The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio has announced the provision of non-compulsory nursery education for all children between the ages of three to four years on St. Helena. According to the Portfolio, "We will be in contact with parents/guardians of those children born on island and who are eligible to enter nursery education in the school year September 2024 – August 2025."For parents whose children were not born on St. Helena, the Portfolio has requested that they provide specific information to facilitate nursery placement. "It would be appreciated if parents... Read More »

The President of Liberia, H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., will be at the forefront as he leads the Official Liberian delegation to the US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas from May 6-9, 2024. This summit aims to foster discussions on enhancing trade and economic partnerships between Africa and the United States.The delegation's objective is clear as they aim to attract investments and partnerships that will significantly contribute to Liberia’s economic growth. Highlighting the importance of this participation, it is stated that Liberia’s involvement in... Read More »

The recent meeting of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise resulted in the issuance of the Abidjan Declaration on May 2, 2024.During the meeting, several key figures shared their perspectives:1. "The Abidjan Declaration reaffirms our commitment to promoting peace and security in the West African region," said Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, Dr. Aminata Toure.2. "We must continue to engage in dialogue and diplomacy to address the root causes of conflict," emphasized Secretary-General of ECOWAS, Mr. Ibrahim Sani.3. "The Abidjan Declaration lays out a roadmap... Read More »

The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H. E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, recently led a delegation to Washington, D.C. with the aim of enhancing Early Warning and Early Response capabilities in West Africa through strategic partnerships.During the visit, the main objective was to engage with key partners to bolster collaboration in capacity building for Early Warning and Early Response, with a focus on enhancing human security. One significant outcome of the mission is the potential collaboration with the Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace, and Security (GIWPS) to... Read More »

The ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai, recently delivered a keynote address at the University of Massachussetts-Boston’s 6th Africa Day and 2024 Academic Conference. The theme of the event was "Democratic Backsliding in West Africa: Contradictions, Challenges, and Difference."In her speech, Ambassador Jawara-Njai focused on the topic of "Why West African Democracy is on the Right Path despite Challenges." She highlighted the efforts of ECOWAS in promoting democracy, good governance, and development in West Africa, emphasizing... Read More »

In April 2023, it was announced that access to certain areas of the Peaks National Park (PNP) would be prohibited due to concerns about plant pathogens affecting endemic trees within the park. The prohibition, initially set until the end of December 2023, was extended until March 2024 for review based on relevant information and evidence.The Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) has been actively working to address the issue since the discovery of the pathogens over a year ago. Collaborating with organizations such as the St Helena Research... Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently held a crucial meeting in Banjul, The Gambia, where the Subcommittee of the Judicial Council convened to review its rules of procedure. The meeting, which took place from April 29th to May 1st, 2024, brought together esteemed Chief Justices and legal dignitaries from various ECOWAS Member States.During the opening of the meeting, Justice Hassan B. Jallow, the Hon. Chief Justice of The Gambia and Chairman of the Sub-Committee, emphasized the importance of revising the Council’s Rules of Procedure. He also... Read More »

St Helena has launched a period of public engagement on the draft Sustainable Economic Development Strategy and Delivery Plan 2023-2033 (SEDS). The SEDS will serve as the overarching blueprint for developing the territory’s economy, replacing the Sustainable Economic Development Plan 2018-2028 (SEDP).The new SEDS focuses on two key goals: the growth of the working age population and the increase in government revenue collected through economic activity. These priorities are reflected in the six objectives outlined in the SEDS, aimed at advancing these goals and driving... Read More »

Apr 30 2024The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has made significant nominations and appointments within the government, affecting key ministries and agencies. These appointments, as mentioned in a statement from the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, are subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.Among the notable appointments are Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George as the Minister of National Defense, Major General (Retired) Prince Charles Johnson, III as the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA),... Read More »

The Presidents of Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo, Téodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Denis Sassou-Nguesso, have been honored with the Babacar Ndiaye Prize 2024 by the "Africa Road Builders" Selection Committee. President Obiang Nguema was recognized "for his remarkable achievements in improving the road infrastructure in his country," while President Sassou-Nguesso was acknowledged "in recognition of his commitment to the development of road infrastructure."In Equatorial Guinea, President Obiang Nguema's efforts were highlighted with the completion of... Read More »

African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina emphasized the need for collaboration between public and private sectors to unlock Africa's agricultural potential during the World Economic Forum "Food and Water for All" panel discussion in Riyadh. Adesina's impassioned plea for greater cooperation aimed at transforming Africa's agriculture production to contribute to global food security.Adesina highlighted the need for increased investment in infrastructure in the agricultural sector, stating, "The potential is undeniable, but nobody eats potential… We have... Read More »

The Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission, Mrs Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, expressed her satisfaction with the smooth organization of the double election in Togo. She visited several polling stations in Lomé and praised the timely opening and peaceful conduct of electoral procedures.Accompanied by a team of officials, Mrs Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang and her colleagues visited the ECOWAS Situation Room set up for the parliamentary and regional elections. The team is in constant contact with ECOWAS Observers deployed in... Read More »

The St Helena Government (SHG) has announced the launch of a new data protection awareness campaign aimed at safeguarding the privacy of its citizens and residents in the digital age. The initiative comes as the island embraces new technologies and works towards introducing comprehensive data protection legislation.According to the SHG, the project has reached a significant milestone with the enlistment of Bruce & Butler Ltd, a UK-based data protection consultancy, to develop a robust data privacy legal framework. Alex Adams of Juju Digital Ltd has also been appointed as... Read More »

The African Development Bank Group and the World Health Organisation have announced plans to enhance their collaboration in order to elevate the status of primary healthcare in Africa. This decision was made during a meeting between the Bank Group’s President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and the Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank’s annual meetings in Riyadh.Dr. Adesina emphasized the significance of investing in Africa's primary healthcare infrastructure, stating, "Investing in continent’s primary healthcare... Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Judicial Council held a three-day sub-committee meeting on the enforcement of the judgements of the Community Court of Justice in Dakar, Senegal, from April 23rd to 25th, 2024. The meeting aimed to examine rules and texts related to the enforcement of the Court’s judgments and explore the possibility of establishing an Appeals Chamber.In his opening remarks, the President of the Chamber of the Supreme Court of Senegal, Hon. Justice Jean Louis Paul Toupane, welcomed the subcommittee members and emphasized the... Read More »

Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc have given their unanimous approval for the restructuring of the Bank into a holding company during a court-ordered Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held virtually on Friday, April 26, 2024. In line with the Scheme of Arrangement dated March 28, 2024, pursuant to Section 715 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020, the shareholders voted to transfer shares to Zenith Bank Holding Company Plc in exchange for the allotment of shares in the HoldCo in the same proportion to their shareholding in the Bank.During the EGM, Founder... Read More »

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has recently participated in the International Development Association Heads of State Summit in Kenya. The summit was attended by various heads of state from around the world. President Bio's presence at the event highlights Sierra Leone's commitment to international development cooperation.During the summit, President Bio emphasized the importance of global partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals. He also discussed key issues related to development, poverty alleviation, and economic growth with his counterparts.... Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is actively engaged in the "High-Level Workshop on Regional Integration" currently taking place in Kasane, Botswana. The workshop, held both physically and virtually, is focused on the theme "43 Years of Regional Integration: Where are we and way forward”.The workshop aims to deepen understanding, enhance collaboration, and coordinate efforts towards advancing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Integration Agenda. Attendees, including Senior Officers from SADC, African Union, UNECA, ECOWAS, and... Read More »

President Boakai Constitutes National Education Advisory Board, Board of Governors, and Principal of BWIApr 29, 2024The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has constituted the National Education Advisory Board, Board of Governors, and the Principal of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI).The National Education Advisory Board includes prominent individuals such as the Minister of Education, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Liberian Universities, and various other distinguished members.The Board of Governors of... Read More »

Brewing giant Nigerian Breweries Plc has reported a remarkable performance for the first quarter of 2024, showcasing an 84% increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2023. The unaudited results, disclosed on April 29, 2024, to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), revealed a revenue of N227 billion, with operating activities growing by over 1000%.According to the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Hans Essaadi, the company's success can be attributed to various factors, including product innovation, cost-saving measures, and pricing adjustments driven by inflation.... Read More »