“At the African Development Bank, we have taken a proactive job, jobs, jobs approach”—Dr. Adesina
NEW YORK, United States of America, September 27, 2022/APO Group/ —
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged governments across the world to quickly invest in quality job creation the and the provision of social protection for those without coverage.
Guterres was speaking at a high-level session to discuss the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (https://bit.ly/3rfWGUk) initiative during the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
He told leaders to focus on concrete solutions to implement the initiative and warned, “the path of inaction leads to economic collapse and climate catastrophe, widening inequalities and escalating social unrest. This could leave billions trapped in vicious circles of poverty and destitution.”
The initiative, launched in 2021 by the United Nations International Labour Organization, brings together governments, international financial institutions, civil societies, the UN, and the private sector to create 400 million new, decent jobs, especially in the green, care, and digital economies, and extend social protection to more than 4 billion people worldwide that are currently without coverage.
The session was also addressed by various leaders from around the world including the President of the African Development Bank Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera, Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo, and Egypt’s Minister for Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said.
The UN chief praised Togo for protecting thousands of its citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic after deploying “innovative digital solutions to expand social protection to hard-to-reach populations.”
On its part, South Africa was praised for launching the Just Energy transition partnership, signaling an important step in the fight against climate change.
African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina highlighted the bank’s rapid response to the Covid-19 pandemic by launching a $10 billion facility which helped provide social protection for more than 28 million people. The bank also launched a $3 billion social impact bond on global capital markets in 2020, which at the time was the highest in world history.
“But that is not enough”, Dr. Adesina added, “We have to restructure our economies to be productive with education, infrastructure, energy and making sure we have productive sectors that can use people’s skills and absorb that into the economy.”
“At the African Development Bank, we have taken a proactive approach job, jobs, jobs approach,” said Adesina. As an example, he named the bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa program to create 25 million jobs by 2025. Nearly half of those jobs had already been delivered, he said.
To generate more jobs, Adesina cited sectors such as agriculture where the bank is investing $25 billion to transform rural areas and turn the sector into a business
To generate more jobs, Adesina cited sectors such as agriculture where the bank is investing $25 billion to transform rural areas and turn the sector into a business.
In the energy sector, Adesina gave the example of the Sahel region. “We are investing $20 billion to build 10000MW of electricity that will provide energy for productive use and create millions of jobs,” Adesina said. He added it was time for Africa to build a manufacturing capacity for polysilicon material that is used for solar panels “so that we can create a lot of green jobs.”
The creative industry especially Nigeria’s film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, is another area that requires significant investment given its potential to generate $20 billion of revenue and create twenty million jobs, Adesina said.
The UN expects each government to commit to the Global Accelerator initiative and its objectives by, among others, developing national policies and integrated strategies for just transitions.
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera said given the financial constraints his country was facing, implementing the initiative would require the support of partners, donors, international financial institutions, and policy support from the UN system.
He said the overlapping crises of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and the war in eastern Europe, Malawi is left “to grapple with downgrades of our sovereign credit ratings, leading to higher borrowing costs and intensified debt risks.”
President Chakwera said his country was ready to be part of the fact-finding work of the Global Accelerator initiative.
Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo said her government has initiated efforts to increase jobs for Uganda’s under 30 who make up 75% of the country’s population.
“We are increasing investment in skills development, supporting informal social enterprises to transition into the formal economy and supporting the private sector to create jobs in key growth areas, including providing incentives to investors,” she said.
Egypt’s Minister for Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said outlined various initiatives undertaken by her government to mitigate the impact of crises on people in Egypt.
“These include increasing beneficiaries of the cash transfer program to reach 5 million families in addition to substantially increasing food rations that benefit more than 64 million Egyptians,” she said.
“The government has embarked on an ambitious program, the Decent Life Initiative, to revamp the rural communities, and transform the lives of the more than 50 million Egyptians across 4,500 villages, constituting more than half of the total population,” she added.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Greatorex assumed leadership of Aggreko’s Nigeria operations in early June, bringing more than three decades of international experience across the energy, utilities, oil and gas, petrochemical and industrial sectors
LAGOS, Nigeria, July 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Aggreko (https://www.Aggreko.com/en-za), a global leader in energy solutions, has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria with the appointment of Nigel Greatorex as General Manager for Nigeria, marking an important milestone in the company’s renewed focus on one of Africa’s most strategically significant energy markets.
Greatorex assumed leadership of Aggreko’s Nigeria operations in early June, bringing more than three decades of international experience across the energy, utilities, oil and gas, petrochemical and industrial sectors. His appointment comes as Aggreko accelerates its growth ambitions in Nigeria, strengthening its local presence and expanding its ability to support customers with reliable, flexible and sustainable energy solutions.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest and most dynamic economies, with growing demand for dependable power across industries ranging from oil and gas and manufacturing to mining, infrastructure and commercial operations. As businesses increasingly seek resilient energy solutions that can support both operational continuity and sustainability objectives, Aggreko is positioning itself to play an even greater role in enabling economic growth and industrial development across the country.
Extensive global and African energy experience
Greatorex joins Aggreko from ABB, where he most recently served as Global Industry Business Manager for Carbon Capture and Storage. In that role, he led global strategy and growth initiatives focused on energy transition technologies and decarbonisation. He also brings extensive experience operating across Africa, including Nigeria, giving him a strong understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges facing businesses in the region.
Nigel’s appointment reflects our commitment to investing in leadership and strengthening our presence in the country
Throughout his career, Greatorex has held numerous senior leadership positions, successfully leading business transformations, driving operational excellence and expanding market presence in complex and highly competitive environments.
Investing in local leadership
Commenting on the appointment, Edith Kikonyogo, Managing Director of Aggreko Africa said: “Nigeria is a key part of our growth strategy across Africa. Nigel’s appointment reflects our commitment to investing in leadership and strengthening our presence in the country. His extensive industry experience, proven leadership capabilities and deep understanding of the African energy landscape make him ideally positioned to lead the next phase of our growth in Nigeria.”
Greatorex said he was excited to join Aggreko at a pivotal moment for both the company and the Nigerian market. “Nigeria presents tremendous opportunities for innovation, growth and partnership. I am delighted to be joining Aggreko as the company strengthens its commitment to the country and its customers. Aggreko has a strong reputation for delivering critical energy solutions that help businesses overcome challenges and unlock new opportunities. I look forward to working with our customers, partners and team to build on that legacy and support Nigeria’s continued development.”
A long-term commitment to Nigeria
The appointment underscores Aggreko’s confidence in Nigeria’s long-term economic potential and its commitment to helping organisations navigate evolving energy requirements through flexible, efficient and sustainable power solutions.
As the company continues to expand its footprint in the country, Aggreko remains focused on delivering the expertise, technology and local support needed to help businesses thrive in an increasingly complex energy environment.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aggreko plc.
The publication provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental, social and economic impact of its operations
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 21, 2026/APO Group/ —
Spiro’s inaugural Sustainability Report provides the first comprehensive overview of the environmental, social and economic impact of Spiro’s operations.
The company also unveils ambitious objectives and targets net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040 and up to 0.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided from product use annually by 2030.
SPIRO (www.Spironet.com), Africa’s leading electric mobility company, today published its inaugural Sustainability Report. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental, social and economic impact of its operations and aims at establishing a baseline, to track future progress on its path to scale clean transport infrastructure and affordable mobility solutions.
Having grown up in India, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of vehicle emissions on public health and urban environments. At SPIRO, our responsibility as founders is not only to scale innovation, but to ensure that the systems we build endure economically, socially, and environmentally for generations to come”, said Gagan Gupta, Founder of SPIRO and Chairman of Equitane.
“This report reflects how far SPIRO has come—not only in terms of growth, but in our ability to measure and improve our impact. As we expand across Africa, sustainability will remain a core business driver, shaping how we invest, manufacture, innovate and partner for the long term”, highlighted Anant Badjatya, Group Chief Executive Officer, SPIRO.
This report reflects how far SPIRO has come—not only in terms of growth, but in our ability to measure and improve our impact
“By establishing our first comprehensive ESG baseline, including Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, we are creating the foundations needed to track progress, set measurable targets and strengthen transparency as SPIRO continues to scale across Africa. Sustainability is not a standalone initiative—it is integrated into how we operate, innovate and create long-term value”,saidImtinen Hamlaoui, Head of ESG and Sustainability.
Among key highlights :
As part of its sustainability roadmap, SPIRO completed its first end-to-end greenhouse gas inventory, covering Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions across its operations and value chain.
Among others, operational efficiency measures taken last year delivered an estimated 15–25% reduction in energy use at assembly facilities, reinforcing SPIRO’s commitment to continuously improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint of its operations.
The report outlines SPIRO’s long-term sustainability roadmap, including its ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2040. As the company expands, its electric mobility ecosystem is projected to help avoid approximately 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually by 2030. To further strengthen energy resilience and reduce grid dependency, SPIRO is evaluating the deployment of 80–125 KVA on-site solar solutions across selected battery-swapping stations, while smart energy management initiatives implemented at its assembly facilities have already delivered an estimated 15–25% reduction in energy consumption.
The report highlights SPIRO’s growing investment in people and local capabilities. Through the Spiro Academy, the company trained more than 4,000 individuals across Africa in 2025 in areas including EV maintenance, battery management and technical operations. Initiatives such as Africa’s first women electric motorcycle assembly line further reinforce SPIRO’s commitment to skills development, workforce inclusion and local industrial growth.
Beyond environmental performance, the report underlines the growing economic benefits of electric mobility. Commercial riders using SPIRO motorcycles reduce operating costs by 70–80% compared with petrol-powered alternatives, while benefiting from lower maintenance costs and reduced exposure to fuel price volatility.
eWAKA Joins the Cartier Women’s Initiative to Accelerate Africa’s Transition to Clean Mobility
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 21, 2026/APO Group/ –eWAKA (www.eWAKA.tech) today announced the company’s Co-founder and CEO, Céleste Tchetgen Vogel, has been selected as a 2026 Cartier Women’s Initiative Fellow. Vogel was recognized for her work to electrify Africa’s last mile, giving riders clean vehicles they can own and a better way to earn. Chosen from applicants around the world, Vogel represents the Anglophone and Lusophone Africa category of the 2026 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, which celebrate women entrepreneurs using business as a force for positive change.
eWAKA is an early-stage company with a clear ambition: to make Africa’s last mile clean, affordable, and within reach of the people who move it. Today it provides electric motorcycles and cargo bikes, financing that lets riders own their vehicles affordably, and charging and battery-swap to keep them moving. It coordinates deliveries and fleet operations through its own software. It aims to grow this into a managed electric delivery network, where businesses get reliable, lower-cost delivery and riders earn a steady living. Operating in Kenya and Rwanda, eWAKA is actively expanding into Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, demonstrating its confidence in regional growth and impact.
eWAKA at a Glance
Nearly 1,500 active riders in Kenya and Rwanda
More than one million deliveries completed, up by over 80,000 on the prior year
More than 550 vendors onboarded onto the company’s merchant ordering platform
Approximately Ksh 25 million (about US$190,000 or CHF 150,000) earned by riders, up more than Ksh 6 million on the prior year
More than 1,500 jobs were created, with over 85% of riders aged 18 to 30
More than 3000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions avoided through clean mobility operations
Woman-founded and woman-led, with women working as riders, vendors, and agents across the network
We are delighted to welcome Céleste Tchetgen Vogel to the Cartier Women’s Initiative community
By bringing electric vehicles, financing, and software together in a single operation, eWAKA is building a model it can carry from one city to the next, so that each new market means more riders earning, more businesses served, and cleaner air to breathe. The company’s early backers include the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), through its Start-up Fund, alongside impact investors and development finance partners.
eWAKA Co-founder and CEO Céleste Tchetgen Vogel said, “Mobility should open doors, not close them. When a rider can own a clean vehicle and earn a living with it, a whole family moves forward, and the city breathes a little easier. That is the future eWAKA is building, one electric mile at a time. To be welcomed into the Cartier Women’s Initiative, in its twentieth year, tells us the path is real, and gives us the resolve to walk it much further.”
eWAKA is building Africa’s next-generation electric mobility platform, operating in Kenya and Rwanda and expanding into Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Originally from Cameroon, Vogel is an African entrepreneur who co-founded eWAKA in 2021 after a career in senior legal and executive roles at Credit Suisse, ABB, and Swiss Re. She holds a degree in economics and international relations from Ohio Wesleyan University and a law degree from Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, both in the United States. She was named among the Most Influential Women in Mobility in 2024 and to the Meaningful Business 100 in 2025. eWAKA works with ETH Zurich as a technical partner on battery and fleet data.
Cartier Women’s Initiative Director Kiyo Taga-Witkin commented, “We are delighted to welcome Céleste Tchetgen Vogel to the Cartier Women’s Initiative community. Through eWAKA, she exemplifies how entrepreneurship can drive meaningful, positive change. We look forward to supporting her journey and celebrating the impact she is creating.”
The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an international entrepreneurship program established in 2006 to support women impact entrepreneurs who are building a more inclusive society for generations to come. Since its inception, the program has been dedicated to identifying and accompanying women whose businesses address the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. Through a comprehensive approach combining financial support, access to a global network, and tailored leadership development, the Cartier Women’s Initiative enables fellows to scale their businesses while strengthening their capacity to lead and create lasting impact.
Over the years, the initiative has grown into a vibrant international community of more than 520 community members, united by a shared ambition to drive meaningful change within their respective ecosystems. At its core, the Cartier Women’s Initiative is guided by a set of enduring convictions: the belief that women are powerful agents of transformation, that talent is universal, while opportunities are not, that continuous learning is essential to progress, and that sustainable impact is rooted in a deep commitment to the communities it serves.
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