GQWAVES.com

The Bluemind Foundation, in collaboration with the International Association of French-speaking Mayors (AIMF), is proud to announce a groundbreaking framework agreement to promote mental health in urban environments through the “Villes Bleues” initiative. This partnership underscores a joint commitment to enhance the quality of life, particularly focusing on women, youth aged 12-25, and vulnerable populations.

The signature of this agreement is further recognition of the Bluemind Foundation’s internationally acclaimed work, which has been featured in recent prestigious publications by the New York Times and Vogue Magazine dedicated to its Heal by Hair programme. The “Villes Bleues” initiative aims to integrate mental well-being into urban policies by engaging with local authorities, civil society, and other stakeholders to develop inclusive and resilient French-speaking cities globally.

“This partnership with AIMF allows us to expand our reach and deepen our impact on urban communities across the French-speaking world” said Marie-Alix de PUTTER, the President and Founder of the Bluemind Foundation. “Through ‘Villes Bleues,’ we envision cities where mental well-being is a cornerstone of urban development, ensuring supportive environments for all citizens.”

The agreement with AIMF will provide vital support for the initiative, facilitating participatory projects that prioritize mental health as a key component of urban living. This collaboration represents a significant step towards creating supportive environments that foster mental resilience and well-being.

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of Bluemind Foundation.

Investing in Africa is the leading Africa focused investment conference and is held annually inLondon. AFSIC – Investing in Africa 2024 takes place 7th-9th October 2024 at Park Plaza Westminster.At the heart of AFSIC is dialogue focusing on nurturing investment and collaboration across the investment value chain and driving sustainable growth in Africa.

AFSIC prides itself on being so much more than a conference as aside from dynamic panels focused on hot industry sectors – Informed Investing, Banking on Africa, Infrastructure Africa, Advancing Agriculture, AI & Tech Revolution, Fintech Innovation, Powering Africa and Sustainable Development, AFSIC also emphasises real interactions and networking leading to exciting deals. As a results-focused, private sector-led investment event, AFSIC provides the ultimate forum for investors, African business leaders and dealmakers.

The AFSIC 2024 Agenda is now live online www.afsic.net/agenda and the first speakers and more importantly top investors have been confirmed. These include African Development Bank, 500 Global, Apis Partners, The World Bank, BII, Blue Orchard, EBRD, Gateway Foundation, Grameen Foundation, IFC, Norfund, Old Mutual, Sanlam, US DFC and PIDG, just a few of the many players in the African Investment World.

AFSIC welcomes annually around 250 speakers and content streams are delivered on site and live streamed via the ASFIC Event and Meeting platform, but much more than content discussion is on offer. Powered by our interactive Event and Meeting App, delegates can view who is atending, segment down the atendees, save relevant agendas sessions and plan their meetings and interactions on site. The AFSIC Investor Pitching room offers quickfire pitching by companies or funds looking to raise profile and capital to a room full of interested investors. Complementary to that, our range of Meet The Leading Investors sessions allow investors to present themselves to delegates. The AFSIC Country-Specific Investment Summits are a very convenient opportunity to find out about doing business in different countries, meeting IPOs, relevant companies and investment opportunities. The AFSIC breakaway areas, where Networking Exhibition stands are placed, allow top sponsors to host meetings and build their brand awareness. AFSIC always launches with an exceptional Meet African Dealmakers event that offers informal networking in a social environment – this year to be held in the London Transport Museum in the heart of London.

With a wide variety of industry sector players atending and many of the key financial sector participants present, investors are drawn to atend who are looking for new investment ideas or who are looking to raise capital for their own funds. The African Investments Team works alongside the AFSIC team all year round and can promote investment opportunities via the African Investments Dashboard or through the African Investments Deal book – both very visible opportunities for funds and projects who seek investment. With over $ 6bn worth of deal and investment opportunities profiled on site last year, AFSIC this year promises to offer up even more opportunity for those ready to invest.

AFSIC- Investing in Africa welcomes over 1400 delegates, mainly at C level or similar from both Africa and the rest of the world, making it an unparallelled event for those wishing to engage in the African Investment Ecosystem. AFSIC is supported by a wide range of financial media, industry sector partners and sponsors – top European DFIS, Ratings agencies, investment banks, tech platforms and pan-African banks. We look forward to welcoming you as a business, fund, investor, or sponsor to the 2024 iteration of AFSIC Investing in Africa.

Distributed by African Media Agency in partnership with AFSIC- Investing in Africa

CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej and Scientific Committee announced and recognized the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS Awards 2023 winners, 6 Researchers from 6 different African Countries awarded in two categories – Best African Women Researchers and Best African young Researchers; MARS Awards Ceremony was attended by African Ministers of Health, Technology, Information & Technology, Social Affairs, Women Rights & Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare; Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS 2023 Awards was in partnership with African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission, International Federation of Fertility Societies -IFFS, Africa Reproductive Care Society – ARCS, and Manipal University, India.

Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for new edition of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS Awards 2024 to empower Women and Youth in STEM in Africa with special focus on ‘The Role of Scientific Research in Women Health and Reproductive & Fertility Care’; Watch the Livestream of the MARS 2023 Awards Ceremony: https://apo-opa.co/3RIbzM3.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck Germany announced and celebrated the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards 2023 announced in partnership with International Federation of Fertility Societies -IFFS, Africa Reproductive Care Society – ARCS, Manipal University and African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission to recognize African Researchers for their valuable research work and contribution to empowering women and youth in STEM in Africa with special focus on ‘The Role of Scientific Research in Women Health and Reproductive & Fertility Care’.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit -MARS expressed, “Like every year since 2016, I am extremely proud of our 6 Winners of MARS Awards this year who have been recognized under the two categories of ‘Best African Women Researchers Awards’ and ‘Best African Young Researcher Awards’ for their valuable contribution in research, especially by African Female Researchers who are under presented in this field, as we all know. Through Merck Foundation African Research Summit – MARS Awards, we aim to empower African young researchers and of course to empower and encourage African women researchers through advancing their research capacity and promote their contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).”

The winners of ‘Best African women Researchers Awards’ and ‘Best African Young Researcher Awards’ will be enrolled into research training at a premier institute in India.

“And I am also very happy to share with you all that as promised, we provided an opportunity to one of first winner of each category, however, only Ms. Stella Irungu from Kenya was able to attend the 4-day long International Federation of Fertility Societies – The IFFS World Congress 2023, held recently in Athens, Greece”, shared Senator Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation is committed to improving the lives of people and has been transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with its partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, by providing 1740 Scholarships for doctors from 50 Countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties.

“Out of our 1740 scholarships, we have provided more than 535 scholarships for clinical and practical training for Fertility & Embryology, PG Diploma & Master Degree in Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women’s Health, Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction & Embryology, Urology, Laparoscopic Surgical skills to doctors from 39 countries across Africa and Asia. We are proud of this achievement”, added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

The award ceremony was attended by Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, OFR, President of African Reproductive Care Society (ARCS), President of The Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria & Secretary General of International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), Nigeria and Prof. Dr. Satish Kumar Adiga, Head, Department of Reproductive Science and Coordinator at Fertility Preservation Centre, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.

Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, OFR shared, “I extend my congratulations to all the deserving recipients of the MARS Awards 2023. The received entries demonstrated exceptional quality of research. This platform holds significant value for African women and young researchers dedicated to health research.”

The ceremony was also attended by the below African Ministers:

1. Hon. Dr. BARADAHANA Lydwine, Minister of Public Health and Fighting Against AIDS, Republic of Burundi
2. Hon. Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health, The Gambia
3. Hon. Mrs Imelde SABUSHIMIKE Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, Republic of Burundi (Represented by Donatienne GIRUKWISHAKA, General Director for the Promotion of Women and Gender Equality)
4. Hon. Jean Sendeza, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Republic of Malawi
5. Madam Leocadie NDACAYISABA, Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media, Republic of Burundi (Represented by Mr. MANIRAKIZA Ferdinand, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media)

The MARS 2023 Award Winners are:

Winners of “MARS Best Women African Researchers Awards” 2023

• Stella Irungu, KENYA

TOPIC: Identifying Biomarkers For The Non-Invasive Diagnosis Of Endometriosis

• Motshedisi Sebitloane, SOUTH AFRICA

TOPIC: Women Living With HIV Treatment Are At Increased Risk Of Premature Menopause

• Oyeyemi Ifeoluwa, NIGERIA

TOPIC: Anticancer Effect Of A Copper(Ii) Complex With Vanillin 3-Ethyl-Thiosemicarbazone Ligand In Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Winners of “MARS Best Young African Researchers Awards” 2023

• Afework Tadele Mekonnen, ETHIOPIA

TOPIC: Social Determinants Of Maternal Health In Developing Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

• Stephene Shadrack Meena, TANZANIA

TOPIC: Targeting Tumor-Promoting Inflammation To Control The Growth And Metastasis Of Breast Cancer

• Theogene UWIZEYIMANA, RWANDA

TOPIC: Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Maternal Near-Miss At Kirehe District Hospital In Rwanda: Implications For Improving Women’s Health In Africa

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej  further shared, “I am also excited to announce the Call for Applications for our prestigious Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards 2024. ‘The Role of Scientific Research in Women Health and Infertility & Reproductive Care’ will be the key focus this year too. Eventually, through these awards, Merck Foundation aims to empower Women Researchers and young African Researchers to strengthen the important role research plays towards contributing to public health thus improving healthcare capacity with special focus on women health, infertility and reproductive health in Africa.”

MARS 2024 will have scientific support from African Union Scientific-Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC); African Reproductive Care Society (ARCS), International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS); and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), India.

Details for MARS AWARDS 2024

– Abstracts are invited from final year PhD students, young investigators involved in research and Medical Doctors in Postgraduate Medical Fellowship program related to either of the following topics:

1) Women Health

2) Infertility and Reproductive Care

Applicants should be primarily based at African Research Institutes and Universities, although collaboration within Africa as well as outside is also welcome.

Last Date of Submission:

Applications can be submitted till 30^th June 2024

How to apply:

Apply online here: https://apo-opa.co/3vmV54I

Alternatively, Applications and abstracts can be submitted via email to mars@merck-foundation.com

along with CV (including Name, Gender, Country, University/Hospital Name, Email address, Mobile Number) and the abstract document as an attachment.

Entries are invited under the below categories:

• Best African Women Researchers
• Best African Young Researcher

The Winners receive a 3-month Research Training scholarship in India.

Winners will be invited to attend the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

The AI mania that’s transforming business, government and society globally is also igniting waves of innovation across Africa, with the shape-shifting tech’s existential prospects powering a cross-continental investment surge at the AI Everything Expo by GITEX AFRICA (www.GITEXAfrica.com) in Morocco next month.

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (https://ICIEC.IsDB.org/), a Shariah-based multilateral insurer and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, is thrilled to announce a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. This strategic memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the IsDB Group Annual Meeting 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by Mr. Oussama Kaissi, CEO of ICIEC, and Mr. Silas Zhang, President of Financing Operation at Huawei Technologies.

This MoU strengthens the ongoing the ICIEC and Huawei. The goal is to enhance the telecommunications infrastructure across ICIEC member states. Under this arrangement, ICIEC will provide insurance solutions to support Huawei’s provision of advanced telecom network equipment and training to key telecom operators within the ICIEC member states. Notably, ICIEC has already facilitated the supply of critical telecom equipment to significant operators such as Indosat in Indonesia and Uzbektelecom in Uzbekistan. This collaboration aims to improve connectivity and access to advanced telecommunications technology in the member states.

Mr. Oussama Kaissi, CEO of ICIEC, commented on the partnership, saying, “This MoU with Huawei represents a significant roadmap towards supporting the strengthening of critical telecommunications infrastructures in our member states. By combining Huawei’s technological expertise with ICIEC’s robust insurance solutions, we are setting the stage for transformative growth in the telecommunications sector. This collaboration is more than a partnership; it’s a pathway to greater connectivity and innovation, enabling our member states to harness the full potential of advanced telecommunications technology.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).