TECNO Continues Partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) To Support More Refugees in Africa for Higher Education

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TECNO Continues Partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) To Support More Refugees in Africa for Higher Education

At the end of 2022, over 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced, up 19.1 million on a year earlier, marking the largest ever single-year increase TECNO continues partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support more refugees in Africa for higher education (1) (Source: TECNO Mobile | 2 hours ago) TECNO continues partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support more refugees in Africa for higher education (2) (Source: TECNO Mobile.

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BEIJING, The People's Republic of China, June 20, 2023/ -- Innovative technology brand TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com) announced today the strengthened partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support its Refugee Scholarships Programme DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) for the second year. The partnership aims to provide higher education and internship opportunities to refugee scholars in Africa, unlocking their full potential to thrive as adults, and ultimately contributing to equal access to education for all. At the end of 2022, over 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced, up 19.1 million on a year earlier, marking the largest ever single-year increase. Higher education is vital in restoring hope and dignity to people driven from their homes. DAFI programme supports refugee students around the world through full scholarships for undergraduate studies. The aim of the programme is to help promote refugee self-reliance through increased access to opportunities to earn academic qualifications, develop knowledge and skills to improve preparedness for employment and entrepreneurship, and to empower students to contribute to host communities during displacement and upon return. With support from TECNO and other partners, a total of 2,533 new refugee scholars were enrolled in higher education with DAFI scholarships in 2022 and the refugee tertiary education enrollment rate has increased from 3% in 2020 to 6%. Through the renewed partnership, 20 more refugee scholars will be provided with essential tuition costs, and related support for things like transport and books – which can be crucial to enable young people to complete their studies. In addition, TECNO will provide internship opportunities at its branches or subsidiaries in Africa for refugee students if the national policy allows and their qualifications match the positions. TECNO has been partnering with UNHCR to support refugee’s education since 2020. From Educate A Child (EAC) programme to support the improvement of refugee children’s education in Africa, ensuring refugee children’s right to education and ultimately contribute to equal access to education for all; to DAFI scholarship to increase the access for young refugees to tertiary education and employment opportunities. Vanno Noupech, UNHCR Representative in China, expressed appreciation for TECNO’s continued support. “UNHCR welcomes this renewed partnership,” he said. “Investing in tertiary education is an investment not just in the students – the leaders and role models for tomorrow – but in their communities. We hope more private sector partners like TECNO will join hands with UNHCR to address gaps in refugee education globally and spread the message of solidarity.” Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO said,  “As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility endeavours, TECNO keeps giving back to the communities where our business is present. With strengthened partnership with UNHCR in the DAFI programme, we continue to support more young refugees to access higher education, acquire knowledge, develop skills, and help them build a better life for themselves, make positive contributions to their communities, and work together for a brighter future for Africa.” Launched in 1992, UNHCR’s Refugee Scholarship programme DAFI is the largest and longest running higher education refugee scholarship in the world. To date, DAFI has supported over 21,000 young refugee women and men to obtain a higher education qualification. The DAFI programme was implemented in 55 countries in 2021. Africa is DAFI’s largest programme region with 34 countries. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.   For more information about the press release, please contact: Transsion Holdings Wen Wen, Corporate PR wen.wen@transsion.com UNHCR Representation in China Chen Yao, Communication/Public Information Associate cheny@unhcr.org About the UNHCR: UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency, a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It delivers life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, helps safeguard fundamental human rights, and develops solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. UNHCR also works to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. For over 70 years, the organization has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives in partnership with governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector. In recognition of its work, UNHCR was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981. For more information, please visit: www.UNHCR.org About TECNO: TECNO is an innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 countries and regions across five continents. Since its launch, TECNO has been revolutionizing the digital experience in emerging global markets, relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of contemporary, aesthetic design with the latest technologies. Today, TECNO has developed into a recognized leader in its target markets, delivering state-of-the-art innovation through a wide range of smartphones, smart wearables, laptops and tablets, HiOS operating systems and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing”, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best and newest technologies for forward-looking individuals. By creating stylish, intelligent products, TECNO inspires consumers worldwide to never stop pursuing their best selves and their best futures. For more information, please visit TECNO’s official site: www.TECNO-Mobile.com    SOURCE TECNO Mobile

INSIDE BIAFRA: The Documentary Film

Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated Eastern Region of Nigeria. Biafra was established on 30 May 1967 by Igbo military officer and Eastern Region governor C. Odumegwu Ojukwu under his presidency, following a series of ethnic tensions and military coups after Nigerian independence in 1960 that culminated in the 1966 massacres of Igbo people and other ethnic groups living in northern Nigeria. The military of Nigeria proceeded to invade Biafra shortly after its secession, resulting in the start of the Nigerian Civil War.

From "Biafran Child" :

It was not long after the first gunshot was fired by the Federal Forces of Nigeria in 1967 that Nsukka fell and many of the students of the University of Nsukka were the first casualties as they were the vanguard of those who called for secession after the pogrom of the Ibos in the Northern regions of Nigeria.  The first gunshot marked the beginning of the internecine civil war. 

If you like, go up
If you like, go down.
Go up or down,
Jehovah knows those who are his.

The Biafran recruits and soldiers sang in Igbo, our mother tongue as they marched in rows through the village of Obolo-ugiri early in the morning.

The young recruits were clean-shaven and wearing white vests, white short knickers, and white snickers, whilst the soldiers wore their green Biafran Army camouflage uniform; all adorned with the badges of the rising sun in bright yellow colour.  There were badges on the face-caps and jackets.

The recruits carried wooden guns whilst the soldiers carried the real guns, which were rifles.

Instead of the Hausas to rule us
Let the world scatter to pieces.

Hillary Clinton Speaks on World Refugee Day

"The plight of the world's refugees is an issue that transcends not just geography and ethnicity, but politics and partisanship as well." --Secretary Clinton.




Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Ben Franklin Room

Washington, DC

June 18, 2010

Good morning, and welcome to the Benjamin Franklin Room here on the eighth floor of the State Department. And we’re delighted to be joined via video link from Syria by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Gutierrez. Welcome, Antonio. And we’re delighted that either by video or audio link, we’ll have a chance to hear from UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, who is at a refugee camp in Ecuador. And we’ll hear also from refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


I want to thank Eric for the work that he and the bureau are doing on the issue of refugees, and especially making refugees a symbol of all of the challenges that we face. As he said at the very end, there is no humanitarian answer to a lot of the refugee problems. It’s a question of better governance, more accountable governance, of political and diplomatic efforts, of reconciliation and peace, of the growth of democracies and economies. But that doesn't in any way undermine the importance of meeting the day-to-day needs of those who have been displaced by conflict, by terrorism, by natural disaster. And Eric, as all of you know, is so committed to doing his part and representing the United States and the Obama Administration.


I’m also delighted that we are joined by George Rupp, president of the International Rescue Committee and himself a tremendous leader on behalf of those who are in need – refugees across the globe; and Scott Pelley, thank you for serving as the emcee and for shining a bright light on a lot of these situations; and my friend and former colleague, Congresswoman Diane Watson from California; and all of you who represent the leaders and partners from NGOs, Capitol Hill, the media, other countries, the diplomatic corps.


This marks the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Refugee Act, and I want to thank each and every one of you who have been instrumental over these past 30 years, because the plight of the world’s refugees is an issue that transcends not just geography and ethnicity, but politics and partisanship as well. It reminds us that we are all vulnerable, no matter how comfortable our lives may appear to be, but we, too, around the world – those of us who enjoy the benefits of the life that we have built or inherited, we, too, are vulnerable to war and conflict, droughts and floods, environmental disasters, as we’ve seen even in our own country.


Helping refugees is a transnational challenge, but I want to speak for just a minute about what this issue means for Americans and the United States. The United States is the largest single source of support for assistance to refugees and victims of conflict. It’s true financially, where we’ve provided more than $1.7 billion to refugees and conflict victims last year, including $640 million in support for UNHCR. And it’s true diplomatically. We spend a lot of time and a lot of political capital on these issues.


Now, for the United States this has been an enduring commitment, but our work on behalf of refugees is not the result of some grand strategic calculus. We don’t help because it bolsters our ability to play power politics or advance our economic interests, although in the long run I believe it does make our nation stronger and allow us to promote reconciliation and stability in areas of desperation and despair. We help because it is the right thing to do. We happen to believe it’s also the smart thing to do, but even in cases where it doesn't appear all that smart, it’s still often right. And therefore, we proceed.


It goes to the core of who we are as a people and a country, because the United States is not only a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of refugees. We know from our collective experience that most people want the same basic things in life: safe communities, food, water, lives free of political and religious and other persecution. And when these basic needs go unmet and families are forced to flee their homes in desperation, we should all be there with a helping hand.


Whenever possible, we work to return refugees to their homes in safety and dignity. In cooperation with our many partners from the NGO community, we promote the resolution of conflicts and provide assistance to communities recovering from disasters. And we’re seeing progress in places such as Liberia or South Sudan or Burundi and Nepal.


But when returning home is not an option, we are committed to helping resettle refugees who face the most difficult circumstances. Americans have done that time and time again, welcoming more than 2.5 million refugees into our communities since the Refugee Act became law. And two of the families that have come to the United States are here with us today. The Aradoms from Eritrea face severe persecution as a result of their religious beliefs. Some of their family members are still in prison and they came to the United States after spending years living as refugees in Ethiopia and Egypt. The Gautam family is from Bhutan. Raj spent 17 years living in refugee camps before coming to the United States in 2008. Now, along with his son and daughter, he’s been joined by six of his brothers.


These are just two of what could be countless examples, and the contributions that these refugees have made to our own country are really remarkable. I was very proud that in representing New York I saw the results of the resettlement of refugees throughout New York State and the quick adaptation that refugees from Bosnia or Kosovo or Burma or other places made. So our country has opened its arms to refugees. In fact, two of my predecessors, Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, came to the United States as refugees. And a few steps from the front door of this building, there is a very large statue of another refugee, Albert Einstein.


Now, some of you may remember I wasn’t here last year at the event at National Geographic because I had broken my elbow, and I certainly don’t want any of us dislocating our shoulders from patting ourselves on the back about what we’ve done, but helping vulnerable people is a key element of our foreign policy and Americans should be proud of our country’s work on this issue. But we can’t rest on our laurels. We have to continue working as hard as we know to work to get results, not just to provide quick fixes or maintain an unacceptable status quo.


Last year, I visited a refugee camp in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and I met and talked with the women and men who had been forced to flee their homes in the face of marauders, rebels, uncontrolled army soldiers – a mix, a witches’ brew of barbarism and horror. And like tens of thousands of people elsewhere, these men and women had lived through a nightmare, particularly the women. And the United States pledged $17 million to help combat sexual violence in Eastern DRC, and I appreciate greatly those working with UNHCR along with many other NGOs and international organizations who are doing extraordinary work at great personal risk. So long as the women of the DRC are threatened by just the most terrible kinds of violations, as long as the men of the DRC cannot raise their families and their crops in peace, then we cannot rest.


Today, I am pleased to announce the United States will be providing $60 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees. This contribution will provide critical services such as healthcare and improve life for 4.7 million Palestinians. But again, that is not an answer either. We have to continue working for peace, security, and reconciliation in the Middle East.


So let me thank all of you – the NGOs, the journalists, the development workers, the diplomats and activists – who are working to help the world’s refugees. I hope we can use this day to honor the courage and resilience of the millions of refugees around the world who push forward each and every day with the hope that tomorrow might bring a return home or the hope of a better life. I certainly intend to remain committed to making that hope a reality and I look forward to working with Eric and all of you in doing so.


Thank you very much. (Applause.)


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PRN: 2010/819