Do You Prefer AIOr The Personal Touch? Some Insights On How Africa’s Hotel Sector Is Set To Welcome A New Era Of Hospitality.



Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the economic landscape and expected to boost global GDP by trillions of dollars in the coming years. It is one of the most significant commercial opportunities in the world. But how will it play out in the hospitality and tourism industry?



According to HotelTechReport’s State of Hotel Guest Technology Report 2024, 70% of the 400 hotel guests they surveyed said they still prefer the human touch when managing complex queries and 65% would like the technology in their hotel to be more advanced than what they have at home.



It’s a knife edge – on one hand, people are the heart of hospitality, on the other, ignoring the value of AI can potentially impact a hotel’s future. If a hotel can’t offer personalization, experience enhancement, chatbot support and AI-curated services, will it be left behind? Or will this make it an oasis where the lack of technology is the value-added service, whilst AI runs in the background, smoothing over the bumps and easing guests into their experiences?



Some hotels have already stepped into technology with immersive experiences and digital room replicas. “We launched our first use of AI for our meeting experiences called Meetings Unbound,” says Stephanie AbouJaoude, Senior Area Director of Marketing &amp; Communications – Middle East, Africa, Turkey &amp; Mediterranean at the Radisson Hotel Group. “We’ve leveraged AI technology to offer these creative and visual meeting experiences for our delegates.”



This is very much in line with what is being described as the ‘era of hospitality’ where personalization, engagement, human connections, and the co-creation of experiences are becoming the standards against which hospitality is measured.



There is a need for data, insights, and emergent technologies to provide the sector with the tools they need to ensure they meet the expectations of an increasingly discerning traveler.



“You have to ensure the guests you’re attracting are delivered what they’re expecting. Personalized experiences are absolutely essential, everyone wants that Instagram image, that experience,” says Neil Hughes, Managing Director, Providence Hotels, who also points out that while he does use a digital ecosystem to connect with customers, the use of AI remains at the base level. “I think people need human interaction. AI is cold – no matter how you load it with chatbots and virtual assistance, you will never achieve the personal level you can with a human on the phone. AI is valuable and absolutely can support personalization, but we’re not at a level where we will turn an AI engine on and it can handle everything from campaigns to customer service.”



A warm greeting and shining eyes.



Certainly, this is what most people would prefer rather than being caught up in a tangle of technology which is invariably frustrating and complex. Is AI ready to use the technology?



“The truth is AI is in use by the hospitality sector in Africa, and it is being used in really interesting ways,” says Chris Godenir, General Manager of Dream Hotels’ Peninsula All-Suite Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. “We’re using it extensively in our back-end to manage check-ins, applications, arrival emails, questionnaires, WhatsApp conversations – we always provide people with the option to turn to a human, but we use the AI to the best of our ability in our business.” While AI is not comprehensively in use by hotels across the continent, it’s not an unknown entity. As Jerry Mabena, CEO: Motsamayi Tourism Group, says: “There are two types of guests in Africa – the more established, older market and the younger generation looking for unique opportunities. The latter is where I see AI playing a big role, engaging with this technology-savvy market and curating experiences for them. AI allows us to start moving into a space where we can draw in a wider number of people by creating iconic, African experiences.”



He adds that people are also now traveling for a purpose, seeking out experiences that allow them to touch the earth lightly and AI can help the industry prioritize and meet these expectations more effectively. However, there is a need to look ahead at how AI may negatively impact the sector. It’s not a plug and play solution and it brings with it a host of risks – some expected and some unexpected.



As Noor Kapdi, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson Africa for law firm Dentons, concludes: “The AI industry isn’t regulated in Africa, it’s hardly regulated in other parts of the world, and this creates both opportunity and risk. There’s the ethics of it – if we know how people sleep, how they like their coffee in the morning, these are deeply personal insights and managing this privacy is challenging. The only way it will be measured is through the ethical standards of each country, and we have yet to see how AI will manifest in the hospitality industry or what the consequences will be.”



AI can ease the burden of back-end admin, smooth over the wrinkles in customer engagement, simplify customer onboarding and reimagine their experiences, but it is still so new, untested, and fresh that hotels stepping forward into its potential should approach it with a balance of caution and innovation. It is not a technology leaving Africa in its dust – the sector is very much aware of what AI can do. Perhaps, instead, it is Africa that would like it to remain in the dust, for just a few more spectacular sunsets.

Smart Robot Assistant On Reception

Hospitable Tech? Africa’s Hotel Sector And AI-Based Hospitality

A Livestock Company in Zhangjiakou

Bird Flu (H5N1) Explained: CDC Reports First Case With No Known Animal Exposure

Accolades aside, Kenyan actor-and-host-turned-producer, Sarah Hassan seems to see no limit as to what she can achieve.



After discovering her love for performing at a very young age, she went on to join the cast of drama, Tahidi High, playing the role of Tanya. It earned her the award for Best Actress at the CHAT Awards in 2010 and 2011.



However, while she truly enjoys acting and hosting, which she had done for several years, there was another passion in her heart that she could only fulfill later on in her career.



“I wanted to go to, specifically, the New York Film Academy [ever] since I was out of high school… but, of course, [there were issues of ] finances and all that. I told myself one day I am going to go. I remember I had a different bank account where I just saved for film school, and I had gotten to a place where I could go, I think a couple of years before I went, but it didn’t feel like it was the right time,” she says.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GI4C0329-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63035" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GI4C0329-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GI4C0329-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GI4C0329-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GI4C0329-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GI4C0329-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hassen on set (Image supplied)</figcaption></figure></div>


“I remember, two years later, I wasn’t getting auditions at that time. I felt like if I had the necessary skillset and everything, that I could do my own story or do a short film and satisfy that part of my soul. By that time, I felt like this is the time… So I sent in the application.”



Hassan, speaking to us from her home in Kenya, recalls the experience with great enthusiasm, detailing all the skills she had learned, including the basics of editing and lighting, directing, writing and producing. As soon as she had completed her year in Los Angeles, she put the skills she had learned to good use.



“My dream has always been to be able to, first and foremost, have that skillset, and then be able to work as a producer; as an actor, not only in my country, but anywhere else in the world. Before I left, I remember I did a few projects out there. I did my first-ever short film where I wrote, co-directed, produced and acted in. It won about eight film festival awards. So [that] was quite pivotal for me,” she adds.



“I had gotten awards for acting before that, and for hosting, but this, I would say, is a highlight, not because of the awards but because of what it symbolized. I was behind-the-scenes of a project that I had produced. This was the first time ever doing something that was not acting or hosting. It was the first time doing a story from development – taking it from my mind all the way to seeing it completed.” Hassan, who has her own production company, Alfajiri Productions, would go on to work with streaming giant, Netflix.



“For 40 Sticks, I was brought on board as a lead producer. It was so beautiful because I was there from the beginning, from bringing onboard the writers, from the development stage, the pre-development stage, filming stage, the post. Then Just In Time – that was with my company; with my team, and in collaboration with Lola D, who’s a very good friend of mine and a fantastic director. To see it on Netflix worldwide, not just in Africa, was surreal,” Hassan says.



“Now, with Anyango and the Ogre – it was a commission project, because it’s by Netflix and UNESCO – it was amazing to also see that other side, to be able to work with the executive producers in South Africa, you get to learn a lot. We have been doing [this] for a while but not as long, and to see all the different steps… it was absolutely amazing.”



She concludes that collaboration is key, especially between directors and producers on the continent. Not only does it bring in diverse audiences, one also gets to share resources and learn.

DSC01052

Kenyan Actor-Producer On Wearing Many Hats And Why Timing Is Everything

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



States with an overexposure to artificial light pollution—particularly at night—are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, according to a new study by scientists at Rush University Medical Center, the latest research to suggest people’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer&#8217;s may be tied to their environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



In the study published Friday by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1378498/abstract" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Frontiers in Neuroscience</a>&nbsp;journal, scientists say exposure to artificial outdoor light at night was correlated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer&#8217;s disease—though the study didn’t make a direct causal link.



Researchers used satellite acquired data to determine nighttime light intensity in states and compared that data with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease prevalence in the same states, finding that a positive correlation was found in states with the most light pollution in every year studied (from 2012 to 2018).



States with the most light pollution—and the highest Alzheimer&#8217;s disease prevalence—included Florida, Connecticut and New Jersey, while Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, Idaho, Wyoming and Oregon had lower instances of both.



Nighttime light pollution had a stronger correlation to Alzheimer&#8217;s disease risk than alcohol abuse, chronic kidney disease, depression, heart failure and obesity, the study showed, but less of a link to the conditions of atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and stroke.



In people under age 65, however, nighttime light exposure was more strongly associated with Alzheimer’s prevalence than any of the other disease factors studied.



Light pollution is the latest in a list of environmental factors that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/10-years-alzheimers-disease-and-related-dementias-research/increased-understanding-how-social#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20higher%20education%20levels,raises%20the%20risk%20of%20dementia." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">studies suggest</a>&nbsp;could be linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, including living near green spaces, long-term exposure to air pollution and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7663191/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">chemical exposures</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">Big Number</h2>



80%. That’s how much of the global population experiences light pollution, according to the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Light pollution, defined as nighttime artificial light from, for example, poorly shielded and overly bright light fixtures, has long been considered to be mostly harmless, researchers said, but more recent studies have linked light pollution to harsh ecological, behavioral, biological, and health consequences. The concept of light pollution was first pointed out by astronomers in the 1970s, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2023/january/increasing-light-pollution-drowning-out-stars.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">National History Museum</a>, as those who studied the night sky noted the increasing impact of artificial light on their work. At the time, the sky was estimated to have been becoming brighter by between 3 and 6% every year, the museum said, but that rate has increased to almost 10% annually around the globe, with an even faster growth rate in North America (10.5%). In addition to impacting the view of the night sky—roughly 30% of people have lost the ability to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.noaa.gov/stories/milky-way-now-hidden-from-third-of-humanity#:~:text=June%2010%2C%202016,Image%20credit:%20National%20Park%20Service)" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">see the Milky Way</a>, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—scientists&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/light-pollution-health-climate/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">have noted</a>&nbsp;that over illumination at night highlights the waste of energy contributing to climate change and can decrease the nighttime cleansing of the atmosphere. Other research, like the study published Friday, is also increasingly starting to suggest light pollution can have adverse effects on human and wildlife health. Light pollution, from LED lights and electronic devices in particular, impacts circadian sleep rhythms, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-adopts-guidance-reduce-harm-high-intensity-street-lights" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">American Medical Association</a>, which can increase the risk of obesity and decrease the production of melatonin. Exposure to artificial outdoor light at night is also associated with increased obesity, depression, anxiety, memory dysfunction, atherosclerosis and cancer, the Rush University Medical Center says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">Surprising Fact</h2>



Singapore, Qatar and Kuwait are among the most light polluted countries in the world, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/light-pollution/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">Tangent</h2>



Sea turtles have long been studied as a species dramatically impacted by light pollution. Female sea turtles lay their eggs on beaches and their hatchlings navigate toward the sea by using the natural light of the moon to orient themselves away from land and toward the sea. When artificial light sources are introduced and mimic that natural light, however, newly hatched turtles become disoriented and can accidentally navigate away from the sea—a mistake <a href="https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-artificial-lighting/#:~:text=Lighting%20near%20the%20shore%20also,is%20usually%20over%20the%20ocean." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most don’t survive</a>. Similarly, about 10,000 migratory birds are hurt or killed each year by crashing into skyscrapers and high-rise buildings after being confused by brightly lit buildings, according to a study published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2627884/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Library of Medicine</a>.

Neurology research, conceptual image

Alzheimer’s Risk Linked To Light Pollution, New Study Finds

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



The first mRNA mpox vaccine to be pitted against licensed vaccines beat its rivals by easing symptoms and potentially cutting transmission, according to new research published Tuesday, a coup for manufacturer Moderna as it strives to prove itself beyond COVID-19 amid efforts to contain an escalating outbreak of mpox in Africa.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



The peer reviewed study, published in the journal Cell, marks the first time an mRNA vaccine has been directly compared to the already-licenced shot, Bavarian Nordic’s modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine, sold under brand names Jynneos, Imvamune and Imvanex, in nonhuman primates, said Moderna virology researcher and author Alec Freyn.



To test the two shots, researchers from Moderna, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Boston University gave each vaccine to six macaques, exposing them to a lethal strain of the virus eight weeks later and monitoring their health and blood for signs of an immune response for another month.



All animals vaccinated with Bavarian Nordic’s MVA shot and Moderna’s experimental vaccine, mRNA-1769, survived the trial, while five of the six macaques in an unvaccinated control group died from the disease, researchers said, and the Moderna group had higher numbers of antibodies in blood samples, suggesting a stronger immune response.



As well as preventing lethal infections, the researchers said Moderna’s investigational vaccine reduced disease severity compared to the licensed shot—mRNA-immunized macaques had a maximum of 54 mpox lesions compared to 607 in the Bavarian group and 1,448 in the unvaccinated group—and shortened disease duration by more than 10 days.



Macaques in the mRNA group also had lower amounts of the mpox virus in both their blood and throat swabs, suggesting Moderna’s vaccine could also be effective at reducing virus transmission.



“With the mRNA technology, we&#8217;re able to produce a vaccine that gives quite potent responses with a very tolerable safety profile,” said senior author Jay Hooper, a virologist at USAMRIID, adding that an mRNA shot could help prevent the disease spreading without the safety issues that prevent widespread use of some other vaccines used for mpox, such as Emergent BioSolutions’ smallpox shot ACAM2000.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. In August, the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/08/16/who-declares-mpox-a-public-health-emergency-heres-what-to-know/">declared</a>&nbsp;a growing outbreak in central Africa a public health emergency of international concern. It is the second time the agency has made such a warning, the highest level of alert it can sound under international law, in as many years, following a global outbreak in 2022. That&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/08/21/mpox-explained-key-details-on-latest-virus-outbreak/">outbreak</a>, which predominantly affected gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, was driven by a different and milder variant behind the outbreak we are seeing now, which data suggests could kill as many as 10% of people it infects. Young children, pregnant people and those with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk and symptoms of infection include a fever, swollen lymph nodes and characteristic, pus-filled rash. The virus spreads primarily through close contact with infected people, animals or contaminated materials like towels and while the variant was historically limited to small outbreaks in central Africa, it appears to have mutated into a more transmissible form.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-news-peg">News Peg</h2>



The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been at least 17,500 cases and 517 deaths from the virus in 2024 alone, though officials acknowledge surveillance is limited and warn the figure is potentially much higher. Amid ongoing outbreaks of the clade IIb virus variant responsible for the 2022 global outbreak, a handful of clade Ib infections have since been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/08/21/mpox-explained-key-details-on-latest-virus-outbreak/">reported</a>&nbsp;outside of Africa, including in Sweden and Thailand, though most are still located within the Democratic Republic of Congo and nearby countries. While there are a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/08/22/mpox-vaccine-maker-bavarian-nordic-shares-soar-amid-concern-over-virus-outbreak/">number</a>&nbsp;of authorized vaccines for use against mpox, constraints like cost, availability or suitability have hindered widespread uptake. Supplies of the preferred shot, Bavarian Nordic’s MVA vaccine, are limited, for example, and it is relatively expensive and has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/cases-data/JYNNEOS-vaccine-effectiveness.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">limited</a>&nbsp;effectiveness at reducing the severity of symptoms and curbing transmissibility. Emergent’s ACAM2000, on the other hand, is in plentiful supply due to stockpiling against a potential smallpox threat and can cut the risk of transmission effectively but the risk of severe side effects may make widespread use inappropriate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">What To Watch For</h2>



The tests Moderna are conducting in nonhuman primates are being run&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/new-mpox-vaccine-being-tested-in-the-uk/35622" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">alongside tests</a>&nbsp;in humans. The company’s mRNA-1796 shot is being assessed in an early stage clinical trial to determine safety, tolerability and immune response over a range of doses. The outcomes of this will determine the trajectory of future trials for the vaccine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-mrna-vaccines-work">How Do Mrna Vaccines Work?</h2>



Vaccines train your body to fight off pathogens in a safer way than if they were encountered naturally. This involves presenting the immune system with something it would later recognize and respond to if encountered at a later date, giving it a head start to help prevent infection entirely or reduce disease transmissibility and the severity of symptoms. Most vaccines make use of a weakened or inactivated (killed) version of the disease-causing germ, or a specific part of the germ like a protein or sugar, to spark an immune response, which impose limits on how fast a new shot can be developed and scaled up. mRNA shots work by providing instructions to the body allowing it to produce part of the germ itself, triggering an immune response without needing any exposure to the germ. By nature, mRNA shots can be more flexible and specific than shots using the entire virus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-mrna-vaccines-help-tackle-emerging-pandemics">Can Mrna Vaccines Help Tackle Emerging Pandemics?</h2>



The swift development, testing and approval of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic was a landmark moment for public health and the first time mRNA shots had been authorized after decades of struggles and setbacks. The scalability of mRNA vaccines outpaced more traditional methods, illustrating why experts now believe the technology platform will be a crucial tool for tackling emerging pandemic <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/03/gsk-secures-mrna-vaccines-for-bird-flu-covid-and-seasonal-flu-from-struggling-biotech-curevac/">threats</a>. Many experts and health groups like the <a href="https://www.who.int/activities/prioritizing-diseases-for-research-and-development-in-emergency-contexts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (<a href="https://cepi.net/priority-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEPI</a>) flag diseases like <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/02/moderna-scores-federal-funding-for-mrna-bird-flu-vaccine-as-pandemic-fears-grow/">bird flu</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/22/what-to-know-about-the-deadly-nipah-virus-as-india-races-to-contain-another-outbreak/">Nipah</a>, Lassa Fever, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/03/27/what-is-marburg-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-killer-ebola-like-virus-spreading-in-parts-of-africa/">Ebola and Marburg</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/10/23/us-scientists-deliberately-infected-people-with-zika-heres-why/">Zika</a>, coronaviruses like COVID-19, SARS and MERS and Rift Valley fever as urgent priorities for research given their high potential to seed future pandemics and the absence of countermeasures. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/05/22/british-scientists-warned-monkeypox-would-fill-void-left-smallpox/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some experts</a> have long <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/05/27/1101751627/scientists-warned-us-about-monkeypox-in-1988-heres-why-they-were-right" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warned</a> one of humanity’s greatest public health achievements—the eradication of smallpox through a highly successful vaccination campaign—has potentially left the world vulnerable to outbreaks of related diseases that can exploit our lack of immunity now that we no longer immunize ourselves against it. Mpox, an Orthopoxvirus like smallpox virus variola, is one such threat, and there are many other viruses in the group like camelpox, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/02/12/what-to-know-about-alaskapox-after-officials-confirm-first-death-from-recently-discovered-virus/">Alaskapox</a>, cowpox, rabbitpox, dolphinpox and horsepox, some of which are known to infect humans and for which the risks are Blood serum from vaccinated macaques “neutralized not only mpox but also vaccinia, cowpox, rabbitpox, camelpox, and ectromelia virus,” Freyn said, a sign the vaccine would convey at least some protection against the virus. “We believe that this vaccine may protect from other Orthopoxvirus threats that may emerge in the future,” he said.

A Covid-19 Vaccination Site As Children Under 5-Years Old Become Eligible For Shot

Moderna’s First mRNA Mpox Vaccine Beats Licensed Rival Shots In Early Testing

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



Managing the early stages of medication abortion care at home later in pregnancy is safe and cuts down time spent in hospital, according to new research&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01079-1/fulltext" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">published</a>&nbsp;on Thursday, which researchers say could boost access to the procedure as reproductive rights stand out as a key issue in the 2024 election.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



Almost all abortions in the United States are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/data-statistics/abortion-surveillance-findings-reports.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">performed</a>&nbsp;at or before 13 weeks of pregnancy—the first trimester—according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and clinical guidelines typically recommend the procedure be performed exclusively in clinical settings after the 12-week mark so patients can remain under observation.



Medication abortions involve taking two types of pills to end pregnancy—mifepristone, which blocks a hormone needed for pregnancy to continue, and misoprostol, which makes the womb contract—and for abortions after 12 weeks patients are usually given mifepristone in a clinic and return to a day or two later to receive misoprostol until the procedure is complete, a process that frequently requires an overnight stay in hospital.



Based on a randomized control trial of 435 women having a medical abortion between 12 and 22 weeks published in the Lancet medical journal, researchers from universities and hospitals in Sweden found medical abortions conducted after 12 weeks of pregnancy were as safe and as effective when misoprostol was started at home instead of in hospital and that women managing the early stages of care at home spent less time in hospital.



Of the pregnant people starting misoprostol at home and returning to clinics to receive further doses—several are usually required to complete the procedure—71% spent fewer than nine hours in hospital, compared to 46% of those in the hospital treatment group, the peer reviewed study showed.



There were no differences in the pain reported by patients in either group, the type and number of side effects or rates of hospital admission earlier than what was planned, the researchers said, adding that a follow up survey revealed 78% of the home group said they preferred their allocated treatment option compared to just 49% of the hospital group.



One of the study’s authors Johanna Rydelius, a gynecologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and researcher at the University of Gothenburg, said the findings offer a safe alternative to a practice that often requires overnight stays many women “find stressful and isolating” and could potentially lead to more “feelings of autonomy during a time where women can feel extremely vulnerable.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h2>



“Increasing access to abortion later in pregnancy is a crucial component of the struggle for reproductive autonomy,” said Heidi Moseson and Caitlin Gerdts, researchers at Ibis Reproductive Health, a U.S. non-profit reproductive health research organization, in a linked comment piece published alongside the study in the Lancet. Given the “overwhelming preference for at-home” misoprostol administration among the pregnant people involved in the study, Moseson and Gerdts, who were not involved in the research, said reforming guidance and “moving towards a less clinically supervised model of medical abortion care later in pregnancy is an important first step” for improving access.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-do-current-guidelines-recommend-facility-based-medication-abortions-after-12-weeks">Why Do Current Guidelines Recommend Facility-Based Medication Abortions After 12 Weeks?</h2>



This is because of the greater risk of complications the procedure carries in later stages of pregnancy that may require additional care. This could include pain, bleeding, infection or an incomplete abortion (material remaining). But despite “profound” implications for access, the requirement to administer medications in clinical settings is “driven primarily by the absence of data on alternative models of care,” Moseson and Gerdts explained. This system “limits the number and type of facilities that can offer abortion care after 12 weeks,” they added, pointing to limited bed spaces and staffing requirements needed to keep people overnight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, many states across the U.S. have harshly restricted access to abortion. The procedure is now&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/jul/29/abortion-laws-bans-by-state" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">banned</a>&nbsp;from conception in 14 states and from six weeks—a time many people are not even aware they are pregnant—in four states, with the future of abortion uncertain in a handful of other states due to legal challenges. While exceptions are made under limited circumstances in states banning abortion, these vary by state and clinicians and health experts have complained the vague or inconsistent language setting out exceptions are out of touch with medical reality and unworkable in practice. This fits within broader efforts to roll back reproductive care even further, such as Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2qq1wqw3w2o" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">attempts</a>&nbsp;to restrict access to mifepristone. The matter has polarized the country and both Democrats and Republicans have seized upon reproductive healthcare as a major dividing issue for the upcoming presidential election.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">Big Number</h2>



625,978. That’s how many legal induced abortions there were in the U.S. in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/data-statistics/abortion-surveillance-findings-reports.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the CDC, excluding California, Maryland, New Hampshire and New Jersey, which did not submit data to the agency. Almost all of these, 93.5%, happened at or before 13 weeks.

Woman holding pills and glass of water while standing in kitchen at home

Self-Managing Some Abortion Care Later In Pregnancy Is Safe, Effective And Boosts Access, Researchers Say

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called for expanded military operations in the West Bank as the country’s forces conducted a series of major raids and air strikes in the occupied territory on Wednesday, which Palestinian authorities say have resulted in at least nine deaths so far.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-08-28-2024-41d98ed3cda2ba4a783913b06fbdc7d1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;the Associated Press, the Israeli military confirmed its operations in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank—with the governor of Jenin announcing on local radio that the IDF had surrounded the city and closed off all main roads.



The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, said the raids have resulted in at least nine deaths—two in Jenin and seven in the city of Tubas.



In an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-08-28/ty-article-live/israel-launches-counterterror-op-in-west-bank-palestinians-say-at-least-four-killed/00000191-96c7-d13a-ab93-def775cb0000?liveBlogItemId=743582086&amp;utm_source=site&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=live_blog_item#743582086" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>, the Israeli military said it had killed five terrorists in an airstrike near the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem.



Katz also confirmed the Israeli raid into refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm in an X&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Israel_katz/status/1828654399360586025" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>, saying the IDF is working to dismantle the “Iranian-backed terror network” in the West Bank.



Citing a military source, the Times of Israel reported that the IDF’s raid in the West Bank is expected to last several days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">News Peg</h2>



In his&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Israel_katz/status/1828654399360586025" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;confirming the West Bank raids, the Israeli foreign minister suggested more should be done to deal with the “threat” in the West Bank, the same “as we deal with terror infrastructure in Gaza.” Katz suggested this should include the “temporary evacuation of Palestinian civilians” from the West Bank and “any other step needed.” Katz claims Iran was attempting to establish another front against Israel in the West Bank following the “model it used in Lebanon and Gaza, by financing and arming terrorists and smuggling advanced weapons from Jordan.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Number</h2>



652. That is the total number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza in October last year, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. In Gaza, more than 40,400 people have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/least-7-killed-israeli-strikes-west-bank-2024-08-28/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">died</a>&nbsp;since the start of the conflict, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The death toll numbers do not separate combatants and non-combatants, however, in May the UN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240514-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-white-house-sees-no-genocide-in-gaza-condemns-aid-convoy-attacks" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;at least 56% of the victims are women and children.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Background</h2>



The strikes and raids in the West Bank come amid concerns of an expanded conflict in the region as a ceasefire in Gaza remains distant. Over the weekend, Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/08/25/major-israel-hezbollah-escalation-fire-exchanged-as-wider-war-feared/">conducted airstrikes</a>&nbsp;on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, claiming it was a preemptive action to prevent an attack by the Iran-backed militant group. Hezbollah responded to the strikes by firing multiple rockets into Israel, raising fears of an all-out war between the two sides.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-08-28-2024-41d98ed3cda2ba4a783913b06fbdc7d1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Palestinian officials say Israeli raids across the occupied West Bank have killed 9</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)

Israeli army raids Jenin in West Bank

Israeli Minister Calls For Gaza-Like Action In West Bank As IDF Conducts Major Raid

The time to plan for the sudden influx of aged and dated solar materials is now– Africa can’t afford to become a toxic dumping ground for the e-waste detritus left behind by solar.



Over the past few years, Africa’s corporates and consumers went solar at an unprecedented speed. Statista found that as of the end of 2022, South Africa was in the lead with more than 6 gigawatts followed by Egypt (1.7 gigawatts), Morocco with 858 megawatts, Algeria with 460 megawatts and Senegal at 263 megawatts. The total gigawatts across the continent have increased significantly over the past 10 years from only 331 megawatts in 2011 to 12.6 gigawatts in 2022 – a 16-fold capacity increase. Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Tanzania are currently expected to see the most rapid transitions to clean energy by 2030, while Namibia’s growth is the fourth-fastest in the world as per research group Zero Carbon Analytics’ 2023 report Africa’s Energy Transition: Solar and Wind Fuel Energy Security.



The region is gaining traction. Research from the above report found that deployment of solar energy is the fastest-growing resource on the continent and accounted for 57% of renewable investments between 2010 and 2021. Investments in the off-grid sector were the highest in Africa over a similar 10-year period (2010-2020) at 70% and a value of $1.7 billion. When this level of investment is wedded to the life-span of the technologies used to power solar panels and farms, there’s another question companies and governments should be asking about solar – where’s the bin? If millions of solar panels and batteries are being imported into Africa, with a lifespan of around 20 years, what is being done to ensure that countries investing heavily in solar today are putting the right recycling plans in place?



“Typically, when we speak about solar waste, it includes solar panels, PV panels, inverters, solar PV batteries, rooftop solar frames, ground-based frames, junction boxes and embedded cables,” Mervin Olivier, Eastern Cape Chair at the Institute of Waste Man- agement of Southern Africa, tells FORBES AFRICA. “There’s a lot of solar waste and typically people just talk about the PV panel. As they reach end of life, thousands of panels will need replacing and recycling will become absolutely critical.”



The International Renewable Energy Agency has predicted that by 2050, 78 million metric tons of solar panels will reach the end of their lives. The issue is the toxicity of the materials within solar installations. Solar panels have lead, cadmium, silver, and arsenic that, at certain levels, are quantified as hazardous waste, the batteries used to power solar installations are lithium-ion phos- phate batteries which are flammable, and difficult to contain. The problem is that most solar panels and their detritus are dumped in landfills because there’s no profit in their ethical dismantling and destruction – the few precious metals locked within the e-waste are difficult to extract and their value too low for the effort.



“Solar PV panels contain aluminium and glass which can be re- cycled, but the harmful chemicals in the batteries and the panels are difficult to recycle, which is why a lot of companies in Europe are sending them to countries in Africa, like Ghana, where they strip elements like copper out of the equipment and sell it,” Minnette Le Roux, Head of the Environment Department, Principal Environ- mental Specialist at law and consultancy advisory firm NSDV tells FORBES AFRICA. 



“Then counties in Africa are left sitting with these massive amounts of hazardous waste. Some countries in Africa are part of the Basel Convention preventing the transport of waste but some are not part of the convention and accept the hazardous waste. There are no plants in Africa that actually recycle what’s left of the batteries – this is one of the biggest concerns – and no landfill sites designed to handle this type of waste.”



It’s a sentiment echoed by Ashley du Plooy, CEO at ERA NPC (E-waste Recycling Authority), who adds that countries like Nigeria and Ghana have become major dumping grounds for electronic waste with strips of urban land covered in e-waste that’s being smashed and burned for the extraction of metals. “Quantifying the problem is very difficult,” he says. “Especially since solar waste is new and growing at a pace four times higher than solid municipal waste.”



Solar waste across all its iterations is a growing risk to human and environmental health across Africa. As solar installations reach end of life, particularly over the next few years, there’s a need for innovative startups to step up and help reframe the con- versation for the continent.



One such startup is EWaste Africa and Managing Director Pravashen Naidoo tells FORBES AFRICA: “In the past 12 months, we recycled close to 16,000 solar panels. I think we’re the first in Africa doing this – we haven’t been able to find anyone else doing it and getting the financial value from the process.” EWaste Africa is ISO 14001 compliant with a focus on environmental compli- ance, and one of its facilities is currently commissioning a patented technology for the extraction of rare earth metals and can be used to transform significant quantities of electronic waste.



“Government landfill sites are not designed with the right levels and layers to handle these hazardous materials, and with nearly 17 million installed panels as of the end of 2023, we need to make a plan that works,” says Naidoo. As Olivier concludes: “It’s essential that African countries develop a solar panel end-of-life plan similar to one recently published by Australia. 



More of a focus on enforcement to ensure compliance, and increased consumer pressure holding manufac- turers responsible – and this includes importers and distributors. They need to provide safe transportation of old materials and drive the implementation of a lifecycle methodology with cradle- to-the-grave opportunities.” There is, he says, time to prepare, innovate and implement a responsible plan before the waste tsunami hits. But will people listen?

A view of discarded solar panel components below a power

After Solar, Comes Lead: Why Africa Can’t Afford To Become A Toxic Dumping Ground For E-Waste

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



The World Health Organization declared an international health emergency Wednesday over an escalating mpox outbreak in Africa, joining the continent’s&nbsp;<a href="https://africacdc.org/news-item/africa-cdc-declares-mpox-a-public-health-emergency-of-continental-security-mobilizing-resources-across-the-continent/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">top public health body</a>—warning the disease could snowball without immediate steps to contain it and stoking fears a deadlier mpox pandemic could be on the horizon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Union’s health watchdog and the top public health body on the continent, said a growing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries constitutes a “public health emergency of continental security” on Tuesday.



The emergency designation is the agency’s first since launching in 2017 and comes amid growing concern among scientists over the rapid, unchecked spread of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/06/26/dangerous-new-mpox-virus-sparks-global-outbreak-fears/">concerning mpox strain</a>&nbsp;that is more lethal than the version of the virus responsible for the global outbreak in 2022.



The variant, called mpox clade Ib (1B), is an offshoot of the clade I virus that has caused sporadic outbreaks in the DRC for decades and appears to spread more easily between people through routine close contact, especially among children.



Clade I infections have historically been confined to central Africa, predominantly the DRC, but the Africa CDC said the disease has now spread beyond Congo to at least 13 countries, with four—Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya—<a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1153141" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reporting</a>&nbsp;their very first clade I cases in recent months.



Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya&nbsp;<a href="https://africacdc.org/news-item/speech-of-the-director-general-africa-cdc-on-the-declaration-of-mpox-as-a-public-health-emergency-of-continental-security-phecs/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">stressed</a>&nbsp;the declaration is “not merely a formality” but a “clarion call to action” in recognition of a “crisis that demands our collective action.”



Kaseya said “there is no need for travel restrictions at this time,” adding the decision will unlock funding and other resources and mobilize institutions in affected countries to empower health officials to act “swiftly and decisively” in the face of outbreaks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-news-peg">News Peg</h2>



WHO’s emergency committee met Wednesday and declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, which is “the highest level of alarm under international health law,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director general, said during a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/WHO/status/1823771400420909265" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">press conference</a>. This is the second time the agency has declared a global mpox outbreak: WHO declared a PHEIC in July 2022 and lifted the designation roughly a year later in May 2023. “In addition to other outbreaks of other clades of mpox in other parts of Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,&#8221; Tedros said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-bad-is-the-outbreak-in-africa">How Bad Is The Outbreak In Africa?</h2>



At least 13 African countries have reported clade I mpox infections and in 2024 so far there have been 2,863 cases and 517 deaths. Most of these have been in the DRC, the Africa CDC said. Given limited capacity for testing to confirm infections genetically, confirmed cases give only a limited picture. Suspected cases on the continent are in excess of 17,000 this year so far, up from just under 15,000 for all of 2023 and around 7,150 for 2022. Africa CDC said “this is just the tip of the iceberg” given the “many weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory testing and contact tracing.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-mpox-and-how-can-it-be-stopped">What Is Mpox And How Can It Be Stopped?</h2>



Mpox is a disease formerly known as monkeypox. Symptoms include a fever, swollen lymph nodes and characteristic rash and the disease follows infection with the monkeypox virus, typically through close contact with infected humans, animals or contaminated materials like bed linen. The disease is normally mild but can kill, with young children and people with compromised immune systems especially vulnerable. The virus is a close relative of smallpox, one of the deadliest human pathogens and the only infectious human disease to have been eradicated, though it is much less severe (smallpox killed around a third of people infected in the best cases). There are two broad groups of monkeypox virus that cause mpox infections: clade I and clade II. Data suggests infections with the former has a fatality rate of around 10% and the rate for clade II is less than 1%. Specific treatments for infection are limited and largely untested, especially in mpox clade I infections, and hospitals are mostly restricted to providing supportive care in the worst cases. Smallpox vaccines have been shown to provide at least some degree of protection against infection, though data is limited, particularly for clade I infections. As smallpox was eradicated globally in 1980, and eliminated in many countries much earlier, many people alive today have not received a vaccine for the virus or, if they have, will have done so a long time ago. Other preventative measures include avoiding bushmeat, potentially infected animals and avoiding unprotected close contact with those who appear infected or materials they’ve come into contact with.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">Tangent</h2>



Many older smallpox vaccines are kept as a biosecurity measure in national stockpiles but are not considered appropriate to use in most circumstances given the strong risk of potentially severe side effects. A more modern vaccine, produced by Bavarian Nordic, is an improvement on these and was rolled out during the global outbreak in 2022, but supplies are limited and the shots can be costly for poorer nations dealing with mpox outbreaks like many of those in Africa. Complicating matters is that many of these countries also lack the basic health infrastructure to deliver the shots to those who need them in order to stamp out outbreaks effectively, particularly in rural areas. Supplies are likely to be an ongoing issue. Kaseya said the Africa CDC has signed a deal for 215,000 vaccines that are available now with Bavarian Nordic, with further plans to secure 3 million doses this year. Kaseya did not disclose details of plans to secure another 3 million doses this year and even if it materializes it falls&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africa-cdc-declares-mpox-public-health-emergency-continental-security-director-2024-08-13/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">far short</a>&nbsp;of the more than 10 million doses Kaseya said will be needed on the continent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Scientists have been aware of mpox for decades, but the disease has garnered relatively little international attention as outbreaks have typically been small in scope and limited to regions in central and western Africa, for clade I and II, respectively. Most cases were linked to spillover infections from animals and though scientists still aren’t clear what animals are the natural reservoirs of the virus, rodents are the primary suspect. That all changed in 2022 when the virus began spreading globally, predominantly, though not exclusively, in networks of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. The virus, an offshoot of clade II called clade IIb, appeared to be better able to spread among people and through sexual contact, a previously undocumented means of transmission.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h2>



“This is not just another challenge; it is a crisis that demands our collective action, a moment that calls upon the very essence of our humanity, our unity, and our strength,” Kaseya said when announcing the emergency declaration. “Our continent has seen many struggles,” Kaseya said, pointing to pandemics, outbreaks, natural disasters and conflicts, adding that “through every adversity, we have risen, not as fragmented nations, but as one Africa.” He urged nations to “summon that same spirit of solidarity” to tackle the mpox outbreak. “But let me be clear: this is not just an African issue. Mpox is a global threat,” Kaseya stressed, calling on nations around the world to help the continent combat the disease.

Monkeypox Virus Photo Illustrations

WHO Declares Mpox A Public Health Emergency—Here’s What To Know

In an unprecedented move, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security – the first since the agency’s inception in 2017.



&#8220;This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most,&#8221; said Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya during an online media briefing late yesterday announcing the emergency, noting that currently, travel restrictions were not required.



The declaration, which will allow the organization to empower and coordinate resources in response to the Mpox outbreak, comes as 13 countries on the continent have reported cases, with the total exceeding 17,000, the majority being registered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). However, the actual numbers could be higher due to a lack of consistent contact tracing and surveillance in many regions.



The situation has also deteriorated in countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, where the virus has crossed borders, leading to an alarming rise in infections.



&#8220;This is not just another challenge; it’s a crisis that demands our collective action,” continued Kaseya. Africa CDC&#8217;s declaration underscores the severity of the Mpox outbreak, with the number of cases skyrocketing by 160% in the past year alone. According to the latest CDC data as of August 4, 2024, there have been 38,465 cases of Mpox and 1,456 deaths in Africa since January 2022. Experts warn that the true scale of the outbreak might be far worse, given the gaps in monitoring and reporting systems across the continent.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-background">Background</h4>



Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox. The virus has mutated into different clades, with the current outbreak predominantly linked to the Clade Ib subclade, which has spread rapidly across Central and Western Africa. The virus is transmitted through close physical contact, resulting in symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and large boil-like skin lesions.



In response to the crisis, Africa CDC has coordinated with international partners, including the European Commission and Bavarian Nordic, to secure 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine, the only FDA and EMA-approved Mpox vaccine. This donation comes at a crucial time, as the continent grapples with the rapid spread of the virus and the limited availability of vaccines. The vaccine distribution will prioritize the most-affected regions, aiming to curb the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable populations.



Stella Kyriakides, the European Union Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in this effort in a press release announcing the donation earlier today: &#8220;Strong global partnerships are at the very core of our European Health Union. Health security threats know no borders and today… Preparedness and response to health threats is a global endeavour which we are determined to pursue collectively and with solidarity across borders.&#8221;

Spain Sets Up Monkeypox Testing Site As Cases on The Rise

Mpox Declared Public Health Emergency By Africa CDC: ‘Crisis That Demands Collective Action’ As 13 African Countries Report Cases

As the competition narrowed to the final three throws, Annette Echikunwoke emerged as the leader with a throw that positioned her for a silver medal. The field had already seen four competitors eliminated. However, it was Canada&#8217;s Camryn Rogers who shifted the dynamics with her fifth attempt, taking the lead.



American athlete Annette Echikunwoke, born to Nigerian parents, made history at the Paris Olympics by winning the silver medal in the women&#8217;s hammer throw, marking the first-ever medal for her country in this event.



Echikunwoke’s performance at the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Oregon, set the stage for her Olympic success. Her first throw of 245 feet (74.68m) was unbeatable through all six heats.



For the 28-year-old athlete, this was her second Olympic qualification but her first time competing.&nbsp;



Initially set to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Games, which took place in 2021, Echikunwoke faced disqualification due to an administrative oversight that resulted in missed doping screenings for her and several other Nigerian athletes.



“It&#8217;s such a great honor,&#8221; she reportedly said of her historic win. &#8220;All I can do in my heart is to be so grateful to God for putting me in this situation, quite honestly. I&#8217;m so excited and grateful that I get to bring this home for Team USA and to be the first [USA medal winner] is pretty insane. Something that will go down in history. I&#8217;m just happy to be a part of it.&#8221;

Athletics – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 11

Bouncing Back From Tokyo Setback To Win USA’s First Women’s Hammer Throw Medal In Paris Olympics

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



Drug manufacturers have created updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccines to protect against currently circulating variants, and the shots—which have shown to be more effective than the now-available vaccines—are expected to be available as soon as this month.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



New COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 fall and winter respiratory virus season were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/06/05/fda-panel-recommends-new-covid-vaccines-for-jn1-lineage-by-fall/">recommended</a>&nbsp;by the Food and Drug Administration, and the agency advised Americans to take the vaccines when they become available.



COVID-19 cases&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/covid-19-can-surge-throughout-the-year.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">historically spike</a>&nbsp;during the fall and winter months around the same time as flu and respiratory syncytial virus season, so the updated vaccines are expected to be available ahead of this to help curb an uptick in cases.



The FDA originally recommended the vaccines target the coronavirus’ JN.1 variant, but later changed this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2024?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">recommendation</a>&nbsp;to advise manufacturers to focus on the KP.2 strain of the JN line after reviewing updated case data.



Both <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/179142/download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moderna</a> and <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/179144/download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pfizer</a> said they were prepared to formulate either vaccine—and will make KP.2 vaccines after the FDA’s updated guidance—while <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/179143/download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novavax</a> said its manufacturing for a JN.1 shot is already underway and it won’t have a KP.2-specific shot ready in time for the fall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">When Will The Vaccines Be Available?</h2>



Each drug manufacturer gave different <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/06/05/fda-panel-recommends-new-covid-vaccines-for-jn1-lineage-by-fall/%5C">timelines</a> for when their respective vaccines will be ready during a June meeting with the FDA. Pfizer said its vaccine will be available this fall ahead of flu season. Moderna said its shot will be available as soon as August, while Novavax gave a September 1 deadline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who Is Eligible For The Vaccines?</h2>



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">recommends</a>&nbsp;everyone six months and older to get an updated vaccine regardless of if they were previously vaccinated. Both&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2024/Moderna-Files-FDA-Application-for-the-JN.1-Targeting-COVID-19-Vaccine/default.aspx" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Moderna</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-receive-positive-chmp-opinion-omicron-3" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Pfizer’s</a>&nbsp;vaccines will be available for people six months and older, while&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.novavax.com/press-releases/U-S-ACIP-Recommends-Use-of-Authorized-and-Approved-2024-2025-COVID-19-Vaccines#:~:text=Novavax%20intends%20to%20provide%20doses,individuals%20aged%2012%20and%20older." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Novavax’s</a>&nbsp;shot will be directed towards those 12 years and older.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Are The Vaccines Free?</h2>



No, the vaccines won’t be free like they were in previous years, though their price isn’t known yet. The shots will be covered for people with Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans like they were in the past,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/getting-your-covid-19-vaccine.html#:~:text=Paying%20for%20COVID%2D19%20vaccines,%2C%20Medicare%2C%20and%20Medicaid%20plans." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the CDC. The CDC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bridge Access Program</a>&nbsp;offered free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured adults in the past. It was set to end in December, but the agency announced it would shut down in August due to lack of funding. However, Biden administration officials are looking into acquiring permanent funding so a similar vaccine program will be offered to adults who don’t have insurance, the CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/05/22/cdc-covid-bridge-access-program-ending/73733643007/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;USA Today. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/about/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Vaccines for Children Program</a>&nbsp;will continue providing free vaccines to children of parents who can’t afford coverage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Effective Are The Vaccines?</h2>



Though the now-available vaccines—originally created to combat the XBB.1.5 variant—are effective at protecting against the JN lineage, the updated vaccines from all three manufacturers offered greater protection. Moderna’s KP.2 vaccine was up to <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/179143/download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eight times</a> more effective at protecting mice against JN variants than its XBB.1.5 vaccine. When compared to its now-available XBB vaccine, Pfizer’s KP.2 COVID-19 vaccine offered up to a 7.3-times stronger response to mice infected with KP.2 and several other JN variants, according to <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/179144/download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trial data</a>. Novavax scientists gave mice an XBB.1.5 vaccine and then administered the JN.1 shot 11 months after. The JN.1 vaccine was up to <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/179143/download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">48 times</a> more effective at protecting against the JN lineage than the initial XBB.1.5 shot.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Background</h2>



Both KP.2 and JN.1 are descendants of the omicron COVID-19 variant. KP.2 was the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/05/22/covids-new-flirt-variants-what-to-know-as-experts-fear-summer-surge/?sh=59372a3dd705">most dominant</a>&nbsp;variant circulating in the U.S. in May, June and most of July. However as of August 3 it’s only the fifth most prominent variant, while three of its descendants are the first, second and fourth most dominant strains, according to CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">data</a>. JN.1 was the leading variant during the spring, but now makes up less than 1% of cases. KP.2 and its offsprings are descendants of JN.1 and only have a few different mutations, so a JN.1-specific vaccine should offer some protection against these variants,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/other/ema-confirms-its-recommendation-update-antigenic-composition-authorised-covid-19-vaccines-2024-2025_en.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the European Medicines Agency.

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Updated COVID Vaccines Are Coming: Effectiveness, Who’s Eligible And More

Navigating the complexities of our future is big business – and big money. Here are some of the more eminent global futurists offering fresh insights into future tech and a better tomorrow.



At the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, there’s one particular session where people start queueing around four in the morning to get a seat. It’s not one of the big-name music performances or a movie screening with awards buzz, it’s a keynote by Amy Webb.



Webb, who is the founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute (FTI), is a futurist. She’s a professor of strategic foresight, a data and research-driven field that unpacks what could be in an increasingly complex world. Webb’s 2024 Tech Trends Report, which is downloaded more than a million times every year, is made up of just under a thou- sand pages of insights businesses rely on to navigate the future.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
IN HER TALK AT SXSW, AMY WEBB SAID THAT THE NEXT STAGE OF AI IS MERGING DIGITAL SUPERCOMPUTERS WITH HUMAN TISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING WEBB REFERS TO AS ORGANOID INTELLIGENCE, OR O-AI. SHE PREDICTS THAT BY 2039, O-AI WILL BECOME THE FOREFRONT OF COMPUTATIONAL EVOLUTION, MERGING HUMAN-LIKE DECISION-MAKING CAPABILITIES WITH THE SPEED OF TRADITIONAL COMPUTERS. IN SIMPLE TERMS, WEBB SAYS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE BIOCOMPUTERS OUT OF HUMAN BRAIN CELLS – WE WILL GROW COMPUTERS RATHER THAN BUILD THEM.
</blockquote>



Predicting what comes next may be big business but it’s not necessarily new. While modern futurists use data to forecast pos- sible future scenarios and spot emerging opportunities, the science of probability – long-term planning – has been around since the 1940s. And before futurology became an academic field and job role, science fiction authors like H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and Arthur C. Clarke, were recognized as futurists with an uncanny ability to foresee the world to come. Today, there are a number of well-known futurists sought out by industry giants (and the government) to steer business strategy and adapt to disruptive change. Businesses are hiring futurists to tell them the things they don’t want to hear so that they can prepare for unfore- seen inevitabilities.



Meet the futurists



As the founder of Singularity University and the XPRIZE Foundation, Peter Diamandis is a Silicon Valley digital futurist and engineer who has started over 25 companies. Now in his 60s, Diamandis (whose net worth has been reported to be around $200 million) has many innova- tive projects underway. While tickets to attend his membership-only Abundance Summit begin at $10,000, Diamandis is attempting to change the world with his large-scale XPRIZE competitions that tackle domains like climate, space, biodiversity and deep tech. According to the Key Speakers Bureau, Diamandis’ speaking fee starts at $60,000 – and that’s for a virtual, not in-person, appearance.



As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more and more popular, there’s a good chance that futurist Ray Kurzweil will be mentioned. Kurzweil, who has received 20 honorary doctorates is a computer scientist and futurist with a 30-year track record of accurate predic- tions – his written predictions, of which there are 147, have an 86% accuracy rate. Kurzweil’s first predictions around AI came out in 1999 and while many people felt that his views were radical when he said that computers would be as intelligent as humans, his estimated date of 2029 doesn’t seem so far off. Kurzweil’s net worth is reportedly around $30 million, most of which comes from the four companies he success- fully founded based on his research and academic prizes. One of his boldest predictions is that immortality will be achievable by 2030 with nanobots – tiny robots that can repair human bodies on a cellular level.



In an interview, he famously said: “By the time we get to the 2040s, we’ll be able to multiply human intelligence a billionfold. That will be a profound change that’s singular in nature. Computers are going to keep getting smaller and smaller. Ultimately, they will go inside our bodies and brains and make us healthier, make us smarter.”



Webb, who has been called ‘one of the five women changing the world’, recently wrote a book called The Genesis Machine with fellow futurist, Andrew Hessel. The book, which won a Gold Axiom Medal, explores synthetic biology, a controversial and emerging techno-science. Biotech, which is something both Webb and Hessel focus on, was a key part of Webb’s 2024 Tech Trends Report. In her talk at SXSW, she said that the next stage of AI is merging digital supercomputers with human tissue. This is something Webb refers to as organoid intelligence, or O-AI. She predicts that by 2039, O-AI will become the forefront of computational evolution, merging human-like decision-making capabilities with the speed of traditional computers. 



In simple terms, Webb says that we will be able to make biocomputers out of human brain cells – we will grow computers rather than build them. Hessel is a pioneer in synthetic biology, microbiologist, geneticist and futurist. He is also the co-founder of a company called Hu-mane Genomics Inc. that engineers synthetic viruses to target cancer cells. “Biology is a very different medium than computing but there are fundamental similarities,” he wrote in a blog post talking about synthetic biology in Af-rica. “Africa is geographically well-positioned to benefit from synthetic biology. Much of the country is in the biological power band of the world, blessed with ample sunlight, fresh water, fertile soils, and incredible biological diversity. But it is also vulnerable to changes in climate, particularly shifts in rainfall and heat waves,” he continues. Hessel has seen first-hand how AI tools are supercharging all aspects of digital biology and predicts that DNA printers are on the cusp of a major upgrade. He believes that in the next five years, we will be able to print and assemble microbial-scale genomes — at reasonable cost and turnaround times.



In the workplace



No matter whether you call them futurists, fu-turologists, foresight practitioners or horizon scanners, it’s becoming increasingly common for organizations to employ professionals with these titles. According to the Univer-sity of Houston, around 25% of Fortune 500 companies have futurists on staff. They’re also commonplace at government agencies as well as non-profits. Andrew Bolwell, for example, is HP’s chief disrupter. In his role, he unpacks megatrends like microfluidics – working with tiny amounts of fluid with precision. Even though printers already do this, Bolwell is talking about even smaller amounts, fluids the fifth of a size of a human cell (or a thousand times smaller than a raindrop). With the microfluidics market projected to be worth $64.94 billion by 2029, according to Mordor Intelligence, the possibility of 3D-printing vital organs may become a reality.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE 2040S, WE’LL BE ABLE TO MULTIPLY HUMAN INTELLIGENCE A BILLIONFOLD. THAT WILL BE A PROFOUND CHANGE THAT’S SINGULAR IN NATURE. COMPUTERS ARE GOING TO KEEP GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER. ULTIMATELY, THEY WILL GO INSIDE OUR BODIES AND BRAINS AND MAKE US HEALTHIER, MAKE US SMARTER.”&#8211; Ray Kurzweil
</blockquote>



When Dr Werner Vogels, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Vice President at Amazon, one of the globe’s most innovative companies, looks into the future, the world takes note.



The well-known futurist, who releases tech predictions for the year and beyond, also happens to be one of the highest-paid CTOs worldwide – it’s no wonder his live speaking fee reportedly starts at $100,000. One of Vo-gels’ predictions is that women’s healthcare, femtech, is on the rise. “Women’s healthcare is not a niche market,” he writes in his tech predictions report. “At AWS, we’ve been work-ing closely with women-led startups and have seen first-hand the growth in femtech. In the last year alone, funding has increased 197%.” 



With increased access to capital, technologies like machine learning, and connected devices designed specifically for women, Vogels believes that the world is at the precipice of an unprecedented shift, not only in the way women’s care is perceived, but how it’s administered. From women in rural areas who have been historically underserved medically to female athletes whose training was modelled on what worked for men, femtech will finally see women’s care move from the fringes to the forefront.



As companies strive to achieve aggressive sustainability targets, there are now climate and environmental futurists emerging as key strategic advisors, guiding businesses in navigating the complexities of climate change, resource management and eco-friendly practices to secure long-term viability and environmental stewardship. For Gerd Leonhard, a German futurist, green has become the new digital and sustainable is the new profitable. In a recent keynote, he said that he’s optimistic about climate change and global warming because we already have the tools we need to solve it. “We’re going to suffer for 15 to 20 years in the process of fixing this,” he predicts, “but we’re now getting ready to do this… technological advancements offer solutions that can help tackle these challenges. It will be essential to find a balance between economic progress and environmental preservation.”



Leonhard, like other consulting futurists, is working with companies to help them understand the next decade and develop foresight. “It’s not predictions, it’s understanding, intuition and imagination,” he explains in a podcast, adding that being a futurist is similar to being a therapist. His job is to essentially point his clients in the right direction; clients who happen to be tech giants, business leaders and government officials around the globe.



The future, today



There’s no question that history is happening now and futurists provide a way to understand current trends as well as anticipate what’s to come. Futurism is essentially risk management because every industry is experiencing dynamic change. In the last 50 years we’ve made more progress than in the previous 250,000 years and it’s been said that the next 10 years will bring more change than the previous 100. Of course, the future is unpredictable and futurists are not fortune tellers – they get things wrong. However, their value lies in their ability to analyze data and identify patterns. By incorporating foresight into strategic planning, businesses, governments and other organizations can adapt more effectively to emerging trends, mitigate risks and seize the moment. In a world characterized by rapid technological advancements, the role of the futurist has become increasingly indispensable in shaping a better tomorrow.

GUI (Graphical User Interface) concept.

The Fortune Of Foresight: Futurists On Tomorrow’s Tech

South Africa’s 2023 startup ecosystem concluded on a high note, as the local venture capital (VC) sector defied the global downward trend in annual deals since 2020. The recent Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) Venture Capital Survey Launch 2024 revealed that total capital flow to startups exceeded R3 billion ($164 million) for the first time, demonstrating the sector&#8217;s remarkable resilience and potential.



The survey, launched by SAVCA, highlighted the significant increase in capital flow, with R10.73 billion ($586 million) invested across 1,106 active deals since the survey&#8217;s inception in 2010. While the number of deals slightly decreased in 2023 (184 deals compared to 195 in 2022), the activity remained higher than pre-Covid levels.



In line with global trends, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector dominated VC investments, nearly doubling its activity compared to 2022. The ICT sector, encompassing sub-sectors such as fintech, edtech, software, and eCommerce, accounted for 87.6% of investments. Fintech led by value (18.3%) and number (14.8%) of deals, followed by software at 9.8%.



Leading Industries Driving VC Investment



The ICT sector&#8217;s dominance in VC investments is not surprising, given the global shift towards a more digital and technologically driven economy. South Africa&#8217;s strategic position, well-established tech hubs, and a growing pool of tech-savvy entrepreneurs make it an attractive destination for VC funds. The country&#8217;s robust infrastructure, coupled with a supportive regulatory environment, further bolsters the appeal for investors.



Dawie Roodt, founder, Director, and Chief Economist of the Efficient Group, provides insights into this trend. He notes that the increasing digitization of business and the shift towards service-oriented economic activities are primary factors driving investments in the ICT sector.



&#8220;The nature of economic activity worldwide is changing rapidly, becoming more service-oriented and technologically driven. This shift supports the resilience of the VC sector, particularly in ICT,&#8221; Roodt explains in an interview with FORBES AFRICA.



Impact of Increased VC Investment



The infusion of VC funds into South Africa’s startup ecosystem has far-reaching implications for the economy, leading to job creation, innovation, and overall economic growth. As new technologies and business models emerge, they can drive productivity and competitiveness across various sectors. Furthermore, the rise in co-investment activities, involving both local and international investors, fosters a collaborative environment that can accelerate the growth of high-potential startups.



By backing innovative solutions, venture capitalists play a crucial role in addressing some of South Africa&#8217;s most pressing social challenges, such as unemployment and inadequate service delivery. The focus on sectors like fintech and edtech also indicates a potential for significant improvements in financial inclusion and education.



Potential Negative Impacts



However, the influx of VC money is not without potential drawbacks. One notable concern is the impact on the cost of living, particularly in tech hubs like Cape Town. As more startups receive funding and scale their operations, the demand for office space and housing could rise sharply, driving up rental and property prices. This could exacerbate the existing affordability issues for local residents.



Roodt emphasizes the need for balanced growth and highlights potential challenges. &#8220;South Africa is still a country and you need to be attractive in order to attract foreign investments. The downside, because of certain things, like, for example, the quality of our government and weak economic growth means that the returns that these investors require of are very high,&#8221; he noted.



Additional Insights



Moreover, the concentration of investment in specific sectors and regions might lead to economic imbalances. While the ICT sector thrives, other industries might not receive the same level of attention and funding, potentially widening the economic disparity between different sectors and regions.



Future Outlook



Despite the optimistic outlook, challenges remain. Roodt points out the impact of weak economic growth and the quality of governance on attracting foreign investment. &#8220;The downside, because of certain things like the quality of our government and weak economic growth, means that the returns these investors require are very high,&#8221; he cautioned.



The success of the VC sector will also depend on maintaining a positive investment image internationally. &#8220;With the new government of national unity, which is more of a coalition government, South Africa&#8217;s investment image is certainly improving,&#8221; Roodt observes.

Hands holding up columns of bar graph

New Survey: South Africa’s VC Sector On Positive Trajectory And What This Means

Olushola Medupin wanted to stay away from the food business but now has a growing array of upscale restaurants selling West African cuisine in some of the world’s most dazzling cities.



For Olushola Medupin, his passion for food was a gift passed down generations, like a prized heir- loom. His mother ran one of the most successful restaurants in Kwara State in Western Nigeria, and before her, his grandparents too ran their own local outlets selling inexpensive, pre-cooked food to hungry customers.



Cooking, literally, is in his blood. “My mother was in the restaurant, cooking, when she had to rush to the hospital to give birth to me,” says Medupin. “The only life I knew from a young age was to go to school and from there, the driver would bring me to the restaurant because there was nobody at home. I was forced to stay in the restaurant all day.” That was his world growing up.



Food was such an integral part of the family dynamics that all five children competed as cooks and Medupin always won. From the tender age of five, he knew his way around the kitchen, mastering local dishes such as jollof rice, eba (made from dried cassava flakes) and pounded yam.



In addition to his natural affinity for the culinary arts, Medupin also discovered he had a passion for making money. In 1991, when his father traveled to India for six months and forgot to leave his cheque book at home, Medupin’s mother struggled to make ends meet. He helped by climbing orange trees and selling the fruit in the market. By the time he was 14, he was already a serial entrepreneur, renting out his BMX bicycle for transportation in the local markets, managing a rub- bish collection business, an internet business, a supermarket and a phone repair business.



His final venture before he left Nigeria for the United Kingdom (U.K.) was a car wash business which he sold in two months for three times the capital he invested. Medupin used the proceeds to fund his education in the U.K. where he stud- ied investment banking and securities. But he didn’t land the right opportunities.



“I wasn’t getting any major jobs apart from kitchen jobs in the U.K. In 2009, I said to myself ‘I am not working in the kitchen anymore’ and started a security job in Cardiff.”



But very soon, Medupin resigned and started looking every- where else for inspiration. He didn’t want to return into the restaurant business as he had done it all his life.



“It is a very hard industry to be in. You go through a lot of emotional trauma because you must put your heart and soul in the business. If people are not happy with the food, they tell you off straight away and when they do that, it gets to you. So, I didn’t want to do it again,” says Medupin.



The National Restaurant Association in the United States (U.S.) estimates a 20% success rate for all restaurants; but about 60% of all restaurants fail in their first year of operation, and 80% within five years of opening. As much as Medupin fought the idea of starting a restaurant, that was the only viable option before him. He finally decided to give in. He moved back to London, found a place for rent in Lewisham and started his first outlet. It was tough.



“In my first year, I wanted to sell the business. The guy who wanted to buy it from me offered me £300,000 ($375,400) and at the last minute, offered me £150,000 ($188,000) to still run it. It was a struggle initially, but we decided to push through,” says Medupin.



And he made it work. Along with his wife Eniola, also his co-founder, Medupin is today a certified restaurateur with 13 fine dining restaurants, branded Enish, spread across London, the U.S. and Dubai.



West African cuisine has its loyal patrons in London, evidenced by the popularity of Nigerian restaurants such as 



Akoko and Chishuru that earned Michelin stars recently. “Not only are African restaurants abroad scarce but also finding the ingredients to cook the food you grew up with can be very challenging in London and America. That is why Enish has such a strong fanbase. They are bringing quality Nigerian food to immigrants abroad,” says Michael Amusan, a financial analyst in London and frequent visitor at Enish Covent Garden.



Concurs London food critic Tola Ogun: “This shows you that West African food, especially Nigerian, is here to stay. Michelin stars were typically awarded to white-skewing restaurants and so for Nigerian restaurants to receive the highest honor in the food business is testament to how popular our food is.”



“For someone like me who is based in the U.K., this is amaz- ing. Nigerian cuisine is growing in popularity all over the world and I am definitely a big fan of Enish,” attests Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy.



Serving everything from pounded yam to egusi soup (made from ground melon seeds) with a side of lobster, Enish has managed to carve out a place for itself in the U.K.’s fine dining scene, and now also in Dubai, where there are multiple outlets.



“The management already knew our brand, so it made it easy to sell our concept. It cost us $4 million to open our first branch and during that year of building the restaurant, we still had to pay a monthly rent of $50,000,” says Medupin. He has invested a lot in each of these projects, such as spending £25,000 ($31,200) a month to rent the dining space on Oxford Street and £20,000 ($25,000) a month for the Knightsbridge location in London, he adds.



In Dubai, known as The Dwntwn By Enish and located near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, Medupin’s outlet is a swanky 40,000sqft nightclub featuring two bars and several VIP lounge areas.



All the way from Africa to the Middle East, Medupin says he imports about 80% of all his ingredients, which presents its own unique challenges.



“You cannot buy egusi for six months at a time and there is an issue with the consistency of the products. Every time you order egusi or palm oil, it has a different taste. So, it’s up to you to use your experience to keep the taste consistent. So, it’s a big challenge,” says Medupin. But he is powering on with his vision to put Nigerian cui- sine firmly on the world map, one dish and one restaurant at a time.

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