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African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies announced the winners of the AEW 2025 awards during a ceremony held on Tuesday. Celebrating trailblazers shaping the future of the African energy sector, the awards recognized excellence across the African energy sector. Mohammed S. Barkindo Lifetime Achievement Award: François Perrodo François Perrodo was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to positioning Perenco into one of Africa’s most influential energy companies. Under his leadership, Perenco has become synonymous with frontier exploration, responsible production and gas-led development across Central and West Africa. Mohammed S. Barkindo Lifetime Achievement Award: Adriano Mongini Adriano Mongini was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for leading Azule Energy through a series of impactful oil and gas projects. From day one, he focused on building Azule not just as Angola’s largest independent oil and gas producer, but as a company that invests in training, local content and national development. Lifetime Achievement Award: Katrina Fisher Katrina Fisher was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions towards Africa’s energy sector. She has led ExxonMobil Angola through an ambitious exploration and production drive, while her dedication to STEM has created significant opportunities for youth and women in energy. Lifetime Achievement Award: Sebastião Gaspar Martins Sebastião Gaspar Martins secured the Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to transforming Angola’s national oil company Sonangol into a competitive operator. His leadership has not only seen the company transition into a major player but has helped shape Angola into one of the continent’s biggest producers. Lifetime Achievement Award: Haitham Al Ghais Haitham Al Ghais won the Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to Africa. Al Ghais has consistently put Africa at the forefront of global discussions on finance, just transition and sustainable development. Lifetime Achievement Award: Jubril Adewale Tinubu Jubril Adewale “Wale” Tinubu was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to building Oando into one of Africa’s leading energy companies. He has carried the company through periods of uncertainty and transformation, growing it into a multinational enterprise that represents African resilience and ambition. ESG Leader of the Year: ExxonMobil Recognized for STEM Africa, equipping 3,000+ students and educators with industry-ready skills, aligning social impact with long-term workforce development across Nigeria, Namibia, Angola and Mozambique. Service Provider of the Year: Technip Energies Awarded for engineering excellence delivering complex LNG, hydrogen and decarbonization projects - from GTA to Rovuma - while maximizing safety, quality and local value creation. Local Content Champion of the Year: Levene Energies Awarded for scaling African-led projects anchored in local suppliers, talent pipelines and mentorship, building durable industrial capacity across West Africa. International Local Content Champion of the Year: Woodside Energy Awarded for its commitment to capacity building, skills transfer and local empowerment across the countries it operates. Reformer of the Year: Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria Awarded for operationalizing the Petroleum Industry Act, modernizing licensing and flexible PSCs - unlocking billions in FIDs, infrastructure progress and transparent, investor-friendly processes. Exploration & Production Leader of the Year: Azule Energy Recognized for Agogo FPSO start-up and Angola’s first dedicated gas discovery, boosting production and de-risking Lower Congo Basin potential. Deal of the Year: Vitol Celebrated for strategic stakes in Baleine and Congo LNG, enhancing low-carbon upstream exposure and strengthening West and Central African gas positions. CSR Project of the Year: ConocoPhillips Honored for two decades of Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project support - dramatically reducing malaria, strengthening health systems and delivering evidence-based community impact in Equatorial Guinea. Gas Monetization Strategy: Greater Tortue Ameyim Development Celebrated for first gas and reaching its commercial operation date for the FLNG vessel in 2025, inaugurating MSGBC LNG exports and a scalable cross-border monetization framework.
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Business Opportunities: African Energy Week (AEW) Announces 2025 Award Winners, Celebrating...

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An opening fireside chat held during the opening ceremony of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 conference showcased the value of an Africa-first approach when it comes to the continent’s gas developments. Ministers from Senegal and Ghana discussed how recently-launched projects stand to drive sustainable growth in West Africa, with project developer Kosmos Energy committing to focus on domestic gas opportunities. The opening ceremony was sponsored by Kosmos Energy. In recent years, West Africa has established itself as one of the continent’s most dynamic energy markets. In 2024, Senegal became a global oil and gas producer through the commissioning of the Sangomar oil and gas field and the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) developments. The GTA project, developed through a partnership led by BP and Kosmos Energy, boasts an initial capacity of 2.3 million tons per annum (mtpa) in the first phase, with a second phase set to increase output to 5 mtpa. While the project primarily targets exports, its partners are exploring opportunities for the domestic market. Birame Soulèye Diop, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, stated that, “In Senegal, we have a goal to reach universal access to energy by 2029. Today, we are a country that exports oil and gas. But the cost to access fuel is still high. We would like to produce more for the country so that we can access resources for electricity. With gas, there are a lot of opportunities.” Minister Diop elaborated on the country’s plans to convert operational oil refineries to process gas, aiming to reduce fuel costs and expand access across the country. Kosmos Energy has also shifted its focus towards the domestic market. In addition to GTA, the company is advancing the development of the Yakaar-Teranga project. Targeting a final investment decision in 2025, the project will supply gas for the domestic market, specifically power generation facilities. “Fundamental to the development of Senegal is the use of gas for domestic purposes. That is our next agenda: to work with the ministry to expand the scheme to deliver domestic gas,” said Andrew Inglis, CEO, Kosmos Energy. Regional neighbors serve as a strong example for the role that gas plays in delivering low-cost energy. Ghana, for example, has been highly effective in monetizing gas. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Energy & Green Transition, Ghana, explained that “Gas is an essential commodity. We have a gas-to-power policy, with gas accounting for 90% of our fuel in Ghana. What we have achieved so far can serve as a model for other economies so that African can achieve energy security through gas.” Active in both Senegal and Ghana, Kosmos Energy plays an instrumental part in driving oil and gas projects. Inglis emphasized that aligned national policies and strong public-private partnerships have been fundamental in successfully delivering projects in both countries. He said: “An aligned national agenda is the bed-rock of investment. If you are aligned on intent, then delivery is a lot easier. With both Senegal and Ghana, there is clarity in terms of what the countries need and Kosmos Energy is ready to support that.”
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African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Opening Fireside Chat Underscores Africa-First Approach...

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Radisson Individuals brand celebrates 100th property milestone and now offers even...

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The Ministry of Health, together with partners, joined Kenyans at the 2nd International EndPPH Run at Ulinzi Sports Ground to raise awareness on Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH)—the leading cause of maternal deaths in Kenya, accounting for up to 45% of cases. Despite progress in maternal and child health, PPH continues to claim the lives of too many mothers, especially in 13 hotspot counties such as Tana River, Garissa, West Pokot, Homa Bay, Migori, and Turkana, where lifesaving interventions are being prioritized. Speaking during the event, the Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, emphasized the importance of sustained advocacy, timely interventions, and strong community awareness in saving lives. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with counties and development partners, is committed to ending preventable maternal deaths through quality care, innovation, skills building, and stronger health systems. With early detection and prompt treatment, no mother should die while giving life. Run for Her – Together Against the Number One Killer of New Mums.
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Kenya Marks 2nd International End Postpartum Haemorrhage (EndPPH) Run at Ulinzi...

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In a move that has sent shockwaves through the quick-service restaurant industry, KFC Africa (https://global.KFC.com) announced today that it will do the unthinkable: reveal its secret recipe. The recipe has been the stuff of corporate legend, with only a handful of people knowing the complete formula. Competitors have tried to reverse-engineer it, conspiracy theorists have developed elaborate ideas about it, and social media has played its part in stoking the flames. The objective has always been the same: to work out what’s in the recipe. And on Wednesday 8 October, the truth will finally be revealed. The world deserves the truth “People have been asking us for years about our secret recipe,” says Grant Macpherson, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, KFC Africa. “They’ve guessed, they’ve pleaded and they’ve done their best to copy it. And now we’ve decided the world can finally share it. We think it will be better for everyone if it’s out in the open. “History will decide whether or not this is a masterstroke, but we believe it will be good for us and most importantly good for South Africa.” Macpherson says KFC will explain its reasons for revealing the secret recipe only on the day of the big reveal. Precious asset “There’s obviously going to be a lot of speculation about why we would give away this precious asset, and why now,” he says. “Our loyal customers may be wondering whether this will kill the mystique that has made KFC South Africa’s biggest quick-service restaurant brand. “We don’t think it will, but everything will become clear on 8 October. Until then, all the guesses and opinions will be just that.
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KFC to reveal its secret recipe

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One Week to Go: African Mining Week (AMW) is Africa’s Must-Attend...

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Following the advanced deployment of the retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft to both Cape Town and Johannesburg last month, Emirates (https://Emirates.com), the world’s largest international airline, hosted a guided tour of the fully refreshed aircraft. The airline showcased its next-generation cabins, featuring the latest sophisticated design and South Africa’s debut of the highly acclaimed Premium Economy Cabin. Johannesburg and Cape Town are the first destinations in Africa to be served by the retrofitted Emirates Boeing 777, demonstrating the airline’s steadfast commitment to South Africa. Key stakeholders from South Africa’s aviation and tourism sectors were in attendance, including Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro in Cape Town and Poppy Khoza, Director General South African Civil Aviation Authority in Johannesburg, along with Rashid Alardha, Emirates’ Vice President Commercial Operations, Sub-Saharan Africa and Afzal Parambil, Regional Manager for Southern Africa, Emirates. Commenting on the deployment, Afzal Parambil said, “As we celebrate three decades of service to South Africa, our commitment to bring the latest and greatest to the market is unwavering. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with our customers and are proud to have a very high percentage of repeat passengers, particularly on long-haul travel to destinations in the Far East and Europe. The deployment of our refurbished Boeing 777 – our first in Africa – will further elevate the experience for these passengers, with the introduction of Premium Economy and our new Business Class experience. We look forward to welcoming travellers from South Africa on the refreshed Emirates Boeing 777 soon.”  A closer look at the refreshed Boeing 777 The refurbished four-class Emirates Boeing 777 features upgraded interiors with new design elements, including modern colour palettes, specially designed Ghaf Tree motifs, and wood finishes across all cabins. Each aircraft includes 260 latest generation Economy seats, 24 of the popular Premium Economy seats, 38 Business Class seats in 1-2-1 configuration and eight First Class Suites. Economy Class is decked out with a calming ocean blue interior, and high ceilings, giving a greater sense of space and light. The cabin features the latest generation seats with generous legroom, to ensure comfort is the top priority. The highlight is Emirates Premium Economy, introducing the much-lauded cabin to South Africa for the first time. Making luxury travel more accessible to a wider audience, Premium Economy offers an experience similar to Business Class on many airlines, with spacious leather reclining seats with full leg and footrests and adjustable headrests. It features in-seat charging points, a wood-finished side cocktail table, a 13.3-inch TV screen, a generously sized pillow and blanket, complimentary amenity kits on select flights and a globally exclusive sparkling wine - Chandon Vintage Brut 2017. Emirates’ Boeing 777 Business Class cabin has also been redesigned, with seats set-up in a 1-2-1 arrangement to offer privacy, aisle access and space to work, lounge and indulge in restorative rest. Each seat is wrapped in champagne leather, matching the ones on the latest Emirates A380, with detailed stitching and soft cushioned headrests. Described as a hotel room in the sky, Emirates’ First Class Suites maintain the highest levels of comfort, privacy and luxury that passengers have come to expect from Emirates and now offer refreshed interiors. Emirates’ industry-leading retrofit programme First initiated in November 2022, Emirates’ USD $5 billion dollar retrofit programme is one of the largest known programmes in the industry, with 219 A380s and Boeing 777s slated for nose-to-tail upgrades to enhance the onboard experience for passengers.   The monumental project is handled entirely in-house by Emirates Engineering, with over 270 engineers and technicians work round the clock, devoting over 1,800 manhours each day to bring each aircraft to impeccable completion. To date, 67 aircraft have rolled out of Emirates Engineering – 32 A380s and 35 Boeing 777s. Once complete, Emirates will have installed 8,512 next-generation Premium Economy seats, 2,034 refreshed First-Class suites, 12,720 upgraded Business Class seats with entirely new configurations, and thoughtfully overhauled 68,364 Economy Class seats. 
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Emirates welcomes its first retrofitted Boeing 777 in Africa

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Approximately 20 participants drawn from various East African Community (EAC) countries are set to take part in the inaugural cohort of the Diploma in International Trade for Trade Promotion Organisations (TPOs) in the region. The International Trade Centre (ITC), in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade (CIOE&IT) recently launched the Diploma in International Trade for TPOs with the EAC with support from the European Union (EU) through the EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II). This flagship programme, running under MARKUP II from 2023 to 2027, is designed to strengthen the capacity of TPOs across the EAC to better serve micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and unlock new opportunities for sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade. The course will provide cutting-edge knowledge and tools to enhance export competitiveness, boost employment, and ultimately improve livelihoods across the region. Miyoba Lubemba, Senior Programme Officer at the International Trade Centre underlined the importance of this milestone: “Trade is one of the most powerful drivers of inclusive growth and opportunity. By investing in the skills of trade promotion professionals across the East African Community, we are directly strengthening the backbone of MSMEs who fuel our economies. This diploma is more than a learning journey — it is a catalyst for transformation, jobs, and a more connected, competitive Africa.” The Diploma in International Trade represents a bold step towards building stronger institutions that can guide businesses to compete effectively in regional and global markets. By equipping TPOs with the right expertise, the programme contributes directly to the EAC’s economic growth agenda and supports the vision of deeper regional integration and sustainable trade partnerships. The launch marks not only an educational milestone, but also a strategic investment in the future of trade one where African businesses thrive, markets expand, and prosperity is shared more widely across the region. About the SME Trade Academy The SME Trade Academy is the online learning platform of the International Trade Centre. It offers over 100 online courses on trade and trade-related topics. Currently, the e-learning platform has recorded over 600,000 individual enrolments in its courses and issued over 90,000 certificates of completion. The courses are designed for entrepreneurs, business-support organizations, government agencies, students, and trade professionals looking to expand their knowledg
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Diploma in International Trade Launched for Trade Promotion Officials in East...

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inDrive and TEARS Foundation empower young commuters with life-saving Skills

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The inspiring career journey of two Muslim women who founded a thriving law practice By George Marenya By Amos Wachira In the bustling city of Nairobi, a small office hums with purpose. Here, Ludfia Maalim and Kheira Farah, co-founders of Farah & Maalim Advocates, pore over case files, their hijabs contrasting with sharp blazers. Their mission? To empower people through fast, efficient and cost effective legal services—one client at a time. Farah and Maalim Advocates is a tale of two young women brought together by a giant dream. In the beginning though, their circumstances and interests would not be more different. Soon after completing her O Levels, Kheira Farah was totally in love with business, she kept her ear to the ground about financial trends and what was moving the markets at any one time. Because of her love for the business world, she really wanted to plunge herself into the world of entrepreneurship right after her secondary school education. Her greatest mentor who is also her uncle had other ideas though. To him she was a perfect fit for law school, no amount of protesting would dissuade him. And so she was set for university, on one condition that if she fails the exams, she will not continue with her studies and would opt for business. When she joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology’s law school, she had made peace with her uncle’s choice of law. “I reasoned that a law firm was like a business, so I was good to go. I immediately loved the course as I was excelling in exams.” She says. After joining the law school, she met and became fast friends with Ludfia Maalim, who was also pursuing a law degree at the institution. After graduating with a bachelor of laws degree in 2020, kheira wanted to join the NGO world, instead of proceeding to the Kenya School of Law. Again her uncle would hear none of it. "But only ten percent of Kenya Law School graduates make it," she lamented. "Well," replied her uncle, "You will be among the ten percent. Who says you cannot be?" he told her. And that way, kheira was destined for the Kenya Law School, where her mettle and ambition to be a lawyer would be thoroughly tested. The duo’s “lightbulb moment” came during their oral exams at the Kenya School of Law. Kheira says, “Recognizing how tough the oral exams were, I told ludfia that if we make it to the end, we should vow to found our own law firm, Farah and Maalim Advocates. For Ludfia, the road to Law School and a Law Office was made of more rough pebbles. Having excelled in their academics, she wanted to pursue any course that revolved around gender and women empowerment. After completing her O levels in 2015, Ludfia went back to her native Matarajio Primary School, her former school to greet her former teachers. That’s when they told her they had a vacancy for teachers and she bought into the idea, rolling her sleeves and taking up chalk and books to teach grade four, five and six pupils. Her favorite pupils were in class four. With her love for the pupils still burning inside, she approached one of her mentors and told her how she wanted to follow her passion-teaching. The mentor gave her a reality check telling her that in this country "Passion does not pay," concluding, "Do not do anything merely for passion." So when the admission letter to join university came along, Ludfia was off to Murang’a University for a course in Maths and Economics. Not contented with the course, she did not last long as she immediately embarked on researching and applying to various Law schools to pursue law, her newfound course. Ludfia’s father, a retired Chief wanted her to be a banker. The thought of walking into a bank and finding his daughter minding peoples’ money was the old man’s dream job for Ludfia. It took quite some time for him to come around. While her parents thought she was busy studying at Murang’a University, Ludfia was moving around law schools in Nairobi looking for a vacancy. Her first stop was in Karen, at the JKUAT Law school. She paid for the admission fee and left. She then approached her brother for more cash to fund her endeavor. The following day, she approached her dad, who was shell-shocked. he told her to give him time to think about it as it was a family matter. When she finally got admitted at the Karen campus, she vowed to do her best, at least to appease her father. At the university, she met Kheira and they became best of friends. Four years later, they graduated and were admitted in the bar in March of 2023, one of their defining moments. Employment beckoned and as fate goes, the two women went their separate ways, each getting gainfully employed in plum law firms. Even as they worked in different parts of Nairobi, they kept in touch and kept their dream of opening their own law firm alive. After each of them had gathered enough work experience they met again in December 2023 and decided to get serious about opening a Law firm. That is how Farah and Maalim Advocates, situated in a bespoke and stylish office at the 4th floor of St. Ellis House came to be. But launching a private practice was never going to be a walk in the park. While Kheira really wanted to be her own boss, Ludfia was comfortable in her job which provided her with enough perks. “I had gotten comfortable at the law firm. The money was good, and I was looking forward to a pay-slip every month.” “Kheira told me that I should desist from getting comfortable as I could be replaced at any given moment. I thought it was just another quote. Then it hit me.” Not one to break their vow at the KSL, she accepted that the time had come for them to start and grow their own firm. But when rubber met the tarmac, they realized first hand that they did not have enough resources to establish the kind of law practice they desired. There were no funds for that. Unbowed, they put together any savings that they had and asked a friend to help them get an office space in the CBD. “We had a name but no cash. Nonetheless, we vowed to do it,” says Kheira. Once they had secured an office space, the next step was to partition it. They were halfway through the partitioning process when the cash they had ran out. Not one to be discouraged by setbacks, Ludfia approached her mom for a small loan. She was given Kshs 300 000 to complete the partitions. As for Kheira, she couldn’t get any loans from family members as they all knew she was working as a lawyer at a big law firm. They started with the bare minimum. In 2024, they opened their doors to clients, provide a wide range of legal services. These include, property and real estate, commercial and corporate law, banking, finance and tax laws, dispute resolution and debt recovery, family law and succession. Others are labor relations law, intellectual property law and insurance law. A Meeting of Minds Both daughters of Kenyan-Somali families, they witnessed firsthand how women and youth in their community grappled with legal voids. Navigating Kenya’s plural legal system, which intertwines civil, customary, and Islamic (Kadhi) courts, is no small feat. Early on, skepticism met their youth and gender. “Some clients asked, ‘Where’s the real lawyer?’” Kheira laughs. Undeterred, they leveraged their deep cultural understanding to bridge gaps. Challenges and Triumphs Funding remains a hurdle. Bootstrapping their firm, they are keen on organic growth, adding one client at a time. For any new lawyer, getting clients is a big challenge. For a start, there are many lawyers so competing with established firms for clients is a tough undertaking. Gender challenges The duo admits that sometimes gender plays a significant role in the career. A good example is when dealing with patriarchal communities who believe that men should be the ones to lead. When looking for lawyers, some get disappointed to find two Muslim women handling their case, while their expectations were that men could be the ones to do their bidding. Like any other business, challenges abound, but the duo deals with them accordingly. Yet their impact is undeniable: banks, financial institutions, NGOs, construction companies, private hospitals and property management companies form part of their clientele. The Road Ahead Looking forward, Ludfia and Kheira dream of expanding their team to reach more Kenyans. As dusk settles over Nairobi, the two pore over their diaries before calling it a day. Their journey, Kheira reflects, is about more than legal victories: “It’s about showing the world that young Muslim women can lead—and lift others as we rise.”
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Defending Rights, Defying Odds

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