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African Organisations Move from Awareness to Action as IT Asset Visibility Becomes a Board-Level Priority

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Following widespread recognition of the IT asset visibility gap across the continent, V-Track reports a significant shift in organisational behaviour as finance and IT leaders move beyond acknowledgement toward structured, technology-driven control

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 9, 2026/APO Group/ —

Across African markets, a shift is underway in how organisations approach IT asset management. Having acknowledged the scale of the visibility gap – the growing disconnect between what appears on balance sheets and what can be verified in the real world – finance and IT teams are now moving to close it. The conversation, once dominated by problem definition, is rapidly becoming one of implementation.

 

This shift follows a period of heightened scrutiny in which organisations have begun to quantify the financial impact of poor asset visibility: avoidable procurement spend on devices that already exist in their estates, capital tied up in assets that are no longer in productive use, audit exposure from inaccurate registers, and security risk created by devices that have drifted off the network without formal decommissioning.

“We are seeing a clear change in the nature of the conversations organisations are having with us,” said Valene Nagiah, Head of Asset Tracking and Management at V-Track. “Twelve months ago, the primary question was: do we have a problem? Now, the question is: how do we fix it  and how quickly can we demonstrate a return? That is a meaningful shift, and it reflects a broader maturation in how African businesses think about IT governance.”

From static registers to continuous control

For many organisations, the first step in closing the visibility gap has been confronting the inadequacy of existing systems. Periodic manual audits and static spreadsheet-based asset registers are the default approach across much of the continent and are increasingly being recognised for what they are: point-in-time snapshots that begin losing accuracy the moment they are completed.

In environments where assets move constantly between offices, remote locations, field teams, and employees who may work across multiple sites,  a register that is accurate today may be significantly out of date within weeks. The challenge is not simply one of data quality; it is structural. Manual processes cannot keep pace with the operational reality of a distributed, mobile workforce.

“The organisations making the most progress are those that have stopped treating asset management as an audit exercise and started treating it as a continuous function,” said Nagiah. “Visibility is not something you achieve once a year. It is something you maintain every day and that requires infrastructure, not just process.”

The hybrid workforce as a forcing function

The permanent entrenchment of hybrid and distributed working across African markets has proven to be a significant forcing function for ITAM investment. As organisations formalised remote and flexible work arrangements, the practical consequences of asset invisibility became harder to ignore. Devices issued to home-based employees, contractors, and field staff could no longer be assumed to be present, functional, or secure, and without tracking infrastructure, verifying their status required manual intervention that was neither scalable nor reliable.

The organisations making the most progress are those that have stopped treating asset management as an audit exercise and started treating it as a continuous function

In markets characterised by infrastructure variability, including intermittent power supply, inconsistent connectivity, and high rates of staff movement between employers, these challenges are amplified. A device that was verified last quarter may have changed location, changed hands, or gone offline entirely in the intervening period. Without continuous monitoring, the organisation simply does not know.

For leased IT environments, this dynamic carries additional financial weight. Devices that cannot be accounted for at the end of a lease agreement represent a direct liability, replacement costs that fall to the organisation, compounded by the administrative burden of attempting to recover assets after the fact. Proactive tracking eliminates this exposure before it materialises.

What effective implementation looks like

Organisations that have made meaningful progress on IT asset visibility share a common set of characteristics. They have moved away from treating ITAM as a back-office IT function and repositioned it as a financial control mechanism with direct implications for procurement strategy, capital allocation, and audit readiness. They have invested in platforms that provide continuous, real-time data rather than periodic snapshots. And they have created clear ownership of asset data at both the IT and finance level, recognising that the two functions need to operate from the same source of truth.

The practical benefits of this approach are demonstrable across four areas:

  • Financial accuracy: asset registers that reflect operational reality, enabling more precise depreciation, budgeting, and capital planning.
  • Procurement efficiency: elimination of duplicate or unnecessary purchases driven by inaccurate inventory data.
  • Security and compliance: continuous visibility into device status reduces the attack surface created by unmonitored endpoints and strengthens regulatory compliance.
  • Lease and lifecycle management: accurate, real-time asset data enables organisations to optimise lease terms, plan timely returns, and maximise residual value.

 

“The organisations that are getting this right are not necessarily those with the largest IT budgets,” Nagiah noted. “They are the ones that have made a deliberate decision to treat their asset estate as a managed financial resource and have put the systems in place to support that decision. The technology to do this exists, and it is accessible. The gap is no longer a technology gap. It is a decision gap.”

A platform built for African operating conditions

V-Track’s asset intelligence platform is designed to function effectively within the operational constraints that characterise many African business environments. The platform requires no on-premises infrastructure, operates across distributed and multi-jurisdiction environments, and provides finance and IT teams with a unified view of their asset estate regardless of where those assets are physically located.

Organisations yet to begin their asset visibility journey are encouraged to start with V-Track’s 15-day free trial (https://apo-opa.co/4ehmGXN) – a structured visibility audit that typically surfaces actionable findings within the first week. No procurement process, no long-form commitment, and no prior ITAM infrastructure required.

“The most common thing we hear after the trial is: we had no idea,” said Nagiah. “That is exactly the point. The trial does not sell a product – it reveals a reality. What organisations choose to do with that clarity is their decision. But they can no longer say they did not know.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of V-Track.

 

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Nigeria Mining Week promises high-level engagement on critical minerals and industrialisation roadmap

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July 28, 2026

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“New Critical Minerals Forum will focus on needs for global energy transition”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 28, 2026/APO Group/ –Hot on the heels of Nigeria’s unveiling of a strategic roadmap designed to convert the country’s mineral wealth into investments in clean energy manufacturing and domestic value addition, the organisers of the Nigeria Mining Week conference and expo have revealed this year’s packed and topical programme.

Convening at the Abuja Continental Hotel in the Nigerian capital from 13 to 14 October, this longstanding mining gathering of note supports Nigeria’s ambition to become a regional refining and processing powerhouse. The theme of this year’s event is “Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships.”

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE (https://apo-opa.co/4yPtbdV)

Unveiling strategic roadmaps

Says Samukelo Madlabane, Event Director – Mining Portfolio, VUKA Group: “The Nigerian government has sought to boost beneficiation and industrialisation in its mining sector by mandating local processing, opening large scale mineral plants and unveiling strategic roadmaps that link critical minerals to clean energy manufacturing. Recent initiatives focus on lithium, copper and bauxite, aiming to move beyond raw exports and build integrated value chains.”

Earlier this month, the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South presented a Critical Minerals Roadmap to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, outlining strategies to harness Nigeria’s lithium, copper and bauxite resources in order to strengthen local industries, advance mineral beneficiation and draw investment into green manufacturing.

Madlabane adds: “Nigeria Mining Week is perfectly timed for this defining moment in this nation’s mining sector. Our new Critical Minerals Forum will focus on the minerals needed for the global energy transition, such as lithium, REEs, graphite, copper, and other battery or tech minerals, and how Nigeria must position itself to attract serious investment and unlock the country’s rapidly expanding opportunities.”

The Nigeria Mining Week programme highlights include:

Critical Minerals Forum: 13 October

  • Strategic Leadership in the Critical Minerals Race

This session will focus on positioning Nigeria with US and EU MSP initiatives and Asian cathode makers, ensuring bankable offtake term sheets, scaling REE projects responsibly, building infrastructure and traceability rules, and securing independent assurance to strengthen buyer confidence.

  • Building Reliable Pathways from Nigeria to Global Battery, Magnet & EV Markets

International buyers demand clear technical specifications, impurity thresholds and QA/QC standards before agreements with Nigerian projects. Success depends on structuring long term supply contracts, strengthening traceability and ESG documentation, and building credibility with partners across Asia, Europe, the US and the Gulf to secure sustainable supply chain integration.

Exploration & Geological Data:

Unlocking Nigeria’s Exploration Potential

This session explores how investment grade datasets, AI driven discovery and geoscience portals can unlock capital for Nigeria’s mining sector. Experts highlight data standards, licensing simplification and environmental safeguards to accelerate investor confidence and global competitiveness within 12 months.

Financing & Investment:

Financing Exploration & Junior Mining Companies

This session examines Nigeria’s data room requirements, capital structures and licensing reforms to attract investment. Experts highlight clean titles, ESG credibility, traceability and offtake signals as essential for DFIs, investors and global buyers to commit confidently within tight timelines.

Our new Critical Minerals Forum will focus on the minerals needed for the global energy transition, such as lithium, REEs, graphite, copper, and other battery or tech minerals

Industrialisation:

From Ore to Industry – Beneficiation & Refining

This session focuses on commissioning strategies for Nigeria’s lithium and gold projects, contracting for feed security, realistic OPEX benchmarks, and training partnerships. Experts outline pathways from first product to battery grade chemicals and value added metals supported by regulatory adjustments.

Gemstones:

Developing Nigeria’s Gemstone Value Chains

Exploring the formalisation of Nigeria’s artisanal gemstone mining through cooperatives, traceability and certification, experts will highlight international grading standards, models from Tanzania and Zambia, domestic gemstone clusters and incentives to attract global buyers, processors and jewellery manufacturers.

Policy, Regulation & Governance:

Building a Clear, Predictable and Competitive Policy Environment

Nigeria’s mining sector needs regulatory reforms to strengthen licensing predictability, improve contract stability, enhance transparency through NEITI and MCO, align beneficiation and ASM formalisation with global standards, and draw lessons from Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Ghana to boost investor confidence.

ESG & Sustainability:

ESG that Wins Investments

This session will focus on how Nigeria must define evidence grade traceability for US and EU buyers, adopt global water and tailings practices, apply CDA designs from Ghana Botswana and Peru, meet gender inclusion KPIs within 12 months, and secure independent assurance to strengthen financing and offtake terms.

Infrastructure & Power Integration:

Power to Mines & Logistics for Industrialisation

This session will examine IPP and cogen models from India Australia and Brazil, lessons from the Lobito Corridor for Nigerian rail port power integration, ballast and aggregate standards, digital logistics tools to reduce losses, and PPP structures enabling long tenor corridor financing.

Side events and forums

Other well-known side events and forums that make a welcome return to Nigeria Mining Week and always add to the engaging atmosphere include:

  • The Gold Forum
  • The Steel & Industrial Minerals Forum
  • The Women in Extractive Industries Forum
  • The CEO Roundtable
  • The Deal Room
  • – Project Showcase & Private Capital Engagement

Industry support

Over the last 11 years, Nigeria Mining Week has become thé gathering place for many mining pioneers and suppliers, and many have become longstanding partners of the Abuja gathering. Titan Minerals Ltd is returning as the diamond plus sponsor; KMDC, Kursi, Lovol, Sinogrand, and XCMG have already signed up as diamond sponsors; and SMT Nigeria is back as a platinum sponsor.

The event will gather 3,000+ attendees, 75+ world class speakers and 150+ exhibitors and solution providers. Countries that are expected to have a strong presence with international pavilions are UK, EU, US, China, UAE, Canada, South Africa and India.

The Nigeria Mining Week conference and expo is organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria, in partnership with PwC, VUKA Group and Mining Review Africa, with the Nigerian Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as official host. NEITI is the event’s transparency partner.

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE (https://apo-opa.co/4yPtbdV)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Customer Experience Management (CEM) Africa 2026 Welcomes Three Influential Global Speakers

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July 28, 2026

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Together, they represent three distinct but complementary perspectives on leadership, customer experience and business transformation

I am particularly keen to explore Cape Town’s seamless integration of global brands and unique local retailers, alongside its exceptional culinary scene and vibrant public spaces

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 28, 2026/APO Group/ –CEM Africa, Africa’s leading customer experience conference, has announced three internationally respected speakers who will take to the stage at CEM Africa 2026, taking place from 18 – 20 August 2026 in Cape Town.

 

Bringing together senior leaders from customer experience, marketing, digital transformation, retail, customer service and business strategy, CEM Africa continues to attract influential voices who challenge conventional thinking and share practical insights that organisations can apply to create stronger customer relationships and better business outcomes.

Joining this year’s programme are Martin Urrutia, Global Head of Retail Experience at The LEGO Group; Bruce Whitfield, one of South Africa’s most respected business journalists and best-selling authors; and Zahirah Variawa, Emmy-nominated television presenter, award-winning travel producer and destination marketing strategist.

Together, they represent three distinct but complementary perspectives on leadership, customer experience and business transformation.

Creating World-Class Customer Experiences

Making his South African debut at CEM Africa, Martin Urrutia brings extensive global expertise in retail experience design and customer engagement.

As the Global Head of Retail Experience at The LEGO Group, Martin leads the development of retail concepts and customer experiences that strengthen one of the world’s most recognised brands. His work demonstrates how thoughtful experience design, innovation and brand strategy can be translated into commercially successful customer experiences across global markets.

During his session, Martin will share practical insights into designing memorable retail experiences that strengthen customer relationships while delivering measurable business value.

Speaking ahead of his visit to Cape Town, Martin said:

“During my visit to Cape Town, I look forward to engaging with the city’s authentic experiences, local culture, and distinctive destinations, all of which continue to inform and inspire the retail and brand experiences I create. I am particularly keen to explore Cape Town’s seamless integration of global brands and unique local retailers, alongside its exceptional culinary scene and vibrant public spaces — environments that foster connection, discovery, and new perspectives.”

Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty

Bruce Whitfield has built a reputation as one of South Africa’s most trusted business commentators, interviewing some of the world’s leading executives, entrepreneurs and innovators throughout his career. Drawing on decades of experience covering business, leadership and economic change, Bruce will explore how leaders can make better decisions, embrace uncertainty and identify opportunity in rapidly changing environments.

His keynote will challenge delegates to rethink how resilience, adaptability and decisive leadership can become competitive advantages in today’s business landscape.

The Power of Storytelling to Shape Experiences

Joining the programme is Zahirah Variawa, whose career spans more than 16 years across Africa, the Middle East and international markets.

An Emmy-nominated television presenter, award-winning travel producer, content creator and destination marketing strategist, Zahirah has partnered with tourism boards, governments, airlines and luxury hospitality brands to shape how destinations are experienced and remembered. Beyond broadcasting, she advises governments and international organisations on destination marketing strategy, facilitates industry dialogue and champions tourism as a catalyst for economic growth across Africa.

At CEM Africa 2026, Zahirah will explore how storytelling, human connection and authentic experiences influence perception, build trust and create lasting emotional connections. Her session will demonstrate why the principles of destination branding and experience design are increasingly relevant to organisations seeking to differentiate themselves through customer experience.

A Platform for Africa’s Customer Experience Leaders

The announcement reinforces CEM Africa’s position as the continent’s premier gathering for senior customer experience professionals, bringing together business leaders to explore the ideas, strategies and innovations shaping the future of customer engagement.

From world-class retail innovation and leadership to the power of storytelling, delegates will gain practical insights from speakers whose experience extends well beyond traditional customer experience disciplines. Together, they demonstrate that exceptional customer experiences are shaped by design, strengthened by leadership and brought to life through authentic human connection.

CEM Africa 2026 takes place in Cape Town from 18–20 August 2026, bringing together senior decision-makers from financial services, retail, telecommunications, healthcare, technology, government and other leading industries for three days of learning, networking and business collaboration.

For more information and to register, visit the CEM Africa website.

CEM Africa.com (https://apo-opa.co/4wtCFtN)

View the event programme https://apo-opa.co/4wr3j6r

Ticket Options https://apo-opa.co/4bgs9gQ

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Energy

Gabon Opens the Next Chapter of Offshore Growth as Hydrocarbons Minister Clotaire Kondja Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026

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July 28, 2026

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Gabon Petroleum and Gas Minister Clotaire Kondja will speak at AEW 2026, highlighting offshore expansion, gas reforms and new investment opportunities across the country

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Clotaire Kondja, Gabon’s Minister of Petroleum and Gas, has been confirmed as a speaker at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, bringing one of Central Africa’s foremost architects of upstream reform to the continent’s premier energy investment event. Since taking office in January 2026, Minister Kondja has accelerated efforts to attract international capital, unlock Gabon’s largely untapped offshore potential and commercialize its substantial natural gas resources.

Taking place in Cape Town from October 12‒16, AEW 2026 serves as the continent’s leading platform for energy investment, convening government leaders, operators, financiers and technology providers to drive deals across Africa’s oil, gas and energy sectors. With more than 2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and significant untapped offshore acreage, Gabon continues to offer prolific investment opportunities that will be showcased to global investors in Cape Town.

Around 72% of the country’s deepwater acreage remains unexplored, and the government is actively opening new opportunities for investors. Speaking at the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris in April, Minister Kondja confirmed that Gabon expected to finalize PSCs with ExxonMobil and bp, converting MoUs signed in October 2025 into active deepwater exploration licenses. The government’s modernized Hydrocarbons Code and enhanced fiscal framework are further strengthening the investment case, creating competitive conditions for companies pursuing frontier exploration, mature field redevelopment and long-term production growth.

Minister Clotaire Kondja is leading a new era of investment across Gabon’s oil and gas sector through competitive reforms, frontier exploration and strategic gas development

Upstream investors are targeting frontier offshore blocks and redevelopment of mature assets, while midstream opportunities include new pipelines, storage infrastructure and refinery upgrades. At the same time, the government’s gas modernization agenda is opening investment across LNG exports, gas-to-power projects and downstream industrial gas applications as Gabon positions itself as a regional petroleum and gas hub. The government has also eliminated signature bonuses for deepwater and ultra-deepwater blocks while launching a 2026 licensing campaign covering roughly 70% of the country’s available offshore acreage.

A new investor-friendly Gas Code is under development, complemented by plans for a 130‒150-km pipeline linking Gamba to Libreville by early 2028. The strategy is supported by Perenco’s $2 billion Cap Lopez LNG project, expected to begin operations in 2026 through an FLNG facility capable of producing 700,000 tons of LNG and 25,000 tons of LPG annually while significantly reducing gas flaring.

Investment activity is gathering pace across the sector. BW Energy, Panoro Energy and Gabon Oil Company approved the $300 million Bourdon offshore development in May 2026, targeting first oil in the first quarter of 2028 from approximately 25 million barrels of recoverable reserves. BW Energy and Panoro Energy are also progressing the MaBoMo Phase 2 development, expected to deliver first oil during the first half of 2027, while Assala Energy’s Magoga-A discovery confirmed 8m of net oil play in the Gamba Sandstone formation. Meanwhile, investment continues to accelerate across the midstream segment through planned gas gathering infrastructure, expanded storage capacity and refinery modernization, supporting the government’s ambition of building an integrated petroleum industry while capturing greater value from domestic gas production.

“Minister Clotaire Kondja is leading a new era of investment across Gabon’s oil and gas sector through competitive reforms, frontier exploration and strategic gas development. As Gabon opens new offshore opportunities and advances major infrastructure projects, his insights at AEW 2026 will be invaluable for investors looking to participate in one of Africa’s most dynamic energy markets,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

Beyond showcasing Gabon’s investment agenda, Minister Kondja’s participation will contribute to broader discussions on how African producers can remain globally competitive amid shifting capital flows, evolving energy demand and growing pressure to deliver long-term energy security. His perspective will add to high-level dialogue between policymakers, operators and financiers focused on accelerating investment and strengthening Africa’s role in the global energy landscape.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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