50 percent of Nigerians not connected to national grid

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on Thursday said 50 per cent of Nigerians were not connected to the national grid.
The minister made this known in Abuja at a forum organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs.
The forum was aimed at highlighting Jonathan’s achievements.
Nebo said the administration had started the process of ensuring that all Nigerians were connected to the national grid in no distant time.
According to him, the Jonathan-led administration inherited a sector that was almost in total disarray.
“The entire nation was laden under the pains of inadequate, epileptic, suffocating electricity delivery’’, he said.
Nebo said that when the administration took over in 2009, electricity generation was 2 500mw as against the present capacity of over 3 400mw.
He said that Jonathan desired a power sector with sustainable growth and not just one with sporadic growth for Nigerians.
“In less than a few months’ time, Mr President will have doubled what he inherited with regard to power generation’’, Nebo said.
He said that gas was 70 per cent part of power generated in the country while hydro was 30 per cent.
The minister said that dependence on gas as the overall majority share was not quite sustainable, unless there was a mechanism to forestall the vandalism of energy infrastructure.

He said the president’s dogged commitment to the power sector had put the sector on a positive path.
Nebo said that government would soon declare the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM), which would open the door for free market.
Earlier, Dr Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs said that the forum was aimed at accessing Jonathan’s administration.
He said that the present administration had achieved such a milestone unreported in the media.
Okupe urged politicians to desist from engaging in 'evil politics’ aimed at pulling down the government of the day.
The Ministers of Aviation, Osita Chidoka and Sarah Ochekpe, Water Resources, also made presentations at the occasion.

Non-Transformation Agenda: What President Jonathan Said On Power 

By Timi Frank

Speaking with United Nations diplomats on Monday, 31st January 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Goodluck Jonathan made this promise: “If I’m voted into power, within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make a significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything…”

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Speaking with United Nations diplomats on Monday, 31st January 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Goodluck Jonathan made this promise:

“If I’m voted into power, within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make a significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything…”
 
President Jonathan 
 
Three years later, in January 2014, in anticipation of his 2015 presidential bid, the same Goodluck Jonathan issued a six-moth ultimatum to power companies to hurriedly address the power situation in the country. Six months came, and six months went, and today, Nigeria’s power generation and supply is at an all time low.
Fifteen years ago, when Nigeria’s democracy was still relatively new, the People’s Democratic Party told Nigerians that we had a 6000mw installed capacity of electricity, and “within a year, this would go up to 10,000mw.” Fifteen years later, with over $50 billion spent on the power sector alone, we are now being told by the Goodluck Jonathan administration that power generation in Nigeria has “increased from 3000mw to 4000mw.” With this inconsistency in question, it is clear that instead of Nigeria’s power generation and supply increasing and progressing under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan, it has gotten worse.
However, regardless of the inconsistent figures, let us search our hearts and ask ourselves: has power improved in our homes? Do we have more light that we used to have? Or is the government spending our collective money on invisible power generation projects, while quoting fabricated power generation figures?
Sometime in 2013, a legislative delegation led by Senate President, David Mark, went to inspect the Mambilla Plateau, that hosts one of Nigeria’s hydro-electric dams. With over N160 billion ($1 billon) spent on this project, the delegation was expecting to find a facility that had up to 2000mw generating capacity. Instead, what the delegation found was that next to nothing had been done on the project – the dam site had not even been cleared; making the media speculate that the money for this much-needed project had lined the pockets of associates of the ruling party.
Earlier this year, the Federal Government again announced that an additional N752 billion has been earmarked for the power sector over the next few years. In the atmosphere of this report, recent studies have shown that due to the government’s inability to provide light for the people, today, everyday Nigerians have been forced to spend N796.4 billion of their own hard-earned income to fuel their generators annually. What this means is that over the next four years, if Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected, based on his track-record (or a lack thereof) of not being able to solve the power situation in the country, cumulatively,  Nigerian households will be forced to spend $19.2 billion on fuel, which is equivalent to N3.1 trillion.
Another 2009 study on electricity distribution among the six geo-political zones in Nigeria showed that on average, these days, Nigerians enjoy only four to six hours of power supply per day. However, in 2009, the Federal Government and the power holding companies told Nigerians that of the 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs), four had been completed, and six were 80 to 90 per cent completed.
More than 24 months later, and $8billion spent on these projects alone, what do we have to show for it?
In this regard, it is time that as a nation, we begin to ask ourselves: what has the president been doing with all the money that has been spent on power generation since he took office?
We must also question the significance of the President’s statement, especially when he said that if he cannot improve power within four years, it means that he cannot do anything…
The results (or a lack thereof) have begun to speak for themselves…
Contact the writer at timifrank1@yahoo.com.

Joseph Yobo in politics

With the recent influx of Nigerian entertainers into politics, who knows, sportsmen and women may be toeing the same line.
Former captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo is in bed with the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
Yobo has been named the new ambassador of the party’s Ward2Ward Initiative.

On Wednesday, 29 October, he paid a courtesy visit to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh.
From being a figure-head ambassador of the party, something bigger may just be in the offing for Yobo.

Santa Claus dies at 86

Santa Claus dies at 86

Y'all know that Santa Claus used in a lot of Coca-Cola adverts? Well, he has died. His name was John Moore and he was the famous "Father Christmas" who inspired Coca Cola’s character and appeared in many ads for the brand. He died recently at the age of 86 and is being buried today in Burgess Hill, Sussex,UK.

When he was not shooting for Coca-Cola, he spent the rest of the year working as a taxi driver and barman. RIP, Mr Moore.

APPLY: 2015 Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are offered by the CSC in partnership with UK universities. These scholarships are intended for students from developing countries who would not otherwise be able to afford to undertake Master’s level study in the UK, to gain skills and knowledge which will allow them to contribute to the development of their home countries.

Levels and subjects of study

Shared Scholarships are for taught Masters’ courses only; awards will not be made for undergraduate or PhD study, and will not cover any pre-sessional English language teaching. Candidates can apply to study subjects related to the development of their home country at participating UK universities only.

WORTH

• DFID and participating UK institutions will jointly meet the full cost of an award holder’s study in the UK including air fares to and from the UK
• Maintenance allowance is paid by the scholar’s host institution, at the level set by the UK government
• A grant to cover thesis (Master’s) cost is available; also available is 200 for the study
• The cost of up to 10 kilograms of excess baggage (books only) is available for scholars returning home at the end of their awards.

ELIGIBILITY

• Be Commonwealth citizens, refugees, or British protected persons
• Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country (a full list is available in the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2015 prospectus)
• Be available to commence their academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2015
• Hold, by October 2015, a first degree of at least upper second class Honours standard
• Not have undertaken studies lasting one year or more in a developed country
• Be unable themselves, or through their families, to pay to study in the UK

DEADLINE: Depends on the university but ranges between December 2014 and April 2015.

To apply and for more information visit here

APPLY: UN Youth Volunteer Programme in Germany

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programmme is awarded to young people from the UN member States interested in contributing to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide.

UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN volunteers, throughout the world.

ELIGIBILITY

• Come from developing countries themselves
• Written and spoken proficiency in English and preferably in an additional official UN
• Language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese)
• Demonstrated interest in the field of development and the work of international organizations.
• Related fields such as economics, international relations, anthropology, sociology, public or business administration, or environmental studies. Other fields of study may be considered depending on the type of assignment.

DEADLINE: 31^st December, 2014

To apply and for more information visit here

NUT opposes deregulation of minimum wage

 by Adelani Adepegba 

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, has kicked against the decision of the National Assembly to move the minimum wage from the Exclusive legislative list to the Concurrent List of the Constitution, without doing the same to the salaries of political office-holders, describing it as double standards.
By not placing the salaries of political office-holders on the Concurrent List, the NUT said the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment, had only served the interest of the political class and ignored the interest of the common man and the working class.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja and signed by the NUT President, Michael Olukoya and Secretary-General, Obong Obong respectively, the union described the position of the  committee on the minimum wage as “another calculated attempt to cause avoidable industrial crisis in the nation’s polity.”
The union, said it resented the planned autonomy for Local Government Councils, which it said did not consider the funding and management of primary education in the country, considering the lean financial ability of the councils.
It said, “We  wish to express in strong terms the resentment of Nigeria teachers on the position of the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment, granting autonomy to Local Government without factoring the position of the NUT on which arm of government is responsible for funding and management of primary Education in Nigeria, considering that the financial allocation to each Local Government as it stands today can not sufficiently fund primary education and other demands of such councils.
“Much as the NUT is not opposed to the autonomy of Local Governments, the resolve of the Nigeria Teachers not to once again have the payment of their salaries and management of primary education left in the hands of the authorities of Local Government Councils remain unchanged and will be strongly resisted.”
The teachers, argued that salaries of political office-holders as fixed by the National Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, did not factor the financial strength of the particular State of political office-holders, noting that it is hypocritical to remove the wage of public servants from the exclusive legislative list

HND Discrimination Bill Scales Second Reading In Senate

The Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degrees and Higher National Diploma in the same Profession/Field and related matters on Wednesday scaled second reading in the Senate.
The bill, which scaled second reading after heated debate at plenary on its relevance, seeks to resolve controversy over wage disparity and gross discrimination against HND holder in public and private sectors of the economy.
The Senate President, Sen. David Mark in his remarks, said it would be difficult to legislate on the bill, given that polytechnics were not originally established to be degree awarding institutions.
He said rather than canvass for abolishion of the dichotomy, polytechnics should be changed to degree awarding institutions.
“ The problem here is whether we can legislate on this. I think obviously that is not going to work for several reasons that we have all advanced here.
“We can’t legislate here and say you must employ an HND instead of employing somebody with B.SC.
“I think it is more of attitude than what we can legislate on but we can get an arrangement where the polytechnics begin to award degrees, in which case the polytechnics will no more be polytechnics; they will be universities,’’ he said.
Mark, who did not outrightly condemn the bill, said it should be sent for public hearing, to get the views of relevant stakeholders on the way forward on the issue of dichotomy.
He, however, said that “our attempt really to equate HND to a degree is not likely to work. Nobody who has done a degree has gone back to the polytechnic to do HND and you can’t blame that logic.
“The whole essence of allowing the bill to go through second reading and public reading is for us to get more ideas about how to get the way forward.
“That will be the only benefit that will come out it’’, he said.
The lead debate, presented by Sen. Patrick Akinyelure (PDP-Ondo), highlighted the need to abolish the discrimination between HND and First Degree.
Akinyelure said the continuing discrimination against HND holders was threatening to ruin the nation’s core policy thrust of evolving a technological and scientifically based society.
He said that findings had proved that some polytechnic graduates were in some cases better on the field than their university counterparts.
“To all intents and purposes, a government employment policy that places degree holders ahead of HND holders without recourse to skill and ability of the HND holder thereof does more harm than good to the nation’s development plans.
“Therefore, the aim of the bill is to promote the technological advancement of our great nation by encouraging many qualified candidates to pursue polytechnic and technological advancement,’’ he said.
Some lawmakers, however, argued that rather than seeking to abolish the dichotomy, efforts should be made to transform all polytechnics to degree awarding institutions.
The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, said even if the bill did not succeed, it would help to raise awareness on the dysfunctional nature of the country’s educational system.
He decried the growing trend where polytechnics offered courses outside their field, adding that in order to correct the abnormally, all polytechnics should be converted to degree awarding institutions.
“All we need now is to expand the knowledge base of our polytechnics, increase entry qualification and employ qualified teachers for the polytechnics.
“We should then make conscious effort to set up technical schools that would award only diploma to support our industries and help the system industrially.
“To say we will abolish the dichotomy is difficult. The committee to handle the bill should invite experts to look into harmonising the institutions,’’ he said.
On his part, Sen. ITA Enang (PDP-Akwa Ibom) decried the poor standard of some polytechnics in the country.
He called on the regulatory body in charge of polytechnics to adequately regulate the establishment of the institution in the country.
“I have seen polytechnics operate in two bedroom flats and this is the situation that brings suspicion about the quality of our polytechnics.
“I have also seen standard polytechnics and the quality of their product compete favourably with universities.’’
He called on relevant agencies to improve on the carrying capacity of universities to accommodate all those seeking admissions.
He also called for harmonisation of universities and polytechnics to help manage a situation where people went to polytechnics because they could not secure admission into universities.
“This bill should pass a second reading to find solution to the problem. I support this bill,’’ he said.
Sen. Chris Ngige (APC-Anambra) said in as much as he sympathised with HND holders, the bill should be dropped.
He said that relevant agencies should rather harmonise the institutions and make polytechnics degree awarding institutions.
“The bill evokes emotion but laws should not be made based on that to avoid mistakes. This has to do with fundamental structure of the education sector.
“Let us conserve the resources of the senate; it will not go through second reading,’’ he said.
Sen. Abubakar Bagudu ( PDP-Kebbi), a member of Senate Committee Education, said if the dichotomy should be abolished, there would be standardisation of policy.
He argued that standardisation of policy was vital because universities and polytechnics had different structures.
“The university is theory and research oriented as compared to polytechnic which is supposed to turn out industrial ready graduates,’’ he said.
Similarly, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye (APC-Osun), the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Education, canvassed for the harmonisation of the institutions to enable polytechnics to award degrees.
“I believe that for as long as there is difference in admission standard and training for both institutions of learning, there will be difference in employment.
“ Let us go the U.S. way and equalise both polytechnics and universities and have specialised institutions to handle the technical aspect.’’
The lawmaker explained that Nigeria inherited the polytechnic system from the colonial masters, who thought of having a middle level manpower where people could be trained without the lengthy period in university.
He further explained that UK subsequently abolished the system after meeting the purpose for which it was established to meet its industrial need.
“We need to make the admission standard the same for polytechnics and universities; forget the dichotomy issue. It is a lie to say you need HND to run an industrial state,’’ he said.

‘Jola Sotubo: Welcome to Nigeria, the land of broken dreams

by ‘Jola Sotubo

I grew up in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria at a time when children could roam the streets freely without their parents being worried about bombs and such. For all we knew, my brothers and I could have been living abroad; so sheltered and protected were we from the harsh realities of the country we were born in.
I was a voracious reader even as a child so I managed to keep up with some of the happenings through the newspapers my father forbade me from reading. I remember Fela’s death even though I didn’t really know who the man was at the time and I have a recollection of Abacha’s regime and the jubilation which followed his death. However, not even all this could prepare me enough for the eye opener I was about to receive.
In 2003, my mother had finally had enough of Kaduna; it had deteriorated from the peaceful city we’d known for years to a town prone to eruptions of violence. It was time to go home, my parents said. Home to them was Sagamu, Ogun state. My father could never really stomach the idea of living in Lagos and so he settled for what he called “a country home” in his hometown.
The first time I saw Sagamu, I was sure my parents were fooling around when they said we were going to live there. Never in my life had I seen such desolation and poverty, hopelessness hung so thick in the air that you could almost cut it with a bread knife. It was a nightmare – and it was reality.
I saw homes with no water and with no toilets, I saw children with protruded bellies whose main source of sustenance was ‘garri’, I saw a land under abject poverty, the kind from which one could only hope to escape. Gone were the GRAs we lived in where we hung out with only the crème de la crème of society, gone was the bubble of the perfect life my parents had created. This was the real world, and I didn’t like it one bit.
For the first time in my life, I saw Nigeria as it truly was. It was a land where parents couldn’t afford to send their children to school. It was a land where aged people still bent their already crooked backs in hard labour. It was a land where human beings could be killed indiscriminately and nothing would be done about it.
That was in 2003, 11 years ago, and I really wish I could say the situation has gotten better. The demons we were fighting then are nothing compared to the ones we are fighting now. Night marauders now come and sweep away our children leaving death and destruction in their wake. Blood is flowing in our streets as day after day Boko Haram claims even more lives and what do we do? Nothing.
Our future, the future of our children is being wiped away right before our eyes and we sit helplessly by and let it happen. The Aluu 4 boys, one of them could have been Nigeria’s first astronaut, yet they are dead because of our failures as a nation. The people who died in the recent Abuja bomb blast, they had dreams and their families had dreams for them. Where are they? Gone.
You only need to look in the face of the average Nigerian on the street to know just how badly this country needs change. I see faces etched with grief and despair but worst of all, hopelessness. A man who has hope can still be saved, but a hopeless man is broken indeed.
I’m not an activist or a motivational speaker; I’m only someone who knows that she cannot leave this poor excuse for a country to her children. I’m someone who knows that we should not rest until the green passport we carry stops being a curse.
One day, one day very soon, Nigerians will realize that no government will build us the country of our dreams, we will have to do that all by ourselves. Average Nigerians will build state-of-the-art hospitals, provide security, constant electricity and water for their fellow citizens and build good roads. We will have to stand up and take care of each other because only then can we have the country we truly desire.
Until then we must remain a global pariah, we must remain the killers of our own future; our beautiful, beautiful children. Until then we must remain Nigeria, the land of broken dreams…

Nigerian Man Jumps White House Fence

23-year-old Nigerian man, Dominic Adesanya has been arrested after jumping the fence of the White House

  23-year-old Dominic Adesanya

Another security breach has occurred at the White House as a 23-year-old man jumped the fence of the presidential residence yesterday

Dominic Adesanya is said to have entered the premises and stood on the North Lawn before being attacked by Secret Service dogs.

Adesanya was unarmed at the time of the incident but the White House was put under a 90-minute lockdown as a precaution.

Edwin Donovan, the spokesman for the Secret Service confirmed the incident to Reuters saying: 'Dogs got him.'

"The individual was immediately taken into custody on the North lawn of the White House by Secret Service Uniformed Division K-9 teams and Uniformed Division Officers."

Adesanya’s father reportedly told ABC 2 that the suspect had been arrested at the White House before when he tried to get to the president to tell him about the people that were after him.

The suspect’s last post on Instagram was captioned 'Voted for this B #ImpeachObama.'

Adesanya has been taken to a hospital for treatment and two of the dogs who attacked him are being attended to by a veterinarian.

A previous breach at the White House was recorded on September 19 when 42-year-old Omar Gonzalez got access into the main building leading to congressional hearings and the resignation of then Secret Service Director, Julia Pierson.

FG Vs Boko HaramCeasefire Announcement Was Political – US Expert

The Nigerian government has been criticized for its hasty announcement of a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram before the negotiations were finalized

President Goodluck Jonathan

 

The continuation of violence by Boko Haram despite a ceasefire arrangement it supposedly reached with the Nigerian government has caused questions to be asked about the government’s hasty announcement of the deal.

The ceasefire was supposed to lead to a cessation of attacks by the sect and the release of the abducted Chibok girls but there has been no sign that either of these things will happen soon.

According to the Vice President of Africa Analysis at the Stratfor consultancy, Mark Schroeder:

"I sense Nigeria rushed to announce the deal with electoral-political calculations in mind."

"Getting a victory with the schoolgirls and a short-term truce with Boko Haram could be positive for President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign."

A resident of Maiduguri, Joel Peter told Reuters:

"The government just wants to (win) 2015 elections at all costs."

"Only the government is ready for ceasefire, not Boko Haram. Government is tired of insurgency and it hasn't been winning the war ... but Boko Haram aren't tired," he said. "For the Chibok girls, let's wait and see,"

A Chadian diplomat reportedly added that the Nigerian government had rushed to announce the deal before it was even finalized.

He said:

"Our feeling is that they acted precipitously. They should have waited until they at least had some of the girls. I don’t know anyone in the country who actually knows where they are."

The ceasefire was announced by the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh on Friday, October 17 but battles between Boko Haram and Nigerian troops are still ongoing and the only mention that has been made of the Chibok girls’ release is by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali who said in Berlin that the schoolgirls would be home in the “near future.”

Actress Formally Picks Up PDP Nomination Form

Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, has taken her political ambition a step further by picking her nomination form.

  Actress Kate Henshaw

Nollywood star actress, Kate Offiong Henshaw, who has joined the league of entertainers to dabble into partisan politics, has formally declared her intention of running for a seat in the House of Representatives by picking up the Nomination & Expression Of Interest forms of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP.
The actress who is also a Samsung and Onga Brands Ambassador hopes to represent the people of Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency of Cross River State.
According to insiders, the mother of one is well loved by her people especially coming from the background of the movie industry which has made her quite a popular candidate and could easily pick the ticket to contest for the 2015 election.

Fire Outbreak At Murtala Muhammed Airport

A fire has reportedly broken out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos causing occupants to run for their lives

  A fire has reportedly broken out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos causing occupants to run for their lives
(Punch)

According to emerging reports, a fire has broken out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos causing panic among occupants and travellers.

The incident occurred on the second floor of the airport terminal but the fire was extinguished before it could cause any major damage, Daily Post reports.

The blaze is said to have originated from the commercial department of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) due to a power surge.

However, the situation has been reportedly been brought under control and airport activities are returning to normal.

First Lady Resigns As Permanent Secretary

Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has resigned her position as a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service

  Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan

Patience Jonathan, the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan has resigned her position as a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service.

The first lady is said to have vacated her position in the state Ministry of Education voluntarily but reports have it that her resignation might be connected with a rift between her and the state Governor, Seriake Dickson.

The governor and the first lady are said to have disagreed over the former’s ambition to be re-elected as governor for a second term.

Mrs. Jonathan was appointed as a permanent secretary in July 2012 leading to widespread criticism about her playing dual roles and being unsuitable for the position.

 A ministry source reportedly said:

“The whole thing is political. It appears Madam Peace is not happy with the governor. With her resignation, the battle-line has been drawn.”

“I feel the President’s wife resigned to enable her to have the moral right to slug it out with Dickson ahead of the governorship poll in the state. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.”

However, reports have it that the first lady’s terminal benefits and pension won’t be affected by her resignation as they are already being prepared.

Jonathan Declares Interest In Presidential Race

President Goodluck Jonathan has finally declared his interest in the 2015 presidential race after the Peoples Democratic Party announced an October 30 deadline for the purchase of nomination forms

  President Goodluck Jonathan

After months of speculation, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally declared his intention to contest in the 2015 elections.

The move was made necessary after the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced that all intending candidates must purchase nomination forms by October 30.

The president told the party leaders on Thursday, October 23, that he would procure the form before the deadline, Punch reports.

Jonathan is also said to have set up a presidential declaration committee to handle the intricacies involved in his official declaration which would take place between November 7 and 15

10th AFRICA-EUROPE Training Course for Youth Organisations

The North-South Centre of the Council of Europe is organising the 10th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organisations
in Nairobi-Kenya, from 25th January to 1st February 2015. The training course is organised in partnership with the European Youth Forum, the Pan African Youth Union and the Network of International Youth organisations in Africa. The activity is organised in the framework of the Joint Management Agreement between the European Commission – EuropeAid Co-operation Office and the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.

ELIGIBILITY

• Be representatives of youth organisations in Europe and Africa.
• Should be a key multiplier playing an active role within a youth organisation, network or service at national or regional level, and plan to continue this work in the near future;
• Seeking gender balance;
• Diverse social and geographical background (including disadvantaged and minority groups);
• Aged between 18 and 30;
• Have already some qualification or experience in terms of international youth work;
• Be committed to attend the full duration of the course and be supported by a youth organisation or service;
• Be able to present the context of their work, their way of tackling problems, the challenges they meet;
• Be able to work and communicate in English/French.

DEADLINE: 5^th November, 2014

To apply and for more information visit here

D’banj performs and gives ‘Believe in yourself’ speech in Washington 

D’banj was recently in Washington, US, to speak at the TEDxWBG conference, which had ‘ending poverty’ as its theme.
The superstar was invited to give a speech about using agriculture to end poverty, and also about his work with the ‘ONE’ campaign.
The Kokomaster gave a good account of himself as he delivered to his audience a speech titled, ‘Believe in yourself’.
He started with, “I’m D’banj and I’m from Africa. I know when you hear Africa, you are thinking ‘Oh that dark continent.”
D’banj would also perform his hit song, ‘On Top Of The World’, after the end of his speech.

 

Wiko, Europe’s fastest growing phone brand, launches in Nigeria

 

-         Ezekiel Adesawe

Wiko, French mobile phone maker has launched 10 models of its phones into the Nigerian market during a media launch event at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos yesterday.

Speaking at the launching, Marcel Van de Pas, International Business Director, Wiko Global said, “We are delighted to bring the Wiko brand to Nigerian consumers.” He added, “Wiko is confident that our combination of stylish design, technology, quality and pricing will be a huge success here.”

According to him, Wiko launched in Nigeria because the brand positioning represents a perfect match with Nigeria’s predominantly young population as well as the appeal of the Nigerian market.

He further noted that smart phones account for 20 percent or 400, 000 units of the estimated 2million monthly mobile device market in Nigeria.

Models of the Wiko brand launched into the Nigerian market are Highway, its flagship, Rainbow, Bloom, Lenny. Sunset and Goa, all smart phones. The feature phones are Kir-3, Riff and Lubi-3.

Flagship model Wiko Highway is one of the first smartphones to use 2.0 GHz Octa-Core technology. The Highway’s exceptional features include a Gorilla Glass body, super bright 5” FHD screen, 16MP back camera and 8MP front camera. A smartphone that guarantees superior speed and performance, Wiko says the Highway is one of the best-in-class smartphones available in Nigeria.

Wiko Mobile comes with the tagline, “My life my rules”, a message that appeals to the free-spirited, passionate, adventurous and independent nature of today’s youth.

Wiko Mobile already has presence in 19 countries including Nigeria.  It is the second bestselling brand in France with a market share of 13. 3 per cent traditional sales and 22.6 per cent online sales second only to Samsung.

 

 

Malala Yousafzai: 131st world famous

                                                                               

Malala Yousafzai, youngest Pakistani human rights activist is 131^st most famous person in the world. According to an online website, Biographyonline.net Malala occupies the 131^st position on the list of famous people, chosen mainly from the Ninenteenth, Twentieth or Twenty First Century. This list includes famous actors, politicians, entrepreneurs, writers, artists and humanitarians.

Malala Yousafzai who was in October awarded the Nobel Peace Prize is a Pakistani school pupil and spokesperson for women’s right to education. In retaliation for her high profile campaign for education and criticism of the Taliban, she was shot in the head at close range by a Taliban gunman. She survived the gunshot wound and has become a leading spokesperson for human rights, education and women’s rights. She has received numerous peace awards, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 along with Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian children’s rights activist.

Malala was born (12 July 1997) in Mingora, the Swat District of north west Pakistan to a Sunni Muslim family. She was named Malala, which means ‘grief stricken’ after a famous female Pashun poet and warrior from Afghanistan.
Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai is a poet, and runs a chain of public schools. He is a leading educational advocate himself. In 2009, she began writing an anonymous blog for the BBC expressing her views on education and life under the threat of the Taliban taking over her valley. It was her father who suggested his own daughter to the BBC. She wrote under the byline “Gul Makai”
During this period, the Taliban’s military hold on the area intensified. At times, Malala reported hearing artillery from the advancing Taliban forces. As the Taliban took control of the area they issued edicts banning television, banning music, and banning women from going shopping and limiting women’s education. Many girls schools were blown up and as a consequence pupils stayed at home, scared of possible reprisals from the Taliban. However, for a time, there was a brief respite when the Taliban stated girls could receive primary education, if they wore Burkhas. But, a climate of fear prevailed and Malala and her father began to receive death threats for their outspoken views. As a consequence, Malala and her father began to fear for their safety. Her father once considered moving Malala outside of Swat to a boarding school, but Malala didn’t want to move.

On 15 October, UN Special Envoy for global education, Gordon Brown, visited Malala whilst she was in hospital and launched a petition in her name – ‘In support for what Malala fought for.’

Using the slogan “I am Malala” the petition contains three demands: We call on Pakistan to agree to a plan to deliver education for every child, We call on all countries to outlaw discrimination against girls, We call on international organizations to ensure the world’s 61 million out-of-school children are in education by the end of 2015. I am Malala – petition

On 12 July 2013, she spoke at the United Nations to a group of 500 youths calling for worldwide access to education.

She said “I am not against anyone, neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I’m here to speak up for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all terrorists and extremists.”