BUSINESS
SENEGAL: Dieynaba N’Diaye : ” Entrepreneurship is to have a conviction, courage and above all to be persevering.”
Dieynaba N’Diaye is a 36-year-old Afro-descendant woman of Senegal-Mauritanian parents. She was born and raised in the east of France. This mother of an 8-year-old boy is an entrepreneur. She has created her own brand of tights. She talks about her journey.
Where did you come from?
I have been working since the age of 17, often combining studies and I have always had the aim of undertaking one day. I told myself that the accumulated experience and my travels should serve me differently than working for someone else. I have always been in touch with a clientele (especially women) who is increasingly demanding.
What justifies the choice of the clothing sector, the sticky, precisely?
I decided to create my own brand of tights because, like many women with black or mixed skin, it is very difficult to find the right product with the right shades. It is a real journey of the fighter to find flesh-colored tights adapted to our skin, even worse when we live outside the Paris region. Some professions nevertheless require the wearing of flesh-colored tights, which becomes complicated for a woman “non-white”. By creating the NANDI Tights, I respond to a strong demand.
Dieynaba N’Diaye, entrepreneur, creator of Nandi tights.
Tell us about your first steps in entrepreneurship!
It is very stimulating to undertake because there are many elements to be faced. For my part, I began self-financing so my main difficulties are mainly related to finance and organization in relation to my child. At the same time, there is, of course, everything that keeps people busy, and everything is done to overcome the obstacles in order to achieve the objectives. The biggest satisfaction lately was the reception and discovery of my first pairs of NANDI Tights. It was even moving because it is the fruit of several months of work and imagination finally concretized. This is only one more step, there are still many others but I am ready to face them.
“NANDI, like the mother of the warrior Chaka Zulu, symbol of work and perseverance. “
What is your motor, what stimulates you?
Entreprendre is to have a conviction, courage and above all to be persevering. This is one of the reasons why I chose to call my NANDI pantyhose, a wink to Queen Nandi, mother of the warrior Chaka Zulu, but also a symbol of work and perseverance. She also raised her child alone. The encouragement and satisfaction of my clients is also part of what motivates me and pushes me to go further and not give up. I never thought of dropping my project despite difficult days sometimes. Satisfaction is even greater when one knows that the efforts made end up paying.
How do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I see myself at the head of the brand NANDI which will propose several products intended for the black or mixed woman. Products adapted to our skin color, which sublimate it, even if it is already. My ambition is to make NANDI, a reference brand in the lingerie and accessories sector, which are always mainly intended for the same women, in France but also throughout Europe and more. I invite you to visit my site www.collantsnandi.fr to discover the different shades and characteristics of NANDI Tights.
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
