… Reinforces dominance in industrial, social impact and development rankings

June 8, 2026/Dangote Group

Dangote Industries Limited has reinforced its position as Africa’s most influential corporate brands after emerging as the continent’s Most Admired African Brand for the eight consecutive years, while its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, was named among Africa’s 100 Most Influential Chief Marketing Officers.

The recognition was announced at the 16th annual Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands rankings unveiled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The survey, regarded as Africa’s most comprehensive consumer-led brand study, covered 30 countries representing more than 85 per cent of the continent’s population and economic output.

In the latest rankings, Dangote emerged as Africa’s Most Admired Brand in aided recall, ahead of South Africa’s MTN and Vodacom. In the spontaneous recall category, it ranked second among African brands, behind MTN and ahead of Trade Kings. The Group also retained its position as Africa’s Most Admired Industrial Brand and was ranked the No. 1 African Brand Contributing to a Better Africa, ahead of MTN, DStv, Shoprite/Checkers and Trade Kings, reflecting its significant contribution to industrialisation, job creation, economic development and sustainable growth across the continent.

The rankings show Dangote’s growing influence as one of Africa’s most recognisable corporate brands, built on investments spanning cement, fertiliser, petrochemicals, energy, sugar, salt, packaging and logistics. Brand Africa noted that despite a modest rebound in African brand recognition, homegrown brands still account for only 15 per cent of Africa’s 100 most admired brands, highlighting the continued dominance of foreign brands across the continent.

Brand Africa Founder and Chairman, Thebe Ikalafeng, described the promotion and support of African brands as a critical economic imperative for the continent.

“Converting goodwill towards African contribution into admiration for African brands is the most urgent commercial opportunity for the continent. It is not enough for Africans to believe in Africa, they must buy Made-in-Africa,” he said.

The survey also ranked Dangote among Africa’s leading brands in sustainability and social impact, placing second in the category of brands recognised for doing good for society, people and the environment.

Despite the dominance of global brands across Africa, Dangote has cemented its position as one of the continent’s leading corporate brands, alongside MTN and Ethiopian Airlines. The three emerged as the highest ranked African brands in the 2026 Brand Africa rankings, standing out on a list dominated by global names such as Nike, Adidas, Samsung, Apple and Coca-Cola. The achievement is notable given that African brands accounted for just 15 per cent of the Top 100 rankings, compared with 38 per cent for European brands, 28 per cent for North American brands and 19 per cent for Asian brands.

Further strengthening the Group’s standing, its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, was selected for the inaugural Africa CMO 100 (ACMO100) list, which recognises the continent’s most impactful marketing, brand and reputation leaders.

The ACMO100 initiative, launched by Brand Africa in partnership with African Business magazine, MIPAD and the African Media Agency, honours marketing executives whose work is shaping Africa’s business narrative, strengthening brand equity and driving economic growth across the continent and the diaspora.

Chiejina was among only 20 executives selected from West Africa and one of 17 Nigerians recognised for their contribution to brand building, corporate reputation management and strategic communications.

According to Brand Africa, the selection process was based on independent research, industry impact, leadership influence and contribution to the growth of brands that shape consumer perceptions and economic outcomes across Africa.

The latest recognition adds to a growing list of honours for Dangote Industries, which was inducted into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame last year for consistently ranking among Africa’s most admired brands over more than a decade. Its President and Chief Executive, Aliko Dangote, was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for championing industrialisation and building one of Africa’s most successful indigenous enterprises.

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May 21, 2026/Truecaller

Truecaller, the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication, today launched travel eSIM. The launch marks Truecaller’s move into mobile data services, broadening the platform beyond caller ID and spam protection, and for the first time adding digital consumables to the portfolio.

500 million people already trust Truecaller with their daily communication. Travel eSIM extends that relationship to international travel – a category where users routinely overpay for connectivity or arrive at their destination disconnected. 

Travel eSIM is a fully digital mobile data service that activates in minutes and offers plans from 1 GB over 7 days to 20 GB over 30 days. Customers can buy travel eSIM in 29 markets at launch, through the Truecaller iPhone app or on the web at Truecaller.com. The web opens the product to compatible Android devices from day one. Coverage works globally, so travelers buy at home and stay connected wherever they go.

Fredrik Kjell, COO at Truecaller, says: “I am delighted that Truecaller is launching an eSIM travel data product for our users. Truecaller is a trusted communications brand worldwide, and with our scale, we can offer a great product at a competitive price. We are rolling this out on our iPhone app and the web channel, and look forward to expanding on our Android app and adding support for additional markets. Today marks the first step in offering adjacent communication products to our massive user base.”

Travel eSIM is currently available to purchase in: Italy, Sweden, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Finland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria.

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This large-scale operation, supported by Galite, BOAD’s structuring advisor, aims to institutionalize local currency financing as a cornerstone of regional development in West Africa

May 15, 2026/BOAD

To help boost local currency financing, private sector growth, and job creation across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the signing of two reciprocal financing facilities for an aggregate amount of up to EUR 600 million in euro (EUR) and West African CFA franc (XOF).

Under the partnership, signed on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, IFC will provide BOAD with long-term EUR funding to help the bank expand lending across energy, agribusiness, transport, urban development, and MSMEs across the WAEMU, in line with BOAD’s 2026-2030 Strategic plan “Djoliba….La suite”. In return, BOAD will provide IFC with a flexible XOF facility to support cost-efficient, long-term local currency financing for high-impact, job-creating projects in the region.

This large-scale operation, supported by Galite, BOAD’s structuring advisor, aims to institutionalize local currency financing as a cornerstone of regional development in West Africa

“This landmark transaction with BOAD represents IFC’s first-ever reciprocal facility between development finance institutions and will support the expansion of BOAD’s private-sector lending across WAEMU. It will also broaden IFC’s sources of long-term local-currency financing at competitive cost, benefiting projects while advancing regional growth and job creation. Above all, it underscores the strength of our partnership and our shared capacity to deliver effective financial solutions at scale in support of IFC’s 2030 ambitions,” said Makhtar Diop, IFC’s Managing Director.

“Strengthening access to long-term local currency financing is a core priority of the “Djoliba…La suite” 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. Our collaboration with IFC enhances our capacity to serve the private sector across all eight member states. This operation reflects our shared ambition to deepen cooperation between development finance institutions to support sustainable and inclusive growth in West Africa,” said Serge Ekué, President of BOAD.

In the WAEMU region, bank lending remains predominantly short-term, limiting the availability of long-term financing for infrastructure and other key transformational investments in various sectors. As most private sector borrowers generate revenues in XOF, local-currency financing is essential to mitigate foreign-exchange risk. 

By optimizing resource mobilization, this reciprocal structure aligns the long-term objectives of both institutions with WAEMU’s financing needs. It will deepen local markets by strengthening the XOF market and expanding diversified, resilient funding options for West African companies, while also supporting macroeconomic resilience by helping preserve the stability of foreign-exchange reserves across the WAEMU region.

IFC and BOAD have a strong track record of collaboration in the WAEMU region, including joint financing in key growth sectors such as housing, MSME finance, digital, and infrastructure.

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