PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Virtual Colloquium to Spotlight Nigeria’s Grassroots Transformation and the Halal Economy as a Pathway to Inclusive Growth

Organized by the Africa Islamic Economic Forum (AFRIEF)
Theme: “From Renewed Hope to Sustainable Prosperity: Leveraging the Halal Economy and Inclusive Livelihoods in Nigeria’s Grassroots Transformation”
Date: 6th December 2025 | Format: Virtual (Zoom)

Nigeria is preparing to take a bold step toward reshaping its grassroots economy as the Africa Islamic Economic Forum (AFRIEF) convenes a Virtual Colloquium on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) — a flagship national initiative recently approved by the Federal Government to drive inclusive growth across all 8,809 wards of the federation.

The colloquium, themed “From Renewed Hope to Sustainable Prosperity: Leveraging the Halal Economy and Inclusive Livelihoods in Nigeria’s Grassroots Transformation,” will bring together senior government officials, international development partners, private investors, and Islamic finance experts to explore how the Halal economy can serve as a vital lever for sustainable, people-centered development.

Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty affecting over 63% of its population, persistent youth unemployment above 40%, and declining rural productivity, the RHWDP represents one of the largest grassroots development programmes ever conceived in Africa. The initiative seeks to empower 1,000–2,000 economically active citizens per ward, expand rural infrastructure, and foster job creation and food security through localized, ward-based implementation.

This colloquium therefore aims not only to commend the Federal Government for the RHWDP initiative but also to create space for critical reflection on its design, highlight its blind spots, and propose livestock-driven Halal development models — including high-value opportunities such as ostrich farming — that can transform rural livelihoods while positioning Nigeria as a global Halal hub. The global Halal economy is currently valued at over USD 3 trillion, and Nigeria, with its demographic scale and cultural alignment, is strategically positioned to become a continental leader in Halal trade, food exports, and ethical finance.

The colloquium will feature interventions from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, and AFRIEF leadership, alongside international experts from the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), UNIDO, FAO, and private sector investors. Discussions will focus on high-impact areas such as Halal livestock clusters, ostrich farming for export, Islamic finance instruments, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to enhance value-chain development.

Objectives

• Commend and amplify the Nigerian government’s vision under RHWDP.
• Critically examine the program’s current design and identify blind spots.
• Introduce Halal economy opportunities as key enablers of rural transformation.
• Present AFRIEF’s proposed initiative: positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leading ostrich meat producer through Halal-compliant clusters.
• Facilitate dialogue between government officials, international partners, and private investors on collaborative entry points.

Expected Outcomes

• Elevated international visibility for the RHWDP as a continental model.

• Policy consensus on integrating Halal value chains and livestock development.

• Concrete partnerships for financing and implementation of Halal clusters.

• A roadmap for Nigeria’s emergence as Africa’s leading Halal economy hub.

The event will culminate in a policy communiqué summarizing key insights and next steps, to be formally presented to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and relevant development agencies.

About AFRIEF
The Africa Islamic Economic Forum (AFRIEF) is an international organization committed to promoting inclusive economic growth across Africa through Islamic finance, ethical investment, and sustainable enterprise development. AFRIEF works with governments, development institutions, and private partners to design and implement programs that advance shared prosperity and social justice.

Media Enquiries:
AFRIEF Communications Office
📧 Email: info@afrief.org | 🌐 www.afrief.org

+233556613291

Event Title: Building Resilient Health Systems: Practical Pathways for Africa’s Infrastructure Transformation

Tagline: From Vision to Action – Strengthening Africa’s Healthcare for Today and Tomorrow

Event Date: 22 November 2025

Tamale, Ghana – The Africa Islamic Economic Forum (AFRIEF) today announced the Virtual High-Level Health Infrastructure Summit, a landmark gathering designed to chart actionable strategies for strengthening Africa’s fragile health systems. The event will officially launch the Africa Healthcare Infrastructure Development Program (AHIDEP) and announce its first pilot project in Baita Community, Kano State, Nigeria.

Africa bears 25% of the world’s disease burden, yet accounts for less than 1% of global health expenditure and has fewer than 2 hospital beds per 1,000 people in most countries. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these systemic vulnerabilities—overwhelmed hospitals, supply chain disruptions, and inequitable vaccine access—while the rise of non-communicable diseases underscores the need for resilient, technology-enabled primary care.

“This summit is about turning vision into action, mobilizing ethical finance, and delivering scalable solutions to transform healthcare for millions of Africans,” said an AFRIEF spokesperson. “AHIDEP represents a new era of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.”

A highlight of the summit will be Glocal Healthcare Systems, AFRIEF’s exclusive technical partner, showcasing its e-Primary Healthcare Centre (ePHC) solutions—modular, technology-driven facilities designed to close infrastructure gaps even in rural areas. The summit will also explore Islamic and ethical finance instruments—including Sukuk bonds, Waqf, and Lariba models—as powerful tools to responsibly fund Africa’s healthcare transformation.

Summit Objectives

• Share evidence-based insights on Africa’s healthcare infrastructure gaps and replicable solutions.
• Launch AHIDEP’s vision, governance framework, and implementation roadmap.
• Announce the Baita Community ePHC pilot as a proof of concept for scalable health delivery.
• Showcase Glocal Healthcare Systems’ innovative technologies.
• Explore Islamic and ethical financing for sustainable health infrastructure development.
• Secure pledges for collaboration, funding, and technical partnerships.
• Promote gender and youth inclusion in health innovation.

Who Should Attend

African government officials (Health, Finance, Planning), AU and WHO Africa representatives, development finance institutions (AfDB, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank), donors, private investors, healthcare professionals, NGOs, technology firms, academic researchers, and media outlets.

Event Highlights

• Keynote Address: “The Urgency of Building Resilient Health Systems in Africa” (AU/WHO Africa Representative)
• Panel Discussion: “From Policy to Practice—Closing Africa’s Infrastructure Gaps”
• Special Presentation: Glocal Healthcare Systems – Scalable Digital Health Delivery
• Spotlight Session: Islamic & Ethical Finance for Healthcare Transformation
• Breakout Sessions: Financing, Digital Health, Rural Infrastructure
• Official Launch: AHIDEP & Baita Pilot Announcement
• Action Pledges: Commitments from partners and stakeholders

Expected Outcomes

• Broadened awareness and buy-in for AHIDEP.
• Documented funding and partnership commitments.
• Strengthened collaboration between AFRIEF, Glocal Healthcare Systems, and financial institutions.
• Agreement to publish a technical report and convene a follow-up webinar in January 2026.

Join the Conversation

Follow updates on social media: #AHIDEP2025 and #AfricaHealth.
For media inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities, contact:

Africa Islamic Economic Forum (AFRIEF)
Tamale, Ghana
✉ info@afrief.org

Phone/WhatsApp: +233243655446

The Global Vision 2000 ThinkTank will convene its 9th Eschatology Conference on Sunday, April 27, 2025, under the theme “Entering the Final Stages of End Times.” The timely event comes amid deepening global crises and follows the dramatic political transition in the United States, marking a critical juncture in what many see as a prophetic era of global reset and systemic upheaval.

The conference will tackle the convergence of economic collapse and escalating regional wars, particularly in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Speakers will analyze how these crises are shaping a multipolar world order, heightening the risk of a global conflagration, and signaling the end of the Western monetary era as debt, deficits, and inflation spiral out of control.

Director of Global Vision 2000, Moeen Yaseen, noted:

“This year’s conference comes at a time of historic transformation. We aim to deepen understanding of the unfolding Abrahamic eschatologies and realities in the Holy Lands.”

With a strong interfaith dimension, the conference will bring together leading Jewish, Christian, and Muslim thinkers, scholars, and journalists to examine end-time narratives and what lies beyond the collapse of global systems.

Key sessions include:

• “Evolution of International Money and Western Eschatology” – Dr. Simon Mouatt
• “Trials of the End Times and the Islamic Political Economy” – Baba Yunus Muhammad 
• “Bayt al Maqdas, Malhama & Ghazwa-i-Hind” – Dr. Abdul Salam Arif
• “Zionist Christian Alliance: Useful Idiots and Sacrificial Lambs” – Da’vid ben Elkashah
• “Al Mahdi, Khilafat, Bayt Al Maqdis: Prophetic Governance and Restoration of Justice” – Imam Dr. Karim Abu Zaid
• “Signs of the Hour, Jerusalem and the Messiah” – Rabbi Benjamin Abrahamson

The agenda will also feature discussions on Christian Zionism, techno-feudalism, the hijacking of religion, and the emerging alternatives to capitalist and imperial paradigms.

The virtual event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM UK Time / 1:00 PM Türkiye Time.

Event Title: Entering the Final Stages of End Times

Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025 / Shawwal 29, 1446

Platform: Online Conference

Registration & Info:

myaseen@globalvision2000.com

Website: https://globalvision2000.com/