Johnny Razack has been appointed chairman of Cameroon’s National Investment Company (SNI), following a presidential decree signed on April 25. The 52-year-old senior civil servant takes over from Geoffroy Désiré Mbock, who held the position for five years.

The SNI acts as the government's main investment vehicle, holding stakes in companies and helping create new businesses. Razack's nomination comes at a turning point for the institution, which was restructured last year to take on a stronger role in shaping the country’s economic and industrial strategy.

Before his appointment, Razack served as Secretary General at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, a position he had held since December 22, 2015. Over his career, he also managed government correspondence at the Prime Minister’s Office and spent several years overseeing union matters. He began his career at the Ministry of Economy in 2005 as acting head of personnel services.

Razack brings with him a solid academic background. He is a graduate of ENA Paris, part of the 2002–2004 “Léopold Senghor” cohort, which also included French President Emmanuel Macron. He also graduated from Cameroon’s ENAM in Yaoundé, class of 1998–2000, the same year as Health Minister Malachie Manaouda. A committed member of the ruling RDPC party, he also serves as a mission officer at the party’s central committee. He hails from Bénoué in the North region.

A fellow RDPC member commented that Razack’s appointment “shows the President’s trust in loyal, capable profiles to manage key pillars of the national economy.”

His nomination follows the recent reshuffle of the SNI’s board of directors. Eleven members were appointed, including Gwendoline Abunaw, Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon, and Célestin Tawamba, head of the country’s main business federation GECAM. They represent the banking and private sector, respectively.

This move is part of a broader overhaul of the SNI, initiated by President Paul Biya on July 10, 2024. The reform transformed the SNI into a public capital company with a sharper focus on investment planning. Under the new structure, SNI now plays a dual role: as a government investor and as a consulting and research body. It is fully owned by the state.

The company’s capital was raised to CFA200 billion, to be released gradually over four years. The goal is to turn the SNI into a true investment holding. Plans are already underway to open its subsidiaries to new public and private shareholders. The strategy aims to better manage the state’s holdings and help build strong national companies.

The SNI’s new responsibilities are extensive. It will now screen industrial projects from the private sector by issuing financial and economic viability clearances before the state can step in. It will also assess public companies by conducting audits, performance reviews, and diagnostics. In addition, it will help prepare and monitor performance contracts between the state and these firms.

On top of that, the SNI will now handle venture capital and private equity activities, as well as act as a stock market intermediary and asset manager.

Razack’s appointment comes with big expectations. While he is seen as a trusted and well-connected civil servant with political weight and administrative experience, some in the business community question whether he has the hands-on experience needed to run an institution now tasked with high-stakes investment operations. Others are confident that his background and network could serve him well in navigating this new chapter.

Bobo Makunda Sefekese is the new Deputy Managing Director of Sofibanque, a leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The lender announced Sefekese’s appointment on March 4. He holds the same position as Louis-Odilon Alaguillaume, appointed in April 2022. 

However, Sefekese will oversee the implementation of the bank’s business continuity plan, approved by its Board of Directors in October 2023, which ensures operational resilience during crises. The plan includes an IT backup strategy to maintain technical and service availability, a critical focus given the DRC’s volatile security and economic landscape.

Sefekese’s appointment aligns with his expertise in risk management and digital transformation. Holding master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Namur and financial risk management from Université Saint-Louis de Bruxelles, he brings over 20 years of experience in banking and insurance, including roles as Director of Information Systems at Equity BCDC and Director of Organization and IT at Banque Commerciale du Congo. His background positions him to address challenges like cybersecurity and fintech integration, areas increasingly vital as digital banking expands in the DRC.

Sefekese will collaborate with Managing Director Henry Yoan Wazne, who has led Sofibanque since 2012. According to the bank’s 2023 report, Deputing MDs help the MD supervise operations, streamline processes, and execute strategic projects. Sofibanque should leverage the expertise of its new Deputy MD to better contribute to the digitization of banking services and fintechs’ emergence in the DRC. 

In 2023, Sofibanque was the country’s top sixth bank, with $964 million in total assets. Expanding its management underscores the bank’s commitment to stability and innovation amid regional uncertainties. 

This article was initially in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Minister of Higher Education Jacques Fame Ndongo, on April 29 presented Professor Abdon Atangana with a congratulatory letter from President Paul Biya for his distinguished election to the esteemed World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). In the letter, dated March 25, Biya noted that the numerous honorary distinctions awarded to Atangana in the field of industrial and applied mathematics underscore the recognition of his "immense qualities" by his peers.

This international recognition highlights and further elevates Atangana's exceptional scientific career. For President Biya, this "magnificent journey is a source of pride for the youth, the Cameroonian education system, and the entire nation."

It's worth noting that Atangana, who completed part of his education in Cameroon, was the world's most cited mathematician in 2017 based on his scientific contributions. In 2019, Stanford University ranked him as the second-best mathematician globally. In both 2019 and 2020, the native of Elig-Mfomo in the Lékié region appeared on Clarivate Web of Science's global list of top scientists. And this list of accolades is far from exhaustive. In 2022, at the age of 37, he became the inaugural recipient of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the promotion of young scientists in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Atangana is the first mathematician to receive the TWAS Mohammad A. Hamdan Prize, awarded by the World Academy of Sciences, which recognizes outstanding mathematical work by a scientist working and residing in Africa or the Arab region.

The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), which the Cameroonian scholar has recently joined, is an autonomous international organization founded in Trieste, Italy, in 1983 by a group of prominent scientists led by Pakistani Nobel laureate Abdus Salam. It was officially launched in 1985 by the then-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

TWAS membership comprises Fellows and Associate Fellows, chosen from the most distinguished scientists worldwide. Fellows are elected from citizens of the Global South; Associate Fellows are elected from citizens of the Global North who were born in the South or have made significant contributions to the advancement of science in the South. TWAS currently has 584 members.

Thierry Christophe Yamb 

AstraZeneca, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical brands, bought his company two weeks ago. Jean-Pierre Latere is his name, and his startup, EsoBiotec, was purchased by the British giant. Latere, a Congolese-born Belgian scientist, founded EsoBiotec in 2020 in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium. The deal with AstraZeneca is valued at one billion dollars. 

Under the deal, the behemoth will make an upfront payment of $425 million and potential future payments of $575 million tied to performance milestones. AstraZeneca's substantial investment hinges on EsoBiotec's groundbreaking in vivo cell therapy technology, which aims to simplify cancer treatment to a single injection, dramatically reducing costs and expanding patient access.

From Lubumbashi to the World

Latere's journey from Lubumbashi to the forefront of biotechnology innovation is a testament to perseverance and scientific ingenuity. After growing up in Kinshasa and attending the prestigious Boboto High School, Latere left his home country at 18, in 1994. He went on to Belgium, where he earned a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the University of Liège. He subsequently completed postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan.

His career path led him through Johnson & Johnson and Celyad Oncology, where he honed his expertise in cellular therapies. Motivated by personal experience with cancer in his family, Latere founded EsoBiotec to address the limitations of existing CAR-T cell therapies, which are effective but time-consuming and expensive.

EsoBiotec's Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. By leveraging the patient's body as its own cellular factory, the technology eliminates the need for complex ex vivo cell manipulation, potentially slashing treatment times from weeks to days and significantly reducing costs.

Six Years to Launch

EsoBiotec's Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. By leveraging the patient's body as its own cellular factory, the technology eliminates the need for complex ex vivo cell manipulation, potentially slashing treatment times from weeks to days and significantly reducing costs.

With the first patient treated in December 2024 and "exceptional" results published in January, EsoBiotec caught the attention of pharmaceutical giants. The AstraZeneca acquisition now positions Latere's innovation for rapid development and commercialization, with the first product expected to reach the market within five to six years.

Pierre Mukoko and Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

An entrepreneur active in various ventures across Southern Africa, he aims to enhance the quality of road transport services via his platform, myRunner.

Zimbabwean entrepreneur Vusumuzi Mkhwananzi (pictured) is the co-founder and chief executive officer of myRunner, a tech firm focused on simplifying and enhancing the safety of bus travel.

Established in 2017 by Mkhwananzi, Josiah Mahachi, Millcent Mkhwananzi, Gift Chirinda, and Mandla Ncube, myRunner operates as a ticketing platform enabling users to book bus journeys across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and several other African nations at any time. The platform incorporates advanced features such as real-time bus tracking and fleet management tools for operators.

The startup also aims to streamline cross-border and domestic transport for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing a range of services including an electronic wallet, online marketplace, transport and freight brokerage, grocery delivery, and digital services. Additionally, it assists businesses in more effectively managing their online commercial activities.

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Mkhwananzi serves on the board of directors for the Brussels-based operational center of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Prior to launching myRunner, he co-founded Global Simcards International in 2012, a company specializing in business development and operational management, where he held a board position until 2024.

Mkhwananzi earned a master's degree in business administration from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Italy in 2020.

myRunner garnered recognition as the top startup in Zimbabwe at Seedstars Harare in 2017. The company received the Total Startupper of the Year award in 2018 and was nominated to represent Zimbabwe at the Southern Africa Startup Awards. In 2024, myRunner was among 42 African startups selected to join the inaugural cohort of the Timbuktoo Fintech Hub, a collaborative initiative between African countries and the United Nations Development Programme.

By Melchior Koba,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji

Between 2023 and 2025, the Mboa Paris fair, in partnership with the JFN Center, trained thirty young Cameroonians in entrepreneurship, applied innovation, and digital transformation. The announcement was made on April 26, 2025, in Douala by Fatimatou Ousmanou, president of the Mboa Paris association, during a press conference ahead of the event’s third edition.

Mboa Paris is not just a trade fair. It is the first annual business and cultural event designed to connect and unite Cameroonian talent from the diaspora. The upcoming edition will take place from May 28 to 31, 2025, in Paris.

The thirty participants were trained in cloud computing at the JFN Center in Douala, a tech hub created by Cameroonian banker Alphonse Nanfack. His goal: to raise the bar in innovation and tech education across the country. Thanks to financial support from Mboa Paris, the trainees are now either employed in companies or running their own entrepreneurial ventures.

“These training programs open real doors for young people,” said Ousmanou. “They create jobs, and they also empower young people to create jobs themselves. That has a real impact on the economy.”

Looking ahead, she said Mboa Paris plans to scale up these training efforts through new partnerships, aiming to expand both the job market and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cameroon. “This fair is a space for talent, ideas, and experience—a platform to push Cameroon forward,” she added.

This push comes at a time when the financial contribution of the diaspora is growing. In 2022, remittances from Cameroonians abroad reached CFA221 billion, a 5% increase from the year before, according to a World Bank report.

The third edition of Mboa Paris will focus on turning this financial, intellectual, and entrepreneurial capital into high-impact development projects back home. The event will feature discussions on practical mechanisms to better direct these flows for long-term growth.

The University of Lomé (UL) plans to launch a business language centre and a business school to better connect university training with the private sector. UL President Adama Kpodar and Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT) President José Syménouh discussed these projects on May 7, 2025.

The Chamber of Commerce aims to align university skills with job market needs amid Togo’s economic transformation and growing international ties. The business language centre will offer foreign language training, focusing on English and Chinese, for students, young professionals, and economic operators.

The courses will target practical skills in trade, negotiation, international cooperation, and business relations. The goal is to help local economic players integrate into international trade and boost their global competitiveness.

The planned business school will emphasize practical and innovative programs. It will offer courses in management, finance, international trade, and digital transformation, including internships and professional immersion. Project leaders want to train entrepreneurs and managers with operational skills to support Togo’s economic changes.

Officials expect to sign a memorandum of understanding soon. They say this agreement will mark a major step in reforming higher education in Togo. UL and the Chamber of Commerce reaffirm their commitment to building an economy based on 

knowledge, innovation, and skills.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Togolese Ministry of Trade held a two-day training session on May 6- 7 for about 40 licensed customs agents on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its operational mechanisms. The event aimed to prepare key trade intermediaries to implement the agreement’s provisions effectively.

Participants represented professional bodies including the Union professionnelle des commissionnaires agréés en douane (UPRAD), the Association des commissionnaires agréés en douane (ACAD), and the CONVERGENCE grouping. 

The trainers covered the AfCFTA rules of origin, required commercial documents, and Togo’s tariff concessions list. They also explained additional codes used under the continental agreements to classify different trade categories.

The ministry said the training sought to enhance participants’ technical knowledge and raise awareness of opportunities from the gradual liberalization of intra-African trade.

The AfCFTA, launched under the African Union in 2021, aims to create a single market for goods and services across Africa. Togo supports the initiative and is working to improve the competitiveness of its businesses and expand their access to regional markets through capacity-building efforts.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Algeria's ENIE plans to produce 2 million tablets in 2025 to equip 8,800 educational institutions
• The initiative aims to reduce schoolbag weight and enhance education quality through digital tools.
• ENIE has not announced when production will start, raising concerns about meeting the September 2025 deadline.

Algeria's National Electronic Industries Company (ENIE) aims to manufacture two million electronic tablets in 2025 for distribution to 8,800 educational institutions, the company's Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Abbes Bourassi announced on Wednesday. Speaking to the Algeria Press Service (APS) during the reopening of ENIE's showroom in Algiers, Bourassi detailed the ambitious production target.

This initiative is anticipated to bolster the government's goal of expanding the use of information and communication technologies within the national education system. The government has outlined plans to equip half of the country's primary schools with electronic tablets for the upcoming academic year. These devices are envisioned for use in school administration and are also expected to streamline access to online educational materials, research, learning tools, and communication channels for both students and educators.

In remarks carried by APS, Minister of National Education Mohammed Seghir Sadaoui stated that the project intends to "reduce the weight of students' schoolbags, but more importantly, to enhance schooling conditions and the quality of education, aligning them with digital advancements." The Algerian government's ultimate vision is to transform Algerian schools into a benchmark for modernization and innovation through the integration of digital tools. To this end, digital platforms have been implemented for various stakeholders, including teachers and parents, skills assessment, and appointment scheduling for diploma verification.

ENIE has yet to release a precise schedule for the commencement of electronic tablet production. This lack of a specific timeline raises concerns regarding the company's capacity to deliver the devices by the start of the September 2025 school year, in accordance with the government's stated commitments.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji

Ghana’s Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation will train 3,000 girls this year through its Girls-In-ICT Initiative, expanding in-person sessions to the Volta, Upper East, and Upper West regions, with 1,000 participants in each.

Participants will receive training in coding, computer literacy, cybersecurity, and digital creativity, along with mentorship, career workshops, and ICT competitions designed to build skills and confidence.

Launched in Ghana in 2012, the Girls-In-ICT Initiative—supported by the International Telecommunication Union—aims to inspire girls to pursue careers in STEM and support Ghana’s broader push for digital inclusion.