The “Africa Road Builders” Selection Committee met in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on 18 April 2024 where it awarded the Babacar Ndiaye Prize 2024 to the Presidents of Equatorial Guinea and of the Republic of Congo, Téodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Denis Sassou-Nguesso. They follow in the footsteps of the head of state of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, who won the prize in 2023. 

President Obiang Nguema was awarded the prize “for his remarkable achievements in improving the road infrastructure in his country”, according to the Africa Road Builders press release. Republic of Congo President, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, was selected “in recognition of his commitment to the development of road infrastructure”. 

In Equatorial Guinea, the committee cited the completion of the Malabo-Sipopo and Bata-Mongomo motorways, as well as the resurfacing of roads in several other regions of the country. In Congo, the committee pointed to the road between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. 

“The Selection Committee congratulates Presidents Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Denis Sassou-Nguesso for their remarkable achievements in road infrastructure and invites them to accept their awards on 30 May 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, at the final conference, which will take place alongside the African Development Bank Annual Meetings” scheduled for 27 to 31 May 2024, according to the press release. 

Sponsored by the African Development Bank Group, the Babacar Ndiaye “Africa Road Builders” prize is awarded by Acturoutes, a platform that provides information on the road network and infrastructure in Africa, and by Media for Infrastructure and Finance in Africa (MIFA), a network of African journalists specializing in road infrastructure. 

The “Africa Road Builders” prize was created in honour of Babacar Ndiaye, who was President of the African Development Bank Group from 1985 to 1995. Each year, the selection committee evaluates ambitious, tangible projects that have a real impact on people’s mobility in Africa. 

The Babacar Ndiaye Prize has been awarded to the following heads of state since its launch in 2016: King Mohamed VI (Morocco), Edgar Lungu (Zambia), Alassane Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire), Ali Bongo Ondimba (Gabon) in 2016, Macky Sall (Senegal) and Paul Kagamé (Rwanda) in 2017, Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) in 2018, Adama Barrow (Gambia) in 2019, Abdel Fattah-al Sissi (Egypt) in 2020, Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria) in 2021, Samia Suhulu (Tanzania) in 2022 and Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar) in 2023. 

Mike Salawou, Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development at the African Development Bank, represented the Bank Group at the selection committee ceremony announcing the winners. 

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

Media contact:
Alexis Adélé
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is the premier multilateral financing institution dedicated to Africa’s development. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NSF). The AfDB has a field presence in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, and contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, successfully conducted the third edition of their engagement and impact report of their programs ‘90 Minutes with Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, The Merck Foundation CEO’ 2024 with the aim to update and discuss their programs and its impact and build advocacy to break infertility stigma, support girl education and transform patient care.

The session showcased Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej’s engagement with Media Members, Merck Foundation Alumni, Merck Foundation Award Winners, Social Media Followers and other stakeholders, through a Videoconference to address several critical health and social issues, in addition to sharing her long experience, challenges, solutions and success stories of Merck Foundation with audiences in social media.

Link to Facebook Livestream of Season 3 of 90 Minutes with Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej: https://apo-opa.co/3xZXy6r

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation expressed, “I am thrilled by the overwhelming acknowledgment extended by all. I deeply appreciate everyone for attending this session to discuss my perspectives, work and life experiences. Throughout this session, I addressed various questions and provided update on our programs, their impact, and our future plans. It is my hope that the information shared will prove beneficial to many, inspiring them to realize their full potential and pursue their aspirations in life.”

As part of this important meeting, participants explored Senator, Dr. Rasha’s personal and professional sides through questions about her likes, dislikes, hobbies, personality, education, early life, career, achievements, success stories and challenges she overcame. Additionally, her vision and plans for achieving the objectives of the Merck Foundation, as well as her personal goals, were discussed. 

The session was attended by over 150 participants from 36 countries.

Every year, the program adds innovation and fun to its theme for adding a further sense of personal touch for the audience. This year, the program also included a special CEO segment ‘What’s the story’, where Dr. Rasha narrated the sentiment and revealed the tale behind certain photos over the past 12 years since she started her role in Africa.

“This was one of my most favorite part of the session was when I was asked to mention the story behind few photos of my country visits and activities. It made me revisit my journey and beautiful memories in our beautiful continent”, she added.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej has been successfully leading the Merck Foundation programs for the past 12 years and works closely with more than 24 Africa’s First Ladies as Ambassadors of Merck Foundation and Ministries of Health, Education, Information, Communication, Gender, Academia, Media and Art societies in 52 countries.

Senator Kelej has been recognized as one of 100 Most Influential African Women for five consecutive years from 2019 to 2023. She has also been awarded Doctorate of Letters Honoris Causa (D.Litt) by Krishna World University, India for her outstanding achievement in the social and healthcare development. Moreover, under her leadership, Merck Foundation was also recognized as the “2022 NGO OF THE YEAR”.

She was also recently awarded the Global She Achievers Awards 2024, for her efforts to empower women in STEM, support girl education, and building healthcare capacity in Africa and beyond.

Below is the glimpse of the session:  

Dr. Rosalyn Sando Toe-Massaquoi-Teahjay from Liberia asked, “Recently, the news about one of Merck Foundation Alumni, Dr. Louise Kpoto, being appointed as the Health Minister of Liberia was shared. That is truly a milestone. How excited were you to see the fruits of the foundation’s hard work being paid off?”

Senator, Dr. Rasha responded, “I was so excited and proud, Many congratulations to her. This was the objective of our program, that we are developing and advancing the skills of the future leaders of healthcare in the country. Merck Foundation has provided 1740 scholarships for doctors from 52 countries in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialities which is something I am very proud of. We also  trained  the first specialists in the country in many specialists like Oncology, Fertility, Embryology, Respiratory Care, etc. We are also developing the future leaders with top education, top knowledge and skills that can take a country’s healthcare landscape to a different level.

Usually, when a foundation does work, you can see the foundation achieve objectives but future generations get an opportunity to see the vision come true. But, when you can watch the vision come true in front of you, it is amazing. We left a big legacy in Africa.

It makes me feel really satisfied that we have achieved such transformation in our journey, not only in present patient care but also the future because these people will take their countries to a different level in the future.”

Gloria Milimu from The Standard Publication, Kenya acknowledged  Dr. Rasha’s work to create “More Than a Mother” campaign, and asked, “Do you face challenges in addressing stigma about infertility, how do you navigate through those challenges?”

Senator Rasha responded, “I thought I will face a lot of challenges when I started this campaign, but everyone was so accepting of our More Than a Mother campaign . The partners were very excited to implement and be a part of it and support the whole program.

We understood from the beginning that if you want to address a social issue to create a culture shift, changing the people’s mindsets will take time. It will not happen overnight . It needs consistency, regular follow up and improvement in different tools and technology and the development of people’s mindset by reaching people through different avenues and outlets.

I knew from the start, to make this impactful change, I will need to address this social issue on all levels through multi-sectoral approach like art, media, songs, movies, training and educating doctors, engagement on social media, and above all partnering with Africa’s First Ladies as ambassadors of “More Than a Mother” campaign.

She further shared, “I come from Egypt and Africa.  I was aware of the issue and this larger change required some kind of discipline, which is a part of my personality and approach since the beginning. Hence, I knew I will empower women every day, be consistent towards achieving the goals of this campaign and I was prepared for it.  

Until today, we worked with 24 Africa’s First Ladies as ambassadors of “More Than a Mother” campaign, and this was a very important platform. We also released children’s storybooks and animation films to influence children with the aim to build their character and change of mindset  while growing up .

Now, if you even search ‘Infertility’ in Africa, you will find thousands of articles and stories online. So, we have come a long way and reached a great level of creating awareness on infertility issue in Africa and we will continue to do so.”

Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” is a powerful campaign that defines interventions to build quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility Care Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and Raise Awareness about Infertility Prevention and Male Infertility.

The meeting was also live streamed on Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej Facebook page (https://apo-opa.co/3y0CVHi), Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej Twitter handle (https://apo-opa.co/3Ss45yo) and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej Instagram page (https://apo-opa.co/3St4oc8).

“After the success of the third season of this meeting, I am excited for the next season, to be able to engage with everyone . Stay tuned to know about the next session!”, added Dr. Kelej.

Click on the link below to

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About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/47HPK5u), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3U8RG3y), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/494Vib1), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/494wHn4) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3UfoOVU).

Crown Agents Bank (www.CrownAgentsBank.com), the specialist provider of foreign exchange (FX) and cross-border payments for hard-to-reach markets, and Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com), a leading platform for business and investment opportunities in Africa, today announces a new collaboration, ‘The Payments Exchange’. The campaign will drive new insight and understanding around the role of FX and payments in the economic transformation of Africa. It will also comprise a programme of events and content across 2024, that explores the integral role that payments and FX will play in realising the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and future trade and investment.

Africa’s global importance is rising, with permanent G20 membership and expanded BRICS involvement. Its growing population, vast resources, and fast-growing economies make it a major player on the global stage. Yet, challenges like political discord and insufficient investment remain.

As a result, The Payments Exchange will bring together African central bankers, finance ministries, fintechs, development finance institutions, pan-African banks, and other pertinent stakeholders with a shared goal to discuss solutions to facilitate greater access to improve the flow of money across the continent.

As part of the initiative, Crown Agents Bank and Invest Africa will also host a special breakfast roundtable on 5th June as part of the programme for Invest Africa’s flagship event, The Africa Debate, on 6th June 2024 in London. The 10th edition of The Africa Debate will focus on advancing trade and investment between Africa and the rest of the world and plans to attract 500+ investors, market leaders and senior decision makers across a variety of sectors and verticals. The collaboration will also see the publication of a series of articles and podcasts and an event in the margins of the World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC.

“In partnership with Invest Africa, Crown Agents Bank is proud to launch The Payments Exchange Series, catalysing dialogue and action to empower Africa’s economic evolution through optimised payments infrastructure. Together, we will pave the way for inclusive growth, facilitating financial access and fostering investment opportunities across the continent.” said Chris Partridge, Head of Banks&NBFIs at Crown Agents Bank.

Chantelé Carrington, CEO of Invest Africa Ltd, said, “At Invest Africa, we recognise the pivotal role that payments infrastructure plays in driving economic growth and investment across the continent. Through our collaboration with Crown Agents Bank, we are committed to amplifying the conversation around payments, fostering collaboration, and championing initiatives that will enhance financial inclusion and enable businesses to thrive in Africa.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

PR Contacts:
CCGroup
Medha Pal/Holly Ingram
CrownAgentsBank@ccgrouppr.com

About Invest Africa:
Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment across the continent. With over sixty years of experience, our network is made up of more than 400 global organisations, private investors, fund managers, family offices, policy makers and entrepreneurs. Together we share a desire to build opportunity across the African continent. As the trusted entry point into Africa, we support and connect business and investment through a unique range of services, from leading business conferences and bespoke trade and investment missions to sector specialist event programmes and consultancy projects.

For questions, please contact Cara Oldenburg, Head of Marketing and Events at Invest Africa, at cara.oldenburg@investafrica.com. For more information about Invest Africa, please visit www.InvestAfrica.com

About Crown Agents Bank:
Crown Agents Bank (CAB) is a UK-regulated FX and payments service provider, specialising in global FX and cross-border payments for hard-to-reach markets. 

Unlike traditional banks, CAB’s unrivalled network, technology, and expertise means it can move money in the most complex situations, to the most challenging markets, for organisations that expect the most.

Trusted by Blue Chip organisations across the globe, CAB connects its clients to underserved geographies rapidly, consistently, and equitably so money can move efficiently to where it’s needed. Offering a single API for all FX and cross-border payments, covering 100+ markets and currencies across 700+ currency pairs. Its extensive global network of partners allows CAB to offer competitive prices and fast, reliable settlement.

CAB is one of the first banks to achieve B Corporation™ status. The bank was awarded the Gold Sustainability Rating by EcoVadis in 2022&2023 – ranked within the top 94% of 94,000 companies assessed across 160 countries and over 200+ industries.

For more information, please visit: https://www.CrownAgentsBank.com/

For more information on The Africa Debate: www.TheAfricaDebate.com

BRAVE Combat Federation (www.BRAVECF.com) lands in Mauritius for the first time on May 11, with BRAVE CF 82 taking place in St. Pierre. In total, it will be the fourth event in Africa for the company; further cementing the organization’s spot as the only global MMA promotion to host events in the continent.  

The historic event now has a fitting fight card as well which is stacked from top to bottom featuring African stars going up against global MMA names, and headlined by the biggest title fight of 2024.

The main event will see the trilogy showdown between BRAVE CF Bantamweight champion Nkosi Ndebele and former champion Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres. This will be the first ever trilogy in BRAVE CF and will also be the first trilogy in MMA history with each fight happening in a different continent. 

In the co-main event of the evening, Zimbabwe’s Nicholas Hwende looks to push his case for a Bantamweight title shot when he takes on the undefeated Khurshed Nazarov. Khurshed Nazarov comes into the fight with a 9-0-1 record and can shake things up in the Bantamweight division if he manages to impress at BRAVE CF 82. 

After a memorable 2023, African superstar Eliezer Kubanza hopes to start 2024 on a high note as he fights the experienced Karim Rabei in a Super Welterweight showdown. Kubanza is undefeated in his professional MMA career with all his wins coming via stoppages. Karim, on the other hand, has fought around the world in his decade-long career and makes his BRAVE CF debut at the event. 

A battle of two undefeated phenoms will unfold at BRAVE CF 82 when Ramazan Gitinov takes on Prince Lolia. Touted as the best amateur fighter in IMMAF history, Gitinov is currently undefeated in his four-fight professional MMA career while Lolia has a similar resume to showcase as he is currently 3-0. 

The card will also feature a flyweight battle between Bidzina Gavashelishvili and Luthando Biko giving the fans a long list of reasons to get excited about the event in Mauritius, as BRAVE CF continues to lead the development of the sport in the continent.

BRAVE CF 82 Full Fight Card

Bantamweight world championship: Nkosi Ndebele (c) vs Jose Torres 3

Bantamweight: Nicholas Hwende vs Khurshed Nazarov

Flyweight: Bidizina Gavashelishvili vs Luthando Biko 

Featherweight: Ylies Djiroun vs Ananias Mulumba

Super Welterweight: Eliezer Kubanza vs Karim Rabei

Lightweight: Ramazan Gitinov vs Prince Lolia

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRAVE Combat Federation.

To keep up to date with all things BRAVE Combat Federation, please visit www.BRAVECF.com or follow us on:

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ABOUT BRAVE CF:
BRAVE Combat Federation’s vision is to change mixed martial arts from an event business to a sports business and to provide MMA fighters with the opportunity to showcase their talents on a global platform.

BRAVE CF has created the biggest sports development program for mixed martial arts, with over 800 fighters from 80+ nations having competed under the bright lights of the most global MMA organization.

Since its inception seven years ago, BRAVE CF has established itself as the most global mixed martial arts organization in the world, having now hosted events in a record-breaking 30 countries in 81 events. During this time, the organization has acquired the largest market share in Asia and Europe, hosting shows in all regions in both continents, as well as being the number one sports media property in the Middle East.