Erin Energy Corporation appointed John Hofmeister to serve as board chairman and Segun Omidele as CEO Monday. The Houston-based company focuses on oil and gas exploration and production in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the countries of Nigeria, Gambia and Ghana. Hofmeister and Omidele will replace Erin Energy's current Chairman and CEO Kase Lawal who is retiring. Read More »

ITC Global, a satellite communications provider, recently acquired numerous offshore communications contracts offshore in Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Congo. The company specializes in satellite communications for remote or harsh conditions, and in the new contracts, it has been awarded five FPSO vessels, owned by the European oil and gas company Total.  Read More »

U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Myron Brilliant led a delegation to West Africa March 11. During the visit, Brilliant and U.S.-Africa Business Center President Scott Eisner traveled to Senegal, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire, where discussions concerning bilateral trade, job creation and economic growth took place. They also spoke to government officials and private entities. Read More »

Kosmos Energy, an oil and gas exploration and production company, announced its successful appraisal Wednesday of Ahmeyim and Guembeul gas off the coast of Mauritania and Senegal, which will result in higher gross resources. The discovery was made due to the Ahmeyim-2 exploration and appraisal well, which drilled to 5,200 meters, and in the Lower Cenomanian and Albian, which increased from 50 square kilometers to 90 square kilometers. In addition to the increase in field area, the well also foun Read More »

Publicis Groupe announced an equity partnership with Troyka Group Wednesday, the first wholly integrated marketing communications service provider in West Africa. Publicis Groupe, which has spent years investing in Africa due to its strong growth, will use the partnership to launch a network in Nigeria. Through partnership with Troyka Group, Publicis Groupe will be able to develop a strong communications entity throughout West Africa. Read More »

A 2015 population survey from USAID found that poverty, undernutrition and hunger in northern Ghana have been significantly reduced since 2012.The survey's results were based off of data from the 2012 survey and shows that the poverty levels in northern Ghana have been reduced. Additionally, there has been a decrease of almost 20 percent for households suffering from hunger. Read More »

IMF Africa Assistant Head Dan Ghura headed a team to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to discuss the 2016 Article IV consultation with officials. Ghura delivered a statement concerning the economic changes of 2015, budgeting legislation and the National Development Plan for 2016. According to Ghura, the estimated GDP growth of the Cote d'Ivoire was at 8.6 percent in 2015. Read More »

3i Infotech's Premia Insurance Suite at FBN Insurance has been effectively implemented in Nigeria. Johan Schalkwyk, COO of FBN, explained that the Nigerian market requires specific solutions and 3i has been able to cater its services there while growing the company. "Their ability to keep promises and deliver on time has turned them into our preferred IT partner," Schalkwyk said. Read More »

The 2nd Africa Smart Grid Forum and 5th African Electro-technical and Standardisation Commission General Assembly took place March 5 to March 10 to raise awareness of smart grid options in Africa and renewable energy. The 2nd Africa Smart Grid hosted 300 technical authorities from 48 various African countries and regional centers as well as the private sector. Read More »

Facebook showcased its commitment to Nigerian content companies and developers at Social Media Week in Lagos Feb. 22 to Feb. 26. Social Media Week Lagos is Africa's largest technology, new media and business conference. Facebook offered master classes and workshops as well as a day dedicated to assisting Nigerian developers on growth hacking and designing social applications. Read More »

USAID recently indicated how it will use the $22.7 billion allocated to the organization. President Barack Obama's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget gives $11 billion to USAID-managed accounts that addresses transition initiatives, international disaster assistance and crises funds; $1.7 billion to ensure the progress of current operations; and $195.5 million for the global development lab. Read More »

The New Partnership for Africa's Development hosted a meeting with the African Union, regional economic communities, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank Monday. The meeting, called "Towards Achieving the Agenda 2063," was attended by various financial and economic experts, with attendees discussing the ways African countries could grow. Read More »

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed a sixth and seventh review of Guinea’s economic performance as part of the ECF arrangement and has agreed to disburse $25.6 million immediately in aid. The current aid comes as part of a total $216.7 million given in the ECF arrangement, which the board agreed to extend until the end of October. Read More »

Sage Foundation is teaming up with Nigerian non-profit organization Sesôr Africa to refurbish Strides Towers College's school library. Sesôr Africa provides relief and rehabilitation services to survivors of emergencies. The Sage Foundation helps create social and economic opportunities in communities around the world by giving them time, money, expertise and technology. Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a regional workshop in Ghana Monday aimed at mainstreaming national agriculture investment plans. The government in Malabo has articulated its key commitments for sustaining the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development (CAADP) over the next decade. It hopes to end hunger in Africa by 2025 by reducing child malnutrition. Read More »

Jumia, the largest e-commerce retailer in Africa, is set for even more growth as access to the Internet and smartphones increases on the continent. Fifty percent of Africa is expected to be online by 2025, while the number of smartphone users should rise to 360 million. Jumia recently secured a second investment of 225 million euros from Goldman Sachs, MTN and Rocket Internet. Read More »

Emma Sundblad participated in the dedication of the Gbarnga-Ganta-Guinea Border road March 7. At the event, Sundblad spoke of the EU’s continued support of the Liberian government in establishing the system of roads. Sundblad spoke at the event as a representative of the Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund donors. This fund includes the United Kingdom and Ireland. Read More »

At the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Global Gathering, African and world leaders came together to call for increased investment and support in Africa for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). More than 800 influencers, policy makers, business leaders, civil society members and advocates discussed ways to grow a stronger STEM culture across the continent. Read More »

There are still disparities between the standards of business between the Western world and West Africa. Options are being explored within businesses in Africa as to how processes can be simplified and managed more efficiently. According to Dr. Rutendo Hwindingwi, West African countries have much to gain from shifting to electronic bookkeeping and record-keeping. Read More »

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, in partnership with the 100 Women Lobby Group, hosted a working dinner Friday in support of the empowerment of women and girls in Nigeria. The event brought together women ministers, representatives of women advocacy groups and officials of the U.K. in Nigeria to explore steps for bridging the gender gap within the country. Read More »