Sixth Annual Awards Sponsored by RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry Recognize Innovation in 18 MENA Nations

FAIRFAX, United States of America, January 20, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Winners in the sixth annual Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards (https://StevieAwards.com/MENA), the only awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace throughout 18 nations in the Middle East and North Africa, have been announced. The awards are sponsored by RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry (https://apo-opa.co/3Ecca5w).  The list of Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners is available at http://MENA.StevieAwards.com. 

We look forward to celebrating Stevie winners during our gala event on 22 February in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

The 2025 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards have recognized organizations in 14 nations including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates. More than 1,100 nominations in Arabic and English were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of 118 professionals worldwide (https://apo-opa.co/4hoZEhF), acting as judges on five juries to recognize innovative apps, achievements, entire organizations, public relations, customer service, human resources, individual professionals, live and virtual events, management, sustainability, technology, thought leadership, and more. 

Winners of multiple Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Awards include Abu Dhabi Customs, UAE; Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), UAE; ACTION LABS CONSULTANCY, Bahrain; Al Dhafrah Region Municipality, UAE; DHL Express, multiple locations across the region; Ebebek Mağazacılık A.Ş, Türkiye; General Civil Aviation Authority, UAE; Gulf Agency Co. (Dubai)L.L.C/ GAC, UAE; Insan Charitable Society for the Care of Orphans and Their Mothers, Saudi Arabia; Miral Destinations, UAE; Mobile Communications Company of Iran – MCI, Iran; Ooredoo Group, multiple locations across the region; Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu, Saudi Arabia; Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia; Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), UAE; The Fashion Commission, Saudi Arabia; ZIRA Arabia, Saudi Arabia, among others. 

Stevie winners will be presented their awards at a gala banquet at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah Hotel in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, 22 February.  Tickets for the event are now on sale (https://apo-opa.co/4g4x8Ra). 

“We are delighted to recognize the achievements of such a diverse group of organizations across the MENA region in the 2025 edition of the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards,” said Stevie Awards President Maggie Miller. “We look forward to celebrating Stevie winners during our gala event on 22 February in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The quality of nominations received this year was exceptional. The program has grown every year, showing the vast amount of innovation in the MENA region.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards.

The collaborative force behind the new season aims to enhance the viewer experience by delivering a world class production of the Paramount Global Content Distribution series alongside the local expertise of What Media Group

LAGOS, Nigeria, June 26, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The family favourite, “Kids Say the Darndest Things”,  is back for its third season, bringing more laughs, more surprises, and more heartwarming moments. This season marks a groundbreaking partnership between the iconic show and two entertainment powerhouses: Paramount Global Content Distribution and What Media Group (www.TheWhatMediaGroup.com). With the broadcast platform being The What Network and the production partner being Mansa Studios, the show is set to deliver its unique blend of humour and authenticity to audiences.

The collaborative force behind the new season aims to enhance the viewer experience by delivering a world class production of the Paramount Global Content Distribution series alongside the local expertise of What Media Group. This format licensing deal is not just a commitment to quality entertainment but a celebration of African children and their unique voices and perspectives.

“We are thrilled to be working with What Media Group to bring the Kids Say the Darndest Things format to audiences across Africa,” says Lauren Marriott, SVP, Content Partnerships and Brand Strategy, Paramount Global Content Distribution. “Opening up the show across the African continent will allow kids and parents alike to watch this hilarious reimagined format together as a family.”

We are thrilled to be working with What Media Group to bring the Kids Say the Darndest Things format to audiences across Africa

CEO of WHAT MEDIA GROUP, Chichi Nwoko, echoed this enthusiasm, emphasizing the show’s commitment to celebrating the diversity and originality of African Kids: “With the support of Paramount, we’re setting the stage for a season like no other.  We’re dedicated to maintaining the show’s essence, where the candidness of our young stars takes centre stage. In the past the show focussed on Kids from Nigeria, but this year we are excited to open it up to kids from across the African Continent. Our aim is to keep the content fresh, engaging, and true to the experiences of today’s connected and vibrant generation.”

Prepare to be amused, amazed, and moved as “Kids Say the Darndest Things Africa” brings the unfiltered brilliance and humour of Africa’s children to the forefront, in what promises to be the most memorable season yet.

The new season promises a diverse cast of children from across Africa, sharing their spontaneous and often hilarious insights on life. In keeping with the show’s tradition, these young stars are not professional actors, and they are not rehearsed.  This ensures that their responses remain genuine and unpredictable as we never know what they are going to say.

As “Kids Say the Darndest Things Africa” prepares for its return, the production team is hard at work, setting the groundwork for a season that promises to captivate, entertain, and inspire. Casting calls will be announced shortly, inviting children aged 4 to 11 from all over Africa to share their unique perspectives.

The U.S. version of “Kids Say the Darndest Things” is produced by CBS Studios in association with Anvil 1893 Entertainment and She Ready Productions. The format rights are licensed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Stay tuned for more information on auditions, premiere dates, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content as we get ready to embark on another unforgettable journey with Africa’s youngest and brightest stars.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of What Media Group.

This narrative delves deep into the butterfly effect of positive impact, illustrating how inDrive’s initiatives have rippled through communities, creating waves of change that extend far beyond their initial touchpoints

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 9, 2024/APO Group/ — 

How does a startup, founded far from the advantages and resources of the world’s tech hubs, go on to reach unicorn status? And more deeply, just how far can the drive for meaning and purpose ultimately take you? The inDrive documentary (www.inDrive.com) sets out to answer these questions.

In an exclusive premier in Johannesburg, South Africa, the inDrive documentary offered audiences a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of the company, with never-before-seen footage and candid stories from the individuals at inDrive’s roots, including founder and CEO Arsen Tomsky.

Far from being a run-of-the-mill corporate film, this narrative delves deep into the butterfly effect of positive impact, illustrating how inDrive’s initiatives have rippled through communities, creating waves of change that extend far beyond their initial touchpoints.

In the frozen Yakutsk winter, a group of people band together against the unfair price collusion of taxi companies that leaves people stranded in the cold. One of them starts a social media group where people can request and offer rides, negotiating prices on their own terms.

It’s a simple enough idea, but it carries the potential to be revolutionary. From this frozen seed, a collective stance against injustice, inDrive takes root. Today, the company has grown to become the world’s second largest ride-hailing app, operating in over 700 cities in 46 countries, fuelled by deep-seated ideals and ambitions that extend far beyond profit.

inDrive wants to reimagine capitalism, no less: to put people back in control, restore their freedom to choose, and so make their lives better.

Among the heartwarming tales shared, the film follows the journey of Obadiah, a young Nigerian boy once enveloped in the despair of his surroundings. inDrive’s Beginit initiative is now paving the way for a brighter future for him and many others.

In making this film with inDrive, we hope to honor the resilience and determination of individuals whose dreams lead to something profound

Reflecting on the film and its message, inDrive Founder and CEO Arsen Tomsky said: “We should focus on the path, on the journey. And if you do something important for you, that is very meaningful for you, and you develop an external environment during that journey, you are getting more and more with each step. And that is something which nobody can take from you. Even if you don’t reach a peak, you will have something available to you.”

The production is directed by Lagos/Nairobi-based, Emmy Award winner Dan McCain, and Greek producer and editor Theo Papadoulakis, each renowned for their talents in portraying everyday individuals facing remarkable situations. Dan is a prolific filmmaker who specializes in locally relevant and impactful storytelling, while Papadoulakis, recognized with over 70 international accolades, particularly excels in showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.

“In making this film with inDrive, we hope to honor the resilience and determination of individuals whose dreams lead to something profound. It’s a privilege to be part of a multi-country international production, collaborating with other talented directors, where we weave together inspiring narratives that add to the epic tale of human potential,” said Dan McCain.

Person by person, the documentary tells inDrive’s story. From the remarkable individuals in Nigeria, Indonesia, Mexico and beyond, who use the ride-hailing app to take control of their futures, to the communities who take their chance to move forward.

From Arsen Tomsky, the company’s visionary CEO, who overcomes challenges both personal and social to take an idea to the world, to the employees who come on board to help inDrive evolve and grow, fuelled by shared values and a common goal. It’s an epic journey, told by connecting people around the world. And it’s far from over.

Watch the inDrive movie here: movie.inDrive.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of inDrive.