Connect with us

Business

Lens on Life Wins Young People Programme (YPP) Partner of the Year at Global Good Awards 2023

Published

on

Canon

This esteemed recognition highlights the remarkable collaboration between Lens on Life and Canon in empowering young individuals in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 24, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Lens on Life, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing photography and computer literacy training for marginalised youth, has been honoured as the gold winner of the highly prestigious YPP Partner of the Year Award at the Global Good Awards 2023. This esteemed recognition highlights the remarkable collaboration between Lens on Life and Canon (Canon-CNA.com) in empowering young individuals in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with vital vocational, computer literacy, and photography skills, and work experience.

In addition to Lens on Life’s outstanding achievement, Ca bouge grave, an organisation dedicated to supporting residents across Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine in France through cultural, educational, and integration projects, was honoured with the silver award. Finland’s Ilmastonmuutos lukioihini! secured the bronze award for its active support of the integration of the theme of climate change into upper secondary school education.

Founded in 2015, the Global Good Awards celebrate businesses, NGOs, charities, and social enterprises that lead the way in purpose-driven sustainability and ethical leadership. These awards recognise outstanding leaders who achieve practical, real-world impact that is both scalable and replicable, sharing inspiring stories of transformation. In 2023, Canon reaffirmed its dedication to empowering young individuals by partnering with the Global Good Awards and launching the YPP Partner of the Year Award. The introduction of this new education-focused category aims to acknowledge organisations that have played a significant role in supporting the Canon Young People Programme.

An esteemed panel of judges, including Steve Kenzi, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network UK, Katie Grace from Water Aid, and Hassan Raja, a former participant of the Canon Young People Programme, evaluated the entries for the YPP Partner of the Year Award.

“I’m delighted to congratulate all of this year’s Canon category winners on the fantastic work they’ve done to create positive, sustainable change for the world,” said Adam Pensotti, Head of the Canon Young People Programme. “This is our fourth year working with the Global Good Awards on the Canon Young Champion Award and I continue to be amazed by the creativity and passion shown by all entrants. This year we also congratulate Lens on Life as the first winners of our educational partner of the year category. Working with Lens on Life in the DRC and seeing our products used to create a positive impact couldn’t be a better example of Canon’s corporate philosophy – Kyosei, which is Japanese for living and working together for the common good.”

This is our fourth year working with the Global Good Awards on the Canon Young Champion Award and I continue to be amazed by the creativity and passion shown by all entrants

“Receiving the YPP Partner of the Year Award is testament to the transformative work carried out by Lens on Life,” expressed Sam Powers, Founder of Lens on Life. “We are honoured to be recognised for our unwavering dedication to empowering youth and providing them with the tools to express their creativity while driving sustainable change within their communities.”

In 2021 and 2022, Lens on Life partnered with Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) to conduct transformative photography and education workshops for marginalised youth in Goma, DRC. The collaborative initiative aimed to provide young people with educational opportunities, empowerment, and valuable skills. As a result, alumni of the programme can now pursue paid field-based internships through Lens on Life’s partner, the Eastern Congo Initiative, kick-starting their careers in photography.

Lens on Life’s transformative programmes have empowered thousands of young individuals by imparting vital photography and computer literacy skills. Earlier this year, Michel Lunanga, a teacher at Lens on Life, played a crucial role in the collaboration between Canon Europe and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). By embracing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework, Lens on Life has successfully nurtured the talents and passions of youth across Jordan, DRC, and Cameroon, enabling them to address critical issues such as climate change, education, and gender equality.

For the fourth consecutive year, Canon collaborated with the Global Good Awards for the Canon Young Champion of the Year category, recognising young individuals under the age of 21 who are driving positive change across various sustainability areas and inspiring others to take action. Raheen Fatima and Manyasiri ‘Pear’ Chotbunwong were recognised as the winners of the Canon Young Champion of the Year Award in their respective age categories. Both winners will receive a Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera, Black, RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens and Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens to document their journeys as sustainability champions. Additionally, their stories will be showcased at The Purpose Summit in October 2023, an event also hosted by the Global Good Awards, celebrating the winners, and discussing sustainable change.

The Canon Young People Programme is a transformative initiative that empowers young individuals by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to address sustainability issues. This programme has empowered over 6,750 young individuals across the EMEA region, enabling them to voice their opinions on sustainability issues that are important to them and their communities.

For full details on the winners, please visit: https://apo-opa.info/43FxZ4P 

The Global Good Awards are already accepting interest for the 2024 awards, and you can register your interest here: https://apo-opa.info/43JHfVf

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

Business

Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

Published

on

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

Continue Reading

Business

Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

Published

on

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Continue Reading

Business

Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

Published

on

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

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

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version