Author: Victor Olayiwola

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 20, 2026 Ghana’s Minister for Energy & Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, will join African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 this October. Backed by a newly secured $3.5-billion investment drive and a pivot toward nuclear and battery-supported renewables, the Minister is expected to share critical insights into Ghana’s regulatory reforms and the future of its offshore blocks. Under Minister Jinapor’s leadership, the ministry has prioritized boosting upstream activity, with recent reforms designed to reinvigorate exploration activity and attract fresh capital to offshore blocks struggling with declines. In early 2026, the government secured a $3.5 billion investment drive…

LAGOS, Nigeria, April 20, 2026 On Location, the Official Hospitality Provider of the FIFA World Cup 26™, has expanded its partnership with Integral (www.Integralsande.com), appointing the company as a Referral Agent in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Senegal for the tournament’s official hospitality programme. Building on its successful role as Nigeria’s Exclusive Sales Agent, Integral will now support awareness, market engagement, and client referrals across key West African markets, connecting fans, brands, and corporate organizations in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Senegal to official FIFA World Cup 26™ hospitality experiences. “We are excited to deepen our relationship with Integral as we expand into new…

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, April 20, 2026 The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) on Thursday concluded a landmark Consultative Dialogue on a New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD, formerly NAFA), with a bold roadmap to address Africa’s development financing gap. The day-long dialogue held 9th April, resulted in the adoption of an 11-point “Abidjan Consensus” on NAFAD. NAFAD is designed to overcome the structural obstacles to mobilising resources on a large-scale, to plug Africa’s $400 billion annual development finance gap. Among the commitments made by participants was a resolution to unlock Africa’s vast domestic savings, and channel them into productive investment on…

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 20, 2026 Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has announced the successful closing of a US$100 million, 5-year loan facility from the Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank), further strengthening its long-standing partnership with the institution. The facility, signed at AFC’s just concluded Investor Day in London, will support AFC’s mandate to accelerate development of critical infrastructure and industrial assets across Africa. In an economic environment characterised by global market volatility and evolving investor dynamics, this transaction is strategically significant as it underscores AFC’s access to alternative liquidity pools beyond…

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, April 20, 2026 The Government of Italy, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) have signed a bilateral co-financing agreement strengthening their strategic partnership to support priority projects across key sectors in Africa, including energy, agriculture, water, infrastructure, and human capital development. The agreement was signed by the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, and Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, in Washington D.C., marking a significant milestone in the implementation…

PARIS, France, April 20, 2026 African energy markets are advancing a diversified pipeline of renewable energy projects that reflect a broader shift from fragmented national planning toward integrated, investment-ready power systems. At the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris on April 22–23, countries including Senegal, the DRC, Djibouti, Zambia and Guinea-Conakry are expected to showcase opportunities spanning solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower, each offering distinct entry points for developers, financiers and institutional investors. Senegal’s Grid Expansion Push Senegal continues to position itself as one of West Africa’s most structured renewable energy markets, supported by its Just Energy Transition…

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 20, 2026 While the world debates a path towards reducing carbon emissions and addressing the climate crisis, Africa continues to face one of its most consequential challenges yet: energy poverty. Across the continent, more than 600 million people lack access to electricity, while over 900 million live without clean cooking solutions. This is not a marginal issue – it is a systemic constraint on industrialization, healthcare delivery, education and economic growth. Compounding this challenge is a massive financing gap: Africa requires approximately $190 billion annually to meet its energy and climate goals, yet current investment flows…

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 17, 2026 Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz – a critical artery for global trade that handles about 30% of the world’s fertilizer shipments – are sending shockwaves through fertilizer markets, driving prices up and raising serious questions about food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warns that if these supply chain disruptions persist, global fertilizer prices could climb 15–20% in the first half of 2026 alone. The impact is already being felt, with granular urea prices in the Middle East jumping 19%, while in Egypt, March 2026 saw urea costs…

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 17, 2026 Enlit Africa’s 2026 programme convenes decision-makers from utilities, private sector, government, industry and finance to tackle the business of delivering power across the continent – at a moment when system constraints, reform and investment urgency are converging. In South Africa, transmission constraints are limiting new connections and generation evacuation, municipal distribution and tariff reform is reshaping incentives and financial sustainability and the need for digitalisation is accelerating, raising both opportunity and operational risk. Across Africa, these same pressures show up in different forms: grid expansion and interconnection readiness, utility performance and collections, bankable…

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 17, 2026 MSMEs are the backbone of South Africa’s economy, contributing over 60% of employment and a significant share of GDP, yet many still face barriers to market access, funding, and digital integration. As Africa’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, the next phase of growth will be driven not only by large enterprises, but by the scale, resilience, and innovation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Recognising this, the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) has partnered with Converge Africa 2026 as the official sponsor of the MSME Pavilion, reinforcing its commitment…