Infrastructure & Energy Leadership: Namibia’s Shiwana Ndeunyema has been nominated among Africa’s top infrastructure influencers for his energy and institutional leadership, including a tough interim stint at NAMCOR as offshore oil interest rises. Trade Facilitation & Customs Tech: AfCFTA chief Wamkele Mene praised Nigeria Customs’ digital reforms and urged wider adoption of its indigenous systems to cut border delays and revenue leakages. Credit Data for Lending: Nigeria’s E-doc CEO Tunde Ogundipe warns that expanding consumer credit will stall without stronger, verifiable credit data to help lenders assess repayment ability. VAT Modernisation: West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) gathered nearly 400 participants to push digital VAT management and boost domestic revenue mobilisation across the region. Debt Advocacy: Ghana’s Speaker Bagbin will rally African parliamentary leaders in Accra to support a global push to address Africa’s growing debt burden. Stablecoins & FX Risk: The IMF cautioned that local stablecoins could unintentionally speed up dollar adoption, urging tighter regulation of on/off-ramps and exchanges. Sports Finance: CBZ backed Zimbabwe’s Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics team with US$15,000, framing it as long-term investment in future Olympians. Governance & Accountability: SERAP renewed its push for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential candidates to declare assets and reject vote-buying, drawing fresh counter-challenges from candidates. Community Climate Reality: A study highlights how renewable energy projects in Kenya and South Africa often “buy in” or “buy out” communities without delivering lasting benefits.