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Coca-Cola, Others Urge US Congress to Sustain Healthcare Funding for Africa

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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unravel healthcare systems and economies across the world, The Coca-Cola Company and fourteen other global corporations have urged US Congressional leaders to continue to provide healthcare funding support to sub-Saharan African countries so that the pandemic and its consequences do not result in an increase in deaths from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which are among the top 5 killer diseases on the continent.

 

The companies, acting on the platform of the Friends of the Global Fund, recently sent a joint letter to the US Senate Majority Leader, Honorable Mitch McConnell; House Speaker, Honorable Nancy Pelosi; and the Senate and the House Minority Leaders, advocating for the COVID supplemental funding legislation to include increased investments to support sub-Saharan healthcare systems and workers.

 

“In sub-Saharan Africa, COVID-19 threatens fragile health systems and the virus has the potential to infect nearly a quarter of a billion people over the next year… COVID-19 also risks undermining decades of progress against epidemics that kill millions of people every year: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria”, the companies noted in the letter which was signed by The Coca-Cola Company’s CEO, James Quincey, along with the CEOs of Abbott, Cepheid, Johnson & Johnson, Mylan, Sanofi, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Vestergaard, Zenysis, Aegon-Transamerica, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Novartis, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, UPS and ViiV Healthcare.

 

With over 90 years of extensive presence across Africa through its subsidiaries and bottling partners, The Coca-Cola Company has witnessed the great strides the continent has made and the enormous challenges it continues to grapple with in building effective health systems.

 

Along with its bottling partners and the Coca-Cola Foundation, the company has invested over the years in these efforts and are partners with the Global Fund which leverages US Government funding to scale strategic healthcare interventions in Africa such as Project Last Mile.

 

Launched in 2009, Project Last Mile models Coca-Cola’s expertise in distribution efficiency and marketing impact to help build capacity and capability in African ministries of health for improved availability of life-saving medicines and demand for health services for millions of people in hard-to-reach parts of Africa.

 

Working with local Coca-Cola teams, Project Last Mile has supported governments to build effective and resilient healthcare supply chains and systems, including cold chain maintenance for vaccines, adapting its scope to the needs in the ten countries where the project has launched: Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, South Africa, Eswatini, Nigeria, Lesotho, Uganda and Ghana.

 

Commenting on the appeal to the US Congress, Bruno Pietracci, President for Coca-Cola Africa and Middle East said: “COVID-19 has underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder interventions such as Project Last Mile in enabling countries to cope with the unimagined pressure on healthcare systems through improved logistics, communication effectiveness and access to hard-to-reach people at the last mile. It is crucial that the global community stands up to the responsibility to enable quick recovery and resilience-building for developing regions such as Africa. That is the only way we can all emerge stronger together from the unprecedented impact of this pandemic”.

 

The Global Fund, launched in 2002, is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than $4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries, working in partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by these diseases. The Global Fund has a strong focus on sub-Saharan Africa where about 72% of its resources were allocated in the 2017-2019 period.

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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FemyWalsh Set to Launch FM Radio in Lagos

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FemyWalsh Limited, media conglomerate, is set to launch its flagship FM terrestrial radio station as it receives its licence from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

FemyWalsh Set to Launch FM Radio in Lagos

This adds yet another media asset to the FemyWalsh group, which already comprises SOUQ News TV, Walsh Radio Online, Terminal Seven Audio-Visual Studio and Walsh Photography.

Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, company CEO, and Dr Idahosa Osamhanze, vice president, were presented with the operational licence by Mr Charles Ebuebu director general NBC at the commission[s  office in Abuja.

This move marks a significant expansion in FemyWalsh’s media footprint and paves the way for broader audience engagement and impact. With the addition of this new licence, FemyWalsh is poised to reach even more viewers and listeners across Nigeria.

The company’s commitment to delivering high-quality content and innovative programming remains unwavering.

According to Oluwafemi, acquiring the terrestrial FM radio licence underscores the group’s ambition of being the largest and most impactful media network across Nigeria, as well as the African region.

“Getting into the terrestrial radio space and securing the operational license represents a pivotal moment for the FemyWalsh group as we continue to evolve and innovate in the media landscape. Radio has long been a powerful medium for reaching diverse audiences, and we are thrilled to leverage this platform to amplify further our mission of empowering SMEs and driving economic growth in Nigeria.”

For his part, Osamhanze, who is the Vice President of the organisation, also made it known that this was a dream come true, and a representation of the company’s dedication to the long-term development of the Nigerian media space. “With this new initiative, FemyWalsh Limited is poised to make a significant contribution to the future of Nigerian media. We are thrilled for the opportunity to foster a thriving media landscape for years to come.”

FemyWalsh Limited is the owner of SOUQ News TV, a digital satellite channel licensed for broadcast in Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

The radio licence acquisition comes at a time when SOUQ News TV is experiencing rapid development and expansion, building on its established reputation for excellence in journalism and commitment to serving its viewers.

 

 

 


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Climate Action Africa Calls for Broader Stakeholder Collaboration to Address Nigeria’s Climate Crisis

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Climate Action Africa (CAA), a leading advocate for climate resilience and sustainable development in Nigeria, has called for a more impactful and inclusive approach to tackling the country’s pressing climate challenges. This was the focus of the climate change media briefing held in Lagos, Nigeria, today.

With Nigeria facing significant vulnerability to rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and environmental degradation, CAA emphasizes the need for a united front across all stakeholder groups. Developing countries like Nigeria, and many others across Africa, face unique sets of challenges when it comes to climate change.

“Nigeria’s unique position and vast resources necessitate a comprehensive strategy that leverages the expertise and commitment of every sector,” says Grace Oluchi Mbah, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Climate Action Africa.

“From government and industry leaders to scientists, community organizations, and individual citizens, we all have a role to play in building a more resilient and sustainable future.”

The importance of fostering collaboration in areas like policy development and implementation, innovation and technology, community mobilization and education, and investment and financing were highlighted during the media briefing. These are the challenges that the Climate Action Africa Forum 2024 (CAAF24) is set to address.

The upcoming Climate Action Africa Forum (CAAF24), scheduled for June 19-20 in Lagos, serves as a testament to CAA’s commitment to fostering collaboration. The forum will bring together key stakeholders from across Africa to discuss innovative solutions and develop concrete action plans for tackling climate change.

The forum will introduce the Deal Room, a dynamic marketplace connecting Africa’s brightest innovators with forward-thinking investors to accelerate impactful deals for climate action and sustainable development. Following the conference, CAA will partner with Silicon Valley based Founder Institute, the world’s largest startup accelerator to provide ongoing support to African innovators in a post accelerator programme.

“CAAF24 provides a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, collaborative problem-solving, and forging strategic partnerships,” says Mbah. “By working together, we can ensure that Nigeria, and Africa as a whole, emerges as a leader in building a sustainable and climate-resilient future.”

Climate Action Africa urges all stakeholders to take a proactive stance in addressing the climate crisis. Through collaborative efforts, innovation, and a shared commitment to a sustainable future, Nigeria can mitigate the impact of climate change and pave the way for a more prosperous and resilient tomorrow.


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Breaking…..CANAL+, MultiChoice Finalize and Agree to Buyout Offer

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CANAL+ has made a mandatory offer to acquire all the issued shares of the MultiChoice Group it doesn’t already own for $1.9 billion.

Breaking.....CANAL+, MultiChoice Finalize and Agree to Buyout Offer

CANAL+ was required to make the offer after acquiring 35 percent ownership of the company, now offering $6.70 per share, exceeding the regulatory minimum price of $5.63.

The two companies have entered an agreement for the mandatory offer, and MultiChoice shareholders will gain significant value for their shares, constituting a 66.66 percent premium to the closing price of $$4.02 on February 1, the last trading day prior to the delivery of CANAL+’s non-binding indicative offer.

The offer is conditional on customary regulatory conditions and will comply with all other relevant regulatory requirements.

CANAL+’s ambition is to build a global entertainment leader with Africa at its heart that will support the commercial development of Africa’s sporting and cultural industries and bring authentic African stories to global audiences.

“Following constructive engagement with MultiChoice, we are pleased to have issued a joint firm intention announcement to make an offer today, representing a significant premium for the shareholders of MultiChoice,” said Maxime Saada, chairman and CEO of CANAL+ Group.

“CANAL+ is confident in making this offer—at a level which far exceeds the minimum required by regulation—due to the incredible future we believe that CANAL+ and MultiChoice can build together.

“Through combining our companies, we will be well positioned to invest even more in local productions and sports content, supporting the world-leading and vibrant creative ecosystem on the African continent and all over the world, and producing even more high-quality and compelling local stories. The complementary geographies, considerable scale and strengthened capabilities achieved by the combination of these two great companies will ensure that Africa can tell her own stories on her own terms both locally and globally.

“We are excited about these opportunities, which will be supported by further investment in technology, including the continued offering of a leading satellite service and rolling out more innovative streaming products.”


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