Thursday, February 2, 2012
Cultural Influences Impact Retirement Planning and Decision-Making
An ING study showed cultural influences impact retirement planning. Among the findings, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics rely more on the Internet and media for financial guidance than Whites.
ING Study: Cultural Influences Impact Retirement Planning and Decision-Making
Research finds non-whites more likely to rely on the media and Internet for information; Hispanics feel least prepared for retirement
Haga clic aquí para ver este comunicado de prensa en Español.
Windsor, Conn. February 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — ING U.S. released key findings today from a comprehensive study1 commissioned by the ING Retirement Research Institute that examined the attitudes, behaviors and preparedness of different ethnic groups, including African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics, regarding their future retirement. The research showed that while Americans of all backgrounds encounter similar barriers to saving and planning, cultural differences account for disparate experiences among the groups. For additional information or to view the report, visit http://ing.us.
According to the study, Retirement Revealed, all populations found retirement planning to be a daunting task. However, ING’s research showed that Hispanics feel the least prepared, with 54 percent indicating they feel “not very” or “not at all” prepared. This compares with 50 percent of African-Americans, 48 percent of white and 44 percent of Asian respondents indicating that they don’t feel prepared. These feelings correspond with the amount saved in employer-sponsored retirement plans, where Hispanic respondents reported having the lowest average balances ($54,000) in their retirement plans. This amount was considerably less than the average balance across all groups ($69,000). In contrast, Asian respondents reported having the highest average plan balances ($81,000).
“All Americans face the growing responsibility of planning and saving for retirement. However, there are distinct cultural differences that may affect some groups more than others when it comes to getting or staying on the right path,” said Maliz Beams, CEO of ING U.S. Retirement. “As a leading retirement provider at the workplace and in the retail market, our mission is to help individuals retire with the dignity and financial security they deserve. Our goal is to take the important cultural reference points from this study and turn them into customized solutions that help all our customers become better prepared — regardless of their background.”
Other key findings from the Retirement Revealed study include the following:
Financial Information:
Non-whites were more likely than whites to get their investment information and guidance from the Internet and media. African-Americans (54 percent), Asians (53 percent) and Hispanics (50 percent) indicated that the media and Internet were the primary source of getting advice and guidance compared to 45 percent of white respondents.
Whites were more likely to use a financial professional.
While nearly one-in-three (28 percent) of overall respondents are currently working with a financial professional, only three-quarters (75 percent) of this group indicated their adviser looks at their complete financial picture.
Face-to-face communication with a financial professional is ranked the highest in terms of value provided in getting information about their retirement plan and other employee benefits.
Barriers to Saving:
Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of respondents admitted to having barriers to saving. Among the groups, African-Americans said debt was their biggest barrier. Needing to know more about their savings options is a greater barrier to savings for Hispanics than for any other group.
Planning Goals:
Hispanic respondents were less focused on their future retirement goals — well over half (57 percent) have never calculated how much money they will need to continue their current lifestyle upon retirement.
Seven-in-10 (70 percent) Hispanics did not have a formal investment plan to reach those goals.
Only three-in-10 (29 percent) of overall respondents have a formal investment plan; African-Americans are most likely to have one (32 percent); whites are least likely (28 percent).
Emergency Savings:
Just under half (41 percent) have virtually no emergency savings (one month or less). This increases to nearly half for Hispanics (47 percent) and 50 percent for African-Americans, while only one-in-four Asians have one month or less saved for emergencies.
Purchasing Priorities:
Asians appear to be most prepared for retirement, but had a tendency to place a higher priority on lifestyle choices, such as purchasing a nice house or car, than planning for retirement.
“There are certainly more similarities than differences among the ethnic groups when it comes to retirement planning, but distinctions do exist and understanding them can be critical to future retirement success,” added Fabian Gonzalez, vice president of Multicultural Sales at ING U.S. “For example, many times in the Hispanic community, parents will sacrifice their own financial future in order for their children to advance. By researching and learning about the rationale behind decisions like this, we can better understand our customers and help them achieve their financial goals.”
Additional findings from the study include:
Nearly one-in-four African-Americans (23 percent) have life insurance coverage equal to four to five times their salary, higher than the total population (18 percent). This corresponds with African-American respondents indicating that they were the most likely to leave life insurance proceeds to their heirs (70 percent vs. 53 percent of the total sample).
More than six-in-10 (63 percent) of African-Americans cite reducing debt as their most important short-term financial goal.
Hispanics are the most likely (57 percent) to want more education about investments and retirement options from their employer, compared to all respondent groups (47 percent).
Asians are the least likely to have a last will and testament (26 percent), compared with 31 percent for Hispanics and 37 percent for white respondents.
For additional information on the ING’s Retirement Revealed study and to read the report, visit http://ing.us.
1 Findings are from an online survey conducted by ORC International during the period of Oct. 5-13, 2011. Respondents were 4,050 adults (including 500 African-Americans, 500 Hispanics and 350 Asians) between the ages of 25 and 69 who are employed full-time with an annual household income of $40,000 or greater. Data were weighted to make the results representative of the U.S. population.
Press inquiries:
Phil Margolis
ING U.S.
Office: 860.580.2676
Cell: 860.805.7642
Phil.Margolis@us.ing.com
About ING
NG U.S. is a subsidiary of Dutch-based ING Groep N.V. In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes retirement plans, life insurance, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves approximately 15 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://ing.us.
Media Contact:
Phil Margolis
ING U.S.
Office: 860.580.2676
Cell: 860.805.7642
Phil.Margolis@us.ing.com
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Small Businesses and Social Media: Is Facebook Right for Your Brand?
1 Feb 2012 21:44 Africa/Lagos
Small Businesses and Social Media: Is Facebook Right for Your Brand?
NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media has been a boon to many small business owners, however, anyone who has managed social media presences for businesses knows that the time commitment can be significant. Busy small business owners don't have time to waste, so determining whether or not a social network makes sense for the business – and taking a realistic look at what the maintenance of the social presence requires are important considerations for small business owners.
This week on Beyond PR, PR Newswire's vice president of social media, Sarah Skerik, tells the story of helping a friend with a niche business decide whether or not Facebook is a viable channel for her brand. The two part series discusses evaluating whether or not Facebook is right for a small business, outlines how Facebook works and sketches a basic plan for building a fan following and delivering business results.
Part 1: Is Facebook Right for Your Small Business?
http://blog.prnewswire.com/2012/01/31/is-facebook-right-for-your-small-business/
Part 2: Developing a Facebook Plan for a Busy Small Business Owner
(http://blog.prnewswire.com/2012/02/01/developing-a-facebook-plan-for-a-busy-small-business-owner/)
The Beyond PR blog highlights communications tactics and trends in public relations, investor relations, social media, SEO and content marketing.
PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 57 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content — from rich media to online video to multimedia — and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000306/PRNLOGO )
Media Contacts:
Rachel Meranus
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
PR Newswire
+1.201.360.6776
Rachel.Meranus@prnewswire.com
Meryl Serouya
Marketing and Communications Associate
PR Newswire
+1.201.360.6009
Meryl.Serouya@prnewswire.com
SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC
Web Site: http://www.prnewswire.com
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Fans Crash Servers for Early Preview Screenings of "TITANIC" in 3D
1 Feb 2012 22:12 Africa/Lagos
Fans Crash Servers for Early Preview Screenings of "TITANIC" in 3D
SELL-OUT CROWDS IN THE U.S. AND ACROSS THE WORLD WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST AUDIENCES ANYWHERE TO SEE THE RE-MASTERED MOVIE ON VALENTINES DAY, FEBRUARY 14th, IN ADVANCE OF THE FILM'S WORLDWIDE RE-RELEASE ON APRIL 6th
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans the world over rushed the web in the last 24-hours - crashing multiple servers in the process - to secure advance tickets for the now sold-out February 14th preview screenings of TITANIC in 3D, Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox International jointly announced today. In a matter of hours, sell-out screenings were reported throughout the United States and in countries around the world, following the launch of the special screening program on January 31st. Moviegoers who were lucky enough to secure a seat will now be among the first people anywhere to see the newly re-mastered TITANIC in 3D, in advance of the film's worldwide release on April 6th.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/19991206/PARLOGO)
These special fan screening are being presented exclusively in RealD 3D and will be held in the following cities: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Dallas, Boston, Phoenix, Seattle, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Detroit, San Diego, Denver, Sacramento, Orlando, Tampa, Minneapolis, Montreal, Vancouver, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Portland, Kansas City, West Palm Beach, Raleigh, San Antonio, Hartford, Charlotte, San Antonio, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Austin, Edmonton, Milwaukee, Norfolk, Grand Rapids, Calgary, Columbus, Fresno, Ottawa, Cincinnati, Nashville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Oklahoma City. Internationally, these special one-time only preview screenings will take place in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and the UK.
Cameron, who also directed the breakthrough 3D epic AVATAR, will bring TITANIC to life as audiences have never seen it before, digitally re-mastered to an unparalleled 4K 3D, harnessing the innovative technology of StereoD. The re-release of TITANIC also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Titanic setting sail on April 10, 1912. Written, directed and produced by James Cameron, TITANIC is the second highest grossing movie of all time. It is one of only three films to have received a record 11 Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Director; and launched the careers of stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Called "A spectacular demonstration of what modern technology can contribute to dramatic storytelling" by Variety upon it's release in 1997, the long in the works 3D conversion was overseen Cameron and his Lightstorm producing partner Jon Landau who produced the hit movie.
Learn more about TITANIC in 3D at http://www.titanicmovie.com/
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About Twentieth Century Fox
One of the world's largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Fox International Productions.
About Lightstorm Entertainment
Lightstorm Entertainment is a film production company founded by Academy Award winning filmmakers James Cameron and film producer Jon Landau. The company has produced blockbuster hits including "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "True Lies," as well the Academy Award® winning "Titanic" and most recently "Avatar," which stands at the biggest grossing movie of all time.
SOURCE Paramount Pictures Corporation
CONTACT: Katie Martin Kelley, Paramount Pictures, Executive Vice President Publicity, +1-323-956-2821, kmk@paramount.com; or Hilary Clark, Fox, Executive Vice President, International Publicity, +1-310-369-5156, Hilary.Clark@fox.com
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The CineCause Spotlight Tour Kicks off 2012 with Happiness
1 Feb 2012 16:06 Africa/Lagos
The CineCause Spotlight Tour Kicks off 2012 with Happiness
Festival favorites screen for causes in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new venture connecting films, celebrities and news to related charities, CineCause will kick off their 2012 Spotlight Tour with the theme of Happiness, presenting 3 award-winning films to audiences in the Los Angeles area, February 10-12. The event will take place at the Edgemar Theatre (http://www.edgemarcenter.org) in Santa Monica, featuring: The Economics of Happiness, Happy and Project Happiness.
The Spotlight will provide local audiences with information and creative opportunities to donate and/or get involved with related causes. "With dedicated college courses, books being published and films being produced, the subject and science of happiness is finally getting the attention it deserves. We're excited to present local audiences with these terrific films that creatively explore this challenging theme," says CineCause CEO Jon Fitzgerald.
The event will kick off Friday February 10th with Project Happiness, directed by John Sorensen, created and produced by Randy Taran, featuring the Dalai Lama, George Lucas, Richard Gere and neuroscientist Richard Davidson. From the alleys of Nigeria and the beaches of California to the mountains of India, ordinary young people lead us on an extraordinary journey to explore the nature of lasting happiness.
"We are delighted to partner with CineCause and participating filmmakers to further our collective message that a happy world is possible, as well as support causes that empower children, families, and communities to create happier, more meaningful lives," says Project Happiness Creator and Producer Randy Taran. Taran and one of the student participants from the film, Emily Crubaugh, will be on hand for Q&A discussion and book signing following the film.
Happy, directed by Roko Belic, will play Saturday, February 11. The film sets out to answer many questions on the subject of happiness. Taking us from the bayous of Louisiana to the deserts of Namibia, from the beaches of Brazil to the villages of Okinawa, Happy explores the secrets behind our most valued emotion.
The Economics of Happiness reveals how globalization is accelerating climate change, destroying jobs, fraying the fabric of our communities and adding to the stress of modern life. Most importantly, the film shows that these trends can be reversed. With stunning footage and thought provoking commentary from thinkers and activists on every continent, the film demonstrates that a better world is not only possible, it's within our reach.
Event Sponsors include: Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, Knowitall, YES! Magazine and Edgemar Theater for the Arts.
Ten percent of all sponsorships, ticket, and merchandise sales will go to related charities. Links to purchase tickets and more detail on each of the films, including related causes and articles, can be found at www.cinecause.com. Tickets are also available through Eventbrite at (http://happinessshowcase.eventbrite.com).
CineCause is a filter to quality film programming and curates showcases of films based on theme, subject or topic, pairing socially relevant films with related causes. Audiences learn more about causes, have an opportunity to make a donation, and participate in a collective effort to affect positive change.
For more information, please visit: www.cinecause.com
Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click appropriate link.
Randy Taran
http://www.profnetconnect.com/randytaran
SOURCE CineCause
CONTACT: Jon Fitzgerald, +1-310-827-5900, jon@cinecause.com, or Lisa Braun Dubbels, +1-651-343-7315, lisa@catalystpublicity.com
Web Site: http://www.cinecause.com
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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Nigerian Prisons, the Courts and Imprisoned Terrorists
Inside a typical prison in Nigeria.
Nigerian Prisons, the Courts and Imprisoned Terrorists
~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi
The Nigerian courts and the prisons have in the last few months become intensively involved in terrorists being imported from our streets into the penal system.
Nigeria, unlike the Euro-American or Western world does not have the enormous technological, security and psychological experience to put a full handle on the ‘war of terror’.
Yet, hundreds of reported arrested members of Boko Haram sect are continuously being tossed into our already overcrowded prisons. Certainly, everyone including the prison personnel, convicts and the persons awaiting trial as well as their respective families are likely to be increasingly preoccupied with safety concerns
Considering that both the domestic and foreign terrorists come into the prisons with endured religious, political and social influences, these detained and convicted terrorists currently under lock up, could make our prisons, recruiting grounds for more secret fanatical and dangerous plans. Is Nigeria even slightly prepared for this type of terror in closed settings like prisons?
The United States of America known for many of its prison and detention facilities has locations like undisclosed prisons, floating prisons(e.g. Ships), and foreign based secret prisons called “black site”. But this not the case with Nigeria.
Even if Nigeria was to use the existing prisons to house terrorist convicts or suspects, what could be the danger of creating a swelling population of predominantly extremist Muslim units, and won’t that lead to the feelings that Islam is under attack?
To ensure that our prisons are safe, how is the government preparing the prisons and the society that we are not locking up persons of a special religious group?
Since this whole Boko Haram challenge is a new test and fresh experience to us, we will need to create tough different interrogation procedures, special solitary units, and high tech security environment as many of these suspects are ‘high-value’ terrorism villains.
We will need to begin interrogations of these prisoners using specially trained prison staff and officers in order to yield useful psychological and social information that could lead to the unraveling of their unique tactics, and to future terrorist plots.
As we know the Nigerian prisons are use to non-ordinary offenders unlike Boko Haram terrorists known for their strong dogmatic beliefs and religious motivations.
So with many of them fully radicalized as part of their personal ideals, aspirations and experience, we must begin to put in place intelligence-based , psychological and rehabilitative processes and programs to help DE-radicalize them from their violent prone mental, emotional, social behaviors. This will cost money but it is worth it.
Now is the time for the government to provide a penal environment that could fully ensure the safety, security and orderly operation of our prison facilities with the protection of prison personnel, their families and the protection of the public in mind.
In order to ensure tight surveillance and to keep a close watch on the terrorists’ movements in our present prisons, we need to also prepare our courtrooms for the trial of terror suspects and ensuring the safety of the presiding judges, prosecutors and witnesses as well as their families.
The current anti-terrorism legislation has called for the imprisonment of terrorist convicts as long as 20 years. But we have a problem; the 2011 Anti-Terrorism Act is mainly preventive and prohibitive in terms of its potency as it does not have a full-blown legislative aspect in regards to the full handling of terror suspects or convicts in the prison system.
Prisons by all measures plays a much bigger big role in the war on terrorism, therefore the nation must be protected by getting the penal system technologically and financially prepared in regards to the special training of officers. And assist with preparing existing prisons for terrorist attacks.
Let us believe that very soon we will see the set-up of high-security prisons with appropriate infrastructure and rehabilitative programs in the model of prisons in America or other security conscious nations.
~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Abuja. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839.
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The Nigerian Actor Who Looks Like Pastor T. B. Joshua
Lucky Ejim
Pastor T.B. Joshua
The Nigerian Actor Who Looks Like Pastor T. B. Joshua
Lucky Ejim is the only well known Nigerian actor who looks like the famous Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as T. B. Joshua, the Nigerian minister, televangelist and faith healer who is the founder and leader of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). So, Lucky should fit the lead role of a biopic on the present life of the pastor.
Onyekachi 'Lucky' Ejim is a world class actor who is based overseas and popularly known for his lead role in The Tenant, the film he directed himself and he has also excelled in other roles on TV and the big screen.
A biopic on Pastor Joshua will definitely attract millions to the cinemas in Nigeria and other countries and can be a very effective vehicle for evangelism worldwide.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of Children of Heaven, Scarlet Tears of London, Bye, Bye Mugabe, In the House of Dogs, and other books.
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
US Deputy Secretary Burns Completes Week-long Trip to Africa
31 Jan 2012 05:26 Africa/Lagos
US Deputy Secretary Burns Completes Week-long Trip to Africa
WASHINGTON, January 31, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 30, 2012
Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns wrapped up his week-long visit to Africa today in Ethiopia. As head of the U.S. delegation to the African Union Summit, he met yesterday and today with a number of leaders in Addis Ababa, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, South Sudanese President Kiir, Sudanese Foreign Minister Karti, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles, Libyan Prime Minister al-Keeb, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang, and Kenyan Foreign Minister Wetangula. Over the weekend, the Deputy Secretary was in Uganda, where he met with Ugandan President Museveni and visited a public-private partnership at Wagagai, one of more than a hundred clinics that the United States supports in Uganda to provide preventive care and comprehensive maternal and child health services. He also traveled on January 28 to South Sudan, where he met with a number of senior officials including Vice President Machar.
Throughout his meetings at the African Union, as well as in Ghana, Uganda, and South Sudan, the Deputy Secretary highlighted our ongoing commitment to work with African partners to support gains in democratic governance, sustainable development, economic growth, and the peaceful resolution of conflict. His discussions also covered a range of security, political, and humanitarian challenges facing the continent. The Deputy Secretary expressed deep concern regarding the Government of Sudan's continued denial of humanitarian access to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and also underscored the need for Sudan and South Sudan to quickly reach agreement on oil and related financial issues. Various leaders he met with expressed concern about the growing threat posed to Nigeria and the region by Boko Haram. The Deputy Secretary stressed that the United States will continue to support the Government of Nigeria on this and other challenges facing the country. On Somalia, the Deputy Secretary noted U.S. support for the work of the African Union Mission in Somalia and the need for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to make steady and sustained progress on the Roadmap in advance of the end of the TFG's mandate in August. The Deputy Secretary highlighted ongoing U.S. collaboration and partnership with the African Union on a broad range of issues, and assured leaders of the U.S. commitment to continue to assist the African Union in augmenting its capacity to address the many opportunities and challenges facing the continent.
In Ghana, Uganda, and Ethiopia, the Deputy Secretary took the time to engage with a cross section of young leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society activists engaged in every sector of society. The Deputy Secretary's visit, coming on the heels of the Secretary's visit to West Africa last week, reaffirms the high priority that the Obama Administration attaches to Africa, and the special emphasis the United States has placed on engaging the continent's next generation of leaders.
Source: US Department of State
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US Deputy Secretary Burns Completes Week-long Trip to Africa
WASHINGTON, January 31, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 30, 2012
Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns wrapped up his week-long visit to Africa today in Ethiopia. As head of the U.S. delegation to the African Union Summit, he met yesterday and today with a number of leaders in Addis Ababa, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, South Sudanese President Kiir, Sudanese Foreign Minister Karti, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles, Libyan Prime Minister al-Keeb, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang, and Kenyan Foreign Minister Wetangula. Over the weekend, the Deputy Secretary was in Uganda, where he met with Ugandan President Museveni and visited a public-private partnership at Wagagai, one of more than a hundred clinics that the United States supports in Uganda to provide preventive care and comprehensive maternal and child health services. He also traveled on January 28 to South Sudan, where he met with a number of senior officials including Vice President Machar.
Throughout his meetings at the African Union, as well as in Ghana, Uganda, and South Sudan, the Deputy Secretary highlighted our ongoing commitment to work with African partners to support gains in democratic governance, sustainable development, economic growth, and the peaceful resolution of conflict. His discussions also covered a range of security, political, and humanitarian challenges facing the continent. The Deputy Secretary expressed deep concern regarding the Government of Sudan's continued denial of humanitarian access to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and also underscored the need for Sudan and South Sudan to quickly reach agreement on oil and related financial issues. Various leaders he met with expressed concern about the growing threat posed to Nigeria and the region by Boko Haram. The Deputy Secretary stressed that the United States will continue to support the Government of Nigeria on this and other challenges facing the country. On Somalia, the Deputy Secretary noted U.S. support for the work of the African Union Mission in Somalia and the need for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to make steady and sustained progress on the Roadmap in advance of the end of the TFG's mandate in August. The Deputy Secretary highlighted ongoing U.S. collaboration and partnership with the African Union on a broad range of issues, and assured leaders of the U.S. commitment to continue to assist the African Union in augmenting its capacity to address the many opportunities and challenges facing the continent.
In Ghana, Uganda, and Ethiopia, the Deputy Secretary took the time to engage with a cross section of young leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society activists engaged in every sector of society. The Deputy Secretary's visit, coming on the heels of the Secretary's visit to West Africa last week, reaffirms the high priority that the Obama Administration attaches to Africa, and the special emphasis the United States has placed on engaging the continent's next generation of leaders.
Source: US Department of State
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Top 20 Nigerian Filmmakers
Tunde Kelani
Top 20 Nigerian Filmmakers
In no particular order, the following are the top 20 Nigerian filmmakers based on the local and international ratings of their active engagements, current movies at the cinemas, critical press reviews by film critics and screenings at film festivals.
1. Tunde Kelani
Tunde Kelani has been the most resourceful and outstanding Nigerian filmmaker from the old school who has remained very active since the 1970s to date when his contemporaries are no longer very active. He is accomplished in both celluloid and video And his notable films include Anikura, Ireke Onibudo, Pap Ajasco, Kannakanna, Ogun Ajaye, Iya Ni Wura, Taxi Driver, Iwa, Fopomoyo and feature videos Ti Oluwa Nile , Ayo Ni Mofe , Kosegbe, O Le Ku, Saworoide And Thunderbolt and Maami.
2. Amaka Igwe
Amaka Igwe may be called the “Mama of Nollywood” for being the leading lady of Nigeria’s home video industry for her notable contributions to the sustainable development from the 1990s to date. And famous for her outstanding movies Rattle Snake, Violated, Checkmate, Forever and celluloid film A Barber's Wisdom - a film which is part of M-Net's new directions.
3. Izu Ojukwu
Izu Ojukwu is one of the most accomplished Nigerian filmmakers of the new generation, but very modest about his achievements. He has won African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Director for the film Sitanda, which received 9 nominations and won 5 awards at the 2007 African Movie Academy Awards, including Best Picture & Best Nigerian Film.
4. Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun
Lancelot Imaseun who is the real Mr. Prolific of Nollywood, is one of the icons of the Nigerian film industry who has been there from the birth of Nollywood in the early 1990s to date and a multiple award winning director of over 200 movies so far including A Private Storm, Bent Arrows , Home in Exile and his latest blockbuster Adesuwa.
5. Teco Benson
Teco Benson is without dispute among the outstanding filmmakers in Nigeria today and among his notable movies are High Blood Pressure, The Fake Prophet, Mission To Nowhere, Explosion: Now or Never, Silence of the Gods, Blood Diamonds, Danger Signal, State of Emergency and War Front.
6. Kunle Afolayan
Kunle Afolayan is carrying on the torch of his famous father Adeyemi Afolayan, aka Ade Love who produced box office hits in the 1970s. Kunle’s Irapada was the best indigenous movie at the 2007 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and his box office hit The Figurine: Araromire won the best picture prize and four other major awards at the 2010 African movie academy Awards (AMAA) and has been well received at local and international film festivals.
7. Faruk Lasaki
Faruk Lasaki is an accomplished young filmmaker who is more accomplished for his commercials. And his first feature Changing Faces has become one of the most critically successful Nigerian movies in recent time.
8. Chineze Anyaene
Chineze Anyaene’s first feature IJÉ the Journey shot on 35mm is so far the most successful Nigerian movie in Nigeria and at major international film festivals where the film has won many nominations and awards
9. Mak Kusare
Mak ’Kusare is a young and ambitious filmmaker who has won multiple awards for his features, including three awards for his first feature Ninety Degrees in 2006 at the Zuma Film Film Festival in Abuja, for the Best Director, Best First Film/Video of a Director and Best Feature Film. He also directed the Champions of our Time that has won prizes, including; Best Film award at the Zafaa International Film Festival, Abuja International Film Festival, the special jury prize for TV/Video fiction and a special ECOWAS prize at the 2011 Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).
10. Jeta Amata
Jeta Amata is a highly rated filmmaker for his ambitious 35mm film The Amazing Grace which won the Best West African Film award at the 2006 Screen Nations Awards UK and for his daring award winning 2011 film Black Gold and the multiple awards winning Inale.
11. Obi Emelonye
Obi Emelonye who is now based in the UK is a notable award winning Nollywood filmmaker known for his outstanding movies, including The Asylum (2008), Sweet, Betrayal (2007), Lucky Joe (2006), London Successor (2006), Echoes of War (2003), Who's Next? (2001), Good Friends (2000) and his most successful so far The Mirror Boy.
12. Mahmood Ali-Balogun
Mahmood Ali-Balogun is the director of Tango With Me, one of the most successful Nigerian films shot on 35 mm and for “Temi ni Tooto” in 2003.. He is also respected for .his award-winning MNET short film A Place called Home in 1998
13. Stephanie Okereke
Stephanie Okereke’s Through the Glass which premiered in October 18th 2008 at the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood, California and got her the Recognition Award from the California state legislature and the city of Carson is among the top 10 Nigerian movies at the cinemas and also got an international distributor in North America.
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14. Femi Odugbemi
Femi Odugbemi is a highly esteemed award-winning filmmaker who is notable for his award winning documentaries, dramas, TV Shows and commercials and commended for his Bar Beach Blues and Maroko.
15. Lonzo Nzekwe
Lonzo Nzekwe’s Anchor Baby won the Best Film prize at the 2010 Harlem International Film Festival in New York and has taken him places so far. The film is among the fantastic revelations of Nigerian motion pictures in the first decade of the 21st century.
16. Michelle Bello
Michelle Bello’s feature film, “Small Boy” had scooped coveted prizes and nominations at various awards ceremonies and film festivals, including Two AMAA awards for Best Art Direction and Best Young Child Actor in April 2009; two nominations at the American Black Film Festival in Los Angeles in August 2008, the Heineken Red Star Award for Innovation in Film and the Target Filmmaker Award for Most Inspirational Film. The film was also part of the Federal Government delegation to the Israeli Film Festival. Ms. Bello is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C. where she earned a degree in Mass Communication, specializing in Visual Media. She is the daughter of respected arts promoter, Mrs. Sylva Bello, of the Masoma Foundation.
17. Chike Ibekwe
Chike Ibekwe’s first and only feature so far Eternal shared the Golden Screen prize for the best film award with “An Unusual Woman” by Burkinabe director Abdoulaye Dao at the 14th annual “Ecrans noirs” Film Festival in Yaounde (Cameroon) and has been screened at other international film festivals..
18. Niji Akanni
Niji Akanni is a quiet storm that thundered with Aramotu his historical film that won the Best Nigerian film prize at the 2011 http://www.ama-awards.com/amaa-nominees-and-winners-2011African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), beating Mahmood Ali-Balogun’s Tango With Me, Tunde Kelani’s Maami, Jeta Amata’s Inale and Lancelot Imaseun/Ikechukwu Onyeka’s Private Storm. Akanni is a seasoned and well educated director who is highly respected in the Nigerian film industry for his award winning short and full length films.
19. Newton Aduaka
Newton Aduaka’s feature film, Rage, became the first wholly independently financed film by a black filmmaker in the history of British cinema to be released nationwide and has earned him a place among the most accomplished young Black filmmakers in the world today. Ezra, his first non-independently funded film, for Arte France was nominated for top honours at several film festivals and was an official selection at Sundance and Cannes and won the most coveted first prize of Etalon d'or de Yennenga (the golden stallion of Yennenga) at the 2007 Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).
20. Ejim Onyenkachi
Ejim Onyekachi’s multiple award winning film The Tenant earned him a place among the top 20 Nigerian filmmakers. The film notably won the Audience Choice Award, Best Feature Film– at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in 2009, Best Film at the Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival, Virginia in 2009 and the Best Feature Film at the Moving Image Film festival, Toronto, Canada in 2008.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima is the author of Young At Art, Best of Nollywood and other articles and books.
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Monday, January 30, 2012
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Accomplice Sentenced To Death
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha going to jail.
Monday January 30 was an ill-fated day for Major Hamza Al-Mustapha as he was sentenced to death by Judge Mojisola Dada at the high court in Igbosere on the Lagos Island in Nigeria. The former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha, the despotic tyrant and ruler of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998, was found guilty of masterminding the assassination of Kudirat Abiola on June 4th 1996. Kudirat was one of the wives of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, the president-elect of the annulled 1993 presidential election. Al-mustapha was sentenced along with Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan, a protocol officer in the MKO Abiola campaign organization, also found guilty for his complicity in the murder of Kudirat. Al-mustapha has been in detention since he was arrested on Thursday, 22nd day of October 1998.
Kudirat Abiola
Chief M.K.O Abiola and Gen. Sani Abacha
On December 21, 2010, Hamza Al-mustapha was discharged and acquitted for the attempted murder of Mr. Alex Ibru, Publisher of The Guardian newspapers on February 2, 1996, when his car was sprayed with machine gun fire from unidentified men who had trailed him in a deep-blue Peugeot when Ibru was the Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. Alex Ibru died on 20 November 2011, aged 66.
Without doubt, Al-mustapha will appeal against the death sentence.
~ By Orikkinla Osinachi
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