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Kora Joins International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Payment Network to Power Airline Payments Across Africa

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Africa

Through this integration, airlines and travel agencies using IFG can now accept payments across Africa via Kora, including cards, bank transfers, mobile money, and local alternative payment methods

LAGOS, Nigeria, June 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Kora (www.KoraHQ.com), the payment infrastructure platform, has joined the International Air Transport Association’s IATA Financial Gateway (IFG) (https://apo-opa.co/4ovs4va), connecting global airlines to Africa’s payment ecosystem through a single, reliable infrastructure layer.

 

IATA Financial Gateway is the airline industry’s dedicated payment orchestration and management platform. IFG brings together global, regional and local payment partners to provide airlines with the right mix of payment options to maximize acceptance, reduce cost, and better serve customers in every market. Through this integration, airlines and travel agencies using IFG can now accept payments across Africa via Kora, including cards, bank transfers, mobile money, and local alternative payment methods, without building or managing multiple complex integrations independently.

Global airlines no longer have to choose between expanding into Africa and managing payment complexity

Africa is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. The continent is expected to add more than 300 million new passengers by 2050. Yet global airlines have long faced a fundamental operational challenge when entering African markets: fragmented local payment rails, FX complexity, disconnected settlement systems, and the burden of managing multiple payment service provider relationships across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt and South Africa. This partnership removes that friction. One connection through IFG gives airlines access to Kora’s full African payment infrastructure, with the settlement reliability and local compliance that enterprise operations require.

Dickson Nsofor, CEO of Kora, said: “Africa is not a market to figure out later. It is a growth opportunity that demands serious infrastructure today. Our partnership with IATA signals that the rails are ready. Global airlines no longer have to choose between expanding into Africa and managing payment complexity. With Kora inside IFG, they get both.”

IATA currently represents over 370 international airlines globally. With Kora now part of IFG, those airlines gain direct access to Africa’s payment stack across every market Kora operates in.

IATA Financial Gateway (IFG) enables increased travel payment processing flexibility for the world’s airlines and travel suppliers to build a cost-effective travel payment strategy. Kora’s participation strengthens our ability to serve airlines operating in or expanding across African markets,” said Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice President, Africa and Middle East.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kora.

 

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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Launches Version 2.0 of its Pioneering E-Book Reader

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16 hours ago

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September 16, 2026

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The latest enhancements of the Reader offer a more convenient experience to users for accessing the Institute’s growing collection of publications and knowledge products

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, September 15, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org/) is delighted to announce the launch of an enhanced version of its pioneering e-Book Reader, designed to give users seamless access to publications in Islamic economics, finance, and sustainable development.

 




 
Originally launched in 2022 as an app for smart devices, the IsDBI Reader was developed in partnership with Koraspond, a technology firm based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A cloud-based version was subsequently introduced to support reading on larger screens and web-enabled devices.

The latest enhancements of the Reader offer a more convenient experience to users for accessing the Institute’s growing collection of publications and knowledge products. The Reader is integrated with the IsDBI website, enabling users to purchase publications online and then download and read them on their preferred devices.

We are delighted to introduce version 2.0 of the IsDBI Reader, which reflects our commitment to using technology to advance knowledge dissemination

Key enhancements of the new version of the Reader include:

  • A fresh, intuitive interface that improves the overall user experience
  • Automatic return to the last reading position
  • Seamless synchronization of annotations and reading progress across devices
  • Retaining saved annotations when an ebook file is replaced
  • Personal book collections for easier organization
  • Full-text search within individual e-books
  • Improved bookstore search and filtering
  • Faster loading of downloaded ebooks
  • Enhanced stability and performance

Commenting on the launch, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said: “We are delighted to introduce version 2.0 of the IsDBI Reader, which reflects our commitment to using technology to advance knowledge dissemination. The Reader provides users with an innovative and interactive environment for accessing high-quality digital resources in Islamic economics and finance.”

In his comments, Mr. Bilal Saeed, Founder and CEO of Koraspond, said: “We are proud to partner with the IsDB Institute in delivering the next-generation digital reading experience for its global audience. The enhanced IsDBI Reader combines powerful reading capabilities to make knowledge more accessible and engaging across devices. This release reflects our shared commitment to leveraging technology to advance learning and knowledge dissemination.”

The IsDBI Reader has been integrated with the IsDB Group Digital Library, scheduled for launch soon, thereby offering the Library users seamless discovery and reading experience.

The enhanced IsDBI Reader marks another milestone in the IsDB Institute’s digital transformation, using technology and strategic partnerships to broaden access to knowledge and support learning and sustainable development across Member Countries and beyond.

Access the IsDBI Reader:

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

 

 




 

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Canon Deepens Creative Collaboration with Nora Awolowo as Black Market Brings EOS C400 to a New Nollywood Feature

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16 hours ago

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September 16, 2026

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Rixel Studios’ forthcoming feature film, produced and shot by Nora Awolowo and directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, marks the latest chapter in Canon’s collaboration with the Nigerian filmmaker and puts professional Cinema EOS technology behind an ambitious new Nigerian production

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, September 15, 2026/APO Group/ —
  • Black Market was shot on the Canon EOS C400, bringing Canon’s professional Cinema EOS technology into Rixel Studios’ new Nollywood feature production.
  • The project continues Canon’s creative relationship with Nora Awolowo following Racket Queen, which was also shot entirely on the EOS C400.
  • Black Market is scheduled for a one-night screening at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, on 26 September 2026.

 




  

A crowded market. A dangerous operation. A story rooted unmistakably in Nigeria. Behind the world of Black Market is another story: a new generation of African filmmakers combining ambitious storytelling with professional cinema technology to shape how their stories look, feel and travel.

Canon, a global leader in imaging technology, through Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), today announced its latest creative collaboration with Nigerian filmmaker and cinematographer Nora Awolowo, whose forthcoming feature film Black Market was shot on the Canon EOS C400.

Produced by Rixel Studios and directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, Black Market represents the latest chapter in Awolowo’s creative journey and in her relationship with Canon. The feature film will make its highly anticipated premiere on 26 September 2026 at Lagos’ iconic Tafawa Balewa Square, bringing its story, scale and distinctly Nigerian cinematic vision to the big screen

For Canon, the significance of the collaboration goes beyond a camera credit. It is about what happens when technology gives filmmakers the confidence and flexibility to focus on what matters most: the story.

A collaboration moving from one story to the next

Canon’s relationship with Awolowo has developed through a shared focus on filmmaking craft and visual storytelling. In 2025, Canon celebrated her short film Racket Queen through exclusive screenings in Lagos and conversations around the creative and technical choices behind the production. The film was shot entirely on the EOS C400.

With Black Market, that relationship moves onto a larger feature-film canvas, putting the EOS C400 into the hands of a filmmaker already familiar with the system and allowing the technology to serve a new story, a new visual language and a different production environment.

“Every film asks something different of you as a cinematographer. With Black Market, we were creating a world that needed to feel immediate, textured and unmistakably Nigerian, while still giving the story the cinematic scale it deserved. The EOS C400 gave us the flexibility to move with that world across different environments, lighting conditions and the pace of the production without losing the visual language we wanted to create. Having worked with Canon before, there is also a level of trust in the relationship. It is not simply about having a camera on set; it is about having the freedom and confidence to concentrate on the story.”

It is not simply about having a camera on set; it is about having the freedom and confidence to concentrate on the story

— Nora Awolowo, Producer and Director of Photography, Black Market

Built for the unpredictability of a film set

At the centre of the production was the Canon EOS C400, a full-frame Cinema EOS camera developed for professional cinema and video production. Its 6K full-frame back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor, Triple Base ISO and compact, configurable body are designed to give filmmakers greater flexibility across changing production environments.

The EOS C400 supports 6K RAW recording, oversampled 4K and Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II. On a production such as Black Market, however, the value of those capabilities is ultimately measured not on a specification sheet, but in the images they help filmmakers create: faces, movement, light, locations and atmosphere that serve the story on screen.

Technology in service of African stories

The collaboration comes as Nigerian filmmakers continue to expand the visual and technical ambition of Nollywood, pairing the industry’s celebrated pace, entrepreneurship and storytelling energy with an increasing focus on cinematography and production craft.

For Canon, supporting that evolution means going beyond introducing equipment into the market. It means working alongside filmmakers, understanding the realities of African productions and creating opportunities for technology, education and creative experience to meet.

Black Market is a powerful example of what becomes possible when creative ambition and the right technology come together. Seeing how Nora, Fatimah and the wider team have used the EOS C400 to bring their vision to life is what makes this collaboration particularly meaningful for us. Technology matters when it gives filmmakers greater freedom to represent their own world, their own people and their own stories with the quality and authenticity they envision. Our relationship with Nora has grown from one project to the next, and that is exactly the kind of collaboration we want to build across Africa long-term relationships where Canon listens to creators, supports their craft and gives their ambition room to grow said Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central and North Africa

From Racket Queen to Black Market

Black Market marks the second time Canon has worked with Nora Awolowo on a film project, following its earlier collaboration with her around Racket Queen. While the two productions are entirely separate, the continued engagement reflects Canon’s approach to building longer-term relationships with

filmmakers rather than treating individual projects as isolated technology showcases. Through these real-world collaborations, Canon is creating a broader conversation around cinematography — connecting professional equipment with practical production experience, filmmaker education and the voices of the people working behind the camera.

Black Market features an ensemble cast led by Lateef Adedimeji and Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, alongside other Nigerian screen talent. As audiences prepare to see the finished film in Lagos on 26 September, Canon’s role remains where it belongs: behind the camera, alongside the filmmakers whose ideas ultimately determine what appears in front of it.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

 

 




 

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Trusted voices, peer validation, and relatable customer situations drive commercial and brand success in B2B campaigns

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1 day ago

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September 15, 2026

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  • Buyability gives marketers a seven-signal framework to turn creative attention into buyer confidence and business growth
  • The 3Rs that make B2B brands more buyable: Recommendations, Relationships and Relatability
  • Buyability is underused: Most B2B campaigns are deploying fewer than two Buyability principles today
  • High Buyability campaigns are 63% more likely to report increased ROI and 2.1x as likely to report increased incremental revenue

New WARC X LinkedIn X LIONS Advisory research: How to build more Buyable brands: How Recommendations, Relatability and Relationships drive campaign success

15 September 2026 – B2B buying has changed. Cycles now stretch 272 days with 22 stakeholders, and decisions are driven by social and emotional factors. Additionally, AI is changing how B2B buyers discover, research, and validate brands, with research finding that 94% of B2B buyers used LLMs during their buying journey in 2025.

 




 
 

New research from WARC, LinkedIn, and LIONS Advisory reveals that the most effective B2B creative does more than build awareness, it strategically builds decision defensibility. An analysis of more than 700 best-in-class B2B campaigns found that the strongest performers consistently helped buyers feel more confident choosing a brand.

The research leverages LinkedIn and Bain & Company’s existing body of work on Buyability, showing how creative influences purchase decisions. It identifies seven Buyability signals including trusted recommendations, peer validation and relatable customer situations or the 3Rs — Recommendations, Relatability, and Relationships. The findings provide marketers with a practical playbook for creating campaigns that drive both brand impact and business outcomes.

The 3Rs of Buyability: Recommendations, Relationships and Relatability

In B2B buying, first-hand experience and trusted recommendations drive vendor selection far more than performance or price, and ‘similar customer’ messaging outperforms ‘market leader’ claims.

The three main levers of Buyability (the 3Rs) that consistently increase buyer group confidence, drive commercial impact and should be a CMO’s top priority are:

Recommendations: The proof and validation from customers, peers, experts or trusted voices.
Relationships: Signals of wanting long-term partnership, existing familiarity.
Relatability: Real customer situations, use of cases and experiences that buyers can recognise.

Brands that can credibly demonstrate peer validation, customer relevance and risk reduction are more likely to appear in LLM shortlists and more likely to be deemed highly buyable by B2B purchasing organisations.

Imaad Ahmed, Thought Leadership Director, LIONS Advisory and WARC, says: “The Buyability model has gained strong support from across the B2B industry. This new work seeks to demonstrate the impact Buyability has in real case scenarios, and what proof points exist. The objective of our research was to measure how frequently Buyability signals appear in B2B campaigns, and whether more signals drive better results. As we discovered, the intentional use of Buyability signals is still an area of opportunity for B2B marketers. When well-stacked within a campaign, Buyability signals can make revenue, ROI and brand health uplifts far more likely.”

Mimi Turner, Head of Marketplace Innovation, LinkedIn, says: “Buyability gives us a seven signal framework that marketers can use to strategically enhance campaign outcomes because it is built on insights into what helps buying groups feel confident to buy. The campaigns that win are the ones that make buying decisions easy to defend by focusing on areas that customers can relate to and experiences and voices they can trust.”

Introducing the seven signal Buyability framework – a new roadmap for B2B marketers

The Buyability framework outlines seven signals for future campaigns that are mapped back to one of the 3Rs, and that make brands discoverable in AI models, are credible across diverse stakeholders, and defensible as the no-risk option. This all helps marketers build buyer confidence strategically.

It is no longer sufficient for B2B marketing to increase awareness and consideration. It needs to prove that it directly generates sales. Brands are recommended to strategically and intentionally build more Buyability signals into their communication programmes.

Messaging that leverages the 3Rs increases brand discoverability, grows brand credibility and helps buyers justify and feel confident in their decisions.

Key findings from the research are:

1. Buyability signals are underused: Buyability signals remain significantly under-leveraged in B2B campaigns, averaging just 1.6 overall. Nearly one-third (30%) of campaigns use only a single signal, while 22% use none at all. Less than a quarter of all campaigns deploy three or more signals. This gap presents a clear opportunity for B2B marketers to gain competitive advantage by adopting Buyability as a strategic framework.

2. Buyability signals drive brand performance: Campaigns with stronger Buyability signals are significantly more likely to improve meaningful brand metrics. High Buyability campaigns are 24% more likely to report improvements in brand awareness and 91% more likely to report improvements in mid-funnel brand metrics like consideration, preference and purchase intent.

3. Buyability signals drive commercial impact: Campaigns with more Buyability signals are more likely to generate ROI and incremental revenue. Compared to Low Buyability campaigns, High Buyability campaigns are 63% more likely to report increased ROI and 110% more likely to report increased incremental revenue to the business.

‘‘How to build more Buyable brands: How Recommendations, Relatability and Relationships drive campaign success’’ report is available to read in full here.

Methodology of the research

The research analysed 700 B2B campaigns from the WARC database from 2010 to 2025 – including entries and winners of the Cannes Lions B2B category, Effies and WARC Effectiveness awards – and across geographies and sectors. The dataset was independently ranked against the WARC, LIONS and B2B Institute B2B Effectiveness Ladder, and scored on Buyability signals. High Buyability campaigns (3-7 signals) were compared against Low Buyability (0-2 signals).
 




 

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