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Afreximbank, ZEP-RE move to close skills gap threatening Africa’s cross-border trade

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen professional and institutional capacity in trade, insurance, reinsurance, risk management and trade facilitation across Africa.

The partnership is aimed at addressing the skills and institutional capacity needed to support Africa’s expanding trade and investment ecosystem, particularly as cross-border transactions become increasingly complex.

Under the agreement, Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) and ZEP-RE Academy will jointly develop and scale learning, research and knowledge programmes that combine Afreximbank’s expertise in African trade and trade finance with ZEP-RE’s experience in insurance, reinsurance and risk management.

The MoU was signed at ZEP-RE’s offices in Nairobi by Stephen Tio Kauma, Group managing director, Human Resources, Afreximbank, and Jephita Gwatipedza, Group deputy chief executive officer and chief operating officer, ZEP-RE.

Kauma said Africa’s ability to expand trade and investment depends not only on financial resources and infrastructure but also on knowledge, skills and institutional capacity across its markets.

‘Africa’s ability to expand trade and investment depends on more than financial resources and infrastructure. It also depends on knowledge, skills and institutional capacity across our markets,’ he said.

He said the partnership would combine complementary expertise in trade finance, insurance, reinsurance and risk management to develop practical and scalable learning and knowledge solutions for professionals and institutions across Africa.

Gwatipedza said sustainable expansion of trade would require institutions that finance and facilitate commerce to understand, price and manage the risks involved.

‘Trade cannot expand sustainably unless the institutions that finance and facilitate it can also understand, price and manage the risks involved,’ he said.

He said the partnership would connect trade finance with insurance and reinsurance expertise and help strengthen institutional capability across African markets.

Under the three-year partnership, AFRACAD and ZEP-RE Academy will collaborate across three strategic areas, beginning with the co-creation of digital learning content, including e-learning courses, toolkits and African case studies.

Through a joint ‘content factory’ approach, the institutions will identify thematic priorities and develop structured and reusable learning resources. The materials will be made available through AFRACAD’s digital learning platform and/or ZEP-RE Academy’s Learning Management System.

The two institutions will also jointly design and deliver professional and executive development programmes covering areas such as risk and reinsurance, trade guarantees, trade facilitation, financial infrastructure and market development.

The programmes may include short courses, executive masterclasses, certification programmes and other structured learning delivered physically, virtually or through blended formats.

The partnership will also support research, knowledge creation and thought leadership through joint studies, webinars, policy dialogues and industry forums involving practitioners, regulators, development partners and private-sector leaders.

The MoU builds on an existing partnership between Afreximbank and ZEP-RE. In 2025, the two institutions launched the Trans-Africa Bond Alliance (TABA) to strengthen insurance capacity, facilitate cross-border trade and support the movement of goods and investment across Africa.

Since beginning operations in June 2025, TABA has supported approximately US$185 million in bonds in 2025 and US$280 million in the first quarter of 2026, with risks originating from 24 cedents across five countries.

TABA supports Afreximbank’s African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme (AACTGS) and the wider AfCFTA trade facilitation agenda by promoting a harmonised, technology-enabled approach to transit guarantees across African borders.

The wider African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme is supported by US$1 billion in guarantee limits, including a US$300 million facility being implemented with ZEP-RE in the COMESA region.

The initiative aims to reduce reliance on multiple national transit bonds, release working capital otherwise tied up as collateral and improve the efficiency and predictability of cross-border trade.

The latest MoU extends the collaboration into capacity building, with the two institutions seeking to strengthen the technical expertise and institutional knowledge required for increasingly sophisticated trade, insurance and risk solutions across African markets.

The partnership is expected to build a stronger pool of African expertise capable of addressing issues at the intersection of trade, finance, insurance and risk, while supporting deeper regional integration and sustainable economic development across the continent. The MoU will initially run for three years and may be renewed by mutual agreement.

Flamingos thrash Niger 5-0 in WAFU B U17 title defence

Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their 2026 WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup title defence with a 5-0 win over Niger Republic in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday.

Captain Harmony Chidi set Nigeria on their way in the 16th minute, finishing to give the Flamingos a deserved lead after they dominated possession and controlled the tempo from the opening whistle.

Nigeria continued to press for a second goal, with Awawu Bashiru eventually doubling the advantage with a clinical finish. Adegbuyi also found the net, but her effort was ruled out for offside.

Niger struggled to create any meaningful threat, with Nigeria goalkeeper Onyiyechi Opara largely untested throughout the first half as the Flamingos maintained control.

Flamingos turn dominance into goals

Nigeria resumed the second half with the same attacking intent, using their pace and creativity to keep Niger on the back foot.

The Flamingos remained patient in possession as they searched for more goals, with their persistence eventually rewarded late in the match.

Ohunene Sunday made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute with a well-taken finish before Mary Dunstan added a fourth to put the result beyond doubt.

Nigeria completed the rout in stoppage time when Ayomide Rotimi struck in the 94th minute to seal a 5-0 victory.

The Flamingos will now look to build on the victory as they continue their bid to retain the WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup title.

After ‘Septic Tank 4,’ PETA hits the road with Project GG interactive school tour

Fresh from the phenomenal, sold-out success of ‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4,’ PETA leaves its mother stage for a school tour with yet another socially thought-provoking play.

This time, PETA partners with Move to Change Foundation, Inc. to present an interactive play that brings audiences into a world where they call the shots and help shape the narrative and the experience.

Alternate world

‘Gen G: GG na ‘to!’ is set in an alternate, water Philippines that is inundated and where the youth are placed in temporary ‘Balangay Gen Zones’ designed for survival while the adults seek solutions.

When the adults fail to return as promised, the youth are left to fend for themselves and their communities.

The audience becomes part of the Balangay, too, as they also get involved in voting, negotiating, and facing the consequences that shape what happens next.

According to a statement from PETA, the play is created in partnership with Move to Change Foundation, Inc. (M2C),

‘The production is part of Project GG: Game Changers for Good Governance, a youth-focused campaign that transforms civic education into lived experiences where young people learn that every voice matters and every act of participation helps shape more accountable communities and stronger democratic systems,’ it stated.

Theater for education

For almost 60 years, PETA has always envisioned exploring theater for education, people’s empowerment, and positive social change.

PETA activated these social engagements through workshops, collaborations with other productions, and presentations in institutions, commercial theater spaces, schools, and communities through civil society organizations and LGUs.

‘That’s really at the heart of PETA’s socially engaged work. We bring theater into communities and use it as a space where people can reflect on the society we have and, in a way, rehearse the kind of future we want,’ co-playwright and PETA Artistic Director J-mee Katanyag told BusinessMirror.

When it comes to tackling good governance, PETA believes it’s not only about the candidates we vote for but also about how people, especially the youth, make the right choices for a better society.

According to Katanyag, PETA has been doing this advocacy for decades, in plays like Rody Vera’s ‘Boto ni Botong,’ Vince de Jesus’ ‘Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto,’ and the workshop performance Bagong Bilang, which Katanyag was part of when she was still with PETA’s youth arm, the Metropolitan Teen Theater League.

Other plays are ‘Charot,’ which Katanyag co-wrote with Michelle Ngu-Nario.

Project Gen G with Move to Change continues that mission. According to Katanyag, ‘So in a way, it’s part of a much longer continuum. The forms change, the generation changes, the questions change, but the mission remains: how can theater become a pathway to people’s empowerment and societal progress?’

Exploring Narrative Through the theme, ‘Care and Well-Being: Regeneration,’ PETA probes the meaning of change and care beyond self-care and kindness.

Care is also about the collective, she stressed. It’s about how people listen, share power and resources, stand by for their actions, open doors for the unseen and unheard, and build communities.

‘This is also where ‘Gen G: GG na ‘to!’ comes in. It asks young people not simply to imagine a better society, but to reflect and practice what it might take to build one together,’ noted Katanyag.

Powerhouse team

To stir the play is a creative team of accomplished theater practitioners. At the helm is director Ian Segarra; playwrights Katanyag and Jhudiel Sosa; musical director Kabaitan Bautista; set and props designer Julio Garcia; and costume designer Johnnie Moran.

The cast features a mix of emerging and established actors, including Lyle Viray as New Character, Johnrick Noynay as Dex, James Lanante as Sid, Camille Fabian as Chloe, Francheska Andaya as Achi, Cb Lagapa as Achi/Chloe, and Ada Tayao and Zoe Damag as Joker.

The show will be touring 12 schools from September to December 2026.

Beyond the performance, ‘Project GG’ will also engage young people through interactive experiences, workshops, community conversations, and other participatory activities designed to encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and collective decision-making.

While ‘Babae Sa Septic Tank 4’ was funny and absurd, ‘Project GG’ is more participatory.

‘They’re very different theatrical experiences, although I think both are interested in asking audiences-just as theater should always be-to take that ride and look at themselves and the society they’re part of, but in PETA style. In a fun comical but still resonating way,’ stated Katanyag.

Zaragosa goes for treble at PGT Marapara

RUPERT ZARAGOSA returns to Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Monday with a chance to turn a remarkable run of success into Philippine Golf Tour history.

The diminutive but gifted shotmaker goes after a third straight ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic title at what is known as the Marapara layout where he has developed what is beginning to look like a special romance with one of the Tour’s toughest layouts.

Zaragosa first cracked the code of the tight, demanding Marapara in 2024, charging to the top early and eventually claiming an abbreviated 36-hole victory after bad weather forced the tournament to be reduced by half.

He proved that triumph was no one-off a year later.

Playing the full 72 holes, Zaragosa again emerged on top, holding off a formidable cast led by Clyde Mondilla, Keanu Jahns and young stalwart Aidric Chan to win by two strokes.

Marapara has become something of a Zaragosa story, with the course seemingly bringing out the best in a player whose strengths fit the demands of the layout.

Zaragosa enters the P2.5-million championship with confidence, yet his results in the first five legs of the season have been uneven as he continues to search for consistency.

He placed eighth at Lakewood, tied for 31st at Caliraya Springs, finished fourth at Pinewoods, tied for sixth at Pradera Verde and slipped to joint 29th at Summit Point last week.

Standing between Zaragosa and a third straight crown is a deep field led by Tony Lascuña, Reymon Jaraula, Jhonnel Ababa, Fidel Concepcion, Enrico Gallardo, Jay Bayron, Mars Pucay and Dino Villanueva.

The younger generation will also look to make its mark with Kristoffer Arevalo, Russell Bautista, Jeffren Lumbo and Gab Manotoc among those expected to challenge for the title.

Several leading players, however, will sit out the Negros stop as they compete on the regional circuit in Taiwan this week, including Justin Quiban, Carl Corpus and Chan.

Angelo Que, fresh from his victory at Summit Point, is also competing in Taiwan but the reigning Order of Merit champion and three-time Asian Tour winner said he will still play in Negros, although he will skip Sunday’s pro-am.

Airtel Money slashes London IPO target to $800m on investor pushback

Airtel Money, the mobile financial services arm of Airtel Africa, is seeking to cut its planned London initial public offering (IPO) to at least $800 million after investors pushed back on the proposed valuation, according to agency report.

The revised fundraising target would be significantly below Airtel Money’s earlier ambition of raising between $1.5 billion and $2 billion from the listing, representing a reduction of at least $700 million from the lower end of the original range.

The IPO could launch as early as next week, according to the report, making the downsizing a significant change to the planned transaction as Airtel Money prepares to access London’s capital market.

The reported adjustment follows feedback from investors that led to a reduction in the valuation attached to the offering. The company is now seeking to raise at least $800 million, although the final size and terms of the transaction could still change.

Airtel Africa did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The planned listing of Airtel Money comes at a critical point for its parent company, which has been managing higher operating costs and pressure on near-term core profit margins.

Airtel Africa had previously pushed the listing into the second half of 2026, citing cost-related pressures linked to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. The company’s decision to proceed with the transaction now comes against a backdrop of higher costs and a more challenging funding environment for large emerging-market transactions.

The reduction in the IPO target also means Airtel Money could raise substantially less fresh capital than initially envisaged. At the lower end of its original target, the proposed $800 million raise represents about 47 percent less than the $1.5 billion previously targeted.

At the upper end, the reduction is 60 percent.

Airtel Money is Airtel Africa’s third-largest business and operates mobile money services across several African markets, providing payments, transfers and other financial services through mobile networks.

The London listing has been positioned as an important capital-markets transaction for the group, with the proposed separation and listing of the mobile money business intended to unlock value from one of Africa’s fastest-growing digital financial services businesses.

2,467 hired on the spot in DOLE job fairs

Some 2,467 jobseekers were hired on the spot during nationwide Trabaho Agad job fairs organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The job fairs drew 28,795 jobseekers across 86 sites, where 1,352 employers offered 157,097 local and overseas vacancies, according to DOLE.

In Metro Manila, 421 jobseekers were hired on the spot while 737 were classified as near-hires during job fairs held on Sept. 12, 14 and 15.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said the initiative is intended to bring employment opportunities closer to Filipinos, particularly young people entering the workforce.

‘You shouldn’t have to wait long to get your first real shot at work,’ Tolentino said, as DOLE seeks to shorten the transition from school to employment.

Initial data showed that 277 senior high school graduates were among those hired, along with 39 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and 34 members of indigenous communities.

The hires also included three displaced overseas Filipino workers, 11 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (Tupad) workers transitioning to stable employment, 12 persons with disabilities and 28 senior citizens.

Aside from job matching, 13,342 jobseekers availed themselves of government services from the National Bureau of Investigation, Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Pag-IBIG Fund.

Another 3,467 jobseekers accessed skills enhancement opportunities through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority during the job fairs.

DOLE said the employment initiative also seeks to help workers adjust to changing workplace requirements, including technological developments affecting some entry-level jobs.

Data encoding and payment processing, for instance, are evolving with the use of technology, while emerging opportunities include AI data annotation and AI-powered self-service kiosks.

DOLE said it will continue holding Trabaho Agad job fairs every month in more towns and provinces to expand access to employment opportunities and connect more job seekers with employers.

Hardship: President Tinubu must act now – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent steps to address what it described as growing hardship faced by Nigerians.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the call in a statement on Wednesday, citing the price of petrol, transportation, food, education and other rising household costs.

Abdullahi said petrol was selling for as much as N1,470 per litre in some locations, arguing that increases in fuel costs were affecting the prices of goods and services.

He also cited reports of private schools raising fees by between 30 and 40 per cent, while saying household incomes had not risen at the same rate.

According to him, the rising cost of fuel, electricity, taxes, rent and salaries was also putting pressure on school proprietors and businesses.

The ADC spokesman said the party believed the government needed to respond more urgently to the economic pressures confronting families.

He further linked the issue to the 2027 presidential election, presenting the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as offering an alternative economic programme.

Abdullahi said Atiku would seek to reduce petrol prices by restoring subsidy to support domestic fuel production, which he argued would help lower the cost of food, transportation and production.

He said the 2027 election would give Nigerians an opportunity to choose between the Tinubu administration and the alternative being proposed by the ADC.

The party also accused the Federal Government of focusing on economic figures while, in its view, many households continued to struggle with rising living costs.

‘President Tinubu must act now,’ Abdullahi said, urging the administration to respond to the concerns over the cost of living.

The ADC statement represents the opposition party’s assessment of the economy and its argument for its proposed policy alternative ahead of the 2027 election.

Netanyahu announces bills targeting alleged defamation of IDF soldiers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his intention to introduce two government bills targeting those he believes spread defamation about Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers.

According to The Times of Israel, the first bill would provide for the possibility of revoking Israeli citizenship for such statements. The second would increase by 20 times the maximum compensation that can be claimed in a defamation lawsuit without the need to prove damages – up to 1 million shekels ($310,000).

The trigger was a scandal surrounding the documentary “Naza” by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. The film received a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and is based on anonymous testimonies from 24 soldiers and intelligence officers. They claim that during operations in Gaza, the command factored in anticipated civilian casualties in advance.

Benjamin Netanyahu accused the filmmakers of portraying Israeli soldiers as war criminals.

A Channel 12 source in the IDF said that the discussion had shifted from the content of the painting to Israel’s accusations of restricting freedom of speech.

Current Israeli legislation already allows citizenship to be revoked in rare cases, particularly for committing a terrorist act or treason. This requires the Minister of the Interior to submit a request, the Minister of Justice to approve it, and a court to confirm the decision.

FAAC: FG, states, LGAs share N2.338trn as August 2026 revenue

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has disclosed that a total sum of N2.338 trillion, being August 2026 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils.

In a statement signed by Bawa Mokwa, the Director (Press and Public Relations), the revenue was shared at the September 2026 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja.

‘The N2.338 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N1.565 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N773.233 billion.

‘A communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that total gross revenue of N3.685 trillion was available in the month of August 2026. Total deduction for cost of collection was N125.142 billion while total transfers, refunds and savings N1.221 trillion.’

The statement said’gross statutory revenue of N2.850 trillion was received for the month of August 2026. This was lower than the sum of N4.359 trillion received in the preceeding month by N1.508 trillion.

‘Gross revenue of N834.843 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in August 2026. This was higher than the N793.968 billion available in the month of July 2026 by N40.875 billion.

‘The communiqué stated that from the N2.338 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received total sum of N804.897 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N794.313 billion’.

According to a statement, ‘Local government Council received N555.142 billion, while the sum of N184.388 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting State as derivation revenue.

‘On the N1.565 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N727.573 billion and the State Governments received N369.035 billion.

‘The Local Government Councils received N284.511 billion and the sum of N184.388 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

‘From the N773.233 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N77.323 billion, the State Governments received N425.278 billion and the Local Government Councils received N270.632 billion.

‘In August 2026, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), Value Added Tax (VTA), CET Levies and Excise Duty increased significantly while Companies income Tax (CIT), CGT, SDT, Petroleum Royalties, Mineral Royalties, and Gas Flared Penalty Import Duty, , Rental Gas Flared Fee and Misc. Oil Revenue decreased considerably’ he noted.

Utomi begins talks with Atiku, Obi, others over single opposition candidate

Pat Utomi, professor of Political Economy, is set to lead fresh negotiations with major opposition presidential candidates as pressure mounts for the parties to unite behind a single candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Utomi-led Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) said the consultations with the candidates and their party leaders would be conducted behind closed doors and concluded within two weeks.

James Ezema, media coordinator of MCE, disclosed this in a statement, saying the initiative was designed to address the recurring problem of opposition coalitions agreeing on the need for unity but failing to agree on who should lead them.

Among those expected to participate are Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).

MCE said the process would be based on ‘credibility, transparency, fairness, due process and a level playing field’, with participating candidates required to commit to respecting the eventual outcome.

The movement said its criteria would include national acceptability, competence, integrity, leadership profile, policy orientation and capacity to unite diverse interests.

‘The Nigerian people deserve more than a coalition of political personalities. They deserve a coalition of ideas, competence, values and a coherent ideological programme,’ MCE said.

The initiative comes amid separate efforts by opposition figures and groups to forge a common platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.