Several new initiatives and partnerships also announced at landmark global gathering for sustainable energy. 



On 19 May, the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Forum, co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda, closed after three days of programming focused on advancing a clean and inclusive energy transition around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Over 1,000 attendees, including leaders from government, business, development institutions, and civil society, gathered to enable commitments and partnerships for energy, climate and development progress.&nbsp;



The Forum included the announcement of several new commitments and initiatives to support energy access and transition, with approximately USD 347 million in finance commitments revealed by SEforALL’s partners.&nbsp;



“While we celebrate the success of this global SEforALL Forum, we also recognize that there is still a long way for us to go. We need urgent and decisive action to drive forward a people-centred energy transition,” said Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, in closing out the Forum. “Energy, climate and development must go together – clean energy access truly is the link to a better life, to a safer and more prosperous future.”&nbsp;



The financial commitments announced at the Forum included:&nbsp;



<ul><li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.org/press/bloomberg-philanthropies-intensifies-global-effort-to-turbocharge-clean-energy-transition-in-10-developing-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg Philanthropies committed USD 242 million</a> to accelerate the clean energy transition in 10 developing countries, including Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa, through partnerships with SEforALL, the ClimateWorks Foundation, and other key partners to expand renewable energy capacity and access while phasing out coal use.&nbsp;</li><li>Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) <a href="https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/global-energy-alliance-for-people-and-planet-and-sustainable-energy-for-all-announce-expanded-partnership-to-tackle-energy-poverty-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">committed USD 50 million</a> to further its multi-year support for SEforALL to bridge energy access gaps and support energy transition programmes in targeted markets.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<ul><li>IKEA Foundation announced USD 5.8 million in funding for the <a href="https://www.seforall.org/results-based-financing/universal-energy-facility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universal Energy Facility</a>, the results-based financing facility managed by SEforALL.&nbsp;</li><li>Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst announced that up to <a href="https://tea.carbontrust.com/updates/news/up-to-40m-available-for-innovations-delivering-clean-energy-access-in-africa-asia-and-the-indo-pacific" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GBP 40 million</a> will be issued to help combat the climate crisis for communities in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Indo-Pacific regions.&nbsp;</li></ul>



New initiatives and partnerships launched at the Forum included:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Ministers from African countries participated in a private Ministerial roundtable to help build a narrative for what constitutes a just and equitable energy transition in Africa, and to help guide commitments and actions on energy access and transition on the road to COP27. A communique from the represented countries will be issued in the coming days. Meanwhile, an Asia-Pacific Ministerial roundtable focused on scaling-up finance for the energy transition.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>New and updated <a href="https://www.un.org/en/energycompacts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Energy Compacts</a> were submitted to UN-Energy from Nepal and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), along with strong calls for accelerated action from Malawi, Nigeria and the UN for others to join existing or new Compacts.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<ul><li><a href="https://missionefficiency.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mission Efficiency</a> was unveiled as a collective of commitments and actions on energy efficiency made by governments, organizations and other initiatives.&nbsp;</li><li>Climate and impact fund manager Camco Clean Energy has partnered with Energy Peace Partners to manage the Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) Aggregation Fund to expand renewable energy investment in fragile states in Sub-Saharan Africa.&nbsp;</li><li>OPEC Fund announced an Energy Access and Transition Trust Fund to support clean cooking solutions and to facilitate a model project in Madagascar.&nbsp;</li><li>The Scottish Government launched its new <a href="https://www.strath.ac.uk/workwithus/sgglobalrenewablescentre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Renewables Centre</a>, which will provide a hub for facilitating knowledge exchange between the Scottish Renewable Sector and the Scottish Government’s three African partner countries – Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.&nbsp;</li><li>Solar Sister, Inc. and LivelyHoods Kenya announced their merger to bring economic opportunity and clean energy to millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa.&nbsp;</li></ul>



The Forum also marked the 10th anniversary of <a href="https://www.seforall.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEforALL</a> as an organization and provided an opportunity to reflect on its progress and establish goals for the next 10 years.&nbsp;

Kagame Forum 1

SEforALL Forum Closes with Over USD 347 Million in New Commitments Made to Energy Access and Transition

As a leading brewer in the world, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has committed itself to the global sustainability agenda with a focus on its own global sustainability goals but largely aligned to the UN SDGs and aimed at driving the greatest impact in the communities of operation or presence.



In 2015, the United Nations adopted seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of its agenda to achieve sustainable prosperity for the planet and its people. The SDGs include ending world poverty and hunger, guaranteeing good health and well-being, providing quality education for all, providing clean water and sanitation, providing affordable and clean energy, and encouraging responsible consumption and production, among others.



AB InBev’s sustainability goals comprise four pillars, each of which has associated commitments and initiatives. These four pillars are: Smart Agriculture, Water Stewardship, Climate Action and Circular Packaging.



AB InBev runs breweries in eleven (11) African countries. The way in which the global brewer’s sustainability goals are applied across Africa considers a wide range of factors specific to countries or sub-regions.



Smart agriculture



Being a leading global brewer means that AB InBev depends on high-quality agricultural crops to brew its leading global beer brands. That ultimately has a direct impact in terms of supporting the livelihoods of farming communities worldwide and on the African continent. AB InBev works directly with farmers to grow natural ingredients to enable the brewing of the best beers.



The need to transform agriculture at scale is becoming increasingly more urgent, and key to achieving that is research, knowledge, technology and financing capabilities in the sector. It is critical to leverage these capabilities to advance agricultural development and measure impact through yields, resource-efficiency, soil health and smallholder incomes.



Approximately 15,000 African farmers are part of AB InBev’s supply chains with the goal that by 2025, 100% of direct farmers will be skilled, connected, and financially empowered.



By supporting direct farmers to be skilled, connected and financially empowered, they are in the long run improving their productivity, their profitability, and their efficient use of natural resources, such as soil and water.



Skilled farmers are not only better able to assure sustainable livelihoods and growing businesses, they are also able to make better use of natural resources. Agronomic support across Africa is provided by AB InBev’s in-country agronomic teams, who provide regularly updated production guides and host a variety of training events. Crop management protocols are developed, outlining best management practices which are important for productivity – both now and in the long term.



A local-variety development program is in place for all priority crops in each country. Crop research trials are conducted by AB InBev’s R&amp;D teams, and seed varieties tailored to local conditions are made available to farmers.



Connected farmers make use of global information systems to obtain better information on weather, growing conditions, and markets for their products. In Africa, where connectivity and access to



feature phones are not always assured, SMS-based platforms provide farmers access to agronomic and market information.



Farmers are connected to AB InBev’s SmartBarley or similar digital platforms as appropriate, allowing them to record crop data and receive agronomic advice tailored to their conditions.



Financially empowered farmers benefit from crop offtake agreements, receive access to credit, and are able to make payments more easily through access to mobile money platforms. Smallholder farmers are trained in basic business and financial skills, while commercial farmers are subscribed to appropriate risk-mitigation or cost-share solutions.



An initiative which has seen considerable success amongst our African farmers has been the roll out of the BanQu blockchain platform, which is used for supply-chain transparency and to promote financial inclusion.



BanQu connects African farmers to the AB InBev value chain with immutable records of all crop transactions made. This will mean that each farmer owns a digital ledger, known as an ‘economic passport’, describing every agricultural cycle from input to harvest, including a transparent and traceable payment history of every kilo sold with quality metrics.



This gives the farmers a unique, secure global economic identity, meaning they can transact with anyone on the planet without fear of fraud or abuse.



Water stewardship



Water is the number one ingredient in beer. AB InBev is working with like-minded partners towards improving water access and security in the communities of presence with the aim that by 2025, 100% of communities in high-stress areas will have measurably improved water availability and quality.



Driving efficiency and responsible discharge is a major priority within AB InBev’s operational lines. Beyond the brewery gate there is significant investment in shared watershed security. In local communities, promotion of water access and disaster relief efforts is paramount. Across our value chain, we promote water security through key brewing materials and engaging major suppliers.



Through innovative partnerships and initiatives, AB InBev has been able to make substantial progress on ensuring that water resources are protected and that farmers and communities are better able to access sustainable sources of water without depletion.



AB InBev has partnered with Water.org to provide US$180,000 in water financing for Tanzanians in need. AB InBev’s grant will enable Water.org to collaborate with financial institutions in Tanzania to implement and scale loans for water and sanitation solutions.



In Mozambique, Uganda, and Zambia, a partnership with the WWF has seen water risk, access and availability assessments, and invasive species clearing projects rolled out.



Climate action



Climate change remains the most pressing global challenge facing society. In fact, in the World Economic Forum’s 2021 Global Risks Report, four of the top five risks in terms of likelihood and three of the top five risks in terms of impact were environmental.



Our business is one that is closely tied to the natural environment: agricultural crops and water are our key ingredients, we require raw materials for our packaging, and we need energy and fuel to brew



and transport our beers. All of these have the potential to be impacted by climate change, and we are already experiencing some climate-related impacts in our value chain.



Our goal is that by 2025, 100% of our purchased electricity will be from renewable sources and we will reduce our carbon emissions by 25% across our value chain.



We use a variety of geography-specific technologies across our African sites to tie our electricity usage to renewable sources, including biogas and solar power. Lightweighting programmes reduce the energy used in production, and make transporting products easier and less energy intensive.



We have also analysed potential climate-related opportunities. In addition, we have undertaken a deeper analysis of our barley sourcing to identify areas of high production potential and assess the possible impacts of climate change. We use a multi- pronged approach, engaging with academia, NGOs, government institutions and industry alliances to understand climate patterns and evaluate future risk.



In South Africa, Castle Lite is switching to brew with renewable electricity. All seven of our breweries within South Africa contribute to this through solar power, with Alrode brewery in Johannesburg also making use of bio-gas facilities.



Circular packaging



Our responsibility extends beyond the last sip. Our goal is that by 2025, 100% of our product will be in packaging that is returnable or made from majority recycled content.



Our motivation goes beyond just the environmental impacts – circular packaging enables us to contribute to building economic security and resilience through the creation and support of networks of local businesses that improve livelihoods.



In Nigeria and Ghana, solutions are being trialled to recycle and increase recycled content in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and in Tanzania, our subsidiary Tanzania Breweries Limited has taken steps to entirely eliminate the use of PET from production lines. Post-consumer waste recycling programmes are active in South Africa, and in Zambia through the Manja Pamodzi programme. Additionally, programmes are being investigated in Nigeria through a start-up that was shortlisted through the AB InBev Global 100+ Accelerator.



Sustainable communities, planet, and business



AB InBev is rooted in local communities and economies around the world. We believe we are an important engine for economic growth. We are proud of our more than 600-year heritage of brewing beers. As we look forward, we believe we can also be a driving force for a more sustainable and inclusive future.



Our ambitious goals will help build environmental resilience, reduce the harmful consumption of alcohol and promote inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods across our value chain. We believe these efforts will also drive value for our company, because when our communities thrive, our business thrives.



At AB InBev, we are building a company to last for the next 100 plus years, and we know that brewing great beers depends on a resilient natural environment and thriving communities. We are committed to creating a better world for all our stakeholders, including our colleagues, consumers, communities and ecosystems where we live and work.

Climate Action – RE – Alrode, RSA Heat & Power Plant

Beyond The Last Sip: Sustainable Prosperity For The Planet And Its People

Caroline Grant, English Programmes Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council



Girls in sub-Saharan Africa face numerous barriers to quality education. <a href="https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/sub-saharan_africa_education_series_21_july_r.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a> by the British Council shows that in many countries, no more than 10 girls out of every 100 complete lower secondary school.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In addition to discriminatory gender norms, there are other barriers too. In <a href="https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/sub-saharan_africa_education_series_21_july_r.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethiopia</a>, for example, only four per cent of children with disabilities were enrolled in school, with boys outnumbering girls three to one in lower primary school.&nbsp;



Our extensive work forged over decades in partnership with ministries of education in the region has revealed that even when girls can access education, discriminatory gender norms have a negative impact on their learning outcomes.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Barriers to girls’ education&nbsp;



Girls are affected by teachers’ attitudes and differing expectations of boys and girls. Teachers’ skills in gender-sensitive pedagogy are limited and school leaders need training in how to create a gender sensitive school environment. Female role models are few, which can lead to lower aspirations for girls from early childhood. Differences in language competence can also go unnoticed, with girls given fewer opportunities to speak in class.&nbsp;



To mitigate these critical barriers, the British Council takes an inclusive pedagogy approach that is learner- and equity-focused. The methodology pays attention to the varied background, learning styles, and abilities of all learners, and fosters a supportive environment ensuring that girls are given equal opportunities to study and learn. Teachers are provided with gender sensitive training coupled with instructional leadership training to create safe and secure learning settings. &nbsp;



Successful interventions&nbsp;



In Zimbabwe, only 14% of girls complete upper secondary school. <a href="https://www.britishcouncil.co.zw/sites/default/files/leading_learning_for_gender_equity_doc.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Our Leading Learning for Gender Equity</a> programme is improving teaching and learning outcomes for young people, especially girls. We have collaborated with colleges of education and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to roll out this programme to primary and secondary government schools across the country. The programme gives leaders and teachers in schools the opportunity to recognise gender barriers and how they affect girls’ access to education, change the underlying values and norms that support gender inequality and encourage young people to be active, engaged global citizens.&nbsp;



In South Africa, the Department of Basic Education has supported the development and implementation of the EU funded<a href="https://www.britishcouncil.org.za/programmes/education/teaching-all" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Teaching for All</a> programme. The programme has a gender inclusive teaching methodology and encourages girls to take subjects like science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).&nbsp;



We developed teacher training modules and materials for pre-service education programmes and 10 South African universities are currently delivering the training. Teaching for All leverages partnerships between the British Council, the Department of Basic Education, Department of Higher Education and Training, the University of South Africa and MIET AFRICA.&nbsp; Itis now being extended to all universities in South Africa, and it is also being offered by the Department of Basic Education as an accredited in-service teacher training programme.&nbsp;



In<a href="https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Girls_education_and_empowerment_report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Nigeria</a>, some cultural and religious norms can discourage girls from completing primary education, and&nbsp; girls are&nbsp; responsible for household chores that allow them little time to study or play.&nbsp; In some areas of Nigeria where security is an issue, there is also a need for safe spaces for girls to pursue their education.&nbsp; In Kano State, in partnership with the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board and Teaching at the Right Level Africa, we launched a  <a href="https://www.britishcouncil.org.ng/sites/default/files/kalma_overview_final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pilot programme</a> to build foundational Maths, Hausa, and English literacy skills for more than 37,000 Primary 4 to Primary 6 girls and boys. Children are assessed on foundational skills and grouped by learning level. For two hours per day, they focus on reading and arithmetic. Home focused support is provided for pupils and teachers through worksheets, activity text messages and radio broadcasts.&nbsp;



These are just some examples of the systems changes that can be achieved. We urge private sector companies to consider the wide-reaching benefits of creating societies in which girls can achieve their potential in life and to contribute to the economy. The British Council welcomes the opportunity to co-create impactful, needs based education programmes in partnership with like-minded partners.&nbsp;



Caroline Grant is the British Council’s Director of English Programmes covering 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Caroline is a qualified teacher, with an MA in Education and Development from UCL’s Institute of Education. Caroline’s interest in education was sparked by her first job as a secondary school teacher in South Africa and since then she has held several roles in education including education manager for an NGO in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, education consultant for ActionAid in Ethiopia on a non-formal education programme for out-of-school girls. For the British Council she has worked in various roles including English in Education lead for a national teacher development programme in Senegal, English Language Teaching Adviser in South Africa where she established the British Council-Department of Basic Education English First Additional Language Collaboration programme, and regional English Language Adviser for West and Southern Africa based in Abuja, Nigeria. Caroline is passionate about all children gaining strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills, effective teacher development and motivation in low resource contexts, instructional leadership driving learning, inclusion and confidence-building of girls, and the role of language policy and practice for inclusion.

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Girls matter: why we need inclusive education in sub-Saharan Africa 

When Alon Rom took over as Hellopeter&#8217;s CEO in late 2014, South Africa&#8217;s customer advocacy platform was at somewhat of a crossroads. The founder had done phenomenally well establishing the platform and decided it was time to move on. As luck would have it, Alon was waiting in the wings, with inspired ideas of where it could go.&nbsp;



&#8220;When I heard that <a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJ2P0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hellopeter</a> was up for sale, I was on holiday and planning to take an extended sabbatical from my entrepreneurial days. However, this news immediately piqued my interest because I knew how much it meant to Takealot and Mr Delivery from my days of working with them. Right there and then, I committed,&#8221; Alon says.&nbsp;&nbsp;



It was a short-lived sabbatical but the first step on a long journey toward changing a nation&#8217;s perception…&nbsp;



&#8220;I tend to take my moral code rather literally. After spending the majority of my career in traditional corporate spaces, I felt the need to be involved with something that actually moved the needle in terms of adding real value to South Africans—and here we are today.&#8221; — Alon Rom, CEO of Hellopeter.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The &#8216;Karen&#8217; Conundrum  </h3>



We have to remember that the Hellopeter brand was born in a time before social media. It might only take us seconds to jump online and get our issue resolved today. However, this was not the case back then. You would have to spend hours on hold waiting for a customer service team member to finally get to you. So, consumers were frustrated, and rightly so.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In came Hellopeter, a place where they could take their grievances and get the attention they deserved. So, of course, only negative experiences made their way to Hellopeter. However, times were changing.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Journey from Complaints to Community   </h3>



Fast-forward to today, over seven years later, and Hellopeter is still a household name on many people&#8217;s lips. However, the narrative has started to change. South Africans still tell their stories, helping others make better-informed choices. However, with much effort in communicating to consumers the importance of sharing positive experiences, they&#8217;re not all doom and gloom.&nbsp;&nbsp;



South Africans have started reaching for the mouse (or now, their phone) to rave about the positive experiences they&#8217;ve had. They began praising businesses too.&nbsp;



Finally, people started seeing Hellopeter more like the online review platform it is and not the complaints platform it was perceived to be.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Of course, Hellopeter will forever remain a place consumers can turn to when they need to resolve service-related issues and get the attention they deserve. The brand did not pivot and lose sight of this. Instead, it evolved, with Alon building on the already-strong foundation.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Birth of Hellopeter Business  </h3>



&#8220;My biggest frustration has been that most local businesses don&#8217;t yet fully understand just how much value they&#8217;re leaking by not taking their online consumer reputation seriously.&#8221; — Alon Rom, CEO of Hellopeter.&nbsp;



It can be very difficult to change perceptions about a brand—especially a well-known brand like Hellopeter. And even more so when it relates to other businesses&#8217; hard-earned reputations.&nbsp;&nbsp;



However, Alon was adamant about showing businesses that Hellopeter was not a name to make them shake in their boots. That Hellopeter is no ombudsman to fear. Instead, it was a tool that could unlock serious business growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;



He wanted to show businesses how they could attract more customers, grow a trusted online presence, build social proof, and become more discoverable on search engines like Google—all through the simple process of actively collecting and managing reviews.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Since then, many South African SME businesses have been waking up to the value Hellopeter can offer them. 



However, the reality is that<a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJ3y0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 54% </a>of businesses are still reportedly &#8216;scared&#8217; of online reviews. On the flip side, over<a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJc40" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 75%</a> of cited businesses claim that taking their reputation management seriously correlated directly with increased sales and brand loyalty. 



&#8220;Every single sustainably successful business I&#8217;ve been a part of has had one thing in common —they embraced the customer&#8217;s success as their priority, and I saw Hellopeter as an opportunity to take that principle to the next level,” says Alon.&nbsp;&nbsp;



So, let&#8217;s forever put the ombudsman myth to bed. The truth is that Hellopeter does not intervene between the business and the customer. They simply provide a platform where the two can come together for a solution that suits both their needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-tech-driven-approach">A Tech-Driven Approach  </h3>



Hellopeter has blossomed into a tech company dedicated to rolling out innovative features that make the review experience easier for customers and empower businesses to actively collect, manage and publish reviews. The core value for businesses is being able to showcase their sincerity and commitment to their customers.&nbsp;



Hellopeter&#8217;s AI-assisted technology makes the process seamless and vets customer reviews through a spam filter. Before, Hellopeter reviews were seen as a separate entity. However, with new advancements in technology, they&#8217;re now able to fully coexist with your other sources, such as Facebook and Google My Business, within a single platform.&nbsp;



Ease of access is a priority for Hellopeter. For example, they recently rolled out a couple of exciting features, like a WhatsApp Chatbot that makes collecting and writing a review as easy as messaging friends or family on your phone. They also announced their API integration, allowing businesses to collect and respond to reviews within their existing CRM or support system.&nbsp;&nbsp;



These exciting innovations are opening up our nation&#8217;s eyes to what Hellopeter used to be compared to where it&#8217;s heading. And it looks like the stars were aligned that day when Alon Rom signed on the dotted line. The future&#8217;s looking pretty bright for Hellopeter.&nbsp;&nbsp;



About Hellopeter Business&nbsp;



Any business can sign up for a free Hellopeter Business account on <a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJbP0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biz.hellopeter.com</a>. This unlocks all the basic features you need to actively collect and manage your online reputation.&nbsp;&nbsp;



However, if you wish to take it a step further to really leverage your reviews and to unlock business growth, they&#8217;ve got Brand Strategy and Customer Success teams who can guide you on your journey to leveraging your reviews as a stepping stone to increased revenue.&nbsp;



The Hellopeter Business portal unlocks access to features such as<a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJdD0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> review invite technology</a>, from on-site to in-store, via SMS, in-mail, QR codes or even WhatsApp. They also offer <a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJgr0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review publishing technology</a> to show off social proof through social media ad designs to embed widgets into your website. You can also quickly and easily manage your online reputation using their <a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJhM0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review management technology</a> and understand the online analytics behind your business compared to competitors using their <a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJj30" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">competitor data and insights technology</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Find out more on <a href="https://hubs.li/Q019WJl80" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biz.hellopeter.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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How South Africa’s ‘Complaints Platform’ Became its #1 Online Review Platform for Customers and Businesses Alike

Advancing Africa’s economic status is dependent on attracting investment and private capital. However, your board is likely subconsciously influenced by the perceived risks of funding infrastructure projects in Africa.   



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Luckily, according to two reports, the market perception is changing for the better. The reports, released this quarter by the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA), show investor confidence in Africa’s economic recovery and Africa’s Private Capital industry maturing. &nbsp;



While current and alternative funding mechanisms will be discussed by industry experts at <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enlit Africa on 7-9 June at the CTICC in Cape Town</a>, these reports indicate that Africa is already attracting investment. &nbsp;



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/Learn/programme" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VIEW THE ENTLIT AFRICA PROGRAMME</a>&nbsp;



According to AVCA’s 2021 Annual African Private Capital Activity Report, the total value of private capital deals reported in Africa reached a record high of $7.4bn, compared to $3.4bn registered in 2020 – surpassing the annual average deal value of $4bn between 2016 and 2020 (+85%).  Overall, Financials and Utilities were the largest sectors by value, attracting 19% and 18% respectively from 2016 to 2021. &nbsp;



<a href="http://www.enlit-africa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enlit Africa</a> will explore not only the efforts being made by commercial and industrial entities to secure their own power supply, but the knock-on effects of such efforts, such as the development of mutually beneficial decentralised renewable energy (DRE) solutions that meet the demands of both mining operations and surrounding communities.&nbsp;



In this context, UNIDO ITPO Germany and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) are highlighting the opportunity for mining companies and renewable energy providers to enter into partnerships to move towards a sustainable and inclusive mining sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Other sessions of interest over the three day event include:&nbsp;



Alternative financing solutions to scale access to energy&nbsp;



Conference sessions at Enlit Africa will additionally consider the role of alternative funding mechanisms, including innovative new asset leasing and construction finance tools providing catalytic capital to mini-grid developers. Inspired by similar asset based financing models used in mature industries such as construction and mining, these new finance tools have been designed to address some of the most important hurdles facing mini-grid developers.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Crowdfunding through crypto-based decentralised finance&nbsp;



Companies providing access to energy products often bundle them with financing solutions to enable customers to purchase expensive solar kits on credit. However, this business model requires high capital to scale. Crypto-based decentralised finance (DeFi), could represent a solution by connecting impact-oriented investors with unbanked rural customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Roundtable discussions offer the opportunity to dig a bit deeper&nbsp;



During the Navigating the changing finance landscape in Africa roundtable sessions, attendees will get to join ‘speed’ roundtable sessions and the chance to get to grips with some of the following topics:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Clean energy funds for Africa&nbsp;</li><li>Commercial vs impact finance to achieve clean climate objectives&nbsp;</li><li>Microfinance / early stage investing for renewable energy&nbsp;</li><li>How can conventional power projects transform and get funding to create renewable energy?&nbsp;</li><li>Is Africa still considered a high risk investment destination?&nbsp;</li></ul>



Table hosts and speakers include Rivhatshinyi Mandavha, Investment Professional, Norfund; Farai Kanonda, Regional Manager: Energy, African Development Bank;&nbsp; Lisa Pinsley, Partner, Head of MENA: Energy, Actis; and Hlompho Vuyo Ntoi, Joint Managing Director, Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers.&nbsp;



The keynote sessions taking place on 7 and 8 June, in line with the focus of the conference theme – Collaboration to fast forward Africa’s energy transition – will focus on understanding the finance options, the priorities and the roadmap of the $8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership announced at COP26.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/register/delegate-registration#Get%20back%20to%20business%20with%20Enlit%20Africa,%20formerly%20African%20Utility%20Week!" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">REGISTER FOR YOUR DELEGATE PASS</a>&nbsp;</h2>



This agreement between the United State, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU) and South Africa to support the just energy transition, is an example of the kind of collaborative efforts needed in order to ensure the transition in Africa is supported by finance of appropriate magnitude.&nbsp;



Africa’s economy continues to be fertile ground with attractive investment opportunities for investors in search of yields. This will be seen in June when Africa’s key stakeholders meet with international players to discuss this topic and more in Cape Town this coming June.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Register now to secure your seat at the strategic and knowledge hub sessions at the <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/attend" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enlit Africa conference &amp; exhibition taking place on 7-9 June at the CTICC in Cape Town</a>. Enlit Africa – your guide to the energy transition.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-register-for-your-free-visitor-pass"><a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/attend" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE VISITOR PASS</a>&nbsp;</h2>



About Enlit Africa:&nbsp;



Enlit Africa (formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa) is Africa’s leading exhibition and conference, gathering the power and energy industry’s most influential professionals and decision makers from across the continent for three days of relevant, accredited technical and strategic conference seminars, valuable networking opportunities and access to world-class products and solutions.&nbsp;



Enlit Africa is organised by <a href="http://www.wearevuka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Vuka Group </a>(formerly <a href="http://www.clarioneventsafrica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarion Events Africa</a>), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



&nbsp; Industry support&nbsp; Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the City of Cape Town have been official hosting partners of the event for many years and 2022 will be no exception.&nbsp;



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Enlit Africa - Attend as a delegate" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgRp3YtAWU4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Forbes article image Enlit

Collaborating To Fast Forward Africa’s Energy Transition

For young Kenyans looking for a way to supplement their income or start a side business, forex trading has become a very popular recourse. A new sector of Kenyan forex traders has evolved as a result of the proliferation of mobile device technologies.&nbsp;



There are various trading apps used by Kenyan retail traders that offer a wide range of beneficial features, such as detailed market research of the Kenyan shilling and other currencies, technical and fundamental analysis, foreign currency quotes, and a variety of other tools says Louis Schoeman from <a href="https://forexbrokers.ke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forexbrokers.ke</a>&nbsp;



Still, comprehensive research is required in order for Kenyan traders to find the best software for their specific trading goals, techniques, and styles. To make this process easier, we have gathered the top 3 trading apps available to Kenyan traders right now.&nbsp;&nbsp;



AvaTradeGo – best option for beginner traders in Kenya&nbsp;



Overview&nbsp;



In terms of FX and CFD trading, <a href="https://forexsuggest.com/avatrade-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AvaTrade</a> is regarded as one of the most reliable brokers in the industry. The platform&#8217;s major purpose is to give traders a seamless and responsive trading experience.&nbsp;



AvaTradeGO provides Kenyan traders with a variety of tools and resources, including position management software, charting capabilities, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;



👉<a href="https://go.onelink.me/r6uM?pid=CAMPAIGNname&amp;af_sub1=YOURtag&amp;af_sub2=146929" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Download the FREE AvatradeGO TRADING app here</a>&nbsp;



To help traders make more informed financial decisions, the app provides access to market trend technology, societal trends, as well as fundamental and technical research.&nbsp;



A comprehensive dashboard with straightforward management tools, clear charts, zoom for details, and many other helpful features specific to this app make for an enjoyable trading experience.&nbsp;



With AvaTradeGO, trading is made simpler than ever, since the app gives users step-by-step assistance on opening trades, feedback on their activity and support any time they need it.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Users can manage numerous accounts and switch between demo, real and low spreads accounts, to acquire all the data they need when testing out strategies or opening trading positions.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Users can also watch markets develop in real time with this wonderful feature, a simple method to follow social trends from the AvaTrade dynamic traders community.&nbsp;&nbsp;



For today&#8217;s most pressing financial developments, you may rely on the app’s cutting-edge technology to get your hands on the information you need.&nbsp;



To assist you in making more precise and informed choices, all of your trading tools are linked together to provide you with real-time information, such as what other traders are buying and selling, trading patterns, and other insights.&nbsp;



Pros and Cons&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>PROS&nbsp;</td><td>CONS&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Broad range of tradable instruments&nbsp;</td><td>High EURUSD and inactivity fees&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>MetaTrader 4 and 5 available&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Excellent educational resources&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature&nbsp;</td><td>Information&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation&nbsp;</td><td>Central Bank of Ireland, MiFID, ASiC, BVI&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from&nbsp;</td><td>$100&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from&nbsp;</td><td>0.9 pips&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from&nbsp;</td><td>No commission on Forex&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fees&nbsp;</td><td>None&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage&nbsp;</td><td>1:400&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses&nbsp;</td><td>First Deposit Bonus&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support&nbsp;</td><td>24/5 &#8211; multilingual&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



2. Exness App – best option for tight spreads&nbsp;



Overview&nbsp;



With its proprietary app, Exness also provides a mobile version of its services. That said, the broker does provides both MT4 – the world&#8217;s most popular trading platform – and MT5 – the most recent version of the industry standard – as trading platforms.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Desktop, web browser, smartphone, and tablet versions of MetaTrader 4 and 5 are all available.&nbsp;



While both the MT4 and the MT5 trading platforms are great, Exness&#8217; unique technology is more user-friendly for newcomers to the market.&nbsp;&nbsp;



While offering third-party platforms such as MT4 and MT5 has its advantages, the advantage of Exness supplying these platforms is that traders may take their own customized version of the platform with them if they decide to switch brokers.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://forexbroker.ng/brokers-reviews/exness-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exness</a> app includes a straightforward user interface that makes it simple to navigate and search for different instruments.&nbsp;&nbsp;



There are three chart styles to choose from, including Line, Bar, Candlestick, Hollow Candles, Area, Baseline, and Heikin Ashi charts, as well as over 50 drawing tools and 100 indicators to use over different timeframes.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In addition to providing technical insight and rapid pattern identification, TradingView, one of the most popular third-party trading tools on the market, is fully integrated into the app and gives technical insight and instant pattern recognition.&nbsp;



Aside from the app, trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 are also available for mobile download, and allow traders to customize their indicators, receive an additional variety of charts, and support algorithmic (or automated) trading.&nbsp;



Pros and Cons&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>PROS&nbsp;</td><td>CONS&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Well-regulated&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Tight spreads&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Over 130 currency pairs&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature&nbsp;</td><td>Information&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation&nbsp;</td><td>CySEC, FCA&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from&nbsp;</td><td>$1&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from&nbsp;</td><td>1.3 pips&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from&nbsp;</td><td>3 USD and 10 USD per 1 lot for CFDs&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fees&nbsp;</td><td>None&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage&nbsp;</td><td>1:2000&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses&nbsp;</td><td>Standard +10% Bonus Programme&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support&nbsp;</td><td>24/5 &#8211; multilingual&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



3. Pepperstone – best for experienced traders&nbsp;



Overview&nbsp;



In order to focus on the complex work of trading, <a href="https://sashares.co.za/pepperstone-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pepperstone</a> provides an easy market access platform. A wide range of low-cost options, a variety of user interfaces and account kinds, and efficient customer service make Pepperstone a perfect alternative for traders.&nbsp;



A web-based or download version of Pepperstone&#8217;s cTrader trading platform is stable and easy to use from any browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer).&nbsp;&nbsp;



A redesigned appearance and feel, one-click trading, and full integration across desktop and mobile platforms ensure a better trading experience for all types of investors.&nbsp;



Trades may be placed on charts, watchlists can be set up, and the &#8220;depth of market&#8221; of an instrument can be accessed via the market calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Pepperstone&#8217;s cTrader offers a basic and easy-to-use interface. Expand the full-screen charts, which include more than 70 technical indicators, and you&#8217;ll have a wealth of information at your fingertips.&nbsp;



Using technical analysis patterns, Autochartist additionally creates trading suggestions. You can attach &#8220;take profit&#8221; and &#8220;stop loss&#8221; orders to any one of Pepperstone&#8217;s four order types in cTrader.&nbsp;&nbsp;



A trailing stop loss is an option available to the trader, but a guaranteed stop loss is not. There is also a choice between executing the stop loss order at the bid or ask price.&nbsp;



Additionally, the broker provides chat and phone support around the clock, as well as access to social media platforms and an online contact form, in addition to email support.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Clients are allocated an account manager who is responsible for assisting them with any account-related issues that may arise, ensuring a comprehensive and feature-rich trading experience in a fully supported environment.&nbsp;



Pros and Cons&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros&nbsp;&nbsp;No minimum deposit&nbsp;Low trading fees for forex&nbsp;No added costs for withdrawals or deposits&nbsp;Great additional research tools&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Cons&nbsp;&nbsp;Limited number of instruments&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature&nbsp;</td><td>Information&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation&nbsp;</td><td>FCA, ASIC&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from&nbsp;</td><td>AUD200&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from&nbsp;</td><td>0.4 pips&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from&nbsp;</td><td>‎$3.76 commission per lot per trade&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fees&nbsp;</td><td>None&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage&nbsp;</td><td>1:500&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses&nbsp;</td><td>None&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support&nbsp;</td><td>24/5&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Forbes Africa image

3 Best Trading Apps in Kenya  

Just how secure is your corporation? Nearly three quarters of South Africa’s top 100 corporates are investing more in cybersecurity than the industry average, but an almost equal proportion don’t feel fully protected by their current cybersecurity strategy. &nbsp;



The State of Cybersecurity in South Africa, a study conducted by World Wide Worx with the support of Intel and Dell Technologies South Africa, reveals that half of South African businesses are over budget on cybersecurity spend and just over half feel there are now more threats introduced by remote work culture.  



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/WWW-Infographic-Still-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54983" width="619" height="774" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/WWW-Infographic-Still-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/WWW-Infographic-Still-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/WWW-Infographic-Still-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/WWW-Infographic-Still.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px" /></figure></div>



“Corporates being over-budget on cybersecurity spend may look like a positive sign, but it also raises the likelihood that the budgets were too low to begin,” says World Wide Worx’s principal author of the report, Arthur Goldstuck, principal analyst on the research project. “In the game of cybercrime cat and mouse, one could argue there is no such thing as being over-resourced. However, under-resourcing not only exposes companies to risk, but also poses an existential threat. A major breach can bring down a company. Budgets must catch up to the significance of the threat.” &nbsp;



Challenges range from these macro threats all the way down to individual losses. With the pandemic and lockdowns having sent corporate employees home, 45% of IT decision makers are concerned about their staff losing their devices. And it’s not only about the physical loss and immediate cost of replacement.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“As new threats and vulnerabilities appear at break-neck speed, new technology also creates opportunities to innovate. As we navigate the changing landscape of work, it is imperative to deliver solutions that keep the organizations and their employees safe. With breaches now happening both above and below the OS, organizations need to keep endpoints secure from anywhere. You need intelligent solutions that prevent, detect and respond to threats wherever they occur. A procedural measure like taking on a certified cybersecurity partner to manage these services is often the best protection for corporates” states Khairy Ammar, Services Sales Director, Emerging Africa and South Africa at Dell Technologies&nbsp;&nbsp;



A finding that will provide the business world with greater confidence is that three quarters of large corporates (74%) report their devices are upgraded frequently, and support both Secure Boot and Trusted Protection Modules – which helps mitigate physical access vulnerabilities. &nbsp;



Many cyber hygiene factors are implemented by corporates, with the majority using VPN access control, and cloud platform managed security. These factors being implemented show that corporates are aware of advanced methods of protecting themselves. &nbsp;



The vast majority (98%) of corporates are aware that disaster management is essential. This figure must, however, be seen in the context of only 40% of businesses using multiple solutions to protect, backup, and replicate their data in the event of disaster.  That said, most respondents (98%) had not experienced cyber attacks that led to financial loss.  &nbsp;



The 2% that experienced loss after a data leak provide a useful case study of security stances after an attack: these businesses had their systems compromised before the onset of remote working, indicating that no matter how a corporate geographically locates its employees, it remains vulnerable. &nbsp;



Compromises and vulnerabilities are revealed through the weakest link in the IT system, which is often an organization’s own employees, and this may allow in ransomware programs or phishing attempts. More than half of businesses report that ransomware and phishing attempts have increased in the past year, or that they simply can’t keep up with the numbers of attempts. &nbsp;



Khairy Ammar, Services Sales Director, Emerging Africa and South Africa at Dell Technologies continues: “At Dell Technologies we provide our customers with software and services and a single point of call, reducing risk and providing peace of mind that their business-critical data is protected from edge to core to cloud. Our customers can feel confident that through our single-vendor approach, all facets of their data landscape will be taken into account and protected.”&nbsp;



“Awareness and action are key,” says Bryan Turner, World Wide Worx senior data analyst. “Training employees to work safely but spotting out of character emails and communications can save a company from all the phishing headaches involved with cybersecurity incidents.”   



Article brought to you by Intel and Dell Technologies

Screenshot 2022-04-29 at 12.45.12

Corporates protected – but not secure

The Galaxy S22 series, the most powerful devices Samsung has ever created is a game-changer. It’s designed for a hybrid world where most of us need to easily switch between multiple devices whether at work or play. The Galaxy S22 series includes the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. For the first time ever, Galaxy Note users’ favourite built-in S Pen is integrated into the Galaxy S22 Ultra. This instantly makes it the fastest, most responsive S Pen Samsung ever made. In fact, you can expect innovation throughout this ground-breaking series to enhance your productivity effortlessly.&nbsp; Combined with pioneering camera and video technology, Samsung’s 4nm processor takes performance to new speeds along with unbelievably long-lasting batteries1.&nbsp;



Now you can write and draw more naturally on the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s expansive screen, and explore apps in new ways.&nbsp; Taking productivity, creativity and versatility to new heights, Samsung is writing a new chapter in mobile innovation in so many versatile ways. Impressively, the entire Galaxy S22 series was also designed with the seamless integration of multiple devices in the Galaxy ecosystem firmly in mind &#8211; including the Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ and Samsung’s first-ever Tab S8 Ultra to break the rules for what you can do with tablets.&nbsp; It embraces the seamless adaptability we need for work, home and everything in between. Within the ever-growing Galaxy ecosystem, you can also make use of Quick Share2, so you can move huge photos and video files to your Galaxy Tab or PC more easily. For those who use the Galaxy S22 series for work, it becomes an all-in-one mobile device for business, with next-level integration and optimisation of Microsoft and Google cloud tools such Google Duo. And those with a Galaxy S22 Ultra, can now use its integrated S Pen to move from app to app, email to email and doc to doc with unparalleled precision.&nbsp;



The Galaxy S22 series is available nationwide, through network operators and retailers in-store and online. Those who choose to buy this device can choose the option to protect it against accidents including screen damage, with the peace of mind of Samsung Care+3. For more info on the Galaxy S22 series <a href="https://www.samsung.com/za/smartphones/galaxy-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">click here</a> 



1Estimated against the usage profile of an average/typical user. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2021.12.08–12.20 in USA and UK with pre-release versions of SM-S901, SM-S906, SM-S908 under default setting using 5G Sub6 networks (NOT tested under 5G mmWave network). Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. The total usage time with fully charged device may vary by usage behaviour. 



2Quick Share is available on Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy tablets on Android OS version 10.0(Q) and One UI 2.1 or above, Galaxy Book Ion, Ion 2, Flex, Flex Alpha, Flex 2, Flex 2 Alpha and Galaxy Book S launched in or after May 2021 and Samsung Notebook Odyssey, Plus and Plus2 launched in or after 2020. 



3Terms &amp; Conditions apply. Samsung Care+, a dedicated product support service covering accidental damages, repairs and more must be activated within 30 days of purchase.

GalaxyS22Ultra_MA_Thumb_1440x960-960×640

The Rule-Breaking Device That Opens Up New Worlds Of Possibility

Every story starts somewhere, and for renowned author and TV producer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/4biddenknowledge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billy Carson</a>, it all began at the age of 7. Billy didn’t come from a financially well-off family, and all that started to become apparent when he entered school. He used to go to school with holes in his shoes and would come home to bleach his only two pairs of pants, then dye them a different color to try and fit in a little and show others that he had a number of different outfits.&nbsp;



Unfortunately, this didn’t end well and only made Billy Carson a target for bullies. Fast forward to more than a decade later, Billy Carson is a best-selling author and the president of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/4biddenKnowledge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4biddenknowledge Inc.</a> Here is his inspiring rags to riches story.&nbsp;



According to Billy Carson, he has always wanted to become a successful entrepreneur. However, coming from a poor neighborhood, to do so was not easy, and many people didn’t believe in him. This inspired him to start his company, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ForbiddenKnowledge1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4biddenknowledge.</a> Billy uses this platform to encourage others to believe in their ideas and refuse to give up no matter what someone else says. But you should never let their words dictate your next move. If anything, you should use this as a stepping stone and prove to them that you are more than meets the eye.&nbsp;



<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCarson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billy Carson</a> told his 3rd-grade teacher that his dream was to become a famous TV star, she didn’t believe in him. She told Billy that would never happen. Billy notes that while it was discouraging and hurtful, he had decided to follow his passion.&nbsp;



He invested in his dream, and at the age of seven, he started his first business selling toys. Billy went door-to-door selling his toys and asking for donations which gave him the much-needed boost to grow his venture. He was only 12 years old when he set up his second shop specializing in digital car stereos, and within a year, he was earning more than his parents.&nbsp;



Billy was able to find a balance between school and his thriving businesses, and he even started his own marketing agency. This went on for a while until one day when he lost all that, and he was back to zero.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Looking back, Billy notes this loss was partly due to poor planning and financial illiteracy as he didn’t have much experience. However, it didn’t take long before Billy Carson was back on his feet, and he is now using his journey to help others achieve success.&nbsp;



Sometimes reaching your goals may seem impossible when you are faced with obstacles. But rags to riches stories like <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@4biddenknowledge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billy Carson’s </a>prove that anyone can fulfill their dreams if they work hard and make smart decisions. Billy has fulfilled his dreams by believing in himself and fighting for his passion. One of the albums he produced has made Billboard charts in four categories for eight weeks. Among his achievements is earning a certificate in Applied Neuro-Science from M.I.T. and a certificate in Ancient Civilizations from Harvard.&nbsp;

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The Rags To Riches Story Of A Bestselling Author And TV Producer

Every minute of every hour of every day, a new NFT is dropped. Last year alone, NFT trading broke new records and surpassed $23 billion. It&#8217;s safe to say the crypto art industry has exploded exponentially. That unprecedented growth has attracted many newcomers to the NFT table. However, with the Metaverse becoming saturated, it is getting harder and harder to stand out in a crowded marketplace. This is why DAO Maker is garnering huge attention for disrupting the Metaverse with the Maradona D10S NFT Club.



The Maradona D10S NFT collection spans 5,000 pictures on the Ethereum blockchain of the late, great Diego Maradona. Fans can use the pictures as avatars in the Web3 environment. The collection was announced to celebrate FIFA 2022 and immortalize perhaps the greatest player of the &#8220;Beautiful Game.&#8221; It is the first official Maradona licensed NFT project and has the complete support of the footballer&#8217;s family.



It&#8217;s still early days, but the launch of the Maradona D10S NFT looks set to revolutionize the NFT space. DMA Maker Chief Executive Officer Christoph Zaknun explained, &#8220;The NFT space quickly became a very toxic and fraudulent area of crypto. We are entering this market to try to clean it up the way we have with the low cap market by providing a venue for celebrities and founders that want to do NFT drops the right way.&#8221;



DAO Maker already had a solid reputation in the Metaverse as the first major platform facilitating Initial DEX Offering (IDO) and Initial Gaming Offering (IGO). With over 135,000 KYC-verified users and over 270,000 followers on Twitter, DAO Maker has become one of the largest networks. Its projects such as My Neighbor Alice, Epik Prime, XCAD Network, and Victoria VR have proved immensely popular. The company is again ready with a groundbreaking project like the Maradona D10S NFT drop.

CT – Maradona D10S NFT Club – DAO Maker (1) (1)

DAO Maker Disrupts the Metaverse with Maradona D10S NFT Club

Baron &amp; Cabot have now expanded in Kenya and Nigeria. Africans can now invest in property within UK.



Baron &amp; Cabot, a UK property investment company has launched their new base in Kenya and Nigeria to finally help Kenyans and Nigerians invest in property within the UK in a simple and effective way. “Baron &amp; Cabot is undoubtedly the fastest growing UK property investment company in the world,” remarks Mark Pearson, founder of Baron &amp; Cabot.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Athena-House.mp4"></video></figure>



“We aim to help Kenyans and Nigerians with the ability to provide mortgages and buying of property through thorough research for the safety of their investment in the UK.”



Investing in property in the UK is greatly considered to be one of the lowest risk investments in the world, with consistent long-term returns factored in by continuous growth within the country. Baron &amp; Cabot has built a market leading research strategy for the investor to simply just choose what would be suitable for them. The investor is also granted a step-by-step guide on sourcing the right property to purchase in the UK. This gives the investor the power and confidence to ask the right questions for profitable property investment.



“As the demand for property investment rises within African investors, our main goal is to make sure the process of property investment always remains transparent and simple.” added Mark Pearson, founder of Baron &amp; Cabot.



A great opportunity presented by the UK is that foreigners can legally buy property or have banks offer favourable mortgage terms for investment. This investment platform gives Africans an opportunity to invest in property with ease and without limitations. Thus, while seeking to invest in property, Baron &amp; Cabot stands out to be the paramount property investment organization that an investor can trust through the investment process.



“Our introduction in Kenya and Nigeria will greatly impact property investment and sourcing in the UK, thus creating more options for investors”, says James Walsh, Head of Sales at Baron &amp; Cabot Research. Baron &amp; Cabot has worked with investors across the world and impacted many from their first to fifty first properties. This expansion creates a great opportunity for African investors.



About Baron &amp; Cabot Baron &amp; Cabot is an independent international property investment and research company that aims to provide the best fully researched property investments in the UK. We provide an extensive market leading research strategy for our clients to gain full confidence in making fully informed investments. We only work with low risk off-plan or completed developments which have been fully researched within the UK. Through a due diligence process (from sourcing, due diligence, future value prediction, solicitors and mortgages), we have greatly impacted our clients to invest in their first to fifty first properties.

DSC07045

More Opportunities For Africans To Invest In Property In The UK

Over the last decade, Visa has had&nbsp; a strong focus in collaborating with key players across the payments landscape to enable access to digital payments. Visa has also continued to partner with leading players in Sub-Saharan Africa including fintechs, neo banks and wallets to enable new payment experiences across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Throughout the challenges of the last two years, the importance of the right innovations at the right time has never been clearer. Today’s opening of Visa’s Innovation Studio in Nairobi, Kenya, marks the continuation of Visa’s effort to empower fintechs, clients and partners develop the right innovations for them now and in the coming decades.  



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="742" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-2-1-1024x742.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54793" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-2-1-1024x742.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-2-1-300x217.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-2-1-768x556.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-2-1-1536x1112.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-2-1.jpg 1606w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



L-R Akshay Chopra, Vice President, Head of Innovation and Product Design, CEMEA, Visa; Aida Diarra, Senior Vice President and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Visa; DR. Patrick Njoroge, Governor, Central Bank of Kenya; Corine Mbiaketcha, Vice President and General Manager, East Africa and Andrew Torre, Regional President, CEMEA Visa, at the launch of Visa’s Innovation Studio for Sub-Saharan Africa in Nairobi on Wednesday. 



The Innovation Studio will&nbsp; also help Visa to accelerate the co-creation process and fast track the market readiness of innovation payment solutions.&nbsp; Businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa have been leading the way in introducing new methods of paying, and being paid, by harnessing innovative technologies. Ideas to expand the growth of popular functions such as Tap to Phone and Pay on Delivery will be explored at the Innovation Studio alongside the ongoing development of cutting-edge smarter payment solutions that leverage the blockchain, IoT, VR and biometrics.&nbsp;



Visa started with only a couple of innovation centres. One of the first was in San Francisco. Now, there are six innovation centres around the Visa network and it really shows the power of this model. Each centre has highly specialized teams of designers, developers, product managers and technical experts who are building the future of payments with our partners.&nbsp;



”Sub-Saharan Africa is home to a thriving community of start-ups, incubators and accelerators. The Innovation Studio in Nairobi is a realization of our vision to be an engine of commerce and to provide individuals, businesses and economies access to the financial services they need to thrive,” says Aida Diarra, Senior Vice President and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="390" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-studio-SSA-3-1024x390.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54794" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-studio-SSA-3-1024x390.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-studio-SSA-3-300x114.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-studio-SSA-3-768x293.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-studio-SSA-3-1536x585.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-studio-SSA-3-2048x780.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>



L-R Otto Williams, SVP, Head of Digital Partnerships &amp; Solutions, CEMEA, Visa; Nana Abban, Group Executive for Consumer Banking, Ecobank; Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Managing Director at M-Pesa Africa and Ag. Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom PLC and Kennedy Mubita – SC Ventures Lead (Africa &amp; Middle East), Standard Chartered Bank, during a panel session at the launch of Visa’s Innovation Studio for Sub-Saharan Africa in Nairobi on Wednesday. 



The Centre opened its doors on the 6th of April 2022 and has already welcomed clients and partners with a unique human-centric design based around the principles of shared knowledge to help Visa’s network of businesses overcome some of the biggest challenges while uncovering new commercial avenues of opportunity. 



To commemorate this historic millstone, Kenya’s Central Bank Governor attend the opening event and shared his excitement over the new SSA Innovation Studio. He spoke about his passion for innovation and the role of co-creation in developing solutions to suit the development of nations across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Governor also signed a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the innovation studio.&nbsp;



For more information about SSA Innovation Studio, please connect with <a href="mailto:oetyang@visa.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Olivia Etyang</a>, Head of Innovation Studio, SSA.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Visa Innovation SSA 1 (1)

Visa’s Innovation Studio in Nairobi set to Incubate the Next Generation of Commerce Experiences in Africa

Changing policies have re-directed Nigeria towards production of fertilizer and a renewed commitment to farming.



Nigeria has left the past behind. The country was becoming dependent on imports for its food production needs; farms were abandoned, and fertilizer production, a critical agricultural input, dropped to lamentable lows. Briefcase-wielding businessmen had a field day importing fertilizer. Farming suffered and unemployment spiked.



At this point, importation of fertilizer into Nigeria was easy. There was no control. Anyone with access to finance could bring in shiploads of fertilizer. Aside from the huge costs to the government and people of Nigeria, there was also the major problem of quality assurance. Farmers were groaning.



In 2017, through the twin policies of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), and the Anchor Borrowers Programme, farming received substantial attention. The importation of fertilizer was quashed. Local capacity was boosted; Nigeria now has over 40 fertilizer blending plants, and growing. There was less than 10 in 2016. Farming is becoming an attractive venture once again. It took President Muhammadu Buhari’s mechanisms of banning rice importation, the introduction of the Anchor Borrowers Programme and PFI make this happen.



The unfolding revolution in the Nigerian agricultural sector is incomplete without the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) and its president, Thomas Etuh, who pulled the association together and ensured that members attracted other investors to resuscitate the industry. Through these efforts, the PFI has been able to reduce food price inflation in the market, cut the overall cost of food production, and create considerable direct and indirect employment opportunities.



<a href="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Forbes-Fertilizer-Association-Supplement-Proof-2-FINAL-COPY-SIGNED-OFF-BY-CLIENT.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Download full supplement Here</a>



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Homegrown Fertiliser And Renewed Commitment To Farming In Nigeria

With the recent proliferation of affordable and fast internet across the African continent, observers have noted a remarkable increase in the rate of crypto and forex trading in many countries across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;



While it is not surprising that greater internet access would result in businesspeople and entrepreneurs finding new ways to grow their wealth in the online space, Africa has a unique set of factors which has made it conducive to online trading in particular.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In this article, we explore the rise of crypto and <a href="https://forexsuggest.com/forex-trading/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forex trading</a> in Africa, and take a closer look at the ways in which this trend is impacting Africa’s diverse local economies.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Crypto trading in Africa: a new frontier&nbsp;



Cryptocurrencies first entered the global market with a bang when a mysterious entity operating under the pseudonym of <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/technology/2014/02/01/china-bites-bitcoin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Satoshi Nakamoto released Bitcoin in 2009</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



According to Nakamoto, Bitcoin was largely created as a reaction to the banking crisis of 2008 that crippled world economies, and which was mostly attributed to widespread malpractice throughout the banking sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;



To this end, <a href="https://sashares.co.za/bitcoin-to-rand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin</a> was a means of releasing local economies from their dependence on fiat currencies, and of allowing businesses to set prices according to their market value without suffering the impact of currency fluctuations.&nbsp;&nbsp;



This aspect has certainly been true for many of those in African countries who have adopted Bitcoin and the many other cryptocurrencies to have emerged in its wake, such as Ethereum and Litecoin.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Many African economies are plagued by ongoing hyper-inflation and currency instability as a result of political and economic instability, creating a troubling impediment to local business growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The adoption of cryptocurrencies has allowed business owners and entrepreneurs to by-pass failing national currencies and set prices for their goods based on their true market value.&nbsp;&nbsp;



It has also allowed increasing numbers of people moving into the remote online working sphere to receive payment quickly and efficiently, without the red-tape of national banks.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Apart from its business value, cryptocurrency traders are increasing as well, and use the cheap and easy access to online trading platforms to create new income streams, overcoming the broad problem of local unemployment to become, in many cases, steadily wealthier.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The explosion of Forex trading in Africa&nbsp;



As with cryptocurrencies, Forex trading has seen an unprecedented spike in numbers across Africa in the last year or so, also bolstered by fast internet and adopted by a largely young demographic interested in new and entrepreneurial means of making a living.&nbsp;&nbsp;



By June 2020, Forex trading had increased by a whopping 477%, and was seen largely to be the result of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coronavirus pandemic</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Just as the many lockdowns have forced people from around the world to find new ways of making a living, so Forex trading in particular has become a vital means for young Africans to beat increasing unemployment.&nbsp;&nbsp;



African nations are predominantly young, with the median age being around 19, and this dynamic and adaptive demographic has embraced Forex trading as a means grow their wealth at home without relying on employment growth, which is likely to remain sluggish for some time to come.&nbsp;&nbsp;



All in all, Africa has proven itself to be the next frontier of crypto and Forex trading, being home to a unique set of factors that has allowed its youthful and tech-savvy populations to forge a new path towards self-empowerment and economic growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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The Rise of Crypto and Forex Trading in Africa

According to UNESCO, Africa’s film and audiovisual sector is estimated to account for roughly five billion USD in revenue on the African continent and employs millions in various capacities and skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Stories on the continent are abundant and over the years, perceptions of Africa’s creative film industry have changed. There’s now an even hungrier market for films made in Africa and about the continent, homegrown film academies all over the continent have stepped forward to train the next generation of African filmmakers in response.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Access to the very best while learning behind the scenes&nbsp;



For Zambian filmmaker and producer Masuzyo Mwale, the idea of making films started in 2014 while in India, hospital-bound after heart surgery. It was in the birth country of Bollywood that the spark to become a filmmaker was ignited. He quickly faced an obvious challenge &#8211; he had no idea of how and where to begin.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Despite Zambia’s established film industry, film and training academies are few, and the pipeline that should be channeling trained film graduates towards local film and TV opportunities isn’t working as well as it should be. So, it was by chance that Masuzyo came across the pan-African MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) film training programme’s call to entry in 2020. He was then accepted to join 19 other young filmmakers at the programme&#8217;s Lusaka hub for the full-year and all-expenses-paid training programme.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Founded in 2018, the MTF shared-value initiative was born to provide world-class training to young creative professionals in Africa’s film and TV space. To date, the initiative, through its MTF Academies in Johannesburg, Lusaka, Lagos &amp; Nairobi, has trained over 200 filmmakers and to date they have produced 30 movies for M-Net local channels and Showmax. Its three MTF Academy hubs in Lusaka, Nairobi and Lagos can altogether accommodate 60 emerging film and TV creatives each year from Southern, East and West Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;



With zero skin in the game, Masuzyo had an opportunity to work at SuperSport, the continent’s top sports channel during the MTF Class of 2020’s immersions and additionally shot TV commercials, music videos and short films. This kind of access to world-class industry producers and technicians is extremely rare, and the additional experience gained is unparalleled.&nbsp;&nbsp;



As part of the Class of 2020, Masuzyo and his classmates have now been absorbed into their local film and TV industry and work as technically-skilled filmmakers. This is thanks to MTF’s focus on empowering students with the necessary skills to be economically active in the industry once they graduate.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The world of film saved my life,” says Masuzyo. “As I kept watching TV from my hospital bed, I longed to get better to one day make a movie or a documentary that people would watch. I began to have hope in my healing so that I could become a filmmaker.” 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="575" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MTF-Alumni-Production-Companies-1024x575.png" alt="" class="wp-image-54713" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MTF-Alumni-Production-Companies-1024x575.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MTF-Alumni-Production-Companies-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MTF-Alumni-Production-Companies-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MTF-Alumni-Production-Companies-1536x863.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MTF-Alumni-Production-Companies-2048x1151.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



Establishing a multidisciplinary spirit&nbsp;



Like Masuzyo, Ugandan filmmaker Cissy Nalumansi’s career in film and TV was also a result of MTF’s empowerment of students to be economically active in the industry. She won a paid internship experience at Africa Magic studios in Nigeria after graduating from the MTF Academy in 2019. Cissy has taken her skills even further as an MTF alumnus by establishing her own film production company Jungle Rains Productions.&nbsp;&nbsp;



She now sits front and centre when it comes to telling homegrown stories, and her skills as a multidisciplinary have been paying off since graduation: her documentary Creatives Under Quarantine, which she shot during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has received international funding and was nominated at the Uganda Film Festival, and her other film Namuddu currently airs on DStv’s Maisha Magic Movies. Her short film Kela, which she also wrote and directed, is currently competing at several international film festivals and is backed by Hollywood executive producers.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The funding, international film festival mileage and hefty backing are part of the major head start that the MTF initiative provides through its Academy partnerships, which include the New York Film Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (NYFA), the Henley Business School, Dolby and Canon among others.&nbsp;



What’s more, is that Cissy is one of many African women filmmakers who received their big break from MultiChoice, the biggest commissioner and licensor of local content. Advancing the agenda of women has always been at the heart of what we do as MultiChoice and we are proud that the MTF initiative has ushered in a new era of filmmakers who are eager to sway the narrative and engage in a dialogue that tells original African stories. Women have a harder time breaking into the industry as a result of the film and TV industry’s significant gender divide, where men outnumber women 2 to 1 in films, according to a 2021 report by the San Diego State’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film in America.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The gender divide is also why the MTF initiative always aims for 50% and above split in favour of women.&nbsp;&nbsp;



From the start, the MTF Academy’s curriculum makes a point of equipping students towards becoming multidisciplinary creatives through its tailored masterclasses, which are a core part of the MTF Academy’s tailored curriculum.&nbsp;&nbsp;



All MTF Academy alumni have since been exposed to the initiative’s industry masterclasses in Documentary, Lighting, Sound, Casting, Acting, Production Management, and the Business of Film, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;



These masterclasses have been taught by some of the best in the industry, including celebrated Nigerian film, TV and storytelling multidisciplinary Tunde Kelani, Kenyan film and TV producer Appie Matere, and Christian Epps, international lighting expert for productions like the 2014 American film Selma, and American TV series Lovecraft Country.&nbsp;&nbsp;



It’s no wonder then that come graduation, multidisciplinary visual creatives like Cissy can hit the ground running with connections already formed during their training at the Academy, due to MTF’s curriculum partnerships. All MTF alumni can therefore begin their careers as highly-skilled creatives that can keep up with the production demands of world-class film and TV storytelling.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Africa’s film future is safe in skilled hands&nbsp;



In a mere three years, the MTF Academy’s alumni have collectively produced 30 full-length films, 16 short films for broadcast, and eight public service announcements for the United Nation’s Verified #PledgetoPause and #OnlyTogether campaigns.&nbsp;



Many alumni are still rooted in producing local content. Ghanaian filmmaker and TV producer Godfred Dela Duvi, for example, is pulling the strings as a producer for one of Ghana’s most-loved shows Showbiz 360.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In Tanzania, alumni from the inaugural MTF Academy year Wilson Nkya and Jane Moshi respectively produced the 2021 Maisha Magic Movies film FRIDA under their digital media production company Four Creations Entertainment.&nbsp;&nbsp;



As time goes by, the MTF Academy alumni will be the fuel behind the continent’s ability to take Africa’s films to the world stage.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The alumni are young, vibrant and have sharp talent and expertise that will continue to sustain authentic African stories through video entertainment.&nbsp;

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