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UK Backs Africa’s Ambitious Continental Free Trade Initiative

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The UK launches a program of up to £35 million to support the negotiations and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The AfCTFA is expected to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, create jobs and provide new business opportunities for companies in Africa and the UK. It comes as Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, visits London to discuss how the UK can continue its work as a strategic partner to the trading bloc.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has announced a new UK program to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) trading bloc.

Through the AfCFTA Support Programme, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will provide up to £35 million to facilitate trade and support trade policy to the AfCFTA Secretariat and member states through TradeMark East Africa ( TMEA), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and other regional partners.

The announcement of the program comes as the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, visits London to discuss how the UK can continue its work as a strategic partner of the AfCFTA.

As the world’s largest free trade area, the AfCFTA has the potential to drive Africa’s economic growth by driving industrialization, creating jobs and bringing prosperity across the continent.

For UK businesses, the trading bloc will remove barriers to market access by creating a single continental market, making it easier and more profitable for UK businesses to export goods and services to all 54 member states. of AfCFTA.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: As an independent free trade nation, the UK is a strong supporter of the AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area.

We look forward to seeing continued momentum in the pending negotiations and practical implementation of the agreement on the ground.

This new aid program shows that trade is a positive force and will lead to increased trade, investment and prosperity for both Africa and the UK.

Minister for Africa Vicky Ford said: Closer integration among African economies drives growth across the continent, creates opportunity and helps lift people out of poverty.

The UK is a committed partner in this mission. This UK funding will promote long-term partnerships between African countries and support a greener and more prosperous continent.

I am delighted to support the AfCFTA Secretariat and its member states in delivering freer and fairer trading systems in Africa.

Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene said: “We are pleased to receive this support from the UK Government as it brings us into a partnership to strengthen cooperation related to customs and trade facilitation and trade policy across the African continent.

In the last five years, we have seen the re-engineering of our Regional Economic Communities, to take into account the aspirations that are embedded in the AfCFTA instruments. We have also witnessed during this period the enthusiasm and energy of our private sector to rise to the occasion and begin to exploit the provisions of the Agreement.

Our ambition now is to see commercially significant trade in ‘Made in the AfCFTA’ products across our continent, to create jobs and economic opportunity for Africans, especially women and youth. We want to make trade easier for Africans, in particular for our African women and youth who trade across our borders.

This new AfCFTA support program is therefore timely to facilitate the implementation of the AfCFTA, by supporting national implementation committees and regional economic communities.

The program builds on the existing work of the Trade for Development unit of FCDO and DIT to strengthen partnerships and resilience in Africa.

Under the UK’s G7 presidency last year, the new British Investment International (BII) group committed to working with other G7 development finance institutions (DFIs) to invest at least $80 billion in the African private sector to 2027.

Support for projects in Africa from UK Export Finance is also at its highest point in decades, backing a range of infrastructure projects in countries from Côte d’Ivoire to Uganda, with more than £2.3bn of financial support a year. past.

The AfCFTA Support Program also complements the UK’s broader partnership with the African Union as a multilateral institution to promote global values.

Along with the Secretary of State for International Trade and Minister for Africa, Secretary General Mene will meet members of the UK business and investment community during his stay in London.


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General News

PalmPay Supports Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Walk

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Chika Reginald Nwosu, Managing Director, PalmPay at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) during its Cybersecurity Awareness Walk held in Abuja, recently.
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PalmPay, a Nigerian leading digital banking platform, supported the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) during its Cybersecurity Awareness Walk held in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Themed “Secure Our World,” the event brought together key stakeholders from law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to promote public awareness on cybersecurity, financial fraud prevention, and safe online practices.

PalmPay joined other participants in advocating for stronger public vigilance and safer digital engagement, reaffirming its commitment to supporting national efforts that enhance cybersecurity and consumer protection.

Speaking during the event, PalmPay’s Managing Director, Mr Chika Reginald Nwosu, commended the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) for its efforts in combating cybercrime and protecting consumers. He emphasised the need for continued collaboration across sectors to build a safe and secure payment ecosystem for all Nigerians.

“We commend the NPF-NCCC for its proactive leadership in driving cybersecurity awareness,” said Nwosu. “At PalmPay, we are committed to supporting initiatives that promote digital safety and foster trust in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.”

At the event, PalmPay was commended for its outstanding efforts in strengthening regulatory engagement and advancing consumer protection initiatives across the fintech industry.

The partnership underscores PalmPay’s ongoing commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness, consumer protection, and fraud prevention as part of its mission to create a safer digital financial ecosystem in Nigeria.

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.


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Fidelity Bank Salutes Air Peace for Flying Nigeria’s Flag to Heathrow

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Fidelity Bank Plc has congratulated Air Peace on the successful launch of its maiden direct flight from Lagos to London Heathrow, describing the milestone as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s aviation sector and a testament to the power of indigenous partnerships.

Fidelity Bank Salutes Air Peace for Flying Nigeria’s Flag to Heathrow

 

The commendation was delivered by Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director of Fidelity Bank, during a special event held in Lagos to celebrate the airline’s expansion into the European market.

“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a win for Nigeria,” Onyeali-Ikpe said. “It reflects the strength of home-grown businesses and the impact of strategic financial support in enabling national champions to thrive on the global stage.”

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that Fidelity Bank has played a pivotal role in Air Peace’s growth, providing early financial backing and advisory services that helped the airline become the largest carrier in West Africa. The bank continues to support Air Peace through payment processing and other financial services

The launch of the London route marks a new chapter for Air Peace, which now joins a select group of African airlines operating direct flights to Heathrow.

The development is expected to boost tourism, trade, and connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the event, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank for its unwavering support and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to excellence and service.

“This partnership has been instrumental in our journey,” Onyema said. “We are proud to fly the Nigerian flag across international skies.”

Industry stakeholders present at the event praised the collaboration between the two companies as a model for sustainable business growth and national development.


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After MultiChoice Buyout, Canal+ Eyes Full Ownership of Showmax

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Canal+, French media giant, is reportedly eyeing the full takeover of Showmax, the African streaming platform jointly owned with MultiChoice Group.

After MultiChoice Buyout, Canal+ Eyes Full Ownership of Showmax

This followed its recent push to expand across the continent’s digital entertainment market.

The move comes after Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice to strengthening its hold on Africa’s pay-TV and streaming ecosystem.

With Showmax being a key growth asset under the partnership, industry analysts say a full takeover could give Canal+ end-to-end control of content production, distribution, and subscription revenue in multiple markets.

The acquisition would also align with Canal+’s broader strategy to rival global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video by leveraging African content demand and localized storytelling.

According to RipplesNigeria, Ayo Balogun, Media and Telecoms Analyst, CardinalStone Partners, while reacting to the move, said: “Canal+’s full acquisition of Showmax would mark a decisive step in consolidating Africa’s digital media value chain.

“With MultiChoice now under its control, Canal+ can fully integrate content, distribution, and streaming into a single monetizable ecosystem—something we’ve not seen before on this scale in Africa.”

Thandiwe Mokoena, Senior Media Strategist, Johannesburg, added: “This move gives Canal+ strategic dominance in both the pay-TV and OTT spaces. It positions them not only as a regional player but also as a continental gatekeeper for premium African content. The competitive pressure on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in Africa will rise sharply if this takeover goes through.”

Financial markets are closely watching how the potential consolidation could reshape Africa’s media landscape, particularly in terms of valuation, competition law, and licensing rights.


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