Author: Victor Olayiwola
Victor Olayiwola
I am Victor Olayiwola, a tech writer for Africa Entrepreneur and a strategic forex trader. I share stories on innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa while breaking down markets with precision. Always learning and creating, i blend tech and trade to inspire the next wave of young hustlers.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 9, 2026 Climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are no longer just environmental challenges; they are now central to how investors assess resilience and long-term returns. Nature underpins large parts of the global economy, from water security and food systems to infrastructure and climate resilience. Yet according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) the global biodiversity finance gap is estimated to reach USD 942 billion per year by 2030. Current finance flows into nature total around USD 200 billion annually, with just USD 35 billion coming from private capital. At the same time,…
Senior policymakers, investors, and development finance leaders converged at the 2025 Africa Investment Forum Market Days on Thursday to tackle one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: unlocking the capital required to meet surging infrastructure and climate demands. The high-level panel, titled “Innovative Finance Instruments Powering Africa’s Sustainable Transformation,” served as a clear call to action for adopting new approaches beyond conventional funding models and into a new era of investment. Moderated by Boston Consulting Group’s Partner and Managing Director, Zineb Sqalli, the session opened with a stark assessment: By 2050, Africa will add one billion people, more than half…
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com) and Wave Côte d’Ivoire (Wave), Africa’s fastest-growing mobile money platform, today unveiled a newly renovated basketball court at 4 Paniers (Four Baskets) in the Yopougon district of Abidjan. The renovated court is part of the BAL and Wave’s collaboration to bring communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal closer to the game and supports NBA Africa’s commitment to build or renovate 1,000 basketball courts on the continent over the next decade. The court was unveiled by Wave Côte d’Ivoire General Manager Katier Bamba and BAL Head of League Operations Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje at a ceremony at…
The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has appointed Societe Generale as Lead Advisor for the structuring and execution of its Multi-Originator Synthetic Securitization Platform (SST Platform). The two entities signed a contract on November 26 during the Africa Investment Forum Market Days 2025 in Rabat (Morocco). Joining three other transactions executed since 2018 under the Bank Group’s successful Room to Run (R2R) initiative, the SST Platform will operate as a revolving, evergreen and scalable risk-transfer vehicle offering development finance institutions regulatory capital relief, improved balance sheet resilience, and a pathway to mobilize private investment at scale. Societe Generale, an eminent…
East Africa has entered a decisive moment in its energy journey. With the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) dismissing a long-running lawsuit aimed at stopping the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the region has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing a strategically vital project designed to unlock jobs, supply chains and long-term energy security for Uganda and Tanzania. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) strongly welcomes the ruling. For the Chamber, the court’s decision reinforces a message it has championed for years: Africa must be allowed to build its own energy future without interference, intimidation or weaponized litigation funded from…
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has successfully closed its second Samurai bond transaction, securing a total of JPY 81.8 billion (approx. USD 527 million) through Regular and Retail Samurai Bonds offerings. The execution surpasses the Bank’s 2024 debut issuance size, attracting orders from more than 100 institutional and retail investors, marking a renewed demonstration of strong Japanese investor confidence in the Bank’s credit and its growing presence in the yen capital markets. On 18 November, Afreximbank priced a JPY 45.8 billion 3-year tranche in the Regular Samurai market following a comprehensive sequence of investor engagement activities leveraging Tokyo International Conference…
Gabon has entered a new chapter in its energy evolution. For the first time ever, a private national oil company has opened a new field and delivered first oil. Komo Ressources Group (KOREG), a rising indigenous operator, has officially brought the Autour field onstream, producing its first barrels on November 27, 2025. The milestone marks a defining moment for Gabon’s upstream sector, showcasing the strength of empowered local companies and reinforcing the country’s commitment to revitalizing onshore production. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) strongly welcomes this achievement. KOREG’s success demonstrates what becomes possible when national companies are supported, trusted and…
Emirates (https://www.Emirates.com) has announced the introduction of the Emirates Asia Pass, providing travellers in the specific African Emirates markets with enhanced access to Southeast Asia. The pass is available to customers in South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Congo, Tanzania, and Egypt, offering a streamlined and flexible option for multi-city travel within the region. With the Emirates Asia Pass, customers can book and customise itineraries across Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and Laos, all under one ticket. Whether travellers are looking to experience tranquil island retreats, rich cultural landmarks or vibrant cities, the Emirates Asia Pass…
The WomenIN Festival 2025 (http://WeAreWomenIN.com/) wrapped up a powerful two-day celebration at Newlands Cricket Ground on 13–14 November, bringing together hundreds of women from across South Africa for an immersive programme focused on empowerment, leadership development, wellbeing, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, creativity and social impact. Guided by the theme “Limitless: No Labels. No Limits. No Apologies,” the festival created space for meaningful conversations, real connections and practical tools designed to support women across every dimension of their lives. The curated programme included panel discussions, interactive dialogues, wellness conversations, entrepreneurship sessions, financial literacy masterclasses and storytelling-focused engagements. Each segment was designed to explore identity, leadership, resilience,…
Vodacom Tanzania (www.Vodacom.com), the country’s leading telco company, is revolutionizing cross-border trade and digital financial inclusion with the launch of M-Pesa Global Payment. In partnership with VISA, Alipay, Network International, Magnati, and MTN Uganda, customers can now make global Tap & Pay transactions using the M-Pesa Visa tokenized card, pay merchants in China via Alipay, enabled by Thunes, transact in Dubai through TerraPay-supported merchants, and pay merchants in Uganda directly into MTN MoMo wallets, powered by Thunes, all from the M-Pesa menu or the M-Pesa Super App The process is secure, user-friendly, and eliminates the burden of traditional banking barriers…