Author: Martin Mwita

Entering medical school in the USA is a dream for many aspiring healthcare professionals. However, before you can don that white coat and stethoscope, you must first navigate the rigorous medical school admission process, which often includes a crucial component: the admission interview.  In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about preparing for medical school admission interviews in the USA, from understanding the interview format to mastering common interview questions and presenting yourself as a strong candidate. Understanding the Medical School Admission Interview Before focusing on preparation tips, it’s essential to understand the purpose and format…

African Development Bank tells Japanese investors putting their money in the continent is profitable.  Japan’s Foreign Direct Investments in Africa declined from $10 billion in 2016 to just $4.7 billion in 2020 during Covid-19, before picking up to $6 billion in 2021.  According to AfDB, Africa accounts for only 0.003 percent of Japan’s $2 trillion global Foreign Direct Investments. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced during the TICAD 8 Summit in Tunis last year $30 billion for Africa, including support for startups. Africa is keen to increase Japanese investment in the continent, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has indicated amid…

The pioneering accelerator programme aims to grow insurance coverage among low-income consumers by investing in innovative solutions in nine African countries.    The expanded pan-African program is designed to support entrepreneurs in developing innovative solutions for the insurance sector.  It targets Insurtech (insurance technology) innovations from Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.   The expansion of BimaLab is supported by $500,000 financing from the Swiss Re Foundation. FSD Africa has partnered with the Swiss Re Foundation and the National Bank of Rwanda to launch BimaLab Africa Acceleration Programme to raise insurance uptake among low-income consumers in nine…

Project Management Institute’s recent Talent Gap report shows 2.3 million people will be needed each year to fill all project management-oriented (PMO) positions that are expected to open by 2030. To remain competitive, companies will need to hire problem solvers and relationship builders who can help drive change and deliver strategic value. During this decade, sub-Saharan Africa will witness a 40 percent growth in PMO employment opportunities. African economies could be headed to a severe shortage of skilled project managers to implement critical infrastructure investments across the continent. According to Project Management Institute’s most recent Talent Gap report, 2.3 million…

Competition for workers is rising significantly as populations age in rich and middle-income countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, people with tertiary education are 30 times more likely to emigrate than those who are less educated. This migration can aggravate a shortage of skilled workers to provide essential services such as health care. And since governments cannot prevent people from leaving, they need to expand the training capacity for such skills, experts say. Populations across the globe are aging at an unprecedented pace, turning many countries increasingly reliant on migration to realize their long-term growth potential, according to a…

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) data shows remittance inflows in March hit $357.0 million compared to $309.2 million in February, an increase of 15.5 percent. Kenyans living and working abroad sent home $349.4 million in January, with the February figure being the lowest receipt since July last year.  The cumulative inflows for the 12 months to March 2023 totaled $4 billion compared to $3.9 billion in a similar period in 2022. Kenyans in the diaspora sent home more money in the month of March compared to February and January, defying inflationary pressures being felt by households across the globe. Central…

The GSMA’s State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2023 shows adoption rates are even more significant than expected. Registered accounts, transaction values, and deployments exceeded industry predictions.  In 2022, daily transactions via mobile money reached $3.45 billion, exceeding the $3 billion amount predicted in 2021. Total transaction value for mobile money grew by an incredible 22 percent between 2021 and 2022, from $1 trillion to around $1.26 trillion.   Mobile money services are growing faster than predicted around the globe, as digital services continue to rise in popularity, according to the GSMA’s annual State of the Industry Report…

South Africa has adopted a number of measures aimed at boosting the country’s critical mineral industry. In January 2023, mining production experienced its twelfth consecutive month-to-month decline, recording a decrease of 1.9 per cent. According to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe, the industry needs to advance a commitment to working together as stakeholders on the reconstruction and recovery of the mining industry. South Africa’s vast reserves of critical minerals present a huge opportunity for the country to accelerate economic growth and boost employment creation, while ensuring the energy transition is just and inclusive. Statistics South Africa…

President William Ruto is seen to be leaning more towards the West as opposed to his predecessor and former boss Uhuru Kenyatta, who had built a strong relationship with Asian countries. During Mr Kenyatta’s 10-years rule, China became a major financier and developer of key projects among them the $3.6 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). China and India have also been dominating the country’s trade as the Asian market accounts for 65.7 per cent of Kenya’s total import bill. Since coming into office in September last year, Kenya’s fifth President William Ruto has been keen on building and expanding alliances…

The World Bank data shows remittances by Africans in the diaspora hit over $95.6 billion in 2021 with Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya among the highest recipients of the inflows. Africa has a housing deficit of about 56 million units driven largely by urbanization and population growth, which has left governments struggling to meet the demand for affordable units. Many of the 40,000 people moving to African cities every day cannot afford basic formal housing or access loans to acquire homes. Pan African housing development financier, Shelter Afrique, is targeting Africans living and working abroad to enhance the delivery of affordable housing…