tagresults
[Column] Anthony Mwangi: Road towards gainful employment in Kenya: The Dual TVET approach
The evolving employment landscape demands a fresh perspective, one that champions the pragmatic alternative of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
[Webinar] Complimentary expert session for Telecom leaders and Startups in Africa, March 21
Designed for telecom leaders and startups, thia event offers invaluable strategies for expanding services, managing FX risks, enhancing cross-border payments, and establishing credibility in the international arena.
DFC reaffirms commitment to scaling investment in African infrastructure and critical minerals
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) Nisha Biswal traveled to South Africa and Zambia as part of the largest U.S. government delegation to Mining Indaba and the first Lobito Corridor Investors Forum and to deepen DFC’s investments on the continent.
African healthtech shows resilience with mere 2% decline in funding while broader tech ecosystem plunges in 2023, report
Healthcare consulting firm Salient Advisory has launched its latest Intelligence Report, presenting findings on funding activity, covering grant, equity, and debt investments for African healthtech startups in 2023
Digital commerce in Africa to expand 25% per year by 2026, report
Africa has emerged as a frontier for the new online consumer class, representing an estimated 10 million new consumers in 2024 and trailing only Asia as a region. This is according to the new annual Beyond Borders digital payments and commerce report by EBANX
Vodacom, Safaricom hit 200 million subscribers
Vodacom Group’s subscriber base including Safaricom has now surpassed 200 million for the first time, having previously achieved 100 million customers in 2018.
15% of companies in the Middle East, Turkiye, Africa region do not train employees on IT
According to Kaspersky’s Business Digitization survey, only 29% of companies surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region organised training on cybersecurity for their employees.
[Column] Lizelle Strydom: Why skills development will always be a priority investment
January is the start of a brand-new year, and the time when millions of matriculants and recent graduates begin their search for employment.
Critical infrastructure sees most cyber incidents due to lack of budget, report
18% of companies in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region have experienced cyber incidents due to insufficient cybersecurity investment in the last two years, according to a recent study by Kaspersky.
[South Africa] Ninety percent of CEOs are waiting for GenAI to move past the hype, report
Seventy-one percent of global executives surveyed say they plan to increase tech investments in 2024—an 11-point jump from 2023—and even more (85%) plan to increase their spending on AI and GenAI.
23% of companies in the META region suffered from malicious actions by staff, report
A Kaspersky study found that in the past two years, 78% of companies surveyed in the META region have faced cyber incidents in different forms, 23% of which were caused by deliberate malicious behaviour by employees
47% of companies in the Middle East, Turkiye, Africa region plan to outsource cybersecurity, report
Company bosses are boosting their cybersecurity following an alarming increase in cyberattacks, a new study commissioned by Kaspersky has found.
Generative AI skills gap slowing down AI adoption EMEA region, report
Organisations in the EMEA region plan to embrace AI solutions but are slowed by a generative AI skills gap. This is according to a new report released by hybrid multi-cloud computing provider Nutanix.
Retailers are struggling to deal with ransomware attacks, Sophos report
After surveying 3,000 IT/cybersecurity leaders in organizations with between 100 and 5,000 employees (including 355 from the retail sector), across 14 countries in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific Sophos found that only 26% of retail organizations this past year were able to disrupt a ransomware attack.
[Column] Phylla Jele: Prioritizing people over processes for business success
The workplace today looks very different from the workplace people left behind when remote work was mandated in 2020. Not only did the work model change, but also the mindset of the average employee.
75% of healthcare organisations lose data to ransomware attacks, Sophos report
Cybercriminals successfully encrypted data in nearly 75% of ransomware attacks on healthcare organisations. This is according to the The State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2023 report released by cybersecurity firm Sophos.
Kenya among top countries receiving most DDOS attacks amid ongoing geopolitical unrest
Kenya has been listed among the top five countries hit by distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in the first half of 2023. Other countries include France, Germany, Italy, and Saudi Arabia
[South Africa] Companies acknowledge inadequate budgets to address the root cause of breaches, J2 Software survey
A recent survey revealed that 58% of organisations believe their budgets allocated to manage insider risks are insufficient to effectively mitigate the increasing costs and frequency of security incidents instigated by individuals within the organisation.
Most consumers in Kenya likely to miss common fraud warning signs, Visa study
Despite being scam-savvy, a new study by Visa has revealed that most consumers in Kenya are likely to be at risk of becoming victims of fraud.
80% of SMEs in South Africa project similar or increased revenue in 2023, Mastercard report
From surviving to thriving in the post-COVID world, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa are projecting similar or increased revenues in 2023.
[Column] Moses Anibaba: Building connections and opportunities for young Africans
The next generation is essential to the continent’s development and to global shared interests in creating a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future for us all.
[Column] Vera Ng’oma: Propelling TEVET as Africa is set to be the world capital for young talent
Africa could seize this opportunity as it pursues a re-envisioning of its economic prospects. But this aspiration can only be attainable if education systems are revitalised, skills development philosophies re-set and job markets scaled to support the demographic boom.
Mobile threats in the Middle East, Turkiye, Africa region rise in Q2 2023
The number of mobile threat detections particularly in the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa region increased by 5% in Q2 2023 compared to Q2 2022.
43% of employees in META region afraid of losing job due to lack of digital skills, report
Among those who think they are most likely to lose their job because of the lack of digital skills within the next 5 years are department heads (29%) and top managers (15%).
JOGMEC Signed an agreement with 5 African countries to secure critical minerals
Japan has signed agreements with five African countries to explore and extract critical minerals used in high-tech industries.
[South Africa] Financial Sector surpasses the National Average as Data Breach Costs Reach R73.1 Million
The average data breach cost for South African organizations reached R49.45 million in 2023 – an all-time high according to the IBM Security annual Cost of a Data Breach Report.
Nigeria trails South Africa and Kenya in Africa’s B2B payment revolution
Nigeria trails South Africa and Kenya in the development of key B2B payment processes across Africa, including the adoption of electronic bank transfers, speed of processing invoices and payment automation.
[Column] Pankaj Bedi: Transform Kenyan human capital for sustainable growth
For any business, one of the most critical components of enhancing productivity and giving the company a competitive edge is a skilled and highly efficient workforce. The most industrialized nations attribute their development to a highly skilled workforce, among other factors.
Kenya experiences 82% increase in cyber-attacks, Liquid C2 Cybersecurity Report
Cyber-attacks on Kenyan businesses increased by 82 percent according to a cybersecurity report released by Liquid C2, a business unit of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
Africa had more than 270 million mobile apps users as of December 2022, report
As of December 2022, the total number of monthly active users of mobile apps in Africa exceeded 270 million, a 14% increase compared to the beginning of the year.
COMESA, IOM sign agreement to strengthen cooperation
COMESA and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a cooperative working relationship in different areas of common interest which centers on managing migration and related activities in the Eastern and Southern African region.
CMSWire Connect Conference | Austin, Texas | May 10-12
CMSWire CONNECT is the premier event for professionals in digital customer experience, content management, and enterprise collaboration. This dynamic conference features top-notch speakers such as Ice-T, Scott Galloway, Sean Albertson and others.
HRLeverage expands into seven African countries
HRLeverage, a provider of outsourcing and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) solutions, has announced its expansion into Kenya and seven other African countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Senegal, Nigeria and Zambia.
Kenya lost Ksh 3.6 billion to cyber criminals in 2022, report
Kenya’s losses to cyber criminals reached Ksh 3.6 billion (USD 36 million) in 2022, compared to Nigeria and South Africa where they are nearly tenfold at Ksh 50 billion (USD 500 million) and Ksh 57 billion (USD 570 million) respectively.
Kenya and Rwanda sign agreement on 10 areas of cooperation
Kenya and Rwanda Tuesday signed an agreement in 10 areas of cooperation to enhance relations. The Memorandum of Understanding will establish mechanisms for effective cooperation in Education, ICT, Gender and Child Development, Youth and Capacity Development for the Public Service.
[Interview] Awe Oludayo, Managing Partner, OS Concepts, Nigeria
Awe Oludayo is a business analyst with specialties in business process improvement, business process improvement and business process management. He's the managing partner of OS Concepts, headquartered in Nigeria.
[Interview] Ayodeji Ayorinde, Co-founder, Artisankonect, Nigeria
Artisankonect is a Nigeran startup that helps outsource user requests to skilled persons. Africa Business Communities chats with Ayodeji Ayorinde, one of the founders.
Recommendations for better focus at work
There are activities - mostly our hobbies like betting - during which you completely forget the time. So you don't look at the clock or think about problems in the future or mistakes from the past.
[ChatGPT Biography] Strive Masiyiwa: Founder of Econet Wireless
Artificial Intelligence is taking the world by storm. As an experiment, Africa Business Communities is publishing a series of 100 biographies of the most successful entrepreneurs in Africa. We only ask the questions and let ChatGPT write.
[Column] Cathy Smith: With change the only constant, leaders will need to be adaptive in 2023
The last few years have revealed the futility of making predictions about what lies ahead. In our uncertain times, the only guarantee is that the world will keep changing, with change coming at an ever-accelerating rate.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Digitization on all fronts, tech takes the lead
There is an obvious, increasing amount of technology awareness, and appeals for more extensive technology trainings in Nigeria.
[Interview] Chris Okoro, CEO, Eunisell Interlinked, Nigeria
Chris Okoro is an entrepreneur and business strategist skilled in the Financial Services and Engineering sector. He's currently the Managing Director and CEO of Eunisell Interlinked Plc., Nigeria.
Growing Crypto Market in South Africa - What Cryptocurrency is best to invest in?
Undoubtedly, trading crypto has become one of the primary sources of income for many people. In South Africa, a few people trade crypto full-time, while most treat it as a side hustle.
[Column] Anthony Mwangi: Reinvigorate Kenyan textiles and apparel sector to create jobs
This might surprise you, but Kenya is one of the global suppliers of big fashion brands in America.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Local fintech spreads to East Africa, oil and gas find major milestone
Nigeria, like other countries of the world, is going through some economically turbulent times. Inflation is on the rise (recently pegged at 21.9%) and local startups are directly impacted by financial crises on the other side of the world.
[Column] Cathy Smith: Empowered employees walk the talk on social impact
But social impact requires more than just a clear sense of purpose. It requires concerted action to redirect resources and effort toward activities that hold the greatest potential for positive impact.
[Column] Millicent Clarke: Creating a strong employee value proposition that exceeds employee expectations
A workforce revolution has set in, one which business cannot ignore. While not too long ago, compensation and benefits were enough to attract and retain talent – this is no longer the case.
[Column] Mike Smollan: South African retail trends for 2022 and beyond
Globally, overwhelmed supply chains, supply-demand imbalances and commodity-driven cost pressures as Russia invaded Ukraine, pushed inflation up and put further pressure on businesses and consumers alike.
[Column] Shiraz Khota: How to beat the great resignation with human experience management
The past two years have shifted the goalposts for every company wishing to build a high-performance culture.
[Column] Vukani Mngxati: High time for a greater national effort in skills development
The skills required range from cyber security practitioners, data design and analytics to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Those who have these skills have become marketable commodities not only in South Africa but around the world.
[Column] Tobias Alando: Driving the business community’s participation in skills training
The ever-evolving trends in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, automation and climate change are changing the world of work, and together with it, the skills required to adapt and maintain a competitive edge.
[Column] Moses Anibaba: Education for employment
Africa has the youngest population in the world, representing an enormous opportunity for the continent’s growth and the opportunity to become leaders as global citizens – provided these energetic, creative young people can achieve their true potential.
[Column] Vukani Mngxati: Building trust in the workplace is mission critical
Earlier this year the global communications firm Edelman in its excellent annual Trust Barometer Survey found that close on seventy percent of those surveyed tended not to believe information until they saw evidence it was trustworthy.
[Interview] Michelle Matthews, Director, Viridian, South Africa
Following the rising levels of unemployment among young South Africans, the UK-South Africa Tech Hub Launch League initiative undertook a research project.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Banks rally behind women-led SMEs
The NNPC has an approximated value of 50 trillion naira. With oil and gas infrastructure in Nigeria constantly plagued by mischief and vandalism, an ECOWAS expert has profferred a very interesting solution to this persisting problem
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Telecoms slide into banking, Central Bank ups interest rates
The last few days have shown us developments and setbacks, statistics that show growth on the one hand and room for improvement on the other.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: DR Congo’s factor in the integration agenda
The recent entry of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the East African Community has heralded a new economic dispensation expanding the regional market.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Digitization set to penetrate capital market, investment
Given the economic situation spreading across the globe in the last couple of years, it is with some optimism we can take the modest increase in Nigeria’s GDP.
[Column] Phyllis Wakiaga: Role of productive jobs in improving quality of life
The growth of productive jobs by manufacturing means that many people will be able to support their dependants and live quality lives with access to basic amenities such as healthcare, education, clean water and food.
[Column] Phyllis Wakiaga: Innovation in training key to economic growth
Skills are integral to the continuity of any business, more so in the global economy. Specifically, competitive skills are key to industrializing our nation. T
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Telcos break new ground, digital loans gain momentum
Instant loans, sometimes called digital loans, are gaining speed in the country and the telecom sector took some giant steps forward this week.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Experts point toward startup management for local productivity
Nigeria’s crown jewel, oil and gas, has been in a state of mild disrepair for several months now. There’s an ongoing fuel scarcity situation that is intensifying by the day and causing a ripple effect in every aspect of daily life.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: Investing in women-led businesses to deepen integration
East African member states, private sector players and development partners have stepped up their investment in women-led businesses and SMEs in a move likely to impact cross-border trade and boost integration in the region.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: State to digitize tourism, FG takes on efficient mobility
Banking is one of the most thriving sectors in Nigeria. The reason for this success has been attributed to the efficiency with which this industry has leveraged technology to modernize its operations.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: Financial institutions bank on tech to bolster offerings
East Africa financial institutions are betting on tech to boost their offerings, grow their customers’ portfolio and stay afloat in a competitive market.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Economic conditions returning to pre-pandemic levels
The startup movement has picked up pace in Nigeria over the last decade, with the government and responsible agencies ramping up efforts in motivating the burgeoning industry.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: What EU’s lifting of financial sanctions on Burundi means for EAC
The EU made the decision in the wake of deteriorating political situation occasioned by a disputed presidential election in 2015.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: Sub marine cable investment connects region to the world
An increase in submarine cable activities and fiber connectivity is attracting more investments in East Africa while opening up the region to the world.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: 5G becomes national security policy, industries seek sustainability in technology
The one thing the current global pandemic has unilaterally effected in all nations is a rearrangement of priorities, both for people and for governments. Survival elements – food and healthcare – have taken lead position.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: What 2022 portends for East Africa
As the East African Community, EAC, member states eye innovative ways of deepening integration and trading more with each other, the bloc and individual countries are putting in place mechanisms, policies and legislation that seek to address longstanding hiccups that have put the brakes on seamless regional trade.
COVID-19 brings Work-From-Home to Africa; What has been the impact on businesses so far?
The Covid-19 crisis has pierced through the fabric of every layer of society, leaving virtually no country unscathed. The consequences for businesses has been significant and African economies have had to make rapid changes to their way of doing business.
South Africa’s office and work-from-home plans have changed for 2022
In June 2021, an estimated 50% of the South African workforce was working from home full-time, with the Covid-19 pandemic fundamentally changing views on where and how people work best.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Come dry season, food production and supply chain gain emphasis
As we have established time and again, fertile lands and an able, skilled workforce are a vital combination for a thriving agricultural sector.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: A 5G promise looms, global trade predictions show winning numbers
Nigeria’s tactic is one of sharpening the sectors that have shown promise (such as technology, agriculture and banking) while throwing resources at those that have been in a work-in-progress mode for years.
[Column] Titilayo Adewumi: West Africa’s circular economy efforts at the forefront of fostering a more sustainable future
The vast majority of population growth across the continent will be concentrated in urban areas. WEF data indicates that more than 80% of Africa's population growth between now and 2030 will be in cities, with Lagos growing at a pace of 77 people every hour.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Q3 stats show industries thriving, strong investor confidence
Nigeria earns every week its place as Africa’s largest economy. While subject to the typical ups and downs any market is expected to have, its mere size guarantees a general continuity of business operations even in the face of a spiraling inflation trend.
[Column] Lizelle Strydom: How the BPO sector is giving African women a platform to grow
While training programmes can help bridge the skills gap for women from disadvantaged communities, it is vital that organisations develop a culture of mentorship to help women progress in their careers.
[Column] Claudio Muruzabal: Building environmentally sound businesses in the ‘Decade of Delivery’
Consumers and customers don’t just value sustainability, they’re prepared to pay for it. More than two-thirds are willing to pay a premium for brands that are sustainable and environmentally responsible.
[Interview] Naike Moshi, Country Director, CVPeople Tanzania
CVPeople Tanzania is a talent acquisition and recruitment company that has for 6 years established itself as a frontrunner in the executive search and headhunting for clients across banking, telecom, and NGO sectors.
[Rwanda] MTN considers setting up financial tech firm
MTN Rwanda is considering setting up an independent company to take on and operate its financial technology operations.
[Startup Interview] Tony Botha, Managing Director, carbonTRACK Africa, South Africa
carbonTRACK Africa is a South Africa technology startup that seeks to create a world where energy is consumed sustainably, shared fairly and empowers all people.
[Startup Interview] Almasi Ndangili, Founder, Imarisha East Africa Productions, Kenya
Almasi Ndangili is the founder of Imarisha East Africa Productions Ltd, a Kenya-based talent academy promoting education through edutainment.
Eight responsibilities of which a warehouse manager must be aware
A warehouse manager has one of the most challenging jobs around. They have many responsibilities and have to oversee one of the most complex yet critically important aspects of the business.
South African entrepreneurs who made the best of the COVID-19 pandemic
On the evening of 23 March, South Africans gathered around their television sets to listen to arguably the most important announcement of this year. At the time, the nation was on edge.
Looming cash crisis threatens airlines, IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that the airline industry will burn through $77 billion in cash during the second half of 2020 (almost $13 billion/month or $300,000 per minute), despite the restart of operations.
Tackling youth unemployment in Kenya through sustainable waste management
Abdul Said Konde is a youth resident in Tudor informal settlement in Mombasa County. Like thousands of other young people across the country, he is not formally employed and the Covid-19 pandemic has made it even harder to access manual jobs.
[Column] Ntombi Mphokane: What will it take to tackle the global skills crisis?
If the World Economic Forum (WEF) is to be believed, then business across the globe could be facing a reskilling emergency.
[Column] Phyllis Wakiaga: Kenya economic recovery is anchored on saving lives and securing livelihoods
The International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights that protection of workers and their families from the risk of infection should be a top priority for all economies at this time.
[Column] Paulo de Matos: What manufacturers can do now to maintain continuity in the new normal
Manufacturers and distributors are operating in intensely pressured times. Stats SA reported that manufacturing output contracted for the ninth consecutive month in February of 2020.
[Column] Risha Isaac: How companies can restore employees confidence through health benefits
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, it has become even more critical for organizations to properly manage the impact of a disaster.
[Column] [Column] Phyllis Wakiaga: Home-grown solutions are key for sustainable development
Necessity is the mother of all inventions. We are witnessing an increase in innovations as the world races to develop a vaccine to treat COVID-19.
Most commodity prices to drop in 2020 as COVID-19 depresses demand, disrupts supply, World Bank
The global economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic has driven most commodity prices down and is expected to result in substantially lower prices over 2020, the World Bank said in its April Commodity Markets Outlook.
Economic impact of COVID-19 on African cities likely to be acute through a sharp decline in productivity, jobs and revenues, ECA
As part of its analysis to inform COVID-19 policy responses, the ECA is calling for adequate consideration of the vulnerability of city economies.
[Column] Shabir Ahmed: Mining sector to fast track automation amid Covid-19
Mining companies have been affected by COVID-19 outbreaks, and global restrictions to encourage social distancing have meant that mining projects have either slowed or been put on hold until further notice.
[Column] Guy Ryder: Covid-19 has exposed the fragility of our economies
The human dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic reach far beyond the critical health response. All aspects of our future will be affected – economic, social and developmental.
[Column] Bob Koigi: Of coronavirus crisis and the silver lining for Africa
As economies take a hit from the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, the crisis is birthing opportunities and continues to create crucial lessons on resilience and adaptation especially in Africa.
[Column] Ngaite Mgeni: Why organizations should invest in staff training
As organizations evolve and competition to acquire top talent heats up world over, businesses are increasingly realizing the need and essence of investing in their most prized possession; their workforce.
[Interview] Catherine Jura, Director Learning and Development, Edify Learning Forum Africa, Kenya
Training management firms like Edify Learning Forum Africa, ELFA, have been at the forefront of designing, managing and redefining organizational learning processes in Africa over the years.
[Interview] Bob Koigi, Africa Business Communities
Bob Koigi, multiple award winning journalist and East Africa Region Chief Editor at Africa Business Communities, was recently selected as one of the 100 worldwide most influential people of African descent under 40
Share this article
COLUMNS.
[Column] Louis Avenant: Trends for African telcos in 2024
Africa’s vibrant telco sector is set for a bumper year in 2024 as it expands operations and broadens service offerings ...read full column here
.png)
[Column] Virodh Sunderlall: What to expect from South Africa’s cybersecurity landscape in 2024
As widely reported last year, South Africa received the most cybersecurity threats on the continent by far ...read full column here
[Column] Stephen Bottger: The power of data analytics to revolutionise public safety
The use of applications, technology and data analytics can play a significant role in public safety globally ...read full column here
INTERVIEWS.
[Interview] Chester Wisniewski, Director of Global Field CTO, Sophos
Chester Wisniewski, the Director of Global Field CTO at Sophos, emphasizes several key trends and predictions for the cybersecurity realm in the coming year … read full interview here
[Interview]: Daniel Otu, Koa’s Production and Operations Director & the factory project lead
Daniel Otu, Koa’s Production and Operations Director & the factory project lead, touched on the challenges faced, the importance of sustainability, the role of local culture, and the lessons that shaped Koa’s future vision … read full interview here
[Interview] Oluwole Eweje, CEO-WATT Renewables Corporation
We provide sustainability for communities, especially communities that have very few businesses … read full interview here