Author: Victor Olayiwola

Black Swan, a Mauritius-based FinTech startup, has been named the winner of the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025 (https://Meltwater.org), following a high-energy Grand Finale at Innovation City, Cape Town on November 26, 2025. Led by the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) and powered by Absa Group, the MEST Africa Challenge is one of the continent’s leading Pan-African pitch competitions, providing a platform for early-stage startups to secure funding, mentorship, and global visibility. The 2025 edition turned its focus to FinTech; spotlighting startups and embedded financial solutions driving inclusion, smarter payments, and digital transformation across Africa’s economies. Co-founded by…

Africa Data Centres (www.AfricaDataCentres.com), a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has entered into a strategic partnership with CSSi SA, a leading Cloud and VM Provider and distributor of data storage, servers, and data centre equipment. Under the agreement, CSSi SA have structured an alliance to deploy racks and provide data sovereignty for South African customers, with up to three tiers of redundancy between three different data centre footprints. Located at Africa Data Centres’ facilities in Cape Town (CPT1) and Johannesburg (JHB1), and connected with 100GB links to CipherVault™ in Midrand. The availability of these racks…

Norway reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to Africa’s low-income countries with a NOK 3.1 billion pledge to the African Development Fund’s seventeenth replenishment (ADF-17). The announcement, made during the Global Citizen Now: Johannesburg event, held on 21 November, was later reiterated in a bilateral meeting between Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah (http://AfDB.org). The pledge includes a core ADF-17 contribution of NOK 2,377 million, representing a 5.79 percent increase from ADF-16. Norway also confirmed continued support to the Fund’s Climate Action Window with a commitment of NOK 150 million. Earlier in…

Marriott International (www.Marriott.com) has made its debut in The Democratic Republic of the Congo with the openings of Protea Hotel by Marriott Kinshasa and Four Points by Sheraton Kinshasa. The launch of these two distinct hotels introduces globally recognised brands to Kinshasa, offering tailored experiences for business and leisure travellers in one of Africa’s most vibrant and strategically important capital cities. Set along the Congo River, Kinshasa is a dynamic hub for diplomacy, regional trade, and the arts. With a population of over 17 million, the city offers travellers a compelling mix of culture, commerce, and connectivity – from its…

As major energy projects advance across the MSGBC region, nations are gearing up for the next phase of development. The upcoming MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition – taking place in Dakar from December 8-10 – will not only showcase emerging opportunities but connect global finance to regional projects. Key executives from across Africa’s investment, financial services and infrastructure space will participate at the event, underscoring renewed confidence in MSGBC energy opportunities. Speakers include Sadio Wade, Vice President of Energy Infrastructure at Actis; Antoine John Esther, COO-West and Central Africa at the Trade Development Bank (TDB); and…

The UK government’s recent decision to withdraw $1.15 billion in support from the TotalEnergies-led Mozambique LNG project is a concerning example of Western policy priorities undermining Africa’s development. Announced on Monday, the decision comes at a moment when global energy markets face unprecedented pressure. Yet, the UK appears more focused on ideological signaling rather than practical solutions to persistent energy poverty. The Mozambique LNG project is far more than another fossil fuel venture. It represents a transformative opportunity for the continent, with the potential to deliver 13 million tons of LNG annually – powering industries, fueling domestic growth and supporting economic…

The debut edition of Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) concluded its first-ever run with remarkable energy, drawing together thousands of creators, industry executives, policymakers, investors and thought leaders for a six-day, multi-venue cultural and creative-economy festival in Lagos. With events spread across Livespot Entertarium, Eko Hotel, EbonyLife Place, Alliance Française and Heritage Place, the inaugural festival established Lagos as an emerging global powerhouse for creativity, innovation and cross-continental collaboration. Below is a full recap of the groundbreaking first edition. EWA 2025 attracted 28,683 participants from more than eight countries and over fifty industries. The multi-venue format featured five major hubs and…

Scotland London Africa Week 2025 has wrapped up with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, who described the series of events as energising, insightful, and highly productive for strengthening partnerships between Scotland, London, and African nations. The week-long programme brought together influential leaders from government, business, finance, and international trade to explore new opportunities for collaboration and deepen commercial ties between the United Kingdom and Africa. The opening session took place at Old Admiralty House, where the Department for Business and Trade’s Africa team delivered a strategic briefing. Delegates were introduced to the UK Government’s 10-year industrial strategy and its eight…

Africa’s business tourism landscape is experiencing a historic shift following South Africa’s successful hosting of the 2025 G20 Summit, held from August 22 to 24 in Johannesburg. This landmark event—the first G20 Summit ever hosted on African soil—has positioned the continent at the center of the global business tourism map and opened the door to new economic and hospitality opportunities. With the international spotlight now focused on Africa’s capacity to deliver world-class events, the business travel sector is poised for a remarkable expansion. The summit not only elevated South Africa’s profile but also signaled a new era where African destinations…

The National Day of Prayer is currently in full swing at Johannesburg’s iconic FNB Stadium, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd. This year marks the 5th edition of the nationwide mass prayer gathering, an event that first began in 2017 and has continued to grow in popularity and scale with each passing year. Hosted by the Motsepe Foundation, the gathering has once again attracted hundreds of South Africans from various provinces, faith traditions, and community groups. As attendees continue to pour into the stadium, the atmosphere remains charged with excitement, unity, and spiritual anticipation. Music, worship, and collective prayer have…