The Mouloudia d’Oujda (MCO) has triumphed in the 2024 Senior Throne Cup, marking a historic milestone in Moroccan rugby.

The final, held in the vibrant atmosphere of Ait Melloul – Agadir Stadium on Saturday, June 22, 2024, was a thrilling encounter between two stalwarts of Moroccan rugby: the Club Olympique Casablancais (COC) and Mouloudia d’Oujda.

In a match filled with intensity and emotion, spectators were on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Despite a valiant effort from COC, MCO emerged victorious with a hard-fought 16-11 scoreline. This remarkable achievement not only secures Oujda’s title defense but also solidifies their dominance within the national rugby scene.

This victory is a testament to the dedication of MCO and their loyal supporters, highlighting the growth and competitiveness of rugby across Morocco. Congratulations to MCO for their well-deserved victory, and kudos to COC for their spirited performance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération Royale Marocaine de Rugby.

Press Contact: 
Laila Boudhine 
lailaadmin@frmr.ma

Business leaders and supply chain experts will gather at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, Ghana, July 29-30 for the inaugural Supply Chain Business Forum and Exhibition (https://apo-opa.co/3RGjSJc). Organized by the Center for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain – Africa (CARISCA) (CARISCABusinessForum.com), the event aims to enhance supply chain management practices across the continent.

The Business Forum will feature prominent African, European and U.S. entrepreneurs and business executives as keynote speakers, panelists and session leaders. The forum’s theme will be “Navigating the Future of Supply Chains in Africa.”

Keynote speakers include:

Ruby Amegah, a native Ghanaian and executive at Starbucks, USA, who will discuss the journey of coffee and cocoa beans from African soil to global cup.
Dr. Chibuzo Opara, co-founder and CEO of DrugStoc, Nigeria, who will share insights on building patient-centered supply chains for health commodity security and resilience.
Patricia Poku Diaby, CEO of Plot Enterprise (Gh) Ltd, who will offer her perspective on advancing the cocoa sector’s supply chain.

The forum will feature panel discussions about supply chain traceability in the cocoa, coffee, and health sectors, as well as presentations on the Ghana Logistics Managers Index (LMI) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) .

The LMI is a tool CARISCA created in 2022 to support business decision makers. The quarterly index is a predictive indicator of the overall Ghanaian economy. AfCFTA is an agreement signed in 2019 to create an action plan for boosting intra-African trade.

Rounding out the program, Switzerland-based Andre Kreie from the Kühne Foundation will travel to Ghana and lead a session on “Sustaining Supply Chains in Africa: Successes and Challenges.” Kreie heads the foundation’s education unit, which addresses capacity building in middle- and low-income countries related to logistics, supply chain management, leadership and strategy.

“We hope to discover answers to two questions during the Business Forum,” says CARISCA Executive Director Dale Rogers, an internationally renowned Arizona State University professor. “What are the best supply chain practices throughout the African continent? And what support does African business need from leading-edge university research?” 

Besides the presentations, the event will serve as an opportunity for leading companies to showcase their products and services in an exhibition space.

Corporate sponsors and partners are helping to make this event possible, in addition to the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds CARISCA. Conship (www.Conshipgh.com/), or Consolidated Shipping Agencies, is the inaugural gold sponsor. Silver sponsors include Interplast, West Africa’s leading producer of plastic pipe systems, and logistics company M&M air sea cargo GmbH based in Germany.

Promotional partners for the event include Business and Financial Times and Ghana’s National AfCFTA Coordination Office.

More than 250 people have already registered to attend this in-person-only event. Registration is free and still open. To register or learn more about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, visit CARISCABusinessForum.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Center for Applied Research&Innovation in Supply Chain-Africa (CARISCA).

Contact:
Evans Ankomah Jnr.
ankomahjnr@carisca.knust.edu.gh
+233 244 692 953

About CARISCA:
The Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain – Africa (CARISCA) is a centre of excellence at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. It was created in partnership with Arizona State University and with support from the United States Agency for International Development. CARISCA is a globally recognized, locally owned hub for generating and translating innovative research into positive development outcomes for Ghana and pan-African supply chains.

On a misty morning in rural Cote d’Ivoire, Delphine Papo deviates from her usual routine. Instead of trekking 4 kilometers through the fog to her cocoa plantation, she’s headed to a special class. The Watté United Brothers Cooperative (SCUW) is hosting a demonstration of cocoa tree fertilization, and Delphine is eager to attend.

“I have heard from other farmers that their harvest increased dramatically after joining SCUW’s cooperatives on-farm training. I want to join today to access fertilizer, apply it correctly in my field, increase my yields, and cater better for my children”.

In Cote d’Ivoire, most smallholder farmers acquire fertilizers through informal credit, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions, driven by the hope for increased crop yields. However, improper application of these fertilizers often leads to disappointments, with harvests and incomes falling short of expectations.

Today in Watté, a suburb of the Southwestern port city of San Pedro, Delphine joined six other cocoa growers, including Etienne Bardo, for the mobile good agricultural practices training session dubbed OCP School Lab (http://apo-opa.co/4cBJ0Zw).

Under the shade of cocoa trees, with posters as blackboards and machetes and fertilizers as course materials, the class begins. The learners closely follow the instructors as they demonstrate the appropriate fertilizer doses and application techniques for cocoa trees. They also cover the recommended pruning and hoeing practices. A key point emphasized is fertilizer spreading in a circle, one meter away from the tree trunk.

Delphine and Etienne have been selected to replicate the demonstration. As they perform the steps from memory– sizing, pruning, hoeing, and spreading, Delphine has an epiphany. “Comparing how I applied fertilizer today to my old method is like comparing day and night,” she admits. “I now see what I need to change.”

This transformative experience is made possible by the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism’s (http://apo-opa.co/4bV5ftr) trade guarantee project in Cote d’Ivoire. The $2 million guarantee scheme enables farmers like Delphine and Etienne to receive capacity-building in fertilizer use and good agricultural practices. It also helps them obtain fertilizers on credit from OCP Africa (http://apo-opa.co/3zaCNW4), an international fertilizer distributor. Farmers contribute 20% upfront and pay the remaining 80% after harvest.

The initiative goes beyond just providing access to fertilizers. It equips smallholder farmers with the technical skills and know-how to enhance their yields and income. Etienne looks at his plantation with renewed hope: “My plantation has completely changed since I started applying the fertilizers from SCUW. I know my yields will improve now. I will buy a car, send my children to school, and then build my house.”

The holistic approach, combining fertilizer use with good agricultural practices, aims to improve productivity and empower farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. As an innovative financial solution, the trade credit guarantee seeks to unlock access to quality, affordable fertilizers, fostering a thriving agricultural landscape across Africa.

Please click here (http://apo-opa.co/4bV5ftr) to learn more about the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Please click here (http://apo-opa.co/4bl5ehv) to see more photos from Cote d’Ivoire’s Trade Credit Guarantee Program.

Dabar Media (www.TheDabar.com) proudly announces its launch in Africa, bolstered by a successful $100,000 seed funding round from angel investors. This significant funding milestone enables Dabar to expand its offerings beyond being an online media news platform, enhancing its reach and impact globally.

With this investment, Dabar has successfully extended its presence to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Nigeria, boasting more than 9,300 daily readers within six months of launching. This growth reflects Dabar’s commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content across various domains.

As part of its expansion, Dabar has launched two new initiatives: the Dabar Network and the “ForgeHer Network.” The ForgeHer Network is an empowering initiative designed to support women in the tech industry. It aims to bridge the gap for female founders and professionals by providing educational resources, expert advice, and a supportive community.

“We are excited to launch Dabar in Africa and extend our reach globally,” said Seun Odegbami, Co-founder of Dabar. “The seed funding will allow us to provide valuable training and networking opportunities to our community, fostering growth and innovation.”

Esther John, Co-founder and CEO of Dabar added, “Our goal is to create a dynamic platform that informs and empowers our audience. The ForgeHer Network is a testament to our commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.”

The funds will be strategically used to enhance Dabar’s content offerings, support community initiatives, and provide training and networking opportunities. These efforts will help foster a vibrant, engaged community and drive meaningful impact.

For businesses looking to reach a diverse, engaged audience, partnering with Dabar offers a unique opportunity. To explore advertising and partnership opportunities, please email us at hello@thedabar.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Dabar Media.

About Dabar:
Dabar is a forward-thinking media platform dedicated to providing insightful, engaging content across various topics, including business insights, technology trends, innovation, and more. Dabar aims to inspire and inform its audience through high-quality journalism and community-driven initiatives.