course, you women need to invest in football. I will be retiring peacefully in my beautiful country Senegal if at least I got a phone call, by the next Women’s World Cup from many of you saying: ‘Madam, because we saw you in Rwanda and decided to invest in football, today we are club owners.’ So, the ball is in your court, make it happen because you have many talents.”

    “Remember one thing: football is the future for Africa, football is the future for building peace across the world. Football is a universal message, football is something that transmits love, that gives mind, that also transcends borders and brings people together.”

    Irene Ochem, AWIEF Founder and CEO, in her AWIEF Awards 2023 ceremony and gala dinner opening remarks said, “Fatma Samoura has shown exceptional leadership in such a male-dominated sector as sports, and in particular, football. She is an inspirational role model for us other women, and we are truly excited about honouring and celebrating her tonight.”

    The Winners of AWIEF Awards 2023 are:

    YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
    Salamba Diene, CEO, Biosene Sarl, Senegal

    TECH ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
    Kidist Tesfaye, Founder & CEO, YeneHealth, Ethiopia

    AGRI ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
    Nonopa Tenza, Founder & MD, Kevinot Farming, South Africa

    ENERGY ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
    Ifeoma Malo, Co-Founder & CEO, Clean Technology Hub, Nigeria

    CREATIVE INDUSTRY AWARD
    Yasmina Belahsen, Founder, MayaDigital, Morocco

    SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
    Mundih Noelar Njohjam, Medical Doctor, Epilepsy Awareness, Aid & Research Association, Cameroon

    EMPOWERMENT AWARD sponsored by Ecobank
    Zulfat Makarubega, Founder, University of Tourism, Technology & Business Studies, Rwanda

    LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
    Dalia Ibrahim, CEO, Nahdet Misr Publishing House, Egypt

  • African Basic Education Ministers agree to collaborate, prioritise Foundational Learning for the African Union Year of Education

    African Basic Education Ministers agree to collaborate, prioritise Foundational Learning for the African Union Year of Education

    …Representatives of 20 African countries recognize the urgent need to address the learning crisis as a critical enabler for wider development goals.

    Ten African Ministers of Education and a similar number of ministerial representatives collectively agreed to champion foundational learning as a priority for the 2024 African Union Year of Education (AUYoE) and beyond. They also resolved to rally their respective Heads of State to be “Champions of Foundational Learning”.

    These were part of the resolution made in Lusaka at the end of the 2023 High Level Policy Dialogue Forum on Foundational learning organized by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and hosted by the Ministry of Education in the Republic of Zambia from 31st October to 1st November 2023.

    In a communique issued at the end of the Forum, Ministers, and ministerial representatives from 20 African countries agreed on a foundational learning starter pack model as a resource guide to ensure uniformity, continuity, and sustainability. They further resolved to collect relevant data, working with ADEA and partners, to inform policy and decisions on foundational learning, foster dialogue and peer learning, and share good practices on what works in foundational learning in support of AUYoE.

    The policy and decision-makers agreed to strengthen links between Early Childhood Education and Primary Education, advance the adoption of structured pedagogy, implement age-appropriate teaching methods, and harness the power of technology to increase the number of qualified teachers and enhance teachers’ well-being.

    During the Forum, countries showcased innovative and nationally contextualised solutions with concrete results, among them Benin, Botswana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal, and Zambia among others. Thus, the Ministers and ministerial representatives committed to lead the continental response through collective advocacy during the launch of AUYoE in February 2024, supported by partners.

    Opening the policy dialogue on behalf of the host, President Hakainde Hichilema of the Republic of Zambia, the Minister of Education of Zambia, Hon. Douglas Munsaka Syakalima said: “This forum underscores the belief that foundational learning is at the base of any effort to change the course of Africa’s development. It is by building people that we will derive the resources to craft a new vision and bring such a vision to life. Without foundational skills in numeracy and literacy, there can be no further learning quality.

    The Executive Secretary of ADEA, Albert Nsengiyumva said: “I am inspired by the collective commitment of our members in tackling this crisis, and to developing globally relevant solutions that can be applied anywhere. Africa is the continent most affected by the learning crisis, and it is where the solutions must be developed. I must commend the Ministers attending for the work they have done, the leadership they are showing, and the results that they are delivering. We must build on this momentum to accelerate the progress that will make Africa a leader in the global response to the learning crisis.”

    The Director of Global Education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Benjamin Piper advocated for scaling of what works. According to him, ‘We know what works to boost foundational learning in Africa; structured pedagogy is one way; teaching at the right level is another so we need to do more of what works at scale.’

    Equally, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, the founder of Human Capital Africa and co-convener of the foundational learning ministerial coalition said: “Ministers need to be informed by rigorous data and evidence to design appropriate solutions for their national contexts and ensure that progress can be tracked, remedial action taken, and transparency and accountability embedded in the response.”

    During the school visits, a key aspect of the Forum, participants witnessed the nexus between policy and practice as well as the integration of social-emotional skills through play-based learning.

    The Forum was closed by Hon Conrad Sackey, Minister of Education in Sierra Leone, who urged countries to take forward the resolutions emanating from the event. Countries present at the event include Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

  • British International Investment partners with Access Bank Plc to extend US$60 million trade finance facility across five African countries

    British International Investment partners with Access Bank Plc to extend US$60 million trade finance facility across five African countries

    –          Programme aims to stimulate African trade volumes by US$90 million and will contribute to SDGs 8 and 9.

    –          BII’s second commitment to one of Nigeria’s leading multinational banks.

    British International Investment (BII), the UK’s Development Finance Institution (DFI) and impact investor, has announced a $60 million trade finance facility for Access Bank Plc in Nigeria and five of its pan-African subsidiaries. This will strengthen import and export capabilities amongst local businesses and plug the foreign currency supply gap. The programme deepens BII’s commitment to bolstering financing environments in fragile economies and supports Access Bank’s strategy to enable continental trade. BII estimates the loan programme will stimulate African trade volumes by US$90 million.

    The agreement reinforces BII’s ongoing relationship with Nigeria’s largest commercial bank by assets and facilitates the provision of systemic liquidity during a period characterised by a challenging macroeconomic environment. Higher inflation and rising cost of capital have placed downward pressure on currency performance, both domestically and in the programme’s target markets of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia. Intervention at this critical juncture underlines the key role of BII, and development finance institutions in general, in extending countercyclical support to build economic resilience.

    Between 80 and 90% of world trade is estimated to rely on the availability of trade credit, according to the World Trade Organization. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, that financing gap stood at US$82 billion in Africa, and it is increasing. Recognising the positive ripple effects of robust trade flows on economies and livelihoods, Access Bank is aiming to provide 15% of trade finance across Africa, by growing the trade books of its subsidiaries.

    Currency instability in Nigeria can hinder the wider proliferation of dollar-denominated trade loans across African markets, constraining countries’ ability to capitalise on opportunities opening up under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. By specifically targeting import dependent economies – many of which will mark the first engagement with BII’s Trade programme – the improved availability of US dollar denominated trade loans will ensure availability of key commodities and manufacturing inputs for the production and export of goods. The key outcome will be improving livelihoods and preserving jobs for the employees of importers and exporters with limited access to foreign exchange trade loans.

    With the loans channelled into companies in construction, manufacturing and FMCG, the programme will directly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent work and economic growth) and 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure).

    Simultaneously, the facility will improve inclusion. Qualifying under the 2X Challenge, aimed at strengthening female participation and leadership in business, Access Bank will ensure the allocation of loans is designed deliberately to advance its gender commitments. In addition, the facility will contribute to BII’s BOLD programme, dedicated to enhancing the availability of finance at more affordable rates to Black, African-owned businesses. 

    Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director, African Subsidiaries at Access Bank, remarked: “Access Bank is on a purposeful mission to scale intra-African trade and position the continent as a viable market for global trade. Hence, we are thrilled about the tremendous potential that this trade finance facility with the BII affords us across our pan-African subsidiaries. This strategic collaboration not only strengthens our import and export capabilities but also expands our resources to support local industries – especially women-owned businesses – and ultimately drive economic growth. By stimulating trade volumes, we will be playing a key role in fostering long-term economic resilience for the continent, while increasing its attractiveness for increased foreign investments.”

    Admir Imami, Director and Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance at BII, noted: “Access Bank is a long-standing partner of BII’s and our new partnership is a significant step closer to narrowing the trade finance gap in Africa, particularly in countries such as the DRC and Rwanda.   

    Access to finance in fragile states is hugely constrained, often these countries are buffeted by macroeconomic events far beyond their control. BII and Access Bank share a conviction that building the resilience of these businesses by ensuring affordable access to foreign exchange is vital to keep intra-African trade moving and support the growth of inclusive economies.”  

    Benson Adenuga, Head of Office & Coverage Director for Nigeria, BII said: “Our latest commitment to Access Bank reiterates our assurance to this leading multinational institution and to Nigeria. It comes at a time when Nigeria’s fragile economic situation needs additional funding, particularly from counter cyclical investors like development finance institutions. Our funding will help bolster the economy and ensure the availability of staple goods, medicines and food across Africa.”

  • MultiChoice celebrates African finalists in The Earthshot Prize

    MultiChoice celebrates African finalists in The Earthshot Prize

    The Earthshot Prize has announced the 15 Finalists for this year’s Prize at the second Earthshot Innovation Summit, an event held alongside the UN General Assembly, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, to celebrate and champion innovators focused on solving our most pressing global climate challenges.

    Out of over 1,100 nominations, the 15 Finalists for The Earthshot Prize stood out following a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a panel of scientific, academic, and subject-matter experts. Each of these Finalists stands a chance to win one of the five £1 million prizes designed to propel their initiatives towards greater impact. The unveiling of the five Winners will take place at the third annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony scheduled later this year in Singapore.

    Furthermore, all the Finalists will benefit from invaluable mentorship, resources, and technical support through The Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme. This program will also give them access to a robust network of influential businesses, investors, and climate experts.

    The Earthshot Prize revolves around five transformative ‘Earthshots,’ each embodying simple yet ambitious goals that represent the world we aspire to build for future generations.

    In the spirit of celebrating African innovation, we are proud to highlight two remarkable finalists from the continent: Freetown the Tree Town representing Sierra Leone and ABALOBI from South Africa.

    These African finalists come after Mukuru Clean Stoves, a start-up providing cleaner-burning stoves to women in Kenya to reduce unhealthy indoor pollution and provide a safer way to cook, won the coveted environmental prize during the inspirational awards ceremony hosted in Boston last year.

    Freetown the Tree Town is a visionary initiative aimed at reforesting landscapes, restoring the degraded coastline of Freetown, and creating sustainable green jobs. The project meticulously tracks newly planted trees, assigning them to local tree guardians, and publicly documenting their growth, resulting in an impressively high survival rate for newly planted trees.

    ABALOBI, on the other hand, is a community-centric mobile application supporting small-scale fishers in their quest for sustainable fishing practices while preventing the overfishing of at-risk species. It also enhances boat and fisher safety by providing real-time weather warnings and tracking capabilities. The initiative has already expanded its reach beyond South Africa, directly benefiting over 1,600 fishers with a substantial increase in revenue due to better access to profitable markets for sustainable species.

    “We are immensely proud to see African innovation shining on the global stage through the Earthshot Prize. At MultiChoice, as a proudly African organization, we believe in the power of homegrown solutions to address the world’s most pressing challenges. These African finalists exemplify that spirit, and we salute their remarkable efforts in safeguarding our planet for future generations,” says Keabetswe Modimoeng, Group Executive at MultiChoice Group.

    By participating in this prestigious prize, African innovators gain a platform to showcase their solutions, inspire corporate entities to join the fight against climate change, and urge governments to prioritize climate action on their national agendas.

    In addition to the chance to win the £1 million prize, all Finalists will receive tailored support and resources from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, an unprecedented network of private sector businesses worldwide dedicated to scaling innovative climate and environmental solutions to maximize their impact.

    The five Winners will be carefully selected by The Earthshot Prize Council, a diverse team of influential individuals committed to leveraging their platforms to champion inspiring leadership and elevate urgent efforts to restore and regenerate our planet.

    The Earthshot Prize is a truly global initiative, bringing together a diverse coalition of nominators from over 200 individuals and organizations worldwide. It encompasses a distinguished Expert Advisory Panel and The Earthshot Prize Council, comprising influential figures who wholeheartedly support positive environmental action.

    The fifteen Finalists have earned their place through rigorous assessment and their potential to make a game-changing impact on a global scale, all while contributing positively to people, communities, and the natural world.

  • Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum announces Finalists for 2023 AWIEF Awards

    Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum announces Finalists for 2023 AWIEF Awards

    The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) is delighted to announce the finalists for its 2023 AWIEF Awards.

    Launched in 2017, the prestigious annual AWIEF Awards is an initiative to recognise, honour, and celebrate women entrepreneurs and business owners in Africa across various industry sectors for their achievements and contribution to the continent’s inclusive economic growth and social development.

    An international and independent Panel of Judges selected the twenty-four (24) finalists across eight (8) categories. These outstanding women founders and business leaders operate in a diverse range of sectors and represent companies from fourteen (14) different African countries: Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

    The 2023 AWIEF Awards winners will be announced and celebrated at a special ceremony and gala dinner at the AWIEF2023 Conference and Awards, taking place on 9 and 10 November at the Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda.

    AWIEF Founder and CEO, Irene Ochem, said: “Given the huge number and calibre of the nominations received this year, it is clear that female entrepreneurship and business leadership is thriving across Africa. It is our honour to recognise and celebrate the achievements and contributions of these women to the inclusive growth of their respective sectors, their countries and the continent’s economy.”

    A member of the 2023 AWIEF Awards Panel of Judges, John-Paul Iwuoha, Founder of Smallstarter Africa, said: “As a Judge, I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of applications in all the categories. It is great to see how AWIEF continues to attract innovative women across Africa who are creating enormous value for society.”

    The finalists for the 2023 AWIEF Awards are (listed in alphabetical order):

    Young Entrepreneur Award

    Salamba Diene, CEO, BIOSENE SARL, Senegal

    Joyce Kamande, Co-founder & CEO, Safi Organics, Kenya

    Jovia Kisakye, CEO, Sparkle Agro Brand, Uganda

    Tech Entrepreneur Award

    Norah Magero, Founder & CEO, Drop Access Limited, Kenya

    Kathryn Malherbe, CEO, Med Sol AI Solutions, South Africa

    Kidist Tesfaye, Founder & CEO, YeneHealth, Ethiopia

    Agri Entrepreneur Award

    Chinwendu Nweke, CEO, Bridge Merchant Enterprise, Nigeria

    Forget Shareka, Founder, Chashi Foods, Zimbabwe

    Nonopa Tenza, Founder & MD, Kevinot Farming, South Africa

    Energy Entrepreneur Award

    Linda Mabhena-Olagunju, Founder & CEO, DLO Energy Resources Group, South Africa

    Ifeoma Malo, CEO, Clean Technology Hub, Nigeria

    Margaret Yainkain Mansaray, Founder & CEO, Women in Energy Sierra Leone Limited, Sierra Leone

    Creative Industry Award

    Yasmina Belahsen, Founder, MayaDigital, Morocco

    Gladys Chibanda, Founder & CEO, Krafted Ink, Zimbabwe

    Ararat Tamirat, Founder & GM, Tuba By Ararat, Ethiopia

    Social Entrepreneur Award

    Damilola Aminat Adeyemi, Co-founder & CEO, D-Olivette Global Enterprise, Nigeria

    Kayumba Chiwele, Founder & Principal Psychologist, MindAid Zambia, Zambia

    Mundih Noelar Njohjam, Medical Doctor, Epilepsy Awareness, Aid and Research Association, Cameroon

    Empowerment Award

    Aya Chebbi, Founder & President, Nalafem Collective, Tunisia

    Zulfat Mukarubega, Founder, University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies, Rwanda

    Catherine Wijnberg, Founder & CEO, Fetola, South Africa

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Rina Gunter, Founding Partner, Gunter Attorneys, South Africa

    Dalia Ibrahim, CEO, Nahdet Misr Publishing House, Egypt

    Anke Weisheit, Co-founder & Chair, PHARMBIOTRAC, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda

  • Feature: Tinubu should sign a Shipping Pact with Britain

    Feature: Tinubu should sign a Shipping Pact with Britain

    After agreeing a foreign direct investment deal with India and a visa travel agreement with UAE, Tinubu now needs to strike a shipbuilding and maritime pact with Britain

    Ayo Akinfe

    [1] I have always regarded the 1851 capture of Lagos as the date when the British colonisation of Nigeria began. That was the year when John Beecroft the British consul of the Bights of Benin and Biafra, lined up his naval gunboats off the coast of Lagos and forced Oba Akintoye to sign a treaty of protection handing over the city to Britain

    [2] Oba Akintoye’s son Dosunmu resisted the terms of the treaty but under the threat to unleash violence on Lagos by Commander Bedingfield, Dosunmu relented and signed the Lagos Treaty of Cession on 6 August 1861. Subsequently, Lagos was declared a British colony on 5 March 1862

    [3] From then onwards, conquering the rest of Nigeria was easy. Lugard’s troops marched down from the north after sacking Sokoto in 1902 and with the sacking of Benin in 1897, there was no empire strong enough to resist British rule. Frederick Lugard created the two protectorates of northern and southern Nigeria in 1906 and then went on to amalgamate them into into one giant nation called Nigeria in 1914

    [4] We now know that Lugard was so ruthless in creating this African giant because he was keen to fight off French interest from the west in Dahomey and German interest in the east from Cameroon. Having already subdued Gambia, Sierra Leone and Ghana, Lugard wanted a powerhouse in West Africa that would serve as a beacon. A kind of African India or Jewel in the Crown of the British African empire

    [5] If you need any evidence of this, you just need to see how Britain used Nigerian troops to seize western Cameroon from Germany in 1914 during World War One. At the outset of World War Two, it was also Nigerian troops who formed the bulk of the West African Frontier Force

    [6] Now, common sense would have dictated that Britain equipped this its prize colony economically, kind of like the way the Japanese invested millions in Manchuria when they captured it from China or the way the US invested in the Cuban hospitality industry. I am perplexed as to why Britain showed no interest in securing Nigeria economically. I cannot get my head round how Britain brought us Christianity but failed to bring their most renown skill – shipmaking!

    [7] In 1851, Britain was the world’s leading maritime power and should have built at least two shipyards along the Nigerian coast. In 1851 they should have built one in Lagos and then one should have opened in Calabar when it became the capital of the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria in 1906. Not one canoe or propeller was even built in Nigeria by the British, which for me is totally unacceptable. That is racism at its worst. What they were effectively saying is we were ignorant primates not worthy of sharing technology with

    [9] Do you know that more than 3m tonnes of shipping were built in the British shipyards on the River Wear and other north east yards alone between 1914 and 1918? At the time, the Tyne boasted of 19 shipyards of various sizes, with five capable of handling Dreadnoughts, the new breed of heavy battleship. In addition to merchant ships, Tyne alone managed to build one third of the world’s battleships, 19% of its cruisers, 28% of its destroyers, 29% of naval escorts and 14% of the world’s submarines during World War One

    [9] In 2006, British shipbuilding giant Swan Hunter ceased vessel construction on Tyneside but continues to provide design engineering services up until today. Were we not asleep at the time, in 2006, we should have asked them to relocate their shipyard to Calabar. At one stage, Calabar was the world’s largest slave port, so I think the British actually owe us one. If Calabar can ship British slaves, it can also make British ships

    [10] I look forward to President Bola Tinubu and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreeing a shipbuilding deal that will see the Niger Delta turned into the Tyne of West Africa. For me, the opening of a British shipyard in Calabar in 2024 should be the minimal basis for continued Nigeria-Britain economic cooperation

  • Feature: Tinubu can launch a helicopter gunship Diplomacy Plan on Niger Crisis

    Feature: Tinubu can launch a helicopter gunship Diplomacy Plan on Niger Crisis

    By Ayo Akinfe

    For decades, Britain’s foreign policy was centred around the concept of gunboat diplomacy. This Niger crisis gives President Tinubu to follow suit and launch a similar helicopter gunship diplomacy plan.

    [1] Nigeria has a very weak foreign policy as her Ecowas neighbours defy Abuja at will and with impunity. Across Mali, Guinea, Chad, Burkina Faso and now Niger Republic, military juntas have seized power in defiance of Nigeria. The penalty for defying Nigeria has to be so severe nobody dares try it

    [2] Unless we want Western nations coming into our backyard to tell us how to live, Nigeria needs to get her act together fast. For starters, ECOWAS has a population of about 425m. Nigeria should be the sole gateway to this huge market

    [3] I sometimes wonder if Nigeria has any foreign policy at all because if she did, it would include immediate regional intervention in any African country where there is a military coup. Nobody would be able to fault West Africans sorting out their own problems as we did in Liberia and Sierra Leone

    [4] Do you also know that 16 of Africa’s 55 countries are landlocked? For me, it is a crime against humanity for a nation to be landlocked and Nigeria’s foreign policy should include eliminating this scourge across Africa

    [5] Only a dishonest person will argue that it is acceptable for 16 of the world’s 44 landlocked countries to be in Africa. Maybe we should start by getting Ethiopia and Djibouti to negotiate a merger. Djibouti is not sustainable as a nation state and at the moment, it serves as Ethiopia’s Apapa anyway

    [6] In West Africa, I see Nigeria merging with Benin Republic, Niger Republic and Cameroon to form the Federal Republic of Songhai. Just imagine what a giant would achieve. I covet Niger Republic’s Sahara Desert landmass, which I want to turn into the world’s largest solar park. Their uranium deposits would also come in handy

    [7] For now, we need to go back to the drawing board and rethink our foreign policy objectives. I would urge President Tinubu to study the provisions of the Monroe Doctrine in detail

    [8] One of the reasons why I hate the secession argument with every muscle in my body is because it is myopic. Those who advocate the balkanisation of Nigeria fail to realise that small nations like Niger Republic get dictated to

    [9] In Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Togo, Guinea, Niger Republic, etc, the governments do what Nigeria tells them to do. I would hate to live in such a country where I am at the mercy of my large neighbour

    [10] This Niger crisis could be Tinubu’s defining moment. He should use it to change Nigeria’s foreign policy irrevocably. Imagine coming up with a Tinubu Doctrine that keeps the likes of the US and France out of African politics forever

  • Access Bank Plc enters into acquisition agreements with Standard Chartered Bank

    Access Bank Plc enters into acquisition agreements with Standard Chartered Bank

    Access Bank Plc and Standard Chartered Bank have entered into agreements to acquire Standard Chartered’s shareholding in its subsidiaries in Angola, Cameroon, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone, and its Consumer, Private & Business Banking business in Tanzania. Each transaction remains subject to the approval of the respective local and banking regulators in Nigeria. 

    The announcement was made today at Standard Chartered’s Headquarters in London in the presence of senior representatives from both banks. Signed by, Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered, and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc. The agreement with Access for the sale of the bank’s business in Sub-Saharan Africa is in line with Standard Chartered’s global strategy, aimed at achieving operational efficiencies, reducing complexity, and driving scale.

    Access Bank will provide a full range of banking services and continuity for key stakeholders, including employees and clients in the Standard Chartered businesses across the five aforementioned countries. Access and Standard Chartered Bank will work closely together in the coming months to ensure a seamless transition, with the transaction expected to be completed over the next 12 months.

    Commenting on the agreement, Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered, said: “Following on the announcement we made in April last year, the project is now substantially completed with the announcement for the sale of the 5 markets and the furtherance of a partnership with Access Bank. This strategic decision allows us to redirect resources within the AME region to other areas with significant growth potential, ultimately enabling us to support our clients better. We look forward to working closely with Access Bank’s team over the coming months to achieve a successful conclusion to this transaction while safeguarding the interests of our valued clients and prioritising our employees.”

    Commenting on the agreement, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, stated, “We are pleased to sign this agreement today and express our appreciation for being selected as the preferred partner to Standard Chartered Bank through this transaction, in which it is exiting four African markets and refocusing in one. As a distinguished regional and international bank with a rich heritage spanning over 150 years, Standard Chartered Bank has built a solid presence in these markets for over 100 years.”

    For Access, this strategic transaction represents a key step in its journey to build a strong global franchise focused on serving as a gateway for payments, investment, and trade within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world, anchored by a robust capital base; a relentless focus on execution; and best-in-class customer service & governance structures.

    “At Access Bank, we are committed to reshaping the global perception of Africa and African businesses, even as we continue to build toward our vision to be the World’s Most Respected African Bank. Our 5-year growth plan will see us build a world-class class payments gateway leveraging the power of technology and supported by a dynamic ecosystem of local and international partnerships, enabling us to serve global payments and remittances efficiently. With our recent European expansion and our deepened presence in key trading corridors across Africa, we will bridge the gap between cross-border and domestic transfers across all business segments. More importantly, we are committed to impacting our host communities positively,”Ogbonna added. 

    In April 2022, Standard Chartered strategically decided to divest from a number of markets, namely Lebanon, Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Jordan, and to exit the CPBB (Consumer Private and Business Banking) business in Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania. The Bank announced the sale of its business in Zimbabwe earlier in June and in Jordan in March this year. With this announcement, Standard Chartered has substantially completed the divestment process from the markets announced in April 2022, except Côte d’Ivoire where it remains actively engaged in discussions with potential buyers to sell its CPBB business in the country.

  • Forbes 2023 Index: Dangote Still Africa’s Richest for 12th Consecutive Year

    Forbes 2023 Index: Dangote Still Africa’s Richest for 12th Consecutive Year

    …Listed among world’s top 200 richest persons

    For the 12th year consecutively, Aliko Dangote, President of the pan-African Conglomerate, the Dangote Group has emerged the richest man in Africa, despite economic headwinds that affected the fortunes of half of the world’s reported billionaires.

    Dangote, whose business flagship, Dangote Cement Plc is the largest producer of cement in Africa, is the only Nigerian in the list of first 200 richest men in the world with an estimated net worth of $14.2 billion, up from last year’s $12.1 billion.

    Forbes, in its latest ranking of world billionaires for 2023 reported that falling stocks, wounded unicorns and rising interest rates translated into a down year for the world’s wealthiest people.

    Dangote, presently ranked 124th among the world’s richest billionaires, is the only Nigerian in the top 200 world billionaires and one of the two Africans within that bracket; with South Africa’s Johann Rupert, who deals in luxury goods ranked 157th with a net worth of $11.1 billion.

    The Africa’s richest man founded and chairs Dangote Cement, the continent’s largest cement producer. Dangote Cement has production capacity of 51.6 million tonnes per year across ten countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with integrated factories in seven countries, a clinker grinding plant in Cameroon, and import and distribution facilities in Ghana and Sierra Leone.

    Dangote also owns stakes in publicly traded Dangote Salt (NASCON) and Dangote Sugar manufacturing companies. His Dangote Petroleum Refinery, touted to be the world’s largest single-train refinery, was recently commissioned and is expected to process 650,000 bpd of petroleum for domestic consumption and export; in what experts have described as a game changer in the oil and gas sector.

    The foremost philanthropist had earlier been rated 11th of the 50 World’ Greatest men and women of all time by the Fortune Magazine, an American multinational business magazine which premised the ranking of the world’s greatest mainly on the businesses run by the men and how they have used it to impact their society positively.

    The time-tested magazine, which first edition was published in February 1930, said the world’s greatest men and women are transforming the world and inspiring others to do so in business, government, philanthropy and the arts. “These thinkers, speakers, and doers make bold choices and take big risks- and move others to do the same”, the magazine declared.

    Specifically, Dangote earned nomination after being adjudged as having used his business to acquire wealth and is now converting his wealth into impactful philanthropy through his Aliko Dangote Foundation.

    The top 10 greatest men and women, according to Fortune Magazine are: Bill and Melinda Gates, Jacinda Ardem, Robert Mueller, Pony Ma, Satya Nadella, Greta Thunberg, Margrethe Vestager, Anna Nimiriano, Jose Andres, and Dough Mcmillon and Lisa Woods.

    The ranking of Dangote as one of the greatest business leaders had attracted comments by eminent persons around the world who described him as worthy of the nomination going by his business acumen and philanthropic gestures.

    On the billionaires ranking for 2023, Forbes, the global media company said nearly half the world’s richest list are poorer than a year ago, including Elon Musk with a net worth of $180b, falling from No. 1 to No. 2 after his pricey acquisition of Twitter helped sink Tesla, his multinational automotive and clean energy company. 

    Benard Arnault, the 74-year old French, who is the head of luxury goods giant LVMH, was ranked number one richest man in the world with a net worth of $211b, the very first time a France national will top the list.

    Forbes reported that the party is over for many of the world’s richest people. For the second straight year, both the number of billionaires around the globe has declined from 2,668 in 2022 to 2,640 in 2023 and total billionaire wealth has dropped, too – down by $500 billion, to $12.2 trillion – as turbulent times have hit both public and private markets.

    Nearly half the planet’s billionaires are poorer than they were a year ago. A total of 254 people have lost their billionaire status altogether yet others recorded gains.

    Overall, the United States still boasts the most billionaires, with 735 list members worth a collective $4.5 trillion. China (including Hong Kong and Macau) remains second, with 562 billionaires worth $2 trillion, followed by India, with 169 billionaires worth $675 billion. To calculate net worths, Forbes used stock prices and exchange rates from March 10, 2023.

  • 18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine allocated to 12 African countries for 2023–2025: Gavi, WHO and UNICEF

    18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine allocated to 12 African countries for 2023–2025: Gavi, WHO and UNICEF

    …Allocations were also made for new introductions in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda

    Twelve countries across different African regions are set to receive 18 million doses of the first-ever malaria vaccine over the next two years. The roll out is a critical step forward in the fight against one of the leading causes of death in the continent.

    The allocations have been determined through the application of the principles outlined in the Framework for allocation of limited malaria vaccine supply that prioritizes those doses to areas of highest need, where the risk of malaria illness and death among children are highest.

    Since 2019, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have been delivering the malaria vaccine through the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP), coordinated by WHO and funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Unitaid. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine has been administered to more than 1.7 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi since 2019 and has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths. At least 28 African countries have expressed interest in receiving the malaria vaccine.

    In addition to Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the initial 18 million dose allocation will enable nine more countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda, to introduce the vaccine into their routine immunisation programmes for the first time. This allocation round makes use of the supply of vaccine doses available to Gavi, Vaccine Alliance via UNICEF. The first doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in countries during the last quarter of 2023, with countries starting to roll them out by early 2024.

    “This vaccine has the potential to be very impactful in the fight against malaria, and when broadly deployed alongside other interventions, it can prevent tens of thousands of future deaths every year,” said Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “While we work with manufacturers to help ramp up supply, we need to make sure the doses that we do have are used as effectively as possible, which means applying all the learnings from our pilot programmes as we broaden out to a new total of 12 countries.”

    Malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children each year under the age of 5, and accounting for approximately 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of deaths in 2021.

    “Nearly every minute, a child under 5 years old dies of malaria,” said UNICEF Associate Director of Immunization Ephrem T Lemango. “For a long time, these deaths have been preventable and treatable; but the roll-out of this vaccine will give children, especially in Africa, an even better chance at surviving. As supply increases, we hope even more children can benefit from this life-saving advancement.”

    “The malaria vaccine is a breakthrough to improve child health and child survival; and families and communities, rightly, want this vaccine for their children. This first allocation of malaria vaccine doses is prioritised for children at highest risk of dying of malaria,” said Dr Kate O’Brien, WHO Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals. “The high demand for the vaccine and the strong reach of childhood immunisation will increase equity in access to malaria prevention and save many young lives. We will work tirelessly to increase supply until all children at risk have access.”

    Given the limited supply in the first years of the roll-out of this new vaccine, in 2022 WHO convened expert advisors, primarily from Africa – where the burden of malaria is greatest – to support the development of a Framework for allocation of limited malaria vaccine supply, to guide where initial limited doses would be allocated. The Framework is based on ethical principles on a foundation of solidarity; and it proposes that vaccine allocation begin in areas of greatest need. 

    The Framework implementation group that applied the framework principles included representatives of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), UNICEF, WHO and the Gavi Secretariat, as well as representatives of civil society and independent advisors. The group’s recommendations were reviewed and endorsed by the Senior Leadership Endorsement Group of Gavi, WHO and UNICEF (for more, see First malaria vaccine supply allocations: explanation of process and outcomes).

    Annual global demand for malaria vaccines is estimated at 40–60 million doses by 2026 alone, growing to 80–100 million doses each year by 2030. In addition to the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, developed and produced by GSK, and in the future supplied by Bharat Biotech, it is expected that a second vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), could also be prequalified by WHO soon. Gavi has recently outlined its roadmap to support increasing supply to meet demand.

  • Improving Access to Childcare Could Boost Nigeria’s Private Sector Productivity– IFC/NGX Report

    Improving Access to Childcare Could Boost Nigeria’s Private Sector Productivity– IFC/NGX Report

    Improving family-friendly workplace policies in Nigeria, including access to quality childcare for parents, could boost private sector productivity and benefit employees, children, and businesses in the country, according to a report published today by IFC and the Nigerian Exchange (“NGX” or “The Exchange”) Limited.

    The new report, Investing in Childcare: A Game Changer for Businesses and the Nigerian Economy, found that only 5 percent of Nigeria’s private sector employers invest in childcare despite 67 percent of working parents reporting that they were more productive at work when they had easier access to childcare.

    According to the study, investing in childcare by offering on-site or near-site childcare services, or the financial support to access childcare, presents an opportunity for employers to improve employees’ productivity, reap the efficiency improvements, and boost business outcomes.

    The report estimates that by 2025, the demand for childcare services in Nigeria’s private sector is likely to increase by 10 percent. However, childcare providers face barriers to scale and meet the growing demand, especially because they lack access to formal capital and investments. The study found that 76 percent of childcare providers faced challenges in accessing formal financing, highlighting an opportunity for partnerships and investments in addressing market gaps.

    Commenting on the report, Temi Popoola, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, said that access to effective and affordable childcare is vital to ensuring a productive, engaged, and inclusive workforce. “This report presents a compelling business case for stakeholders, both in the capital market and the broader private sector, to step up actions and collaborate on crucial measures to improve workplace solutions for childcare, as it will benefit companies, employees and the overall economy,’’ he said.

    “Childcare and family-friendly work policies are often overlooked aspects of social and economic development—but they shouldn’t be,” said Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Director for Central Africa, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. “This report reinforces the value in expanding family-friendly workplace policies in Nigeria to support social and economic development.”   

    Launched on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, the report assessed the needs and challenges of 7,000 stakeholders, including employees, employers, and childcare providers. Demand for childcare in Nigeria is forecast to increase rapidly along with the country’s population.

    The report’s research covers six commercial hubs in Nigeria: Enugu, FCT-Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers. The report was funded by the IFC-led Nigeria2Equal Initiative, launched in 2020 in partnership with Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited to increase women’s participation in the private sector. Through the initiative, IFC and NGX are working with private sector companies listed on the Exchange to implement gender-smart solutions that reduce gender gaps across leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship.

  • Sudan: Dangote supports Nigerian returnees with N100,000 each

    Sudan: Dangote supports Nigerian returnees with N100,000 each

    The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has commenced the disbursement of a hundred thousand naira (N100,000) and Dignity Packs to each of the Nigerian returnees from Sudan.    

    The money and the Dignity Packs were given out to the evacuees upon arrival at the airport in Abuja yesterday. All the evacuees, irrespective of the number, will be given the sum of N100,000 and Dignity Packs each, by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), once they step into the country.

    Speaking in Abuja soon after the arrival of the returnees, a representative of the Foundation, Maryam Buhari-Shehu, said the Board of Trustees of the Foundation has resolved to be fully involved in the evacuation and resettling of thousands of Nigerians that were stranded in Sudan.   

    She said a total of 362 returnees, including children were registered by the ADF for the exercise on the first day. Three hundred and fifty (350) received the support. 

    According to her, the intervention was in collaboration with the Federal Government through its agency, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Air Peace to provide succour to the returnees.    

    Mrs. Buhari-Shehu, who was representing the Managing Director of the ADF, Zouera Youssoufou, noted that ADF will continue to support the government in its humanitarian effort.    

    One of the returnee students and a beneficiary of the ADF donation, Mr. Yusuf Bulama, said: “First and foremost, I want to thank Allah for bringing us back home safely. Second, I want to thank Alhaji Aliko 

    Dangote for this huge intervention through the Aliko Dangote Foundation. My message to Dangote is to pray that Allah continues to help him and support his numerous businesses.”    

    Another beneficiary of the ADF’s donation, Miss Muneerah Abdul expressed appreciation while adding that N100, 000.00 for each student was a huge sum. She prayed to Allah to continue to bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote. 

    It would be recalled that Aliko Dangote Foundation supported the Nigerian government with logistics support for the Nigerian volunteer health workers who supported the Ebola containment efforts in Liberia and Sierra Leone upon their return to the country in 2015. Also, during the recent Covid pandemic, ADF supported the return of Nigerians from India and Dubai during the outbreak of the pandemic with specially chartered flights and Covid testing and quarantining when they arrived back in Nigeria.  

    Since 2011, ADF has supported several thousand IDPs in Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, and Abuja with a total spending of over 25 billion naira in the provision of food, shelter, and health services. 

  • West African Monetary Institute to receive $8 million from African Development Fund to support enhanced banking identification and financial sector efficiency

    West African Monetary Institute to receive $8 million from African Development Fund to support enhanced banking identification and financial sector efficiency

     The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund has approved $8 million in funding toward the establishment of a digitally interoperable unique bank identification system and harmonised customer identification framework for The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    Implementation of the project will commence in July 2023, led by the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), working with central banks of the participating countries and in close collaboration with banking and non-banking financial service providers.

    The project is expected to enhance financial sector efficiency within the participating countries, leading to increased access to finance and further regional integration efforts. Approval of funding from the Bank’s concessional lending window was made on 29th March.

    The new bank identification system will link banking accounts of individuals across different financial service providers.

    Over 53 financial service providers across the participating countries will be included in the project. This will allow them to verify their clients’ identities on an on-going basis (Know-Your-Customer or KYC), combat fraud, discourage loan defaulting and strengthen correspondent banking relationships. On the part of customers, KYC-compliant finance sectors will bolster trust and confidence and ultimately, encourage access and usage of financial solutions.

    Dr. Olorunsola E. Olowofeso, WAMI Director General, said: “The Unique Bank Identification (UBI) and Digital Interoperability project was borne from the success of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The BVN, an 11-digit unique identity for each individual across the Nigerian Banking industry, is tied to all bank accounts and has resulted in a drastic reduction in electronic banking fraud, non-performing loans and elimination of ghost names from the civil service payroll.“

    Olowofeso further noted that the Unique Bank Identification will leverage existing national identification systems and help to strengthen financial integration in the West African Monetary Zone.

    African Development Bank Director for the Financial Sector Development Department, Ahmed Attout, welcomed the Board approval, noting that it attested to the strong partnership between the Bank and WAMI. “Irrefutable and secure identification is fundamental to building financial consumer access and trust and overall development of the financial sector,” he observed.

  • AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Nigeria Face Stern Test Against Guinea-Bissau

    AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Nigeria Face Stern Test Against Guinea-Bissau

    The Nigerian Super Eagles will look to extend their strong start to qualification for the AFCON 2023 tournament when they face the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau on Friday, March 24 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

    The Super Eagles began their bid for a 20th Africa Cup of Nations appearance by defeating Sierra Leone 2-1 at the MKO Abiola Stadium. Jose Peseiro’s men followed that up with another strong performance, as starman Victor Osimhen scored four goals when the Super Eagles defeated Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 in Agadir, giving Nigeria its biggest win in history.

    Baciro Cande’s team, who have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations three times in its history, began their campaign with a bang, defeating Sao Tome and Principe 5-1 before drawing 2-2 with Sierra Leone in Conakry.

    Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has named a 23-man squad for the international break and will rely on Napoli forward Victor Osimhen to score the vital goals that will ensure the country’s victory. Osimhen has been a revelation for Napoli this season, with his goals propelling the club to the top of the Italian top flight, and Jose Peseiro will be hoping he can bring that form to the national side, knowing that a win over the Djurtus will put Nigeria one step closer to a ticket to Africa’s biggest football showpiece.

    The Super Eagles enter the match in great form and will rely on Nigerians to continue their massive support, with MTN Nigeria leading the way. Since the partnership between MTN and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which saw the tech giant become the official telecommunications partner of the Super Eagles and other national football teams, MTN has consistently shown its support for the Super Eagles and will look to do so again when the team takes on Guinea-Bissau at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Friday.