/** * Nyasa Times category archive H1 cleanup. * Removes "Category:" / "Category archives:" style headings * and replaces key category headings with SEO-friendly names. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title', function( $title ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $titles = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi News', 'national' => 'Malawi National News', 'politics' => 'Malawi Politics News', 'business' => 'Malawi Business & Economy News', 'sports' => 'Malawi Sports News', 'education' => 'Malawi Education News', 'health' => 'Malawi Health News', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi Entertainment News', 'columns' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', 'religion' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', ); if ( isset( $titles[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $titles[ $term->slug ]; } return single_cat_title( '', false ); }, 99 ); /** * Remove WordPress archive prefixes. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title_prefix', '__return_empty_string' ); /** * Nyasa Times AIOSEO category title overrides. */ add_filter( 'aioseo_title', function( $title ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $seo_titles = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi News | Breaking Updates & Public Interest Stories | Nyasa Times', 'national' => 'Malawi National News | Latest Local & Public Affairs | Nyasa Times', 'politics' => 'Malawi Politics News | Government, Parliament & Elections | Nyasa Times', 'business' => 'Malawi Business News | Economy, Banking, Trade & Jobs | Nyasa Times', 'sports' => 'Malawi Sports News | Football, Netball & National Teams | Nyasa Times', 'education' => 'Malawi Education News | Schools, Universities & Exams | Nyasa Times', 'health' => 'Malawi Health News | Hospitals, Public Health & Medicine | Nyasa Times', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi Entertainment News | Music, Culture & Events | Nyasa Times', 'columns' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis | Columns & Commentary | Nyasa Times', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', 'religion' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', ); if ( isset( $seo_titles[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $seo_titles[ $term->slug ]; } return $title; }, 99 ); /** * Nyasa Times category meta descriptions for AIOSEO. */ add_filter( 'aioseo_description', function( $description ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $description; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $description; } $descriptions = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi news, breaking updates, public-interest stories, community developments and national reports from Nyasa Times.', 'national' => 'Read Malawi national news, public affairs, local updates, government services and community stories from Nyasa Times.', 'politics' => 'Latest Malawi politics news, elections, Parliament, government decisions, party updates, policy debate and analysis from Nyasa Times.', 'business' => 'Read Malawi business news, economy, banking, trade, investment, energy, agriculture, jobs and market updates from Nyasa Times.', 'sports' => 'Latest Malawi sports news, football, netball, athletics, clubs, national teams and Malawian athletes at home and abroad.', 'education' => 'Malawi education news on schools, universities, exams, scholarships, teachers, students, policy updates and learning developments.', 'health' => 'Malawi health news on hospitals, public health, disease outbreaks, medicine, maternal health, children’s health and health policy.', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi entertainment news on music, culture, film, fashion, celebrities, festivals, events and creative industry updates.', 'columns' => 'Read Malawi opinion, columns, editorials and analysis on politics, governance, business, society, leadership and development.', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', 'religion' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', ); if ( isset( $descriptions[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $descriptions[ $term->slug ]; } return $description; }, 99 ); /** * Display category description before the article list * when the theme does not output it. */ add_action( 'loop_start', function( $query ) { if ( ! is_category() || ! $query->is_main_query() || is_admin() ) { return; } static $shown = false; if ( $shown ) { return; } $shown = true; $description = category_description(); if ( empty( trim( wp_strip_all_tags( $description ) ) ) ) { return; } echo '
'; echo wp_kses_post( $description ); echo '
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CATEGORY CONFIGURATION * ------------------------------------------------------- */ function nyasa_category_seo_data() { return array( 'news' => array( 'h1' => 'Latest Malawi News', 'title' => 'Latest Malawi News | Breaking Updates & Public Interest Stories | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Latest Malawi news, breaking updates, public-interest stories, community developments and national reports from Nyasa Times.', ), 'national' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi National News', 'title' => 'Malawi National News | Latest Local & Public Affairs | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Read Malawi national news, public affairs, local updates, government services and community stories from Nyasa Times.', ), 'politics' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Politics News', 'title' => 'Malawi Politics News | Government, Parliament & Elections | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Latest Malawi politics news, elections, Parliament, government decisions, party updates, policy debate and analysis from Nyasa Times.', ), 'business' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Business & Economy News', 'title' => 'Malawi Business News | Economy, Banking & Markets | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Read Malawi business news, economy, banking, trade, investment, energy, agriculture, jobs and market updates from Nyasa Times.', ), 'sports' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Sports News', 'title' => 'Malawi Sports News | Football, Netball & National Teams | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Latest Malawi sports news, football, netball, athletics, clubs, national teams and Malawian athletes at home and abroad.', ), 'education' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Education News', 'title' => 'Malawi Education News | Schools, Universities & Exams | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Malawi education news on schools, universities, exams, scholarships, teachers, students, policy updates and learning developments.', ), 'health' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Health News', 'title' => 'Malawi Health News | Healthcare & Public Health | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Malawi health news on hospitals, public health, disease outbreaks, medicine, maternal health, children’s health and health policy.', ), 'entertainment' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Entertainment News', 'title' => 'Malawi Entertainment News | Music, Culture & Celebrities | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Malawi entertainment news on music, culture, film, fashion, celebrities, festivals, events and creative industry updates.', ), 'columns' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis', 'title' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis | Columns & Commentary | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Read Malawi opinion, columns, editorials and analysis on politics, governance, business, society, leadership and development.', ), 'religious-news' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', 'title' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', ), 'religion' => array( 'h1' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', 'title' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', 'desc' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', ), ); } /** * ------------------------------------------------------- * 2. FIX VISIBLE CATEGORY H1 * ------------------------------------------------------- * * Converts: * Category archives: Latest Malawi News * * Into: * Latest Malawi News */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title', function ( $title, $original_title = '', $prefix = '' ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $data = nyasa_category_seo_data(); if ( isset( $data[ $term->slug ]['h1'] ) ) { return esc_html( $data[ $term->slug ]['h1'] ); } return single_cat_title( '', false ); }, 999, 3 ); /** * Remove WordPress archive prefixes. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title_prefix', '__return_empty_string', 999 ); /** * ------------------------------------------------------- * 3. FIX AIOSEO CATEGORY TITLES * ------------------------------------------------------- * * Prevents titles such as: * "Malawi Latest Malawi News News..." */ add_filter( 'aioseo_title', function ( $title ) { /* * Category titles */ if ( is_category() ) { $term = get_queried_object(); if ( $term && ! empty( $term->slug ) ) { $data = nyasa_category_seo_data(); if ( isset( $data[ $term->slug ]['title'] ) ) { return $data[ $term->slug ]['title']; } } } /* * Article titles * * Converts: * Article headline - Featured News Malawi | Nyasa Times * * Into: * Article headline | Nyasa Times */ if ( is_singular( 'post' ) ) { return wp_strip_all_tags( get_the_title() ) . ' | Nyasa Times'; } return $title; }, 999 ); /** * ------------------------------------------------------- * 4. FIX AIOSEO CATEGORY META DESCRIPTIONS * ------------------------------------------------------- */ add_filter( 'aioseo_description', function ( $description ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $description; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $description; } $data = nyasa_category_seo_data(); if ( isset( $data[ $term->slug ]['desc'] ) ) { return $data[ $term->slug ]['desc']; } return $description; }, 999 ); /** * ------------------------------------------------------- * 5. DISPLAY CATEGORY DESCRIPTION * ------------------------------------------------------- * * Shows the short SEO introduction above the article list. */ add_action( 'loop_start', function ( $query ) { if ( is_admin() || ! is_category() || ! $query->is_main_query() ) { return; } static $nyasa_description_shown = false; if ( $nyasa_description_shown ) { return; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return; } $data = nyasa_category_seo_data(); if ( ! isset( $data[ $term->slug ]['desc'] ) ) { return; } $nyasa_description_shown = true; echo '
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NBS Bank plc gets $5 million agricultural diversification investment

January 28, 2025 Our reporter Be the first to comment

NBS Bank plc has received a strategic investment of $5 million from Belgium-based EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC) through its EU-funded Agriculture Financing Initiative AgriFI, to support the diversification of the agricultural sector and contribute to the economic development of Malawi.

Kwanele Ngwenya Chief Executive Officer for NBS Bank plc

A statement from EDFI MC, a multilaterally owned impact asset manager said the investment is part of the ACP (African, Carribbean, and Pacific) regional window, supported by the Secretariat of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) aimed at strengthening and supporting the ‘Caring Bank’ to become the reference lender to the food and agriculture segment in Malawi.

In his remarks, NBS Bank plc Chief Executive Officer Kwanele Ngwenya said the investment will help achieve the bank’s role of giving farmers access to financing to grow crops, produce, and add value.

“We are thrilled to receive this strategic investment from EDFI Management Company. This funding will enable us to enhance our support for strong agriculture sector businesses and related smallholders in Malawi, providing them with the necessary resources and financing to expand processing capacity and improve their productivity and livelihoods.”

“Our focus on key agricultural value chains will not only benefit the farmers but also contribute to the country’s economic growth,” said Ngwenya.

The statement further highlighted that NBS Bank plc is pursuing an ecosystem approach, identifying strong transformers and exporters in the tea and macadamia value eligible to receive the bank’s financing to support the diversification of the agricultural sector.

EDFI MC Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo Madrazo said by facilitating access to financing and resources the investment has a significant impact on smallholder farmers.

“Our investment in NBS Bank plc underscores our commitment to supporting smallholder farmers in Malawi. By focusing on key agricultural value chains, we aim to enhance productivity and livelihoods, and drive sustainable growth in the region,” said Madrazo.

In her remarks, OACPS Expert in value chain Yvonne Chileshe her organization is happy to support the significant investment in NBS Bank plc.

“By focusing on smallholder farmers and key agricultural value chains, this initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to facilitate access to finance for the missing middle thereby promoting sustainable development and improving livelihoods across the OACPS region. We believe that this collaboration will drive positive change and create opportunities for smallholder farmers to thrive,” said Chileshe.

In 2023 the ‘Caring Bank’ also acquired a 10-year Five million US dollar loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with a similar purpose of providing specialized financial services and support to businesses involved in the agriculture sector.

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