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One Africa, One Voice: Digital Inclusion Holds the Power to Accelerate Africa’s Economic Growth

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4 years ago

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The event will gather major players across sectors to explore innovation, technology, and collaboration opportunities to find solutions for the digital inclusion challenges that Africa face

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 27, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Says Tiekie Barnard, Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) CEO and Founder:

  • “We are co-creating the global future on the African continent and this gathering in Kigali in October is possibly one of the most important conventions of leadership and executives since the launch of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.”
  • “The connection between social progress and business success is increasingly clear, and companies must team up with governments, NGOs and yes, even competitors, to fully capture the economic benefits of creating shared value as a collective.”
  • “When Africa wins, the world wins, and now more than ever, it has become imperative to develop meaningful and effective partnerships for development between the public and private sectors.  This Summit creates a unique opportunity and platform where leadership, as a collective, can discuss and provide input and solutions on how we can accelerate Africa’s growth through affordable, and accessible connectivity for all.”
  • “We have not yet cracked the code on mobilising the full power of business to drive social impact and profit on the African continent. While there is no silver bullet, the power of Shared Value is evident and there is a vast realm where Shared Value can be applied to drive a new wave of productivity and innovation on the continent that we call home. The time for change is now.”

Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) and Shift Impact Africa have partnered with the GSM Association (GSMA), a global institution that represents the telco and digital service sectors, to bring together the sixth annual Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit and the Mobile World Congress Africa (MWCA).

Both events will take place alongside each other at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, between 25 and 26 October 2022. His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, who will be joined by several other heads of state, will deliver the opening keynote.

Other speakers include, Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC); Mark Kramer, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School and Co-Founder of the Shared Value Initiative; Dr. Edem Adzogenu, Co-Chair of the AfroChampions Initiative; Jeremy Awori, CEO of Absa Kenya; Maria Cristina Papetti, Head of Global Sustainability, Infrastructure and Networks at Enel Group; and Lacina Koné, Director-General and CEO of Smart Africa.  

This partnership with GSMA heralds a first for Africa and the global Shared Value community. The event will gather major players across sectors to explore innovation, technology, and collaboration opportunities to find solutions for the digital inclusion challenges that Africa face.

Both in-person events will feature programmes that will examine where the future of connectivity on the African continent is heading. “We are co-creating the global future on the African continent and this gathering in Kigali in October is possibly one of the most important conventions of leadership and executives since the launch of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015,” says Tiekie Barnard, SVAI CEO and Founder. “The connection between social progress and business success is increasingly clear, and companies must team up with governments, NGOs and yes, even competitors, to fully capture the economic benefits of creating shared value as a collective.”

We are co-creating the global future on the African continent and this gathering in Kigali in October is possibly one of the most important conventions of leadership and executives

The Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit’s unifying theme ‘One Africa, One Voice’ underscores this need for organisations to work together across borders and industries to benefit all Africans in a sustainable way. Business and other leaders will delve into questions such as the role of technology to address climate risks in a just way; how business can accelerate digital inclusion in Africa, particularly for disproportionately affected groups such as rural populations and women; how we ensure that digital connectivity and shared value become the drivers of Africa’s growth, as well as the role of shared value thinking and digital innovation to boost intra-Africa Trade.

“The African Union’s 2020-2030 Digital Transformation Strategy aspires to universal digital access and a single pan-African digital market by 2030. Achieving this would create a profound impact on the continent. For instance, the World Bank estimates that a 10% increase in mobile internet penetration could translate to a 2.5% increase in gross domestic product (GDP) on the African continent,” says Barnard.

“When Africa wins, the world wins, and now more than ever, it has become imperative to develop meaningful and effective partnerships for development between the public and private sectors.  This Summit creates a unique opportunity and platform where leadership, as a collective, can discuss and provide input and solutions on how we can accelerate Africa’s growth through affordable, and accessible connectivity for all.”

Technology holds the power to evermore change Africa’s future and address many of the continent’s systemic challenges. Yet the digital divide across Africa remains stark. Fewer than one-third of Africans have access to broadband connectivity. Of the 25 least-connected countries in the world, 21 are located in Africa. Three hundred million Africans live more than 50 kilometres from a fibre or cable broadband connection. At just 36%, Africa’s internet penetration compares poorly with the 62.5% global average, according to Statista’s latest global internet penetration rate.

“While digital innovation creates exciting new opportunities, it can exclude those who lack access to the digital economy. Creating a healthy and inclusive digital economy will require new thinking to generate safeguards against the many risks inherent in the application of technology, while channelling resources to areas of innovation that generate the greatest social impact on the continent,” says Barnard.

The Summit will host experts from across the industry for two days of networking, learning and collaboration. Sponsors include Abbott, Absa Bank Kenya, Old Mutual, Visa and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).   

“The support of our sponsors – purpose-led companies that are committed to driving sustainability on the continent – has allowed us to plan an event that will be entirely different from years past. We would like to invite interested parties to register and join us in Kigali to connect, interact, and explore solutions to bridge the digital divide and fuel Africa’s growth,” says Barnard.

All registered delegates will have full access to both events for the duration of the Summit. There is also an option to attend the Summit virtually, via livestream, which includes access to the combined keynote addresses by some of the continent’s business luminaries.

“We have not yet cracked the code on mobilising the full power of business to drive social impact and profit on the African continent. While there is no silver bullet, the power of Shared Value is evident and there is a vast realm where Shared Value can be applied to drive a new wave of productivity and innovation on the continent that we call home. The time for change is now,” Barnard concludes.

Registrations have already opened, and there is no cost to attend.

Visit the Summit website, www.AfricaSharedValueSummit.com, to learn more and secure your place.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit.

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Business

Africa Data Centres partners with Oni-Tel to enhance data centre connectivity in South Africa

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6 hours ago

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September 10, 2026

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Africa Data Centres

For Africa Data Centres, which operates the continent’s largest interconnected, vendor- and cloud-neutral data centre platform, the collaboration strengthens its service portfolio by enhancing performance and expanding connectivity options within its facilities

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 13, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa Data Centres (www.AfricaDataCentres.com), a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has partnered with fibre optic cable infrastructure provider Oni-Tel Fibre Networks to strengthen connectivity across its Gauteng facilities. Under the agreement, Oni-Tel will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity to Africa Data Centres’ Midrand and Samrand campuses through its Infinity fibre interconnection platform.

 




  

 

Purpose-built for data centre interconnectivity on a resilient network with direct access to Gauteng’s key data centre hubs, this provides customers with fast, high-capacity bandwidth and secure, carrier-grade performance, supporting the levels of uptime required in today’s data-driven environments.

Our partnership with Africa Data Centres enables us to deliver our premium fibre interconnection solution into some of the most strategically important data centre hubs in Gauteng

“As enterprises accelerate cloud adoption, AI deployment, and data-intensive workloads, they need dependable, scalable connectivity within trusted local data centres. By partnering with Oni-Tel, we’re giving our customers access to enhanced fibre infrastructure that supports their growth and innovation, while maintaining secure, enterprise-grade environments for businesses navigating South Africa’s digital economy,” said Adil El Youssefi, CEO of Africa Data Centres.

For Africa Data Centres, which operates the continent’s largest interconnected, vendor- and cloud-neutral data centre platform, the collaboration strengthens its service portfolio by enhancing performance and expanding connectivity options within its facilities. Customers gain greater interconnection choice, high-availability architecture, seamless bandwidth, and the ability to scale efficiently as their infrastructure requirements grow.

“Our partnership with Africa Data Centres enables us to deliver our premium fibre interconnection solution into some of the most strategically important data centre hubs in Gauteng. Through Infinity, customers benefit from ultra-low latency connectivity, scalable capacity, and secure, carrier-grade infrastructure designed to keep their businesses ahead in an extremely competitive digital landscape,” said Ellisha Gobind, Chief Commercial Officer at Oni-Tel.

Africa Data Centres’ facilities across the continent serve as key interconnection hubs, supporting enterprises, cloud service providers, financial institutions, mobile network operators, fixed network operators, and other users. Oni-Tel’s dark fibre solution further expands the range of carrier-neutral options available to Gauteng customers, enabling improved network speed and performance.

As demand for secure, high-performance digital infrastructure continues to rise, Africa Data Centres remains focused on building a robust, interconnected ecosystem that supports enterprise innovation and long-term growth across South Africa and the wider region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Data Centres.

 

 




 

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Business

Changpeng Zhao (CZ) Releases Freedom of Money, a Memoir Reflecting on the Rise of Crypto and the Story Behind Binance

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6 hours ago

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September 10, 2026

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Binance

The memoir also reflects on the challenges that came with building at such speed, including the pressures of scaling a global company, regulatory scrutiny as the industry matured, and CZ’s personal experience serving a four month sentence in a U.S. federal prison

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 13, 2026/APO Group/ –Few figures have been as closely associated with the rise of the cryptocurrency industry as Binance (www.Binance.com) co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ). In his new memoir,  Freedom of Money, A Memoir of Protecting Users, Resilience, and the Founding of Binance,  CZ offers a candid account of the early days of crypto, the rapid explosion of Binance, and the personal consequences of building at the centre of one of the fastest moving industries in modern finance.

 




  

Available globally from 08th April 2026 on Amazon Kindle and Paperback, Freedom of Money traces CZ’s journey from his early life and unconventional path into technology through the founding and rapid growth of Binance during a period when the cryptocurrency industry was expanding at unprecedented speed.

Part memoir and part reflection on the evolution of digital assets, the book offers readers a builder’s perspective on what it was like to grow a global platform in a new industry where the rules were still being written.

“While many people congratulated me on being number one, something else gave me more satisfaction,” CZ writes in the book. “I was getting messages from users all around the world thanking us for providing them with financial access or even financial freedom.”

The memoir also reflects on the challenges that came with building at such speed, including the pressures of scaling a global company, regulatory scrutiny as the industry matured, and CZ’s personal experience serving a four month sentence in a U.S. federal prison.

“This memoir is not a sanitized corporate story,” CZ said. “It reflects on what it was like to build during a time when the crypto industry was still taking shape – the successes, the mistakes, and the lessons that came from both.”

Freedom of Money offers a founder’s perspective on the challenges and opportunities that shaped digital assets during their formative years

Alongside the events that defined CZ’s career, Freedom of Money explores broader themes of money, technology and responsibility, and how his views on financial freedom have evolved over time.

Reflecting on a Defining Period in Crypto

Over the past decade, Binance has played a significant role in the growth of the digital asset ecosystem, helping support the development of infrastructure used by millions of users globally.

Freedom of Money provides CZ’s personal perspective on that period of rapid innovation and expansion in the cryptocurrency industry.

Richard Teng, Co-CEO of Binance, said: “The story of Binance is closely tied to the early evolution of the crypto industry. Freedom of Money offers a founder’s perspective on the challenges and opportunities that shaped digital assets during their formative years.”

Yi He, Co-Ceo of Binance, added: “The early days of crypto were fast-moving and full of possibility, even if not always fully understood. This book captures the energy of building in that moment and the incredible progress the industry has made since.”

Rachel Conlan, Chief Marketing Officer at Binance, said: “For many people, the story of crypto has been told through headlines and market cycles. What this book offers is a first person account from someone who helped build the infrastructure behind the industry’s growth.

Availability

  • Freedom of Money (https://apo-opa.co/4muGafd) is available globally 08 April 2026 on Amazon Kindle and Paperback.
  • The book is published in English and Chinese, with additional translations under consideration.
  • All proceeds from CZ’s authorship of the book will be donated to charity

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

 

 




 

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Energy

Senegal Rewrites the Rules of its Hydrocarbon Boom as Minister Birame Soulèye Diop Heads to African Energy Week 2026 in October

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6 hours ago

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September 10, 2026

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African Energy Chamber

At AEW 2026, Senegal’s Energy Minister Birame Soulèye Diop is expected to outline Senegal’s integrated hydrocarbons, gas and power strategy at AEW

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 13, 2026/APO Group/ –Senegal is reinforcing the policy architecture behind its new hydrocarbons era, with the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines launching reforms to the legal framework for local content in the extractive sector in March 2026. The reforms are aimed at improving national value retention while maintaining momentum on upstream and infrastructure development.

 




  

The move comes as Dakar works to translate first oil and first gas into broader industrial growth, stronger domestic participation and long-term energy security. Against this backdrop, Birame Soulèye Diop, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, will speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from October 12-16 – where he is expected to present Senegal’s roadmap for balancing investor engagement, gas monetization and sovereign energy development.

Minister Diop represents the kind of pragmatic African leadership that is turning resource potential into real economic transformation

In January 2026, 3.8 million barrels of crude oil were exported from the Sangomar field, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project is expected to nearly double its LNG cargoes in 2026 as the FLNG ramp‑up continues. Beyond current production, Senegal is also pushing to expand its resource pipeline. Petrosen has announced plans for a $100 million onshore exploration program in 2026, while the government has also signaled a stronger strategic focus on Yakaar-Teranga, with Senegalese investors encouraged to take a greater role in developing the 25 trillion cubic feet gas resource to prioritize domestic needs while keeping export optionality on the table.

Dakar is now focused on the next phase: using domestic gas resources to lower electricity costs, improve fuel security and support industrial competitiveness. A key pillar of this strategy is the 250 MW Gandon power plant, expected to be supplied through new gas infrastructure linked to the GTA system, alongside the broader Cap des Biches and northern gas corridor buildout. At the same time, Dakar is continuing to strengthen the regulatory foundations of its power transition. In March 2026, the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines validated Senegal’s first national standards for solar photovoltaic equipment, a move designed to improve quality, safety and performance as the country scales renewable energy deployment in parallel with oil and gas infrastructure.

At AEW 2026, Minister Diop is expected to provide strategic insight into how Senegal is navigating the transition from discovery and commissioning to full-scale execution. His participation is set to reinforce Senegal as one of the few frontier African producers pursuing an integrated model that combines hydrocarbons, gas-to-power and renewables under a single national development agenda.

“Minister Diop represents the kind of pragmatic African leadership that is turning resource potential into real economic transformation. Senegal is showing how first oil and first gas can become the basis for industrial growth, stronger regional integration and long-term energy security and his insights will bring great value to AEW 2026,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

 




 

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