16 Jul 2009 13:00 Africa/Lagos
U.S. News Media Group Announces 2009-10 America's Best Hospitals
-20th annual edition includes top hospitals 'Honor Roll,' rankings in 16 specialties, and exclusive web video series-
WASHINGTON, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News Media Group, the nation's leading source of rankings and service journalism, today announced the 2009-10 publication of America's Best Hospitals, accessible today online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and on sale at newsstands Tuesday, July 21.
Now in its 20th year, the multi-platform 2009-10 America's Best Hospitals guide is the most extensive hospital ranking to-date. It includes rankings of 174 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties -- with full data available online for another 1,500 unranked hospitals. In addition, the Best Hospitals "Honor Roll" highlights 21 medical centers that were ranked at or near the top in at least six specialties.
The 16 ranked specialties are cancer; diabetes & endocrine disorders; digestive disorders; ear, nose, and throat; geriatric care; gynecology; heart and heart surgery; kidney disorders; neurology and neurosurgery; ophthalmology; orthopedics; psychiatry; rehabilitation; respiratory disorders; rheumatology; and urology.
"When the stakes are high, you want the best care you can get for someone close to you," said Avery Comarow, health rankings editor. "These are hospitals that are used to getting the sickest patients."
The 2009-10 Best Hospitals guide also includes a web video series on USNews.com where visitors can watch HealthiNation Chief Medical Editor Dr. Holly Atkinson interview Comarow and Dr. Bernadine Healy, U.S. News health editor, to capture their expertise and insight into the Best Hospitals ranking process. The videos take viewers behind the scenes of the rigorous selection process, include profiles of top winners across categories, and reveal what it takes for a hospital to be named one of "America's Best."
"Over the past two decades, America's Best Hospitals has proven to be an essential resource for consumers facing difficult healthcare decisions," said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S. News & World Report. "With this year's Best Hospitals video series, we're not only bringing this topic to life, but also highlighting examples of hospital excellence and quality care."
Of the medical centers ranked in the 2009-10 America's Best Hospitals, 21 earned Honor Roll status, demonstrating excellence and breadth of expertise by ranking at or near the top in at least six specialties. The top hospitals in the 2009-10 Honor Roll* are:
1. Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore)
2. Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN)
3. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles)
4. Cleveland Clinic
5. Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
6. New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell
7. University of California, San Francisco Medical Center
8. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
9. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University (St. Louis)
10. Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston)
10. Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC)
*For the full "Honor Roll" list, visit www.usnews.com/besthospitals.
In addition to the hospitals that appear in one or more specialty rankings in the print magazine, the 2009-10 America's Best Hospitals package includes an online consumer guide where readers can find information on more than 1,500 hospitals that qualified for rankings, but did not score high enough to be ranked (fewer than one-third of the 4,861 U.S. hospitals evaluated did qualify).
Methodology
The rankings in 12 of the 16 specialties -- all but ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and rheumatology -- are predominantly driven by hard data. There are four components: reputation, death rate, patient safety (new this year), and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. In these 12 specialties, hospitals have to pass through several gates to be ranked and considered a Best Hospital:
1. The first gate determines whether a hospital is eligible to be ranked at all by requiring that it must meet any of three conditions: be a teaching hospital; have at least 200 beds; or have at least 100 beds plus at least four out of eight key medical technologies such as current-generation CT scanners and precision radiation therapy.
2. The second gate determines whether a hospital is eligible to be ranked in a particular specialty. To be eligible, the hospital had to either have at least a specified volume of certain procedures and conditions over three years, or had to have been nominated by at least one physician in the last three years of our annual specialist survey.
3. The third gate is whether a hospital does well enough to be ranked, based on its reputation, death rate, patient safety, and factors like nurse staffing and technology.
In the four other specialties -- ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and rheumatology -- ranking is based solely on nominations from the three most recent physician surveys.
About the U.S. News Media Group
The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the monthly U.S. News & World Report magazine, the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money & Business, Education, and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group's signature franchises include its News You Can Use brand of journalism and its "America's Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans, and more.
Source: U.S. News Media Group
CONTACT: Liz Putze, U.S. News & World Report, +1-202-955-2136,
eputze@usnews.com, or Lucy Byrd, U.S. News & World Report, lbyrd@usnews.com
Web Site: http://www.usnews.com/
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Nigeria's Largest-Circulation Newspaper Recognizes Role of World Congress of Families in Africa
16 Jul 2009 10:00 Africa/Lagos
Nigeria's Largest-Circulation Newspaper Recognizes Role of World Congress of Families in Africa: Pro-Family Message Will Be Carried To Europe, August 10-12
Registration Still Available For World Congress Of Families V In Amsterdam, August 10-12
WASHINGTON, July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sun, Nigeria's largest-circulation newspaper, was fulsome in its praise of World Congress of Families for helping to organize the conference, "The World Congress of Families Dialogue of Civilizations," in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital, June 4-7.
The "Dialogue of Civilizations," hosted by the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, brought more than 400 participants to the Musa Yar'Adua Centre, for what The Sun called "the first pro-family conference in Africa."
The paper described the event as "aimed at giving the Nigerian perspective to a troubled world lurching from one moral crisis to another."
The Sun noted that addresses included: "A Plan of Action on the Family in Africa," "A Christian View on Sexuality and Family," "Population Decline of the Developed World - A Lesson for Africa," "Pornography and the Family," and "A Plan to Defend the Family at the United Nations." Besides Nigeria, participants came from Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Netherlands and the United States.
WCF Communications Director Don Feder, who represented the Congress at the event, said, "We're pleased to have Nigeria's largest-circulation newspaper recognize the importance of the Abuja conference and the role World Congress of Families is playing in strengthening the pro-family movement in Africa."
The Abuja Conference was a preparatory-conference for the upcoming World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam, Holland, August 10-12. Representing the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, Theresa Okafor will report on the Abuja conference at World Congress of Families V. The Amsterdam program on August 11th will focus on the families of Africa and other developing countries. Click here for the full program and schedule of speakers: www.worldcongress.nl/en/program/.
Participants and delegates can still register for WCF V online at www.worldcongress.org/WCF5/wcf5.reg.mem.htm. Click here. Student discounts and scholarships are available. Contact Simon Polinder at spolinder@gmail.com.
For more information on World Congress of Families V, go to www.worldcongress.org. Click here to read The Sun story: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/july/08/national-08-0 7-2009-05.htm .
Representatives of the media can register free for WCF V in Amsterdam with press credentials at www.nl.worldcongress.pl/?wl=en .
The World Congress of Families (WCF) is an international network of pro-family
organizations, scholars, leaders and people of goodwill from more than 60
countries that seek to restore the natural family as the fundamental social
unit and the 'seedbed' of civil society (as found in the UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1948). The WCF was founded in 1997 by Allan
Carlson and is a project of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society
in Rockford, Illinois (www.profam.org). To date, there have been four World Congresses of Families - Prague (1997), Geneva (1999), Mexico City (2004) and
Warsaw, Poland (2007). A fifth World Congress of Families will be held in
Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 10-12, 2009 (www.worldcongress.nl and
www.worldcongress.org).
Source: World Congress of Families
CONTACT: Don Feder, World Congress of Families, +1-508-405-1337,
dfeder@rcn.com
Web Site: http://www.worldcongress.nl/
http://www.worldcongress.org/
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/
http://www.nl.worldcongress.pl/
http://www.profam.org/
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
16 Jul 2009
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Nigeria's Largest-Circulation Newspaper Recognizes Role of World Congress of Families in Africa: Pro-Family Message Will Be Carried To Europe, August 10-12
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Nigeria's Largest-Circulation Newspaper Recognizes Role of World Congress of Families in Africa: Pro-Family Message Will Be Carried to Europe, August 10-12
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Psalms Across The Universe, New From Groark Audio
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President Clinton Inducted Into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
9 Jul 2009
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New USAID Mission Director for Morocco Sworn In
Nigeria's Largest-Circulation Newspaper Recognizes Role of World Congress of Families in Africa: Pro-Family Message Will Be Carried To Europe, August 10-12
Registration Still Available For World Congress Of Families V In Amsterdam, August 10-12
WASHINGTON, July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sun, Nigeria's largest-circulation newspaper, was fulsome in its praise of World Congress of Families for helping to organize the conference, "The World Congress of Families Dialogue of Civilizations," in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital, June 4-7.
The "Dialogue of Civilizations," hosted by the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, brought more than 400 participants to the Musa Yar'Adua Centre, for what The Sun called "the first pro-family conference in Africa."
The paper described the event as "aimed at giving the Nigerian perspective to a troubled world lurching from one moral crisis to another."
The Sun noted that addresses included: "A Plan of Action on the Family in Africa," "A Christian View on Sexuality and Family," "Population Decline of the Developed World - A Lesson for Africa," "Pornography and the Family," and "A Plan to Defend the Family at the United Nations." Besides Nigeria, participants came from Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Netherlands and the United States.
WCF Communications Director Don Feder, who represented the Congress at the event, said, "We're pleased to have Nigeria's largest-circulation newspaper recognize the importance of the Abuja conference and the role World Congress of Families is playing in strengthening the pro-family movement in Africa."
The Abuja Conference was a preparatory-conference for the upcoming World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam, Holland, August 10-12. Representing the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, Theresa Okafor will report on the Abuja conference at World Congress of Families V. The Amsterdam program on August 11th will focus on the families of Africa and other developing countries. Click here for the full program and schedule of speakers: www.worldcongress.nl/en/program/.
Participants and delegates can still register for WCF V online at www.worldcongress.org/WCF5/wcf5.reg.mem.htm. Click here. Student discounts and scholarships are available. Contact Simon Polinder at spolinder@gmail.com.
For more information on World Congress of Families V, go to www.worldcongress.org. Click here to read The Sun story: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/july/08/national-08-0 7-2009-05.htm .
Representatives of the media can register free for WCF V in Amsterdam with press credentials at www.nl.worldcongress.pl/?wl=en .
The World Congress of Families (WCF) is an international network of pro-family
organizations, scholars, leaders and people of goodwill from more than 60
countries that seek to restore the natural family as the fundamental social
unit and the 'seedbed' of civil society (as found in the UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1948). The WCF was founded in 1997 by Allan
Carlson and is a project of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society
in Rockford, Illinois (www.profam.org). To date, there have been four World Congresses of Families - Prague (1997), Geneva (1999), Mexico City (2004) and
Warsaw, Poland (2007). A fifth World Congress of Families will be held in
Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 10-12, 2009 (www.worldcongress.nl and
www.worldcongress.org).
Source: World Congress of Families
CONTACT: Don Feder, World Congress of Families, +1-508-405-1337,
dfeder@rcn.com
Web Site: http://www.worldcongress.nl/
http://www.worldcongress.org/
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/
http://www.nl.worldcongress.pl/
http://www.profam.org/
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
16 Jul 2009
15:00
PHOTOS: 3,686 Online Students from 45 Countries to Attend Commencement Ceremonies at University of Phoenix Stadium This Weekend
12:00
Bristow Group Announces Fiscal 2010 First Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call Schedule
10:00
Nigeria's Largest-Circulation Newspaper Recognizes Role of World Congress of Families in Africa: Pro-Family Message Will Be Carried To Europe, August 10-12
01:01
Many Approve of ICC Indictment of Bashir: Poll of 7 Muslim and African Nations
15 Jul 2009
20:11
Nigeria's Largest-Circulation Newspaper Recognizes Role of World Congress of Families in Africa: Pro-Family Message Will Be Carried to Europe, August 10-12
13:25
Cape Weaver Brings Socially Conscious Handcrafted African Art and Home Decor to eMarket
13:20
African Upbringing Prompts International View: Author Challenges His Fellow Americans to Problem-solve, Think Independently
14 Jul 2009
19:00
Squire Sanders Middle East and North Africa Resources Bolstered by Riyadh Relationship
04:00
Squire Sanders Middle East and North Africa Resources Bolstered by Riyadh Relationship
13 Jul 2009
20:57
Psalms Across The Universe, New From Groark Audio
11 Jul 2009
01:53
President Clinton Inducted Into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
9 Jul 2009
19:20
New USAID Mission Director for Morocco Sworn In
Monday, July 13, 2009
Happy Birthday Our Dear Wole Soyinka
Prof. Wole Soyinka of Nigeria
Happy Birthday to Professor.Wole Soyinka, the first African Nobel Prize laureate in Literature who clocks 75 today. The great African dramatist, poet, novelist and essayist, we call our own WS, said he is not having any "Owambe" party and would rather address why President Barack Obama snubbed Nigeria, the so called Giant of Africa in favour of Ghana in his first official visit to sub-saharan Africa.
The video below is a must view for all those who appreciate the genius of Soyinka.
Nigerians Report is wishing Prof. Wole Soyinka many more happy years of long life and peace of mind.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Americans Say Jackson's Death is Receiving Too Much Media Coverage
2 Jul 2009 19:57 Africa/Lagos
Americans Say Jackson's Death is Receiving Too Much Media Coverage
- More than one-third (39%) believe Farrah Fawcett's death is not receiving enough coverage -
FLEMINGTON, N.J., July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- A new national media study among 1,850 Americans revealed that the majority of respondents (63%) believe that Michael Jackson's death is receiving too much media coverage in comparison to the coverage of Farrah Fawcett's death.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071204/NYTU133LOGO )
The study was conducted by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com(R) website on July 1, to obtain Americans' perceptions of recent celebrity deaths, with regard to the amount of media coverage they are receiving. To view detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.
While the majority of respondents (63%) reported that Michael Jackson's death is receiving too much media coverage, an even larger majority (80%) reported that they are engaged in the topic when they are exposed to it by the media. However, a slightly higher percentage of respondents (84%) indicated that they are engaged with the topic of Fawcett's death when they are exposed to it by the media.
Among the study findings:
"With regard to the topic of Michael Jackson's death, indicate whether or not you feel the media coverage is appropriate."
Total
Too much coverage 63%
Appropriate coverage 36%
Not enough coverage 2%
"Please indicate how engaged you are in this specific topic (Michael Jackson's death) when you are exposed to it in the media."
Total
Extremely engaged in the topic 13%
Engaged in the topic 29%
Somewhat engaged in the topic 38%
Not at all engaged in the topic 20%
"With regard to the topic of Farrah Fawcett's death, indicate whether or not you feel the media coverage is appropriate."
Total
Too much coverage 5%
Appropriate coverage 56%
Not enough coverage 39%
"Please indicate how engaged you are in this specific topic (Farrah Fawcett's death) when you are exposed to it in the media."
Total
Extremely engaged in the topic 11%
Engaged in the topic 32%
Somewhat engaged in the topic 41%
Not at all engaged in the topic 17%
About MediaCurves.com
MediaCurves.com(R) (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans' perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements. MediaCurves.com is a service of HCD Research, a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based research. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company's web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071204/NYTU133LOGO
Source: HCD Research
CONTACT: Vince McGourty of HCD Research, +1-908-483-9121,
vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net; or Barbara Taylor, director of MediaCurves.com,
+1-908-483-9146, barbara.taylor@hcdi.net.
Web Site: http://www.mediacurves.com/
NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net). You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820
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Thursday, July 2, 2009
Niger Delta Crisis: Amnesty or Travesty of Justice
Amnesty or Travesty?
I have decided not to approve the so called Amnesty the Federal Government has given to the so called militants in the Niger Delta region, because the celebrated Nigerian Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka already spoken my mind in his critical analysis of the anomie in Between Amnesty and Amnesia.
The recourse to Amnesty after the punitive campaign of the Joint Task Force (JTF) failed woefully is begging the question of the Niger Delta crisis and not a solution. The solution to the Niger Delta crisis is not a Herculean task if the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wants to be truly honest and transparent.
The bloody battle in the Niger Delta over resource control is actually a power struggle between mercenaries of the oligarchy in Nigeria fighting over illegal oil bunkering in the oil rich states of the Niger Delta. Both the serving and retired top military officers are actively engaged in the criminal operation of illegal oil bunkering and the Nigerian Navy cannot deny this fact, because the tankers and barges used for illegal oil bunkering are not invisible in the territorial waters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are ruthless in their greed for political power and money that they have usurped the rights of the host communities and took over the reins of power in government to control the Nigerian Armed Forces and ruling party to plunder the mineral resources in the country.
They have shared the oil blocks and are now engaged in a do or die battle in illegal oil bunkering that fetches over $20 million daily.
President Umaru Yar’Adua knows the truth and the sooner he says the truth the better.
The most ridiculous is amount of N50 billion being projected for the conflict resolution as proposed in the presidential Amnesty. Before our very eyes, that N50 billion would be embezzled by the same mercenaries of the oligarchy in power in Nigeria and the devastated host communities would be left with the crumbs.
This so called Amnesty is a travesty of justice.
Who is fooling whom?
I have decided not to approve the so called Amnesty the Federal Government has given to the so called militants in the Niger Delta region, because the celebrated Nigerian Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka already spoken my mind in his critical analysis of the anomie in Between Amnesty and Amnesia.
The recourse to Amnesty after the punitive campaign of the Joint Task Force (JTF) failed woefully is begging the question of the Niger Delta crisis and not a solution. The solution to the Niger Delta crisis is not a Herculean task if the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wants to be truly honest and transparent.
The bloody battle in the Niger Delta over resource control is actually a power struggle between mercenaries of the oligarchy in Nigeria fighting over illegal oil bunkering in the oil rich states of the Niger Delta. Both the serving and retired top military officers are actively engaged in the criminal operation of illegal oil bunkering and the Nigerian Navy cannot deny this fact, because the tankers and barges used for illegal oil bunkering are not invisible in the territorial waters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are ruthless in their greed for political power and money that they have usurped the rights of the host communities and took over the reins of power in government to control the Nigerian Armed Forces and ruling party to plunder the mineral resources in the country.
They have shared the oil blocks and are now engaged in a do or die battle in illegal oil bunkering that fetches over $20 million daily.
President Umaru Yar’Adua knows the truth and the sooner he says the truth the better.
The most ridiculous is amount of N50 billion being projected for the conflict resolution as proposed in the presidential Amnesty. Before our very eyes, that N50 billion would be embezzled by the same mercenaries of the oligarchy in power in Nigeria and the devastated host communities would be left with the crumbs.
This so called Amnesty is a travesty of justice.
Who is fooling whom?
MacArthur Foundation Grants $7.6 Million To 9 Universities in 7 Countries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE; CONTACT: Amy Martin, 202-745-5118
MACARTHUR TO SUPPORT MASTER’S PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD OFFERING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR FUTURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LEADERS
Chicago, IL, June 30, 2009 – Supporting rigorous professional training for future leaders in the field of sustainable development, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced today grants totaling $7.6 million to nine universities in seven countries to establish new Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) programs.
The Foundation has committed $15 million to seed the creation of such programs at up to 15 universities worldwide over the next three years. With MacArthur support, Columbia University is creating the first MDP Program, which will launch this fall.
MDP programs are designed to provide graduate students with training beyond the typical focus on classroom study of economics and management found in most development studies. The program’s core curriculum combines classroom study in a range of disciplines, including agriculture, policy, health, engineering, management, environmental science, education, and nutrition with field training experiences.
“Through our work around the globe, we at MacArthur understand that poverty, population, health, conservation, and human rights are all interconnected, requiring sustained and comprehensive interventions,” said Foundation President Jonathan Fanton. “These new programs are a model for training the next generation of these critically needed professionals.”
A Global Master’s in Development Practice Secretariat, supported by MacArthur and based at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, will help manage the MDP network of universities, develop an open-source repository for the MDP curriculum and other teaching materials, and will offer an online, Global Classroom on sustainable development for students worldwide.
The universities that will receive funding to establish the nine MDP programs are:
· Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) will emphasize the health and governance-related aspects of sustainable development through its work with partners that include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CARE and the Carter Center.
· The Energy Resources Institute University (New Delhi, India) will emphasize energy and climate sciences, building on its contributions to scientific and policy research in energy, environment, and sustainable development.
· James Cook University (Cairns and Townsville, Australia) will offer coursework at its two campuses and field training in the Philippines and Indonesia, focusing on the challenges to sustainable development and governance in tropical island nations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
· Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland) will integrate their teaching in international development and also partner with the National University of Rwanda to offer field training and coursework in conservation and sustainable development.
· Tsinghua University (Beijing, China) will build on its English-language degrees and Master’s programs in international development and public administration to focus on development models for China.
· University of Cheikh Anta Diop (Dakar, Senegal) will focus on current development challenges facing Africa by integrating health, social and natural sciences, engineering, information technology, and management. It will also serve as a MDP program hub for French-speaking West African nations.
· University of Botswana (Gaborone, Botswana) will create a modular program designed for working professionals. Rigorous independent study will be complemented by two to three weeks of on campus training each semester. University of Botswana will partner with University of Florida to offer field training experiences in Botswana.
· University of Florida (Gainesville, Fla.) will implement a program that includes the core curriculum, building on University of Florida’s expertise in conservation and sustainable development, especially in Latin America. The program also incorporates faculty and student exchanges and a field-training program in Botswana, in partnership with University of Botswana.
· University of Ibadan (Ibadan, Nigeria) will build on existing graduate programs in health, science, and natural resources with the long-term goal of creating a Centre for Development Studies. It will also serve as a MDP program hub for English-speaking West African nations.
The universities are expected to produce 250 graduates with a Master’s in Development Practice degree by 2012, with a total of 750 students enrolled. They were selected based on five criteria, including support from top university leadership, excellent infrastructure and academic programs, and the ability to serve as regional hub; geographic representation among students and exceptional faculty across the four core competencies of the natural, health, and social sciences and management; and a timeline and business plan for financial sustainability when funding ends in three years. In 2010, MacArthur will fund up to five additional universities to create additional MDP programs.
The creation of the Master’s in Development Practice Program was a key recommendation of the International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice, whose report was released in October 2008. Established in 2007, the year-long Commission was co-chaired by John McArthur, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Promise, and Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and comprised of 20 top thinkers in the field of sustainable development from around the world.
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is changing children and society. More information is available at www.macfound.org.
###
Amy Martin
Managing Supervisor
GYMR Public Relations, LLC
1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20009
P: (202) 745-5118
amartin@gymr.com
MACARTHUR TO SUPPORT MASTER’S PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD OFFERING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR FUTURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LEADERS
Chicago, IL, June 30, 2009 – Supporting rigorous professional training for future leaders in the field of sustainable development, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced today grants totaling $7.6 million to nine universities in seven countries to establish new Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) programs.
The Foundation has committed $15 million to seed the creation of such programs at up to 15 universities worldwide over the next three years. With MacArthur support, Columbia University is creating the first MDP Program, which will launch this fall.
MDP programs are designed to provide graduate students with training beyond the typical focus on classroom study of economics and management found in most development studies. The program’s core curriculum combines classroom study in a range of disciplines, including agriculture, policy, health, engineering, management, environmental science, education, and nutrition with field training experiences.
“Through our work around the globe, we at MacArthur understand that poverty, population, health, conservation, and human rights are all interconnected, requiring sustained and comprehensive interventions,” said Foundation President Jonathan Fanton. “These new programs are a model for training the next generation of these critically needed professionals.”
A Global Master’s in Development Practice Secretariat, supported by MacArthur and based at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, will help manage the MDP network of universities, develop an open-source repository for the MDP curriculum and other teaching materials, and will offer an online, Global Classroom on sustainable development for students worldwide.
The universities that will receive funding to establish the nine MDP programs are:
· Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) will emphasize the health and governance-related aspects of sustainable development through its work with partners that include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CARE and the Carter Center.
· The Energy Resources Institute University (New Delhi, India) will emphasize energy and climate sciences, building on its contributions to scientific and policy research in energy, environment, and sustainable development.
· James Cook University (Cairns and Townsville, Australia) will offer coursework at its two campuses and field training in the Philippines and Indonesia, focusing on the challenges to sustainable development and governance in tropical island nations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
· Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland) will integrate their teaching in international development and also partner with the National University of Rwanda to offer field training and coursework in conservation and sustainable development.
· Tsinghua University (Beijing, China) will build on its English-language degrees and Master’s programs in international development and public administration to focus on development models for China.
· University of Cheikh Anta Diop (Dakar, Senegal) will focus on current development challenges facing Africa by integrating health, social and natural sciences, engineering, information technology, and management. It will also serve as a MDP program hub for French-speaking West African nations.
· University of Botswana (Gaborone, Botswana) will create a modular program designed for working professionals. Rigorous independent study will be complemented by two to three weeks of on campus training each semester. University of Botswana will partner with University of Florida to offer field training experiences in Botswana.
· University of Florida (Gainesville, Fla.) will implement a program that includes the core curriculum, building on University of Florida’s expertise in conservation and sustainable development, especially in Latin America. The program also incorporates faculty and student exchanges and a field-training program in Botswana, in partnership with University of Botswana.
· University of Ibadan (Ibadan, Nigeria) will build on existing graduate programs in health, science, and natural resources with the long-term goal of creating a Centre for Development Studies. It will also serve as a MDP program hub for English-speaking West African nations.
The universities are expected to produce 250 graduates with a Master’s in Development Practice degree by 2012, with a total of 750 students enrolled. They were selected based on five criteria, including support from top university leadership, excellent infrastructure and academic programs, and the ability to serve as regional hub; geographic representation among students and exceptional faculty across the four core competencies of the natural, health, and social sciences and management; and a timeline and business plan for financial sustainability when funding ends in three years. In 2010, MacArthur will fund up to five additional universities to create additional MDP programs.
The creation of the Master’s in Development Practice Program was a key recommendation of the International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice, whose report was released in October 2008. Established in 2007, the year-long Commission was co-chaired by John McArthur, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Promise, and Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and comprised of 20 top thinkers in the field of sustainable development from around the world.
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is changing children and society. More information is available at www.macfound.org.
###
Amy Martin
Managing Supervisor
GYMR Public Relations, LLC
1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20009
P: (202) 745-5118
amartin@gymr.com
EFCC Interrogates the MD of Nigerian Film Corporation
Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has been quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the misappropriation of over N11 million allocated for the transfer of the headquarters of the NFC from Jos to Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria.
Prof. Dora Akunyili, the incorruptible Minister of Information and Communication is not happy about the misadministration of the Nigerian Film Corporation since the appointment of Mr. Adesanya and would ensure that the management of the film body must be above board from henceforth.
Prof. Dora Akunyili, the incorruptible Minister of Information and Communication is not happy about the misadministration of the Nigerian Film Corporation since the appointment of Mr. Adesanya and would ensure that the management of the film body must be above board from henceforth.
LAWMA is Corrupt
LAWMA Workers
LAWMA is Corrupt
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has been accused of gross abuse of power and financial crimes by the majority of the resident of the most populous state in Nigeria.
The residents have frowned at the bills LAWMA demanded they must pay for services not rendered.
LAWMA employed the service of several contractors for the disposal of waste in the state, but the residents alleged that these contractors have already asked them to pay bills before the commencement of their operation.
“Imagine, LAWMA asking tenants to pay twelve thousand naira for waste disposal when no LAWMA waste disposal truck has come to carry the refuse in our estate. LAWMA is using these so called contractors to extort levies from residents,” complained one of the aggrieved residents.
“Is LAWMA asking us to pay before service? When many of the waste disposal trucks used by LAWMA break down daily on the street and have been causing obstruction to traffic,” said another resident.
LAWMA Truck
Many waste disposal trucks used by LAWMA have been abandoned on the streets for days with the stench from the refuse causing pollution of the atmosphere and residents hissing in disgust and disapproval of the incompetent management of LAWMA in Lagos state. Many Lagosians are questioning the criteria used in the procurement of the services of these so called waste management contractors.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Nigeria Higher Education Foundation Presents Leadership Awards to Soyinka, Payne, Ezekwesili, and Whitaker
30 Jun 2009 15:53 Africa/Lagos
Nigeria Higher Education Foundation Presents Leadership Awards to Soyinka, Payne, Ezekwesili, and Whitaker
WASHINGTON, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), on June 24, 2009, honored four distinguished leaders for their commitment to sustainable development through education at an inaugural gala event in New York City. Honorees included Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, World Bank Vice President for Africa Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Congressman Donald M. Payne (D-NJ), and Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO of The Whitaker Group.
The event was attended by a distinguished audience of African Diplomats, the Nigerian Diaspora community and leaders of US Foundations, businesses and institutions committed to Nigeria's development.
"I was deeply honored to be recognized in this way by the NHEF," says Ms. Whitaker, who received the Business Leadership Award. "Knowledge is power and education is key to economic development. Indeed, we need only look at Southeast Asia to see how the availability of higher education can benefit a nation's economy." Accepting the Leadership in Education Award, former Nigerian Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili asserted, "We can't sit back and watch the intellectual capital of Africa, especially of Nigeria, to be denigrated; we must reconnect all the brain power in this room back to Nigeria.... It is in the context of intellectual capital that development happens."
The NHEF, launched in 2004 with support from the John and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that seeks to enhance the quality of education in Nigeria through direct support for five universities: Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria; Bayero University in Kano; University of Ibadan; University of Nigeria Nsukka; and University of Port Harcourt.
Source: The Whitaker Group
CONTACT: Meg Dallett of The Whitaker Group, +1-202-293-1453,
margaret@thewhitakergroup.us
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
1 Jul 2009
09:00
Power Rental in Africa to Double by 2014, Reveals Frost & Sullivan
30 Jun 2009
15:53
Nigeria Higher Education Foundation Presents Leadership Awards to Soyinka, Payne, Ezekwesili, and Whitaker
15:00
MacArthur to Support Master's Programs Around the World Offering Professional Training for Future Sustainable Development Leaders
29 Jun 2009
22:00
Obama Rockets to Top of Poll on Global Leaders
16:29
Midbrook Partners With SupplyCore Middle East to Provide Water Bottling and Medical Decontamination Equipment to the Middle East and North Africa
Nigeria Higher Education Foundation Presents Leadership Awards to Soyinka, Payne, Ezekwesili, and Whitaker
WASHINGTON, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), on June 24, 2009, honored four distinguished leaders for their commitment to sustainable development through education at an inaugural gala event in New York City. Honorees included Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, World Bank Vice President for Africa Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Congressman Donald M. Payne (D-NJ), and Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO of The Whitaker Group.
The event was attended by a distinguished audience of African Diplomats, the Nigerian Diaspora community and leaders of US Foundations, businesses and institutions committed to Nigeria's development.
"I was deeply honored to be recognized in this way by the NHEF," says Ms. Whitaker, who received the Business Leadership Award. "Knowledge is power and education is key to economic development. Indeed, we need only look at Southeast Asia to see how the availability of higher education can benefit a nation's economy." Accepting the Leadership in Education Award, former Nigerian Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili asserted, "We can't sit back and watch the intellectual capital of Africa, especially of Nigeria, to be denigrated; we must reconnect all the brain power in this room back to Nigeria.... It is in the context of intellectual capital that development happens."
The NHEF, launched in 2004 with support from the John and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that seeks to enhance the quality of education in Nigeria through direct support for five universities: Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria; Bayero University in Kano; University of Ibadan; University of Nigeria Nsukka; and University of Port Harcourt.
Source: The Whitaker Group
CONTACT: Meg Dallett of The Whitaker Group, +1-202-293-1453,
margaret@thewhitakergroup.us
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
1 Jul 2009
09:00
Power Rental in Africa to Double by 2014, Reveals Frost & Sullivan
30 Jun 2009
15:53
Nigeria Higher Education Foundation Presents Leadership Awards to Soyinka, Payne, Ezekwesili, and Whitaker
15:00
MacArthur to Support Master's Programs Around the World Offering Professional Training for Future Sustainable Development Leaders
29 Jun 2009
22:00
Obama Rockets to Top of Poll on Global Leaders
16:29
Midbrook Partners With SupplyCore Middle East to Provide Water Bottling and Medical Decontamination Equipment to the Middle East and North Africa
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Nollywood Stars Support ION International Film Festival
The heavy rainfall of Tuesday morning did not stop the leading stars of Nollywood from thronging their favourite rendezvous Ojez Restaurant inside the National Stadium in Surelere, Lagos, to grace the press parley on the 6th ION International Film Festival to be held in December in the oil rich city of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, and making Nigeria the first host of ION in Africa.
Amaka Igwe, Zeb Ejiro,Kanayo O. Kanayo , Lancelot Imaseun, Charles Novia, Paul Obazele, the new President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Madu Chikwenda, the founder and CEO of Lagos International Film Festival, Emeka Rollas and other Nollywood authorities spoke at the event on the importance of ION in re-branding the global image of Nigeria. Some top Nollywood actresses were also there. I noticed that the X-rated actress Cossy Ojiokor and top female producer and director Emem Isong were in their best elements as they tickled each other while Stephanie Okereke was on the high table and the beautiful Lilian Bach was a delight to sight.
Ilaria Chessa, the Creative Director of ION addressed the audience and answered all the questions on why Port Harcourt was chosen as the venue of the 2009 edition of ION, the importance and significance of the touring film festival to Nollywood and the public officials of the Rivers state government were excited to be co-sponsors of the 6th ION. They promised that their state government will guarantee the security of the event and dismissed fears of the militants in the volatile Niger Delta region.
ION got the approval of the stakeholders of the Nigerian film industry as they pledged their cooperation and support for the international film festival.
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