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Ivorian Fintech, Daba Finance Crowned 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge Winner, taking home US$50,000

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Ivorian Fintech

Melanin Kapital from Kenya named runner-up and winning US$10,000, while Guinean fintech YMO takes third place with US$5,000

LOMÉ, Togo, September 30, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Ecobank (www.Ecobank.com), the leading pan-African financial services group, announced Daba Finance, the Ivorian Fintechas the Grand Winner of its flasghip Ecobank Fintech Challenge 2024.

Twelve (12) innovative fintech startups competed to impress the esteemed panel of five judges for the US$50,000 prize. The judges, comprised of renowned industry experts, evaluated the finalists based on criteria such as innovation, market potential, scalability and team strength.

After fierce competition, Daba Finance takes home US$50,000 with its solution to make investing accessible to everyone by offering a one-stop investment platform for trading stocks, bonds, and other financial products.

BOUM III JR, CEO of Daba Finance, expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity and the recognition, stating, “Winning this challenge propels our mission to make investing and wealth building opportunities available for all. With Ecobank as our partner, we are accelerating the journey to making our innovation accessible to millions and bringing financial empowerment to the continent.”

The judges also rewarded two additional fintechs whose solutions made a lasting impression. Melanin Kapital from Kenya took second place, winning US$10,000 and Guinean’s fintech YMO secured third place with US$5,000. For the first time, the general public was given the opportunity to vote for their preferred fintech, and MiaPay from Togo won the “Public Choice Award” for this year’s edition.

Ecobank’s Fintech Strategy centres on leveraging our borderless pan-African digital platform, to provide cutting edge solutions to fintechs that will benefit millions of africans

The 12 finalists were carefully selected from a record 1,550 Fintech Challenge 2024 entrants from 70 countries, demonstrating the competition’s rising prominence over its seven years. This also showcases the impressive innovation and creativity, especially on the African continent.

At the Ceremony, all the finalists were enrolled into the prestigious Ecobank Fintech Fellowship programme, which provides them with valuable exposure to investors and industry leaders, access to Ecobank’s Banking Sandbox to test and develop their innovative solutions, with the possibility of scaling across the Bank’s large pan-African footprint.

This annual event, which is unique in sub-Saharan Africa, is a testament to Ecobank’s commitment to helping African fintechs to develop and grow, and for the Bank to identify potential partnerships with fintechs which can be scaled to bridge the financial inclusion gap and streamline access to payments.

During his remarks, Jeremy Awori, Group CEO of Ecobank stated, “The African continent is a hotbed for fintech innovation globally and is constantly pushing the boundaries to enhance convenience and establish new digitally enabled capabilities. Ecobank’s Fintech Strategy centres on leveraging our borderless pan-African digital platform, to provide cutting edge solutions to fintechs that will benefit millions of africans. I am particularly proud of what we have achieved so far with fintechs through our annual Ecobank Fintech Challenge.”

He added: “I am hugely impressed by the quality of the pitch of our twelve finalists, and I want to congratulate Daba Finance for making it to the top of the podium. I look forward to seeing how our collaboration will help them grow and scale.” 

He ended by expressing his sincere appreciation to the judges, sponsors and partners who include Konfidants, Proparco, Huawei, Asky Airlines, TechCabal, BlueSpace, Afrilabs, Africa Fintech Network, MEST Africa, Naija Startups, Expand in Africa and Founders Africa. He extended special thanks to Asky Airlines who donated round-trip tickets to the winners.

Since its inception in 2017, the Ecobank Fintech Challenge has attracted over 7,000 applications from fintech innovators from 70 countries. This impressive pool of talent has resulted in 72 fintechs being inducted into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.

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Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

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

 

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Beyond Stabroek: Guyana’s Offshore Basin Attracts New Wave of Exploration Investment

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As ExxonMobil advances appraisal activity in Stabroek and new operators target frontier acreage, Guyana is attracting global capital and building a diversified offshore portfolio designed to sustain long-term growth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers is entering a new phase, with a growing network of IOCs expanding exploration activity across the country’s offshore basin. Beyond the landmark discoveries that first put Guyana on the global energy map, new drilling campaigns and licensing partnerships are creating a broader exploration ecosystem designed to support long-term production growth.

At the center of this momentum is ExxonMobil’s continued exploration and appraisal activity in the prolific Stabroek Block. The company has submitted a proposal for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, expected to run from 2028 through 2033, pending regulatory approval. The program would build on more than 30 commercial discoveries already made in the block, with drilling activity focused on evaluating new prospects and appraising existing discoveries to support future development opportunities.

Exploration activity is also extending into Guyana’s frontier acreage, with ExxonMobil advancing drilling operations at the deepwater Canje Block. The company has deployed the Noble Stena Carron drillship for exploration activity, highlighting continued industry interest in evaluating Guyana’s underexplored offshore potential beyond the established Stabroek Block.

Guyana’s strong exploration outlook comes as the country’s economy continues to benefit from rapid oil sector expansion, with hydrocarbons expected to remain a key driver of exports, government revenues and economic growth. As production scales up, attracting additional investment across exploration, services and infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of development.

That momentum is being reinforced through partnerships established under Guyana’s 2023 offshore licensing round. A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Petronas is advancing exploration activities in Block S4 under a five-year production sharing agreement signed with the government in late 2025. The award represents one of the first major outcomes of the licensing round and demonstrates continued international confidence in Guyana’s offshore resource potential.

Beyond the largest operators, a diverse group of companies is also expanding activity across Guyana’s offshore basin. Eco Atlantic is advancing exploration at the Orinduik Block; CGX Energy and Frontera Energy are progressing work in the Corentyne Block; Occidental is evaluating opportunities in the Roraima Block; while Ratio Guyana and Cataleya Energy hold interests in the Kaieteur Block. Together, these partnerships are broadening Guyana’s exploration landscape, increasing competition for acreage and creating opportunities for future discoveries.

As Guyana transitions from an emerging producer to a global energy hub, the next challenge will be converting exploration success into sustainable investment, local value creation and regional growth. These opportunities will be explored at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, IOCs, investors and technology providers, the event will examine how Guyana’s expanding partnerships can accelerate offshore development, strengthen regional energy cooperation and attract the capital needed to support the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape.

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

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Energy Capital & Power Establishes London Entity, Expanding Global Platform for Energy and Mining Events

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The move strengthens ECP’s presence in the UK and Europe, and its ability to connect African and South American markets with global investors

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 6, 2026/APO Group/ –International events company Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) has officially established its UK entity in London, marking a milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events and campaigns in the UK and Europe.

By establishing a presence in a key hub like London – the pre-eminent energy and mining finance center – ECP actively shapes the global energy conversation. The expansion positions ECP to better serve clients, partners and investors seeking to develop business opportunities between Africa, Europe, the Americas and energy markets worldwide.

Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital

The milestone comes as ECP strengthens its reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. These include the Venezuela Energy Week London Showcase on July 30 – with over 300 delegates registered – and the annual Invest in African Energy Forum, held in Paris as the premier event connecting global investors to Africa’s energy transformation.

ECP hosts high level summits and investor conferences in leading energy and minerals producing countries in Africa and South America, including: Venezuela Energy Week; Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; South Sudan Oil & Power; and Caribbean Energy Week. The company has hosted investor forums and supported licensing round roadshows in Houston, London and Paris since 2016.

“Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital,” states CEO James Chester. “Having a permanent presence in London further cements our footprint in Europe, enabling us to fulfil our mission to bring minerals and energy investment to diverse global markets.”

With teams located across Africa, Europe and the Americas, ECP has long-facilitated strategic engagement, market intelligence and industry convening, uniting investors with leading energy and mining projects.

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

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