Elm (https://apo-opa.co/4bFOQJs), a pioneer in digital solutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Numeryx Technologies, a French company with expertise in implementing and developing business solutions, to foster cooperation, explore and promote business prospects, as well as enable digital transformation by implementing joint initiatives and exchanging technical expertise and knowledge.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Alameen Shawqi Al-Hazmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Integrated Solutions Group at Elm, and Mr. Mozer Al Ayadi, Chief Executive Officer of Numeryx Technologies, in the presence of various officials from both sides. The MoU outlines enhancing business opportunities, leveraging both the companies’ expertise in the European and African markets, along with the local market in Saudi Arabia, in the development of information technology activities, as well as exploring potential investment and cooperation prospects.

Majid bin Saad Al Arifi, the Official Spokesman and CEO VP of the Marketing Sector at Elm underscored the significance of the MoU with Numeryx Technologies. He went on to explain how this cooperation will contribute to building digital infrastructure in order to improve service quality and performance efficiency in Europe and Africa. Al-Arifi further stated that this MoU mirrors the dedication of both parties in developing cutting-edge technical solutions that support sustainable development, adding that this cooperation positively impacts the efforts to empower entrepreneurship and the digital economy in the region.

Additionally, Al-Arifi further indicated that the MoU echoes Elm’s interest in contributing its pioneering expertise and knowledge of digitalisation and the development of  technology infrastructure, which would facilitate the advancement of digital transformation in a variety of industries. He asserted that both parties will work together to introduce cutting-edge digital platforms in the public and private sectors, as well as provide advisory services, project management services, solutions, and business processes.

Both parties will collaborate on plans under the terms of this MoU, exploring potential long-term and short-term prospects in the global targeted markets and evaluating the investment requirements and opportunities in the digital economy sector regionally. Elm will also offer business accelerators and investments for start-ups, in addition to providing its leading expertise in delivering digital services with the greatest security and reliability standards.

The partnership involves the exchange of expertise and knowledge in the realm of digital transformation across the public and private sectors. Its primary objective is to share expertise among the respective teams from both sides about the different aspects of digital transformation and keep them informed about the latest advancements and innovations in this field.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Elm.

The African Banking Digital Transformation Report, a collaboration between pan-African publication African Banker and Backbase, creators of The Engagement Banking Platform, is a cornerstone in Africa’s financial news landscape, offering in-depth insight into the digital revolution being undertaken by the banking sector across the continent.

A growing African population – forecast to be 2.49 billion by 2050 – coupled with spectacular increases in the number of devices such as smartphones and tablets (mobile phones now account for 75% of web traffic in Africa) is the perfect recipe for an explosion in digital banking. Benefits include speed, convenience, and enhanced user data, meaning that banks can much more readily tailor solutions for their clients. In 2021 – the last year for which full figures are available – 55.07% of the African population owned a bank or mobile money account, compared to 23.33% in 2011. 

Digital: the way forward

The 2024 edition of The African Banking Digital Transformation Report revealed that 76% of banks rank digital transformation as either their top priority or among the top three, while the remaining 24% also view it as important. With almost half of the continent unable to access any form of bank account, including approximately 60% of women, this result reflects the opportunity for banks to grow their customer base through an inclusive digital offering. 

“I really see AI as a game-changer, both internally and externally” 

This year, cloud computing was the most cited technology being incorporated into digitisation strategies. This overtakes Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity&Resilience as the primary driver since our 2023 survey. The result can be explained through the growing sophistication of AI solutions, which sees it spill over into other technology areas including Cybersecurity.

Interviewed for the report, Ecobank Group Chief Digital Officer Nvalaye Kourouma said: “I really see AI as a game-changer, both internally and externally” because AI-powered tools help overcome language barriers for engaging customers in different countries. “We now have the capability to build local natural languages into our AI interactions so that language and writing are no longer barriers. Speech and image can be used to communicate more effectively. AI opens the door for a different level of engagement with our customers, so it’s encouraging,” he added.

The 2024 edition of the Report draws on comprehensive survey data from more than 150 banks spanning 35 countries, providing an in-depth analysis of current digital banking trends, key innovations, and digital transformation progress. This release underscores Backbase’s commitment to fostering technological advancements and driving financial inclusion in Africa.

The African Digital Banking Transformation Report was launched during GITEX Africa 2024, which took place 29 – 31 May in Marrakesh, Morocco. The report is available to download now: https://apo-opa.co/3R7BVI0

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Banker.

About Backbase:
Backbase is on a mission to re-architect banking around the customer. We are the creators of The Engagement Banking Platform – a composable platform that empowers banks to accelerate their digital transformation through progressively modernizing their main customer-journeys. From onboarding to servicing, lending and investing, our platform streamlines every aspect of the customer- and employee-journey. Pre-integrated with leading core systems and cutting-edge fintechs, it allows institutions to unlock innovation at scale, driving instant value creation.

Industry analysts Forrester, Gartner, Celent, Omdia and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership. More than 120 financial institutions around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform — including AIB, Banorte, Barclays, BIAT, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO, BNP Paribas, Banque Saudi Fransi, BRD, Citibank, Discovery Bank, First National Bank, HDFC, Ila Bank, KeyBank, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Navy Federal Credit Union, OTP Group, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, Standard Bank, Saudi National Bank, Société Générale, Truist and TPBank.

Backbase is a private fintech company, founded in 2003 in Amsterdam where it has its global HQ, with regional offices in Atlanta (Americas HQ), Cardiff, Dubai, Hyderabad, Kraków, London, Mexico City, Singapore (Asia HQ), Sydney, and Toronto.

For more information visit www.Backbase.com.

About African Banker:
African Banker is the leading publication dedicated to reporting on the banking industry across Africa. With insightful coverage on finance, politics, business, technology, energy, and resources, African Banker provides in-depth analysis and commentary on the trends shaping the continent’s financial landscape.

As a trusted source of information, African Banker brings a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Africa’s banking sector, and a unique readership following them.

The students of Kigoowa Skilling Centre on Thursday 30th May, 2024 showcased their products as they head to conclude their six months free skills training.

Kigoowa Skilling Centre, situated in Nakawa Division is one of the nine Skilling Centres under the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy child (PISGBC) project spread across the five divisions of Kampala.

The centre that is accommodated at Butukirwa Catholic Church in Kigoowa, Ntinda Division is running its fourth intake of 502 students who will soon sit exams leading to the award of a recognized certificate by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT). 

The students received their training in seven departments which include embroidery, weaving, knitting, leather designing and shoe making, bakery, tailoring and hairdressing. 

In his remarks, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson for Nakawa Division, Mr. Nicholas Turinawe thanked President Yoweri Museveni and leaders of PISGBC led by Dr. Faith Katana for transforming the lives of the youths who didn’t get the opportunity to go to school or further their education. 

“Obviously to come here you must have an objective. The objective is to fight poverty,” he stressed. 

“There are so many things we are doing here that are not ordinary. I want to support His Excellency the President’s program of promoting Ugandan products and the drivers of that promotion are the skilled people like the youths here,” Mr. Turinawe noted. 

He however reminded Ugandans that the skilling program has nothing to do with political affiliations, explaining that the program is meant to accommodate all the youths from different political party leanings.

He therefore encouraged parents to send their children for skills acquisition. 

The Special Presidential Assistant on Skilling and Education and Head of the project, Dr. Katana commended the role played by counsellors at the Skilling Centres of mentoring and transforming the lives of the youths. 

She particularly thanked Dr. Grace   Bikumbi, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist for rehabilitating and mentoring the youths who before joining the skilling centres were addicts of various bad practices like drug abuse.

“Dr. Grace Bikumbi, we thank you for the work you are doing and I also thank the instructors for the job well done,” Dr. Katana commented.

On a sad note, Dr. Katana on behalf of her team conveyed condolences to the Kigoowa Skilling Centre family for the loss of one of their own, Ms. Annette Nanono who was an instructor in the weaving department. 

She described the late Nanono as an asset to the skilling sector and the nation as a whole. 

“She was hard working and resourceful as well as a team player. We really lost her and it really pained me.May God rest her soul in peace,” she prayed. 

Dr. Katana further informed the guests at the showcasing event that President Museveni started the program to help his bazukulu discover their potential and be part of the development of the country. 

She encouraged students who completed their training to make use of the skills acquired not only for personal development but also for the development of the nation. 

“The President wants these youths to be productive citizens of the nation. It is not the cows that give milk, it is the milking that gives you the milk. Milking is the labour so we must work hard and be productive for our own good. We have said that whatever you sow you shall reap. Whatever you speak, think or do is a seed you sow. Let us sow rightly and reap abundantly,” Dr. Katana advised. 

She also reminded the youths that development comes from a product and service and encouraged them to ensure high standards of their products that should be competitive and can as well guarantee a market.

Dr. Katana used the same occasion to strongly advise the youths to maintain good moral behaviours by respecting their parents and members of their communities. 

“Sincerely if we don’t return to God and be accountable to God, at a personal level I want to tell you we don’t have children, we don’t have a nation and we don’t have leaders,” she cautioned. 

“We must be people who are respected and well behaved, moreover Uganda is the best country, and it has the best people. Let us have morals back in our families and in our societies. Let each one of us do their responsibilities.”

The Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Kampala, Ms. Aminah Lukanga appreciated President Museveni for the program of skilling, describing it as a wonderful project that has improved and developed the talents of the youths. 

“I can assure you this project is going to make Uganda a wonderful country,” she observed. 

Ms. Lukanga however encouraged the beneficiaries of the skilling program to form associations that can easily be supported by the government. 

She also asked the skilled group to take advantage of other government programs like the Emyooga, Parish Development Model to get start-up funds for their projects. 

“I encourage all the young people who are going through this program to form associations, come back to us, we shall support you,” Ms. Lukanga assured.

One of the beneficiaries, Kihunde Agnes who holds a diploma in accounting said she saw the advertisement on television and immediately enrolled. 

“After 6 months of skilling in machine and hand knitting, I can now make children’s sweaters, scarfs and many other items. Most girls seek employment in other countries because they are not aware of this kind of arrangement which is beneficial. There are better things to be done here at home than outside,” she said.

Teddy Nakisige of Najjera was so fed up with the wrong side of morality she found herself in after dropping out of school in senior two. She emotionally recounted while in tears how God showed her the way to join Kigoowa Skilling Centre and advised other girls to get the skills and not to be deceived by men. 

The function was also attended by the managers of the Skilling project, Ms. Juliet Namale, Dr. Hillary Musoke Kisanja and the area political leaders, among others.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Uganda.

Devastating floods and landslides have affected about 600,000 children across Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia [1] so far this year, with the number potentially climbing to as high as 1.5 million by the end of the rains, according to Save the Children analysis.[2]

The torrential rains, which come after years of drought and have been attributed to both human-induced climate change and the tail end of the naturally occurring El Niño weather pattern [3], have displaced over 420,000 people with at least 330 killed due to unusually heavy flooding in all three countries.

This has left people facing an increasing risk of hunger and led to a spike in cases of waterborne diseases such as cholera which hit children hardest. Almost 27,000 cases of cholera have been recorded across Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia this year, with almost 60% of cases in Somalia among children under five [4].

The rains are the latest in a series of extreme weather events to hit East Africa. In November, devastating floods led to the deaths of at least 350 people and displaced over 2.3 million. Those floods followed the region’s worst drought in 40 years due to five failed rainy seasons.

On top of the naturally occurring El Niño which is currently winding down after beginning in June last year, human-induced climate change is making these kinds of extreme weather events more frequent and severe.  This year, El Nino has contributed to global warming temperatures, accelerating these climate change impacts, to which the Horn of Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world.

Sharif*, 50, an elder at a camp for displaced people in Galkayo, Somalia, said the situation was getting worse every year. People living in the camps fear being washed away and losing their shelters which are made from tree branches and fabric when it floods.

“Previously, [the weather] used to be cold either during the night or the day, but now it’s hot 24/7. The rain comes with strong wind which even destroys trees. When we see rain coming, we get scared for our lives. When the rain starts and it’s dark, everyone is scared for their lives. Mothers hold their babies close to their chest. It’s one of the worst things you can experience.”

Fatima*, 60, and her grandchildren fled their home in central Beledweyne region in Somalia six months ago due to flooding. The family now lives in a camp for displaced people in Galkayo. Fatima’s daughter died two years ago, making her the sole guardian for her six grandchildren.

“I have experienced several floods, but the one late last year was the worst one I have ever seen. Previous ones were manageable, but this one destroyed everything. I don’t have any plan on how I can protect my family in any upcoming floods. We will decide when the next flood comes.”

Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International while on a visit to Kenya and Somalia, said:

“The impacts of these floods, linked to both El Niño and climate change, are disastrous for children and threaten their rights. It’s another all-too-frequent example of how the climate crisis disproportionately affects those who have done least to cause it and are least able to withstand its most damaging effects: children.

“Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, home to some 92 million children, are among the world’s most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis. Repeated food shortages, disease outbreaks and weather disasters such as these floods – all made worse by climate change – leave millions of children hungry, homeless, out of school, exposed to protection risks and fearful of the next disaster. 

“Children are bearing the brunt of more extreme weather events in an increasingly unequal world. We need to see much more ambition on child-responsive climate finance from high-income countries and historical emitters that that puts children’s distinct needs and vulnerabilities front and centre – recognising that when disaster like these floods strikes, it affects a child’s whole world. They must also commit to climate adaptation measures and help build the resilience of communities to climate-related shocks — in both the near and longer term.”  

In Kenya, unrelenting rainfall across much of the country since March has led to flash flooding which has so far killed at least 315 people, including 73 children and displaced over 290,000 people. Flooding forced the closure of schools and has damaged and destroyed roads, farms, bridges, schools and health facilities.[5] Refugees living the Dadaab camps have been displaced once again.

In Somalia, heavy rains and flash floods have affected 226,000 people, two thirds of them children. Almost 39,000 people have been displaced, while thousands of families have lost their livelihoods. Cases and deaths of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera continue to rise. [6]

Across Ethiopia, heavy rains and floods since early April have affected 590,000 people and has caused significant damage to homes, infrastructure and farms, exacerbating the impact of the conflict, drought and ongoing cholera outbreak.[7]

Save the Children has worked in the Horn of Africa for over 70 years and is a national and international leader in humanitarian and development programming in health, nutrition, water hygiene and sanitation, education, child protection and child rights governance. In 2023, Save the Children reached 12.5 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, including more than 6.9 million children.

In the Horn of Africa and across the world, Save the Children is working with governments to find ways to increase funding for climate policies and actions that protect children’s rights.  Save the Children is implementing climate programmes in over 50 countries worldwide and delivering direct climate action – from working with communities to adapt to climate changes impacting them now, to forecasting future emergencies and strengthening communities’ ability to anticipate, adapt, prepare, respond, and recover.  

Save the Children hopes that the “expert dialogue” on children and climate change at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Bonn Intersessionals next week will lead to a shared, evidence-based understanding of the unique and disproportionate impacts of climate change on children.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.