Stories1

Roosevelt Ogbonna (Managing Director, Access Bank) Access Holdings has announced that its subsidiary, Access Bank, will be acquiring a majority stake in Uganda’s Finance Trust Bank, subject to approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Uganda. In the new deal, Access Bank will hold 80% of shares in the East African financial institution. The definite agreement was disclosed by Sunday Ekwochi, Access Holdings’ Secretary, in a statement submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) for the investment public and involves the institutional shareholders of Finance Trust Bank. This deal comes amidst struggles by Ugandan commercial…

Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo, is proud to announce, along with his family, the launch of Improbable Media – their first feature length production. He says: “It’s the true story about me and my family’s journey and I can’t wait to share it with you. ‘Giannis: The Marvelous Journey’ premieres February 19th on Prime Video and Amazon Studios 🙏🏾🙌🏾 https://lnkd.in/gWi_c26v” Giannis’ country of origin Nigeria), in addition to his size, speed, and strength have earned him the nickname “Greek Freak”.

Adeoluwa – the Nigerian-born, Montreal (Quebec)-grown and Regina (Saskatchewan)-based Afropop singer – has surfaced with a cinematic new single “4,5,6.”  Defined by a sleek guitar riff and heartfelt lyricism, “4,5,6” is an ultrasmooth ballad in the same irresistible love-struck vein of early 2000s R&B. Influenced by a wide variety of artists ranging from Tina Turner to Adekunle Gold to Stevie Wonder, ADEOLUWA refers to his unique, genre-bending sound as experimental Afro-fusion. The result is a musical style that transcends borders and a deeply personal, high energy stage presence that has earned him the nickname “The Greatest Showman” within the DIY…

Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity – 2023 winners (L-R): Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet (activist and agronomist – Cameroon); Bandi “Apai Janggut” ( customary community leader – Indonesia); Lélia Wanick Salgado (environmentalist, designer, and scenographer – Brazil) 📸 Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation The 5th edition of the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity is now open to nominations in recognition of individuals and organisations leading society’s efforts to tackle the single biggest challenge facing humanity today: climate change. Applauding outstanding contributions to climate action and climate solutions that inspire hope and possibility, the Prize has, since inception, awarded €4 million to different approaches to tackling climate…

Serial entrepreneur, Muyiwa Familoni Muyiwa Familoni (Founder & CEO, TasteDNA) is excited to announce the launch of his new venture, African Art Canvas – an online marketplace for unique and authentic African art. After several months of meticulously sourcing art from local markets and galleries, cataloguing and curating a diverse collection for the diaspora, African Art Canvas was introduced to the public a few weeks ago at a vibrant beach event that showcased the extraordinary pieces. 🎥 @MuyiwaFamiloni Says Familoni: “It’s been fulfilling to witness new connections between art enthusiasts and the rise of new art collectors. This platform isn’t…

Nigerian, Zed Etentuk (Founder, Zed Grills), has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest barbeque marathon by an individual. Etentuk grilled for 90 straight hours, beating the previous record held by Jan Greef who had achieved 80 hours of barbequing, in partnership with Char-Broil, LLC. Greef’s record took place in Columbus, Georgia (USA), in April 2014, and was dedicated to raising funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. As at the time of this report, Etentuk had hit the 94-hour mark.

Wissal Ben Moussa (Founder, Sand to Green) Sand to Green Co-Founder & Chief Agricultural Officer, Wissal Ben Moussa, is well-known for her Moroccan startup which says it can transform a patch of desert into a sustainable and profitable plantation in just five years. Following an article about Wissal, published by The Africa Business Index, Gautier de Carcouët (Co-Founder & Chief Finance Officer) at Sand to Green) proudly corroborates: “Behind this portrait, Wissal is also:  👉 An extraordinary agronomic success, with the creation of a productive farm run using agroecology at the gateway to the desert, where nothing grows. 👉 dozens…

Ampersand, founded by Josh Whale, is Africa’s first electric transport energy company, and it has just raised US$19.5 million in funding, with which the company aims to deliver thousands more electric motorcycles in the coming months. The venture capital round was led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) and is joined by Acumen and Hard Edged Hope Fund.  In addition, the fast-growing company secured a US$ 7.5 million debt facility from Cygnum Capital’s Africa Go Green Fund. This round also includes a successful S.A.F.E. round with investors such as Alphamundi VC, Societe Petrolieres du Rwanda, TotalEnergies, EIF and Beyond Capital Ventures…

Adeola Alli (Founder, One Health) The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) – a Pan-African pitch contest for early-stage technology startups seeking to ramp up traction and growth – is thrilled to bring even more excitement to early-stage entrepreneurs with startups based in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa. In the fifth iteration of this prestigious competition, tech founders stand a chance to win the coveted USD 50,000 in equity, gain global recognition, and become part of MEST Africa’s lifelong supportive community. The top five finalists for the 2023 MEST Africa Challenge are: Letaji (Kenya): Revolutionizing the construction industry, Letaji is an online marketplace streamlining the…

Oluwatoyin Olaseinde (Founder, Money Africa & Ladda) 📸Oluwatosin Olaseinde Fintech leader and founder, Money Africa & Ladda, Oluwatosin Olaseinde recently turned 35, and shared these clear-cut money lessons from what she referred to as “my 35 years on earth”: 1️⃣ You are your biggest asset. Start treating yourself like a prime real estate.2️⃣ Everything starts in your mind. Personal finance is 80% mindset and 20% knowledge. Get your mind in the right atmosphere3️⃣You will lose money. The secret to financial independence is to win more than you lose. Don’t let your fear of losing hold you back4️⃣ Personal finance is…