BUSINESS
IVORY COAST: Marie-Jeanne Igba, director of L’AgenceLL ‘Eleganz: “Observe and change our world !
Marie-Jeanne Igba is the director of AgenceLL ‘Eleganz. It is a digital medium that highlights the beautiful profiles of expanded diversity and supports women’s entrepreneurship. On January 20, she launched the forum ALL FOR THEM 2018. We met her.
Tell us about you ! Who is Marie-Jeanne Igba ?
I am from Ivory Coast. I did two years at the faculty of Law in Abidjan and a BTS in Management Secretariat. In 1999, I arrived in Paris. I work as a facilitator in maternal recreation centers. Then I become by 2 mandates, member of the district council Plateaux-strikes-edges-of Seine. It is after this that I become aware of the importance of communication, public relations and exchanges.
Introduce us L’Agence L ‘Elleganz ?
It is a digital medium that highlights the beautiful profiles of expanded diversity. Women leaders, daring managers, innovative starturters in their respective areas of expertise. It promotes model diversity roles and their businesses and supports women’s entrepreneurship. We have devised 3 tools to achieve this: ALL FOR THEM FORUM: a partnership platform between companies. The Eleganz Touch speakers: which allows to spread, to speak, to discuss innovations and the trend indicator: a facilitator of business growth.
How did this idea of agency come to you ?
As a manager in public relations with business leaders, several communication mandates have been entrusted to me. This is the connection setting: Ohel real estate company, specialized in BTCS and DIASPORA and Investments; Think Thank Africa Grenier du monde and Africa Femmes Positive Initiatives; Ohel and Black Women Business LOBBYING; Think Thank Africa Grenier du monde and WeFlyagri; DCI and Ivorybank; A computer room at N’Zikan College of Didievi; A Solarpak to study the night. Spontaneously the need for a structure was felt by the extra work.
What concrete actions does the agency plan to take with women ?
It is the perpetuation of the All For All Forum in such a way that companies develop permanently and in the long term. Why is it important for you to talk about women? We want to help stem the unfair competition that is hurting partnerships and corporate synergies.
You have a meeting on January 20th. What is it about ?
At the end of the new year, our agency will not only present the wishes of diversity but also launch its forum. In other words highlight the 7 lines of communication where departments that articulate our professional practice. That is: Institutional Stand Up, Éléganz Touch SPEAKERS, Social Economy and Coworking, Business and Digital, Green Economy, Trend Indicator and Global Leadership.
A message for women ?
2018 absolutely everything for them. It’s daring. It’s taking risks. It is watching and changing our world. It’s creating opportunities because we all have some. It’s mutualize. It’s sharing our skills. It’s continuing to form, because there is no delay in life. It’s realizing one’s dreams. That’s saying no to violence against women.
The presidency of Togo has announced that the project to exploit the manganese mine of Nayega, located in the Savanes region in the north of the country, is entering its operational phase. According to a statement issued on June 10, 2025, production is scheduled to start at the end of June 2025, with an initial volume of 4,000 tons per month, which should gradually double to reach 8,000 tons per month.
Keras Resources is the technical partner retained by the Togolese government to carry out this project. A statement from Keras, relayed by the presidency, details that the company signed a cooperation agreement in 2023 with the Togolese state, owner of the mine through the Togolese Manganese Company (STM). Under the terms of this agreement, Keras will receive a remuneration of 1.5% of the mine’s gross revenue for three years for its advisory services, as well as 6% for brokering services.
The reserves of the Nayega mine are estimated at 8.5 million tonnes, which would allow exploitation over a period of 11 years. The authorities of Lomé welcome the expected contribution of the mine to the national budget, a benefit that should be strengthened by the rigorous management of the generated revenues, as indicated by our colleagues from Agence Afrique.
With a growing global demand for manganese, particularly in steel alloys and renewable energy technologies, Togo is seeking to assert itself as an essential supplier of this strategic ore. This positioning could play a catalytic role for the national economy, always according to information from the Africa Agency.
Source: senego / Photo credit: Republicoftogo.com
The Gabonese government decided on Friday to ban the import of broilers in order to promote national poultry production and ensure food security, according to the final communiqué of the council of ministers chaired by the head of state, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The ban will be effective from 1 January 2027, thus leaving a period of 18 months (1 year and 6 months) for actors in the sector to structure themselves, invest and prepare to meet national demand.
“This measure aims to restore domestic poultry production, boost agricultural investment, reduce food dependency and strengthen the trade balance,” the government hopes. Gabon also hopes to foster “the emergence of a network of rural jobs, the rise in quality of products consumed locally and the creation of an economic ecosystem around this sector”.
The government has also planned a detailed operational plan to be presented within 45 days by the ministers responsible for economy and trade.
Libreville dreams of reducing its dependence on poultry imports and strengthening the country’s food security. In addition, the promotion of local poultry farming should have a positive impact on rural areas, generating jobs and contributing to the development of a vibrant poultry ecosystem.
Imported frozen chicken is the most consumed food in Gabon because of its low price and packaging ready to be thrown into a pot.
“The star of the freezer” is how Gabonese people refer to frozen chicken because it is often the only food, if not the default food, found in the freezers of Gabonese families.
Frozen chicken and meat are generally imported from Latin America and Europe. Their massive presence on the market has destroyed local production.
The Council of Ministers also announced a ban on exporting crude manganese from 1 January 2029. The objective is to promote local industrial development, create jobs and maximize the value of this resource, of which Gabon is the world’s second largest producer.
Sources: gabonactu.com
Mauritania is in the spotlight. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the annual meeting of the institution held in Abidjan. He succeeds Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, in office since 2015.
His election came after a hard-fought duel against Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia, who finished in second place. The election, which was marked by major geopolitical and economic issues, took place against a background of high expectations regarding governance and development financing on the continent.
The Senegalese Amadou Hott, long perceived as one of the favorites, finishes in third place, followed by the South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala. Despite significant diplomatic support, notably for Hott, the momentum in favour of Sidi Ould Tah has prevailed in the last few rounds.
Former minister and general manager of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah is recognized for his experience and strategic vision. He will officially take office on 1 September 2025.
Photo credit: Forbes Africa
