The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mara Foundation Enter Partnership to Empower Young Entrepreneurs

12 Aug 2013 22:11 Africa/Lagos

The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mara Foundation Enter Partnership to Empower Young Entrepreneurs

ABUJA, Nigeria, Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and Ashish J. Thakkar, founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation, jointly announced their partnership to launch Mara Mentor for supporting young entrepreneurs across Nigeria. The President was represented by his Special Adviser on Youth Empowerment, Ambassador Obinna Adim. As part of Nigeria's Integrated Youth Economic Empowerment Program (IYEEP), Mara-IYEEP Nigeria is the first of its kind and will be a formidable base to empower youth throughout the country and ultimately provide a solution for youth leadership and development. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130403/607118-a) Mara Mentor is an online and mobile platform targeting young people who want to start a business. The program is completely free of charge and available to all entrepreneurs regardless of their position within the business life cycle, from those only starting out with one brilliant idea to more established business owners. The platform allows these entrepreneurs to connect virtually with seasoned business leaders locally and mentors from across the world for advice and guidance. The mentorship program will serve as a provider of non-formal education aimed at bridging the gap between school and life after school, enhancing young people's potential for success by making them approach life as entrepreneurs. Aside from mentoring the youth on the path to entrepreneurial empowerment, the program further aims to provide comprehensive support services for the youth through funding assistance for novel business ideas, incubation centers and workspace, as well as continual business training. Furthermore, the program exudes special consideration and focus on the empowerment of female youth in our society. These support services are expected to transform entrepreneurs' business ideas into profitable and thriving business entities that will employ other Nigerians and contribute to local, state and national economies. "We are very excited about the project to bring Mara Mentor to Nigeria. Mara-IYEEP Nigeria will encourage young entrepreneurs to embrace innovative ideas, envision the impossible, and ultimately transform Nigeria. We believe mentorship is the key in addressing the gaps currently preventing these entrepreneurs from successfully starting, scaling and sustaining businesses," says Ashish J. Thakkar, founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation. "The Integrated Youth Economic Empowerment Program (IYEEP) is the Youth Transformation Initiative of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The Mara mentorship platform will be an important part of the overall IYEEP initiative to economically empower the Nigerian youth through the Mentorship Program and Launch Pads, which provide incubation centers for SMEs and Solopreneurs who otherwise would not be able to afford professional office space. The Platform also matches young entrepreneurs with seasoned business owners and cooperate leaders one on one. Our vision is to provide the needed platform and mechanism to transform our youth into (IYEEP) CHANGE MAKERS who can make their communities a better place, not only for themselves but also for their fellow Nigerians by spurring wealth creation and raising household incomes across the country," according to the Special Adviser to the President on Youth Empowerment, Ambassador Obinna Adim. The mentorship platform is currently accessible online, but will shortly be launched as a mobile application for smartphones with the objective to create a truly active and connected entrepreneurial community for youth across Nigeria. About IYEEP IYEEP is a unique grassroots and community aligned youth development process approach, which focuses on three critical elements that promote personal leadership: Healthy behaviors, socioeconomic empowerment skills as well as self and individual communities' sustainability. About Mara Foundation Mara Foundation is Mara Group's social enterprise that focuses on emerging African entrepreneurs and working to create sustainable economic and business development opportunities for young business owners via the Mara Mentoring Program, Mara Launchpad incubation centers and Mara Launch Fund. For more information, please visit: http://www.mara-foundation.org   SOURCE Mara Foundation Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
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12 Aug 2013
22:11	The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mara Foundation Enter Partnership to Empower Young Entrepreneurs
22:04	The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mara Foundation Enter Partnership to Empower Young Entrepreneurs
20:38	The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mara Foundation Enter Partnership to Empower Young Entrepreneurs

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Obafemi Awolowo: Hero of Yoruba, Killer of Biafra, Betrayed by the North

Obafemi Awolowo: Hero of Yoruba, Killer of Biafra, Betrayed by the North

~ By  Obinna Akukwe 

Obafemi Awolowo is the undisputed hero of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria whose wartime policy of starvation and currency change helped kill the Biafran dream. The post colonial era of Nigerian history was dominated by three actors, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello. Dr Azikiwe was an avowed nationalist who preferred one Nigeria above anything else. Sir Ahmadu Bello was a tribalist who initially preferred a balkanized Nigeria to enable his people live their religious and cultural life without external negative inluence and was later reluctantly convinced to seek an agenda for a united Nigeria. Chief Obafemi Awolowo from the onset did not hide his preference for an Oduduwa Republic.

Chief Awolowo is idolized by the Yorubas because he was able to transform the South West into an educational and industrial hub in Africa and build a robust political climate. He so much understood the value of education that he made it free, affordable and offered a lot of scholarships to Yorubas to advance academically to the highest level. He ran a political system in Action Group whereby people have their say while the leader has his way. This is the system Bola Tinubu is unsuccessfully trying to emulate in Action Congress of Nigeria.

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, a core nationalist, never received the level of hero worship Awolowo received in the South West because Igbos severally accuses him of not taking them out of Nigeria when Chief Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello were angling for a balkanized nation. Chief Awolowo was the sage whose idea ended the Nigerian civil war. He advised the Gowon Cabinet to block all food supply to Biafra so as to end the war quickly and according to him ‘’ starvation is a legitimate instrument of war’’ This led to the starvation of over one million Biafran children. Thus Awolowo’s advice and actions led to the quick end to the Biafran dream. Therefore it is right to say that what the entire armed forces of Nigeria could not do, the wisdom of Awolowo did. Chief Awolowo convinced Gowon that every adult Biafran who managed to survive the starvation deserved only #20 pounds to start life afresh irrespective of economic status before the war, an action perceived as intended to further reduce the ability of Igbos to recover economically.

Another policy of his which frustrated Biafra’s ability to import food and arms was the change of currency which according to Awolowo ‘’ And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra. He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers has stolen from our Central bank for sale abroad to buy arms…So I decided to change the currency, and for your benefit, it can now be told the whole world, only Gowon knew the day before, the day before the change took place’’.

Chief Awolowo has been variously accused of introducing tribalism into the Nigerian politics. He chased Dr Azikiwe out of the Ibadan in 1954 when the NCNC headed by Azikiwe won majority seats in the West Nigerian House of Assembly and through a palace coup called cross carpeting Zik was denied the Premiership of Western Nigeria, at a time when Professor Eyo Ita, an Efik was premier of Eastern Region and Alhaji Umoru Altine , a Fulani, was Mayor of Enugu. Dr Azikiwe, following the footsteps of Awolowo, had to frustrate Professor Eyo Ita out of Enugu. Chief Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello seems to have a deeper understanding of the Nigerian complexities than Dr Azikiwe.

While Awolowo never trusted the Igbos, the north never trusted Awolowo and theYorubas. The northern oligarchy instigated crisis in Western Nigeria in the same manner President Obasanjo used the Uba brothers to instigate crisis in Anambra State. This crisis led to the trumped up charges leading to the trial and imprisonment of Awolowo . Reports has it that he was to be poisoned in prison before the military coup altered the state of affairs.

Awolowo was released from Calabar prison by Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu and there was an agreement that while Ojukwu declares Biafra in the East, Awolowo would declare Oduduwa Republic in the West. The British establishment, sensing the dangers of Awolowo declaring Oduduwa Republic in the West, convinced Gowon and the north to checkmate Awolowo’s secessionist agenda by appointing him the Vice Chairman of Federal Executive Council. This strategy worked effectively and Awolowo was deceived that after Gowon’s tenure he would be given the opportunity of ruling Nigeria. Awolowo thus had to checkmate the Biafran dream to clear any obstacle to his ruling Nigeria while the north was looking for the right opportunity to throw him into the dustbin. In frustration, Awo resigned from Gowon’s cabinet when he realized he has been politically duped.

Awolowo quashed the Biafran dream while the northern establishment killed the Oduduwa dream and betrayed Awolowo’s presidential ambition thrice. This fact was aptly captured by a controversial  Yoruba activist and Nigeria’s former minister of aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode while replying to a boastful statement by another prominent northern leader, Alhaji Usman Farouk on how the north dominated the Yoruba people and conquered the Niger Delta. According to Fani Kayode, "… the north literally begged Awolowo not to declare Oduduwa Republic and go the way of Biafra even though that was his original intention…Fourthly it was the support that the south west gave to the north that allowed Nigeria to win the war. Fifthly it was the lie that Gowon and the northern leaders fed to Awolowo that he would be made President of the country after the war and after being effectively being made de facto Prime Minister under Gowon during the war that got Awolowo to support them", invariably, the Igbos and Yorubas were effectively dribbled, divided, manipulated and overpowered.

The ascension of Awolowo’s kinsman Obasanjo as Head of State was another opportunity for him to realize his dream of ruling Nigeria. The 1979 election result was decided in the infamous judgement where the Supreme Court refused Awolowo’s plea that 2/3 of 19 is 13 states therefore declaring Alhaji Shehu Shagari the winner of the election. The north led by Generals Shehu Yaradua and Theophilus Danjuma convinced Obasanjo on why Awolowo should never be the president of Nigeria. Therefore, instead of a runoff election, which some believe could favour Awolowo,the Supreme Court declared Alhaji Shehu Shagari the winner.

Chief MKO Abiola at one point was used by the northern dominated NPN to oppose the presidential ambitions of Awolowo . He used his Nigerian Concord newspaper and enormous wealth to fight Awolowo and UPN and when they finished using him to deal with Awolowo, they frustrated Abiola’s presidential ambition and he had to resign from the party in 1982. Alhaji Umaru Dikko, then transport minister, sent message to Abiola that the presidency is not for sale to the highest bidder. When Babangida annulled the election of Abiola in 1993, Yorubas alluded to a certain curse Awolowo released on Abiola, in the heat of the later’s opposition to his presidency ‘’that even if Abiola was to be given the presidential seat, he would not sit on it.”

In 1999, after the suspicious death of Abiola, the northern establishment sensing that Chief Olu Falae was the choice of the Yoruba people, rigged the polls in favour of Obasanjo . It is obvious that the North had shown evidence of being deadly political strategists than their Yoruba and Igbo compatriots, having used the political suspicion between the duos to dribble them. Conclusively, the north is not as dumb as people assume; they used Awolowo to checkmate Biafra and then dealt with Awolowo and his ambitions.

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Contact the author: Obinna Akukwe

profetobinna2@yahoo.com

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Obama’s Health Care Chips and the Mark of the Beast (666)

Obama’s Health Care Chips and the Mark of the Beast (666)  


~ By Obinna Akukwe

The recent health care reforms of Barrack Obama is being associated with the mark of the beast 666 . A controversial section of the Health Care Reform act talked of ‘(ii) a class II device that is implantable, life-supporting, or life-sustaining’. One of the class (ii) devices is an implantable Verichip or RFID-Chip. Verichip is an inject-able identification chip that can be inserted under the skin of a human being to provide biometric verification. It is about the size of a grain of rice and holds an identification number, an electromagnetic coil for transmitting data, and a tuning capacitor all enclosed inside a silicon and glass container that is compatible with human tissue.

One of the announced purposes of Obama Care is to provide affordable health insurance for all US citizens and to reduce the growth in health care spending. The result is that Americans could easily access affordable health care where the patient is prized out of private health insurance. Some of us with good background in database administration understands the value of comprehensive database in healthcare especially if at the tip of a finger or a Structured Query Language, every relevant data about a patent’s health history could be glanced for statistical analysis and proper medical decisions.

Beyond the seemingly harmless venture comes a chip which has the ability to be used to manipulate human beings. There is a report in the early eighties that some British scientists used some human beings as guinea pigs in a secret experiment to discover the potency of implantable devices on the human mind. They discovered that those so tested behaved like human robots. The UK government was said to have quietly quarantined the research for public safety. This research and numerous others from different agencies on the effects of chips on the human mind shows that this seemingly harmless chips technology is capable of being used for ulterior purposes.

Human beings have progressed with the use of digitized numbering system. Since the introduction of bar code, the use of unique product identifier has increased. This enables goods to be tracked and traced to the sources including originating batches, products, manufacturers, cities etc. It also helps in tracking goods at stores for inventory, payments etc. Other unique ID systems are visible in credit cards, loyalty cards, ATM cards and other identification processes. Technological evolution led to the introduction of chips technology. Since the introduction of RFID chips by British scientist Kevin Warwick in 1988, its use has been applied to different spheres of life. All these are human efforts to make life, commerce, business etc easy .Therefore, technologically and expediently, chips technology is necessary for accountability, identification and accessibility.

The church leaderships in the US have cried out against the introduction of the chips in Obama Health care reforms. Popular Indiana end-time pastor Paul Bergley has variously condemned the move as tilting towards the mark of the beast. Bergley is reaching over 12 million Americans on the air with his views on the beast mark. Another California Mega pastor Greg Laurie had warned Americans that “The antichrist’s economic policy will be very simple. Take my mark and worship me, or starve to death… No mark, no merchandize… No seal, no sale.” and he added that the technology to enforce this is already in place.

I remember in 1994 when a group of Korean preachers came to Nigeria and was hosted by Archbishop Dr AA Nwodika (then Rev Dr Nwodika) at Grace of God Mission, 2B Owerri Road, Enugu. With all their preachment, I still remember that they warned the congregation during the 3 evenings programme that Jesus Christ appeared to them and asked them to warn the world of the antics of the antichrist and how he would use chips technology to cause people to accept the an evil mark. They warned the audience never to accept the semblance of any mark for whatever reasons as it is a trap from the devil. This warning given in 1994 by the Koreans needs further examination in the light of Obama’s chips implantable healthcare policies.

Some theologians have labeled Obama as the Anti- Christ. I may not agree with them, however, I believe that anybody who is not spirit filled could be used to fulfill satanic agenda unknowingly. It is known that even church leaders who refused to follow the leading of the Spirit of God could become tools in the hands of the devil and they may not be aware of it. Politicians and business men have been used by the devil to bring poverty, sorrows, wars and death to their subjects due to irrational actions manipulated from the kingdom of darkness.

Particularly in Nigeria, some Christian and Muslim religious leaders receive gratifications from some corrupt politicians for political and social endorsements. Though the religious leader increased in financial net-worth, the wrong signal was unwittingly sent to their members-that even God can be bribed with corrupt money. These clergymen may not even know that they have advanced the kingdom of darkness they preach against

However, the Bible prophecies have warned Christians who are still interested in going to heaven, to beware of the mark of the beast, either on their hands or forehead. The Bible said that at that time, there will be no buying or selling except with the mark. In Revelation 13 vs16,17 “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” This simple predicts the global acceptance of RFID chips as means of commerce.

I  observed how Nigeria’s apex bank introduced the use of Automatic Teller Machines by banks. The citizenry rejected it but with forced compliance, many people grudgingly yielded. Years later the Central Bank introduced cashless payment system and when people failed to comply, they forced it on corporate organizations and individuals. The CBN imposed cashless society started with Lagos and has been extended to many cities in Nigeria. Initially, lots of persons kicked against it, but with the apex bank insisting on nothing less, people started to adapt to the cashless system. The use of Point of Sales ( PoS) Terminals in different places of commerce is becoming popular. Internet marketing, banking and commerce is becoming popular and soon the apex body may go further to introduce the idea of chips, as is being done in the US.

Therefore, whether for health purposes, social security, physical security, and commerce etc all well meaning citizens of every nation must resist the implantation of chips technology in the human body. Christians, Muslims, Pagans, Traditionalists and whatever shade of belief notwithstanding, everybody should resist this attempt because it will be used by satanic forces in the future to manipulate the freedom of the mind.

The Bible says that anyone who receives the mark is damned forever. Revelation 14vs 9-11 stated that “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” -This includes Christians, Muslims, Pagans or whatever-it is a global warning. Humanity is in pains today with all the killings, poverty diseases, humiliations, tyranny etc. because Adam and Eve failed to obey simple instructions -” thou shall not eat of the fruit in the midst of the garden”-until the all loving God threw them out of the garden to face the reality of a rampaging serpent .

I like Barrack Obama and I know that his presidency has brought appreciable economic recovery, security and international acceptance to the US. Obama has used cautious diplomacy in dealing with other nations whose interest is at variance with the US- reducing America’s strategic enemies. However, my fondness for Obama cannot becloud my sense of reasoning to accept this sinister strategy of embedding chips inside a human being in the name of health care.

 *************

Contact the author: Obinna Akukwe

 profetobinna2@yahoo.com

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COSMO August 1968: Going Green Is Sexy

August 1968: Cover model, Heather Hewitt. .


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Kiddies and Brands To Co-Host the Nigerian Premiere of Girl Rising

Kiddies and Brands Company is joining other co-sponsors and partners united to co-host the Nigerian premiere of the CNN groundbreaking film Girl Rising on Friday October 11, 2013, the International Day of the Girl Child of the United Nations.


Kiddies and Brands Company is Nigeria's leading organization promoting children education and welfare and popularly known for book donations through corporate organizations that support their child literacy projects in Lagos and other states in the most populous country in Africa. The company has donated over 50,000 books to children in many primary and secondary schools supported by the Federal Road Safety Commission, Skye Bank Plc, Daraju Industries limited and Golden Penny Noodles. .


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Render To Caesar Is A Must See New Nollywood Thriller

 From the stable of Mighty Man Entertainment Limited comes a soon-to-be-released crime/suspense thriller entitled “RENDER TO CAESAR”.
The story’s synopsis centres on two friends who return home from abroad to join a special program in the Nigerian police force as detectives assigned to hunt and apprehend a psychotic crime lord whose nefarious activities are an embarrassment to the Government. Render to Caesar features a formidable array of Nigeria’s foremost acting talent including Gbenga Akinnagbe, international star of the popular HBO TV series ‘The Wire’, as well as several Hollywood movies (The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, Edge of Darkness, The Savages, Lottery Ticket), Omoni Oboli (The Figurine, Anchor Baby), Wale Ojo (Phone Swap) and Lucky Ejim (The Tenant). No less outstanding is the supporting cast which includes amongst others Bimbo Manuel, Dede Mabiaku, Kalu Ikeagwu, Chris Iheuwa, Tomi Odunsi and Kehinde Bankole. Also featuring in cameo turns are Steve Onu (aka “Yaw” of Wazobia FM), MC Abbey, Yvonne “Vixen” Ekwere and Femi Jacobs.


Produced and directed by Desmond Ovbiagele, with Nnamdi Oboli & Omoni Oboli as co-producers, Render to Caesar was sumptuously photographed by John Askwith (whose credits include camera duty on the upcoming Hollywood remake of ‘Robocop’) and is scheduled for cinema release later in 2013. Desmond Ovbiagele is the son of one of Nigeria’s celebrated columnists, Helen Ovbiagele. He dumped a rewarding bank job for Nollywood and like the popular Kunle Afolayan who also left banking for film making, Desmond knows that he has made the right decision and this fantastic movie is his baptism of fire as a director in the competitive Nigerian film industry.

Desmond Ovbiagele.  


Synopsis Two friends return home from abroad to join the Bureau of Detectives under an ambitious government scheme to develop future leaders of the much-maligned Police Force. Dipo & Pade are assigned to the Lagos State Police Command with the daunting mission to hunt and apprehend a notorious robber called Caesar who continues to wage a harsh campaign of ruthless attacks across the State. Cynically chronicling the investigation’s lack of progress through constant and derogatory news stories and editorials is the acclaimed but prejudiced online newspaper entrepreneur, Alero Benson, whose campaign of calumny adds further pressure to the new detectives. And just when the Police believe they’ve finally boxed Caesar into a corner, he responds with a joker that not only turns the game on its head, but threatens to alter the lives of its key players forever. .

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Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni is New Beauty Queen of LASU!

Walking tall beauty Miss Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni is the new Miss LASU as she emerged the most beautiful girl in the campus beauty pageant on 4th July 2013.
The colourful pageant was held at the New Auditorium of the Lagos State University (LASU) that was packed with excited students, performing artistes, comedians, special guests and other members of the LASU community.

The event, which was organized by MLK Events in conjunction with the Lagos State University Student Union, paraded a number of beautiful contestants from different faculties of the university. At the end of the fun packed event, delectable and elegant Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni who represented Faculty of Education was crowned the new beauty queen of the Lagos State University. She got a cash prize and a brand new golf car.
A visibly elated Miss Omosowoeni has promised to reach out to fellow students during her one-year reign.
She also promised to be a good ambassador of the school even after her reign as queen.
Specifically Queen Faderera promised to contribute in the current effort to re-brand the image of the university with a television programme, which she titled ‘LASU on Point’. She also intends to embark on a beautification of LASU by creating a recreational park with a fountain in front of the faculty of Education. There are also plans to donate educational materials to students. The queen also hopes to, before the end of her reign, host an alumni dinner to celebrate LASU products that have contributed and are still contributing to society.


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Funlayo Alabi's Shea Radiance Contesting for Dream Big America's Top Prize

Funlayo Alabi.

Funlayo Alabi's Shea Radiance is one of the three contestants for the Dream Big America's August 13 show to decide who makes the finals for the start-up business ventures contest to win $19,000 in cash and support on August 27, 2013.
The following is the complete report of the first-ever live nationally syndicated radio show pitting start-up business ventures against each other in America.

New Contestants include Green Refrigeration Technology, Mobile Transactions that Fund Schools, and Natural Hair and Skin Products that Support Female Cooperatives in Africa

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dream Big America, the first-ever live nationally syndicated radio show pitting start-up business ventures against each other, and broadcast on Doug Stephan's Good Day Show (www.dougstephan.com) each Tuesday at 9:10 am EDT, announced today the winner from the August 6 show. Qurate, from St. Louis, Missouri (www.qurate.net), and presented by Founder Ryan O'Neil, received the most votes from the nationwide audience.


Voting was the strongest for any preliminary show to date, continuing a trend of increasing weekly interest and support for the show, and for its entrepreneurship format. Two other contestants, Tutor Universe (www.tutoruniverse.com), based in Iowa City, Iowa, and Trellie (www.trellie.com), based in Kansas City, Missouri, presented for their companies in another round of close voting.


"We are seeing a trend of increasing support, and these fascinating companies are the reason," said Doug Stephan, host of Dream Big America. "Congratulations to Qurate, who moves onto the Finals on August 27 and a chance for over $19,000 in cash and support. Thank you to Tutor Universe and Trellie who are clearly on their way to big successes."


Immediately after the announcement of this week's winner, Dream Big America announced the three contestants for the August 13 show. The contestants for the August Week Two show:
 
Shea Radiance (www.shearadiance.com) based in Columbia, Maryland, is an eco-luxury beauty brand that supports women and children in Northern Nigeria. Founder Funlayo Alabi will present Shea Radiance's two-minute pitch.

Xergy (www.xergyinc.com), based in Georgetown, Delaware, is the world's first truly green refrigeration technology available to consumers. Presenting Xergy's two-minute pitch will be Co-Founder and President Bamdad Bahar.

Boosterville (www.boosterville.com), based in Memphis, Tennessee, is a mobile application that partners with local businesses to generate funds for local schools. Presenting Boosterville's two-minute pitch will be Founder and CEO Pam Cooper.


Dream Big America (www.DreamBigAmerica.us) airs each Tuesday at 9:10am EDT on Doug Stephan's Good Day Program, syndicated to 485 markets across the United States with a weekly listening audience of 3.5 million. In addition to being broadcast on the radio, the Dream Big America Show can be heard via live podcast on the DreamBigAmerica.us website.


Voting begins immediately after the show at approximately 10:00 am EDT and continues for 28 hours until 2:00 pm EDT each Wednesday. Voting is by text (Text DBA to 612-22-DREAM (612-223-7326))once voting is live, or via the DreamBigAmerica.us website.


Each weekly winner faces off in the Finals Show on the last Tuesday of each month. The national audience again votes for its favorite business venture, and the Finals winner receives cash, support and resources for their business.


Dream Big America partners with the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (www.kauffman.org) and its 1 Million Cups (www.1millioncups.com) startup education program, and the San Diego-based Nutritional Capital Network (www.nutritioncapital.com). Each organization supports the show by providing vetted start-up ventures for consideration to the Dream Big America selection committee.


Dream Big America online:
www.DreamBigAmerica.us
www.facebook.com/DreamBigAmerica
www.twitter.com/DreamBigUSA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9alwsNLvas


Doug Stephan Show:
www.dougstephan.com
www.facebook.com/gooddayshow
www.twitter.com/GoodDayShow

 
Shea Radiance online:
www.shearadiance.com
http://www.facebook.com/shearadiance
www.twitter.com/shearadiance

 
Xergy online:
www.xergyinc.com
www.twitter.com/XergyInc

 
Boosterville online:
www.boosterville.com
www.facebook.com/boostervill
www.twitter.com/boosterville

 
Tutor Universe:
www.tutoruniverse.com
www.facebook.com/tutoruniverse
twitter.com/TutorUniverse

 
Trellie:
www.trellie.com
www.facebook.com/TrellieInc
twitter.com/TrellieConnect

 
Qurate:
www.qurate.net
www.facebook.com/qurate
twitter.com/qurate

 
Media Contacts:
Beth Chapman, 816.835.0306, Email, Dream Big America
Barbara Pruitt, 816.932.1288, Email, Kauffman Foundation
Thomas Aarts, 619.295.7685 ext. 18, Email, Nutrition Capital Network
Read more news from Dream Big America
SOURCE Dream Big America

Web Site: http://www.dreambigamerica.us


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Khumba, Another Triggerfish's Animated Version of Madagascar?

Khumba is an upcoming South African animated children's family film to be released in October 2013 by Triggerfish Animation Studios, the producers of the award winning Adventures in Zambezia of 2012. And like Zambezia, Khumba is starring some of the best Hollywood stars who are the voices behind some of the most popular characters in animated movies. Jake T. Austin as "Khumba" the Zebra, Laurence Fishburne as "Seko" the Zebra, Liam Neeson as "Phango" the Leopard, Catherine Tate as "Nora" the Merino sheep and Roger L. Jackson as "Walkie Talkie" the human voice, Black Eagle and Zebra among other accomplished actors.


I keep seeing Triggerfish's computer-animated movies as copies of the Madagascar movies of DreamWorks Animation. And it looks like another Hollywood animated movie, except that it was made in South Africa. So, to me Khumba is a South African Hollywood animated movie.


Can Triggerfish be more daring and more original and make totally South African animations with South African actors? And give us something more than another South African version of Hollywood's "Madagascar" African safari. There are enough South African folktales to adapt for animations and how about an animated epic of the legendary warrior king Shaka kaSenzangakhona, aka "Shaka Zulu" in 3D?
 C'mon! As they say in South Africa, IT IS POSSIBLE!

Khumba will be released in South Africa on October 25th in 3D and 2D.


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The Changing Role of Email Marketing

Embedded from Pardot

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