Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Technorati Ranks Nigerian Times Higher Than TMZ on Entertainment




How can Technorati rank Nigerian Times higher than the famous celebrity gossip website TMZ on Entertainment?

Nigerian Times Technorati Authority for Entertainment is 136, Rank: 2400, while TMZ’s Technorati Authority in the same category is Entertainment Authority: 25, Rank: 20495.

I don’t know how a Nigerian news and information blog ranks higher than a hugely popular American celebrity and entertainment news gossip website that is noted for breaking news on celebrities and in fact broke the news of Michael Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009 before anyone and many other breaking news records before then.

With over over 100,832 links to the site, Nigerian Times is among the most visited blogs in the world.

The following are the ranking of Nigerian Times in different categories on Technorati as recorded on February 21, 2012.

Entertainment Authority: 136
Rank: 2400

Politics Authority: 113
Rank: 1949

Living Authority: 90
Rank: 10802

U.S. Politics Authority: 118
Rank: 2368

World Authority: 106
Rank: 778

Film Authority: 130
Rank: 667



Political Consultations Between Nigeria and Switzerland

Political consultations between Nigeria and Switzerland

BERNE, Feb. 20, 2012 / / - The Secretary of State Peter Maurer of the DFA received on February 20 in Bern a Nigerian delegation, led by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Martin Uhomoibhi, within the framework of political consultations between the two countries initiated in May 2010. This high-level meeting which helped to address various bilateral and multilateral issues is followed by technical meetings under the Partnership migratory and consultations on human rights.

The two delegations, whose countries enjoy excellent relations, were discussed areas of common interest such as the strengthening of bilateral relations, trade - Nigeria is the second economic partner for Switzerland in sub-Saharan Africa - and bilateral investment, the security situation in the Sahara-Sahel region and multilateral issues. Concerns about recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria and security issues throughout the region have been exchanged to identify solutions on a regional basis.

Relations between Switzerland and Nigeria, in the field of migration, are the subject of a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2011 in Bern between Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, head of the FOJ, and the former Minister of Nigerian Foreign Affairs, Henry Odein Ajumogobia. This memorandum establishes a migration partnership between the two countries, the first such agreement between Switzerland and an African country. The two delegations continued discussions within the framework of this partnership that allows for cooperation in the long run, the benefit and the benefit of both parties. The MOU covers cooperation particularly in strengthening the capacity of immigration, the fight against human trafficking, police cooperation and the promotion and protection of human rights. Many joint projects, dedicated to training youth and involving some Nigerian diaspora in Switzerland, are all elements of the partnership who are to be developed. Both sides stressed the importance to be given to voluntary return in safety and dignity. In 2011, 80% of Nigerian citizens to leave Switzerland is done on a voluntary basis, many of them taking advantage of a program of assisted return.

At the multilateral level, Switzerland, who chaired the Global Forum on Migration and Development in 2011, was pleased to acknowledge the commitment of Nigeria on the theme of South-South migration and expressed appreciation for continued collaboration with this country in 2012.

Further technical meetings in migration, a second round of consultations on human rights is also held in Switzerland. Both sides looked forward to this important instrument that allows both countries to deepen their cooperation in a constructive and meaningful in terms of human rights, including multilaterally.

Source: Switzerland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs



Sexy Bikinis That Create Jobs in South Africa



South Africa 23-year-old Supermodel Candice Swanepoel Is Picture Perfect As She Models Flirty Victoria's Secret Bikinis.


21 Feb 2012 08:00 Africa/Lagos

Sexy Bikinis That Create Jobs in South Africa



CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 21, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

MINX Bikini [http://www.myminx.com ] a fashion and lifestyle brand that specializes in sexy swimwear and lingerie announces the launch of its online store.



MINX [http://www.myminx.com ], a manufacturer of luxury ethically made designer swimwear based in Cape Town, South Africa today announced that they are open for business.

The company, prides it's self on creating sexy little bikinis that create jobs for previously disadvantaged South Africans in Cape Town.

Bianca Kellaway, Co-founder of myminx.com [http://www.myminx.com ] had this to say,

"We were inspired to set up MINX [http://www.myminx.com ] not only because we love the beach but also because we wanted to give back to the local community by only employing local traditional artisans to create each garment. Creating employment opportunities in South Africa is one of the best ways to prevent poverty and pay for the education of future generations."

About MINX

Established in January 2012 myminx.com [http://www.myminx.com ] is the brainchild of Bianca & Mike Kellaway. The brand specializes in woman's wear across sexy bikinis [http://myminx.com/collections/classic-collection ], resort wear [http://myminx.com/collections/chic-collection ] and lingerie. [http://www.myminx.com ]

MINX the brand is inspired by the sexy, healthy beach lifestyle of Cape Town [http://myminx.com/pages/about-minx-bikini-shop ], South Africa.

To learn more about MINX or to enquire about job opportunities, contact Mike Kellaway, michael.kellaway@minxbikini.com or visit the website at http://www.myminx.com

Source: MINX

+27-764-308032

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
21 Feb 2012
11:00 Dahabshiil CEO: Social Entrepreneurship Is Key to Unlocking Somalia's Potential Gesch?ftsf?hrer von Dahabshiil: Soziales Unternehmertum ist der Schl?ssel zur Entfaltung von Somalias Potenzial D'apr?s le PDG de Dahabshiil, l'entreprenariat social est essentiel pour d?bloquer le potentiel de la Somalie
09:16 Cape plc Uses Magic's Mobile Enterprise Application Platform to Create an Integrated Business Solution for the Construction Industry
09:00 Oil and Chemicals Storage Industry Report: 2012 - 2015 Global Investment Opportunities, Analysis and Forecasts of All Active and Planned Terminals
08:00 Sexy Bikinis That Create Jobs in South Africa
06:46 Tanzania Inaugurates IOM-Built, Japan-Funded Immigration Facilities
06:42 Japan Funds IOM Water Treatment Pilot for Internally Displaced in Somalia
06:01 Texas Gulf Energy, Inc. Approved by Far Eastern National Oil Company to Provide Energy Services
05:05 Weatherford Reports Preliminary Fourth Quarter Results
01:49 St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Announces Kids are Heroes Winners
20 Feb 2012
20:40 Platts Expands its Forward-Dated European Oil Price Assessments
18:15 Kimberly-Clark's Kotex Brand Achieves Billion-Dollar Status
17:12 Equatorial Guinea Protests French Police Raid On Diplomatic Property
17:03 Logistics Real Estate Grows at MIPIM 2012
15:00 Friendship Force International Celebrates 35th Anniversary With Major Expansion
15:00 Biomni and Pink Elephant Announce On-Demand Webinar: Enterprise Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) Service Catalog Essentials
14:25 A Tragic Story of True Love, Devotion and Compassion Unfolds
14:08 AU deploys an observers mission to Senegal
13:11 Objet Further Expands its Presence in China with New Channel Partners
11:10 South Africa / Deputy President Motlanthe visits the Mogale City Local Municipality, West Rand District, Gauteng Province
10:53 Minister of State announces €5 million in funding for emergency relief in the Sahel




84.4 Percent of the U.S. Internet Audience Viewed Online Video



84.4 percent of the U.S. Internet audience viewed online video.
181 million U.S. Internet users watched nearly 40 billion videos of online video content in January.

The duration of the average online content video was 6.1 minutes, while the average online video ad was 0.4 minutes.

Video ads accounted for 12.2 percent of all videos viewed and 0.9 percent of all minutes spent viewing video online.


Top 10 Video Content Properties by Unique Viewers

Google Sites, driven primarily by video viewing at YouTube.com, ranked as the top online video content property in January with 152 million unique viewers, followed by VEVO with 51.5 million, Yahoo! Sites with 49.2 million, Viacom Digital with 48.1 million and Facebook.com with 45.1 million. Nearly 40 billion videos views occurred during the month, with Google Sites generating the highest number at 18.6 billion, followed by Hulu with 877 million and VEVO with 717 million. The average viewer watched 22.6 hours of online video content, with Google Sites (7.5 hours) and Hulu (3.2 hours) demonstrating the highest average engagement among the top ten properties.

Click here for the details with tables and figures.

*A video is defined as any streamed segment of audiovisual content, including both progressive downloads and live streams. For long-form, segmented content, (e.g. television episodes with ad pods in the middle) each segment of the content is counted as a distinct video stream.

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Kimberly-Clark's Kotex Brand Achieves Billion-Dollar Status

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas teams up with Texas Instruments to launch new badge, interest local girls in STEM

NASA Spacecraft Reveals Recent Geological Activity on the Moon

LightSquared Statement Regarding Inmarsat Notice

Star's Death Places Spotlight on Xanax

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Quarterly Earnings Reports

American International Toy Fair

Black History Month





Monday, February 20, 2012

Nollywood Producer Sells Over One Million Copies of His Hit Home Video



A Nollywood producer Ifeanyi Onyekwelu, claims that he has sold over one million copies of his home videos on the terrifying crimes of kidnappers in Nigeria.

The Nollywood hit movie Most Wanted Kidnappers has broken all previous sales records in Nollywood, the popular Nigerian home videos movie industry by selling over one million copies so far according to the Aba based Nollywood moviemaker, Ifeanyi Onyekwelu, Producer and Director of the Most Wanted Kidnapper series.

From The King of Kidnappers to his Most Wanted Kidnappers starring popular Nollywood actors like Charles Awurum, Amaechi Muonagor, Eze Okechukwu, John Okafor and others, the movies have kept marketers busy in the eastern states where Nollywood is still booming.

A notable stakeholder in the Nigerian film industry Mr. Madu Chikwendu, founder of Leap International Film Festival (LIFF) in Aba confirmed that The Most Wanted Kidnappers has broken the sales record of Nollywood bestsellers like Living in Bondage, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, Osuofia in London, Dangerous Twins and other Nollywood blockbusters.

“He has sold over 500, 000 copies so far, “ said Mr. Chikwendu, who recently had a successful launch of his Leap International Film Festival in Aba, the commercial capital of the eastern states.
“Who says Nollywood has crashed? Asaba is now the production hub of Nollywood and movies are still being made frequently like in the heyday of home videos,” he added affirmatively.

~ By Orikinla Osinachi

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Quarterly Earnings Reports

American International Toy Fair

Black History Month



Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
20 Feb 2012
10:53 Minister of State announces €5 million in funding for emergency relief in the Sahel
05:26 The U.S. Government Working for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting




Stars Celebrate Muhammad Ali's 70th Birthday in Las Vegas



Keep Memory Alive's 16th Annual "Power of Love Gala" Honors Muhammad Ali With Star-Studded 70th Birthday Celebration in Las Vegas MultiVu Video Feed: Keep Memory Alive.


Muhammad Ali, with wife Lonnie, gets a birthday greeting from Top Rank's Bob Arum during the ''Power of Love Gala'' in Las Vegas benefitting the Cleveland Clinic Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Event Honored “The Greatest of All Time” at Fundraiser for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center
“Ali 70th From Las Vegas” Airs on ESPN2 on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10 p.m.
Presented by Bill Edwards Presents



Sean Combs honors Muhammad Ali during his70th birthday celebration at the 16th annual ''Power of Love Gala'' benefitting the Cleveland Clinic. Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, Las Vegas /PRNewswire/ — Keep Memory Alive’s 16th annual Power of Love Gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas brought out some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment to celebrate Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday and raise funds for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center.

Highlights of the evening included a heartfelt “Happy Birthday” serenade by Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg leading the crowd in chanting “Ali” during his performance of “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and famed boxers Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield and Tommy “Hitman” Hearns joining LL Cool J on stage for “Mama Said Knock You Out.” Stars like Sean Combs, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard and David Beckham gave personal remarks and remembrances about “The Greatest” while Lenny Kravitz, Cee Lo Green and Kelly Rowland performed for Ali and the sold-out crowd of about 2,000.

The once-in-a-lifetime birthday celebration, “Ali 70th From Las Vegas,” will air nationally on ESPN2 on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10 p.m. local time in all markets. ABC will air the celebration in Las Vegas at 4 p.m. PT that day as well. For possible ABC broadcast in all other markets, viewers should check their local listings.

Performers and celebrity supporters who appeared at the event included Cindy Crawford, Randy Gerber, Samuel L. Jackson, David Beckham, Larry King, Quincy Jones, Ken Jeong, Buzz Aldrin, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Common, Lenny Kravitz, Sean Combs, Anthony Hopkins, John Legend, Chris Cornell, Cee Lo Green, Joe Perry, Slash, Terrence Howard, Kris Kristofferson, David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Jim Brown, Randy Couture, Brad Garrett, Kelly Rowland, Dave Koz, Robin Leach, James Gandolfini, Steve Schirripa, John Paul DeJoria, Tony Danza, Raphael Saadiq, Haley Reinhart, and Sammy Hagar. Boxing icons who attended include Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Tommy “Hitman” Hearns.

In keeping with its 16-year history, the Power of Love Gala showcased a celebrity-chef-packed dinner featuring creations by Tom Colicchio, Scott Conant, Michael Mina and Wolfgang Puck. Guests were treated to a Dom Perignon reception and were able to bid on one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items, including Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves he wore to defeat Floyd Patterson in Las Vegas in 1965 and an extravagant vacation of a lifetime for two couples on David Copperfield’s private island in the Bahamas.

The gala’s celebration for Ali aligns with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s recent launch of a landmark study examining the long-term brain health of professional fighters. Aiming to improve the safety and health of fighters, the study will help determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, along with other tests, can detect subtle changes in brain health that correlate with impaired thinking and functioning. Researchers hope the information uncovered by this research will eventually result in better ways to prevent permanent brain injury in not only fighters, but also in others who may suffer from brain trauma.

The Power of Love Gala was produced by Bill Edwards Presents Inc. and supported by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Muhammad Ali Enterprises and Keep Memory Alive, the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The star-studded celebration for Ali honored the boxing legend’s contribution to the world and raised awareness for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

About Cleveland Clinic:
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals and 18 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 167,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us at http://www.clevelandclinic.org/. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.

About Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health:
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health provides state-of-the-art care for cognitive disorders and for the family members of those who suffer from them. The physicians and staff at the Center for Brain Health continuously work towards the development of early diagnosis and the advancement of knowledge concerning mild cognitive disorders, which could one day delay or prevent their onset. Patients receive expert diagnosis and treatment at the Center for Brain Health, which offers a multidisciplinary patient-focused approach to diagnosis and treatment, promoting collaboration across all care providers, offering patients a complete continuum of care and infusing education and research into all that it does. The facility, designed by Frank Gehry, houses clinical space, a diagnostic center, neuroimaging rooms, physician offices, laboratories devoted to clinical research and the Keep Memory Alive Event Center. For more information, visit www.clevelandclinic.org/brainhealth.


About Keep Memory Alive:

Keep Memory Alive, whose mission is to provide enhanced treatment and ultimately cures for patients and their families suffering from neurocognitive disorders, raises awareness and funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. By supporting Keep Memory Alive and its fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and memory disorders of all kinds, we can ensure progress towards better treatments and ultimately cures will occur in Las Vegas. For additional information call (702) 263-9797 or visit www.keepmemoryalive.org.

About The Muhammad Ali Center:
The Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural attraction and international education center that is inspired by the ideals of Muhammad Ali. The Center serves as the global hub for championing the social significance of Muhammad Ali; its experience incorporates as organizing elements, six prevailing core values of Ali’s life: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, and spirituality. Much more than a place to tell the story of one man’s incredible 70-year journey, the Muhammad Ali Center reaches beyond its physical walls to fulfill its mission. In 2012, the Center’s activities will ensure that the rising generation understands and actively adopts Ali’s core values to create a powerful new movement: Generation Ali. For more information, please call (502) 584-9254 or visit www.alicenter.org.

About Bill Edwards Presents Inc.:

A premier live entertainment company, Bill Edwards Presents Inc. has been producing world-class attractions for more than a decade. The company has established itself through producing shows and events in a variety of venues – including festivals, theaters, casinos-resorts, performing arts centers and arenas. Known for its reputation of aligning with award winning talent, Bill Edwards Presents is based in St. Petersburg, Florida. www.billedwardspresents.com


About The LVCVA:

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With approximately 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 10.6 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA’s mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.VisitLasVegas.com.

Media Contacts:


Megan F. Pruce
Cleveland Clinic
prucem@ccf.org
216-445-7452

Kate Whiteley
Kirvin Doak
kwhiteley@kirvindoak.com
702-737-3100



Call for Entries for Sofia International Animation Film Festival



The Sofia International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” in partnership with Eko International Film Festival is inviting Nigerian filmmakers of animated movies to submit entries with focus on Environment & Ecology, because the best of green animated films will be screened at the 2012 edition of the festival supported by the Ministry of Environment and Waters of Bulgaria for this initiative.

One of the most important cultural events in Bulgaria – Sofia International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker”, took its first steps in October 2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria. It had a tremendous success and was vividly reflected in the media and was considered as very successful by the film critics. “Golden Kuker” is the first animation festival in Bulgaria of the new century. It is organized by BAICAA (Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists (NGO) consisting of 105 members up to date), chaired by Mrs. Nadezhda Slavova (cartoon artist, filmmaker and author of numerous animation films), who is also the director of “Golden Kuker” festival.

(You can visit SIAFF Golden Kuker 2011 here: http://www.animationfest-bg.eu/ )

More than 180 films from 29 countries entered the competition in 2010 and more than 350 films from 51 countries in 2011 (among which were authors of films nominated for an “Oscar” and films of artists awarded at international festivals category "A"). We also screened Best of ASIFA India in 2011. Members of the International jury and Selection committee were professionals such as Csaba Varga (Hungary), Marc Bertrand (ONF – Canada), Berin Tuzlic (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Zlatin Radev (Bulgaria), Nadezhda Marinchevska (Bulgaria), Vessela Dantcheva (Bulgaria), Dalibor Rajninger (Serbia), Vladimir Yastreba (Russia), and others.

Our festival consists of competition, informational and retrospective programmes, as well as supporting events such as workshops, master-classes, lectures, round tables and presentations, which provide a rare opportunity to meet world renowned animation professionals, make contacts and present/watch the latest animation creations from all around the world.

SIAFF Golden Kuker – Sofia is supported by Sofia Municipal Council, Sofia Municipality, National Culture Fund, National Film Center, Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, American Embassy, Norwegian Embassy, Finnish Embassy and many others who became our partners and supporters.

Our idea is to collaborate with you and become partner festivals with Eko International Film Festival. We are open to suggestions on how we could materialise this idea. We will be happy to present your festival in our Official catalogue and during our Festival days. It will be our pleasure to become sister festivals and exchange experience in the name of the art of animation.

Thank you for reading our proposal. Please be kind and inform us if you’re interested in such collaboration.

Cordially,
Katia Vassileva | Festival Coordinator
GOLDEN KUKER SOFIA INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL
44 Rayko Aleksiev Street | 2nd floor | 1113 Sofia | Bulgaria (map)
T/F: +359 2 829 2017 | M: +359 892 468 123
E-mail: info@animationfest-bg.eu | web: http://www.animationfest-bg.eu
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/goldenkukerfest
photo gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenkuker/sets/



The U.S. Government Working for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting



20 Feb 2012 05:26 Africa/Lagos

The U.S. Government Working for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

WASHINGTON, February 20, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Fact Sheet

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

February 18, 2012



Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a traditional practice that ranges from nicking to total removal of the external female genitalia. An estimated 100 to 145 million women have undergone this procedure and at least 3 million girls are at risk of being cut each year, about 8,000 girls a day.1 Though no religion mandates the procedure, FGM/C is practiced across cultures, religions, and continents. It is practiced in 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, northern Iraq, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and new evidence is showing prevalence in other Middle Eastern countries, including Yemen, Iran, Syria, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and parts of South Asia. The practice also can be found in Europe, the United States, Australia, and other countries in the West where immigrants bring their cultural traditions with them.

The reasons given for conducting FGM/C, which is generally carried out between infancy and the teen years, encompass beliefs about health, hygiene, women's sexuality, rites of passage to adulthood, and community initiation rites. Research has shown that all forms of the practice harm women's health, causing serious pain, trauma, and frequently severe physical complications, such as bleeding, infections, or even death. Long-term complications may include recurrent infections, infertility,2 and difficult or dangerous childbirth that can result in the death of the mother and infant.3

The U.S. Government has supported FGM/C abandonment efforts since the early 1990s, considering the practice not only a public health concern, but also a human rights issue that violates a woman's right to bodily integrity. In September 2000, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officially incorporated elimination of FGM/C into its development agenda, issuing an official policy and strategy on FGM/C that underscored FGM/C as a serious health and human rights issue. The U.S. Department of State emphasizes the need to raise awareness amongst communities at the grassroots level and in humanitarian settings to reduce the practice of FGM/C.

The United States pursues regional, national, and local coordination among international donors, governments, and community leaders. U.S. Government agencies are actively engaged with internationally based working groups address FGM/C and are also active in the Donors Working Group (DWG) on FGM/C,4 which is composed of key international governmental and intergovernmental organizations and foundations committed to supporting the abandonment of the practice. USAID was a co-founder of the DWG and is dedicated to expanding and strengthening partnerships and increasing resources for abandonment of this harmful traditional practice. The group has collaboratively issued a Platform for Action that summarizes the collective programmatic approach that focuses on the community approach to social change.

On the occasion of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM/C for 2012, the U.S. Government is supporting the launch of the Kenya Centre of Excellence, which will be based at Nairobi University, to create an Africa-based center for learning and developing innovative research approaches and training leaders and champions for working towards the abandonment of FGM/C and welcomes support from the international community and others to join in this effort.

U.S. Government Efforts

The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) funds community-based approaches involving men, boys, and all members of society in public awareness and education campaigns emphasizing the detrimental consequences of FGM/C on the physical and mental health of girls, their families, and overall community in order to promote long-lasting solutions.

The Office of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) largely supports efforts in humanitarian settings and among refugees with programs designed to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV), which includes FGM/C. These organizations rely on U.S. Government assistance to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees, conflict victims, internally displaced persons, and stateless persons worldwide. This encompasses a wide variety of assistance, including the provision of protection, shelter, health care, water, and sanitation, as well as the prevention of and assistance to survivors of GBV and FGM/C. PRM also supports targeted activities to prevent FGM/C in Somali and Sudanese refugee populations.

USAID supports implementing partners, both from Washington and at the country level, to provide community-based programs in key countries where the practice is prevalent. The agency's projects have had targeted programs in Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Djibouti, and Burkina Faso, among others. The projects that are supported consider cultural sensitivities and are integrated with health, economic, social, or democracy and governance programs. USAID programs are community-based, involving community and religious leaders as well as women's groups, men, and youth to advance the quality and effectiveness of abandonment efforts and to improve conditions that will lead to FGM/C abandonment.

Projects in Country

Egypt – S/GWI supports a project working in the community of Al Darb Al Ahmar in Cairo called Creating Attitudes Favorable to the Elimination of the Practice of FGM/C. Through the dissemination of appropriate and relevant information, coupled with education initiatives and public awareness campaigns, S/GWI supports the Aga Khan Foundation to address and prevent violence against women and girls, including FGM/C, in select Cairo communities. Additionally, the project provides training and capacity building in victim advocacy and mental health for health care providers, community leaders, and volunteers.

In 2008, USAID/Egypt incorporated FGM/C into an existing community-level health program, reinforced by select national-level messaging and educational messaging. The program furthered Egypt's ongoing efforts to bring about abandonment of FGM/C, as it involved training staff at both the Ministry of Health and nongovernmental organizations to broaden the reach and to coordinate with the Government's National Council of Childhood and Motherhood to create a coherent national strategy.

Iraq – In coordination with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, S/GWI is funding a multidimensional program in northern Iraq composed of integrated victim services and a successful educational campaign for village residents and political and religious leaders, leading to the first-of-its-kind declarations of villages being “Female Genital Mutilation Free.”

Kenya – PRM provides resources to nongovernmental organization partners to promote awareness and prevention of FGM/C through community-based institutions and civil society, including men's groups, youth groups, women's groups, and religious leaders. Other projects promote social and economic empowerment of women and girls to reduce the risk of exposure to GBV, including FGM/C, while educating participants on the impact of harmful traditional practices, including FGM/C.

USAID conducted studies to better understand the practice of FGM/C among the Somalis in North Eastern Kenya to inform the design and implementation of interventions and to clarify the correct Islamic understanding of FGM/C. The research provided crucial evidence that FGM/C is neither a religious practice nor one sanctioned by Islam, which clearly stipulates provisions for the protection of basic human rights, upholds the sanctity of the human body, and prohibits any practice that violates these rights or causes harm to the body without justification. The conclusions called on religious scholars to collaborate with medical doctors to make verdicts based on scientific facts and to work with their communities to help delink FGM/C from Islam.

Ethiopia – In Northern Ethiopia, the U.S. Government supports an FGM/C awareness-raising program for women and girls living in Shimelba and My'Ayni refugee camps. Specific efforts include coffee discussions with girls, women, boys, and men on GBV-related topics and services and a Girls' Wellness Week, which will promote adolescent girls' health through a coming-of-age ceremony without FGM/C.

USAID supported collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Committee on Traditional Practices to educate communities on the harmful effects of FGM/C. The program worked on helping women and community leaders to understand the motives of “FGM/C demanders,” respond to their concerns, and provide them with information on the negative impact of the practice. More than 2,250 people participated in FGM/C abandonment activities; a national Anti-FGM/C Women's Leaders Team was established, and a member of that team drafted a law against FGM/C that the Ethiopian parliament passed in July 2004.

Mali – USAID helped the Ministry of Health develop and pilot a national training curriculum for primary medical providers to increase their capacity to identify, treat, or refer FGM/C complications and educate and counsel clients and community members on the negative aspects of the practice. A network of trained providers was created consisting of extension workers from nongovernmental organizations and community and religious leaders. As a result of their work, the percentage of men and women who said they were in favor of abandoning FGM/C increased from 15 to 62 percent, and the percentage who intended to have FGM/C performed on their daughters decreased from 81 to 33 percent.

Senegal – The Grandmother's Project (GMP) incorporates FGM/C into a broader girls' and women's health and family planning program to bring about positive changes in community traditions by involving grandmothers and elderly women, a once marginalized group, in social change. The project encourages learning and communal decision-making through open discussions about problems confronting the community. The aim for GMP is to have community members identify their problems and reach consensus on possible solutions that best suit their needs, leading to long-term and lasting change.

West Africa – USAID supports Tostan, a participatory education program that works village by village to incorporate democracy, problem solving, basic mathematics, literacy and essential health education, including information about FGM/C, into the learning experiences that ultimately empower the entire community. As a result of this multidimensional approach, thousands of villages in West Africa have publicly abandoned FGM/C and other harmful traditional practices upon completion of the Tostan program.

Resources

1. Delinking Female Genital Mutilation Cutting from Islam (2008). Lethome Asman, Ibrahim and Sheikh Abdi, Maryam, FRONTIERS Program, Population Council. http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/frontiers/reports/FGM_Islam.pdf.

2. World Health Organization (WHO). (2012) Fact sheet No. 241. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/.

3. WHO Study Group on Female Genital Mutilation and Obstetric Outcome. (2006). Female Genital Mutilation and Obstetric Outcome: WHO Collaborative Prospective Study in Six African Countries. The Lancet, 367,1835-41. http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/fgm/.

4. Platform for Action: Toward the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) – A Matter of Gender Equality. The Donors Working Group on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. http://www.fgm-cdonor.org/publications/dwg_platform_action.pdf.


Source: US Department of State



Mr. President, On Managing Sexual Violence in Nigeria


Nigerian women are often abused in relationships and marriages. Photo: Africa Media Online / Eric Miller.

Mr. President, On Managing Sexual Violence in Nigeria

~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

In reality, the Federal Ministry of Justice should have its Office of Public Prosecution fully developed with a functioning Sex Crimes Unit working closely with establishments like the Nigeria Police, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Youth Development and other related agencies in order to ensure the successful investigation and prosecution of all felony sex crimes as well as protecting victims fully.

The Sex Crimes division at the Office of Public Prosecution should be set up in way that will enable it work with several specialized private organizations such as the NGOs, Psychological service and medical providers, and other related providers who could offer assistance in the areas of forensic psychological examinations, victim assessment as well as counseling for victims.

Why do we need this type of joint effort?

In the last few weeks and in recent months, and at a time when the country is in great tension and stressed over religious, sectarian and ethnic violence; sexual offenses and predatory sexual behaviors are occurring and rising continuously.

All over the newspapers and electronic media we read and hear of reported incidences like that of a Police officer raping 3-year-old child, a 25-year-old man arrested for raping an 80-year-old woman, a video showing 5 men raping a woman at a Nigeria university while she plead with her violators to kill her, two men arrested for drugging and raping a friend's daughter, an Oba charged over the rape of Youth Corper, a 30-year old man arrested for raping a 96-year-old woman, two policemen and seven others arrested for robbery and gang-raping the victim’s wife while one of the robbers raped a younger sister to his wife, a father arrested for castrating a man that raped his daughter, a father arrested for raping a 14 year old daughter, a man arrested for raping a 75 year old at gun point, a pastor arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old choir member of his church, and many others.

The Nigerian Constitution, by nature of its make-up in terms of Humans rights has existing laws in the area of rape but these laws although generally outdated, need to be enforced logically and in a common sense manner. Section 357 of the Criminal Code is very clear— “any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if consent was obtained by force or by means of threat or intimidation of any kind, or by fear or harm, or by any means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or in the case of a married woman, by persona-ting her husband is guilty of an offence called rape.” Under Section 358, the punishment for rape is life imprisonment.

In our society, where female humans are viewed as ‘less than’, the long existing, old-fashioned rape law and the legal interpretations of rape tend to put the weight on a female to prove that her reports of being victimized are genuine. What a burden.
The societal outlook which tends to view males as not really responsible for sexual misconducts even towards female minors generally perceive victims of rape which are mostly females, as inherently blame worthy in terms of participating in alleged forceful carnal knowledge of her body especially when she cannot produce a living witness or dressed sensually or being by herself. What? Yes, this is how it is, even though the sexual offence in most cases occurred with no living witness around as it is usually done in a hidden or private manner. And she should be a free human like everyone else.

In this type of environment or society, a sexual perpetrator is certainly going to be more energetic to commit more sexual violence in the face of loose, ambiguous and unclear rules on rape as well as the different stands of the common law, sharia law or customary law in sexual matters. But one thing that ties all of them together is for the female to prove herself in terms of righteousness, purity and integrity.
For the sexual offender, this inherent societal misunderstanding tends to support his personality styles in regard to his interaction with females of any kind.

As most psychological experts in involved in the psychology of sexual profiling and violence will testify to, a rapist notwithstanding his national, social, religious or economic background, comes with some well-known characteristics—he is not really concerned about sex, he is about ultimate power/control, he is moved by anger/violence, he is socially incompetent/miserable, he is sometimes very reserved/introverted, he enjoys humiliating/debasing females, and enjoys hurting/bullying his victim.

And among others, a rapist tends to have weak impulse-control skills, unusual mood disorders, has conduct disorder (as a child), bear biological dis-regulation, and have distorted attitudes/beliefs in regard to carrying a psychological profile consisting of deviant, bizarre or strange sexual practices.

In the face of these qualities the continued blaming of the victims of rape in Nigeria makes the rapists more out of control, unless we correct things in time to avoid rapists’ continuing with targeting of the young and vulnerable.

The office of public prosecution at the federal ministry of justice and those of the 36 States will need to train lawyers in regards to becoming versed in all areas of sex crimes. Help them understand the importance of setting up sex offender register; teach them how to follow up on Internet child pornography offenses, and on how to be successful in the prosecution of sex crimes.

Certainly, there are cases of false accusations by some females who might be in a present or previous relationship with the offender, and this is the more reason for the creation of a Unit to aggressively separate authentic cases from bad ones, to assist with better legal representation for a known victim, to engage in full investigation, and learn what behavioral questions to ask an alleged sexual offender.
The sex crimes Unit as a specialized felony prosecution section in the office of public prosecution could be engaged exclusively on the preparation and prosecution of severe crimes of sexual assault, sexual battery, and child sexual abuse.

Within the Unit there should be a Victim Services unit with trained staff to advocate, and assist victims throughout the life and prosecution of the case, and help the victim with basic needs and protective services as well as financial assistance to victims.

The role of forensic-clinical psychological testing needs to be recognized in regards to the court attempting to get a better understanding of sex offense defendants. This type of evaluation could help to further determine levels of sexual offender risk, dangerousness, competency to proceed to trial, criminal responsibility, competency restoration, and whether the offender is being able to managing his violence.

There is need to understand different types of emotional and psychological effects of being raped as well as the accompanying physical and bodily injuries and financial losses incurred by a victim. A psychological evaluation, medical assessment and follow up medical treatment, surgical operations, and psychotherapy are very essential for victims. These services mostly follows sexual assault as a result of emotional trauma and its effects like fear, agony or anxiety, emotional numbness, decreased sexual drive and other unsettling emotions.

The physical wounds from a rape could include bruises, pain, irritation and soreness in the vaginal area, bleeding, and possible tears in the vaginal-rectal region.
Our laws whether in common law form or Islamic form should recognize the changing times as such updating our sex laws become very vital. There is need to study a more contemporary rape law in terms of levels of severity like that of the Lagos State which could be a guide to the Federal Government and other States.



Our governments both in the South and all over the North must face the reality that sexual intercourse without valid consent which occurred between the offender and the victim requires no living witness as there is usually no other one—it is usually carried out in a hidden or private manner, except in the case of gang rape.

No matter how slight is the physical force in terms of coerced penetration to the vulva or anus, with the instrument of the penis, any body part, or an object; it is still a possible sexual assault. And even without penetration, sexually invading a female in a physical and coercive manner could be rape. And yes, it is time that marital rape or spousal rape be added to our laws as a non-consensual sex involving the two partners as in husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend is a form of violence.

The Nigerian Society's attitude toward sexual misconduct as in rape and child sexual assault must reflect current times in terms of protecting females. Our Common law and Sharia providers like judges, magistrates, Quadi, prosecutors and defense attorneys as well as concerned NGOs and other interest should find better ways outside some of these outdated traditions in order to save our suffering and yet to suffer rape victims.

These include but not limited to our infant girls, daughters, sisters, mothers, nieces, aunts, grandmothers, godmothers, and any other female across the nation.


John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Abuja. Jos5930458@aol.com 08126909839.



Saturday, February 18, 2012

POWER HORSE: 35 % More Sales Volume



17 Feb 2012 13:15 Africa/Lagos


POWER HORSE: 35 % More Sales Volume

DUBAI, UAE, February 17, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

"2011 was the best year in our history, concerning sales volume, turnover and profit", says Thomas Königsbauer, POWER HORSE CEO. "The business in the Middle East is developing even better than the average. In Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates the sales volume increases more than 35 percent. Regarding our product range, the launch of the new 500 ml can, was a big surprise. The product has been available for three months in the Emirates and Oman. Within this short time it has reached already a significant share of our total sales".

POWER HORSE is again exhibitor at GULFood 2012 in Dubai. It shows the Middle East food and beverage industry where Energy Drink is market leader.

POWER HORSE Energy Drinks GmbH with its headquarters in Linz (Austria) is a company in the Vitalis foodstuff group. Branch offices are located in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and California (USA). In many countries POWER HORSE is one of the leading brands in the premium segment for energy drinks. Founded as a company in 2004, the product has since risen to become market leader in the Middle East and in parts of Africa. POWER HORSE is represented in more than 50 countries.

Beach Soccer Sponsorship

The latest project of POWER HORSE sponsorship is the premium sponsoring for Beach Soccer Worldwide. The partnership includes events in Russia, Brazil, France and Dubai as well as the POWER HORSE Euro Beach Soccer League in Germany's capital Berlin.

"The naming deal continues our global media coverage and creates hot spots in the scene of the games" says Königsbauer.

You will find pictures and an English press release on our homepage:

http://www.power-horse.com/en/press-media/press-releases.html


Press contact
Ruth Höfer - PR Manager
Tel.: +43(0)664-85-300-12
Mail: r.hoefer@power-horse.com


Source: POWER HORSE Energy Drinks GmbH