<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Food recalls in 2023 reached the highest levels the U.S. has recorded since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly driven by undisclosed allergens and listeria contamination, according to a new report released Thursday.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Some 313 food recalls (impacting products that were still on sale) and alerts (involving products no longer on sale, but may be in consumers’ homes) were announced last year by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an 8% increase from 2022 and the highest number since the COVID pandemic began in 2020, according to a report released Thursday by the nonprofit U.S. Public Research Interest Group Education Fund.



Contaminated food resulted in six deaths and over 1,100 illnesses last year, though the researchers suspect there were more illnesses since most people recover from food poisoning without medical attention.



The most commonly recalled food items in 2023 were snacks like cookies and granola bars, which accounted for one in five recalls, though other commonly recalled foods included fruit—mainly cantaloupes—beef, soup, salads and greens, poultry, cheese, vegetables, supplements and pet food, according to the report.



Almost half of all recalls (49.3%) in 2023 were related to allergens undeclared on packaging, while other major reasons for recalls were listeria contamination (15%), salmonella contamination (8.6%) and uninspected products (6.1%).



This uptick in undisclosed allergen cases was partially driven by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/allergic-sesame-food-labels-now-must-list-sesame-allergen#:~:text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202023%2C%20sesame%20is%20required%20to%20be,milk" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">inclusion</a>&nbsp;of sesame—which accounted for 39% of the increase—as a required disclosed allergen, a rule that began in January 2023.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-5-biggest-food-recalls-of-2024-so-far">WHAT ARE THE 5 BIGGEST FOOD RECALLS OF 2024 SO FAR?</h2>



<ul>
<li>Dairy products: An investigation into a “multi-year, multistate” <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/08/costco-trader-joes-walmart-recall-dairy-products-over-listeria-outbreak-what-to-know/?sh=7902e28a47f5">listeria outbreak</a> was reopened after listeria was found in several food products containing dairy like queso fresco and cotija cheese. This outbreak includes cases dating back to 2014, and the FDA investigated it in 2017 and 2021, though it couldn’t link a specific brand to the outbreak. The most recent investigation was reopened in January, and manufacturer Rizo-Lopez Foods voluntarily recalled around <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/176015/download?attachment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">60</a> dairy products. Major retailers like Walmart, Costco and Trader Joe’s recalled products including salad and taco kits due to potential contamination. As of April 9, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-queso-fresco-and-cotija-cheese-february-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> the outbreak is over. The agencies said there were 26 cases, 23 hospitalizations and two deaths across 11 states.</li>



<li>Trader Joe’s Dumplings: Over 61,000 pounds of Trader Joe’s steamed chicken soup dumplings were recalled in March due to potential hard plastic contamination from a permanent marker. The products were voluntarily recalled by manufacturer CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corporation, <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/cj-foods-manufacturing-beaumont-corporation-recalls-trader-joes-chicken-soup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a> to the USDA. The problem was discovered after customers submitted complaints of hard plastics in their dumplings, though no adverse reactions were reported.</li>



<li>Ground cinnamon: The FDA issued an <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alert</a> in March warning it found unsafe levels of lead in six ground cinnamon products. These products were sold in discount stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar across several states. This recall came after the FDA investigated the recall of lead-tainted <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/07/lead-poisoned-applesauce-ecuadorian-cinnamon-processor-likely-source-behind-recalled-pouches-fda-says/?sh=27a6e3082618">cinnamon applesauces</a> in 2023 that led to over 500 reports of adverse events in children.</li>



<li>Trader Joe’s cashews: Wenders LLC, the manufacturer of the nuts, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/03/18/trader-joes-cashews-recall-product-pulled-in-16-states-over-salmonella-concerns/?sh=3ac5e89e58d4">recalled</a> four lots of Trader Joe’s 50% Less Sodium Roasted &amp; Salted Whole Cashews in March due to potential salmonella contamination. Though no illnesses have been reported, the potentially contaminated nuts were sold in 16 states.</li>



<li>Quaker Oats products: Quaker Oats <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-products-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expanded</a> its list of recalled products in January after it recalled several in December due to possible salmonella contamination. This expanded list included over 20 granola, protein and cereal bars, cereals, instant oatmeals and snack mixes sold in all 50 states. However, no adverse events have been reported.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



48 million. That’s how many Americans the CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/2011-foodborne-estimates.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;get sick annually due to foodborne disease, totaling one out of six Americans. Out of that number, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Food gets recalled in one of four ways, according to the report. One way is consumers get sick, seek medical attention and then local officials or the CDC test fluids and trace an outbreak to a specific food item; another is consumers file a complaint with companies or regulators; a third is local, state or federal officials discover an issue through investigations or routine surveillance; and the other method is by companies self-reporting a problem after testing. The FDA regulates around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/143704/download" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">78%</a>&nbsp;of the country’s food supply, and its oversight includes everything except meat, poultry and some fish and eggs products, which are regulated by the USDA. The FDA was behind 224 recalls in 2023, while the USDA accounted for 89, according to the report. Although the number of recalls via the FDA were virtually unchanged, the number of USDA recalls increased by 31% in 2023 compared with 2022—the highest levels since 2019.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/08/costco-trader-joes-walmart-recall-dairy-products-over-listeria-outbreak-what-to-know/?sh=7902e28a47f5">Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart Recall Dairy Products Over Listeria Outbreak—What To Know</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/07/lead-poisoned-applesauce-ecuadorian-cinnamon-processor-likely-source-behind-recalled-pouches-fda-says/?sh=27a6e3082618">Lead-Poisoned Applesauce: Ecuadorian Cinnamon Processor ‘Likely Source’ Behind Recalled Pouches, FDA Says</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/03/18/trader-joes-cashews-recall-product-pulled-in-16-states-over-salmonella-concerns/?sh=3ac5e89e58d4">Trader Joe’s Cashews Recall: Product Pulled In 16 States Over Salmonella Concerns</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

A Safeway Grocery Store Ahead Of Alberston’s Earnings Figures

2023 Had Most Food Recalls Since Start Of COVID-19 Pandemic, Report Finds

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Surgeons at NYU Langone Health&nbsp;<a href="https://nyulangone.org/news/first-ever-combined-heart-pump-gene-edited-pig-kidney-transplant-gives-new-hope-patient-terminal-illness" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;Wednesday they completed the world’s first successful combined heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney transplant surgeries on a 54-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease, a landmark procedure that closely follows the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/03/21/worlds-first-pig-kidney-transplant-given-to-massachusetts-man/?sh=6ec06fec4052">first successful transplant</a>&nbsp;of a pig kidney in late March.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Lisa Pisano, a 54-year-old woman from New Jersey, was facing heart failure and undergoing routine dialysis for end-stage kidney disease—but was not eligible for heart or kidney transplants given the reduced likelihood of success due to several chronic illnesses, NYU Langone Health&nbsp;<a href="https://nyulangone.org/news/first-ever-combined-heart-pump-gene-edited-pig-kidney-transplant-gives-new-hope-patient-terminal-illness" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>.



The hospital said Pisano was matched to a gene-edited kidney of a pig with an attached thymus from United Therapeutics Corp., called a “<a href="https://ir.unither.com/press-releases/2024/04-24-2024-140050479" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">UThymoKidney</a>.”



Pisano underwent the two procedures over the course of nine days in early April, according to a press release, the first of which involved implanting a heart pump, dubbed a&nbsp;<a href="https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/l/lvad.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">left ventricular assist device</a>, and the second being a xenotransplant of the pig kidney on April 12.



NYU Langone Health cardiac surgeon Dr. Nader Moazami said in a statement Pisano would not have been eligible for an LVAD without a kidney transplant due to “high mortality in patients on dialysis with heart pumps,” going on to say: “This unique approach is the first time in the world that LVAD surgery has been done on a dialysis patient with a subsequent plan to transplant a kidney.”



Pisano is currently recovering in the ICU and is expected to have at least a month of rehabilitation before she can potentially be discharged, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/24/health/combined-heart-pump-pig-kidney-transplant/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN</a>, and transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/24/1246577224/gene-edited-pig-kidney-transplant-nyu" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NPR</a>&nbsp;Pisano may need several months of rehabilitation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



Surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/03/21/worlds-first-pig-kidney-transplant-given-to-massachusetts-man/?sh=6ec06fec4052">announced</a>&nbsp;in late March that the world’s first successful transplant of a kidney was completed on a 62-year-old male patient suffering from end-stage kidney disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



More than 89,000. That’s the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">number of people</a>&nbsp;on the national transplant waiting list who are in need of a kidney as of March, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. More than 103,000 people are on the national organ transplant waiting list.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



NYU Langone Health&nbsp;<a href="https://nyulangone.org/news/progress-xenotransplantation-opens-door-new-supply-critically-needed-organs" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">completed</a>&nbsp;the first experimental transplant of a pig kidney on a brain-dead patient in September 2021.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<a href="https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/xenotransplantation" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Xenotransplantation</a>&nbsp;refers to any procedure involving the “transplantation, implantation or infusion” of non-human organs, tissues or cells, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It has become more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2024/january/first-successful-external-liver-perfusion-using-a-porcine-liver" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">frequently&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/25/health/pig-transplant-drugs-study/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">studied</a>&nbsp;as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/30/health/pig-organ-transplant-xenotransplantation/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">need for organs grows</a>. The procedure is not currently approved by the FDA, but it is allowed under the agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/30/health/pig-organ-transplant-xenotransplantation/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">expanded access</a>, or “compassionate use,” pathway, which allows patients to seek out experimental treatments under certain conditions, such as life-threatening issues.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Seventeen people</a>&nbsp;die each day while waiting for an organ, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, and a new person is added to the national transplant waiting list every eight minutes. Given the increasing need for organs, doctors hope that xenotransplants will become an alternative to human organs to&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.bio.org/articles/xenotransplantation-benefits-and-risks-special-organ-transplantation#:~:text=While%20still%20in%20the%20experimental,heart%20disease%20and%20kidney%20failure." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">save more lives</a>&nbsp;while also improving&nbsp;<a href="http://i/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">patient quality</a>&nbsp;of life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/03/21/worlds-first-pig-kidney-transplant-given-to-massachusetts-man/?sh=6ec06fec4052">World’s First Pig Kidney Transplant Given To Massachusetts Man</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/09/22/doctors-transplant-pig-heart-into-dying-man-only-the-second-time-its-ever-been-done/?sh=2ae089123fd2">Doctors Transplant Pig Heart Into Dying Man—Only The Second Time It’s Ever Been Done&nbsp;</a>(Forbes)

Obesity surgery, Gastric Bypass surgery surgical instrument table and instruments

Surgeons Perform World’s First Combined Heart Pump And Pig Kidney Transplant—Latest Breakthrough Involving Pig Organ

January 2024. Deloitte Canada signed an agreement with Canada Post as its outsourced IT service provider. Vodafone signed a 10-year deal with Microsoft. Eviden signed a $2.8 billion five-year agreement, also with Microsoft. Welcome to the coming of age of IT outsourcing as companies fill the gaps in talent, tech and growth with service providers that can meet their varied demands. According to Gartner, the growth in IT services spend will see it become the largest segment of IT spend for the first time at 8.7% and $1.5 trillion. &nbsp;



This change in spend and focus is also changing the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Always a strategic and skilled thinker with one foot in the future, the CIO’s value proposition is shifting to become more that of the conductor of a vast IT orchestra of commoditized services, support and talent.



“With technology advancing at speed, the increasing demands on robust cybersecurity, and the cost-cutting demands that come with operating in Africa, outsourcing is definitely gaining traction on the continent,” says Michélle Janse van Rensburg, a digital transformation specialist in South Africa. “It allows for the CIO to gain access to niche skills and services that they can then orchestrate from within.”



CIOs are being given the space to get even closer to the business and address business problems at speed and to deftly navigate the talent challenge that remains just that – a challenge. According to Gartner’s forecast, the cost of salaries is expected to rise by 6% which means CIOs are spending more money on fewer employees at a time when they need more hands on digital decks. Outsourced means access to people when almost 60% of IT pros are looking for jobs other than the ones they currently have under their CIOs.



While this talent shift may yet change in the future – although Gartner predicts this is unlikely to happen – the CIO today has to find a way of modifying their approaches so they can better capture the value within their existing workforce while leveraging the skillsets from an array of service providers.



“The CIO is not just the custodian of IT, but the mind behind how to use these as a catalyst for business growth,” says Vishal Barapatre, Group Chief Technology Officer at In2IT Technologies in South Africa. “It is the CIO who will determine whether the business will manage 10 or more vendors, or if the company will consolidate spend into two. They are ultimately the ones who ensure there is solid engagement and service delivery across all vendors and that timelines are met and costs reduced. Their strength lies in accelerating initiatives across multiple vendors and projects.”



The adjustment to, as CIO puts it ‘Orchestrator in Chief’, is also allowing for the CIO to become more flexible, giving them room to stretch into their own skillsets and capabilities. As outsourced teams take on the admin and support, the CIO has the space to focus on innovation, technology changes, and how the business can benefit from new solutions and approaches.



“There is also the added value of having access to a global IT market,” says Koen Matthijssen, CTO at Fetola in Africa. “Many European companies now look to Africa for their talent, not just because of the rates, but because of their skills and maturity. The same applies in reverse – African companies can capture global talent to boost their own technology innovation and maturity.”



The CIO is then as much a strategic advisor as cultural melting pot manager, a person capable of weaving every personality and nationality into the fabric of the organisation. As Alan Turnley-Jones, CEO of Dimension Data Middle East and Africa, concludes: “CIOs are business partners with clear strategic advisory and a deep understanding of what they need their outsourcing partner to provide.”

Application developers at work.

How The IT Outsourcing Trend Is Changing The Role Of The CIO: An Africa Perspective

With its new fund, TLcom Capital plans to deploy additional capital into female-founded African tech startups, building on the firm’s June 2022 co-investment commitment of $2 million to FirstCheck Africa, a female-focused pre-seed fund.



TLcom Capital, the Africa-focused venture capital firm, has announced the final close of TIDE Africa Fund II, its second fund for technology in Africa, at $154 million.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61726" style="width:297px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-1023x1536.jpg 1023w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied.jpg 1066w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Maurizio Caio, Founder and Managing Partner at TLcom Capital; (image supplied)</figcaption></figure></div>


With participation from LPs like European Investment Bank (EIB), Allianz, DEG Impact’s AfricaGrow, Visa Foundation, and Bertelsmann, the TIDE Africa Fund II marks TLcom Capital, known as Africa’s largest Seed and Series A tech investor.



The fund will reportedly maintain its early-stage, multi-sector focus and expand into Egypt, making initial investments of $1 million to $3 million.



&#8220;Egypt is a very attractive large market in Africa capable of generating unicorns in the years ahead,&#8221; notes Maurizio Caio, Founder and Managing Partner at TLcom Capital, to FORBES AFRICA.



&#8220;Our investment strategy is the same in Egypt as anywhere else – partnering with entrepreneurs who create massive value by leveraging technology to serve significant African markets,&#8221; affirms Caio.



TLcom’s early-stage portfolio includes uLesson, Autochek, Pula, Fairmoney, and Andela, one of Africa’s six unicorn companies.



&#8220;We partner with founders who tackle massive opportunities with winning strategies,&#8221; says Caio.



&#8220;Ideally, each of our investments should classify as a fund returner, meaning they hold the potential to return the value of our entire fund from the proceeds of their exit.&#8221;

Casual businessman working late on a laptop computer

‘Massive Opportunities With Winning Strategies’: Venture Capital Firm Closes Africa’s Largest Early-Stage VC Fund At $154 Million

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Patients treated by female doctors fare better than patients treated by male doctors, according to new research published Monday, despite the field struggling to improve female representation in research and among practitioners.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Patients treated by female physicians in the U.S. had lower mortality rates and lower rates of readmission compared to patients treated by male physicians, according to peer reviewed research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.



The findings come after researchers from the University of Tokyo in Japan analyzed data from the medical records of more than 700,000 Medicare patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized and treated between 2016 and 2019 to assess the differences between patients treated by male and female physicians.



Just under a third of the roughly 460,000 female and 320,000 male patients included in the study were treated by female physicians, the researchers said, and there were no significant differences between groups when it came to key metrics for evaluating hospital care including length of stay, spending, how likely a discharge to home was, management claims and the proportion of time spent under intensive evaluation.



While both male and female patients treated by female physicians fared better than those treated by male physicians in terms of lower death and readmission rates, the researchers found the difference was especially large and clinically meaningful for female patients, who are underrepresented in medical research and far more likely to suffer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/medical-mistakes-are-likely-women-minorities-rcna133726" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">misdiagnoses</a>&nbsp;and medical mistakes during treatment than men.



The researchers said multiple reasons could be behind the stark difference in outcomes for female patients when treated by female physicians, such as male physicians potentially underestimating the severity of illnesses in their female patients and female physicians probably having better communication skills and a more patient-centered approach when it comes to female patients.



Being treated by a female physician could also help alleviate the embarrassment, discomfort and social and cultural taboos that can arise for female patients during sensitive examinations, the researchers said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



The finding that patients treated by female clinicians fare better than those treated by male clinicians has been repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/women-doctors-may-be-better-for-patients-health/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">borne out&nbsp;</a>by research around the world. For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/30/female-surgeons-patient-outcomes-better-studies" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">studies</a>&nbsp;published last year from researchers in Sweden and Canada found people operated on by female surgeons had better outcomes and fewer problems during recovery than when male surgeons had been performing the operations. In the U.S., research has shown women who have heart attacks are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45096070" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">more likely to survive</a>&nbsp;when treated by a female doctor. The same is true of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i6808" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">elderly hospital patients</a>. While studies are typically observational and so cannot determine cause and effect,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/well/doctors-male-female-women-men-heart.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;has shown female doctors tend to listen to their patients more, spend more time with their patients and are more likely to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/01/21/patients-get-better-care-female-doctors-sexism-persists-medicine/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">follow guidelines and collaborate</a>&nbsp;with specialists. While patients might fare better under female clinicians, women doctors face a variety of issues hindering their ability to enter and remain in the field. Female doctors tend to be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/gender-identity/women-doctors-earn-2-million-less-than-men-in-their-careers-they-want-to-know-why-is-nothing-being-done/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">paid less</a>&nbsp;than their male counterparts, face&nbsp;<a href="https://hbr.org/2018/08/how-discrimination-against-female-doctors-hurts-patients" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">systemic discrimination&nbsp;</a>and struggle with higher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/how-women-physicians-can-find-balance-and-out-workplace" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rates of burnout</a>&nbsp;amid efforts to manage brutal medical schedules with other commitments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



Despite decades of vowing to address systemic bias against women in healthcare and research, medical research still <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/nov/20/women-health-research-jill-biden-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowingly and consistently overlooks</a> women and women are still <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/27/underrepresentation-women-clinical-trials/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underrepresented</a> in clinical trials. The bias pervades the entirety of medical research, even down to the laboratory level, with animal <a href="https://nautil.us/which-sex-of-mouse-should-you-ask-for-directions-313331/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subjects</a> like <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/science/female-mice-hormones.html#:~:text=But%20a%20large%20sex%20gap,by%20a%20factor%20of%20five." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mice</a> and <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/14/health/sex-biological-variable-research-science-drugs-scn/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rats</a> all overwhelmingly male.

Doctor soothing senior patient

Patients Fare Better With Women Doctors, Study Finds

The milestone speaks for itself: it’s the 10th anniversary of FORBES AFRICA’S 30 under 30 list, and just like the honorees who have come before them, the class of 2024 too are driven by impact. Profits aside, it’s about achieving success with innovation, influence and individuality. They aren’t looking to fill big shoes but rather lace up their own and forge ahead with giant strides, leading by example and leaving an indelible path for the changemakers to come.



Words and Curation:&nbsp;Chanel Retief Additional research and reporting:&nbsp;Nicole Pillay&nbsp;With inputs from:&nbsp;Oluwatomisin Amokeoja Art Direction and Layout: Lucy Nkosi |&nbsp;Photography:&nbsp;Katlego Mokubyane |&nbsp;Photography Assistant:&nbsp;Sbusiso Sigidi |&nbsp;Studio:&nbsp;NewKatz Studio, Johannesburg |&nbsp;Styling: Deneal Van Wyk |&nbsp;Outfits supplied by: B Mashilo Designs, DFLO, Franc Elis, Ephymol and Preview Accessories |&nbsp;Hair &amp; Makeup:&nbsp;SnehhOnline Beauty



Known to the world as the actress who brought Puleng Khumalo to life in the Netflix original series Blood and Water, Ama Qamata describes this “passion project” as something she wanted to see do really well. 



“I was in varsity, and dropped out in my second year,” Qamata says to FORBES AFRICA. 



“And I really was new to the industry. It was my first time doing something that big. And I just remember the shooting being so stressful. I guess my mentality the whole time was ‘I just need to show up and give my best’. I remember at the Queen Sono premiere, the CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos, met me and said, ‘oh, I’m not worried about the show’.”



Sarandos was right. Months later, when the show premiered in May 2020, it ranked number one in South Africa, France, The Bahamas, Libya, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Kenya. It is also the fi rst South African show to reach number one in the United States.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Under 30: South African Actress On The Raw Power Of Our Stories" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0R_HHgm1a9c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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“When it came out, it was insane. I didn’t even have time to process it because I was working,” Qamata laughs. 



In a 2023 report released by the streaming platform, Netflix stipulated that since entering key countries in sub-Saharan Africa, it has contributed across economic sector value chains within and adjacent to the cultural and creative industries and stakeholder ecosystems. It has contributed “directly” to job creation, skills development, and capacity-building in the local creative industry. 



“It’s about time. I think we have the most creative people in the world,” Qamata adds. “We have such beautiful stories, and what I love about our stories is that they are so raw… what we offer, the world has not seen yet.”

Most Attractive Youtube Thumbnail (3)

Under 30: South African Actress On The Raw Power Of Our Stories

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



A class action lawsuit with hundreds of claimants was filed at the High Court in London Monday as plaintiffs accuse the LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr of sharing sensitive medical information, including HIV status, with advertisers, who then allegedly sold that data on to other businesses,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj7mxnvz42no" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/22/lawsuit-in-london-to-allege-grindr-shared-users-hiv-status-with-ad-firms" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-22/grindr-sued-in-london-for-sharing-users-hiv-status-with-ad-firms" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



English law firm Austen Hays alleges Grindr breached data protection laws in Britain when it sold information on users’ ethnicity, sexual orientation, HIV status and beyond with ad companies Localytics and Apptimize between spring of 2018 and April 2020.



The lawsuit goes on to allege those companies may have then passed the data on to fourth parties, allowing &#8220;a potentially unlimited number&#8221; of firms to target users online using the information.



Hays said in a statement to Forbes that more than 670 people have already signed up to the claim with potential for thousands of others to join—Grindr had almost 1 million&nbsp;<a href="https://www.them.us/story/grindr-most-popular-dating-app-users-over-54" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.K. users</a>&nbsp;as of last May.



Chaya Hanoomanjee, director of Hays&#8217; firm, said in a statement that clients whose data was shared &#8220;have suffered feelings of fear, embarrassment and anxiety as a result.&#8221;



Grindr did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment Monday but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj7mxnvz42no" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told the BBC</a>&nbsp;the lawsuit &#8220;appears to be based on a mischaracterization of practices from more than four years ago&#8221; and that the company will &#8220;respond vigorously&#8221; to the claim.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



“Grindr owes it to the LGBTQ+ community it serves to compensate those whose data has been compromised and have suffered distress as a result, and to ensure all its users are safe while using the app, wherever they are, without fear that their data might be shared with third parties,” Hanoomanjee said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Grindr was first found to be sharing sensitive sexual health data, including HIV status of users, with advertisers and analytics companies back in 2018. Norwegian research organization&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/SINTEF-9012/grindr-privacy-leaks" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">SINTEF</a>&nbsp;first discovered the data was being shared, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/azeenghorayshi/grindr-hiv-status-privacy" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a>&nbsp;followed up with its own report that GPS data, phone ID and email addresses were also being shared. In April of 2018, Grindr issued a privacy statement both denying and defending its actions.&nbsp;<a href="https://grindr.tumblr.com/post/172528912083/heres-what-you-should-know-regarding-your-hiv" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CTO Scott Chen</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that Grindr has &#8220;never&#8221; sold HIV status information to third party advertisers, but also said it was clear in the app&#8217;s privacy policy that &#8220;if you choose to include this information in your profile, the information will also become public.&#8221; That same day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/exclusive-grindr-security-chief-on-hiv-disclosure-b5a64fdb-8c1d-4a08-a94e-67506d4a0d0b.html?utm_source=twitter&amp;amp;utm_medium=social&amp;amp;utm_campaign=organic" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Axios reported</a>&nbsp;Grindr had stopped sharing users’ HIV status. The controversy drew the ire of several regulatory authorities, including the Spanish Data Protection Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office in the United Kingdom, which each went on to file data breach complaints. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority ultimately&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/national-news/2021/norwegian-dpa-imposes-fine-against-grindr-llc_en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">fined Grindr $6 million</a>&nbsp;for violating data privacy practices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



13 million. That&#8217;s how many people use Grindr monthly, according to Austen Hays, making it the most popular LGBTQ+ mobile app in the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



In 2020, Grindr faced regulatory complaints over its Chinese owner similar to those currently plaguing the popular video app TikTok. Chinese gaming giant Beijing Kunlun acquired Grindr, originally developed in Los Angeles, in 2016 and the app was soon hit with national security concerns stemming from the Chinese government potentially gaining access to the personal data of U.S. users. The company <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21168079/grindr-sold-chinese-owner-us-cfius-security-concerns-kunlun-lgbtq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ultimately sold</a> its stake to a U.S.-based company, which allowed Grindr to continue operating. The story is similar to that of TikTok, which is currently under intense scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers because its parent company, ByteDance, has <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3255539/us-lawmakers-want-tiktok-sale-or-ban-chinas-bytedance-wont-give-without-fight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">refused to divest </a>from the social media app. The House of Representatives on Saturday <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-raises-free-speech-concerns-bill-passed-by-us-house-that-may-ban-app-2024-04-21/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">passed a bill</a> that will ban TikTok if ByteDance doesn&#8217;t sell its stake within a year. The bill now moves to the Senate, where a vote could happen this week, and President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if it makes it to his desk.

Social media app Grindr

Grindr Dating App Shared HIV Status Of English Users With Advertisers, New Lawsuit Says

According to the report by research firm Africa: The Big Deal, a total of $466 million was raised through $100,000+ deals by 121 startups, representing only half of the amount raised in Q1 2023.



The report found that equity remained the primary source of funding, comprising 71% of disclosed funding, while debt deals saw a significant decrease, constituting 28%.



One standout from the quarter was Nigerian mobility startup Moove, which secured $110 million, influencing funding trends across the continent. However, the majority of funding continued to flow to startups headquartered in the Big Four countries, with Nigeria and Kenya leading the pack.



In reaction to the report, stakeholders offer insights and recommendations for navigating the current funding landscape.



Oyin Solebo, Managing Director at ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator, tells FORBES AFRICA: &#8220;It appears as if we are experiencing not just an African, but a global reset in VC funding levels.&#8221;



Solebo continues: &#8220;For the coming quarters, with global inflation and interest rates still at record highs, we should expect similar declines in African startup funding versus the previous year&#8217;s equivalent quarter, as other asset classes will remain more attractive to more risk-averse investors. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. In the last few quarters, a number of notable VCs have announced new funds, meaning that there is more institutional money ready to be deployed in strong African deals.&#8221;



Solebo highlights the need for startups to focus on generating revenue and strengthening financial management amidst the decline in VC funding.



&#8220;We need more local capital to be deployed into our ecosystem. The continent remains heavily reliant on international investment – with around 70% of our funding coming from overseas,&#8221; says Solebo.



Maurizio Caio, Managing Partner at Africa-focused tech VC firm, TLcom, emphasizes the importance of evidence of traction for startups to secure funding.



&#8220;In the upcoming quarters, the funding landscape will heavily depend on the state of global macroeconomic conditions, deal flow quality on the continent, and possible evidence of successful exits of African VC-backed companies, which we project will improve during the rest of the year,&#8221; Caio shares with FORBES AFRICA.



Emmanuel Adegboye, head of Africa-focused pre-seed investment program, Madica, says: “The good news is that there are indications that there’s still a lot of early-stage investing activity on the continent with investors like Madica continuing to actively invest, just not a lot of large later-stage deals.



&#8220;I don’t expect a lot of drastic improvements over the next few quarters and it’s especially important for startup founders to continue to be prudent with managing cash flow and their expectations to close later fundraising rounds quickly. It might be important to add that while the pace in investments has been slower, this shift can ultimately lead to more informed, sustainable investments that would benefit both startups and investors in the upcoming quarters/long run,&#8221; says Adegboye to FORBES AFRICA.



Ifelade Ayodele, CEO and founder of fintech firm, Blaaiz, explains the multi-faceted implications of the report for emerging startups, stressing the need for flexibility, customer-centricity, and strategic thinking regarding exit options for investors.



&#8220;Specific industries may have begun to be less attractive for investors due to a combination of factors such as spending power of end users (heightened by inflation), alternatives, among others,&#8221; Ayodele notes to FORBES AFRICA.



Ayodele suggests that &#8220;emerging and potential startups may need to begin to rethink the purchasing power of end users and make necessary pivots&#8221;.



Ayodele urges startups to focus on solving actual problems &#8220;as opposed to perceived problems”, and think globally while acting locally.



&#8220;Startups may consider products that may thrive in at least two or more African markets duly backed by technology for scale and adoption,&#8221; Ayodele says to FORBES AFRICA.

Finding the potential to improve their profits

Africa’s Startup Funding Sees Decline Amidst Global Trends: Experts Speak

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Oil prices briefly surged Friday morning in the wake of Israel’s reported airstrike on Iran, and then quickly dropped following Iran state media’s apparent downplaying of those strikes, as conflict in the Middle East continues to leave behind lingering effects on already climbing oil and gasoline prices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Brent Crude, an international benchmark, shot up nearly 2% Friday morning to a peak just under $88 per barrel, though the benchmark has since dropped to roughly $87.50, representing a marginal 0.5% uptick on the day.



National benchmark West Texas Intermediate also increased by roughly 2% Friday morning, following reports of an Israeli airstrike, though like the Brent, the WTI has also tapered off, dropping just above $83.50 per barrel.



AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross speculated international conflict could lead to instability in the oil market, saying in a&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/is-the-recent-climb-in-the-price-of-gas-about-to-stall/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;on Thursday the “situation overseas with the war in the Middle East and Ukraine has the oil market on edge.”



While increases in the price of oil typically come with price hikes at the pump, analysts expect those effects on gasoline prices to be delayed, and multiple other factors could help swing the price of gas down from its $3.69 national average this week—its highest point since October, according to GasBuddy.



Patrick De Haan, head petroleum analyst for GasBuddy,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1781303050570781081" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;he expects gas prices to hit $3.70 per gallon in the near future, though the return of U.S. oil refineries from scheduled maintenance and Iran’s state media’s apparent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/04/19/iran-downplays-israeli-strikes-and-may-not-launch-large-scale-retaliation/?sh=47337ea3f5d9">downplaying</a>&nbsp;of Israel’s attack, he said there’s “potential we’re nearing an end to the rise” in prices at the pump.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



Another positive sign for gas prices has been an increase in crude oil inventories, which shot up this week by 2.7 million barrels, to approximately 460 million barrels, though it remains 6 million barrels below its level this time last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. Andrew Gross also estimated gas prices could plateau as U.S. demand hits a typical low ahead of Memorial Day. Gasoline demand in the U.S. declined narrowly from 8.84 million barrels in the week ending April 5 to 8.81 million barrels last week, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/weekly/gasoline.php" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">EIA data</a>, and is slightly below where it had been last April. Gross expects the national average gas price “may waffle a bit with small increases, some flat days, and even some price dips” as a result.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Israel&#8217;s military early on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/19/israeli-missiles-reportedly-strike-airbase-in-central-iran/?sh=43f5240f120f">reportedly</a>&nbsp;launched limited airstrikes in Iran, unnamed officials told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/18/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/blasts-are-reported-near-the-iranian-city-of-isfahan?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas-war/?id=108860743" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>. The reported strikes came several days after Iran’s unprecedented drone and ballistic missile strike on Israel days earlier, which Israeli officials said caused only minor damage. Iran’s attack itself was in retaliation for Israel’s airstrike earlier this month on an Iranian embassy in Syria, which killed at least 16 people, including two senior military leaders. Iranian state TV dismissed Friday’s strike, blasting it as “Israeli and American media propaganda.” Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for any strikes on Iran. Tensions between Iran and Israel have boiled over in recent months in the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, which has left over 33,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates another 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. Earlier this week, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=7eace4a1083b">threatened</a>&nbsp;“fierce and severe” retaliation for the “tiniest invasion” by Israel, though world leaders have urged both sides to de-escalate the situation.

Oil pump with candle stick graph chart in the background. World Oil Industry

Oil Prices Spike—And Fall—As Iran Downplays Israel’s Reported Airstrikes: Here’s How That Could Affect Gas Prices

Nigerian chess prodigy Tunde Onakoya is on a mission to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon while raising funds to support education for underprivileged youth.



Tunde Onakoya, the convener of Chess in Slums Africa, a non-profit organization based in Lagos, aims to surpass the previous 56-hour record with a 58-hour run in the bid to &#8220;raise a million dollars and bring the gift of chess to children across the world&#8221;.



&#8220;Our program aims to address challenges stemming from limited access to quality education and resources by focusing on skills that are academically enriching, practical, and relevant to their daily lives,” Onakoya told FORBES AFRICA in an exclusive interview recently.



Onakoya&#8217;s endeavor has garnered attention, donation, and support from various quarters.



After headlining at Madison Square Garden, Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Davido made a surprise visit to Onakoya&#8217;s chess marathon in the open air of Times Square, a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.



Onakoya took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his gratitude, stating, &#8220;30 billion for the children as @davido places his chain around my neck. Thank you very much for stopping by after your successful outing at @TheGarden.&#8221;



He has also received support from other notable personalities, including Nigerian Afrobeats artist Adekunle Gold, who also visited the marathon earlier.



Onakoya received messages of goodwill from the federal government of Nigeria, state governors, and the US Mission in Nigeria.



The attempt, which officially commenced 11.30AM (EST) on April 17 is expected to end around 10PM (EST) today.

Davido at the marathon with Tunde Onakoya; Image credit @Tunde_OD

After Headlining At Madison Square Garden, Davido’s Stopover To Cheer Nigerian Champion Attempting To Break Chess Marathon Record In NYC

&nbsp;The milestone speaks for itself: it’s the 10th anniversary of FORBES AFRICA’S 30 under 30 list, and just like the honorees who have come before them, the class of 2024 too are driven by impact. Profits aside, it’s about achieving success with innovation, influence and individuality. They aren’t looking to fill big shoes but rather lace up their own and forge ahead with giant strides, leading by example and leaving an indelible path for the changemakers to come.



Words and Curation: Chanel Retief Additional research and reporting: Nicole Pillay With inputs from: Oluwatomisin Amokeoja Art Direction and Layout: Lucy Nkosi | Photography: Katlego Mokubyane | Photography Assistant: Sbusiso Sigidi | Studio: NewKatz Studio, Johannesburg | Styling: Deneal Van Wyk | Outfits supplied by: B Mashilo Designs, DFLO, Franc Elis, Ephymol and Preview Accessories | Hair &amp; Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty



TEN YEARS, of uncovering some of the most influential and iconic young people on the continent. Ten years, of shining the spotlight on business innovators and tech trailblazers impacting their communities, countries and the continent.



Ten years, of profiling record-breakers, history-makers and risk-takers determined to rewrite the narrative on Africa. The 10th anniversary of FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 list is testament to the unmistakable potential and talent pool that exists on a continent boasting the world’s youngest population, and their role in together crafting Africa’s growth story.



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Building a business and a brand, and consistently creating change on the continent, as a 20-something, is no mean feat. And it’s perhaps their path-breaking innovations and against-all-odds resilience that’s leading the rest of the world to Africa as the next frontier. The world is becoming more African. The whole continent of Africa, with 54 countries, is home to 1.45 billion people, and the economies are being driven by a growing young population.



The United Nations states in a report that 70% of sub-Saharan Africa is under the age of 30; and that more than a third of the world’s young people will live in Africa by 2050.Experts also stipulate that the future of Africa’s wealth is young and female, and they hold the greatest potential for investment prospects. 



The 2023 Africa Wealth Report, published by Henley &amp; Partners in partnership with New World Wealth, reports that the total investable wealth currently held on the African continent amounts to $2.4 trillion, and its millionaire population is expected to rise by 42% over the next 10 years. Whatever the numbers, over the last decade, we have recorded this and more of Africa’s appetite and tireless tenacity for growth and prosperity, with the youth spearheading that narrative, never veering away from the heartwarming concept of ubuntu (compassion and humanity) bringing the continent and its communities together. We can’t wait to see what the next decade will unfold.



Editor’s note: The list follows no particular order



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-methodology">METHODOLOGY </h2>



The nomination process began late 2023, as over a thousand applications came through. Part of the rigorous reporting and vetting process also involved going through social media profiles, police clearance reports, reference letters from financial institutions and testimonials from the colleagues, collaborators, business partners and employees of short-listed nominees. Background checks were conducted on potential candidates, which included reviewing documentation to ensure there are no criminal records, troubling lawsuits/bankruptcies, and/or allegations of crime, misconduct, sexual harassment/abuse or fraud. For the 2024 list, FORBES AFRICA, for the fifth year running, partnered with audit fi rm SNG Grant Thornton to assess company financials from losses to growth margins to overall revenue and profits since incorporation. In addition to the research and reporting of the editorial team, FORBES AFRICA also depended on a panel of high-profile judges and independent subject-matter experts to ensure that only Africa’s most merit-worthy make it to the final list. Instead of having only one adjudicator per category (Business, Technology, Health/Science, Creatives and Sports), we also sought the help of past list-makers – our illustrious 30 Under 30 alumni – to judge potential finalists. This list is only but a small indication of the wealth of young talent that exists on the continent and they will no doubt be unraveled on these pages in the months and years to come.



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<ol>
<li>Alex Mativo, 29, Kenya CEO and Co-founder, E-LAB, Nanasi and Duck Industry: Multiple ventures</li>



<li>Ann-Kathrin Joos, 28, South Africa CEO and Founder, Standard Beauty Industry: Beauty</li>



<li>Vimbai Masiyiwa, 29, Zimbabwe CEO, Batoka Hospitality Industry: Tourism</li>



<li>Andrew Ddembe, 28, Uganda Co-founder and CEO, MobiKlinic Industry: Healthtech</li>



<li>Chad Jones, 28, South Africa Social Media Content Creator and Brand Influencer Industry: Social media</li>



<li>Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan (Fireboy DML), 28, Nigeria Singer-songwriter Industry: Entertainment&nbsp;</li>



<li>Tyla Laura Seethal, 22, South Africa Singer-Songwriter Industry: Entertainment</li>



<li>Ayushi Chandaria, 26, Kenya Founder, Design Thinking Program (Kenya) Industry: Education</li>



<li>Ama Qamata, 25, South Africa Actress, Producer Industry: Entertainment</li>



<li>Daniel Novitzkas, 28, South Africa Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Specno Industry: Software Development and Technology Solutions</li>



<li>Prisca Wegesa Magori, 29, Tanzania CEO and Co-founder, TenTen Explore and Smart EFD Industry: Software Development</li>



<li>Luke Mostert, 27, South Africa Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, CatalyzU Industry: EdTech &amp; JobTech</li>



<li>Arooj Sheikh, 28, Kenya Founder and CEO, Beyond Kenyan Bars Sector: Social development</li>



<li>Kenneth M. Njeru, 25, Kenya Director and Founder, Africa Afya Healthcare Industry: Health Investment Services</li>



<li>Cayley Jorgensen, 29, South Africa CEO and Founder, Ingage Support; Registered Counselor Sector: Mental health</li>



<li>Hildah Magaia, 29, South Africa Forward for Mazatlán F.C Femenil and Banyana Banyana Industry: Sport – Football</li>



<li>Victor Osimhen, 25, Nigeria Footballer and Striker for Super Eagles Industry: Sport – Football</li>



<li>Tobi Amusan, 26, Nigeria Track and Field Athlete Industry: Sport – Athletics</li>



<li>Damian Willemse, 25, South Africa Stormers and Springboks rugby player Industry: Sport – Rugby</li>



<li>Ricardo Lognath, 29, South Africa Co-Founder and CEO, Omninela Medical</li>



<li>Nicolas Lognath, 27, South Africa Co-Founder and Director, Omninela Medical Industry: Healthcare/E-commerce</li>



<li>Ruth Erikan James, 29, Nigeria Founder, Veekee James Industry: Fashion</li>



<li>Shaun Maswanganyi, 23, South Africa Track and Field Athlete Industry: Sport – Athletics</li>



<li>Jeremiah Thoronka, 24, Sierra Leone Founder and CEO, Optim Energy Sector: Climate Change and Sustainability (Social Impact)</li>



<li>Calvin Usiri, 28, Tanzania Co-founder and CTO, Ramani Industry: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)</li>



<li>Peace Wutawunashe, 27, Zimbabwe Founder, Trigershot Engineering Industry: Solar/Renewable Energy</li>



<li>Esethu Cenga, 29, South Africa Co-founder and CEO, Rewoven Industry: Fashion</li>



<li>Josiah Akinloye, 29, Nigeria Founder and CEO, Mainlogix Technology Industry: Automation and Technology</li>



<li>Abioye Oyetunji, 29, Ghana Founder and CEO, FXKudi Industry: Fintech</li>



<li>Nadine Roos, 27, South Africa South African Rugby Union (Springboks) and Sevens player Industry: Sport &#8211; Rugby</li>
</ol>



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final Under30

MEET THE CLASS OF 2024: Passion, Purpose And A Decade Of The 30 Under 30 List

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



The Israeli military reportedly launched airstrikes targeting Iran early on Friday, in response to Tehran’s drone attack on its territory over the weekend, amid concerns about escalation between the two Middle Eastern nations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



Citing unnamed Iranian officials, the New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/18/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/blasts-are-reported-near-the-iranian-city-of-isfahan?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the strikes hit an airbase near the city of Isfahan in central Iran, while an unnamed “senior U.S. official” told&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas-war/?id=108860743" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ABC News</a>&nbsp;that Israel had launched a missile strike against Iran.



The Iranian state controlled Fars News Agency also reported explosions being heard near the Isfahan airport, but an official later told the state media that explosions were caused by air defense batteries firing at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irna.ir/news/85449584/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B4%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">suspicious object</a>.



On Iranian state TV, however, the country’s officials publicly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-18/ty-article-live/five-idf-reservists-in-serious-condition-following-rocket-drone-strike-on-northern-israel/0000018e-eecd-daad-a3de-eeff299e0000?liveBlogItemId=11850594&amp;utm_source=site&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=live_blog_item#11850594" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dismissed</a>&nbsp;reports of the strike, calling it “Israeli and American media propaganda” and denied that an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council had been convened.



<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2024-04-19/middle-east-latest?cursorId=6621F343688C0000" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;Bloomberg, Israel had informed the U.S. officials on Thursday about its plan to carry out a strike on Israel in the following 24-48 hours.



Sources cited by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/iran-israel-attack-live-updates-rcna148496/rcrd39372?canonicalCard=true" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-strikes-site-iran-retaliation-weekend-assault" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>&nbsp;referred to the retaliatory attacks as “limited” while a retired military general appearing on Israel’s Channel 12 said he believed it was a “symbolic attack” that may not force a response by the Iranians.



The Israeli military has refused to comment on reports of the attack so far.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



Real time air traffic data on FlightRadar24 showed&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/OrenCNN/status/1781132736423403933" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several airplanes diverting</a>&nbsp;away from Iran just after the strikes were reported. FlightRadar24 then&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1781150391280750655" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that Iranian authorities had issue a notification informing pilots that the airports in Isfahan, Shiraz and the national capital Tehran were closed. Budget Emirati carrier Fly Dubai&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/mena/flydubai-airline-cancels-flights-to-iran-statement" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;receiving the notification and announced the cancellation of its flights to Iran. The notices of closure at all three airports were&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1781194845991633032" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">lifted</a>&nbsp;a few hours later.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



An unnamed Israeli official cited by the Washington Post said the attack “was intended to signal to Iran that Israel had the ability to strike inside the country.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



The extent of the damage from the attack remains unclear. Iranian authorities said nuclear facilities located near Isfahan <a href="https://www.irna.ir/news/85449584/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B4%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">were safe</a>. The International Atomic Energy Agency also <a href="https://twitter.com/iaeaorg/status/1781196309329793463" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confirmed</a> this while calling for restraint and saying “nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



On Wednesday, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=447e1fd11083">warned</a>&nbsp;that any military incursion by Israel would be met with a severe response. Over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory in an unprecedented attack. Israel claimed the strikes resulted in only minor damages as its military—along with U.S. and other allied forces in the region—were able to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/13/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/611216e4-0347-518a-bd58-51184c463120?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">shoot down 99%</a>&nbsp;of the missiles and drones. Iran said its attack was in response to an Israeli airstrike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus that resulted in the deaths of 16 people—including two senior military leaders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-mideast-tensions-4-19-2024-a7ccbae2e2844bab089e8e4377a24ddb" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Iran fires air defense batteries at Isfahan air base and nuclear site after drones spotted</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=447e1fd11083">Iran Threatens ‘Fierce And Severe’ Response If Israel Launches ‘Tinest Invasion’ In Response To Weekend Attack</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

Iranian official TV confirms ‘massive explosions’ in central Isfahan province

Israeli Missiles Reportedly Strike Airbase In Central Iran

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
True power is living the realization that you are your own healer, hero, leader.” – quoted by Diego Perez
</blockquote>



Indeed, success has always been built on that simple principle. The African story of the recent past has belied that. This needs to be regained and reinforced.



I was in Lusaka some weeks ago attending the launch of the Lobito Corridor project; an ambitious rail line brought together for deliverance by the mighty United States (U.S.), the beleaguered European Union, three ambitious African nations and two of Africa’s premier institutions, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and African Development Bank (AfDB).



They unveiled plans to link the copper-rich regions of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Angolan port of Lobito. A corridor replete with hopes. A smooth trade route from the world’s richest copper belt to the Atlantic Ocean to facilitate the transportation essential in the region, fostering business and trade.



This is in perfect harmony with Washington’s increased soft-power strategy reflecting a broader geopolitical intent to strengthen ties with Africa.



Not that this is altruistic though. The global clean energy transition requires significant amounts of critical minerals vital to the manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, batteries etc. And they are crucially essential in several applications of the defence, ICT and pharmaceutical industries.



Add to that the U.S.’s Inflation Reduction Act and the pressure to bring manufacturing back to American shores.



To make America great again will need raw materials from across the Atlantic. Interestingly, the accelerated pace of the transition will require six times more mineral inputs by 2040.



But the net-zero objectives of the Global North will not be achieved without Africa’s green minerals.



Africa holds substantial reserves  of bauxite, chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, lithium, manganese, platinum, uranium and more.



Thus, the great race ahead; strap on your belts for the ride.



Yet, China’s present dominance is all-pervading at the moment; positioned as they are with its longer history and sheer size of investments in the core sectors in Africa.



Overall, China has spent more than a trillion dollars in projects to secure the supply of key resources.



Therein lies the ‘once-in-a- lifetime’ opportunity.



Usually, when elephants fight, the grass suffers.



This time around, the African savannah holds the strings to the entertainment ahead.



For African leaders, the question is less about the U.S. or China but more about what Africa can negotiate out of its resource advantage.



Africa must capitalize on its mineral endowments to drive transformative sustainable growth, economic diversification, and local and regional development through value-added processing and manufacturing; it must optimize the resource value to underpin productive transformation, integration into global trade systems and development of local industries.



Sustainable mining as a catalyst for the local procurement of goods and services, the shared use of infrastructure as well as an anchor for renewable energy development is a fair aspiration.



Yet it is crucial to ensure that all this does not come at the detriment of African communities, bearing the brunt of vested interests, pollution, and environmental damage.



A substantial amount of critical minerals is to be found in areas of rich biodiversity, fragility, and conflict, as well as lands traditionally belonging to indigenous peoples.



But events have conspired in Africa’s favor.



We hold the key to solving significant global challenges.



Hence, we should be agnostic and seek partners that will drive our economic objectives as equals in the global fight for equity and prosperity.



African institutions such as the AFC are at the forefront of embedding these priorities into policies.



The continued success will hinge on: a) balancing the criticality of access to mineral resources with the African perspective on environmental and social risks; b) improved infrastructure for local value addition, refining, processing, and developing local downstream industries; and c) inspiring international cooperation to shift from historically-exploitive, extractive and export-driven models into sustainable investments, technology transfer, capacity-building and financing models that lift the continent meaningfully.



If mining fails to be a catalyst for sustainable development supporting renewable power generation, local procurement and infrastructure, we will have failed.



The Lobito Corridor promises to be that potent example where the corridors of power ensured that it’s not another rail line to transport our riches but will enrich us, the people on the continent, in its wake. And thus, help to solve the world’s problems while serving its own people.



Diplomacy and negotiations change. All of that needs the ‘self-belief’ that it’s our tryst with our destiny and we have to run with it ourselves.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES CONGO MINING COBALT

Digging Deep: Why Africa Must Capitalize On Its Mineral Endowments

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Set to occur on Saturday is the highly anticipated bitcoin halving event, a somewhat mysterious phenomenon that occurs every four years, which should theoretically provide a major tailwind to bitcoin prices flatlining in recent weeks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



The halving event refers to the 50% reduction in the new bitcoins available daily to digital miners who unlock tokens on the blockchain via a complex, energy-intensive process.&#8221;



Halving previously occurred in 2012, 2016 and 2020, and is programmed directly into the bitcoin ecosystem to occur every four years, with the fourth instance widely expected to come Saturday, or within a few days, cutting the amount of bitcoins available for mining each day from 900 to 450.



Between 19 million and 20 million bitcoins now exist, with only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/article/the-21-million-question---is-bitcoin-supply-really-capped/?sh=16f31a4a7984">21 million</a>&nbsp;tokens ever programmed to exist, and halvings are designed to keep the supply of bitcoin limited, and maintaining the decentralized currency’s storage of value.



By lowering the supply, some expect the 2024 halving will drive demand for bitcoin, and therefore its price, which happened in the immediate aftermath of the three other events.



Bitcoin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/bitcoin-halving-explained/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rose</a>&nbsp;8,069% in the 12 months after the 2012 halving, 284% following the 2016 halving and 559% after the 2020 halving.“It’s pretty much Economics 101” that bitcoin prices go up after halving, according to Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye, who explained that so long as demand doesn’t decrease and new supply goes down, the “only thing left to move is price.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



It’s far from a given that bitcoin demand will stay steady or increase, and three halving data points hardly make enough of a trend to definitively declare how bitcoin prices will behave during this halving cycle. It’s often hard to sift through the opinions of bitcoin revilers and zealots, but the former will tell you that bitcoin is already overvalued considering its limited use cases. But bitcoin’s ludicrous market-beating returns in recent years are hard for even the biggest pessimist to dismiss: The $61,000 per token bitcoin fetched Wednesday is roughly seven times its price at the 2020 halving, 90 times its 2016 level and 4,000 times its 2012 level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-why-are-bitcoin-prices-down">SO WHY ARE BITCOIN PRICES DOWN?</h2>



Bitcoin is about 17% below its all-time high of $73,768 set last month, with Saturday’s flash&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/04/13/bitcoin-plummets-after-iran-launches-attack-on-israel/?sh=14a5c6681f70">10% crash</a>&nbsp;as Iran launched a drone attack on Israel exemplifying the fragile nature of the rally. Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani explained to clients Wednesday that it’s actually “new demand catalysts” overlapping with prior halvings that helped drive price increases, explaining that the current cycle’s catalyst actually already happened: January’s approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which unlocked billions of dollars of new capital into bitcoin and contributed most strongly to the positive price action, as bitcoin remains up nearly 300% dating back to the beginning of last year. Chhugani expects bitcoin to reach as high as $150,000 next year, a highly bullish forecast that is more than double even its all-time high.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



Halvings are likely a boon for bitcoin holders, but it’s a major challenge for miners, considering it quite literally halves their potential revenue stream – imagine if regulation allowed McDonald’s to sell Big Macs but no fries. Shares of CleanSpark (up 38%), Marathon Digital (down 36%) and Riot Platforms (down 48%), the three most prominent publicly traded American bitcoin miners, have all underperformed bitcoin this year, Chhugani noted, adding that the halving may actually be a good thing for investors as the pressure can lead to consolidation and more profitable companies.

Crypto in Tbilisi as Devotees Begin to Contemplate a Market Bottom

Bitcoin Halving: Here’s Why Some Expect Prices To Soar

Diverse photography can help challenge perceptions and fight stereotypes. When Amanda Esther Akokhia started her photo studio some five years ago in the United Kingdom (UK), where she grew up, she was not aware just how important this was. At the time, photography was a hobby but it soon began to give her life purpose and meaning.



“When I started working, I would leave work during lunch, take pictures and return to work, and that was how I started photography. I wasn’t really fulfilled doing my job, but photography made me really happy. I knew in my heart that this is what I wanted to do [for] a living. That led me to open my first studio at 24,” says Akokhia, born in the UK but whose parents are Nigerian.



She’s the owner of Green Studio and now has over a decade of experience in the industry. Through education and the consistent drive for representation, she hopes to use her photography platform, Amanda Akokhia Photography, to bring about much-needed change.



The British Journal of Photography found that, globally, about 70% &#8211; 80% of photography students are women but they only account for 13% &#8211; 15% of professional photographers. Furthermore, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics also reportedly estimated that, although women account for half of all working photographers, they still struggle to get opportunities.



When Akokhia started cutting her teeth in the industry, she had already noticed the disparity.



“I knew I wanted to do photography, but I could not find any successful role models that looked like me in the industry to emulate,” she recalls.



This was before the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, she decided to fully commit – she quit her legal profession and opened her studio with £10,000 ($12,400), which she secured through a combination of savings and investment from her business partner.



“They believed in my vision and were eager to contribute,” says Akokhia.



In those days the vision for the brand was simple.



“I didn’t know what the industry was like, I just knew my dream was to shoot for big magazines and to see my pictures on billboards. I was really interested in beauty and fashion and my vision was to be a commercial photographer who shot for the big brands that I admired so much growing up. I didn’t know how I was going to get there but I knew that was what I wanted to see myself doing,” Akokhia adds.



Within two years of opening her business, Akokhia had already fulfilled her goals in photography, working with brands like BBC, Warner Brothers, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Disney and Pantene, among others.



“I started thinking [about] what the new vision for me at this stage of my life is. And I started to imagine a world where everyone would feel seen and can be seen through my work and encouraging other photographers to capture everyone. Sometimes, when you look at magazines in the UK, you only see photographers of a certain type and color. I shoot everyone as I would shoot a model for a campaign shoot,” she says.



Akokhia has steadily grown her business from one that generated a monthly revenue of £5,000 ($6,200) to one that has secured individual commercial campaigns worth £15,000 ($18,600) by elevating her business and building relationships with prominent commercial brands. An important focus for her is representation in her work, both behind the lens and in front of it.



And, as a rising creative in the sector, Akokhia hopes to achieve her new vision for creating inclusivity through training and mentorship, where she teaches future photographers and creatives how to turn their passion into a business.

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