African markets and business updates

Today, plant scientist Pamela Afokpe, R&D Operations Manager at East-West Seed ( www.EastWestSeed.com ) West Africa, accepts the 2026 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application at the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa. Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Borlaug Field Award honors exceptional on-the-ground scientific achievement by individuals under 40. Afokpe is being recognized for her pioneering work in transforming African indigenous vegetables, historically dismissed by the formal seed sector, into high-performing, commercial opportunities for smallholder farmers. Afokpe accepts the honor on the same Des Moines stage where her mentor, the late Simon N.…

Disrupt Africa has partnered with Kenya-based digital product and technology company Touch Inspiration to launch Disrupt Launchpad, an app development accelerator that helps non-technical founders turn their ideas into working applications and bring them to market. Founded in 2014, Disrupt Africa is the leading news platform dedicated to the African tech startup ecosystem, and a [...]

Disrupt Africa has partnered with Kenya-based digital product and technology company Touch Inspiration to launch Disrupt Launchpad, an app development accelerator that helps non-technical founders turn their ideas into working applications and bring them to market. Founded in 2014, Disrupt Africa is the leading news platform dedicated to the African tech startup ecosystem, and a [...] Disrupt Africa has partnered with Kenya-based digital product and technology company Touch Inspiration to launch Disrupt Launchpad, an app development accelerator that helps non-technical founders turn their ideas into working applications and bring them to market.…

African operators face a higher spectrum cost burden despite holding fewer frequencies than their global peers. Lower fees could unlock investment, but closing the continent’s connectivity gap requires measurable improvements in network quality, affordability and internet adoption—not just savings for operators.

•As SEC launches National Savings Scheme By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja The Federal Government (FG) has unveiled a 10-year plan to grow Nigeria’s capital market to N750 trillion by 2036, while calling for the listing of selected state-owned enterprises, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), on the Nigerian Exchange.…

South African vehicles benefit from duty-free access to the US, and industry estimates indicate around 86-thousand jobs at car manufacturers are directly linked to the agreement, rising to 125-thousand when subcontractors are included.

The Ghana Railway Development Authority has signed its second freight agreement of 2026, this time with International Service Solution. Between 2,500 and 3,000 containers have reportedly been transported since September, but the authority has not disclosed the revenue generated. The 97-km railway still ...

IMF says continent’s GDP to expand faster than China for first time in decades as it beats worst expectations following Iran war

Nigeria has opened talks with Uganda on livestock productivity, animal health and dairy processing. Uganda doubled its milk production between 2020 and 2024, while dairy export revenue nearly tripled in two years. Nigeria aims to double domestic milk production to 1.4 million tons ...

MEFMI Vacancy – Manager Positions The Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) is inviting applications for the following positions: Human Resources Manager, Information Technology Manager and Programme Manager – Sovereign Asset Management. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, 23 October 2026.