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Staff Writer

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As Africa faces one of the defining moments in its development journey, global leaders, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, development institutions, corporate executives and innovators will gather in Lagos for the 2026 Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), a landmark convening focused on unlocking the partnerships and financing needed to accelerate sustainable development across the continent. Scheduled to take place from 22–24 July 2026 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, this year's summit is themed "Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies." The convening will provide a high-level platform for shaping practical solutions to Africa's most pressing development priorities through investment, collaboration and innovation. Co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation alongside the United Nations in Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Africa Social Impact Summit has, since its inception, grown into one of Africa's leading platforms for advancing market-led solutions to sustainable development challenges. The summit brings together decision-makers from government, business, development finance institutions, philanthropy, civil society and the innovation ecosystem to move beyond dialogue towards measurable action. Africa's development trajectory presents both immense opportunities and urgent challenges. By 2050, the continent is projected to be home to more than 2.5 billion people, including the world's largest youth population. At the same time, shifting global capital flows, climate pressures, food insecurity and infrastructure gaps continue to demand innovative approaches to financing development and strengthening economic resilience. Against this backdrop, ASIS 2026 will focus on mobilising catalytic capital, fostering strategic partnerships and creating scalable solutions capable of driving inclusive growth across emerging economies. Speaking ahead of the summit, Mohamed Malick Fall, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, underscored the importance of collective action in advancing Africa's development priorities. "Africa's greatest opportunity lies in the strength of its partnerships. The Africa Social Impact Summit continues to provide a unique platform where governments, the private sector, development partners and civil society come together to mobilise the investments, innovation and collaboration needed to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Together, we can build resilient economies that leave no one behind." Highlighting the importance of sustained collaboration across sectors, Abubakar Suleiman, Board Member, Sterling One Foundation, said the summit has evolved into more than an annual convening. "What we are building through ASIS is not just a convening, but a long-term platform for action. The conversations we are having today must translate into real commitments, measurable outcomes and partnerships that outlive the summit itself. That is how we move from intention to impact across the continent." Nigeria's Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, also emphasised the importance of platforms that strengthen collaboration between governments, investors and development partners. "Nigeria welcomes platforms like the Africa Social Impact Summit that bring together global capital, innovation and policy dialogue. Strengthening collaboration between government, investors and development partners is critical to accelerating economic growth, improving livelihoods and advancing sustainable development across the continent." For the organisers, the summit represents a deliberate effort to create a platform where ideas, investment and leadership converge to deliver lasting impact. Speaking on the significance of this year's edition, Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, noted that the summit has already demonstrated the power of partnerships to unlock transformative outcomes across Africa. "The Africa Social Impact Summit platform has already unlocked over $1 billion across sectors, and this needs to be scaled significantly. The future of Africa will be defined by the quality of the sustainable partnerships we build today. The Africa Social Impact Summit is a platform that brings together African leaders, local and international investors, innovative ideas and catalytic capital to address some of the continent's most pressing challenges while unlocking opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth. We are excited to unveil an edition that is bigger, more collaborative and more action-oriented than ever before. We expect deals of over $500 million to be signed this year." The 2026 edition will prioritise investment and partnerships across sectors that are central to Africa's long-term prosperity, including education, healthcare, climate resilience, food systems, gender equality and women's empowerment, youth development, the creative economy and sustainable finance. Through keynote addresses, ministerial dialogues, investor roundtables, policy discussions, innovation showcases and strategic partnership announcements, participants will explore practical pathways for financing development while accelerating implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063. The summit is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates from over 50 countries, including heads of government, multilateral organisations, development finance institutions, global investors, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, innovators and civil society organisations. The gathering will provide opportunities to forge new partnerships, unlock investment opportunities and scale solutions capable of delivering measurable social and economic impact across Africa. As momentum builds towards July, the Africa Social Impact Summit 2026 continues to position itself as a catalyst for transformative action, bringing together the leadership, capital and partnerships required to build resilient economies and shape Africa's sustainable future.
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VOYAH (www.VOYAH-Global.com), a high-end smart new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, made an appearance under the theme "Riding the Wind Upward." The recently launched VOYAH Taishan X8 garnered significant attention at the event. VOYAH announced three major internationalization initiatives: "Deepening presence in Europe, expanding into the Middle East, and entering right-hand drive markets." At the same time, the brand unveiled its ESG initiative, "BetterVOYAH," officially advancing its global strategy and sustainable development roadmap. Additionally, VOYAH will embark on a new phase of its pure electric strategy, aiming for pure electric vehicles to account for over 50% of its sales by 2027, while simultaneously building out a fast-charging network to ensure a truly worry‑free pure electric experience. Since its founding, VOYAH has achieved rapid and substantial growth in multiple areas, including brand building, product development, technological innovation, channel expansion, and overseas deployment. Recently, the company successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming the "first listed high-end new energy vehicle brand among central and state-owned enterprises." This landmark achievement has reshaped the development logic of the high-end NEV sector. Leveraging its strong growth momentum, VOYAH is also the fastest among central and state-owned high-end NEV brands to expand from domestic to overseas markets. Its products are now sold in more than 40 countries, covering a wide range of European nations as well as the Middle East. The company has established over 240 overseas sales outlets. Thanks to its outstanding product capabilities and high-quality customer service, VOYAH has won broad favor and recognition from global consumers. Looking ahead to global development, VOYAH will continue to deepen its presence in overseas markets, integrate into local industrial ecosystems, and let the world see the unique charm of China's high-end "intelligent manufacturing."
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Emirates (www.Emirates.com) is marking a near-full return to operations, with 96% of its global network now restored, following a period of disruption. In the past weeks, the airline has progressively resumed services across the Americas, Europe, Africa, West Asia, the Middle East/GCC, the Far East and Australasia. Today, the airline operates to 137 destinations across 72 countries, with over 1,300 weekly frequencies, representing 75% of pre-disruption capacity. The airline is offering more flights, more seats and more options each day while reaffirming Dubai's position as a vital hub through which global travel moves. Even as it operated with a reduced schedule, Emirates carried 4.7 million passengers* during the disruption, a testament to the enduring demand for travel and the trust that travellers continued to place in the airline to get them where they needed to go. The Emirates experience, wherever you’re going Wherever Emirates customers choose to fly, they can expect a best-in-class onboard and onground experience, defined by exceptional comfort, genuine hospitality, and a level of service that has set the standard for long-haul travel. Onboard, customers enjoy a unique culinary experience, with regionally inspired, multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs and complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Emirates' award-winning ice inflight entertainment system offers more than 6,500 channels of the best global content in almost 40 languages, including movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more, ensuring there is no such thing as a long flight. And for those who need to stay connected, high-speed Wi-Fi keeps customers reachable at 40,000 feet. Emirates now has Starlink connectivity live on 28 aircraft, delivering ultra-fast, reliable internet in the air. Enjoy flexible travel and rewards Emirates is giving customers more reasons to travel with confidence with flexible rebooking, Dubai Connect stopover experiences and enhanced Skywards benefits: Flexible bookings: Customers booked from 2 April will enjoy added flexibility, with one free date change included across all cabin classes. Customers who have booked with Emirates can also hold a fare for 24 hours free of charge. Dubai Connect: For customers with extended transit times in Dubai from 6 to 26 hours, Emirates' Dubai Connect programme turns a long layover into a comfortable stopover, courtesy of the airline. Eligible customers will enjoy complimentary hotel accommodation at a 4 or 5-star property, airport transfers, meals, and, where required, a UAE entry visa. Available to passengers across all cabin classes with qualifying connection times, Dubai Connect can be booked up to 12 hours ahead via Manage Your Booking (https://apo-opa.co/4d25rcf) on www.Emirates.com. Terms and conditions apply (https://apo-opa.co/42SvsG9). Skywards: From 8 May to 31 August 2026, Emirates Skywards members can enjoy accelerated access to the programme's premium tiers through reduced tier requirements and Bonus Tier Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights. *Between 1 March and 30 April Emirates operates five weekly flights between Dubai and Entebbe, ensuring consistent connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Uganda. Passengers can explore flight schedules and book their journey from Entebbe by visiting Emirates’ official website: https://apo-opa.co/4usnAXF.
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Prof. Bart O. Nnaji
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Africa’s Energy Shift Starts With Technology

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African Mining Week (AMW) – taking place on October 14 to 16 in Cape Town - will highight the growing role of mining services companies as critical enablers of Africa’s transition from resource - rich to project - ready. As the continent works to unlock an estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, these firms are emerging as key drivers of capital mobilization, technical delivery and accelerated project timelines. A structural shift is underway. Mining services companies are no longer confined to contractor roles - they are evolving into integrated project partners, shaping how mines are financed, engineered, built and operated. Their influence now sits at the intersection of capital markets, infrastructure development, energy systems and industrial policy, positioning them as central players in Africa’s next phase of mining - led growth. This evolution is already visible in project activity across the continent. In April 2026, Metso inaugurated a new regional hub in Cape Town, strengthening its bulk material handling and services capabilities across Africa. The facility enhances automation, logistics and lifecycle services across key commodity value chains - including coal, platinum group metals and manganese - directly supporting South Africa’s strategy to scale mineral exports and industrial output. Geopolitics is further amplifying this trend. Major global economies are increasingly leveraging their EPC and mining services companies as strategic tools to secure supply chains and expand influence. Institutions such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States are backing American participation in African mining, while China, Europe, Canada and Australia continue to embed their services companies into financing and development frameworks across the continent. Australia’s Lycopodium is advancing Namibia’s Twin Hills project, while China’s JCHX Mining Management is supporting copper production at Botswana’s Khoemacau Mine. In Guinea, XCMG Machinery is contributing to development at the Simandou iron ore project – one of the largest untapped deposits globally. Across key mining jurisdictions, this shift is accelerating project pipelines. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Ghana, Liberia and South Africa are increasingly relying on mining services firms to fast-track national geomapping exercises, exploration, scale production and advance beneficiation. Against this backdrop, AMW will bring together global EPC firms, mining services providers, investors and African developers. The event is set to catalyze partnerships and deal-making, with a focus on strengthening execution capacity, unlocking financing and accelerating the delivery of mining projects that can anchor Africa’s industrial growth and global supply chain integration.
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During the Beijing Auto Show, GWM (www.GWM-Global.com) hosted an unprecedented global test drive event at its global R&D Center and proving ground. The program brought together leading automotive media from international markets and key dealer partners to experience GWM’s latest lineup, including the ORA 5, WEY V9X, TANK 700, and WEY G9—spanning hybrid, pure electric, and internal combustion powertrains. By organizing a large-scale global driving experience at its headquarters, GWM aims to present the full strength of its product portfolio to international markets, while demonstrating its commitment to offering consumers genuine freedom of choice. Global Adaptability Across All Powertrains For many overseas consumers, doubts about Chinese brands rarely center on technical specifications. Instead, they come down to a deeper concern: trust. Laboratory data is often obtained under ideal conditions, but real-world vehicle performance—especially under extreme environments and complex scenarios—requires tangible validation. By hosting this event on its “home ground,” GWM seeks to build confidence through transparent, real-world testing. After experiencing the TANK 300 on a professional off-road course, one automotive editor commented:“GWM’s Hi4T new energy off-road powertrain is highly impressive. The brand places strong emphasis on driving feel, and GWM off-road grading system can provide valuable guidance for beginners. It aligns perfectly with evolving consumer expectations today.” The event featured multiple dedicated modules, including track driving, off-road terrain challenges, and intelligent driving assistance scenarios—each designed to replicate typical usage conditions across global markets. During the dealer test drives, a representative from Australia noted: “Overseas customers have high expectations for all-wheel-drive capability and off-road performance. The Hi4 system left a strong impression on me—especially its torque vectoring response, which is much quicker than I anticipated. It inspires great confidence when cornering.” A participant from Southeast Asia highlighted another perspective: “Traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur and flooded roads during heavy rain in Bangkok are among the most common concerns from our customers. The Hi4 system’s smoothness under frequent stop-and-go conditions, as well as its vehicle stability on waterlogged roads, exceeded my previous expectations of Chinese brands.” Intelligent Driving, Ready to Adapt to Local Markets Among the most closely watched elements of the event was the urban NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) system featured on the WEY G9 and WEY V9X. The test took place on real urban roads in China, including construction detours, mixed traffic with electric two-wheelers, complex intersections, and unprotected left turns—some of the most challenging everyday driving scenarios. One international automotive content creator completed the entire urban NOA route without manual intervention and remarked: “This is incredible. We’re not talking about a controlled test track—the city environment is extremely complex, with a wide range of road users. The system’s ability to recognize and predict their behavior exceeded my expectations.” Another journalist observed: “The core concern among overseas consumers is whether Chinese intelligent driving technologies can truly function in foreign markets. This real-world test showed that the system already covers pretty much every scenario you can think of, so we can easily roll it out in our local market.” In a lighter moment, media representatives from Morocco used the WEY G9’s intelligent cockpit audio system to perform Adele’s “Someone Like You.” The clear high notes and rich vocal reproduction quickly drew a crowd—offering a vivid demonstration of the vehicle’s product quality through sound. Dealers: Long-Term Commitment Matters Most Alongside the test drives, GWM organized in-depth exchanges between dealers and media, underscoring its openness to feedback and commitment to listening. A dealer representative commented: “European consumers are beginning to take notice of GWM, but their main concern is whether the brand will have a long-term presence in Europe. This event helped me find my own answer. Customers don’t just want products; they want to know the company’s technical ability and adaptability. What I’ve seen today gives me real confidence in GWM’s ‘integrity’ — or in other words, their work ethic and long-term global strategy.” This was not a one-way narrative of a Chinese brand showcasing its products to the world, but a genuine two-way validation. As the event concluded, GWM summarized its intent with a clear message: “We didn’t invite you here simply to demonstrate our product strength or to ask for praise. We invited you to give us honest feedback—so we can build better products for consumers in your local markets.”
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