Category: Banking & Fianace

Ghana’s Islamic Banking & Finance Journey: A cursory Glance

Mr Mohammed

Background The issue of Islamic banking and finance(IBF) in Ghana was first put  into the Ghanaian public domain,way back  in 2002 when the country for the first time in her history, took a first and bold step towards joining of the Jeddah, Saudi Arabia based, Islamic Development Bank(IsDB) as a member country. This took the form of a maiden official visit to Ghana by an IsDB delegation during which meetings were held between the delegation and then Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Governor of Bank of Ghana and Economic…

AfDB Commits to Support African Universities…..As TICAD 9 Holds in Tokyo

Mr Mohammed

Universities are essential partners in Africa’s development, and the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) is committed to supporting them as centres of innovation that can attract not only Bank financing but also private investment and venture capital, Vice-President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo, said in an official statement issued  in Tokyo,Tuesday. She was speaking at a symposium held Saturday 23 August, on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9). The event was organised by the University of Tokyo and co-hosted by the…

Africa’s Private Sector Gets a $5.5 billion Assistance Booster Under EPA6…..As Japan-AfDB Sign MOU at TICAD9

Mr Mohammed

The government of Japan and the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching the sixth phase of the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA6) agreement, which provides a framework for critical resource mobilization and development partnership for African countries according to an official statement issued in Tokyo,Friday. Under EPSA6, the statement said,the Bank and JICA will work together to support regional member countries for the period 2026-2028, with a financial package of up to $5.5 billion – half a billion more than EPSA5 – while ensuring…

Bank of Algeria joins Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) network, accelerating financial integration in Africa as Algeria prepares to host Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025)

Mr Mohammed

The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) launched by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, has officially welcomed the Bank of Algeria into its growing network says an official statement issued in Cairo,Friday. Algeria,the statement noted, now becomes the 18th country of presence for PAPSS, marking a significant step in advancing Africa’s journey towards deeper financial integration. This development is expected to further support cross-border payments and enhance the regulatory framework governing intra-African trade.…

Backbase and African Banker launch landmark report on the future of digital banking in Africa

Mr Mohammed

Backbase, the global leader in Engagement Banking, in partnership with the African Banker magazine, has launched the inaugural report in the Africa Digital Banking Experience Series 2025, a timely publication that explores the transformation of banking across the continent in an age of hyper-personalisation, AI integration, and financial inclusion.an official statement disclosed on Wednesday. The report “Retail banking: Competing for the modern African customer” is based on an exclusive survey of over 200 senior banking executives across 40 African countries. It provides a detailed, data-driven analysis of how African banks are shifting from…

Blockchain Fintech Shiga Digital Empowers African Businesses with Digital Finance Tools

Mr Mohammed

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, August 5, 2025/ — Shiga Digital (https://Shiga.io), a fast-growing fintech company focused on blockchain-based financial applications, is redefining how pan-African businesses access and interact with modern financial services while unlocking the transformative potential of blockchain finance to empower Africa’s economic growth. Shiga Digital has recently been awarded the prestigious DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) Innovation License, marking a significant regulatory milestone that underscores the company’s commitment to operating within a robust and well-respected regulatory framework. The additional license, overseen by the Dubai Financial Services Authority…

Regulatory Risk, Reputation, and the New Role of Comms in Africa (By Laila Bastati, Chief Commercial Officer, APO Group)

Mr Mohammed

Why communications is now a compliance function – and what African markets reveal about risk, regulation, and trust in 2025 Strategic communications is in a pressure phase. Regulation is moving faster. Investors are watching harder. And public backlash arrives in hours, not days. Across industries, communications is no longer just about visibility – it’s about viability. For leaders in Africa’s most dynamic sectors, comms has become a frontline function for managing regulatory complexity, investor expectations, and social trust. It’s no longer optional. It’s operational. In Africa, where younger regulatory systems…

Libya Islamic Bank-Backbase Join Hands to Bring Digital-first Banking to Libyan Customers

Mr Mohammed

Backbase, the global leader in AI-powered banking technology, has announced in Tripoli,Thursday,the recent successful platform launch of Libyan Islamic Bank (LIB), one of the country’s fastest-growing financial institutions. This achievement,the announcement noted, represents Backbase’s first platform launch in Libya, underscoring its commitment to expanding state-of-the-art, customer-centric banking across North Africa. From ambition to impact As a digitally focused bank, LIB set out to differentiate itself through an experience-led approach to banking. In collaboration with Backbase, the bank laid the groundwork for a customer-first operating model that is built for speed,…

CIBAFI and The BIBF Sign MoU to Advance Innovation and Sustainability in Islamic Finance

Mr Mohammed

 In a significant move to foster innovation and sustainability in the Islamic financial services industry, the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) and the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation and advance joint strategic initiatives an official statement disclosed in Manama,Bahrain,Sunday. The agreement underscores both institutions’ commitment to embracing modern tools and frameworks such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and sustainability as key drivers of growth, resilience, and transformation within the sector. Dr. Abdelilah Belatik…

Prof Benedict Oramah recognised

Mr Mohammed

……….As 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja More than 400 dignitaries including business and political leaders from Nigeria,across Africa and the diaspora attended the African Export-Import Bank’s(Afreximbank) Third Edition of the Pan-African Business and Development Award hosted in collaboration with the Business Council for Africa(BCA) on Wednesday June 25,2025 in Abuja,Nigeria. The Pan-African Business and Development Awards, held annually during the Afreximbank Annual Meetings, are designed to celebrate and recognise transformative businesses and financial institutions within the African continent and in the diaspora in keeping with the Bank’s vision for…