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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).

African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina has emphasized the critical need for significantly increased financing to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at the Islamic Development Bank’s 50^th anniversary celebrations in Riyadh, he highlighted a growing annual financial shortfall of $4 trillion, a gap that threatens to derail efforts to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Adesina addressed a distinguished audience including high-level officials, financial leaders and private sector representatives gathered to mark the occasion. The session focused on assessing the financial strategies essential for advancing global development amidst a landscape marked by economic instability and escalating environmental challenges.

African Development Bank President said the current annual gap of $4 trillion, up from $2.5 trillion in 2015, has been propelled by recent global economic pressures and the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. He detailed the critical role of multilateral development banks in addressing these needs through increased collaboration and innovative financial solutions.

Strategic Response to Pressing Global Issues

Adesina also spotlighted the African Development Bank’s strategic High 5 program as a cornerstone for progress, as underscored by an independent analysis by the United Nations Development Program. The High 5s—namely; Light Up and Power Africa; Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa—are not just ambitious goals but a strategic blueprint for the continent. Achieving these High 5s, he pointed out, would mean accomplishing nearly 90% of the Sustainable Development Goals for Africa.

In this regard, Adesina highlighted five core areas where immediate action and innovative funding are crucial: Climate change, food security, energy access, health security, and mobilizing more resources for SDGs.

Climate Change: The African Development Bank president Adesina described climate change as the most significant challenge to achieving the SDGs, detailing the devastation it brings to economies through droughts, floods, and cyclones. Africa is the worst affected region in the world, yet it receives the least in terms of climate financing. “Africa will need $277 billion per year to address climate change, yet it receives only $30 billion annually.” The African Development Bank, Adesina said, “has set a target to raise $25 billion for climate adaptation by 2025.”

Food Security: He also addressed the issue of volatile food prices exacerbated by geopolitical conflicts, supply disruptions and trade restrictive practices of some major food exporters. Adesina reiterated the African Development Bank’s commitment of $25 billion to support Africa become self-sufficient in food by 2030. He shared with the audience key successes in transforming agricultural productivity and food security across Africa. He mentioned the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, which has already delivered climate-resilient crop varieties of wheat, maize, and rice to 13 million farmers. Ethiopia, through the introduction of heat-tolerant wheat varieties provided by the TAAT program, has achieved self-sufficiency in wheat production within four years and has become a net exporter of wheat. He thanked the Islamic Development Bank for committing $7 billion during the Feed Africa summit held early last year by the African Development Bank, the African Union and the government of Senegal. The summit brought together 34 heads of state and government who developed country-led food and agricultural delivery compacts to achieve food security by 2030.

Energy Access: Highlighting the disparity in electricity access, where over 675 million people worldwide lack electricity with 80% of them in sub-Saharan Africa, he underscored the Bank’s efforts through the Desert-to-Power initiative. This project is developing 10,000 megawatts of solar power across the Sahel and will provide electricity access for 250 million people.

Health Security: With a significant gap in health services in Africa, Adesina advocated for increased investment in health infrastructure and local pharmaceutical capacities to prepare for future pandemics. He pointed to the current annual investment of $4.5 billion in health infrastructure as significantly insufficient when measured against the actual need of $25 billion. He emphasized the need for self-reliance in healthcare, particularly in preparation for future pandemics, citing the hard lessons that Africa learned from the Covid-19 pandemic. To counteract this, the African Development Bank Group has committed $3 billion towards quality health infrastructure and a further $3 billion for developing the pharmaceutical industry in Africa. This includes a substantial investment to facilitate the production of medicines and vaccines directly on the continent, bolstered by the creation of the Africa Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, which aims to broaden access to vital technologies and intellectual property rights.

Mobilizing Resources: Addressing the need for innovative financing, the African Development Bank president spoke of groundbreaking steps taken by the African Development Bank, such as the issuance of $750 million in landmark hybrid capital. This financial instrument, a first for multilateral development banks, is intended to serve as equity, enhancing the Bank’s lending capacity. He also said that, in a joint initiative with the Inter-American Development Bank, the African Development Bank is pioneering the use of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) as hybrid capital, subject to approval by the IMF’s board. This move could potentially quadruple the Bank’s leverage capacity, significantly amplifying the financial resources available for SDGs.

Additionally, Adesina underscored the pivotal role of the private sector in scaling up SDG investments from billions to trillions. He advocated for harnessing the power of the $128 trillion in global institutional investor assets through more extensive use of guarantees, development of investable projects, and addressing foreign exchange and currency risks.

In his introductory remarks, the president of the Islamic Development Bank Dr Mohammed Al Jasser said crises such as climate change, the pandemic, and ongoing conflicts continue to threaten the hard-won gains achieved over decades.

In addition, Al Jasser said “the stark reality we face is that the global financial system has not kept pace with the urgency required to realize the SDGs. We must collectively work towards a global financial system that fosters a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.”

“It is within this context that Islamic finance adds value – prioritizing not just financial returns, but the holistic well-being of individuals and our planet. Its principles of shared prosperity, risk-sharing, and ethical investment present a clear path toward bridging the SDGs financing gap,” he said.

Engaging Global Leaders for Collective Action

In his call to action to achieve the ambitious goals set forth by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Adesina said, “the call by the UN Secretary General for a $500 billion per year SDG stimulus package should be fully supported.”

“The developed countries need to increase support by devoting at least 0.70% of their gross national income to official development assistance,” Adesina added, among other critical actions.

His message was clear: “Let’s give hope to the world by delivering on these goals for a sustainable and equitable future!”.

Later on Sunday, Adesina held a series of bilateral meetings with key government officials and development institutions in Riyadh.

The Bank Group president together with the CEO of Saudi Exim Bank Eng. Saad Al-Khalb signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral trade and cooperation between the Kingdom and the African continent. Saudi Arabia’s Governor to the African Development Bank, Deputy Chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee Dr Ryadh M. Alkhareif witnessed the signing of the MoU.

The Saudi Fund for Development and the African Development Bank Group also signed a memorandum of understanding to promote sustainable international development by financing projects and programs in beneficiary countries in Africa.

The agreement was signed at the Fund’s headquarters by the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad and Adesina.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Governor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Ryadh bin Mohammed Alkhareif, and SFD’s Executive Vice President Eng. Faisal bin Mohammad Al-Qahtani.

Through the MoU, the two sides will work to exchange experiences and knowledge, promote best practices in co-financing, contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and maximize development impact, among others.

• Dr. Adesina’s speech: https://apo-opa.co/3UhsZRe

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

N-Soft, the world’s leading revenue mobilization provider, is thrilled to announce a major partnership with the Ministry of Finance in Guinea-Bissau. The governance technology provider will supervise transactional data from across the digital sector, including operators in mobile money, gambling, telecom, and banking, with an eye to expand further. With a history of increasing revenue mobilization by upwards of 30% in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Burundi, and others, N-Soft is poised to completely transform Guinea-Bissau’s economic reality.

Guinea-Bissau is following in the steps of scores of nations that are turning to governance technology to execute the directives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Essentially, with N-Soft’s groundbreaking solutions, Guinea-Bissau can infuse transparency into the business landscape and maximize its revenue potential. With this influx of tax revenue, Guinea-Bissau can reduce its outstanding debt, mitigate against crises, and re-invest in healthcare, infrastructure, education, etc. This is a critical step towards placing the country on a trajectory of sustainable growth and development.

As Minister of Finance Ilídio Vieira Té exclaims, “As Minister of Finance, I am proud to announce our partnership with N-Soft for the implementation of cutting-edge technological governance solutions. This collaboration marks a significant step forward for Guinea-Bissau, enabling us to harness the potential of our digital sectors, including Mobile Money, Telecom, Gambling, and Banking. With real-time transaction reporting, we are poised to optimize revenue collection, ensuring all due taxes are accounted for. This heightened transparency not only enhances our business environment but also makes Guinea-Bissau a more attractive destination for external investors. Together, we are paving the way for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.”

In the context of the IMF’s Third Review under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement, released on December 12, 2023, this collaboration with N-Soft is particularly timely for Guinea-Bissau. The review forecasts Guinea-Bissau’s tax revenues at 9.6% of GDP for 2023, with an anticipated increase of approximately 0.9 percentage points by 2026. This number shows that the nation is ready to accelerate their efforts with N-Soft’s range of solutions.

The burgeoning African market presents a fertile landscape for digital, financial, and gambling services from which to mobilize taxes. The gambling market on the continent is poised for significant expansion, with estimates suggesting a surge to USD $3.72 billion by 2029. The mobile money sector is escalating to an anticipated $3.44 billion by 2032. Remittance flows to Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to have ascended by approximately 1.9% in 2023, reaching $54 billion. Finally, the telecom sector, a cornerstone of digital connectivity, has also witnessed steady growth, with projections indicating an increase to $3106.93 billion in 2024. These trends underscore the immense potential for revenue mobilization for governments like Guinea-Bissau.

N-Soft’s groundbreaking governance technology is designed to automatically extract, process, load, and certify critical data from operators across these four industries, By accurately calculating revenues generated from all transactions, N-Soft ensures comprehensive visibility into every facet of economic activities.

Renowned for its quick time-to-value, N-Soft consistently achieves implementation in just 13 weeks engendering value for users swiftly. The company also provides thorough team training for seamless operability and ensures sensitive data remains secure with local storage solutions. Further still, N-Soft offers payment plans to meet the unique needs of each nation, including a results-driven model based on actual revenue mobilized with the solution.

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of N-Soft

The Nigerian army has vowed revenge for the killing of six soldiers who were ambushed while on a peace mission in the central state of Niger last week. 

The troops were on a “fighting patrol” in Karaga village in the Shiroro area last Friday when they were attacked by what the army called “terrorists”.

An army statement said a number of the attackers had been killed, and others were still being pursued. 

It vowed that the “unfortunate setback would be avenged by the troops”. 

The slain soldiers included two senior officers and four other personnel, according to the army. 

Two officers were injured during the attack. 

The army has not confirmed local reports that one officer was abducted. 

It is not clear who was behind the ambush but armed gangs, known locally as bandits, have been blamed for targeting security forces in recent attacks. 

It comes as Nigeria hosts a two-day high-level African counter-terrorism summit in the capital, Abuja.

The ambush also comes a few weeks after 16 other soldiers were killed while responding to clashes between rival communities in the oil-rich southern Delta state. 

Nigeria has suffered a wave of kidnappings for ransom, as well as battling various jihadist groups.

Hundreds of people have held a demonstration in Agadez in the north of Niger, calling for the immediate departure of the 1,000 American troops based there. 

The protest on Sunday was called by organisations that support the military authorities who seized power last year. 

It came two days after the US agreed to withdraw its forces from the Sahel nation in response to last month’s decision by the military-led government in Niamey to revoke an agreement that allowed American forces to operate in the country.

The US also agreed to close down a drone base from where it carries out operations against Islamist militant groups. 

“Our message is clear: American soldiers, pack your bags and go home,” one of the protesters told AFP news agency. 

Protesters were seen carrying the flags of Russia, as well as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Military leaders in these countries have been strengthening ties with Moscow.

Niger is in Africa’s Sahel region, which is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group.

The US has relied on Niger as its primary base for monitoring regional jihadist activity.

Dozens of Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger in recent weeks, bringing with them a state-of-the-art air defence system, according to state media reports.