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Grand Prize Winner Crowned at the Sixth Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Summit and Grand Finale, Marking a Landmark Year for African Entrepreneurship

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Africa’s Business Heroes

The ABH Summit and Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, celebrated the Top 10 finalists, selected from nearly 20,000 applicants to compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize

KIGALI, Rwanda, March 16, 2025/APO Group/ –The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org), a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has announced the grand prize winner of its sixth annual competition, along with the first and second runners-up, at the latest ABH Summit and Grand Finale.

The ABH Summit and Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, celebrated the Top 10 finalists, selected from nearly 20,000 applicants to compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize. Under the theme “AI – African Innovation, Insight and Impact,” they pitched their businesses to a live audience and a distinguished judging panel, including Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali and Ibukun Awosika, Founder of the Chair Centre, who were joined by Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of Sand Technologies. The event culminated in the awards ceremony, where the winners were unveiled.

The top three Africa’s Business Heroes for 2024 are:

1st – winning US$300,000 – Henri Ousmane Gueye, Co-founder & CEO, EYONE (https://Eyone.net/) (Senegal)

2nd – winning US$250,000 – Dr. Salma Bougarrani, Co-Founder & CEO, GREEN WATECH (www.GreenWatech.com) (Morocco)

3rd – winning US$150,000 – Alexander Odhiambo, Founder & CEO, Solutech Limited (www.Solutech.co.ke) (Kenya)

Commenting on the win, Henri Ousmane Gueye said, “I am very proud to be announced as the winner of the 2024 ABH Prize Competition. This achievement is the result of a lot of hard work, and I am incredibly proud of my team. It’s a significant milestone for us, and it serves as an encouragement for us to keep working towards solving the problem our innovation addresses. It motivates us to continue tackling the big challenges our country faces.”

ABH Managing Director – Africa, Zahra Baitie-Boateng highlighted the debut of ABi, ABH’s AI co-host, at this year’s Summit and Grand Finale, noting its role in providing insights, sparking discussions and enhancing connections. She emphasized the ingenuity of the Top 10 finalists, whose impact showcases entrepreneurship’s power to address Africa’s challenges. “Congratulations to Henri and all our finalists! As we celebrate their success, we’re excited to launch the 2025 call for applications and continue empowering Africa’s next business leaders.”

Africa’s future will be shaped by those who see challenges as opportunities and take action

ABH announced that Rwanda will host the Summit and Grand Finale for the next four years, reinforcing its role as a hub for entrepreneurship. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) were recognized as key partners, with Bank of Kigali also supporting the event.

A Summit of Entrepreneurial Insights and Thought Leadership

The two-day ABH Summit and Grand Finale brought together 1,606 participants, showcasing thought leadership and top entrepreneurial talent. Discussions explored how entrepreneurship addresses Africa’s key challenges in healthcare, agriculture and education. The event featured live podcast recordings, a debate, TED-style ABHx talks, a financing masterclass and interactive experiences like the ABH Heroes’ Circle business ‘roast’ and Networking in the Dark, a blindfolded networking session.

With over 50 distinguished speakers from 15 countries, the lineup included Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board; Nick Hu, Executive Director of Health Innovation at Sand Technologies; Dr. Brenda Kateera, Country Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative; Nathalie Munyampenda, CEO of Kepler; and Hasan Haider, Founder & Managing Partner at PlusVC and ABH Semi-Final judge.

In her opening keynote, ABH Grand Finale judge Ibukun Awosika emphasized ‘African Intelligence’ as key to shaping the continent’s entrepreneurial future. She highlighted purpose-driven leadership, lived experiences and local ingenuity in driving impactful solutions. “Africa’s future will be shaped by those who see challenges as opportunities and take action,” she stated.

The 2025 ABH Call for Applications

The event closed with the official launch of the 2025 call for applications, inviting African entrepreneurs to apply for the next edition of the competition and stand their chance to win a share of $1.5 million USD. Full details for interested applicants can be found at: https://apo-opa.co/4bucitT

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).

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Balancing Energy Security and Decarbonization: African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 to Address South Africa’s Power Crisis

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African Energy Week

African Energy Week 2025: Invest in African Energies will unite key stakeholders to address South Africa’s energy crisis, focusing on expanding grid infrastructure and accelerating investment in renewables and gas-to-power solutions

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 18, 2025/APO Group/ –South Africa faces a critical energy challenge: securing a stable power supply while transitioning to a low-carbon future. The African Energy Chamber’s (EnergyChamber.org/State of African Energy 2025 Outlook Report provides a detailed analysis of this shift, highlighting the country’s continued reliance on coal, the slow pace of renewable energy integration and the urgent need for infrastructure investments to modernize the grid. These insights will set the stage for key discussions at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, where industry leaders will examine how South Africa and other mature markets across the continent can balance energy security with decarbonization.

Coal remains the cornerstone of South Africa’s power generation, contributing over 80% to the energy mix. This heavy reliance has led to ongoing load-shedding – constraining industrial productivity, discouraging investment and limiting GDP growth to less than 1% annually over the past decade. Addressing this crisis requires urgent intervention through infrastructure investment, diversification of the energy mix and policy reforms to enhance grid stability and efficiency. This will be a key focus for stakeholders at AEW 2025, where discussions will center on accelerating the transition to a more resilient and diversified energy system, enhancing the role of renewables and gas-to-power solutions, and attracting critical investments to modernize the grid and reduce dependence on coal.

In response to the energy crisis, South Africa has embarked on integrating renewable energy sources. The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program has been instrumental, with over 7.2 GW of solar PV and 3.6 GW of onshore wind capacity installed by the end of 2023, collectively accounting for over 17% of the country’s total installed capacity. Gas-to-power projects have also emerged as a viable solution, with the government issuing requests for proposals for 2 GW of such projects in late 2024. Concurrently, battery energy storage systems are being developed, with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy launching bid rounds totaling over 1.7 GW/6.9 GWh of storage capacity.

South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan has drawn global interest, securing $8.5 billion in commitments from partners including France, Germany, the UK, the US and the EU. However, disbursement remains a challenge, with only $1.9 billion allocated to date – primarily for grid expansion and support for coal-mining communities. As the country navigates the complexities of a large-scale transition, key issues such as grid constraints, the integration of renewables and ensuring a stable, sustainable energy supply will be addressed at AEW 2025.

Taking place in Cape Town, AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies serves as the premier platform for South Africa and the broader African continent to tackle the critical energy challenges shaping the region’s future. The event will highlight strategies to integrate cleaner energy sources while maintaining grid stability and affordability, as well as emphasize modernization of grid infrastructure, addressing capacity constraints and enhancing transmission networks to support a diversified energy mix.

Beyond technical solutions, securing large-scale investments will be a key priority, as Africa seeks to attract capital for sustainable energy projects that ensure both energy security and environmental responsibility. By convening industry leaders, policymakers, financiers and innovators, AEW 2025 will drive forward collaborative solutions, policy reforms and strategic partnerships essential for unlocking Africa’s full energy potential and fostering long-term economic growth.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Equatorial Guinea Relaunches Open-Door Licensing Process in Houston, Texas, Paving the Way for Major 2025/2026 Licensing Round

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Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea’s new fiscal reforms, exploration initiatives and data-sharing strategies – along with 24 available exploration blocks and two blocks for appraisal and development – will be highlighted at African Energy Week 2025: Invest in African Energies

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 17, 2025/APO Group/ –Equatorial Guinea has officially relaunched its open-door licensing process for 2025, setting the stage for a major licensing round at the end of 2025 or early 2026. This move marks a strategic shift toward prioritizing licensing and exploration, with a strong focus on regulatory competitiveness, tax incentives and data transparency. These developments will take center stage at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, taking place in Cape Town on September 29-October 3, where the “Invest in African Energies: Equatorial Guinea” session will provide a platform for global investors to engage with the country’s evolving energy strategy.

Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Antonio Oburu Ondo, outlined the country’s comprehensive exploration strategy at CERAWeek in Houston last week, aimed at boosting hydrocarbon production, attracting investment, addressing declining output and enhancing competitiveness. Fiscal reforms include reducing corporate tax from 35% to 25%, dividends tax from 25% to 10%, and withholding tax from 6.25% to 3% for residents (or from 15% to 10% for non-residents). The country’s open-door policy enables international oil and gas companies to apply for licenses through a streamlined process involving direct negotiation with the state.

The government’s aggressive promotion policy has already yielded results, with seven new production-sharing contracts awarded in record time. These include blocks EG-31 and EG-18 to Africa Oil Corp, blocks EG-11 and EG-06 to Chevron, blocks EG-23 and EG-01 to Panoro Energy and Block EG-08 to Antler Global. The next licensing round will be underpinned by a new competitive tax law, a strengthened hydrocarbons law and the launch of a multi-client 3D seismic acquisition initiative – all aimed at boosting investor confidence and accelerating exploration.

The new multi-client 3D seismic acquisition and reprocessing of legacy data is set to launch by year-end, ensuring that investors have access to high-quality geological insights. This initiative will be highlighted at AEW 2025, where industry leaders will explore how enhanced data-sharing and transparency can drive exploration success across Africa. These efforts directly support an intensified focus on drilling, with all the country’s operators having either executed in-field or exploration drilling campaigns in 2024 or planning to do so between 2025 and 2027, according to Minister Oburu Ondo.

Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Mega Hub initiative remains a key pillar of its energy strategy, with ongoing collaborations with Cameroon on the Yoyo-Yolanda fields and Nigeria on the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project to monetize and process gas at the onshore Punta Europa facilities. The country is advancing multi-phase initiatives including the Alen Gas Monetization Project (580 BCF), Alba Tail Gas Monetization Project (825 BCF) and Aseng Gas Monetization Project (~1 TCF) to strengthen its position as a regional gas powerhouse. The government is also making strides in climate initiatives, working to reposition Equatorial Guinea as a leader in gas and transitional energy while establishing carbon credit ventures through international collaborations.

As Africa works to attract investment to transform its energy sector, Equatorial Guinea’s strategic reforms provide a model for other nations, demonstrating how regulatory competitiveness, investor-friendly policies and a robust licensing framework can drive long-term success.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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One Week to Go to the Inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum

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CEIF

The Congo Energy & Investment Forum will take place from March 24-26 in Brazzaville

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), March 17, 2025/APO Group/ –The highly anticipated Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 is just one week away. Taking place in Brazzaville from March 24-26, the forum will be held under the theme, Securing Growth and Investment in a New Era. With a comprehensive agenda and an impressive roster of high-level speakers, CEIF 2025 brings together top energy executives, investors and policymakers for three days of robust discussions, deal-signings and exhibitions.

Under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and the Republic of Congo’s national oil company Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), CEIF 2025 highlights the country’s expanding influence in Africa’s energy landscape. The forum will bring together a diverse range of participants, including SNPC subsidiaries, international oil companies, Congolese and foreign banks, energy organizations and technology providers.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

The conference will kick off with technical sessions, focused on Congo’s oil and gas market, highlighting the latest advancements in the country’s efforts to expand production, revitalize mature fields and capitalize on its immense reserves. The technical sessions will cover monetizing stranded gas, infrastructure development and opportunities to position Congo as a regional hub.

As the inaugural edition, this premier event is sure to provide attendees with invaluable knowledge and insights into the region’s robust and burgeoning industry

The CEIF 2025 program will feature a variety of dedicated panel sessions, technical workshops and presentations designed to provide deep insights into the latest developments and opportunities across the entire energy value chain. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge about ongoing and upcoming projects that contribute to Congo’s energy goals, as well as broader trends affecting the sector.

One of the highlights of CEIF 2025 will be the official unveiling of Congo’s new Gas Master Plan, which aims to consolidate the country’s existing gas assets while attracting new investments into the sector. Furthermore, a new Gas Code will be unveiled at CEIF 2025 to establish a supportive legal and regulatory framework for gas exploration and production investments.

As part of an ambition to double oil production to 500,000 barrels per day by 2027, CEIF 2025 will feature the launch of the country’s new oil and gas licensing round. The licensing round will offer onshore, offshore and marginal acreage to potential investors and developers. As such, CEIF 2025 offers a platform for delegates to connect with leading figures in Congo’s energy space. Deal signings will be a focal point of the forum, providing an environment where key decision-makers can engage to forge new business relationships.

High-level speakers at this monumental forum include Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons; Maixent Raoul Ominga, Director General of the SNPC; Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization; and Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, among many others. As the premier gathering for energy players in Africa, CEIF 2025 represents the ideal platform to discuss, showcase and maximize growth and partnership investment opportunities across Congo and Central Africa.

“With one week out, we are positive that CEIF 2025 will cement its position as a pivotal platform for fostering investment, exploring energy opportunities and driving growth in Congo’s dynamic energy sector. As the inaugural edition, this premier event is sure to provide attendees with invaluable knowledge and insights into the region’s robust and burgeoning industry,” states Sandra Jeque, Events and Project Director at Energy Capital & Power.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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