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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

Economic Commission for Africa Executive Secretary Carlos Lopes spoke at the African Transformation Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, Monday about Africa's need for industrialization. The forum was organized by the African Center for Economic Transformation, which was started in 2008 as a think and do tank to assist African countries with the skills and resources needed for progress and growth. Read More »

Thomas P. Chambers will present at the Scotia Howard Weil 44th Annual Energy Conference Wednesday. As an oil and gas exploration company, Kosmos focuses on frontier and emerging areas along the Atlantic Margin. It has projects offshore in Ghana, Mauritania and Senegal and has exploration licenses offshore in Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Suriname, Morocco and Western Sahara. Read More »

Organic Potash Corporation outlined the developments of its production facility. Using proprietary patented technology, the Toronto-based corporation makes its potassium carbonate from agricultural waste ash that comes from cocoa husks. As the purity of the carbonate is extremely high, the company will be able to market its product to both agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. Read More »

Nigerians can now receive money from 129 countries. The service will be provided through the cash to account service from MoneyGram and will process transfers of money in just minutes, which will simplify the normal methods of in-person, online or ATM receipt of money available to customers in Nigeria. Remittances are the second-to-largest way that money is exchanged in Nigeria. Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Petroleum Producers' Association (APPA) agreed to work together Tuesday as the region moves forward in the development of energy production. Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, the commissioner of Energy and Mines, Dr. Morlaye Bangoura on behalf of the president of ECOWAS. Read More »

Burkina Faso's minister of mines, Alfa Oumar Dissa, approved Roxgold’s acquisition of the Houko permit from Daritos or SARL. The Houko permit will fall under Roxgold’s wholly owned subsidiary Roxgold Exploration SARL. The permit adds roughly 30 kilometers of prospective Boni Shear exposure and brings Roxgold’s Hounde land position to an estimated 196 kilometers. Read More »

West African Resources Limited released positive results from its Tanlouka Gold Project in Burkina Faso. “These high-grade results are spectacular and will add significant value to the project,” Non-Executive Chairman Mark Connelly said. “We will keep drilling and look forward to reporting more results from the M1 prospect.” Among the highlights was the note that the mine hit 31m. Read More »

The Western Union Company and the Western Union Foundation will move into the next phase of its Education for Better program, investing $1 million to train women over the next five years in the Americas, European Union, Africa and Asia. The program leverages the company’s services, advocacy, cause marketing and employee engagement to advance education across the globe. Read More »

The IAEA will continue to support Nigeria in the introduction of nuclear power. IAEA Director Yukiya Amano spoke with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari recently to discuss plans to open Nigeria’s first nuclear power plant by 2035. Amano encouraged Nigeria to begin preparations on the nuclear front by developing comprehensive nuclear laws and strengthening the regulatory framework.  Read More »