Program to provide STEM and problem-solving skills to students across continent; Students to compete for chance to attend major regional industry conference; Aims to develop the next generation of African thinkers and workforce.

The ExxonMobil Foundation and JA Africa have launched the “ExxonMobil STEM Africa” initiative, a $300,000 program to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for approximately 3,000 African students across Nigeria, Namibia, Angola and Mozambique.

The program will prepare middle and high school students for future STEM careers through immersive quizzes and hands-on experiences at Innovation Camps. The camps, delivered by JA Africa, will teach new approaches to addressing STEM-related challenges.

“Growing students’ STEM skills is key in developing the next generation of problem solvers across Africa,” ExxonMobil Foundation President Alvin Abraham said. “We’re excited to see how these young minds apply what they’ve learned through our program.”

Teams who present the best STEM solutions will represent their countries at a major regional industry conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Students will gain cross-cultural exposure, learn about energy from a global perspective and showcase their ideas while connecting with industry leaders.

“In an era where technology and innovation propel the global economy forward, Africa’s position at the forefront of technological advancements is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and sustainable development,” said JA Africa President and CEO Simi Nwogugu. “We are grateful to the ExxonMobil Foundation for this partnership to nurture STEM competencies to shape Africa’s future.”

To learn more about the program, visit https://ExxonMobilSTEMsAfrica.org/

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of JA Africa.

About ExxonMobil Foundation:
The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in a range of philanthropic initiatives in areas where the company operates around the world, with a strategic focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

About JA Africa:
As one of Africa’s largest and most impactful youth-serving NGOs, JA Africa delivers hands-on, immersive learning in work readiness, financial health, entrepreneurship, sustainability, STEM, economics, citizenship, ethics, and more. JA Africa has a presence in 16 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and collectively we reach more than 900,000 youth in more than 3,000 schools each year. JA Africa Works in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Learn more at www.JA-Africa.org.

Since last year, intercommunal conflict between the Pakam and Luanyjang communities from Rumbek North in Lakes state and Tonj East in Warrap state respectively, have led to killings, abductions, cattle raids, and displacement.

To enhance civilian security and protection, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) established a temporary base in Maper last month, a strategic location in Lakes, some 16 kilometers from shared borders with neighbouring Unity and Warrap.

“This temporary base is necessary because it helps our peacekeepers engage with communities and deter violence through regular patrols,” revealed Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian, the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Force Commander, who visited the site last week.

While on the ground, Force Commander Subramanian interacted with local authorities, South Sudanese uniformed personnel and 120 Nepalese peacekeepers currently stationed here. 

“We had been actively conducting short- and long-distance patrols in and around Maper since border conflicts began to rise, but given longstanding communal grievances, we felt that our protection efforts would be more impactful if we established a temporary presence here,” stated the Lieutenant-General.

“We will also be able to help create conditions conducive for the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to people who need it the most,” he added, while calling on authorities and communities in the area to build synergies with Blue Helmets.

“As a peacekeeping mission, we are committed to keeping civilians caught in such cyclical violence safe, but there must be collective efforts to address the root causes of conflict between neighbouring states, particularly as South Sudan approaches elections,” he averred.

Peacebuilding is another key aspect that local authorities are hoping will be boosted through this temporary presence. 

“We are optimistic that this base will help our government to facilitate peace activities and enable peace partners to move freely,” said Samuel Mabor Deng, County Commissioner of Rumbek North.

Community members too are relieved thanks to the presence of UNMISS peacekeepers.

“Our main concern is that all routes are very insecure at night. So, I hope as our peacekeeping friends from UNMISS get used to the terrain in and around Maper, their daily patrols will slowly make roads safe for all of us at all times,” stated Chol Achiek, a Maper resident.

For Major Kumar Gurung, the Commanding Officer of the UNMISS temporary base, it has been a warm welcome from communities living here.

“We were quick to begin town patrols and have extended our reach to numerous payams [administrative divisions] across Rumbek North county. Road conditions continue to make movement difficult but we are determined to protect everybody to the best of our ability. Local communities have been very supportive in our first two weeks here,” he said.

The Maper temporary operating base became operational on 15 March 2024 upon request by the Government of South Sudan.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

On March 25, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong – U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, overseeing the Department’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy –  launched the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Nursing Leadership Initiative to sustain gains and accelerate progress toward ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Under the initiative, PEPFAR is providing $8 million in 2024 to support nurses at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS response in Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

In these seven partner countries, the initiative invests in activities that will:

Enhance nurses’ skillsets to lead planning and delivery of HIV/AIDS services to curb disruptions in access to essential HIV services;
Help nurses to identify, advocate for, and leverage innovative digital solutions to enhance quality HIV service delivery;
Protect nurses by enhancing their infection prevention and control skills, providing supportive work environments, and supporting mental health needs;
Invest in the development, retention, and equitable distribution of the nursing workforce, aligned with each country’s national priorities, to ensure long-term sustainability of HIV service delivery; and
Enhance nurses’ communication and leadership skillsets.

PEPFAR implementing partners will also support partner nursing organizations in the seven initiative countries to undertake a needs assessment to guide initiative activities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Head of Mission, Ambassador Kingsford Amoako, on 28th March, 2024, led a team from the Mission including Mr. Obed N.Y. Sarpong, Mr. Richard Sackitey, Mrs Rebecca Fordjour, Mr. Michael Dzamesi, Mr. Perez Agbetiameh; and, officials of the Liberia Immigration Service, led by Deputy Commissioner General N. Dickson Tamba, and the Joint Security in Marshall, for a consular visit to Marshall in Margibi County. The Head of Mission paid courtesy calls on the Mayor of Marshall and members of the Marshall City Hall, and the Joint Security team comprising the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Immigration Service. During the visit, Amb. Amoako assured the Ghanaian Community of his full support and promised to work towards ensuring that their stay in Liberia is regularised and prosperous. He informed that the Mission is actively working to ensure that issues surrounding acquisition of land by Ghanaians in Liberia, high fishing licenses paid by fisherfolk, and harassment of Ghanaians by the immigration are addressed. The Liberia Deputy Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalisation, Atty N. Tamba, assured the Community that all Ghanaians living on Liberian soil enjoy the full protection of the Government of Liberia. He intimated that Liberian law required that while the Liberian Government has a responsibility to protect all, Ghanaian Communities have a duty to abide by the law. To ensure that the processes for regularising their stay are smooth, the LIS is working closely with the Embassy of Ghana in Monrovia to register community members to aid them in regularising their stay. According to Atty Tamba, the LIS is committed to the ECOWAS protocols that protect all West Africans and respects the protocols which guarantee the stay of Ghanaians in Liberia. He, therefore, encouraged all to live peacefully. Concluding, he asserted that migration is as old as humanity, and therefore, the presence of Ghanaians in Liberia is evidence that the country is welcoming to all West Africans. He also cautioned the Joint Security officials in Marshall and Margibi County to comply with the laws and show respect, dignity and kindness to all Ghanaians in the country. In the spirit of reciprocity, he urged the Joint Security to treat Ghanaians resident in Liberia as they would want how Liberians in Ghana to be treated. Speaking at the gathering, the LNP Commander, Abraham Karyouway, encouraged the community to cooperate with the police for effective policing in the community. In his part, the Deputy County Commander, Jefferson P. Tamba, urged the Community to abide by the ECOWAS protocols for a peaceful stay in Liberia. Speaking on behalf of the Ghanaian Community, the Chief Fisherman, Peter Kwesi, thanked His Excellency Amoako and his staff for taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety and progress of the community. He expressed the Community’s appreciation for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s efforts by writing to President Boakai on their behalf. He indicated that they were hopeful many of their issues will be resolved following the consular visit of the Mission.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Ghana in Liberia.