African Food & Products Conference and Exhibition 2019 by NACC

The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) is set for its Annual Exhibition & Conference. The 3rd African Food and Products Conference and Exhibition (AFPE) themed ‘Sustainability and Innovation; Pathway to Business Success for SMEs’ is scheduled to hold on Friday 24th May and Saturday 25th May, 2019 at the Grand Ball Room, Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island. Lagos by 9:00 am.

The Exhibition which is aimed at promoting the development of trade, commerce, investment and industrial technological relationships between the public and private sectors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Africa and the United States of America will witness the presence of industry expert speakers, market leaders, Trade Promotion Agencies, Venture Capitalists, Seed Investors, Export Houses, Business Clinics, Policy Makers, Franchisors, Franchisees, Produce Merchants, Analysts and Research Professionals, Startup Hubs, Government Regulatory Agencies and will have in attendance the Presidency, Federal Ministers, State Governors, CEOs of Leading Nigerian and Multinational Firms, Captains of Industries, Agencies of the United States Mission amongst others..

The AFPE 2019 will attract SMEs, Start-up business owners, MSMEs, International & local manufacturers, suppliers & distributors of food, beverage, agro commodities, apparel and fashion products, chain stores, independent sellers, business service providers, key decision and policy makers from leading Nigerian, African and American companies showcasing their products/service offerings to visitors, with a view to further promote their products and services to visitors and buyers and increase export sales by maximizing the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

In 2018, the Event had over 1500 attendees with about 90 Exhibitors from within Nigeria and the United States. This year, over the 2-day period of the event we expect to have over 2,500 attendees from across Nigeria, Africa and the United States, thus presenting a viable opportunity for exhibiting companies to grow their sales, showcase their products to a target audience and strike million dollars international deals.

The 3rd African Food and Products Exhibition will feature a conference session with seasoned industry experts and leaders sharing their knowledge and experience on scaling up productivity, driving profitability and positioning SMEs for sustainability and global competitiveness.

Attendance to the Conference and Exhibition is FREE but registration is required.

Visit afpe.nigerianamericanchamber.org to register.

More information on is available on the event’s website.

afpe.nigerianamericanchamber.org

Tips For Visiting Marrakesh During Ramadan

With Ramadan generally meaning a wind-down all over the Muslim world, you might expect that the red city of Marrakesh shuts up shop for the month, but that isn’t exactly the case. While the holy month means that many in Muslim-majority Morocco will be fasting during daylight hours, that doesn’t mean that Marrakesh is in any way off limits (though it might make finding an end-of-the-day beer a bit harder).

For travellers, the main difference will be the shortened opening hours, as many business and sights close either earlier in the day or for a chunk of the evening as Muslims gather together to break fast in a meal known as iftar. Here are some tips on visiting Marrakesh during Ramadan.

Enjoy the quiet streets

Much of Marrakesh’s old city will be quieter during the days in Ramadan as locals choose to spend the fasting days relaxed at home and then venture out at night. For those put off by medina crowds, it could be an excellent time to traverse winding streets that would otherwise be swamped. Food markets get busy again during the afternoon as people prepare for the large evening meal.

Find an iftar dinner

Stories abound of travellers being called in off the street by friendly Moroccans for the nightly iftar celebrations when Muslims break the day’s fast with a communal meal. Whilst serendipity might strike for you, if you want a definite dinner, it’s best to look at local restaurants. Noted culture-hub-turned-restaurant Cafe Clock offers a nightly iftarbuffet for Dh70 a head.

Dry month?

While not impossible, alcohol will be harder to find all over the country during Ramadan with some Muslims refusing to even touch the bottles during the holy month. Larger hotels aimed at tourists are likely to still serve booze though many smaller bars will close for the period or stay open while not serving alcohol. The popular 68 Bar A Vin, as one example, will close for the whole month. Supermarket alcohol shops will sometimes be open but might ask to see your passport as proof you’re not a local. The extra hassle means it might not be a bad idea to spend the trip sober; swap your end-of-the-day beer for a stop at the juice carts on the Marrakesh’s central Djemaa El Fna square.

Move your action to the night time

Though the quiet days and rising temperatures might give the city a listless feel during Ramadan, Marrakesh will very much come alive again at night. Many Muslims, having broken fast at sundown, will then head out to meet with friends and family late into the evening. Consider indulging in the greatest of past times: the afternoon nap, and then staying up later into the night as Djemaa El Fna and the nouvelle ville fill up with full stomached Moroccans looking for a friends and fun.

This article was culled from lonelyplanet.com

Trade With Africa Summit 2019 Takes Chicago

I was going through my Instagram feed one weekend, when I saw a post that said and I quote ”The world is getting everything it wants from Africa. Is Africa getting everything it wants from the world?” this caught my attention and got me thinking a whole lot, trying to figure out the best way for African businesses to really thrive and enjoy the full potential of all that we offer to the world. I decided to find out who put up that post, at least to understand the reason behind it, that’s when I found out abut the Trade With Africa Summit coming up on the 1st and 2nd of August 2019 in Chicago. This event is powered by Nazaru, a cargo and freight company founded by Toyin Umesiri.

The Trade with Africa Business Summit creates trade linkages by bringing together business leaders and their supporting service providers from Africa and U.S. to engage in dialogue that will catalyze economic growth for both region.

Over the past 20 years, European, Asian and other large economies have established an increasingly heavy presence on the continent of Africa in all major sectors, including Agriculture, Technology and Infrastructure building. They succeeded in this by not only establishing strong partnerships with the African Government but also with the Africa’s business community.

In 2000 President Clinton established the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to help close U.S. trade gaps with Africa. Although some level of success has been accomplished, trade experts, conclude that there is more room to grow. On the U.S. side there are several trade constraints, including lack of awareness, relevant business data, capacity misconceptions and an information gap. On the African side there is also a lack of information related to U.S. standards, available business partnerships and opportunities for African businesses.

You should definitely plan to attend this year’s edition of the Trade With Africa Summit, if you fall under any of the categories below, or are looking for an opportunity to connect  and network with;

  •  Investors
  • Global Business Leaders
  • Trade experts (export & import)
  • U.S. Government Agencies
  • Policy Makers (U.S. & African)
  • Buyers
  • Technologists & Innovators
  • Service providers with Trade Solutions (i.e. Packaging, Shipping, Transportation, Logistics, Banking e.t.c)
  • Exhibitors with products and or services
  • African Diaspora Community
  • Non-profits and friends of Africa

The benefits of this engagement are multi-fold; For the U.S. based business community it serves to showcase the vast opportunities in Africa while highlighting new regions for exports and imports under favorable trade policies,. It also provides the unique opportunity to discuss with high-level officials current concerns or impediments to doing business. For African Exporters, business leaders and Governments leaders, it will offer an opportunity to promote their country, help expand their offerings under Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to create jobs, and increase investment. For African businesses, it will also provide access to the largest importers, help prepare them to pitch their goods, and open a pipeline that can then be continued through sustainable business partnerships.

I believe that the growth potential for African businesses is huge, and it is time for us to take charge and bridge this gap. Click here for more details of the event.

Tourism The Beauty Of Africa – 3 Things To Do In Cairo

Cairo, Egypt’s sprawling capital, is set on the Nile River. At its heart is Tahrir Square and the vast Egyptian Museum, a trove of antiquities including royal mummies and gilded King Tutankhamun artifacts. Nearby, Giza is the site of the iconic pyramids and Great Sphinx, dating to the 26th century BC. In Gezira Island’s leafy Zamalek district, 187m Cairo Tower affords panoramic city views. Apart from these really cool ”serious” stuff, there are so many fun hings to do in the beautiful capital of Egypt, and I have highlighted 3 things you should definitely do when you get to Cairo.

1. Take a hike

From late March to early June, temperatures in Cairo are springtime perfection, wavering around a median 30°C. The trees are in bloom, students are finishing exams and Cairenes are all smiles and more relaxed. Take in the carefree vibe with a walk through downtown’s cluttered maze, along the breezy Corniche or around Zamalek’s leafy streets. Beware of April’s sporadic sand storms and thunderstorms; if the sky turns a dusty colour, it’s time to duck indoors.

2. Drop in on an arts festival

D-CAF, Cairo’s three-week Downtown Contemporary Art Festival, runs to late April, and it’s spread over multiple sites downtown. The festival fuses performing arts with film, photography and urban vision workshops run by top artists and educators from around the world. Expect cross-genre mashing, such as ‘interactive dance calligraphy performance’. Check out the concert photography workshop, which promises to teach the skill of the ‘killer shot’, or a new media arts workshop, such as the 3D projection mapping audio visual performance training. If you prefer to sit back and take in a film, save a night in mid-May for an art house film at Zawya, which hosts the Cairo Cinema Days festival, showcasing around 40 contemporary award-winning feature and documentary films from across the Arab region. The festival also screens some historic heavy hitter films and has panels and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.

3. Scout out contemporary Egypt in Old Cairo

Old Cairo is home to a trove of historic wonders, from the 7th-century Hanging Church of Coptic Cairo to the millennium-old Mosque of Amr Ibn Al As. But within the Fustat area of Old Cairo stands Darb 1718, an outdoor contemporary art and culture centre that in springtime weather, is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. The centre hosts live music concerts, fashion, art exhibitions, open-mic nights and education workshops. This spring you can get your hands dirty with a pottery workshop and or learn about light refraction and shutter speed at a photography class. April’s hieroglyphics workshop is sure to be a hit.

What other things do you love to do, or are you looking to do in Cairo? Feel free to leave a comment.

SA textile union welcomes H&M deal with SA designer

The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has welcomed the announcement today by Swedish global retailer H&M that it will be collaborating with South African designer, Palesa Mokubung, and her label, Mantsho.

On Tuesday, H&M announced its first African collaboration with Mokubung’s label, which was established in 2004 and has since graced numerous runways in Greece, India, the United States, Jamaica, Nigeria, Botswana and Senegal.

Until now, none of the products sold in H&M’s 23 local stores have been made in South Africa.

SACTWU said in a statement that it was a long-standing supporter of Mokubung’s work, citing how the Mantsho label was featured as far back as at its 2008 Fashion Festival held in the cutting room of the Levi Strauss SA factory in Cape Town.

Andre Kriel, SACTWU general secretary, said the union and its clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL) members were looking forward to seeing South African product in H&M’s stores.

“As foreign retailers, like H&M, Zara and Cotton On, have grown their South African footprint, they have increasingly taken market share away from domestic retailers. This has caused a ripple effect in which local factories supplying those domestic retailers are losing orders, and job losses and factory closures are the result,” Kriel said.

“SACTWU congratulates H&M on moving forward with this local sourcing project. The union views this collaboration with Mokubung as the first part of a much deeper collaboration. From SACTWU’s side, to assist H&M with its designer collaboration, the union has helped to ensure that compliant producers manufacture the Mantsho products.”

Mantsho will be available in all South African stores, exclusive flagship stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, Chile and Israel, as well as all H&M online markets from August 15.

Kriel said H&M’s local sourcing project represents the power of constructive social dialogue and the promise such dialogue holds to re-shape some of the harmful components of global trade.

“We look forward to a positive outcome and growing relationship with H&M in which their local sourcing footprint is deepened substantially, where their contribution to employment creation in local CTFL factories is expanded significantly, and where their global reach can be used to showcase South African design and quality, manufactured under decent work conditions,” Kriel said.

This is great news, as this goes to prove that there is hope for more African brands in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana etc to penetrate the global market through great deals such as this.

This article was originally published on iol.co.za

5 Reasons Why I Want To Visit Mauritius

Lately I have been thinking about travelling the world, and making memories that I will gist my kids about later on when they’re born, and almost everyone around me seemed to be talking about Mauritius, so I decided to do some research, and now I really want to go there!!!! Don’t judge me yet though, here are 5 reasons why I really want to visit Mauritius.

  1. I always aced Geography in high school, and I really did love the subject. But I never got to see many of the things I was taught in my textbooks. E.g Volcanos. Interestingly, Mauritius is a volcanic island that first rose above the waves eight million years ago. Who wouldn’t want to see that? Especially if you claim to love Geography
  2.  In 2017, Mauritius was named one of only four countries in the world which had no involvement in ongoing international or domestic conflict and no tensions with neighboring countries. The others were Botswana, Chile and Uruguay.
    (Source: p.13, Global Peace Index 2017) 
  3. Known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century , Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch, the French and the British in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries respectively. It finally gained independence in 1968.
    (Source: CIA World Factbook) Four different colonial masters, and they still managed to stay grounded till date? Please I need to go there and ask some questions.

  4. The is no official language in Mauritius, although English and French are the ‘national languages’. The vast majority of the population (85.6%) speak Creole, a French-based patois.
    (Source: CIA World Factbook) I am thinking about teaching a few people the Pidgin English I learnt while I visited Warri for 4 months. I’m positive that they will love to learn it.
  5. The life expectancy in Mauritius – 70 years for men and 75 years for women – is higher than the world average and is well above the average for African countries.
    (Source: Britannica) I just want to find out how they live that long. I want to live long too. I need to confirm if the world will actually be run by robots like all those sci-fi movies tell us.

Above all, Mauritius is a really beautiful island, and I love beaches, I am a fine girl, and I have a good camera on my phone. Don’t we just go together like bread and butter?

Have you been to Mauritius? I’d love to hear about your experience. Please leave a comment below.

Kenyan Company Green Nettle Textile won a major fashion award for making fabric from nettles

Organic fibers made from nettles has bagged a Kenyan company one of the world’s top sustainable fashion prizes.

Green Nettle Textile was this year awarded almost $170,000 as part of the $1.1 million Global Change Award, a fashion innovation challenge initiated by H&M Foundation in collaboration with management consulting firm Accenture and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. Described by some as the Nobel Prize for sustainable fashion, the award seeks to disrupt the fashion industry by choosing early stage ideas and incubating them towards the goal of an environmentally-conscious, circular fashion instead of a wasteful, linear model.

This year, the competition received 6,640 entries from 182 countries, with a tremendous increase in entrances from emerging markets. Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa were among the top 10 nations that submitted entries for the award.

Green Nettle won the award along with four other firms that made expanding children’s clothes (United Kingdom), a biodegradable vegan leather (Peru), a digital system that helps make garments recyclable from sketch to scrap (Germany) besides a toxic-free membrane for outdoor wear (Switzerland). Besides financial support, the winners will also get access to a mentorship program that will take them to markets including Sweden, Hong Kong, and the United States.

[yotuwp type=”videos” id=”zsUfKXHienc” description=”off” effects=”video_box=ytef-grow”]

Using nettles in producing fabric was astute given that the plant grows in Kenya and is used for nutritional and medicinal purposes. After the Kenya Bureau of Standards certified the plant in 2009, farmers in Kenya started betting on its newfound commercial capabilities. Green Nettle Textile is now proving an extension of that dynamism, hoping to grow the stinging plant in barren areas to make an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional fabric and create income for farmers.

As clothes become cheaper and more disposable, the fashion industry has explored how to create clothes for rapidly growing populations while protecting the planet. The overproduction and overconsumption of fast fashion have especially come under criticism—including how eco-friendly is clothing from the chief GCA award sponsor H&M. There have also been concerns about how much energy and water clothing production consumes, besides how much industrial waste factories release into oceans, rivers and natural habitats. Environmental groups like Greenpeace have, for instance, advocated for companies to change their customers’ mindsets and to design clothes for long life.

In Africa, where there’s a nascent manufacturing and fashion industry, local designers are not just challenging reductive ideas of what makes up “African” fashion but also where to source materials from. Last year, Rwanda raised tariffs on used clothing and footwear from the US as it positions itself to become a significant exporter of clothes. Yet funding has proved critical for these designers and manufacturers, an issue creative funds like HEVA want to change.

To further support companies like Green Nettle, H&M Foundation this year partnered with crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to not only get more people to back the winners but also raise awareness about sustainable fashion worldwide.

This article was originally published on qz.com

Tourism The Beauty Of Africa : Top 8 Wildlife Safari Parks In Africa

An African safari trip is an experience of a lifetime as you get to satisfy your wanderlust in the wild and marvel at nature at her absolute finest. Each destination is as diverse as the culture and people so visitors always have a wealth of options for their adventure.

Some travelers come in for the amazing scenery, while others flock to get some outdoor action like hiking and hot air balloon rides. As such, it pays to have an idea of which locations offer what experiences you seek. If the highlight of your safari is to witness majestic wildlife in their natural habitat, however, then consider these top eight wildlife safari parks on the continent:

1. Kruger National park

This is one of the largest wildlife reserves in Africa and is located in the northeastern parts of South Africa in the province of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The park occupies a 19,485 km square and is regarded as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The Kruger National Park is a beautiful wilderness that is home to the ‘Big Five’, as well as hundreds of mammals, including antelope, wild dog, jackal, giraffe, and Blue wildebeest.

2. Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park is located in Tanzania, stretching all the way to the East Masai Mara regions in Kenya. It is a world famous safari park spanning over the 30,000km square with an unparalleled panorama of vast rolling plains. The Serengeti boasts a variety of wildlife including the famous ‘Big five’ – Lions, African leopard, African bush elephant, eastern black rhinoceros and African buffalo. There are over 500 species of birds and carnivores like cheetah, hyena, honey badger, and African wild dogs.

One unique feature and a must-see for every tourist is the annual migration of wildebeest. Over 2.5 million wildebeest, zebras, Thomson’s gazelle, and antelopes migrate here between June and November to find better grazing. This phenomenon has been categorized as a world wonder.

3. Hwange National Park

Formerly known as Wankie game reserve, Hwange National Park is the largest wildlife reserve in Zimbabwe today. The park spans an impressive 14,651 km square and was named after a local Nhanzwa chief. It became a national park in 1961 and is located in the northwestern part of Zimbabwe between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Hwange offers an amazing variety of wildlife, such as impalas, African buffaloes, lions, as well as one of the largest population of elephants on the planet, and more than 400 bird species.

4. Masai Mara National Reserve

Recently ranked as the number one Safari Park on the planet by World Travel Award(WTA), the Masai Mara Game Reserve is indeed a wonder to behold. It is located in the southwest of Kenya, running along the Tanzanian border and occupying a 1,510 km square area. The park is named in honor of the famous Masai tribe and is famous for its exceptional variety of wildlife including the ‘big five’ and the Great Wildebeest Migration.

5. Chobe National Park

This breathtaking wildlife park is located in the northern parts of Botswana. It is the first national park in the country and third largest park after Kalahari and Gemsbok national parks. Covering up to 12,000km square of land, Chobe National Park plays host to concentrations of diverse wildlife including lions, giraffes, antelopes, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and over 450 species of bird. The Park is divided into four areas: The Serondela area, the Savuti march, the Linyanti March, and Hinterland.

6. Kibale National Forest Park

Kibale forest national park is located in western Uganda and spans across 776 km square. It is regarded as having the highest concentration of primates in all of Africa because of its impressive array of chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys, as well as other endangered species. Visitors here will also be amazed by the lush rainforest and scenic landscapes.

7. Etosha National Park

Located in the northwest region of Namibia, Etosha National Park covers more than 20,000km square and is famous for its ease in spotting varieties of wildlife. Unlike other African safaris where you have to drive round to see the animals, the animals at Etosha national park usually come to you. Simply park your vehicle near one of the many water holes and enjoy viewing animals in their hundreds — lions, elephants, gemsbok, springbok and various bird species.

8. Luangwa National Park

Several wildlife enthusiasts have dubbed Luangwa National Park as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. This is because the concentration of animals around the Luangwa River and oxbow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa. The park is situated in the eastern part of Zambia and covers 9,050 km square area. The river is filled with hippos and crocodiles, while the land supports over 60 species of mammal, including Thornicroft giraffe, cape buffaloes, elephants, and leopards. It also supports a large population of bird species.

Article culled from africa.com

EONL’s New Work Wear Collection Is Definitely A Stunner

Make way! Eyiyemi Olivia Nigeria Limited (EONL) is coming through with some banging work wear pieces for our corporate chic. And as a sharp girl that I am, I decided to give you a sneak peek at some of the amazing pieces in this HOT new collection.

EONL is a women’s wear design outfit with a strong bias for The Real African Woman who is confident in her curves and loves her African Print. EONL has a ready to wear line made for the real African woman, to supersede her expectations in terms of quality, price, comfort and aesthetic. The mission of EONL is to promote, wear and invest in Africa.

Whatever your size, shape or structure, EONL has what you need to make that body pop! EONL creates pieced for the discerning African Woman, and helps to boost their confidence.

It is definitely a breathe of fresh air that you can now rock amazing, properly fitting, timeless pieces to work, and slay like a boss all through your activities!

This new collection will be available for purchase from the 14th of April 2019. To ensure that you do not miss out on this, follow @eo_nl on Instagram, or connect with the  via email on [email protected]

For now, here’s your sneak peek. See something you like? Feel free to pre-order by sending an email to [email protected] or send a DM to eo_nl

Why Naomi Campbell believes Africa should guard its fashion and fabrics jealously

Africa should guard its fashion and fabrics jealously to stop the western world coming in and making a fortune from them, says one of the world’s best known supermodels.

Naomi Campbell– draped in an elegant gown, in the colours of a peacock with a flamboyant head wrap crowning her towering six foot frame, took to the stage Friday at the Durban International Convention Centre, South Africa for the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit.

“Africa needs to keep its fabrics to itself,” said Campbell.

Campbell is known as one of the longest working supermodels in the world and she hopes the continent can make more out of her fashion world. She believes that African prints and designs can be but exported profitably.

Campbell was the epitome of fashion on stage and appeared to practice what she was preaching.

“It’s Marianne Fassler,” said Campbell proudly of her frock. Fassler is one of South Africa’s pre-eminent fashion designers, who has worked with Campbell before. Elevating African fashion and its designers is a passion of Campbell’s, who has spent 33 years strutting down the catwalks of the world.

“My passion and drive is to see this continent of Africa be as great as it should be,” said Campbell.

The self-styled rebel, Naomi Campbell, was in Durban, South Africa to address leading women from across the continent and the world over.

Today marks the 44th celebration of International Women’s Day. The official date, March 8th, was recognised by the United Nations in 1975 and is a public holiday in many countries across the world.

“We should have more than just one international women’s day, because we do so much,” insisted Campbell.  As well as fine jewellery, Campbell wears many hats. She has spent over a decade working on charitable causes with organisations such as UNAIDS and says that other than empowering women’s health, making sure young girls are educated and self-reliance is very important to her.

Culled from CNBC Africa

STEPS TO MAKING

Massive Progress in your Business

Subscribe to get the free guide and learn step-by-step exactly what you need to achieve your goals.