Edwin Mtei, Tanzania’s First Central Bank Governor, Left Lessons on Leadership
Edwin Mtei, Tanzania’s first central bank governor, showed that people can hold different views without enmity.
Manufacturing
How Informal Businesses Are Reduced to Rubble
The rules make it almost impossible to run an informal business legally
The Making and Breaking of Uganda: An Interview With Scholar Mahmood Mamdani
Museveni came to power with the sense that violence is critical to politics, and especially critical to liberation politics.
Amazing Pineapple Leaf Powder That Fights Crime and Pollution: New Research
In South Africa, discarded pineapple leaves can now be turned into a low-cost, eco-friendly solution for both cleaning polluted water and forensics.
How South Africa’s Job Market Has Changed
There are 2.6-million more jobs than in 2008, but 10.4-million more people who need them
Unknown Judge in Unknown Court Gags Open Secrets From Saying …
This appears to be the most draconian pre-publication interdict we have come across
Ghana’s Banks Are Not Lending Enough to Sectors Where It Matters Most
Ghanaian bank lending to agriculture and manufacturing is in decline
Toxic Pollution Builds up in Snake Scales: What We Learnt From Black Mambas
Black mambas were found to be indicators of toxic poisons from heavy metals.
A Spectacular Reset of Relations Between South Africa and the US Is Possible
There are currently three Afrikaners in Washington who believe there is a unique opportunity for a spectacular reset of relations between South Africa and the United States (US). The full provisional document is attached herewith: Let us Make Critical Minerals the Centerpiece of a New U.S.–South Africa Partnership Agreement As Afrikaners responsible for a multi-million-dollar […]
The post A spectacular reset of relations between South Africa and the US is possible appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
How Companies Can Manage Dark Data Better
Stored data contributes to greenhouse gas emissions by needing power for servers and cooling systems.
South Africa Has Chosen a Risky Approach to Global Politics: 3 Steps It Must Take To Succeed
If South Africa wants to make its own path in the global order, it must expect reprisals.
First Malaria Treatment for Babies Is a Major Step to Ending the Disease in Africa
A recently approved drug for malaria treatment offers hope to millions of children who suffer from the disease in Africa.
Lesotho at Risk of Economic Collapse After Aid Cuts and Trump’s Tariffs
African Development Bank warns that economic growth could drop to 0.5% next year
How Cheap Chinese Imports of African Fabrics Has Hurt the Famous ‘Nana-Benz’ Women Traders
Chinese manufactured cloth has undermined the monopoly on the trade of Dutch African print textiles that Togolese traders once enjoyed.
ARTsolar Throws in the Towel in “Gagging” Case
The company had wanted to stop three “whistleblowers” and a journalist from reporting that it was importing and not locally manufacturing its solar panels
Judges Should Respect Press Freedom
There have been too many prepublication gag orders in recent times
US Geopolitics Drives Harsh Trade Tariffs
The United States’ announced 30% trade tariffs, likely driven by underlying geopolitical motives, are, by implication, a direct attack on the economic benefits South Africa derives from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). These tariffs are also a response to South Africa’s growing diplomatic and economic ties with countries such as those in BRICS, […]
The post US geopolitics drives harsh trade tariffs imposed on South Africa appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Brainwashed by Plastic: What Needs to Be Done?
Episode four in GroundUp’s video series on microplastics
Multi-Billion Limpopo Mega-Project Has Ground to a Halt
Makhado Special Economic Zone, announced in 2018, was intended to attract investments of R40-billion
Mass Lay-Offs at Lesotho Garment Factories as Us Tariffs Bite
After the Trump administration’s threat of 50% import duty on Lesotho, orders have dried up and production lines have shut down
Over a Thousand Families Face Losing Income as NMBM Decays Under ANC Coalition
The news that Goodyear South Africa is closing its manufacturing plant in Uitenhage/Kariega comes as a severe blow to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) and the local economy. More than a thousand workers and their families face an uncertain future. This is a Metro where unemployment already stands at a staggering 33% and the […]
The post Over a thousand families face losing income as NMBM decays under ANC coalition appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Deputy President Mashatile Engages With South African and French Businesses
Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has, today, 20 May 2025, engaged with South African and French businesses during a Roundtable Breakfast Dialogue hosted by MEDEF International in Paris.
MEDEF is France's largest business federation, representing over 750,000 companies, from SMEs to large multinationals. It plays a central role in promoting French economic diplomacy, supporting private sector development, and facilitating international investment and trade relationships.
The Business Dialogue is an important platform for businesses from both countries to expand on existing cooperation and identifying new areas of cooperation with a specific focus on trade and investment.
Addressing the Business Dialogue, the Deputy President said, "The South African Government has committed to spending more than R940 billion on infrastructure over the next three years. This funding will revitalise our roads and bridges, build dams and waterways, modernise our ports and airports, and power our economy. Moreover, investors have an opportunity to collaborate with the South African Government by investing in infrastructure such as ports, rail, electricity, and manufacturing to improve local value-addition and boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area."
The Deputy President also touched on the European Union-SA Summit, which took place in Cape Town in March 2025, where there was an announcement of the EU investment package of around R90 billion to support investment projects in South Africa.
In addition, the Deputy President met with Mr Thierry Deau, Group CEO of Meridiam and Chairman of the Global Long-Term Infrastructure Investors Association.
Meridiam is a global investment firm specializing in public infrastructure, with assets under management exceeding €12 billion. It focuses on long-term investments in transport, energy, social infrastructure, and environmental projects, with a commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
During the meeting, the two discussed, among others, the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including infrastructure investors, policymakers, and academia, as being crucial for promoting responsible and long-term private capital deployment in public infrastructure.
In conclusion, the Deputy President indicated that he is certain that South Africa and France can achieve new heights of prosperity through strengthening their economic links and encouraging closer cooperation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
African Leadership Magazine Announces Nominees for the 2025 African Business Leadership Awards – Public Voting Now Open
African Leadership Magazine (www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.co.uk) proudly unveils the distinguished list of nominees for the 17 categories of the 2025 African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA)—a premier recognition platform celebrating excellence in corporate governance, impactful leadership, and trailblazing contributions to the growth and sustainability of Africa's dynamic business and economic ecosystem. The public voting process is now officially open and will run until 29 May 2025, offering stakeholders across Africa and the globe the opportunity to celebrate and affirm exemplary leadership in the African business space.
The ongoing public voting marks the third phase in a rigorous four-step, points-based selection process for the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA). The process begins with open nominations, followed by a shortlist of top contenders curated by the African Leadership Magazine editorial board. In this third phase, the public is invited to vote, adding stakeholder voices to the evaluation process. The final stage involves a detailed editorial assessment of votes and supporting evidence to determine winners, ensuring a transparent, merit-based outcome that reflects both public sentiment and proven impact.
Public votes in this phase contribute 65% of the final decision, with the remaining 35% based on supporting evidence for each nominee. This ensures a fair and credible process that values both public opinion and verifiable impact. Winners and first runners-up will be honoured at the 15th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA), a special highlight of the Africa Summit–London, scheduled for 9–10 July 2025 at the House of Lords, London, United Kingdom.
To cast your vote, visit:
The 2025 African Business Leadership Awards (BLA Nominee Highlights
African Business Leader of the Year
- Stella Okoli – Founder & GMD, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Nigeria
- Mohamed Ould Bouamatou – Founder & Chairman, Bouamatou Group, Mauritania
- John Gachora – GMD/CEO, NCBA Bank, Kenya
- Tewodros Ashenafi – Founder & Chairman, SouthWest Holdings Ltd., Ethiopia
- Ntombi Felicia Msiza – CEO, Raubex Group Ltd., South Africa
African Female Business Leader of the Year
- Rita Maria Zniber – Chairman & CEO, Diana Holding, Morocco
- Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi – CEO, KOM Group, Tanzania
- Boitumelo Mosako – CEO, Development Bank of Southern Africa
- Esther Muchemi – CEO, Samchi Group, Kenya
- Monica Musonda – Founder & CEO, Java Foods, Zambia
African Regulator of the Year
- Delese Mimi Darko – CEO, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority
- Brima M. Baluwa Koroma – CEO, Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Sierra Leone
- Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria – DG, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya
- Leonilde dos Santos – Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Authority, Cape Verde
Business-Friendly Governor of the Year
- Daniel Félix Neto – Governor, Lunda Sul Province, Angola
- Oscar Mabuyane – Premier of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Jacques Kyabula Katwe – Governor, Haut-Katanga Province, DR Congo
- Ibrahima Cissé – Minister Governor, Autonomous District of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- Peter Ndubuisi Mbah – Governor, Enugu State, Nigeria
African Finance Minister of the Year
- Bihi Iman Egeh – Minister of Finance, Somalia
- Mthuli Ncube – Minister of Finance & Economic Development, Zimbabwe
- Marial Ater – Minister of Finance and Planning, South Sudan
- Cheikh Diba – Minister of Finance and Budget, Senegal
- Ahmed Kouchouk – Minister of Finance, Egypt
Trade & Investment Promotion Agency of the Year
- General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), Egypt
- Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion, Angola
- Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA)
- National Investment Promotion Agency, Cameroon
- Agency for Investment and Export Development, Morocco
Central Bank Governor of the Year
- Mohamed Lemine Dhehby – Governor, Central Bank of Mauritania
- Manuel António Tiago Dias – Governor, National Bank of Angola
- Johnson Asiama – Governor, Bank of Ghana
- Rama Krishna Sithanen – Governor, Bank of Mauritius
Trade & Investment Minister of the Year
- Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria
- Alimatou Shadiya Assouman – Minister of Industry and Trade, Benin
- Ahmed Samir – Minister of Trade and Industry, Egypt
- Kassahun Gofe – Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Ethiopia
- Chipoka Mulenga – Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia
African CEO of the Year
- Jeremy Awori – Group CEO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI)
- Hien Yacouba Sié – Managing Director, Abidjan Port Authority, Côte d'Ivoire
- Dr. Armstrong Takang – CEO, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Nigeria
- Patricia Adongo Ojangole – Managing Director, Uganda Development Bank Ltd.
Young Business Leader of the Year
- Mamotake Matekane – COO, MGC Group, Lesotho
- Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun – Co-Founder, United Africa Group, Namibia
- Mohamed Ahmed Abdulle – MD, Dakawou Transport Ltd., Kenya
- Ladi Delano – Co-CEO, Moove Africa, Nigeria
Africa CSR & Community Development Impact Award
- Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ghana
- Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa
- NNPC Limited, Nigeria
- Bamburi Cement Plc, Kenya
- Catoca Mining Company, Angola
African Brand of the Year
- Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt
- Managem Group, Morocco
- Bank Windhoek, Namibia
- Ethiopian Airlines
African Company of the Year
- Vodacom Group, South Africa
- Ghana Commercial Bank Plc
- Bidco Africa, Kenya
- Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Nigeria
Industry Personality of the Year
- Kennedy Bugane – CEO, African Bank, South Africa
- Jemal Ahmed Abdu – CEO, MIDROC Investment Group PLC, Ethiopia
- Ally Edha Awadh – CEO, Lake Oil Group, Tanzania
- Ferdinand Ngon Kemoum, Managing Director of Oragroup SA, Cameroon
Africa Business Integrity Leader Award
- Coris Bank International, Togo
- Arab Contractors, Egypt
- CCECC Nigeria Limited
- Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR), Côte d'Ivoire
- Moçambique Telecom, SA
African Tech & Digital Economy Leader of the Year
- Mastercard Africa
- MTN Group, South Africa
- Mascom Wireless, Botswana
- Safaricom, Kenya
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Emeka Offor – Founder, Chrome Group, Nigeria
- Baba Ahmadou Danpullo – Businessman, Cameroon
- Kwabena Kesse – CEO, Kessben Group of Companies, Ghana
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Leadership Magazine.
Media Enquiries:
Ehis Ayere
T: +44 (0) 20 3051 1883
E: ehis@africanleadership.co.uk
About African Leadership Magazine:
African Leadership Magazine is the flagship publication of the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited. For over 19 years, it has championed impactful leadership across Africa and amplified African opportunities on the global stage. Through its platforms—including Afro-positive content, trade facilitation, market entry solutions, public sector consulting, and business networking events—the magazine plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable development and positive change across the continent.
Unlocking Africa’s $180 Billion Digital Trade Economy
The future of African trade is digital, and it's unfolding. From Dakar to Durban, a quiet but steady transformation is taking shape. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global trade hit a record $33 trillion in 2024, with developing economies, including Africa, playing a growing role in that expansion.
The African Free Continental Trade Area offers the largest free market, including 55 countries, a population of 1.3 billion and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. The opportunities are vast, yet the strategies required for industrial players to source, move and manage raw materials and finished goods remain a challenge.
“The continent's digital economy is projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, up from $115 billion in 2020, thus contributing significantly to Africa's GDP, creating new job opportunities, and expanding regional trade. Digital trade is transforming the continent's economic landscape, creating new opportunities for real economic growth, productive job creation, and poverty reduction.” H.E. Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment
“Building on this rapid expansion, our focus must shift from isolated digital initiatives to a fully integrated ecosystem that streamlines every step of trade—sourcing, supplying, logistics and payments. By integrating these functionalities on a single platform, Matta enables manufacturers to navigate sourcing headaches and suppliers to manage cross-border complexities with confidence and unlocks new markets in Africa in real time. This holistic approach is what will transform digital trade's potential into tangible, inclusive economic growth across Africa.” Mudiaga Mowoe, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Matta.
Launched to enable sustainable African economies, Matta's integrated ecosystem—today powered by the Matta digital marketplace (www.Matta.Trade) and the Flux logistics management tool, with Oxide Finance (Matta's upcoming trade-financing and cross-border payments platform) arriving soon—empowers manufacturers and suppliers across food & beverage, home & personal care, paints & coatings, agro-processing, automotive assembly, textiles, construction, and beyond with truly end-to-end sourcing, movement, and settlement. Rather than supplanting traditional trade networks, this unified platform amplifies human partnerships through real-time visibility, traceability, and seamless transactions.
This evolution in digital trade and industrial growth is one of the key conversations that will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit and Exhibition, set to take place from October 21-23, 2025. West Africa IMT is a high-level platform for government leaders, investors, manufacturers, and technology innovators to align practical solutions and policy frameworks for accelerating Africa's industrial transformation.
Matta, Africa's integrated ecosystem for industrial trade, will join other industry stakeholders across the continent at West Africa IMT 2025 to discuss the potential opportunities for industrial growth in the West African sub-region. As manufacturers increasingly seek more innovative, more efficient ways to power production beyond physical infrastructure and policy support, there's an urgent need for systems that simplify sourcing, enhance transparency, and ensure supply chain reliability. Matta addresses these challenges by connecting African manufacturers directly to verified suppliers of raw materials and commodities, ensuring business continuity in an environment where procurement bottlenecks often slow production timelines.
Digital platforms address multiple challenges simultaneously: procurement complexities, logistics coordination, payment processing, and data-based planning. By integrating these capabilities into industrial operations, West African economies can accelerate development timelines and establish competitive manufacturing centres that participate effectively in global markets.
As African nations chart independent economic paths, digital trade platforms like Matta will significantly influence how quickly and effectively new industrial capabilities develop. The transformation in African trade is already underway, with effects that will continue to reshape economic relationships for years to come.
West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition
21-23 October 2025 I Landmark Centre | Lagos | Nigeria
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of dmg Nigeria events.
Contact Details:
Roshan Jan-Mahomed
Head of Marketing – Africa
Email: info@westafricaimt.com
www.WestAfricaIMT.com
About the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit and Exhibition 2025:
The Pre-eminent Global Gathering Driving West Africa's Industrial Revolution
The West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit and Exhibition will unite the industrialisation ecosystem, including energy, finance, infrastructure, manufacturing, raw materials, logistics/supply chain, technology, trade and security, to accelerate a sustainable industrial revolution for West Africa. As governments across the region have declared industrialisation as a key priority, the Strategic Summit will feature the visions from Heads of government seeking public–private partnerships to drive industrial revolution across the region. Decisive action is at the core of the agenda, providing solutions for sustainable resource valorisation and opening up trade pathways for economic development and prosperity.
Participation is expected from across the global industrialisation value chain including the following industries: Aerospace, Agriculture, Automotive, Chemicals, Construction, Energy & Utilities, FCMG, Heavy Industries, ICT & Electronics, Infrastructure, Logistics & Transportation, Machine & Equipment, Maritime, Medical, Mining, Plastics & Rubber, Pharmaceuticals, Retail, Technology Solution Providers, Textiles, Water & Utilities.
● 15+ African ministers
● 25+ countries represented from around the globe
● 70+ expert industry speakers
● 250+ exhibiting companies
● 500+ conference delegates
● 2,500+ attendees
About dmg Nigeria events:
dmg Nigeria events is a subsidiary of dmg events. dmg events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT), an international portfolio of information, media and events businesses.
DMGT manages a diverse, multinational portfolio of companies, with total revenues of around £1 billion, that provide businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news and entertainment. Its venture capital business, dmg ventures, holds minority stakes in early-stage businesses and focuses particularly on disruptive consumer media propositions.
Headquartered in Dubai, UAE since 1989 with offices in Canada, Egypt, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and the UK. dmg events is an international exhibition, conference and intelligence company, attracting more than 1,000,000 attendees to a portfolio of over 80 events each year.
This global portfolio works closely with key stakeholders across the industry to facilitate pragmatic dialogue, serving as a platform for the latest discussions at the forefront of change.
For more information on dmg events, visit: www.dmgevents.com