Monday, April 29, 2013

Nollywood Mirror To Be Launched in May



NOLLYWOOD MIRROR, a new quarterly publication that will showcase Nollywood, the largest film industry in Africa is launching in May, 2013.

 The maiden edition is a special focus on the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held on Saturday April 20, 2013, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
 It is loaded with features and pictures on Nollywood, recognizing those who have been supporting the fastest growing film industry in the world, including Prince Tonye Princewill who has been supporting the productions of movies like Kajola and Figurine, Bank of Industry's funding of the film adaptation of Half of A Yellow Sun, the historical fiction on Biafra by best selling author Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie and Film House cinemas and how much Mnet's Africa Magic has done to make Nollywood movies popular on cable TV in Africa.

The cover shows the AMAA symbol and Kenneth Gyang, the Nigerian director whose debut feature Confusion Na Wa won the highly coveted awards for Best Nigerian Film and Best Film.

Nollywood Mirror will be published in paperback, hardcover and e-copy versions for global distribution. The paperback sells for only $10 per copy, the hardcover is $30 per copy and the e-copy is only $5 per copy. Local and international distributors should contact the publishers, International Digital Post Network Limited by email only. E-mail: publisher@nigeriansreport.com

Note that Nollywood Mirror will be the first Nigerian magazine to be published in paperback, hardcover and digital versions and the most circulated with a guaranteed target audience of 10 million members of Amazon Prime who will have access to read it free on Amazon.com and will definitely attract millions of Nigerians and other nationals in the world who watch Nollywood movies and are followers of Nollywood.
Nollywood Mirror is indeed Nollywood reloaded.
With my best regards,
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Publisher/Editor
Nigerians Report Online
Nollywood Mirror
Founder/Festival Director
Eko International Film Festival
Founder/CEO
Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema
Screen Naija One Village, One Cinema Project
A member of the Projection Foundation

 

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The Single Cause and the Single Solution To the Nigerian Crisis



Many articles, essays, letters, books, audio and video tapes have been produced and published on the Nigerian crisis since 1960 to date. And the debate will continue, but ironically these publications have failed to help us and even made things worse. From the great Chinua Achebe's The Trouble With Nigeria to my own In the House of Dogs and other down to earth analyses of the various socioeconomic and sociopolitical crises plaguing Nigeria, answers to our problems have been given. But both the leaders or rulers and their followers have ignored them. And their ignorance is their own choice to do as they wish. The single cause of the corruption and violence destroying lives and properties since 1960 to date is DISOBEDIENCE. Disobedience to God by both the so called Christians and Muslims in Nigeria who are just hypocrites and pretenders whose conceit and deceit betray their sacred beliefs. They have disobeyed God in their choices and the terrible consequences have left the country in ruins.


President Goodluck Jonathan is overwhelmed by the Nigerian crisis.

If you love your neighbour as yourself as God commanded: Would you compete with him or her over money and power? Would you cheat or steal from him or her? Would you ra-pe his wife or daughter? Would you sleep with a married man or married woman to break up a home and jeopardize the future of their children? Would you misappropriate the revenue allocations meant for all? Would you make and sell fake foods and drugs to him or her? Would you drive against traffic rules just in lust to beat others? Would you refuse to treat him or her, because he or she had no money to pay in emergencies? Would you rig elections and pay thugs to attack him or her your desperation for political power? Would you in your greed allocate millions of naira to yourself as monthly salaries just to sit and debate in the upper and lower houses pretending to serve their interests, but you are only more of a robber than a lawmaker? Would you as Mr. President pretend to fear God as you kneel before Daddy GO at Redemption Camp and then later go and give billions of naira to cultists and ritualistic brigands claiming to be Niger Delta freedom fighters, but God knows they are idol worshipers? And you continue to rob Peter to pay Paul in Aso Villa. You hunt for Ibori, but you dine and wine with your ex-boss DSP Alams? And you think you can fool God?  

 
President Goodluck Jonathan should know that granting Amnesty to militants and terrorists will not end the political violence in Nigeria.

 The list of what we do wrong is too long, but the single solution is just one single word, OBEDIENCE. Until we obey GOD, we will never know peace in Nigeria and misappropriating billions of public funds in the camouflage of Amnesty will not stop the violence. Only our obedience to the command of God will end the violence in Nigeria.


~ By Orikinla Osinachi.


 

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Have You Seen Her?





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Human Rights and Democracy Report 2012 case study - Egypt


Reuters/Reuters - An Egyptian Salafi Muslim man holds a poster of Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi which reads "Renaissance" during a protest in front of Abdeen Presidential Palace in downtown Cairo March 1, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh.

26 Apr 2013 03:04 Africa/Lagos

Human Rights and Democracy Report 2012 case study - Egypt


LONDON, 24 April 2013 / PRNewswire Africa / - The FCO's Human Rights and Democracy Report 2012 covers a number of changes in the human rights situation in Egypt.  

Egypt - post-revolution

In 2011, we concluded that our key concerns were freedom of expression; freedom of association; mistreatment of religious minorities, protesters, journalists and human rights defenders; increased use of military trials for civilians; and allegations of inhuman or degrading treatment at the hands of the security services. Over the course of 2012, there have been a number of improvements in the human rights situation in Egypt. Most significantly, handover of power from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to a democratically elected president took place in June and there is now greater space for public debate. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to begin on 27 April 2013.

However, issues of concern remain. Foremost of these are women's rights, freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Women, who played a key role in the revolution, have seen little improvement in their rights. We remain concerned about reports of increasingly violent sexual assault and treatment of women, and we have raised this with the Egyptian government. The transition period has also seen continued sectarian violence.

The Prime Minister raised the protection of religious minorities during his meeting with President Mursi on 26 September. Through project funds, we have supported a project to create a partnership between mainstream Muslim and Christian groups to train mixed teams in conflict resolution and mediation skills. The new constitution agreed by referendum in December lacks clarity on certain human rights elements. While it gives Muslims, Christians and Jews the right to practise their religion, it does not give the same freedom to other religions and minority sects. More positively, there is now greater space for public debate in Egyptian society since the fall of Mubarak.
 
We note that during the protests over the draft constitution at the end of 2012, the police initially acted with more restraint than previously and the army made clear that they would not intervene. But we are concerned about limits on freedom of expression in Egypt, including the increase in prosecutions of bloggers and activists, closing of satellite television stations, and lack of clarity on the definition of blasphemy, which is illegal under the new constitution.
 
 We are also concerned about ongoing harassment and intimidation of trade union officials as well as the article in the new constitution which prohibits more than one trade union per profession. Trade unions have an important role to play in developing a healthy democracy. Through the joint-funded FCO–DFID Arab Partnership Fund, we are supporting a project to assist Egypt's trade unions to develop and promote economic and social policy recommendations.

 Elections

Elections are crucial to the democratic process and to delivering long-term, stable democratic outcomes. Support for good electoral process and practice is therefore central to the FCO's policy on democracy. We provide this largely by giving financial, technical and personnel support to election observation missions and democratic institutions to promote the peaceful transition of power and minimise opportunities for fraud. In this we work closely with DFID, led by a joint policy on election assistance.

In 2011–12 DFID provided support to four countries to help them hold freer and fairer elections (Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia and Yemen). Much of our election observation support is done through international organisations, in particular the EU, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Commonwealth. These organisations' election observation missions consider the strengths and weaknesses of an electoral process and make independent recommendations for improvements.

In 2012, the EU observed elections in Senegal, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Libya and Timor-Leste, helping to achieve largely peaceful and successful elections in each case. The FCO supported UK observers for OSCE election observation missions in Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine and the USA. As part of discussions to modernise the Commonwealth which took place throughout 2012, Commonwealth Heads of Government agreed that election observation was an area where the Commonwealth adds significant value and concluded that this work should be strengthened.
 
 In 2012, the Commonwealth observed elections in Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Lesotho and Ghana. The UK, through the FCO and DFID, provided approximately £7 million in support of the Ghanaian elections. This included a training programme for 16,000 police and other service personnel on electoral procedures to ensure, for example, impartial conduct at polling stations. The elections were peaceful and deemed by the observers to be free, fair and transparent. Domestic election observers also play an important role in monitoring the conduct of elections. For instance, in Libya, the Arab Partnership Fund supported training of nearly 900 local election observers, including women and former revolutionary fighters, for Libya's July 2012 elections, the first to be held after the fall of Muammar Qadhafi and the first in the country in 47 years.

The UK also helped set up an Observer Control Centre to provide observer groups with a central office in which comments and observations could be coordinated. The observers were able to report on an election which, despite some security incidents, they determined was fair overall, and in which the majority of Libyans were able to vote without intimidation. A key pillar of the FCO's and DFID's joint policy on election support involves offering long-term engagement between elections, as well as during them, with those whose effective participation is essential for a peaceful democratic result, including parliamentarians, electoral bodies, the judiciary, political parties, the media and civil society.

Our response to the elections in Egypt, where the UK is committed to supporting the process of political transition, was an example of this approach being put into practice. Egypt went to the polls on three separate occasions in 2012: a parliamentary election in January, a presidential election in May and a referendum on the new constitution in December. Through the FCO Arab Partnership Fund, we provided early financial and public support to the Carter Center monitoring mission, one of the few international organizations allowed to observe the elections in May.

We were also the only donor to fund the observation of the December referendum by the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, the single independent observer. Embassy staff observed at polling stations when permitted by the authorities. All three elections passed peacefully and without significant allegations of irregularity. We are now working to support media training in Egypt to facilitate impartial electoral coverage and to provide peer support to nascent political parties and parliamentarians, in particular female candidates. We will continue to promote a free and open political system in Egypt by providing support for a credible and impartial assessment of the presidential elections and constitutional referendum. In 2013, the UK will continue to support electoral processes both bilaterally and through our work with international organisations.

SOURCE : UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office



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Friday, April 26, 2013

The 250 Most Powerful Women Corporate Directors Get 2013 Visionary Awards


 Clara Shih – CEO, Hearsay Social; Director, Starbucks Corporation is one the top speakers.

24 Apr 2013 15:00 Africa/Lagos

Media Alert: 250 of the World's Most Powerful Women Corporate Directors Meet at WCD Global Institute and Visionary Awards

NEW YORK, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

What:
WomenCorporateDirectors hosts its third annual Global Institute, bringing together more than 250 women corporate board directors from all over the world.


When:
Daytime sessions – May 1-2, 2013; Visionary Awards Dinner – evening of May 1


Where:
New York City


Theme:
"Resiliency – Successful Directors and Corporations Looking Beyond the Next Quarter"


Why:
The Institute will convene some of the most powerful women in business globally. Speakers and panelists from the highest levels of business (from North and South America and Europe to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa) will address the emerging trends and market developments affecting boards and companies today.



The Visionary Awards will honor Unilever, IBM, SC Johnson, and former Pearson CEO Marjorie Scardino.
Featured speakers:
  • Clara Shih – CEO, Hearsay Social; Director, Starbucks Corporation
  • Paul Polman – CEO of Unilever
  • Christy Wood – Director, H&R Block, Inc.; Former Chairman, International Corporate Governance Network
  • Susan Oliver (Australia) – Chairman, Fusion Retail Brands; Chairman and Co-Founder, scalE Enterprises
  • Deanna Oppenheimer (USA & UK) – CEO, CameoWorks, LLC; Former Vice Chair, Global Retail Banking at Barclays; Non-Executive Director Tesco PLC and NCR Corporation
  • Jeanette Horan (United Kingdom) – Vice President, CIO, IBM; Director, Microvision, Inc.
  • Fatima Al Jaber (United Arab Emirates) – Board Member, Al Jaber Group; Chairperson, UAE Businesswomen's Council
  • Dr. Helene Gayle – President and CEO, CARE USA ; Director, The Coca-Cola Company and Colgate-Palmolive
  • Ambassador Donna Hrinak – President, Boeing Brazil; Former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic
  • Felia Salim (Indonesia) – Vice President Director, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI)
  • Wendy Luhabe (South Africa) – Chairman, Women Private Equity Fund of South Africa ; Director, BMW (South Africa) LTD.
  • Dr. Andrea J. Dew Naval War College , Strategy & Policy Department, Co-Director, Center on Irregular Warfare & Armed Groups
  • Marina Brogi (Italy) – Chairman, Fratelli Branca Distillerie S.r.l.; Director, Prelios S.p.A. and Impregilo, S.p.A.
Sessions include:
  • "Beyond the Next Quarter"
  • "What Directors Need to Know about Technology"
  • "What On Earth Were You Thinking?"
  • "Managing Change and Disruptions around the World"
  • "New Trends, Ideas, and Best Practices That Directors Can Take Advantage of to Successfully Navigate the Globe"
  • Conversations with Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever PLC, Fatima Al Jaber, board member of the Al Jaber Group, and Marcy Syms, director of Rite Aid and former CEO and chair of Syms Corp.
Media credentials
To apply for media credentials to cover this event, please contact Suzanne Oaks or Trang Mar of Temin and Company at 212-588-8788 or news@temin.co.

About the WCD Global Institute
The WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD) 2013 Global Institute is an unprecedented opportunity for global board directors to share corporate governance and business strategies and to build partnerships with a purpose, in a private, invitation-only setting.

The Institute is a two-day, high-powered idea forum exploring compelling issues on the minds of today's board directors and their companies. The program includes keynotes, panels, and discussion groups – as well as the WCD Visionary Awards Dinner – that facilitate informal peer exchanges.

About WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD)
WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD) is the only global membership organization and community of women corporate directors, comprised of more than 2,000 members serving on over 3,000 boards in 52 chapters around the world. In 2012, WCD launched the Global Nominating Commission, a high-level task force of select corporate board nominating committee chairs and members from around the world, as well as CEOs, focused on proactively building diverse boards and candidate slates. Each year, WCD conducts a Global Board Survey in conjunction with Heidrick & Struggles and researchers from the Harvard Business School. Heidrick & Struggles and KPMG are Global Founding Partners of WCD.

WCD has 52 global chapters, located in Arizona, Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Brazil, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Colombia, Dallas/Fort Worth, Delhi, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gulf Cooperation Council, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, London, Los Angeles/Orange County, Malaysia, Melbourne, Mexico, Milan, Minnesota, Morocco, Mumbai, Netherlands, New York, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern California, Peru, Philadelphia, Philippines, Rome, San Diego, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, South Africa, South Florida, Switzerland, Sydney, Tennessee, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.womencorporatedirectors.com.

SOURCE WomenCorporateDirectors
Web Site: http://www.womencorporatedirectors.com



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President Goodluck Jonathan, Time To Revolutionize Public Safety Management

 
President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State and others at the crash site of the ill fated Dana Air Flight 992 of a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft that crashed on Sunday, June 3, 2012 on the outskirts of Lagos whilst flying from Abuja to Lagos. Photo Credit: PM News of Nigeria.

Mr. President, it is time to revolutionize the One-size-fits-all approach to public safety Management. As we slowly ride deep into the 21st century and witness the continuously expanding population of our young nation which is now believed to be at least 160 million the One-size-fits-all approach to government becomes more difficult in regards to real protection of lives and property.

There is no doubt that the current federal system of security is improving slowly compared to the past but its functioning has being with great institutional stress and mistrust. Our current federal security systems do not have the full national reach to manage and maintain public order and safety across the nation as evidenced by their unending deadly challenges. 

There is a chronic sense of insecurity that prevails across the nation leaving many citizens with lack of confidence in our approach to law enforcement. It is essential to understand that State based law enforcement systems are in general preventive in nature and more recognizable to the people; a type of security system that could work well in the face of our growing population along with its increase in poverty, public disorder, and crime.

In a young democracy like ours, the presence of federal police is very much needed, and it will still be there for national duties in the areas of countrywide intelligence, immigrations, customs enforcement, postal service, and national security. As we know currently, the Nigeria’s political system at least since 1999 has taking to the American political presidential system. Like the United States Constitution, Nigeria functions as a Republic with a Constitution that provides for Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary divisions. Like America, the Nigerian Constitution allows the government to function at the Federal, State and local level, therefore it makes sense to have a decentralized public security systems in the nation.

There is no doubt, that at the beginning a decentralized form of public system could come with a gross misuse of power by some powers-that-be within and among different States followed by ethnic tensions but with time the new arrangement will adapt itself, and grow in strength and structure.

The nation is already almost half Christian and half Muslim cross the 36 States, as such the people are more likely to adjust easily to familiar or local settings like State law enforcement systems. Also, a decentralized security system will bode well with our Court system which is already at diverse levels; the Federal, State, Magistrate and Customary or Sharia courts; which could fully flow well with a decentralized Prison system that functions along the federal, and state levels. Same thing should happen with the Fire and Road service agencies, and other likes. By this way, we can reduce the burden of the federal government operating correctional facilities across the nation from one isolated position.

 Mr. President let your legacy be marked with a Jonathan-based revolution of our public security system especially when the long standing one-size-fits-all approach to the administration of public safety has not being good for the people in recent times.  

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.
 

 

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Book of the WeeK: The Prophet Lied. But Why Did the Old Prophet Lie?



 Because the prophet lied 
Thousands have died 
And thousands more will follow 
Because of the lies of this strange fellow.

 ~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima 


Question:  Hi Bob.  In 1st Kings 13:11-34. Could you tell me why this old prophet lied to the younger one and caused his death.  As always, thank you! 

Response:   I think you are correct that the old prophet flat-out lied. The fact that the Lord judged the other prophet for failing to follow His instructions makes it pretty clear that what the old prophet did "was not from God". People do these kind of things for their own reasons all the time. Perhaps the old prophet was jealous that he had not been the one chosen for this mission, perhaps there was some other sinister motivation, or perhaps (and most likely as I believe) he was one of those people who just can't stand being out of the limelight: he had to let this fellow know (and remind everyone who knew him) that he too was a "prophet" and so was eager to get involved in the operation one way or another (without worrying about the consequences for the other fellow).
There are a couple of important applications we can draw from this story, regardless of his real motivations: 

    1) "testing the spirits" (1Jn.4:1) continues to remain of critical importance whenever we are confronted with someone who claims to represent God or His Word in any way (teacher, pastor, prophet, evangelist, what have you); just because someone tells us that something "is from God" or "is what God/the Bible says" doesn't make it so (we are responsible to check these things out for ourselves). 

    2) doing good by/for other people in truth is not arrogantly assuming that we know what's best for them; history (and the history of most people's lives) is filled with examples of this sort, that is, of people who really have their own self-interest, wants and desires foremost in their thinking (whether or not they are honest with themselves about it) and proceed on this basis to "bless" others. Such behavior oft times results more in cursing for others than in blessing as it did for this genuine prophet of the Lord: the free meal he received hardly compensated him for being struck dead before his time.

    3) We are all responsible for what we do - even when we hand that responsibility over to other people by accepting their authority (the Nazis come to mind). This is especially true in the case of false teachers, prophets, cults and groups. True enough that those who lie to gain a following will be the more severely judged for their lies and evil deeds, but those who follow them have chosen to do so. We all have free will (as the younger prophet did), and when we suspect in our hearts that something is wrong and not from God, we are very foolish to tie our destiny those so involved (especially without thorough prior investigation). 

The young prophet knew for a fact what God had told him - he didn't know for a fact what God had told the old prophet. He should have based his decision upon verified truth instead of upon un-verified claims. And we should learn well the lesson of his mistake 

From http://ichthys.com/mail-old%20prophet.htm

 

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On the Web, Traffic is king and Maxvisits Leads the Way



On the Web, Traffic is king and Maxvisits Leads the Way





 In business they say the customer is king, and we agree, but on the world wide web traffic is king and that is where you need Maxvisits.com, one of the top online advertising and marketing campaigns companies in the world. Maxvisits directs thousands and millions of unique visitors online to specific target audiences or target markets of products and services.

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Diezani Alison-Madueke and Mamphele Ramphele Among Leading Influential African Women

 
Diezani Alison-Madueke.

25 Apr 2013 17:18 Africa/Lagos Leading the Way: Diezani Alison-Madueke, Mamphele Ramphele and Other Influential African Women

LONDON, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The role of Africa's leading women-such as Diezani Alison-Madueke and Mamphele Ramphele-is steadily growing across the continent. The fact that Africa is fast becoming one of the world's most important investment destinations is universally acknowledged. The US and emerging economic powerhouses such as China and India are increasing trade and investment in Africa whose economy grew five per cent in 2012 - according to the 2013 Economic Report on Africa. Traditionally an informal labour force, women in many parts of Africa have long been central to sustaining households and local economies. Over the past two decades, however, African women have been increasingly active in business and politics - occupying senior and C-Level positions in high-profile institutions - and have ultimately made significant contributions to the successes of the continent. Here is a list of some of Africa's most successful women:  


Diezani Alison-Madueke (Nigeria)

Diezani Alison-Madueke was Nigeria's first female Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources. Alison-Madueke is responsible for Nigeria's oil and gas resources, which provide an estimated 80 per cent of the Federal Government's revenues. She previously served as Nigeria's Minister of Transportation and later as Minister of Mines and Steel Development. As Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke led the drafting of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Often described as a pioneer of transformational change in Nigeria, Alison-Madueke was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Management Sciences by the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna for her public service, exemplary conduct and impeccable leadership. She graduated from Howard University, Washington DC, before joining Shell Petroleum Development Corporation where she became the first female Executive Director in Nigeria.

 
Mamphele Ramphele (South Africa)

 Dr Mamphele Ramphele is celebrated as one of South Africa's most inspirational female figures. As a former Managing Director of the World Bank and previous anti-apartheid campaigner, she is renowned as an activist and businesswoman. As Managing Director and Vice-President of External Affairs at the World Bank, Ramphele was tasked with overseeing the strategic positioning and operations of the World Bank Institute - the first South African to hold the position. Ramphele also serves as Chairperson of Circle Capital Ventures, a South African-based Black Economic Empowerment company focused on growing businesses and investing in people. Ramphele is involved in a variety of charitable work, most notably as a board member of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which supports good governance and leadership. Earlier this year, Ramphele announced the formation of a new political party.

  
Evelyn Oputu (Nigeria)

Evelyn Oputu currently serves as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at the Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria's oldest development bank. Born in the Delta State and schooled in Nigeria as well as abroad, Oputu rose through the ranks in the financial sector. In 1991, Oputu became an Executive Director at First Bank of Nigeria Plc. Since her appointment as CEO of the BOI six years ago, Oputu has led the bank through some of the most successful years in its history - providing long term financing to Nigeria's growing industrial sectors.  

Ory Okolloh (Kenya)

Kenyan-born activist, lawyer and blogger Ory Okolloh currently serves as Google's Policy Manager for Africa. The former Harvard University graduate studied law before founding Ushahidi, a crowd sourcing utility that enables citizen journalists and eyewitnesses all over the world to report incidences of violence via mobile, e-mail, SMS, and social media. The technology has since been syndicated internationally and adapted for other purposes.  

Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi (Namibia)

Named in the Africa Report among the 50 most influential Africans, Zaamwani-Kamwi is a corporate heavyweight. She currently serves as Managing Director of Namdeb, a mining joint venture between the Government of Namibia and De Beers. The former barrister has worked as an official in the Ministry of Mines and Energy and served as President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) from 1995-1998. Appointed as CEO of Namdeb in 1999, Zaamwani-Kamwi weathered the storm in the global diamond market but returned the company to profit in 2011.  

Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita (South Africa)

As the Chief Executive Officer of ArcelorMittal SA, Nyembezi-Heita leads the South African branch of the global steel manufacturer, the largest producer of steel on the African continent with an annual production capacity of 7.8 million tons. She has played a vital role in the success of the company, which reported revenue of R32 billion in 2012. Nyembezi-Heita previously served as the Chief Officer of Mergers and Acquisitions for the Vodacom Group. Nyembezi-Heita is currently the Chairperson of the South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI).

 Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin (Ethiopia)

 Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin is a famed economist and a former Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX). Gabre-Madhin is widely regarded as the driving force behind the creation of the ECX following her research at the International Food Policy Research Institute into the impact of supply and demand inefficiencies on Ethiopian farmers while working. During her time as CEO, Gabre-Madhin was instrumental in helping build on ECX's mandate of fostering a modern and efficient trading system. Gabre-Madhin was born in Addis Ababa and has lived in New York, Rwanda, Togo, Malawi and Kenya. She also holds a PhD in Economics.

CONTACT: Press Office - +44(0)7929-565-349



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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke Begins First Gospel Crusades in America

Christ for all Nations Announces First-Ever U.S. “Good News” Crusades After 72 million decisions over 35 years of ministry in Africa, God calls Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke to share the Gospel in America.

 
Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke speaking at a CfaN crusade.

ORLANDO, Fla., April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Internationally known evangelist and founder of Christ for all Nations (CfaN), Reinhard Bonnke, announces today that for the first time in his 35-year ministry history, he will host crusades throughout the United States, called Good News: a Gospel Crusade with International Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke.

 “I have come to love my country, but my heart is burning as I witness the staggering decline of morals and faith in this nation,” said Bonnke, who recently became a U.S. citizen. “America needs the Gospel like never before. Despite years of sharing God’s saving message abroad, I believe God is now calling me to turn my ministry inward to help America find renewal and revival.”

Through Good News crusades, Bonnke will travel from city-to-city to inspire Americans to draw nearer to a relationship with Jesus. CfaN will partner with local churches and pastors to host the first event at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 27-28..

Bonnke is best known for his Great Gospel Crusades across the continent of Africa. Earlier in his life, God placed upon Bonnke’s heart to minister throughout Africa and he dedicated his life to holding open-air Gospel campaigns throughout the Continent with as many as 1.6 million people in attendance at a single meeting. Through Bonnke’s 35 years of ministry, CfaN has recorded 72 million documented decisions for Jesus Christ.

 “My work in Africa came paid for mostly by American Christians, and I am so glad and thankful for their giving hearts,” Evangelist Bonnke said. “But God spoke to me and said, ‘I did not send you to America for the country to just be the offering plate for Africa. I sent you to America for the sake of Americans.’”

Though Orlando will host the first “Good News” crusade, CfaN is already planning locations for additional events in the coming year. For more information about the “Good News” crusades, please visit whatgoodnews.com.

CfaN is the international ministry of Bonnke, founded in 1974 after God gave him a vision of the continent of Africa being saved through Christ. Since the beginning of his 39-year ministry, Bonnke has preached face-to-face to multiple millions of people in Africa, with over 72 million responding to the call of salvation by filling out a decision card and being ushered into a church follow-up program. Today, CfaN is based in Orlando, Fla., with offices in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, and Brazil.

Note to the Editor: To arrange an interview with evangelist Bonnke or for more information, please contact Marchelle Michel at 972.267.1111 or by email at marchelle@alarryross.com.

Media Contact
A. Larry Ross Communications
Marchelle Michel
972.267.1111
 marchelle@alarryross.com



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Nigerian Stock Exchange is Booming Again - Reuters

This is good news for Nigeria!

 

Nigeria is Africa's second largest economy and its top oil producer. Now it's increasingly becoming the destination of choice when it comes to investing. Its stock exchange, Africa's second largest, was hard hit by the 2008 financial crisis, which wiped out nearly two thirds of its value in a year. But tougher regulations and a new trading system now have top investment banks clambering to join Nigeria's bourse.



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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Global Leaders Unite to Give All Children a Healthy Start to Life

 
Bill Gates visited a Community-Based Health Planning & Services Center in Ghana to see how strong immunization systems protect against polio and can deliver new vaccines and primary health care. Credit: ©Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Frederic Courbet. First Global Vaccine Summit Highlights Remarkable Progress Towards Vaccinating Every Child Global Leaders Unite to Give All Children a Healthy Start to Life.

Abu Dhabi, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — More than 300 global leaders, health and development experts, vaccinators, celebrities, philanthropists, and business leaders will gather tomorrow in Abu Dhabi in the first Global Vaccine Summit to endorse the critical role that vaccines and immunization play in giving children a healthy start to life. Despite tremendous progress, one child still dies every 20 seconds from preventable diseases like pneumonia, rotavirus, measles, and meningitis.


 
Children receive polio vaccination drops as they arrive into Afghanistan from Pakistan at the Torkham Border Crossing, where an estimated 2,000 children received the vaccine daily. Credit: ©Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Kate Holt.

   
Vaccinators are heroes who helped India become polio free in 2012. Credit: ©Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Prashant Panjiar.

The Summit, focused on the power of vaccines, is being held during World Immunization Week (April 24-30) to continue the momentum of the Decade of Vaccines — a vision and commitment to reach all people with the vaccines they need. Ending polio is a critical milestone in this vision.

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will deliver a keynote to celebrate progress and honor the individuals, communities, partners and nations that have made success possible. The speech will be webcast live at www.globalvaccinesummit.org.

 “Vaccines work to save lives and protect children for a lifetime,” said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “By investing in stronger immunization systems, we can protect our gains against polio and reach mothers and children with other health services.”

 The world is coming together around the Global Vaccine Action Plan, endorsed by nearly 200 countries last May, to develop better and more affordable vaccines and deliver them through stronger routine immunization systems. If we succeed, we can save more than 20 million lives and prevent nearly one billion illnesses by 2020. This will save nearly $12 billion in treatment costs and achieve more than $800 billion in economic gains as vaccinated children live longer, healthier, more productive lives.

“The Global Vaccine Summit is an historic gathering of global leaders and innovators whose collaboration can have a significant and positive impact on ensuring a healthy global society. Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, we remain committed to supporting the delivery of lifesaving vaccines to children around the world,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“Immunization is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent disease and safeguard young lives,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “The global success so far in fighting polio shows how far we can advance. Our great progress came thanks to an international alliance of partners. Today, we have a window of opportunity to end polio forever.”

 The Global Vaccine Summit is being held in partnership with His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

 Summit attendees, including ministers of health, front-line health care workers, international non-governmental organizations and donors, will discuss how the global community can assure that children everywhere have access to vaccines, how the roadmap to polio eradication works, and the opportunities afforded by new vaccine and delivery innovations. The full agenda for the Summit is available here.

The organizing partners of the Global Vaccine Summit are: UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the GAVI Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. ###  

The United Arab Emirates’ work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
In January 2011, His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pledged a total of $100 million – $50 million from each partner – for the purchase and delivery of vital vaccines that will save Afghan and Pakistani children and prevent disease for a lifetime. The partnership is resulting in the immunization of approximately five million children in Afghanistan against six deadly diseases, and will help the World Health Organization and UNICEF workers reach approximately 35 million children in Afghanistan and Pakistan with oral polio vaccines.  

About the UN and Vaccines
 Immunization reaches 80 percent of the world’s children, saving 2.5 million lives annually. Despite these successes, 23 million children are still being missed each year, mostly from the poorest, most vulnerable communities. To reach the unimmunized, the United Nations and its partners support vaccine procurement and distribution mechanisms, strengthen local health systems, help to secure sustainable funding for immunization, and advocate to reduce inequalities in access to essential vaccines and other life-saving interventions.  

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is ledby CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Media Contact: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Phone: +1.206.709.3400 Email: media@gatesfoundation.org



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A Bicycle Rider and His Goat in Nigeria





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Monday, April 22, 2013

2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards Winners



The 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) with the theme "AFRICA ONE" held last Saturday April 20, 2013, at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State. The event was co-hosted by Nollywood diva Dakore Egbuson, comedian Ayo Makun, Adjetey Anang and Ama K Abebrese British/Ghanaian television presenter and actress who won AMAA Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2011. The red carpet event included spectacular live performances by famous Nigerian singers P-Square, Banky W, Bayelsa State Cultural Troop, Groove Magic (Malawi), Waje (Nigeria), Timi Dakolo (Nigeria) and Kwelatebza (South Africa) and comedians included AY Makun and Funny Bone. Timi Dakolo's awesome song "Great Nation" got more applause than the national anthem of Nigeria as the audience gave him a well
 deserved standing ovation.

 
Kenneth Gyang's "Confusion Na Wa" won the Best Film and Best Nigerian Film awards.

The famous Mexican born American actor and director Mario Cain Van Peebles, son of film-maker Melvin Van Peebles known for his 1991 hit movie New Jack City was one of the invited special guests from Hollywood.

Click here for the full report and video.

 

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