Thursday, March 12, 2015

The Best Filmmakers in Africa Were at FESPACO 2015

The Best Filmmakers in Africa Were at FESPACO 2015 


The best filmmakers in Africa were competing for the Golden Stallion of Yennenga at the 24th Pan-African Film & TV Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) which closed on Saturday March 7, 2015, at the Palais Des Sports De Ouaga 2000, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. And French-Moroccan filmmaker, Hicham Ayouch’s "Fievres" won the highly coveted Golden Stallion of Yennenga, the biggest prize for best film, beating the Oscar nominated "Timbuktu" of French-Mauritanian Abderrahmane Sissako. 


"I have white skin, but the blood flowing in the veins is black. My father is Moroccan, my mother is Tunisian. I am African and I am proud of it," said Ayouch who won the Étalon de Yenenga (Golden Stallion of Yennenga) with cash prize of 20 million CFA. His elder brother Nabil Ayouch won the same first prize for his film "Ali Zaoua" in the 2001 edition.

 The biennial international film festival from February 28 to March 7, 2015, attracted 134 films from more than 30 countries, including Nigerians Desmond Ovbiagele with his much talked about movie “Render to Caesar” and Iquo B. Essien with her short film, “Aissa's Story” in competition. The theme was “African Cinema: Production and Distribution in the Digital Era”. FESPACO insists on films in 35mm for the main competition with categories for video and television. Newton Aduaka is the first and still the only Nigerian filmmaker who has won the Golden Stallion of Yennenga for his war film "Ezra" in 2007. 

See the complete list of winners on http://www.fespaco.bf/en/




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Gen. Buhari in Lagos for Town Hall Meeting at the MUSON Center in Onikan




Gen. Buhari in Lagos for Town Hall Meeting at the MUSON Center in Onikan

Join General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), the most charismatic and daring presidential aspirant in the history of Nigeria, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos Town Hall meeting.
Date: 12 March, 2015
Time: 12 noon
Venue: MUSON Centre, Lagos Island
Don't Miss It!

 



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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

President Barack Obama Honors 19-Year-Old Nigerian Harvard Finalist


President Barack Obama Recognizes, Commends 19-year-old Nigerian Harvard Finalist

Washington, USA – March 1, 2015: Nigerian genius Saheela Ibraheem, 19, made history On Thursday, February, 26, when she was honoured with an official reception in the White House by the US President, Barack Obama and the First Lady, Michelle.

Saheela Ibraheem got into the Ivy League Harvard at the age of 15, where she is currently studying neurobiology — a branch of science that studies the brain — and has been listed among the “World’s 50 Smartest Teenagers.” She was also accepted for admission by 13 other top colleges in the United States, including the MIT, Princeton, Columbia, and six Ivy League institutions, choosing Harvard, she became one of the youngest students to ever attend the university. She will be graduating in May this year.

Speaking after an introductory speech by Ibraheem at the White House, President Obama stated that “there are a lot of teenagers in the world. Saheela is like one of the 50 smartest ones. That’s pretty smart. And she’s a wonderful young lady. She’s like the State Department and the National Institute of Health all rolled into one. And we are so proud of your accomplishments and all that lies ahead of you. And you reflect our history. Young people like you inspire our future.”

Ibraheem, who skipped two grades in school, said the key to success is figuring out what you love to learn as early as possible, which she did at the young age of five. “If you are passionate about what you do, and I am passionate about most of these things, especially with math and science, it will work out well,” she told CBS 2s Cindy Hsu. In addition, Ibraheem speaks four languages that include Arabic, Spanish and Latin.
Her mother, Shakirat Ibraheem, said her daughter has been way ahead of the academic game since kindergarten — never cutting corners and trying to do everything on her own. “She’s like always independent,” she said. “I never get to help with her homework because she’d say ‘it’s my work mommy, not yours.’”

Ibraheem’s recognition and reception was part of the “Black History Month” celebration in the US, which comes up in February. The “Black History Month”, takes root from the activities of the “Association for the Study of African American Life and History.” Every year, Americans set aside the month of February to celebrate the central role that African-Americans have played in every aspect of American life especially the march for freedom and equality, jobs and justice, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and some profound contributions African-Americans make in the American culture.

Present at the evening event were members of the US Congress, including Leader Nancy Pelosi, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

***

Submitted by Tony Egbulefu via M. Adeniyi.

http://www.africanevents.com/president-barack-obama-recognizes-commends-19-year-old-nigerian-harvard-finalist/



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Omidyar Network Supports Equitable Tax Systems with Grant to Tax Justice Network in Africa




Omidyar Network Supports Equitable Tax Systems with Grant to Tax Justice Network in Africa 

Ory Okolloh, Omidyar Network Director, Investments

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., 10th March 2015-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Omidyar Network today announced a two-year grant to Tax Justice Network - Africa totaling as much as USD $450,000. The grant will support the Nairobi-based nonprofit's work to promote equitable tax systems across Africa.

 Tax Justice Network-Africa (TJN-A) is a pan-African initiative established in 2007 to promote socially just, democratic, and progressive taxation systems on the continent.
 The organization's activities are aimed at promoting public awareness of tax issues by networking among 29 member organizations across 16 African countries, coordinating civil society organizations' tax-related efforts, and raising awareness of the importance of taxation as a tool for development and enhancing democratic governance. TJN-A is a member of the Global Alliance for Tax Justice.

"Tax Justice Network Africa has established itself as the preeminent African organization working on tax justice on the continent," said Omidyar Network Director, Investments Ory Okolloh. "Their research and policy work provides invaluable insights for both governments and citizens wrestling with how to create and sustain equitable tax systems, and their established, local voice draws respect from stakeholders not only in Africa, but globally. We at Omidyar Network are proud to support their work.

"Omidyar Network's grant comes through the philanthropic investment firm's Governance & Citizen Engagement initiative, which works to build stronger and more open societies by increasing government responsiveness and citizen participation. In service of those goals, support of TJN-A will foster improved transparency and governance of budgets and extractive revenues and other resources used for public services. Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Omidyar Network.  


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 $760 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, Governance & Citizen Engagement, and Property Rights. To learn more, visit www.omidyar.com and follow on Twitter @omidyarnetwork.com.  

Media Contact:
Greg Pershall
Omidyar Network
gpershall@omidyar.com
(o) +1-650-482-2534
(m) +1-360-607-8901

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

As Killers Murdered Supporters Of The APC, President Jonathan Was Celebrating

 
President Goodluck Jonathan dancing at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

As Killers Murdered Supporters of The APC, President Jonathan Was Celebrating

 
Whilst members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were attacked and murdered in cold blood by hired killers in Rivers State, President Goodluck Jonathan was celebrating in Lagos, from the State House, Marina to the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island on Sunday evening March 1, 2015, where he paid the rented crowds in US dollars.

 This was not the first time that President Goodluck Jonathan celebrated when innocent Nigerians have been killed. 

The heartless First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stone members of the opposition party.

Stone Anyone Who Wants Change - First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan Says In Calabar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDCE2bzQHDg
http://pulse.ng/politics/patience-jonathan-first-lady-urges-supporters-to-stone-apc-members-video-id3538800.html

The political mafia of the PDP with billions of dollars made from the Togo Triangle where thousands of barrels of stolen crude oil from Nigeria is sold, more thousands of barrels of oil from oil blocks and million dollars fuel subsidy contracts can sponsor the political attacks and assassinations of members and supporters of the APC and escape unpunished, because the incumbent President has the powers of immunity to protect them. 

The time has come for the leadership of the APC to confront President Goodluck Jonathan and his sponsors face to face to prevent this critical situation from degenerating into chaos that will truncate and scuttle the 2015 presidential election which is the ulterior motive of the incumbent President and his desperate sponsors controlling the political mafia of the ruling class. 

The following press release is from the APC in Rivers State.

OFFICE OF THE SENIOR SPECIAL AIDE ON MEDIA AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO THE STATE CHAIRMAN OF APC, RIVERS STATE CHAPTER
PRESS RELEASE

RIVERS APC MOURNS 9 MURDERED MEMBERS 



The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has declared a week of mourning for nine of its members who were killed in two separate incidents in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Saturday night. While five of the men were killed in the D-Line area of Port Harcourt, the other four met their untimely death along the Eastern By-Pass in the Marine Base area of the state capital.

“Rivers APC condemns the killing of these innocent men without reservations. That only APC members were targeted in the two incidents indicates that these are politically motivated murders targeted at reducing our membership strength ahead of the 2015 elections. We are challenging the law enforcement agencies to rise to the occasion and apprehend and bring the culprits to book,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said in a statement issued Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of these innocent men and regard them as martyrs of our nascent democracy. We wish to assure those they have left behind that these party faithful will be celebrated and mourned accordingly. Their deaths will strengthen us the more to ensure that evil men are not be allowed to govern our State again,” Ikanya added. 

The State APC Chairman directed APC members throughout the State to use this Sunday, 15th March, to pray for the repose of their souls in their various churches. “We owe them this honour even as we strive to honour them the more by ensuring that their dream of landslide victory for our great party in the forthcoming general elections is realised,” he said.

Dr. Ikanya cautioned the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its supporters to eschew violence as no amount of violence and intimidation will save the party from being disgraced during the March 28 and April 11 general elections in the State.

We pray our friends and the International Community to constantly remember us in their prayers as both our candidate, Dr Dakuku Adol Peterside and all APC Chieftains are all targets for elimination by the newly assembled PDP Killer Squad.

Long Live APC!

Long Live Rivers State!!

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,

SSA Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State.

10-03-15
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I Remain Irrevocably Committed to the APC - Alhaji Atiku Abubakar



Abuja, Nigeria, 10 March 2015: Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has said that his commitment to the APC and the success of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party in the 2015 general elections is unwavering and never been up for bargaining.

The former Vice President made the assertion against the backdrop of reports in a section of the media of his purported return to the fold of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

"I remain irrevocably committed to the APC, as I promised in my concession speech at the conclusion of our party's presidential primaries, and has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of our great party at the general elections," the former Vice President is quoted to have said.

A statement by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja on Tuesday said that reports of the Turaki Adamawa's purported return to the PDP or any other party is the handiwork of mischief makers focused on pitching the former Vice President against other leaders of the opposition party.

Atiku Abubakar said that for the avoidance of doubt he is unequivocally committed to the unity of APC and that it will take more than the antics of mischief makers to break that bond.

Atiku Abubakar noted that his return from Adamawa, where he convened a stakeholders' meeting and reconciled disagreeing camps within the party, towards ensuring victory for the APC bears eloquent testimony of this commitment.

The statement reminded that the former Vice President currently supports the financial operations of the APC in many states, in most cases as a sole financier.

"I have backed my words and commitment with my resources to ensure that I bring my influence and support to bear on our party's march to victory at all levels in the general election. That should be enough to shut up mischief makers bent on derailing the APC's success at the March 28 and April elections," he said.

The Atiku Media Office observed that as one of Nigeria's astute politicians and businessmen, there may be overtures from across political divides to the former Vice President, but restated that Atiku Abubakar has publicly stated his commitment to the APC and has privately rebuffed the approaches from all quarters.

Signed:

Atiku Media Office
61 Ebitu Ukiwe Street
Jabi
Abuja
Nigeria.


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Individuals Who Participated in Sports While in School Earn More and Are More Likely to Have Gone to College

Photo Credit: Sideline Sports Doc

Individuals Who Participated In Sports While in School Earn More and Are More Likely to Have Gone to College 
Participation in athletic programs has influence on current level of personal fulfillment

NEW YORK, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Perhaps you were the starting quarterback or broke a school record for running the fastest mile. Maybe you preferred to face an opponent one-on-one in tennis or had a killer free-throw on the basketball court. Whatever the preference, sports tend to be a prevalent extracurricular activity choice while in school. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of American adults participated in some form of athletic activity throughout their schooling years, with half (49%) participating in school team sports and 44% taking up other team sports outside of school. Four-in-ten Americans (41%) participated in school sports with both individual and team aspects, while 37% flew solo, participating in individual sports not through school. Over one-quarter (27%) took formal lessons for a sport.

Higher education levels are associated with participation in athletics. Sixty four percent of those who participated in sports went through some level of higher education, compared to just 45% of those who did not participate. They are more likely to have capped off their education with a four-year college degree (20% vs. 14%) compared to those who didn't participate and are also twice as likely to have some form of post graduate education (12% vs. 6%).

Participation in athletics is also associated with higher incomes. Fifteen percent of adults who participated in athletics have a personal income greater than $100,000, compared to just 9% of those who did not participate. The same is true for household income levels; 28% of those who participated in sports have a household income over $100,000 compared to just 15% of those who did not.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,232 U.S. adults surveyed online between January 14 and 20, 2015. Full results of the study, including data tables, can be found here.
Certain groups are more likely than others to have participated in athletics in school. Men are more likely than women (82% versus 65%) to have participated. Generation wise, the younger one is, the more likely they participated in athletics as 81% of Millennials and 76% of Generation X participated compared to 67% of Baby Boomers and 63% of Matures.

Most people who participated in athletics did so for at least a few years while in school, and some are still active in a sport. Just 10% of participants completed less than one year in athletics and one-fifth (21%) completed between one and three years. One-quarter (25%) completing three to five years, three-in-ten (29%) completed more than five years, and 9% are still going strong today.

Athletic participation scores personal fulfillment points
Among those who participated in an athletic program during their school years, close to one-half (45%) say it was extremely or very influential to their current level of personal fulfillment, with another third (32%) saying it was somewhat influential. Those with some college education or a college degree are more likely to say their athletic participation was extremely or very influential than those with a high school or less education (48% and 56% vs. 37%, respectively).

The longer people stayed involved in an athletic program, the more likely they are to say that participating influenced their current level of personal fulfillment. Among those who participated for less than three years, less than one-quarter (23%) say it was extremely or very influential, while nearly half (47%) of those with 3-5 years of participation say the same. This jumps again when looking at those who participated for more than five years, with over six in ten (63%) sharing this sentiment and over three-quarters (77%) of those still involved say it was very or extremely influential. Overall, just 18% say it was not at all influential.

Gaining skills on and off the field
Much more than just learning how to dribble a ball or throw a strike, participation in athletics has the ability to provide various skills that may be needed for success in a job or career. Those who were involved in athletics during school years agree that the skills they learned spanned beyond just those used on the playing field. Nearly seven-in-ten (69%) feel their participation in athletic activities was extremely or very important in providing them with skills to work towards common goals. Similar percentages say it was important in helping them develop skills to strive for individual excellence in a group setting (66%) and to have a disciplined approach to problem solving (65%). Sixty percent each say athletics was important in helping them with flexibility in work situations and creative problem solving.
Interestingly, those involved in athletics for 3+ years are more likely than those who participated for less than three years to say it was very or extremely important in providing them with each of these skills.
  • Working towards common goals: 54% of those involved less than 3 years vs. 78% or more for those involved at least 3 years
  • Striving for individual excellence in a group setting: 52% vs. 75% or more
  • Disciplined approach to solving problems: 51% vs. 72% or more 
  • Flexibility in work situations: 47% vs. 65% or more
  • Creative problem solving: 47% vs. 61% or more
Additionally, strong majorities of adults agree that the learnings and habits from participating in athletics help individuals later in life. Over eight-in-ten Americans (82%), and 87% of those who participated themselves, agree the learnings and habits from athletics equip people to be better team players in their career. Seventy-eight percent of the general population (and 83% of those who were involved with athletics) say it provides people with a disciplined approach to problem solving, while 77% of adults (and 83% of those who participated) agree it prepares someone to manage the tasks of their job more successfully.
To see other recent Harris Polls, please visit the Harris Poll News Room.
Want Harris Polls delivered direct to your inbox? Click here!

Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online, in English, within the United States between January 14 and 20, 2015 among 2,232 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, The Harris Poll avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in our panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of The Harris Poll.
Product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

The Harris Poll® #16, March 10, 2015By Allyssa Birth, Senior Research Analyst, The Harris Poll

About The Harris Poll®
Begun in 1963, The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys measuring public opinion in the U.S. and is highly regarded throughout the world. The nationally representative polls, conducted primarily online, measure the knowledge, opinions, behaviors and motivations of the general public. New and trended polls on a wide variety of subjects including politics, the economy, healthcare, foreign affairs, science and technology, sports and entertainment, and lifestyles are published weekly. For more information, or to see other recent polls, visit the Harris Poll News Room.

Press Contact:Corporate Communications
The Harris Poll
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Monday, March 9, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan Has Failed Woefully Where it Matters Most to Nigerians



Millions of Nigerian graduates are jobless. Photo Credit: Nigerian Times Blog.


President Goodluck Jonathan has failed woefully where it matters most to Nigerians, national security and welfare. Only 40, 000 of more than 400, 000 Nigerian graduates get jobs after their NYSC every year. And now there are over 40 million jobless youths and the best idea of mass employment President Jonathan has is to employ them as traffic wardens. And that is enough to show you how clueless he is.

See How to Create Millions of Jobs for Millions of Jobless Nigerians.

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Sunday, March 8, 2015

U.S. Official: Boko Haram is the ISIS of Africa



U.S. Official: Boko Haram is the ISIS of Africa



Rep. Chris Smith (R., N.J.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, talks with WSJ about America's role in the fight against the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram. Photo: AP.


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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Dear President Goodluck Jonathan, Is Diezani Alison-Madueke Holier Than Princess Stella Oduah?

 President Goodluck Jonathan and Mrs. Diezani K. Alison-Madueke, the Petroleum Minister.

Dear President Goodluck Jonathan,
Is Mrs. Diezani K. Alison-Madueke, the Petroleum Minister holier than Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, the former Minister of Aviation you sacked over erroneous allegations of corruption?


 Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, the former Minister of Aviation.

Would you permit an independent investigation on the offices of both ministers?

 


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