Forbes Africa February - March 2025

Barely a month into the new year, and there’s a surfeit of AI news in my inbox. Take it or leave it, for good or for worse, AI is undeniably mainstreaming and pervading every aspect of our lives as a common thread, provoking wonderment, and even woe. The stats predict widespread adoption of AI; 92% of South African CIOs anticipate that for this year, with continued AI rollout. There are also facts emerging that we need to examine with equanimity: that cutting-edge technology will have not just a pivotal but also a deep, personal and intimate role in our lives. In a way, it has unwittingly made multi-hyphenates of each one of us, as we lead our lives adapting, with multiple tabs open at all times and adding more hyphens…

In December last year, Benin-born artist Hubert Sodoganji, popularly known as Amémé, released his remix of five-time Grammy award-winning singer Angelique Kidjo’s 30-year-old iconic track Agolo. The significant cultural connection and collaboration, as both artists are from the West African nation of Benin, has allowed Sodoganji to house his distinct brand of Afro-house to the track, which for him emphasizes the importance of bridging generational gaps in music. Before gaining global recognition between 2019 and 2020, from Monday to Friday, Sodoganji worked in the finance sector, in banking, in New York City. On weekends, he honed in on his skills as a DJ playing gigs around the city. That came to a stop when he decided to pursue his passion full-time, leaving his corporate job to integrate fully into the…

The China Development Bank recently released a $254.76-million loan for the construction of a 203-kilometer standard-gauge railway linking Kano and Kaduna, two major states in northern Nigeria. The railway is being built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. The railway project is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which Nigeria joined in 2018. According to the bank, the railway will promote the development of related industries along the route, creating numerous job opportunities in Nigeria. The bank has also supported other projects in Nigeria, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port in the commercial capital Lagos. “This railway will also promote the development of related industries along the route. The construction and operation of the project will create numerous job opportunities in Nigeria,” the bank said. The loan announcement preceded…

John Mahama (pictured left) was sworn in as Ghana’s President, returning to power in January after winning 56.6% of the vote in December 2024’s election. The inauguration in the capital Accra also marked a historic moment as Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang became the first woman to serve as Vice President. In his address, Mahama acknowledged the country’s economic struggles, stating, “The circumstances we find ourselves in are indeed dire, and even so, I’ll be decisive and swift in my actions.” He outlined plans to focus on economic stability, business growth, governance reforms, and anti-corruption efforts. “Imagine a Ghana where our markets are alive and bustling at all hours of the day,” Mahama said, emphasizing the potential for growth in agriculture and agribusiness. He pledged to take “26 actions within my first…

In January, the American Cancer Society released a study that shows disease rates in women aged 50 to 64 are surpassing men for the first time. According to Forbes, cancer rates in women under 50 have also soared when compared to their male counterparts, and are now 82% higher than the rates seen in men, up from 51% in 2002. The shift can be partially blamed in men, up from 51% in 2002. The shift can be partially blamed on increasing trends for breast and thyroid cancers, the study says, which make up almost half of all cancers in people under 50 and mostly impact women. The cancer burden is also shifting by age - new diagnoses in adults aged 65 and older decreased from 61% in 1995 to 59%…

Africa will be the stage for FIFA World Cup matches for only the second time in the 100-year history of football’s greatest show when Morocco co-host the 2030 tournament with Spain and Portugal. It follows South Africa’s successful tournament in 2010, when the frowns of a doubting global audience turned to cheers and smiles as the country created a party atmosphere like no other yet seen at a World Cup. Those glorious four weeks changed perceptions about the country and the continent, and has left a lasting legacy in terms of infrastructure and goodwill, not all of which has been properly utilized in the ensuing 15 years. It will be Morocco’s turn in five years’ time, though the goalposts have shifted since 2010. Back then, the World Cup was a…