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Liquid Eyes Africa’s Largest Tech Markets After $250-Million Boost from IFC

Strive Masiyiwa, Liquid Intelligent Technologies Executive Chairman and Founder with Makhtar Diop, IFC’s Managing Director. The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a new partnership with South African tech group Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid) to expand data center capacity and the rollout of fiber-optic cable across the continent. IFC’s equity and debt investments in Liquid, which to date total approximately $250-million, will support the company to grow its hyperscale data center capacity in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa through its subsidiary, Africa Data Centres. The partnership with Liquid, one of Africa’s leading independent fiber and digital services providers, aims “to increase digital connectivity and inclusion in Africa and ...

Coronavirus: Kwara governor urges resident to remain vigilant

The Kwara State Government has urged citizens of the state to remain vigilant and protect themselves against Covid-19 infection despite the government’s success in containing the disease. The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, expressed this yesterday while receiving the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Committee. Represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, the Governor said Covid – 19 has wreaked havoc in the world but had been contained by State Government’s proactive intervention and public support. AbdulRazaq applauded the Federal Government’s NG CARES Initiative for prioritising the vulnerable and cushioning the effect of Covid – 19 by supporting each state with 20 Million Dollars in World Bank Group grants. The Governor assured Kwarans of proper use o...

IMF, World Bank urge G7 to release surplus vaccines

The heads of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank on Thursday urged the Group of Seven advanced economies to release any excess COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries as soon as possible, and called on manufacturers to ramp up production. In a joint statement to the G7, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass also called on governments, pharmaceutical companies and groups involved in vaccine procurement to boost transparency about contracting, financing and deliveries. “Distributing vaccines more widely is both an urgent economic necessity and a moral imperative,” they said. “The coronavirus pandemic will not end until everyone has access to vaccines, including people in developing countries.” Malpass and Georgieva will meet in person ...

World Bank: Pandemic to push over 115 million people into extreme poverty

A report by the World Bank has noted that over the past 12 months, the Covid-19 pandemic has harmed the poor and vulnerable the most, and it is threatening to push millions more into poverty. This year, the World Bank said, after decades of steady progress in reducing the number of people living on less than $1.90/day, COVID-19 will usher in the first reversal in the fight against extreme poverty in a generation. The report said the latest analysis warns that COVID-19 has pushed an additional 88 million people into extreme poverty this year – and that figure is just a baseline. “In a worst-case scenario, the figure could be as high as 115 million. The World Bank Group forecasts that the largest share of the ‘new poor will be in South Asia, with Sub-Saharan Africa close behind. ddAccording ...