Standard Chartered and Airtel Africa will work together to co-create new, innovative products aimed at enhancing the accessibility of financial services DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, August 13, 2020/ — Standard Chartered Bank and Airtel Africa have today announced a strategic collaboration to drive financial inclusion across key markets in Africa by providing customers with increased access to mobile financial services. …

In a move that promises to make sending and receiving cash easier, Ecobank has introduced cardless Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). The bank’s Xpress Cash enables users to withdraw cash from ATMs using only a mobile phone. “The solution is seamless, secure and is driven by the use of a code (e-token) by an account holder via the bank’s USSD code …

  Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s decision to choose Senator Kamala Harris, an African-American senator, as his running mate for the forthcoming US election has been lauded by former President Barack Obama. Biden served as vice president for eight years under Obama, the first Black US president. Harris (55), the first Black woman on a major presidential ticket in US …

A Berlin-based legal practitioner has warned Nigerians in Germany to be careful when procuring driving licence from their home country. He gave the advice while speaking with The African Courier, revealing that he was presently handling several cases involving fake driving licences from Nigeria which were submitted to the German authorities for recognition.

One of the media stories buzzing in Nigeria since it broke last week is that of a young woman abandoned by her husband because she and their two kids have blue eyes. Risikat Azeez, who lives in the central Nigerian state of Kwara, was dumped by her husband, Abdul-Wasiu Omo-Dada. The PUNCH, a daily newspaper, had reported in an exclusive …

Charles Negy, a professor at the University of Central Florida, caused a storm recently when he claimed that in a Twitter rant that “Black privilege is real”  and that people of African descent complaining of marginalisation in the United States should “stay in school”. A very short open letter to Charles Negy by Vienna-based writer and journalist Sarah Udoh-Grossfurther Dear …

The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun the process of restarting international flights. In a briefing on Thursday by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the PTF National Coordinator, Sani Aliyu, said approvals have been given for aviation authorities to commence the process for the resumption of international flights. Aliyu said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation …

The World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Office for Africa located in Brazzaville, Congo, says there are over one million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent. The UN health agency gave the update on its regional official Twitter account @WHOAFRO on Friday. WHO stated on its dashboard that “there are over 1,000,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – …

Since Saturday, 8 August, mandatory testing applies to those entering the country from coronavirus high-risk countries and regions. Here’s how it functions: —– To whom does the mandatory test apply? In principle, every person who has been in a high-risk area in the last 14 days before entering the Federal Republic of Germany must be tested for the coronavirus. This …

Our contributing editor Eleonore Wiedenroth-Coulibaly reviews a book that impressively explores the roots of German concepts about race and race relations and their impact on the German perception of people of African descent in the course of history —— Schwarze Deutsche. Der Diskurs um Rasse und nationale Identität 1890 – 1933 (Black Germany. A discussion about Race and National Identity) …

Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn has decided to make corona testing mandatory for people entering Germany. It will apply to all travellers entering Germany from high-risk areas from Saturday, 8 August. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s centre for disease control, lists the countries that are classified as high-risk areas on its website. The list of high-risk areas currently …

Robert Ajani*, scholar, journalist and former Associate Editor of The African Courier , looks at the roots of anti-African racism in the West and the supremacist logic that degrade and devalue Black people The notion that Black people are normal human beings is a relatively new discovery in the modern West. The idea of Black equality in beauty, culture and …

Arsenal football club is one of Europe’s topflight sides that has been a shadow of itself in the last few seasons, especially since the departure of their long-time manager Arsene Wenger. The departure of Wenger brought about the signing of former Villareal manager Unai Emery by the English side. Unai Emery inherited an Arsenal side who were Europa league finalists, …

The year 2020 for football fans would be unforgettable due to the delays and cancellations of leagues and competitions across the world. UEFA champions league was not left out of the affected tourney due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic that has affected every aspect of life. Now that the competition is back, it comes with some new changes …

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday unveiled the first vehicles assembled in Volkswagen’s new plant in Accra. “It is a good day for Mother Ghana. The Volkswagen assembly plant will create a lot of highly skilled jobs, reduce the high amounts of foreign exchange used in the importation of second-hand vehicles, and, thereby, help strengthen the Ghanaian currency, whilst, at …

Garden City is a new children’s book. It tells the story of Ama Tricie, a Black girl determined to change the world one idea at a time. After a series of ups and downs, she realises that all you need to do is to believe in yourself and everything else will fall in place. Have you heard that saying, “Children …

The South African-based supermarket chain Shoprite has announced its plan to exit Nigeria while reporting its business report on Monday (3 August) in Johannesburg.  Shoprite said the decision was made after “approaches from various potential investors, and in line with our re-evaluation of the Group’s operating model in Nigeria.” The company, Africa’s largest supermarket chain, said its business in Nigeria …

Kenya handled its first international flights on Saturday since they were suspended in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Rwanda on the same day reopened its airport for foreign travel. Kenya Airways’ first flight took off from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to London while RwandAir, the country’s flag carrier, restarted flights from Kigali International Airport to Dubai in …

The new month begins with a number of legislative changes that you should be aware of. From August 2020, not only corona tests will be mandatory for people returning to Germany from some countries, but there will also be more financial support for pupils, students and employees in further education and training. Moreover, there will be changes affecting government assistance …

“I’m used to not being German enough, living in this country, but not being African enough to represent Africa in Germany was a new one to me,” writes Jennifer Odusola, narrating the complexity of the experience of Germans of dual African-German heritage. — Thoughtless statements or comments that aren’t meant to ‘offend’ often have ways of exposing hidden conflicts regarding …