General News
Russia – Africa Forum Aims at Exchange of Experience and Partnerships for Common Goals
The UN Association of Russia (UNA-Russia) and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) are organizing on June 27-28, 2023 the Forum «Russia-Africa. Sustainable urban future: exchange of experience and Partnerships for common goals». The Forum will be held with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the UN Information Center in Moscow and the International Forum «Russia — Africa: What’s next?
The first day, June 27, will take place in the UN ECA (Conference room 3), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and online from 11.00 to 14.30 UTC+3 (with light lunch break from 12.30 to 13.00). The second day, June 28, is to be held in Nairobi, Kenya (online) from 11.00 to 13.00 UTC+3. The possibility of remote participation in the Forum is provided for both days.
The Forum is aimed at summarizing the experience and discussing the practical component of the cooperation in urban and regional sustainable development. On the first day of the Forum, presentations and discussion will be dedicated to the development of urban communities and cooperation between regions and cities of Russia and Africa.
High-level representatives of the administrations of Moscow, Sysert, Kazan, Samara and Ministries of the Russian Federation, as well as their African colleagues from the African Union Commission, the Pan-African Youth Union and the UN representatives are expected to take part as honored speakers and guests.
The second day of the Forum is devoted to trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation, prospects for partnership strengthening between Russia and Africa in the environmental, social, scientific, technical and cultural spheres.
Distinguished guests are expected and welcomed from among ministers of the Russian regional governments and heads of their international departments, the Russian Export Center, representatives of Russian economic operators in Africa, the management of the African Development Bank, the Central Bank of West African States, as well as specialized UN institutions.
The Forum is held on the eve of the II Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum, scheduled for July 26-29 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The goal of this event is to promote efforts to strengthen comprehensive and equal cooperation between Russia and African nations across all areas. Public discussions taking place as part of the event’s business programme will deal with the most pressing issues on the Russian-African agenda.
The event will host a large-scale exhibition which will serve as a key communication platform for demonstrating the achievements and the capabilities of the participating countries in the fields of economy, science, ecology and culture.
Forum «Russia-Africa. Sustainable urban future: exchange of experience and Partnerships for common goals» will be broadcasted online.
The results of the Forum will be presented at the II Russia–Africa Summit (in St. Petersburg), at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF, in New York) and at the SDG Summit 2023 (in New York).
PalmPay has opened a new office at 33 Old Yaba Road, Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational growth in Nigeria.
The new office represents a continued investment in PalmPay’s people, operations, and infrastructure, supporting the company’s ability to deliver reliable financial services at scale. Designed to accommodate PalmPay’s growing team, the workspace enables closer cross-functional collaboration while strengthening service delivery nationwide. Located in Yaba, one of Lagos’s most established commercial and technology corridors, the office further anchors PalmPay within Nigeria’s innovation and financial ecosystem.
Speaking at the office launch, Managing Director Chika Nwosu highlighted that the new workspace reflects PalmPay’s long-term vision and dedication to excellence. “This new office represents an important step in our growth journey and our commitment to building secure, reliable, and inclusive financial solutions for our users,” he said.
The launch event was attended by PalmPay’s leadership team, employees and customers, who toured the facility and marked the company’s continued growth and progress.
With the opening of its office at 33 Old Yaba Road, PalmPay continues to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and reaffirm its mission to drive financial inclusion through innovative digital solutions.
PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users and processes up to 15 million transactions daily. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced the signing of a chain of contracts with major airlines for the provision of total handling solutions.
In a statement on Tuesday, the company announced the signing of contract renewals with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the African operator, RwandAir.
NAHCO also signed fresh contracts with United Nigeria – Regional, Bellagio and Malaikair.
According to the statement, the contracts with Air France and KLM are for three years and will run till 2028, respectively. The duration of the contract with Virgin Atlantic was also put at three years.
The duration for the RwandAir contract is for three years, effective 1 October 2025.
The statement read, “The new contract with United – Regional would be for a period of five years, effective from 1 August 2025. For Bellagio and Malaikair, the contracts are for three and five years, respectively.
“Bellagio Air, Nigeria’s rising star in aviation, is redefining air travel with a blend of luxury, efficiency, and reliability. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Ikeja, Lagos, Bellagio Air is committed to providing world-class service across key domestic and regional routes.”
The Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Saheed Lasisi, who expressed his delight with the new contracts, said NAHCO is already ready to exceed customers’ expectations.
According to Lasisi, NAHCO’s more than 46 years of unblemished excellent service delivery puts it heads and shoulders above any other service provider in the industry.
“This is what we have been doing for almost half of a century. We will continue to delight our customers and make our stakeholders happy by exceeding expectations in all aspects of our service offerings. We are always willing and ready to do more,” Lasisi added.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NAHCO Plc, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, added that with the new fleet of equipment the company is deploying, service delivery will only be better.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a forward-looking strategy that places satellite-enabled mobile connectivity at the heart of the country’s drive to bridge its long-standing coverage gaps.
The draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector for 2025 to 2030 lays out how satellite technologies could help deliver reliable voice and data services to millions of Nigerians who live beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The direction is outlined in the Commission’s draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period.
The proposed approach highlights non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure, especially in areas where terrain, insecurity, or high costs limit the deployment of base stations.
The NCC said D2D satellite technology, which allows standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, is gaining traction globally as a means of delivering voice and data services without reliance on ground towers.
According to the regulator, the technology could help close persistent coverage gaps in rural, riverine, and border communities that remain outside the reach of conventional networks.
It also noted that satellite-backed connectivity could improve network reliability by providing alternative links during fibre cuts, power failures, or other disruptions affecting terrestrial systems.
The Commission added that wider adoption of D2D services could support emergency communications, public safety operations, Internet of Things applications, and services such as smart agriculture in underserved regions.
It also pointed to potential investment opportunities through partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite companies, including more efficient use of shared spectrum resources.
Beyond D2D services, the roadmap places emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit satellites to expand broadband access to remote parts of the country.
It also proposes better utilisation of Geostationary Orbit satellites and the exploration of high-altitude platforms, such as stratospheric balloons, to support mobile backhaul and rural connectivity.
The policy signals come shortly after Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services in Nigeria.
The NCC’s roadmap is expected to shape future spectrum allocation, licensing decisions, and technology adoption across the telecommunications sector.
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