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Applications Open for 2023 Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition

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3 years ago

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Africa’s Business Heroes

Now in its fifth year, the competition offers a unique opportunity for African entrepreneurs to highlight their talent and make a bigger impact on the community through their businesses

KIGALI, Rwanda, March 6, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The “Africa’s Business Heroes” (ABH) (https://www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has launched its fifth annual edition and now calls for participation from Africa’s entrepreneurial talent.

ABH is part of the Jack Ma Foundation’s long-term commitment to helping support and foster an inclusive and strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa. Every year since 2019, ABH conducts a continent-wide search with its partners for 10 outstanding, mission-driven entrepreneurs that are striving to make a difference in their local communities. Over a 10-year period, ABH will recognize a total of 100 African entrepreneurs.  

Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Head of Partnerships & Programs of ABH, said: “At ABH, we have long recognized the potential of entrepreneurs as engines of economic and social growth. Now in the fifth year of the competition, we are encouraged to see that ABH has grown into a truly Pan-African initiative that is positively impacting the continent’s entrepreneurship landscape. We are extremely impressed with the increasing diversity of our Heroes and how they’ve been taking tangible steps to solve some of Africa’s most challenging issues. We encourage entrepreneurs from all countries, especially those from smaller countries, to seize the opportunity of ABH 2023 to tell and inspire millions more with their unique stories.”

The ABH Prize Competition is Pan-African, inclusive, sector-agnostic and grassroots-oriented. Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, across every sector, gender and age group and all levels of society, are encouraged to submit their applications, in either English or French, for a chance to become one of the top 10 finalists to compete for a share of US$1.5 million in grant money.

At the Grand Finale to be held later this year, the 10 finalists will take the stage to present their businesses to a panel of legendary business people. The journey to the finale will also include access to a community of international business leaders and innovators, industry experts, investors and accelerators, as well as multi-disciplinary bootcamps and training sessions to help the participating entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level.

This year, ABH will be hosting in-person information sessions across the continent during the application period to facilitate the application process for interested entrepreneurs

Apart from grant, mentorship and networking opportunities, ABH creates a television show every year which follows the finalists of the previous year on their exciting journey to the Grand Finale, featuring their on-stage pitches as well as behind-the-scenes moments. The ABH Show aims to provide a masterclass in entrepreneurship, as audiences can see first-hand how Africa’s top entrepreneurs refined their final pitches and faced challenging questions from the judges. The upcoming edition of the ABH Show will be in shorter episodes, and released on ABH’s official YouTube channel (https://apo-opa.info/3ZfzhC1) and ABH’s social media platforms from March 2023 onwards. A combined longer version will be launched at CNBC, StarTimes and Vox Africa later this year.

To date, over 72,000 entrepreneurs across the continent have participated in the ABH Prize Competition. The 10 outstanding finalists for 2022 (https://apo-opa.info/3F0XjIZ) were chosen from over 21,000 applicants from 54 African countries, representing a broad spectrum of industries including agriculture, consulting, energy environmental protection, healthcare, information and communication technology (ICT), and retail.

Elia Timotheo, Founder and CEO of East Africa Fruits Co. and the 2022 ABH first prize winner, said: “My business represents my philosophy and my values, and I am thrilled that East Africa Fruits was recognized on the prestigious ABH platform. ABH has given homegrown African businesses like mine a tremendous opportunity to access learning and networking opportunities and benefit from media support. I hope that my story will inspire other entrepreneurs to feel that they too have the potential to make a difference and be part of ABH’s start-up community.”

Today, East Africa Fruits is the leading data and tech-driven food distribution company in Tanzania. The company serves more than 7,000 customers daily and works with more than 10,000 farmers from around the country, with a commitment to bridging the tech gap for smallholder farmers.

This year, ABH will be hosting in-person information sessions across the continent during the application period to facilitate the application process for interested entrepreneurs. Sessions will be held in Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda in partnership with various local entrepreneur organizations and ABH local connect leads. Details will be shared via ABH’s social media accounts and newsletter.

A pivotal part of ABH’s success is its wide-ranging partnerships with key ecosystem partners. As with previous years, ABH will be partnering with several organizations to drive the call for applications, support African entrepreneurs and to spotlight their inspiring work. The 2023 Anchor partners are  Afrilabs, RiseUp (https://RiseUp.co/), SA Innovation Summit (https://InnovationSummit.co.za/), The Room (https://www.TheRoom.com/) – an initiative of African Leadership Group and VC4A (https://VC4A.com/). Channel partners include African Management Institute (AMI) (https://www.AfricanManagers.org/), AfterSchool Africa (https://www.AfterSchoolAfrica.com/), Anzisha Prize (https://apo-opa.info/3IS4p3E), Briter Bridges (https://BriterBridges.com/), Disrupt Africa (https://Disrupt-Africa.com/), Haske Ventures (https://www.HaskeVentures.com/), Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (MCISE) (http://www.MCISE.org/), MEST Africa (https://apo-opa.info/3IQVAXD), Pariti (https://www.Pariti.io/) and Seedstars (https://apo-opa.info/3ZKfoCV). For organizations interested in joining the ABH Partner network, sign up here (https://apo-opa.info/3SOKI1d).

Applications are now open online until May 12, 2023, with the top 50 candidates announced in July, semi-finalists announced in August and the top 10 finalists unveiled in September.

To apply and for more information about ABH 2023, please visit: https://apo-opa.info/41MUCo0 and follow ABH on Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3KY3OQs), LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.info/3L1Cgda), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3KZTXKa), Facebook (https://apo-opa.info/3ylgNE9) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3YDG5bH).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Hero

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Liquid C2 and CyberCoach partner to bring a safer digital environment to African businesses

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14 hours ago

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March 11, 2026

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Liquid C2 and its Cloudmania channel ecosystem will distribute CyberCoach training across Africa, reaching enterprises, SMEs, public-sector institutions, and partners across the African footprint

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 11, 2026/APO Group/ –Liquid C2, a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, announces its partnership with CyberCoach, the only privacy-first AI and cyber security training and compliance platform. Through this partnership, Liquid C2 is further strengthening its cyber security portfolio with an AI-powered security awareness and training platform designed to help organisations reduce human risk.

Our approach complements Liquid C2’s focus on delivering innovative, dependable, and sustainable technology solutions that help businesses thrive responsibly

“The African digital transformation market is expected to reach 15.62% CAGR over 2026-2031 (http://apo-opa.co/4s07kwh). This statistic highlights the exponential growth the continent will see in the next few years; however, it also means that without the necessary cyber security guardrails in place, cyberattacks will grow unchecked. With a strategic partner like CyberCoach, LiquidC2 can help organisations roll out training programmes on interactive chatbot integrated platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack or even web browsers of choice,” said Vinay Hiralall, Chief Commercial Officer at Liquid C2.

CyberCoach actively promotes a safe digital society by training and supporting all employees. Rather than “one-size-fits-all” content, these trainings are tailored learning paths based on an employee’s job function. Liquid C2 and its Cloudmania channel ecosystem will distribute CyberCoach training across Africa, reaching enterprises, SMEs, public-sector institutions, and partners across the African footprint.

“We are proud to collaborate with Liquid C2, whose scale, values, and commitment to digital empowerment in Africa align strongly with our mission to build a safer digital society through evidence-based learning of critical security and AI skills. Our approach complements Liquid C2’s focus on delivering innovative, dependable, and sustainable technology solutions that help businesses thrive responsibly,” says Maria Bique, CEO of CyberCoach.

According to the 2025 Interpol Africa report, 95% of respondents (http://apo-opa.co/40kXuZU) indicated that they lacked access to adequate training, resource constraints and specialised tools. The partnership between Liquid C2 and CyberCoach caters to the increasing need of African businesses to invest in training employees, thereby reducing the ‘human element’ risk in cyber security.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

 

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The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Sign US$ 1 Billion Framework Agreement to Strengthen Trade and Economic Development

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20 hours ago

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March 11, 2026

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ITFC

Under the agreement, ITFC will mobilize financing and technical support for priority sectors of the Mauritanian economy, particularly energy, banking, and private sector development

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, signed a US$ 1.0 billion Five-Year Framework Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania covering the 2026–2030 period to strengthen cooperation and support the country’s economic development priorities through strategic trade finance and capacity-building initiatives.

 

The signing took place during the official visit of H.E. Dr. Abdallah O. Souleymane O. Cheikh-Sidia, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development and IsDB Governor, to the IsDB Group Headquarters in Jeddah. The agreement was signed at ITFC Headquarters by H.E. Dr. Abdallah O. Souleymane O. Cheikh-Sidia and Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, Chief Executive Officer of ITFC, in the presence of H.E. Mohamed Lemine Dhehby, Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritania and IsDB Alternate Governor for Mauritania, as well as representatives from ITFC and members of the Mauritanian delegation.

The Framework Agreement reflects the strong partnership between ITFC and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania establishing a strategic framework to support the country’s socio-economic development and expand its trade capacity over the next five years.

Under the agreement, ITFC will mobilize financing and technical support for priority sectors of the Mauritanian economy, particularly energy, banking, and private sector development. The partnership will facilitate financing for the import of energy commodities, provide trade finance facilities and Confirmation Lines for Letters of Credit to local banks, and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It will also include technical assistance programs to enhance agricultural productivity and promote trade facilitation in strategic sectors of the economy.

Speaking during the occasion, H.E. Dr. Abdallah O. Souleymane O. Cheikh-Sidia, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development of Mauritania, highlighted that the agreement will help mobilize critical financial resources to support national development priorities and foster sustainable economic growth.

Eng. Adeeb Al Aama, CEO of ITFC, noted that the agreement demonstrates ITFC’s continued commitment to supporting its member countries through trade-driven development and will help strengthen key sectors of Mauritania’s economy while expanding opportunities for trade and investment.

Since its inception in 2008, Mauritania has been a longstanding partner of ITFC, with cumulative approvals exceeding US$1.2 billion supporting key sectors of the economy and contributing to enhance the country’s trade and development capacity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

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US Federal Court Dismisses All Claims Against Binance in Anti – Terrorism Lawsuit

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20 hours ago

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March 11, 2026

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Binance

While the Court has allowed plaintiffs 60 days to file an amended complaint in light of a recent appellate decision, Binance is confident that no amended pleading will be able to cure the fundamental deficiencies the Court identified

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Court rejects allegations that Binance (www.Binance.com) assisted, participated in, or conspired with terrorists. This represents a decisive legal dismissal of all claims

 

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by registered users, announced today that a U.S. federal court in the Southern District of New York has dismissed all claims brought against the company under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The lawsuit involved 535 plaintiffs who alleged that Binance provided material support related to 64 terrorist attacks.

In a 62-page decision, the Court found that plaintiffs failed to establish any of their central allegations: that Binance assisted terrorists, that Binance associated itself with terrorist attacks, that Binance participated in or sought to advance those attacks, or that Binance engaged in any conspiracy with terrorist organizations.

“This dismissal is a complete vindication of all false allegations,” said Eleanor Hughes, Binance’s General Counsel. “The court has unambiguously rejected the false and damaging narrative that Binance assisted terrorists. We have always maintained that these claims were without merit, and today’s ruling confirms that. We will continue to defend ourselves aggressively against any litigation or reporting that misrepresents who we are and how we operate.”

We will continue to defend ourselves aggressively against any litigation or reporting that misrepresents who we are and how we operate

A Full and Complete Legal Victory

The Court’s decision to dismiss all claims — across every allegation, represents a decisive legal victory.

While the Court has allowed plaintiffs 60 days to file an amended complaint in light of a recent appellate decision, Binance is confident that no amended pleading will be able to cure the fundamental deficiencies the Court identified. The underlying claims have been thoroughly examined and rejected.

Commitment to Compliance and Legal Integrity

Binance has consistently invested in industry-leading compliance infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and legal governance. Today’s ruling affirms that Binance’s operations do not support, facilitate, or enable terrorism in any form.

The company will continue to engage constructively with regulators worldwide, operate within established legal frameworks, and pursue vigorous legal action where necessary to correct false and misleading narratives about its business.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

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