Africa's Achievements, Challenges in Peace, Development Focus of UN

Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson addresses the High-Level briefing by African Regional Economic Communities to Member States of the United Nations. UN Photo/Cia Pak.

NEW YORK, 1 October 2014 / PRN Africa / -- While there has been great social and economic progress across Africa, its economies have not kept pace with legitimate demands, including providing jobs to young people, said United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson at a high-level meeting of regional partners held today at Headquarters.

“Unemployment is not just an economic challenge. It is also a social, psychological and political one,” said Mr. Eliasson at the briefing by African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to Member States and the UN system.

Food gardens promote inclusion, teach sustainability, and offer a space where the youth can meet, learn, share and build social capital. Photo: FAO/Olivier Asselin.

The event, on The Role of Africa's RECs in Consolidating Peace, Security, Governance and Development in the Context of Agenda 2063, was co-organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN, and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa.

According to a press statement, the discussions focused on development and the long-term future of the continent in the light of African Union's visionary Continental Agenda 2063.
Delivering remarks this morning, Mr. Eliasson said that the Agenda 2063 plan will need to be forged around stronger regional integration, which requires increased competitiveness in African economies. The process should also be underpinned by major investments in human development, science, technology and infrastructure.

He pointed out that trade among African countries remains limited, mainly because they do not have adequate railways, roads and other infrastructure. Many African economies also lack sufficient economic diversification, productivity and well-functioning institutions.

Some African countries have experienced impressive growth thanks to the leadership of African Governments, the African Union, the RECs and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
But while more African children go to school than ever before and there have been great advancements in women's empowerment and gender equality, Africa is off track to meeting many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The humanitarian and security situations throughout the continent are particularly concerning, especially in Mali, South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR), Northern Nigeria and Somalia. The political situation in Libya is growing more dangerous. Meanwhile, Lesotho is facing a risky political stalemate.

Mr. Eliasson commended the role of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in mediating the ongoing crisis in CAR.

Meanwhile, the Ebola virus is presenting new and very serious challenges in West Africa, Mr. Eliasson said, mentioning the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union to quickly mobilize resources and awareness.
“The United Nations has mobilized to a degree rarely seen,” said Mr. Eliasson adding that the newly UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) are working hard to stop the outbreak and treat the infected.

Also delivering remarks today, Under-Secretary General and UN Special Adviser on Africa, Maged Abdelaziz, said these annual meetings contribute to filling the gap and raise global awareness on the work of the RECs.

“Agenda 2063 embodies a renewed commitment by Africa's political leadership to achieving the pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”

According to the press release, efforts to finalize the development of Agenda 2063 are still ongoing. However, it is currently envisaged that Agenda 2063 and its first 10-year plan will be adopted at the next Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in January 2015.

SOURCE UN News Centre

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Nigeria Among Top 10 Smartphone and Tech Devices Markets for Growth in 2015 in the World

 
Nigeria Among Top 10 Smartphone and Tech Devices Markets for Growth in 2015 in the World

  Apple Iphone 6 4.7 Inch 16GB Unlocked (T-Mobile) Silver

Tech Devices in 2015: Emerging Markets Dominate Growth, Increasing by $10b

NUREMBERG, Germany, September 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Global market research agency, GfK, has released part of its 2015 forecasts for sales of technology devices, showing that the stable global forecast hides multi-billion dollar changes at country level.

GfK's technology device forecasts cover 70 different digital device types globally and indicate that the overall market in 2015 will remain at one trillion USD, just as it has been since 2011. However, the 10 largest growth markets will increase by over $10b alone and be dominated by emerging markets. India provides by far the greatest opportunity, primarily driven by sales of smartphones, where both volume and pricing will contribute to an overall technology device growth of nearly five billion US dollars in 2015.

10 largest tech device growth markets in 2015 (GfK forecast figures)
                2014 (USD $b) 2015 (USD $b) Percentage YOY        Growth(USD $b)
    India        30.0          34.8           16%                   4.8
    China       199.0         200.8            1%                   1.8
    Nigeria       5.1           5.7           13%                   0.7
    Pakistan      4.2           4.8           15%                   0.6
    Vietnam       5.5           6.1           11%                   0.6
    Bangladesh    3.3           3.8           13%                   0.4
    Brazil       39.0          39.3            1%                   0.4
    Egypt         4.6           5.0            8%                   0.3
    Indonesia    12.4          12.7            3%                   0.3
    Philippines   3.8           4.1            6%                   0.2
    TOTAL       306.9         317.1            3%                  10.1

 

Samsung Galaxy S DUOS S7562 Unlocked GSM Phone with Dual SIM, Android 4.0 OS, 4" Touchscreen, 5MP Camera + Seconday VGA Camera, Video, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Stereo FM Radio, MP3/MP4 Player and microSD Slot - White

Feature phone markets
As expected, the global feature phone market continues to decline rapidly, with GfK's forecasts showing sales by volume dropping 20 percent and sales by value dropping 30 percent. However, feature phone vendors in emerging APAC countries and the Middle East & Africa can be slightly happier, with forecasted markets size of 5.1 billion USD and 4.3 billion USD respectively.

Kevin Walsh, Forecasting Director at GfK, comments, "The size of the feature phone market in emerging APAC countries, the middle east and Africa also provides opportunities for the low end smartphone makers, as we are seeing clear evidence of consumers willing to accept a price jump, when they upgrade from a feature phone to their first smart phone."

Smartphone markets
GfK's forecasts show that, worldwide, the smartphone continues to grow strongly, in terms of volume of sales, increasing by 18% for 2015. But there is significant shift in which countries will see those growth opportunities, with the emerging markets dominating.

Walsh explains, "Our forecasts show seven new entries in the top 10 smartphone markets for 2015, in terms of growth by value - and these are all emerging markets, which have overtaken developed markets where smartphone saturation is nearing completion."

 Top 10 smartphone markets for growth by value, 2015 compared with 2014(GfK
    forecast)
             Ranking                      2014                       2015
                1                        China                      India
                2                    United States                  China
                3                        Japan                    Indonesia
                4                        Brazil                  South Africa
                5                    United Kingdom                 Brazil
                6                       Germany                    Pakistan
                7                        India                     Nigeria
                8                     South Korea                   Egypt
                9                        Russia                    Vietnam
                10                       Italy                    Bangladesh

These are just a small part of the forecast data provided by GfK Target Setter 2015, which is available for purchase now. For more details, please contact Kevin Walsh, Forecasting Director at GfK, on tel: +44-20-7890-9380 or email: Kevin.Walsh@gfk.com

About GfK Target Setter
GfK Target Setter is available as a one-off purchase and includes 2015 sales forecasts for all the major technology product categories (audio products and multimedia, headsets, mobile handsets, PCs, tablets, netbooks, cameras, camcorders, printing, TVs, video products). It presents GfK's forecasts for what units will sell in what numbers, at what price, by region.  It also allows clients to drill down to country forecasts by month and to see the sales impact of setting regional market share targets.
For more information, please visit http://www.gfk.com or follow GfK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GfK_en

CONTACT:
Kevin Walsh
Forecasting Director, GfK
+44-20-7890-9380
Kevin.Walsh@gfk.com
SOURCE GfK








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African-Born Population in U.S. Roughly Doubled Every Decade Since 1970

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The foreign-born population from Africa has grown rapidly in the United States during the last 40 years, increasing from about 80,000 in 1970 to about 1.6 million in the period from 2008 to 2012, according to a U.S. Census Bureau brief released today. The population has roughly doubled each decade since 1970, with the largest increase happening from 2000 to 2008-2012.

The Foreign-Born Population from Africa: 2008-2012, a brief based on American Community Survey statistics, shows that the African foreign-born population accounts for 4 percent of the total U.S. foreign-born population. No African country makes up the majority of these immigrants, but four countries — Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Ghana — make up 41 percent of the African-born total.

"The brief — the Census Bureau's first focusing on the African foreign-born population — highlights the size, growth, geographic distribution and educational attainment of this group," said Christine Gambino of the Census Bureau's Foreign-Born Population Branch, who is one of the brief's authors. "We have found that the African-born population tends to be more educated and accounts for a relatively large proportion of the foreign-born population in some nontraditional immigrant gateway states such as Minnesota and the Dakotas."

The foreign-born population from Africa had a higher level of educational attainment than the overall foreign-born population: 41 percent of African-born had a bachelor's degree or higher compared with 28 percent overall. Within the foreign-born population from Africa, educational attainment varied by place of birth. For example, 40 percent of the Somali-born population had less than a high school education, while 64 percent of Egyptian-born individuals had a bachelor's degree or higher.

This brief is one of several focusing on the foreign-born population from world regions of birth. Previous reports include "The Foreign Born from Asia: 2011" and "The Foreign Born from Latin America and the Caribbean: 2010." In addition, supplemental tables are now available for the African-born population by metropolitan statistical area. Below are highlights of the geographic distribution of the African-born population from the brief:

Geographic Distribution

• The four states with African-born populations over 100,000 were New York (164,000), California (155,000), Texas (134,000) and Maryland (120,000). 
• Of the 10 states with the largest African-born populations, Minnesota (19 percent), Maryland (15 percent), Virginia (9 percent), Georgia (8 percent) and Massachusetts (8 percent) had percentages of African-born in their foreign-born populations that were at least twice the national percentage of 4 percent.
• Metropolitan areas with the largest African-born populations were New York (212,000), Washington (161,000), Atlanta (68,000), Los Angeles (68,000), Minneapolis-St. Paul (64,000), Dallas-Fort Worth (61,000) and Boston (60,000).
• Among the 10 metro areas with the largest African-born populations, Nigerians were the most populous group and constituted a high proportion (20 percent or more) of the African-born in the Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metros.  Similarly, Ethiopians were a high proportion and the largest group in the Washington D.C. metro, Cabo Verdeans in Boston, Somalis in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Egyptians in Los Angeles and Liberians in Philadelphia.

About the American Community SurveyThe information in this release comes from data collected from the American Community Survey from 2008 to 2012. The questions asked include:

• Where was this person born?
• Is this person a citizen of the United States?
• When did this person come to live in the United States?

Organizations use this information to develop programs for refugees, immigrants and other foreign-born individuals. Federal and state agencies require these statistics to support enforcement of nondiscrimination policies and to allocate funds for school districts based on limited English proficiency, immigrant, low income and minority student populations.

Ever since Thomas Jefferson directed the first census in 1790, the census has collected detailed characteristics about our nation's people. Questions about jobs and the economy were added 20 years later under James Madison, who said such information would allow Congress to "adapt the public measures to the particular circumstances of the community," and over the decades allow America "an opportunity of marking the progress of the society."

Note: Statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. All comparisons made in this report have been tested and found to be statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level, unless otherwise noted. Please consult the tables for specific margins of error. For more information, go to http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/documentation_main/. See http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/2012_release/ for more information on changes affecting the 2008-2012 statistics. See http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/comparing_2012/ for guidance on comparing 2008-2012 American Community Survey statistics with previous years.

CB14-184
Graphic | JPG | PDF |
Blog
Report
Supplemental Tables
Virginia Hyer
Public Information Office
301-763-3030
email: pio@census.gov 
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141001/149689-INFO
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
RELATED LINKS
http://www.census.gov





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Happy 54th Independence Day Anniversary of Nigeria!

Let us join hands in love, peace and unity to build a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa!

Thanks to Google for joining millions of people all over the world to celebrate the 54th Independence Day Anniversary of Nigeria.

The Google doodle captures the never say die resilient spirit of patriotic citizens of Nigeria who keep going and keep moving on forward in progress, success and victory.

May our Almighty Father JEHOVAH GOD increase the abundance of His infinite grace in our lives to do our best for the common wealth of all Nigerians.
Forward Ever, 
Backward Never!



 


 2014 Independence Day Broadcast by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
Wednesday 1st October, 2014

Fellow Nigerians:
1. Today marks the 54th anniversary of our country’s independence as a sovereign nation. This is also the tenth month of our journey into a new century, having marked the centenary of our nation in January this year.

2. The first one hundred years were marked by triumphs and tribulations, benefits and burdens, opportunities and challenges. We made some far reaching advances in building a strong, united and prosperous nation. We also overcame the forces of disunity that culminated in a debilitating civil war. We have also renewed our faith in one another, and in our country. We have proven that we are truly a resilient nation.

3. In my address to the nation last year, I did emphasize that we were in a sober moment in our country. We are still in that mood in spite of the many accomplishments of our administration. Our sombreness has to do with the crises of nationhood occasioned by the activities of terrorist elements who have done the unimaginable to challenge our unity as a people.

4. On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!

5. In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows.

6. They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow them.

7. Night after night, day after day, our security forces continue to engage the terrorists in battle. My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the civil war.

8. Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenge and mortal danger. Driven by patriotic zeal, they are turning the tide by their prowess and determination. As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to do all it takes to enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at the heart of terror. Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.

9. This Administration is committed to making Nigeria safe for all Nigerians, irrespective of our places of birth, how we worship God and our political persuasion. To all those waging war against our country, I ask that you lay down your arms and embrace peace.

10. To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria will listen to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue. To the good people of Nigeria, let me restate that our task of building a better and greater country must not waver.

11. While we continue to deploy our resources in the fight against the terrorists, we do recognize the great toll the conflict is taking on our people.

12. This is why, to assist the afflicted, we have launched the Victims Support Fund, an independent multi-sectoral charity, which will aggressively solicit resources to augment Government’s statutory intervention, in bringing succour to the injured, the displaced and the bereaved.

13. In partnership with Nigerian business leaders and international partners, we have also introduced the Safe Schools Initiative which is aimed at promoting safe environments for education nationwide, starting with the North East region.

14. The Presidential Initiative for the North East, a comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region, which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.

15. Our overall objective is to do all we possibly can, to sustain in the North-East, the momentum of economic advancement, which is on-going in other parts of the country, despite the machinations of the terrorists and their sponsors.

16. It should now be clear to anyone who was ever in doubt that these terrorists do not mean well for anyone, of whatever religion or dispensation. Their persistent choice of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, for gruesome attack, provides an insight into their abnormal mind-set.

17. I urge every Nigerian to put aside political, sectional or other parochial considerations, and support whole-heartedly the efforts of the government and the military, in checking this evil.

18. We are grateful to the international community, and especially our neighbours who are working closely with us in confronting this challenge, for their increased partnership and solidarity. Our steady progress in weakening the insurgency has certainly justified our cooperation.

19. Fellow Nigerians, in my independence anniversary address last year, I informed you that we had taken cognizance of the suggestion over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to focus attention on rebuilding and strengthening the ligaments of our union. It was in that regard that we announced the convening of a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country.

20. We have successfully delivered on that promise as we established the 2014 National Conference headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi. After months of deliberations, which did not come without its challenges, the conference concluded its assignment and has handed its Report to me.

21. I have made a firm commitment that we would act on the recommendations of the conference. This, I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing the Report. Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfilment. I assure you, we shall implement the report.

22. One major lesson which the 2014 National Conference has taught us as a country is that, a multi-ethnic country like ours, must learn to embrace painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.

23. To me, the National Conference is the greatest centenary gift to our country that we must cherish and sustain.

24. Fellow Nigerians, our 54 year-journey as a nation has not been easy. There have been tough periods, but the Nigerian spirit and the unflagging resilience of our people have seen us through. We will continue to march forward to greater heights.

25. We have been able to sustain a big, strong and influential country with a robust economy. We are currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted democratic rule, daily improving on the consolidation of our democratic process.

26. Our Administration has made a commitment to ensure that we build and sustain a democratic infrastructure anchored on free and fair elections. International and local observers have attested to the positive evolution of electoral credibility and we cannot afford to relent.

27. We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls. Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.

28. I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections. Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our people.



29. My dear countrymen and women, occasions such as this present an opportunity to thank God for our country and to report to you, on our journey so far.

30. Our power sector reform is on course with the ultimate objective of generating enough electricity to power our homes, industries and businesses. We are making giant strides in the Agricultural Sector which we are re-positioning to diversify our economy. We will continue to upgrade our infrastructure to make life easier for all and create an enabling environment for enterprise to flourish.

31. Over the last four years, the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the Oil and Gas Sector has ensured major increase in the participation of indigenous Oil and Gas companies in the industry. Several critical infrastructure projects have been commissioned and commenced. The level of indigenous asset ownership has greatly increased and utilisation of Nigerian-owned and built assets such as marine vessels and rigs is being progressively enforced.

32. There has been maximised local value addition by encouraging the manufacture of equipment components and parts within the country. There has also been massive growth in indigenous participation in the provision of goods and services to the upstream sector from 10% to 60% within the last four years.

33. Today, following the rebasing of our economy, every international monitoring and ratings agency now acknowledges Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, with a Gross Domestic Product of five hundred and ten billion dollars ($510 billion) which also places us as the 26th largest economy in the world. This is progress.



34. Earlier in the year, we launched the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) with the stated objective of fast tracking inclusive growth, job creation, enterprise development and industrialisation.

35. The success of these policies is already evident in the increased value addition in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

36. In line with our objective of encouraging the production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles and making Nigeria a regional hub for the automobile industry, a number of foreign auto manufacturers have established plants in Nigeria, complementing the laudable efforts of our local vehicle manufacturers who have also demonstrated great innovation and competitiveness.

37. We have also launched a special support programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with an initial intervention fund of two hundred and twenty billion naira (N220 b). This is in addition to the Presidential Job Creation Board which I inaugurated recently with the charge to create three million jobs annually.

38. In demonstration of our Administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit, we have commenced the new mortgage re-finance programme with the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Re-finance Company. It is expected that, in addition to creating additional housing units across the country, this initiative also represents a huge job creation opportunity.

39. We have recorded notable success in the social sector. Nigeria has been globally acknowledged for reducing extreme hunger by more than half, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) formally presenting the country with an award for achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Hunger three years ahead of the 2015 target date set for the Millennium Development Goals.

40. This progress is as a result of the deliberate policy of government to increase capacity in our agricultural sector of which the first step was to address and eliminate the graft in our fertilizer procurement system and ensure that the product gets directly to the farmer. We are expanding our irrigation infrastructure to ensure that our farmers have sufficient water supply for dry season farming.

41. A benefit of these combined actions is that our national food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion naira (6.9 billion dollars) in 2009 to 684.7 billion naira (4.35 billion dollars) by December 2013, and continues to decline.

42. Modern hybrid schools are being provided for less privileged children across the country, resulting in significant increase in the national school enrolment figure.

43. In order to further enhance access to education at the tertiary level, fourteen new Federal Universities have been established; and, to encourage persons of exceptional abilities, our Administration has also introduced a Presidential Scholarship Scheme based strictly on excellence and merit.

44. On infrastructure, we are building roads, bridges, and new rail lines to make it easier to traverse Nigeria and increase the integration of our people and our ability to do business with each other. In this regard, we have commenced the process of building the Second Niger Bridge. The Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States, will significantly reduce travel time by road between Northern and Southern Nigeria. The on-going dredging of the River Niger up to Baro in Niger State is opening up large parts of the Nigerian hinterland to maritime activity.

45. The Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro-electric power projects are on course, and the Kashimbilla dam which we started a few years ago, is nearing completion. The successful privatisation of our power sector will in the long run enhance industrial growth. Policies such as this and others have raised Nigeria to the enviable status of being the number one recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa in the past year.

46. The result of this infrastructure drive is that two and a half million jobs have been created over the past two years. This is a record, which we are committed to improve upon to continue to provide jobs for our youth.

47. An unprecedented number of Airports across the country, are not only being reconstructed at the same time, but being re-equipped and reassessed with emphasis on maintaining global standards.

48. Fellow Nigerians, the goals we set to achieve for our country involve expanding the frontiers of economic freedom. Let us therefore unite with one heart and one mind. All our people must have access to the good things of life. All our people must be empowered to pursue the gift of life with happiness. This is our country; we must build it for our common posterity.

49. As we move into an election year, desperate moves to overheat the polity are becoming a regular occurrence. Our political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate to the destruction of the polity.

50. The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.

51. We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal.

52. I cannot end this address without commenting on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which was sadly brought into our country recently. My directives to the Federal Ministry of Health saw the ministry leading the charge in curtailing the spread of this deadly scourge and managing its impact. This is how it should be: swift, effective and comprehensive action in defence of citizens.

53. It must be pointed out that the Ebola battle is still raging elsewhere in our sub-region. I therefore enjoin all our citizens to continue to adhere strictly to all the guidelines that have been given by our health officials to keep Ebola out of our country.

54. I appreciate and welcome the spirit of collaboration, unity and partnership with which we confronted the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease. I thank all Nigerians for working together to prevent what could have become a major epidemic. I particularly thank the medical personnel, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

55. This is the spirit which we must demonstrate at all times as we face up to our challenges as a nation: one people, united by a common resolve, in the pursuit of one common national interest.

56. As we look forward to another year in our national life, I am more than confident that our tomorrow will be better than our yesterday and today. Nigeria has got the human and material resources to excel and we shall lead the way in that journey to our manifest destiny.

57. Fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters, in all our plans, and in all our words and our actions, we must stand together in love and unity, as one people under God.

58. We are one people from the womb of one Nigeria. We are brothers and sisters. We are one family. We are Nigerians.

59. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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Netflix's First Original Movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend" To Premiere Simultaneously on Netflix and in Global IMAX® Theaters

Netflix Announces First Original Movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend To Premiere Simultaneously On Netflix And In Select Global IMAX® Theaters

Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen star under the direction of Yuen Wo-Ping in the Sequel to the Academy Award®-winning 2000 film


BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. and NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, the stunning next chapter in the saga started by the critically and popularly acclaimed Ang Lee martial arts epic, will premiere exclusively on Netflix and in selected global  IMAX® theaters on August 28, 2015.

Produced by The Weinstein Company, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend echoes the themes of the original movie, but tells its own story -- one of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption, set against breathtaking action in an epic martial arts battle between good and evil that will decide the fate of the Martial World.

Directed by the renowned martial arts choreographer (The Matrix Trilogy and Kill Bill 1&2) and director (Tai Chi Master) Yuen Wo-Ping, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Lady) reprising her role as Yu Shu-Lien and Donnie Yen (Ip Man 1&2, Monkey King 3D) as Silent Wolf.

The film is to be the first of several major films backed by Netflix to premiere on the same day on the world's leading Internet TV network and in select IMAX theaters globally, giving consumers and exhibitors around the world unparalleled flexibility in how, when and where they enjoy a major motion picture.
"Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy an amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. "We are honored to be working with Harvey Weinstein and a world-class team of creators to bring this epic story to people all over the world and to partner with IMAX, a brand that represents the highest quality of immersive entertainment, in the distribution of this film."

"The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement," said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. "We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story."

"IMAX has a terrific opportunity, via this partnership with Netflix, to release Crouching Tiger – a high-quality, action-packed film that is right in our wheelhouse -- at the end of the summer blockbuster season," said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. "We are particularly hopeful it will play in our highly successful China market. In territories where we simultaneously release with Netflix, we are excited to offer consumers the option of deciding how, when and where they want to view the film, and exhibitors the opportunity to participate in this alternative form of content in a new and innovative way."
 
Based on the acclaimed novel, Iron Knight, Silver Vase, by Wang Dulu (book 5 in the Crane-Iron Pentalogy) and written by John Fusco (Marco Polo)  the new film is produced by Harvey Weinstein (Academy Award winner - The King's Speech, The Artist) and Peter Berg (Emmy Award winner - Friday Night Lights; Lone Survivor, Hancock) and Sarah Aubrey (Friday Night Lights; Lone Survivor, Hancock) and executive produced by Morten Tyldum (Headhunters, The Imitation Game), Ralph Winter (X-Men franchise), Anthony Wong, and Bey Logan (The Medallion).
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend also stars Harry Shum Jr (Glee, Revenge of the Green Dragons), Jason Scott Lee  (Seventh Son, Hawaii Five-O), Roger Yuan (Bulletproof Monk), Eugenia Yuan (Revenge of the Green Dragons) and newcomer Natasha Liu Bordizzo.
Principal photography is now underway in New Zealand. The film's director of photography is Tom Sigel (Drive, X-Men: Days of Future Past) and design is led by the Academy Award®-winning Lord of the Rings team of costume designer Ngila Dickson, production designer Grant Major and visual effects supervisor Mark Stetson.

About Netflix
Netflix is the world's leading Internet television network with over 50 million members in nearly 50 countries enjoying more than one billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series. For a low monthly price, Netflix members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments

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About The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein. During Harvey and Bob's tenure at Miramax and TWC, they have received 348 Oscar nominations and won 82 Academy Awards.
Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; SCRE4M; SPY KIDS: THE KING'S SPEECH; THE IRON LADY; UNDEFEATED; THE ARTIST; THE MASTER; SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; DJANGO UNCHAINED; SCARY MOVIE 5; LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER; PHILOMENA; THE GIVER and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY. Upcoming releases include ST. VINCENT; THE IMITATION GAME; PADDINGTON and BIG EYES.


TWC boasts an active television production division which garnered nine Emmy nominations in 2013 and five in 2014. TWC Television produces the reality powerhouse Project Runway, with its spin-off series Project Runway All Stars and Under The Gunn.  Recent TWC television productions include Mob Wives, Million Dollar Shoppers, Rodeo Girls and Trailer Park: Welcome to Myrtle Manor. Scripted projects currently in production include John Fusco's Marco Polo. Scripted projects in development include Ten Commandments and Daniel Stashower's The Hour Of Peril.  TWC also developed Nanny Diaries and produced The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are using IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of June 30, 2014, there were 868 IMAX theatres (735 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial destinations and 114 institutions) in 59 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation.  More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com.  You may also connect withIMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

Contacts:
Don Halcombe	Katelyn Bogacki
Netflix PR	The Weinstein Company
310-975-8931	212-845-8698
dhalcombe@netflix.com	katelyn.bogacki@weinsteinco.com
Ann Sommerlath (Business Media)	Teri Loxam (Investors)
IMAX Corporation – New York	IMAX Corporation - New York
212-821-0155	212-821-0110
asommerlath@imax.com	tloxam@imax.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/MM01969LOGO
SOURCE IMAX Corporation
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Omidyar Network Gives BudgIT US$400, 000 Grant To Support Fiscal Transparency in Nigeria

Omidyar Network Supports Fiscal Transparency in Nigeria with Grant to BudgIT 

JOHANNESBURG and REDWOOD CITY, California, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Omidyar Network announced today a grant of up to USD $400k to BudgIT, a Lagos-based nonprofit that promotes civic participation and fiscal transparency in Nigeria.  The two-year grant will be used to expand the amount of budget and procurement information available to the public, stimulate its use in participatory governance, and promote media awareness of open-source tools available to aid in the reporting about public budgets, procurement, and spending.

BudgIT works to ensure that Nigerian citizens can exercise their right to access government data by providing the information in a usable format and providing tools that enable constructive debate about the use of public resources.  BudgIT has also demonstrated the ability to forge partnerships and positive relationships with the government and assist in shaping public policy by linking the budget with resource-based planning.
Omidyar Network's grant comes through the philanthropic investment firm's Government Transparency initiative, which works to build stronger and more open societies by increasing government responsiveness and citizen participation.

"Greater transparency of budget, procurement, and spending data will lead to greater government accountability and serve as a deterrent to corruption," said Ory Okolloh, director, investments, Omidyar Network.  "BudgIT plays a vital role in enabling access and use of such critical information and fostering greater participatory governance.  Omidyar Network is proud to support BudgIT and its mission."
The idea for BudgIT was conceptualized during the February 2011 Tech-In-Governance event, a 48-hour gathering organized by the Co-Creation Hub, another Omidyar Network grantee in Lagos.  Since its launch, BudgIT's website has been visited by hundreds of thousands of unique visitors, and the organization has fielded more than 4,000 data requests and produced more than 60 infographics created to simplify public data for citizens.  Its work led Forbes to recognize it as one of the top five African startups to watch in 2013.
"The support from Omidyar Network is a major leap in our drive to deepen impact in regards to public finance transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement," said Oluseun Onigbinde, lead partner of BudgIT. "We believe that linking budgets and procurement is crucial in our push to 'Follow the Money' and ensure efficient service delivery for citizens"

For more information about BudgIT, please visit: www.yourbudgit.com, and follow BudgIT on Twitter @BudgITng.

About Omidyar Network
Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm dedicated to harnessing the power of markets to create opportunity for people to improve their lives. Established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam, the organization invests in and helps scale innovative organizations to catalyze economic and social change. Omidyar Network has committed more than $730 million to for-profit companies and non-profit organizations that foster economic advancement and encourage individual participation across multiple initiatives, including Consumer Internet & Mobile, Education, Financial Inclusion, Government Transparency, and Property Rights. To learn more, visit www.omidyar.com and follow on Twitter @omidyarnetwork.com.

SOURCE Omidyar Network
CONTACT: Media Contact: Greg Pershall, Omidyar Network, gpershall@omidyar.com, (o) +1-650-482-2534, (m) +1-360-607-8901
RELATED LINKS
http://www.omidyar.com






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Prof. Lucy Shapiro Wins 2014 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize

Prof. Lucy Shapiro Wins 2014 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize 


The Rockefeller University announces that Lucy Shapiro, professor of developmental biology at Stanford University School of Medicine, will receive the 2014 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, which celebrates the achievements of outstanding women in science.







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Zimbabwe: Waiting for the Future

Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, addresses the general debate of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly.

25 September 2014

United Nations, New York.

BRUSSELS, 29 September 2014 / PRN Africa / -- Zimbabwe's growing instability is exacerbated by dire economic decline, endemic governance failures, and tensions over ruling party succession; without major political and economic reforms, the country could slide into being a failed state.


A year on since the election victory of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Zimbabwe's politics and economy are ever more precarious. Rather than addressing the corroding social and economic fabric, both the ruling party and the opposition are embroiled in internal power struggles. In its latest briefing, Zimbabwe: Waiting for the Future, the International Crisis Group examines Zimbabwe's challenges and argues that while it still has the capacity to deliver on reforms and prevent further deterioration, it will struggle to do so without policy coherence, improved governance, accountability and clarity as to the leadership succession within ZANU-PF.


The briefing's major findings and recommendations are:
Political and economic insecurity is exacerbated by mounting tensions over the succession within ZANU-PF, and further complicated by the entry of the First Lady, Grace Mugabe, into the political arena. ZANU-PF should use the December National People's congress to decide who will replace 90-year-old President Robert Mugabe were he to be incapacitated or decide not to seek re-election in 2018.


ZANU-PF should seek to rebuild trust and collaboration with domestic and international constituencies by (i) holding an inclusive national dialogue with the opposition and civil society on political, social and economic reforms; and (ii) clarifying and acting on key policy areas including indigenisation, land reform and the rule of law, as well as anti-corruption initiatives.


Questions remain about Robert Mugabe's 2013 election victory; it has not secured broad-based legitimacy, and key process and institutional concerns must be addressed to avoid a rerun of such concerns in 2018. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) should encourage Zimbabwe to address election-related concerns identified in their respective election-observation mission reports.


The Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and other opposition parties are sidelined, their cachet with international players has been severely damaged, and prospects for a common opposition agenda are remote.


“The international community – East and West – must explore common ground to help nurture an appropriate climate for economic recovery and policy coherence”, says Piers Pigou, Southern Africa Project Director. “The Zimbabwean government must demonstrate clearly and consistently it is a reliable partner that delivers on its undertakings. The current situation is not sustainable. There is simply not enough money circulating in the formal economy and Zimbabwe is struggling to finance its deficit, borrowing from wherever it can even to pay its civil service bill”.
“Zimbabwe is an insolvent and failing state, its politics zero sum, its institutions hollowing out, and its once vibrant economy moribund”, says Comfort Ero, Africa Program Director. “A major culture change is needed among political elites, as well as commitment to national as opposed to partisan and personal interests”


SOURCE International Crisis Group







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Nigeria's Commitment to the Future - Transparency and Security

  

Secretary-General Meets President of Nigeria.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) meets with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of Nigeria. 24 September 2014, United Nations, New York

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During last week's United Nations General Assembly and Security Council meeting, and on the back of confirming Nigeria is free of the Ebola Virus Disease, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan focused attention on the country's commitment to democratic elections and reminded the world of his commitment to combatting terrorism.
With the full force of his convictions and Administration, he assured the international community that next year's general elections in Nigeria will be conducted in accordance with global best practices to further strengthen the country's democratic institutions.


In addressing the United Nations, the President reaffirmed that we must now capitalize on the commitment and evident determination of the Security Council to seek more innovative responses to the threat of terrorism and in particular to the growing menace of foreign fighters. Nigeria knows too well the destructive effects of terrorist activities.


"The people of Nigeria and indeed the entire peace-loving world were horrified at the gruesome murder of two American journalists and a British aid worker by elements linked to the Islamic State (I.S). These murders typify the new face of global terrorism marked by executions, extreme brutality and impunity," said President Jonathan in the speech at the High Level Meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
As daunting as the challenge in fighting terrorism may be, Nigerians have faced it with unrelenting determination, mobilising all the resources available to ensure that the scourge of terrorism is rooted out of our nation. In addition to our counterterrorism efforts, the Administration has evolved initiatives to alleviate the plight of the population in the affected communities.


Efforts include a holistic effort through the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) which is aimed at providing immediate relief and fast tracking the infrastructural re-development of the region. It also has as a core goal, an integrated effort at achieving the de-radicalisation of potential terrorist recruits.
A Victims Support Fund has raised about 500 million dollars of the expected minimum of one billion dollars in direct support of the victims of acts of terrorism. This is in addition to the Safe Schools Initiative championed by Mr. Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister, and currently the UN Special Envoy for Global Education. Nigeria's Federal Government is rigorously supporting this initiative.


Concerning the 2015 elections, the President said that in keeping with his administration's dedication to openness and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, international observers will be allowed to freely monitor the 2015 elections and affirm that the elections are as free, fair and credible as his administration has promised.
"Next year's general elections in Nigeria will be conducted in accordance with global best practices to further strengthen the country's democratic institutions," said President Jonathan.


Only by united action and firm resolve can we address our threats at home – combat terrorism and ensure all Nigerians see elections that are progressively better, freer and more credible.
These materials are distributed by LEVICK on behalf of the News Agency of Nigeria. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

 
SOURCE News Agency of Nigeria
CONTACT: Philip Elwood, 202-973-5310, pelwood@levick.com; Patrick Pannett, 202-973-5319, ppannett@levick.com







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Free Delicious Books You Can Eat on Kindle

 Kindle Buffet: Find and download the best free books, magazines and newspapers for your Kindle, iPhone, iPad or Android [Kindle Edition]

Free books, all you can eat!

One of the best things about Amazon's Kindle system is that many popular books are offered completely free of charge during brief promotional periods.
If you manage to find and download a book while it's offered free, it's yours to keep -- forever.

It's a great way to sample a new genre, or perhaps discover an author you hadn't noticed before. The free promotions usually last only a few days, but there's a new crop every day. You'll be amazed at the wealth of great books. Usually there are several hundred freebies in virtually every category of fiction and nonfiction, every day of the year. And these aren't just the dogs that nobody wants, the selection includes bona-fide bestsellers from the most famous authors in the world.

You may never have to pay for a book again! This book will introduce you to KindleBuffet.com, a website and newsletter founded by author Steve Weber to showcase the best Kindle books currently offered free -- plus a multitude of other avenues toward great free content.

Kindle Unlimited
Read this title for free and get unlimited access to over 700,000 titles. Learn More.

Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download Series: NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® SERIES (Book 2). Anybody can read Kindle books—even without a Kindle device—with the FREE KINDLE app for smartphones, tablets and computers.

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