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Staff Writer

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African economies have been challenged to boost their investment in research to power the continent’s industrial transformation by accelerating development of homegrown innovations that reinforce autonomy, sustainability, and technological sovereignty. Speaking during the official launch of the African Research and Innovation Hub (ARIH) on the sidelines of the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, the Group Chief Economist and Managing Director for Research at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Dr. Yemi Kale noted that while Africa accounts for less than 3% of global research output, it bears a disproportionately higher share of global challenges. “Even more concerning, our research and development spending averages under 0.5% of GDP, far below the global average of 2.2% and far less than the over 4% invested in countries such as South Korea and Israel. However, history shows us that deliberate investment in research ecosystems has been the foundation of industrial transformation. Sustained competitiveness requires research, innovation, and the industrial capacity to transform ideas into products and services that can stand at the frontier of global markets,” Dr Kale said. The hub is a joint initiative of Afreximbank, the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat that aims to promote and commercialise African research and innovation. It provides a platform for academics, researchers, and students to contribute their knowledge and expertise towards advancing Intra-African trade and industrialisation. “ARIH’s mission is to transform intellectual capital into industrial competitiveness and trade-led growth. Studies indicate that if Africa merely doubles its R&D spending to 1% of GDP by 2030, we could unlock an estimated $60–70 billion annually in additional value across agriculture, digital technology, and manufacturing. This would boost productivity, reduce import dependence, and expand Africa’s share of global trade,” Dr Kale argued. Throughout IATF2025, ARIH is running sessions bringing together participants from academia, enterprise, policymakers and investors. Besides the co-convenors, Algeria's Ministry of Higher Education is providing technical coordination for the sessions that include roundtables and pitch sessions for innovative projects and startups. University lecturers and students, as well as scientists and researchers affiliated with National Research Institutions from Africa, and the Diaspora including the Caribbean, have the opportunity to showcase their innovative research and scientific prototypes. Hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, IATF2025 is co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, and is projected to facilitate trade and investment deals worth over US$44 billion. IATF is a platform for businesses to showcase their goods and services to visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. IATF aims to tap into opportunities from AfCFTA’s single market of over 1.4 billion people and GDP of over US$3.5 trillion. The ongoing IATF2025 is in its fourth edition with the last three editions of IATF cumulatively generating over $118 billion in trade and investment deals and attracting more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors.
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African Employers Welcome a Fresh Start with the African Development Bank...

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Azentio Software (www.Azentio.com) , a leading technology enabler in the BFSI space, announced the launch of Azentio Loan Origination, its next-generation product that redefines how financial institutions scale credit operations across retail, SME, and corporate segments, and supports both conventional and Islamic financing. According to Deloitte (http://apo-opa.co/46lKYvA), today’s lending market demands speed, personalization, and easy digital access. Azentio Loan Origination enables banks and financial institutions to onboard customers quickly, make accurate credit decisions, and provide a seamless borrower experience, all while staying compliant with evolving regulations. Reimagining speed and personalization in lending With Azentio Loan Origination, lenders can launch new products up to 70% faster. Built-in compliance for each region shortens time-to-market from months to weeks. This enables lenders to avoid delays, accelerate innovation, and identify new growth opportunities. Smarter credit decisions for precision and efficiency Azentio’s new loan origination offering streamlines every step of credit decisioning with automation at its core. Its policy-driven framework seamlessly integrates with KYC, AML, and credit bureau systems to reduce approval delays and minimize manual errors. Pre-configured integrations and dynamic workflows make onboarding faster and simpler, helping banks lower drop-offs and improve decision accuracy. With compliance built in for both conventional and Islamic finance, lenders can grow without regulatory risk. Future-ready architecture for scalable growth Azentio Loan Origination is cloud-ready, scalable, and integrates easily with existing technology stacks, enabling financial institutions to expand into new regions. Its open framework ensures resilience, adapts to regulatory change, and supports new capabilities such as advanced analytics and alternative data without causing significant disruptions. “Banks are under pressure to deliver seamless digital experiences while navigating tougher regulatory landscapes,” said Guru L, Senior Vice President, Lending – Product Management, Azentio. “Azentio Loan Origination brings speed, intelligence, and compliance together in a single offering, enabling financial institutions to innovate and scale. With this launch, we are equipping the industry not just to keep pace with change, but to lead it.”
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African Mining Week: Rising Number of Female Chief Executive Officers (CEO)...

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Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) today announces the Colorado XL-series, a new platform of 3.4m printers that extends the proven advantages of Canon's UVgel technology to the 3.2m graphics market. Available in hybrid and roll-to-roll configurations, the modular, field upgradable platform powered by UVgel technology delivers great versatility and exceptional productivity for both flexible and rigid media applications from signage and décor to point of sale and packaging. The Colorado XL-series comprises two easy-to-operate models: the Colorado XL7 roll-to-roll printer and Colorado XL7 hybrid printer. The new series brings the benefits of UVgel to a new market segment with exceptional application versatility across a comprehensive range of media – from banner, paper, vinyl and films to soft signage, heat-sensitive materials, foam board, fluted polypropylene, acrylic, aluminium composite boards and cardboard – providing the flexibility to tackle diverse customer requirements. With print speeds of 70m² per hour in quality mode, 106m² per hour in production mode and up to 211m² per hour in express mode, the system delivers the productivity needed for demanding production environments while accommodating substrates up to 52mm/2 inches thick for rigid applications. The new platform includes multiple technology innovations, such as the UVgel 860 ink set, which has been optimised to cover a wide variety of both rigid and flexible applications. It also provides the proven benefits of UVgel: odourless and instant-dry prints, high mechanical and chemical robustness, dimensional stability due to low-temperature curing, excellent colour consistency, TPO [1] - and VCL [2] -free, and matte and gloss finish without the need of a separate varnish. The Colorado XL-series also incorporates new UVgel 850 PrintHeads. Each printhead has 4,544 nozzles and features automated built-in nozzle performance monitoring and compensation. A single printhead supports two colours simultaneously, so that only two printheads are required to print CMYK, plus an optional third if white is configured. Additionally, the Colorado XL-series has an agile and precise printhead carriage that features UVgel DynamicMotion Control to ensure exceptional print quality even with challenging media. Taking the UV LED curing process to the next level, the Colorado XL-series introduces UVgel FullBeam Curing. This technology uses a unique 3.4-metre-wide LED curing array that, combined with an ingenious mirror system, delivers consistent UV light dosing across the entire print width, guaranteeing exceptional print uniformity over large surfaces and enabling a wider colour gamut. Media handling is optimised by the new UVgel TRIdrive vacuum belt system, which features three interactive rollers and multiple powerful vacuum zones that reduce wrinkling and skewing by automatically detecting and correcting the media positioning. This results in highly repeatable media transport through the printer, ensuring accurate positioning both longitudinally and laterally and enabling razor-sharp applications. Optional features for the Colorado XL-series, which are already available on the highly successful and modular Colorado M-series, include: UVgel White for hassle-free white printing, FLXfinish+ for creative effects using matte or gloss or mixed matte and gloss on the same print without additional varnish, and FLXture for textured finishes that mimic materials like leather, wood or fabric. Mathew Faulkner, Director, Marketing & Innovation, Wide Format Printing Group, Canon EMEA, comments: "For the past decade, Canon has been at the forefront of the inkjet evolution in large format, with market-leading technologies including the Colorado roll-to-roll printer series powered by UVgel technology and the Arizona flatbed printers. Large format print providers are looking for systems that deliver high productivity, versatile applications and reliable quality while addressing the challenge of finding skilled operators – which is why Canon is launching our new, breakthrough Colorado XL-series, an addition to our portfolio that will set a new standard in productivity and versatility. “This innovative solution brings the proven advantages of our unique UVgel technology to the 3.2m market for the first time, combining it with extensive automation and a modular design that will enable customers to extend their application possibilities into markets such as packaging and décor. Print service providers already producing high-value signage and graphics can now leverage UVgel's distinctive finishes, including mixed gloss and matte effects and textured printing, at scale to stand out in these new markets. And with its hybrid capabilities, users can print both roll-to-roll and rigid applications on the same device, using the same ink, the same colour profiles and the same unique features and finishes. For brands, for example, this translates to seamless campaigns that span the full spectrum of applications, ensuring perfect consistency across campaign assets whether they're roll-fed graphics, rigid signage, packaging, or décor elements. This is particularly valuable when these different applications appear side by side in-store, where maintaining that consistent quality and finish elevates the entire brand experience that today's brands demand." The Colorado XL-series will be available from the beginning of 2026 via Canon’s direct sales organisations as well as from accredited partners. For more information about the Colorado XL-series, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/3WltKtM
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Canon expands large format graphics production portfolio with new 3.4m Colorado...

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Imagine a marketing manager who left a company six months ago, taking their personal laptop with them. On it, unbeknownst to anyone, was a cached login to a shared cloud drive containing sensitive client proposals and campaign strategies – access that was simply overlooked during offboarding. Months later, the ex-employee accidentally drags a folder from that shared drive onto a public-facing personal cloud storage, thinking it was their own. The link to this inadvertently exposed data is then discovered by a competitor or a data broker, leading to a massive leak of proprietary information, significant reputational damage, and a loss of client trust. This seemingly innocuous oversight, can spiral into a devastating corporate crisis. While this scenario is a little extreme, it is unfortunately not far-fetched in today's complex digital landscape. When an employee leaves an organisation, most leaders focus on succession, handovers and HR paperwork. But behind the scenes, another risk often goes unchecked: the “shadow employee”. Retaining access to company systems long after they’ve left, these ex-staff members pose a serious cybersecurity threat that can lead to data breaches, financial loss and reputational damage – even if everyone parted ways with smiles, hugs and pizza. According to a recent study (https://apo-opa.co/46SOBcD), 89% of former employees keep valid logins, while 45% retain access to confidential data after departure. Most disturbingly, almost half admitted to continuing to access company systems after leaving. “The shadow employee phenomenon is more common than many realise, particularly in organisations with high staff turnover or fragmented and cloud based systems,” asserts Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy and Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa (www.KnowBe4.com). She says it often goes undetected because access management tends to focus more on onboarding than offboarding. “When IT and HR operate in silos or access isn't centrally tracked, it’s easy for credentials, third-party accounts or shadow IT tools to be overlooked,” Collard comments. “It shouldn’t be seen as just a technical issue; it's a human one, too (https://apo-opa.co/3IwpyUX), where attention to digital hygiene and processes are lacking.” Risks of rogue access The threat of shadow employees was brought into sharp focus in 2023 when a US company suffered a major data leak traced back to a former IT consultant (https://apo-opa.co/46TXYc2) whose access to internal drives was never revoked. The incident exposed client information and resulted in a six-figure (dollar denominated, no less) settlement on top of contract losses. “The risks are serious and multifaceted,” states Collard. “They encompass operational risk, reputational risk and financial risk.” In terms of operational risks, she explains that outdated access rights can disrupt workflows, expose sensitive information or allow unauthorised changes to systems – even inadvertently. Regarding reputational risk, a data breach caused by a former staff member can erode customer trust and damage brand credibility. “Ex-employees with active credentials can intentionally or unintentionally cause data breaches, leak sensitive information, manipulate internal systems or impersonate staff,” she says. “In some cases, disgruntled employees may delete or sabotage critical data,” she elaborates. “Even if there’s no malicious intent, the mere presence of active credentials outside of an organisation’s control creates vulnerabilities that threat actors can exploit, especially through credential stuffing or phishing (https://apo-opa.co/46V077s).” The last risk to organisations involves financial risk. “Rogue access can result in regulatory fines, legal costs (https://apo-opa.co/48iKWHK) and lost revenue,” she says. The reason why these security breaches occur is that many organisations treat offboarding as an almost “optional HR thing”, not a cybersecurity event. “They fail to conduct thorough access audits or delay revoking credentials across all systems, especially cloud platforms, collaboration tools and unmanaged software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications,” argues Collard. Why robust offboarding is key To close the loop and reduce the shadow employee threat, organisations must build strong offboarding processes that bridge HR and cybersecurity. “It starts with a shared mindset: offboarding must be seen as a collaborative security process, not just an admin task,” she comments. Another important step is to automate deprovisioning to revoke access in real-time. “Integrating identity and access management (IAM) tools and involving security or risk teams in offboarding governance can also help,” she says. Other action items include performing regular access reviews to identify dormant or unauthorised accounts and educating managers to close the gap on shadow IT. “Make line managers accountable for flagging all tools and systems used by exiting staff and track unofficial tools in your access control system,” she recommends. The HRM Report (https://apo-opa.co/46YnUn3) also noted that "Shadow AI" use is a growing concern across Africa, with 46% of organisations still developing formal AI policies while staff increasingly use generative AI from work networks without checks on credentials or information sharing. This lack of governance around new technologies further underscores the need for robust offboarding processes that account for all forms of access, not just traditional systems. In conclusion, Collard maintains that former employees shouldn’t keep the digital keys to your organisation’s kingdom. “As the workplace becomes more hybrid and decentralised, organisations must rethink offboarding as a critical component of cybersecurity hygiene,” she emphasises.
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The rise of the “shadow employee”: When ex-employees still have access

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Cassava Technologies Appoints Marco Gagiano as Global Head: Connectivity

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The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on Thursday launched its electronic certificate of origin system in Kenya, aiming to digitize trade procedures and ease intra-regional trade by cutting costs and delays linked to manual certification. Christopher Onyango, director of trade and customs at COMESA, told journalists in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, that the new digital system is expected to streamline customs procedures, reduce red tape, and boost intra-regional trade by allowing exporters and customs authorities to process certificates of origin electronically. “The electronic certificate of origin will replace manual certificates and reduce clearance times at border crossings,” Onyango said, adding that goods originating from COMESA member states qualify for preferential tariff treatment. Josephine Makokha, rules of origin manager at the Kenya Revenue Authority, said Kenya joins Eswatini, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in rolling out the system. She noted that the platform simplifies the application, issuance, exchange, and verification of certificates. Makokha added that the online certificates will be transmitted in real time among COMESA member states, enabling customs authorities to reduce the bureaucracy involved in cross-border trade. Visited 115 times, 7 visit(s) today
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COMESA unveils e-certificate of origin system to spur intra-regional trade

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Kenya Power net profit drops by Sh5.6bn to Sh24.5bn
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Kenya Power net profit drops by Ksh5.6bn to Ksh24.5bn

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The signing ceremony took place in Kisumu, with Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o representing the county government and UN-Habitat Executive Director in Kenya, Anaclaudia Rossbach, signing on behalf of the UN agency. Under the agreement, both parties commit to jointly implementing the housing upgrade project, which Governor Nyong’o said will primarily target vulnerable groups. “The PINUA programme [is] designed to benefit the most vulnerable members of the community,” Nyong’o said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable neighborhoods equipped with essential services. Beginning November 1, 2025, the county government, working with UN-Habitat, will launch pilot projects in Kibuye Estate and Muhoroni Sub-County, based on designs and models developed through extensive public participation. The programme will focus on upgrading informal settlements by providing essential social infrastructure such as schools, sanitation facilities, affordable rental housing, early childhood development centres, and public open spaces. It also supports incremental housing models, allowing families to progressively build and eventually own decent homes. Rossbach emphasized UN-Habitat’s global commitment to driving transformative change in urban areas: “This partnership is crucial in advancing our new strategy, which focuses on improving housing access and digitally transforming informal settlements for everyone.” According to UN-Habitat housing architect Fred Omenya, the pilot phase will begin in January 2026 with the construction of two blocks of 24 housing units in Kibuye Estate.
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Kisumu, UN-Habitat sign Ksh2.7bn deal for social housing upgrade

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The government of Kenya is seeking into intra-Africa tourism opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock the sector's projected Ksh 1 trillion contributions to the economy by end of 2027. Speaking during the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) at Uhuru Gardens. Deputy President of Kenya, Kithure Kindiki noted that while Kenya leads its East Africa counterparts on visitor arrivals, the country must leverage continental integration to achieve double-digit growth seen in Asian and European markets. "Tourism is a critical anchor of Kenya's economy and a pillar of our Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). With Africa emerging as one of the strongest-performing regions in global tourism recovery, we must capitalize on AfCFTA opportunities. The tourism sector must become a critical interlocutor in transport, logistics, trade, investments and MSME sectors, driving synergized policy outcomes." Kindiki stated. According to the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC). Kenya's tourism sector is set to contribute a record Ksh 1.2 trillion to the economy, equivalent to more than 7% of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector is also expected to support 1.7 million jobs in 2025, maintaining over 8% of total national employment. The DP outlined government's infrastructure investments to support the growth of the sector, including the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway, Lamu Port development. SGR expansion and new direct flights from global hubs. He stressed the need to diversify beyond traditional offerings, citing emerging products like astro-tourism, desert safaris in Chalbi, and tech-tourism leveraging Kenya's "silicon savannah" reputation. "We must market the complete Kenya story-from our technological innovation to our athletic excellence, from the Cradle of Humankind to our forty vibrant communities," he added. Equally, Kindiki also stressed the importance of sustainability, linking the government's tree planting initiative to eco-tourism enhancement, while ensuring tourism benefits reach grassroots communities. The expo has drawn over 6,500 delegates from 40 countries, including 400 exhibitors and 200 international buyers with the opportunity to explore how strategic investments and collaborative frameworks can contribute to the African tourism ecosystem which presents unprecedented growth potential. Tourism and Wildlife CS Rebecca Miano hailed the expo's evolution into a continental platform noting its critical role in accelerating investment flows for infrastructure development which directly supports Kenya's tourism target of 5.5 million visitors by 2027. "Infrastructure development through public-private partnerships remains our cornerstone strategy. By leveraging private sector expertise and government support, we are building world-class facilities that enhance visitor experiences while creating sustainable employment for our communities across the tourism value chain." Miano emphasized. On her part, Director of Trade in Services, Investment and Digital Trade AfCFTA Secretariat, Emily Mburu, highlighted the strategic importance of strategic tourism partnerships, particularly for advancing continental market integration. "Tourism shows how AfCFTA works in practice, public-private frameworks attract Foreign Direct Invest (FDI), build world-class infrastructure and create employment across borders. When tourists move seamlessly across Africa, they activate supply chains, stimulate trade and prove that integration delivers immediate, tangible benefits to African economies," he noted. The expo's focus on intra-African partnerships comes at an opportune time, given Africa's growing contribution to Kenya's tourism earnings. Africa was the leading source of tourist arrivals in 2024, accounting for 40.8% of international visitors. This year's Magical Kenya Travel Expo will incorporate digital matchmaking technology which facilitates pre-scheduled B2B meetings between buyers and sellers, maximizing business outcomes. It will also feature five-day familiarization trips, integrated marketing campaigns and dedicated sessions on creative economy integration within tourism.
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KENYA TO TAP INTO INTRA-AFRICA TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN AfCFTA

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Milestone for Mbagathi Hospital as it offers dialysis for infants in need

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