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Rugby: Kenya finished seventh overall at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas, drawn in Pool C for Vancouver assignment

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Rugby: Kenya finished seventh overall at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas, drawn in Pool C for Vancouver assignment

Kenya finished seventh overall at the USA Sevens after series of battling performances throughout the three days of competition at a tournament that served as the fifth round of the 2017/18 HSBC Sevens World Series.

Shujaa started their campaign on a losing note, going down 14-19 to France in their opening Pool A match on Saturday morning. It took the experience of Collins Injera to score two tries in the ensuing 19-12 win over Russia, a match that left the team needing a win over fancied Fiji to reach the cup quarterfinals. They pulled it off, the experienced trio of Injera, Willy Ambaka and Andrew Amonde each scoring in the 17-14 victory over Fiji. This result saw Shujaa earned the right to face eventual cup finalists Argentina in the cup quarters. They however fell to a 12-17 defeat.

Playing in the fifth place semifinal against Australia, Shujaa gave as good as they got, finally exiting the tournament following a 26-21 sudden death defeat after the two sides had been tied 21-21 at the close of regulation time.

The team has meanwhile been grouped with USA Sevens bronze medal winners Fiji, France and Spain in Pool C as the pools for the Canada Sevens in Vancouver were announced following the conclusion of the USA Sevens in Las Vegas.

USA, who won their home tournament with a 28-0 cup final shut out of Argentina will play in Pool A and will face Australia, hosts Canada and Uruguay. In Pool B Las Vegas runners-up Argentina face England, who last year secured a Cup victory in Vancouver, Wales and Samoa.

Series leader South Africa will face second place New Zealand, Scotland and Russia.The Canada Sevens is the sixth round of the 2017/18 HSBC Sevens World Series and will be played on 10th and 11 March at the BC Place in Vancouver.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).

Media contact :
Rugby@APO-opa.org

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CIBAFI Submitted Comments to the AAOIFI on its Exposure Draft on Governance Standard for Islamic Financial Institutions (GSIFI) No. 10: “Shariah Compliance and Fiduciary Ratings for Islamic Financial Institutions”

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: CIBAFI Submitted Comments to the AAOIFI on its Exposure Draft on Governance Standard for Islamic Financial Institutions (GSIFI) No. 10: “Shariah Compliance and Fiduciary Ratings for Islamic Financial Institutions”

Aligned with its role as advocate of the Islamic Financial Services Industry (IFSI), the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) (www.CIBAFI.org), the global umbrella of Islamic financial institutions, announced that it has provided its comments to the Accounting & Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) on its Exposure Draft (ED) on Governance Standard for Islamic Financial Institutions (GSIFI) No. 10: “Shariah Compliance and Fiduciary Ratings for Islamic Financial Institutions”.

In its submission, CIBAFI thanked the AAOIFI for giving the opportunity to the Islamic financial services industry stakeholders to comment on its GSIFI No. 10 before its issuance and provided comments comprising key points as well as detailed analysis.

Fundamentally, CIBAFI members raised some concerns on the purpose of the ED and potential parties that would be interested in it. Hence it was not explicitly clear how far customers and other counterparties would understand and use ratings of this kind, therefore whether they would have any commercial value. On the other hand, any regulator with a sufficient interest in Shariah governance to consider mandating such a rating would be more likely to impose Shariah governance requirements on firms and supervise them directly. It is therefore unclear how Shariah compliance ratings would fit into the Shariah governance structure in different jurisdictions. This in turn raises the question of what purpose a standard in this area would serve for the Islamic finance industry.

On a separate note, CIBAFI recommended for more time to be spent on having discussions and views with different stakeholders from different jurisdictions, and involvement perhaps of few rating agencies in the process to avoid any biased views and opinions.

In its submission to the AAOIFI, CIBAFI expressed its appreciation of the work that the AAOIFI does to maintain sound practices of the IFSI. Full comments to the AAOIFI are available on CIBAFI website www.CIBAFI.org

In addition to policy and regulatory advocacy, CIBAFI continues to support the IFSI through various activities and initiatives. These include providing industry stakeholders with a platform to discuss emerging issues, representing the industry at major global financial events, and sharing knowledge through specialised research and publications, and comprehensive professional development programmes. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI).

For more information about CIBAFI, please visit www.CIBAFI.org 
Tel: +973 17357300  Email: Media@CIBAFI.org

About the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI)
CIBAFI (www.CIBAFI.org) is an international organization established in 2001 and Headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain. CIBAFI is affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  CIBAFI represents the Islamic financial services industry globally, defending and promoting its role, consolidating co-operation among its members, and with other institutions with similar interests and objectives. With over 120 members from more than 32 jurisdictions, representing market players, international intergovernmental organizations and professional firms, and industry associations.

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Internet Society and African IXP Association Partner with South Africa’s Internet Service Providers’ Association for Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) at iWeek

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Internet Society and African IXP Association Partner with South Africa’s Internet Service Providers’ Association for Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) at iWeek

The Internet Society (www.InternetSociety.org) and African IXP Association (AFIX) (www.AF-IX.net) have announced that they will hold the 9th annual Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) in Cape Town, South Africa hosted by the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) (www.ISPA.org.za). The conference will be held from 21-23 of August 2018 in conjunction with iWeek, South Africa’s leading Internet industry conference, which will run from 20-24 August 2018.

AfPIF is an annual event that serves as a platform to expand and develop the African Internet. It connects infrastructure, service, and content providers with policymakers in order to identify and discuss ways to improve network interconnection, lower the cost of connectivity, and increase the number of users in the region. Over 200 participants attended last year’s AfPIF in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire including providers of international, regional, and sub-regional transport, transit, and content as well as more than 20 IXPs from Africa and beyond.

This year’s event will be hosted in South Africa, home to the oldest Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in Africa, the highest density of IXPs per city in Africa, and the largest carrier neutral data center in Africa. As a thriving terrestrial infrastructure market and the continent’s most mature peering ecosystem, South Africa will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from its remarkable experiences and explore a growing number of opportunities in the region.

“The African IXP Association has been absolutely amazed by South Africa’s rapid development and is proud to host this year’s AfPIF in Cape Town. We all benefit from their innovation and continued success, and hope that our collective presence will provide additional momentum” said Kyle Spencer, Co-Coordinator of the African IXP Association.

“We are delighted to be hosting AfPIF at iWeek for the very first time. This is a fantastic example of the kind of pan-African ICT cooperation envisioned by the Abuja and OR Tambo declarations of the 1990s,” said ISPA Chair, Graham Beneke.

“The first AfPIF was held in 2010 by the Internet Society from the realization that most of African Internet traffic is exchanged outside the continent, and the region could save costs by exchanging the Internet traffic locally. The target is to have at least 80% of the Internet traffic consumed in Africa being locally accessible, and only 20% sourced outside the continent by the year 2020. We are getting closer to that target every year thanks to AfPIF and many activities that promote interconnection and hosting in Africa”, says Dawit Bekele, Regional Bureau Director for Africa at Internet Society.

Internet Peering is a business relationship whereby two network operators agree to provide access to each other’s network at no cost. Internet users throughout Africa benefit from Peering as it enables faster, more affordable, and more reliable access to content.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Internet Society (ISOC).

Media contacts:
Betel Hailu
Internet Society
Hailu@ISOC.org

Elaine Zinn 
ISPA 
Elaine@ff.co.za

About the Internet Society
Founded by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society (ISOC) (www.InternetSociety.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the Internet. Working through a global community of chapters and members, the Internet Society collaborates with a broad range of groups to promote the technologies that keep the Internet safe and secure, and advocates for policies that enable universal access. The Internet Society is also the organizational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). For more information visit www.InternetSociety.org.

About AF-IX
The African IXP Association (AFIX) (www.AF-IX.net) is a group of Internet exchange point operators from across Africa, brought together by a shared need to coordinate and exchange knowledge. It aims to foster an enabling environment for IXP operators, improve connectivity within the continent, and increase the Internet’s value for all. AFIX was established in 2012, joined the Internet eXchange Federation (IX-F) in 2014, and now organizes the annual African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF).

About ISPA
ISPA NPC (www.ISPA.org.za) is a non-profit company, and a recognized industry body which has represented the interests of ISPs since 1996. ISPA has co-hosted the annual iWeek industry conference since 2001, bringing together business, government, civil society and members of the public to debate technical, policy and business matters relating to the Internet sector in South Africa. ISPA works with many different partners to ensure that iWeek includes fresh and relevant content each year and is thrilled to be hosting AfPIF during iWeek this year.  For more on the association visit www.ISPA.org.za.

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Dangote Donates N1.2 Billion to First Business School in the North to Bayero University, Kano

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Dangote Donates N1.2 Billion to First Business School in the North to Bayero University, Kano

The business educational development of Northern Nigeria took a new turn at the weekend when the renowned businessman, Aliko DANGOTE donated a N1.2 billion ultra-modern business school edifice to the Bayero University, Kano, (BUK), first of such in the northern part of the country.

Christened Dangote Business School, the business mogul disclosed that talks are on to affiliate the school with the popular Harvard Business School, in the United States of America.

Speaking to a group at the opening of the School at the new site of the University, Dangote stated that no effort was spared to ensure that the school, building gate was up to international standard and one of the biggest in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Dangote said the Business School, which was commissioned by the Kano State Governor, Abdulzhi Umar Ganduje, was conceived as part of the contributions of the Nigeria’s business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote towards encouraging world class entrepreneurship education at the highest level in Nigeria.

He described the School as best of its kind in northern Nigeria, adding that the School, as accredited by the Nigerian University Commission, will be the first business school to offer Doctor of Business Administration PhD. program in Nigeria.

Africa’s richest man added that the business school would ease sharing of business information globally and how future African leaders could advance their businesses as well as building capacity which would translate to boosting the continent’s economy.

Dangote traced the journey of the construction of the school to the days of Prof Attahir Jigawa as the Vice Chancellor of the University when he pleaded with him to help in the establishment of a business school that can accelerate entrepreneurship in the country.

He said he agreed to build the edifice because of his conviction that good quality education is the bedrock of meaningful development in the country and only a sound mind can facilitate development.

The school, according to him, will train African Business leaders by carrying out research on how Nigerians can do business in the very particular kind of environment and succeed.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammed Yahuza Bello said with the new business school, the university is now poised to serve the society better through training, research and services.

He said the university adopted the name “Dangote Business School”, because the name Dangote (http://Dangote.com) is internationally synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship and successes in business and industry and pledged that the school will live by its name and tradition.

Explaining the uniqueness of the school, he stated that the new structure comprises 650 seating capacity auditorium, two theaters, four lecture halls, two libraries, incubation center, two cafeterias, 800kva soundproof generator and borehole among others.

In their separate remarks, Gov. Ganduje, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Hafeez Abubakar, his Jigawa State Counterpart, Gov. Muhammed Badaru Abubakar and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II showered accolades on Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his several interventions in various sectors in the State and beyond, urging other wealthy individuals to emulate.

Kano Deputy Governor, Professor Abubakar who represented Gov Ganduje said Nigerians have a lot to learn from Alhaji Dangote whose wealth has no influence on his humility and is ever willing to do for his immediate environment and make the society better.

He pleaded with the University authority to grant Alhaji Dangote opportunity to lecture once in a while in the school, even if it’s an interactive session because he has a lot to offer beyond available in the text books as a successful business man.

Emir Sanusi said what Dangote has done is what he has always advocated for other Nigerians to do and that until Nigeria gets her education right a lot of things may not fall in place as expected.

He expressed his appreciation to Alhaji Dangote for rising up to the occasion each time he calls on him to do one thing or the other in the interest of the society.

Emir Sanusi urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate him and contribute to the development of their society

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Dangote Group.

Media Contact:
Francis Awowole-Browne
Francis.Awowole@Dangote.com
+234 806 630 4898

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#AIS2018: Registration Open Now!

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: #AIS2018: Registration Open Now!

The registration is now open for the second edition of the Africa Innovation Summit (AIS2018) (www.AfricaInnovationSummit.com), to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 6 to 8 June 2018.

REGISTER NOW!!! (https://goo.gl/6kxCJ5).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Innovation Summit.

For further information please visit our website (www.AfricaInnovationSummit.com) and/or contact us (Info@AfricaInnovationSummit.com). 

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MONUSCO chief condemns targeted attacks against civilians in Ituri

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: MONUSCO chief condemns targeted attacks against civilians in Ituri

 The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Leila Zerrougui, remains gravely concerned by the violence in Djugu territory, Ituri province, that has resulted in the killing of dozens of people since January 2018.

The most recent attack occurred on 1 March 2018 in the village of Maze, in which at least 33 people have been killed.

“I am deeply shocked by this latest attack which has targeted civilians, and that the majority of the victims were women and children. I express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and those affected by this horrifying act”, said the Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

“I condemn all kinds of violence and I call on the authorities to swiftly investigate this attack and to ensure that justice if fully served. The perpetrators of these acts must be held to account”, added Mrs. Zerrougui.

The burning of huts, forced displacement and sexual violence directed against women have also been reported in recent weeks in the Ituri province, located in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In support to the Congolese Government-led efforts to address the deterioration of the security situation, MONUSCO has reinforced its presence in the area with the deployment of three temporary military bases in Djugu, Blukwa and Fataki and increased patrolling in Djugu territory since 10 February 2018. The Mission is also engaging all communities and authorities to prevent future attacks and stabilize the situation in the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

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