In Mali, Guterres Honours Dedication and Sacrifice of UN Peacekeepers

In Mali, Guterres Honours Dedication and Sacrifice of UN Peacekeepers

NEW YORK, 29 May 2018 / PRN Africa / -- The north-west African country is the most dangerous place in the world to be a UN ‘blue helmet', and last year, 21 troops serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) lost their lives, together with seven civilians.

UN News has a team in Mali to cover the special visit, and shortly after arriving in the capital, Bamako, the Secretary-General attended a poignant ceremony at MINUSMA's base in the capital, to pay tribute to fallen peacekeepers. He laid a wreath at the memorial inside the camp, engraved with the names of those killed in the service of peace.

2018 Democracy Day: The Full Speech of President Muhammadu Buhari

ADDRESS BY MUHAMMADU BUHARI , PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 2018 DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATION , TUESDAY,  MAY 29, 2018.

My Dear Nigerians !
Today marks the 19 th year of our nascent democracy and the 3 rd Anniversary of this administration . I am thankful to Almighty God for bringing us thus far . This administration came at a time that Nigerians needed Change, the Change we promised and the Change we continue to deliver . We have faced a lot of challenges on this journey and Nigerians have stood by us in achieving the three cardinal points of this administration namely; Security , Corruption and the Economy .
2 . The commemoration of this year ’s Democracy Day is a celebration of freedom , a salute to the resilience and determination of Nigerians and a recommitment by Government to keep its promise to lead Nigeria into a new era of justice and prosperity .
3 . Public safety and security remains the primary duty of this Government . Before this Administration came into being 3 years ago, Boko Haram held large areas of land spanning several Local Governments in the North East .
4 . Today , the capacity of the insurgents has been degraded leading to the re -establishment of authority of government and the release of captives including , happily, 106 Chibok and 104 Dapchi girls, and over 16 , 000 other persons held by the Boko Haram.

Okonjo-Iweala's Book is a Documentary on Goodluck Jonathan's Legacy of Corruption

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's Book is a documentary on the maladministration and legacy of corruption of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the former national ruling party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria.

Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines published by the MIT Press is a must read for all literate Nigerians.
Click here to get the book on Amazon.com: Books.

A frontline account of how to fight corruption, from Nigeria's former finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

In Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has written a primer for those working to root out corruption and disrupt vested interests. Drawing on her experience as Nigeria's finance minister and that of her team, she describes dangers, pitfalls, and successes in fighting corruption. She provides practical lessons learned and tells how anti-corruption advocates need to equip themselves. Okonjo-Iweala details the numerous ways in which corruption can divert resources away from development, rewarding the unscrupulous and depriving poor people of services.

Okonjo-Iweala discovered just how dangerous fighting corruption could be when her 83-year-old mother was kidnapped in 2012 by forces who objected to some of the government's efforts at reforms led by Okonjo-Iweala―in particular a crackdown on fraudulent claims for oil subsidy payments, a huge drain on the country's finances. The kidnappers' first demand was that Okonjo-Iweala resign from her position on live television and leave the country. Okonjo-Iweala did not resign, her mother escaped, and the program of economic reforms continued.
"Telling my story is risky," Okonjo-Iweala writes.
"But not telling it is also dangerous." Her book ultimately leaves us with hope, showing that victories are possible in the fight against corruption.

Families Urgently Need Food, Clean Water, Medical Support after Somaliland Cyclone

PRESS RELEASE
24th May 2018

Families Urgently Need Food, Clean Water, Medical Support after Somaliland Cyclone

Thousands of people remain in urgent need of food, clean water, health services and essential household items along the north-western coastline of Somaliland in the wake of last Saturday’s Cyclone Sagar, the strongest storm that has ever made landfall in this part of the country. Hundreds are homeless, 47 deaths have been reported and a massive number of livestock have been killed.

Gen. Sani Abacha's Military Regime Achieved More than 16 Years of the PDP

Did you know that the military regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha ( September 20,  1943 – June 8, 1998.) achieved more for Nigeria than the 16 years of the administrations of the People's Democratic Party (PDP)?

His regime built the biggest and largest LNG complex in the third world presently with a fleet of 23 ships and the Nigeria LNG paid US$5.5 Billion in taxes to Federal Government.
The Nigeria LNG RAs are the most advanced and developed residential areas in West Africa with 24 hours power supply; with the safest drinking water and the streets are vacuum cleaned by big  vacuum cleaners every day.

In the space of four years (1993 to 1997), the country's foreign exchange reserve rose from US$494 million to US$9.6 billion.
The external debt of the country was reduced from US$36 billion in 1993 to US$27 billion in 1997.

68 Countries at the World Blockchain Cryptocurrency Summit in Moscow

68 Countries at the World Blockchain Cryptocurrency Summit in Moscow

On 19-20 of May IDACB held one of the greatest international events dedicated to blockchain and cyber economy — World Blockchain Cryptocurrency Summit (WBCSummit). According to the Association’s rating, WBCSummit is in the top 5 scaled multi-country blockchain and cryptocurrency events.

Almost 2000 visitors attended WBCSummit during two days; the general program was 44 hours, the audience could access the wisdom and experience of 250 speakers from 68 countries. The articles about Summit went to the top of Google and Yandex news; during as short as a couple of days there were 317 publications made: on Russian, English, Spanish, Hindi and other languages. 4,935 tweets and other social networks’ posts marked with #wbcsummit and #IDACB. We are proud to be so highly appreciated, and that IDACB’s work is so necessary for crypto community form all over the world. Everybody wants to be the part of something more.

Facebook Launches First Hub Space in Africa in Lagos

PRESS RELEASE

In Partnership with CcHub, Facebook Launches NG_Hub in Lagos - its First Hub Space in Africa

FLTR: Ime Archibong, VP Partnerships at Facebook; Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director Facebook Africa; Bosun Tijani, CEO CcHub; Ebele Okobi, Head of Public Policy Africa Facebook; Emeka Afigbo, Head Developer Programs Facebook; Ari Kesisoglu, Regional Director Middle East, Turkey and Africa Facebook.

The launch will showcase the new multi-faceted space which aims to bring together communities to collaborate, learn, and exchange ideas

LAGOS, Nigeria, May 22, 2018/ -- As part of its commitment and ongoing investment in Africa, Facebook (www.Facebook.com) today unveiled NG_Hub in Lagos, Nigeria - its first flagship community hub space in Africa, in partnership with CcHub. In a week-long celebration which will bring together developers, start-ups, and the wider tech community across Lagos and Nigeria, the launch will showcase the new multi-faceted space which aims to bring together communities to collaborate, learn, and exchange ideas.

Dear British Museum, Please Don't Return Your Collection of Benin Artworks To Nigeria

The famous Queen Mother Idia,16th century ivory portrait, one of four related ivory pendant masks, that were among the prized regalia of the Oba of Benin, among the treasures of Benin Kingdom taken by the British during the punitive expedition of 1897. Presently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, British Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Linden Museum and a private collection.

Dear British Museum,
Please, don't return your largest collection of the artworks from the Benin kingdom to Nigeria. Because there are no facilities for the safe keeping and preservation in the local museums in our country.
The local museums have been neglected and underfunded and many of the artworks are being destroyed everyday or stolen.
My painting, "Blessed Mother" was stolen from the Education Unit of the National Museum in Lagos in 1984 and have not been recovered.

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments does not know how to run our museums and have failed to learn from the British Museum, MoMA and MET. They are clueless about how to turn our museums into international tourist attractions that can generate millions of dollars and pounds annually.
The education programmes of the National Museum in Lagos have been abandoned.
They don't even know that we need a museum for #Nollywood and #Kannywood, the two major genres of the Nigerian film industry.

India, China and Nigeria Will Account for 35 Per Cent of Around 2.5 Billion People Living in Cities by 2050

Around 2.5 billion more people will be living in cities by 2050, projects new UN report

NEW YORK, 16 May 2018 / PRN Africa / -- Owing to both demographic shifts and overall population growth, that means that around 2.5 billion people could be added to urban areas by the middle of the century, predicts the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

Most of the increase is expected to be highly-concentrated in just a handful of countries.

“Together, India, China and Nigeria will account for 35 per cent of the projected growth of the world's urban population between 2018 and 2050…It is projected that India will have added 416 million urban dwellers, China  255 million and Nigeria 189 million,” said DESA, announcing the findings on Wednesday.

International Jobs at Dalberg for Africa, America and Europe

#Jobs at Dalberg 
CURRENT OPENINGS

At Dalberg, we strive to merge private sector and international development expertise into one integrated vision. We offer a distinctive platform for people who want to bring their intelligence, business skills and experience into the international development and globalization arena.

During any single recruitment period, please apply to only one position across the Dalberg businesses. This position should be to the role best suited to your current professional experience and to your first preference location.  If there are multiple locations recruiting for the same position, you will have the opportunity to rank your next 2 location preferences within your application.

Kora Uses Blockchain To Unlock Financial Markets for the Un(der)banked in Nigeria and Across the Globe

Kora Uses Blockchain To Unlock Financial Markets for the Un(der)banked in Nigeria and Across the Globe

LONDON and NEW YORK, May 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Company hopes to onboard 100,000 users by end of 2018.

Innovating to reduce poverty through financial inclusion, Kora has launched a new network built on blockchain technology to unlock global growth by linking the value in local ecosystems with global markets. Already piloted in Nigeria with the next pilot to launch in Ghana in June, the Kora Network platform was designed to create trust, security, efficiency and transparency.

"The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream" Approved for Global Distribution

"The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream" has been approved for global distribution. In full colour with more than 80 photographs of the most colourful presidential campaigns in the political history of Nigeria since independence from British colonial rule.
Written by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima whose presidential campaign experience dates back to 1990 when he worked for the publicity department of the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur's Presidential Campaign.
This is the most colourful eye witness account of how President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 presidential election, including a live telephone report of an SOS distress call from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Available on @Amazon

ClearFoundation Enters CIS Market By Partnering With World Blockchain Cryptocurrency Summit Moscow 2018

ClearFoundation Enters CIS Market 
By Partnering With World Blockchain Cryptocurrency Summit Moscow 2018

IDACB to establish the partnership with nine-year-old New Zealand-based ClearFoundation, which launches CLEAR Token, secure Blockchain Platform, and app Marketplace in the Russian Commonwealth Through Gold Partnership at Europe’s largest Blockchain Show Organized by IDACB.

IDACB FUND To Invest US$100K at World ICO Show

IDACB FUND To Invest US$100K
at World ICO Show

IDACB FUND will invest $100K in the most worthy Blockchain project at the World ICO Show which is the final step of establishing the straight relations between blockchain projects and investors in Russia. The first step was at Russia ICO show where the jury choose three best applicants (the 3rd place — eCoinomic; the 2nd place — Trecento, the 1st place — Romad). At the World ICO Show will be chosen only the one winner, who gets the $100K.

African Development Bank Approves US $1.5 Million for Jigiwa On-Grid IPP Solar Power Procurement Program

African Development Bank Approves US $1.5 Million for Jigiwa On-Grid IPP Solar Power Procurement Program

ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire, 09 May 2018 / PRN Africa / -- The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a US $1.5-million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to support the Nigerian Government's implementation of Phase 1 of the Jigawa 1-GW Independent Power Producer (IPP) Solar Procurement Program. This approval reaffirms the underpinning principles of the Bank's New Deal on Energy for Africa and its commitment to developing renewable energy and increasing energy access on the continent.

At full 1 GW capacity, the program will assist the government to achieve its national goals of reaching 75% electricity access by 2020 and electrifying unserved and underserved areas, particularly in northern Nigeria where access rates are lowest and increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 30% by 2030.

Portenier Bursary Competition for Independent Journalists in Danger While Exposing Human Rights Abuses

Jason O’Hara, Portenir Bursary winner, 2015 (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma)

Portenier Bursary Competition Offers Safety Training for Independent Journalists in Danger while Exposing Human Rights Abuses

Eman Helal, Portenier Bursary winner, 2016 (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma)

Brennan Leffler, Portenier Bursary winner, 2017 (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma)

LONDON, ON, May 15, 2018 /CNW/ - Independent documentary-makers and freelance journalists working on significant projects exposing human rights abuses can apply for a bursary to help them obtain hostile environment training, more usually made available to journalists working in war zones.

The 2018 Portenier Human Rights Bursary competition, offered by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, opens today and closes on June 15.

The annual bursary, introduced in 2015, is sponsored by the documentary filmmaker Giselle Portenier, whose work on human rights abuses has been internationally acclaimed.

Click here to read more.

IDACB To Launch Large Scale Asian Blockchain Roadshow

IDACB To Launch Large Scale Asian Blockchain Roadshow

$5 billion were invested in ICO during 2017, while according to CoinDesk $4,8 billion during three months of the current year. It is 85% investments of the whole last year (ICO Telegram excluded from the calculation). The number of ICOs have already reached 60% of 2017 rates. Despite the bans on ICO which are being introduced in some Asian countries, this region is still one of the most promising one.

Book on President Buhari and the Nigerian Dream Selling in America

Two copies of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Testimony on the 2015 Presidential Election" sold yesterday for N33, 840, including shipping.

It is only N12, 240 per copy ( excluding shipping) for the paperback version.
The hardcover will be released before Democracy Day on May 29.

This is the most colourful book on the historical 2015 presidential election in Nigeria and the principal actors in the emergence of the first Nigerian presidential candidate to defeat an incumbent President in the political history of Nigeria.

Book designed by Juvelin Aripal in the Philippines and printed in full colour in the United States of America.
Price: US$34.38.

Buhari Administration Will Continue to Ensure Transparency, Accountability in Governance - VP Osinbajo

Buhari Administration Will Continue to Ensure Transparency, Accountability in Governance - VP Osinbajo

Speech Delivered by His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week, Held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday, May 7, 2018

ABUJA, Nigeria, May 8, 2018/ -- *Says FG determined to stop grand corruption

*Implementation of OGP has improved Nigeria’s image in international community

Speech Delivered by His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the  Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week, Held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday, May 7, 2018:

“We have, since we assumed office three years ago, made remarkable progress in pushing the frontiers of transparency and accountability in the Federal Government. One of the first things that the President did when we took office was to establish the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), to coordinate our reform efforts in this regard.

University of Port Harcourt's Nollywood Film Workshop Begins on May 21

The University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State of Nigeria is hosting the Nollywood Film Workshop from May 21-28, 2018.
The opening ceremony for the film workshop is on Monday, 21st of May, 2018.

The university has produced many of the top actors and actresses in Nollywood, including Ibinabo Fiberesima, Hilda Dokubo, Clem Ohameze, Sam Dede, Bob Manuel Udokwu, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, Thelma Okoduwa, Charles Inojie, Rita Dominic, Charles Okafor, Basorge Tariah Jnr, Ejike Asiegbu, Francis Duru and Yul Edochie.

Contact:
Dr. Chika Christian Onu, PhD (Directing). Department of Theatre & Film Studies University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series: The only book series on the Nigerian film industry.

Why They Are Ganging Up Against President Buhari

Why They Are Ganging Up Against President Buhari

Chief Obasanjo, Atiku, Abdulsalami Faces Prosecution, as President Buhari Reopens $182 Million Halliburton Bribery Scandal.

Chief Obasanjo is desperate to stop President Buhari from Reopening Haliburton Scandal, because he was indicted by Okiro Panel. Files point to $182mn Halliburton bribery scandal in Nigeria | The Indian Express http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-others/files-point-to-182mn-halliburton-bribery-scandal-in-nigeria/ Halliburton Bribery: Chronology of a Nigerian Scandal | The NEWS http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2015/07/halliburton-bribery-chronology-of-a-nigerian-scandal/

Chief Obasanjo is still haunted by the Odi massacre.

The Odi massacre was an attack carried out on November 20, 1999, by the Nigerian military on the predominantly Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa State.

You Can Criticise President Buhari Without Cursing and Insulting Him

Tell those cursing and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari to show us what their fathers have achieved for Nigeria.
President Buhari started serving Nigeria from when he was only 19 as a Nigerian military officer and at 21 was a Platoon Commander and not sponging off others like a doggie and was a combatant during the uncivil war from 1967-1970; twice state governor of two different state at 33 and 34 and Federal Commissioner at 36.