Opening Speech at the High-Level Forum Africa-Europe ‘Cooperation in the Digital Age'

Opening Speech at the High-Level Forum Africa-Europe ‘Cooperation in the Digital Age' 

BRUSSELS, 18 December 2018 / PRN Africa / --

Ladies and gentlemen,

Last year, at the Abidjan Summit, I said that our relations were too important for us to meet only once every three years.

I should therefore like to thank Chancellor Kurz and President Kagame for organising today's event.

Follow-up meetings such as this are necessary, even essential I would say.

I very much hope that they will continue, therefore.

As Moussa Faki often says, we Europeans and Africans have a comparative advantage.

But if we fail to nurture that advantage, we will forfeit it to others.

Why We Must Advocate and Support the Compulsory Education of Every Girl Child in Nigeria and the Rest of Africa

Why We Must Advocate and Support the Compulsory Education of Every Girl Child in Nigeria and the Rest of Africa

See the Big Picture:  

• Do you know that over 90% of the sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical crises in Nigeria and the rest of Africa have been caused by the neglect of the education of underprivileged girls? 
• Do you know that if Nigeria had not neglected the education of underprivileged girls there would not be the insurgency of Boko Haram. 
• There would not be the humanitarian emergencies of millions of illegal abortions from unwanted teenage pregnancies. 
• There would not be high maternal mortality rates. 

Silicon Valley Chief Of Protocol At The United Nations To Support The International Day Of Education


Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol Deanna Tryon speaking at United Nations Headquarters prior to the passage of the Resolution declaring January 24th the International Day of Education.

 Silicon Valley Chief Of Protocol Represents Region In Remarks Before United Nations To Support The International Day Of Education

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol Deanna Tryon traveled to United Nations Headquarters in New York last week to speak on behalf of a resolution proclaiming January 24th as "International Day of Education".  All 193 member nations later voted unanimously to support the resolution, which was introduced by Nigeria, and co-sponsored by Ireland, Qatar, and Singapore.  Other sponsors included the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Children's Fund, UN Women, the Collegiate Congress, and others.

Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections - US

Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections

Testimony
Tibor P. Nagy, Jr. 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives, Sub-Committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Washington, DC

December 13, 2018

WASHINGTON, 14 December 2018 / PRN Africa / -- Introduction

Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Bass, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today regarding the upcoming elections in Nigeria. I am also pleased to be joined by my USAID colleague, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Ramsey Day.

The title of this hearing is “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections.”

Preventing Further Conflict in Cameroon and the Lake Chad Basin

Preventing Further Conflict in Cameroon and the Lake Chad Basin

LONDON, 13 December 2018 / PRN Africa / --

Statement by Ambassador Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council Briefing on UNOCA

Thank you Mr President. I may I also thank Special Representative Fall and Ms Ghelani of OCHA for briefing the Council today and for all that your respective teams are doing in what is a complicated and difficult region as you've both set out.

Howard University Awarded Fulbright-Hays Grant to Fund Study Abroad Opportunities in Nigeria

Howard University Awarded Fulbright-Hays Grant to Fund Study Abroad Opportunities in Nigeria

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has awarded the Howard University Center for African Studies $159,888 to fund two consecutive summers of the Yoruba Group Project, which helps students to study at the University of Ibadan's Yoruba Language Center in Nigeria. Titled the Yoruba Group Project Abroad, this is the second cycle of funding for the rare, study abroad learning opportunity made possible through the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program. Howard University is the only institution of higher learning in the United States to manage the project for the next two summers.

“I Believe the Future of Africa is Female” - Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee

“I Believe the Future of Africa is Female” - Nobel Peace Prize Co-Laureate Leymah Gbowee Tells Conference

ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire, 11 December 2018 / PRN Africa / -- “Don't buy into the myth that African women are weak. If you sit and engage them and let them be part of the process, we will have sustainable peace,” 2011 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate, Leymah Gbowee told attendees at the Kofi Annan Eminent Speakers' Lecture on Tuesday, convened by the African Development Institute in Abidjan.

Speaking at the African Development Bank Group headquarters, on the theme “Grassroots Women Activists: The Underrated Power,” Gbowee made a strong and passionate speech urging women and young girls not to “undervalue themselves.”

The World's First Deal to Reform Traditional Lottery

The World's First Deal to Reform Traditional Lottery

DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Quanta, has signed contracts to acquire a stake in International Lottery and Gaming Limited (ILGL), and concluded the world's first deal to see a blockchain company acquire a traditional lottery company.

"This acquisition will usher in an era when innovation compliments tradition, injecting the power of blockchain technology into the lottery business. We are confident that we can make blockchain popular and this acquisition represents a significant base for Quanta to target other emerging markets in Africa and other Continents," said Kostas Farris, Group CTO of Quanta.

All is Set for Reunion and Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Earnest Gems, Grammar School

All is Set for Reunion and Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Earnest Gems, Grammar School
Memories as Earnest Gems Clocks 60

- By Ingram Osigwe

All is set for Reunion and Diamond Jubilee celebration of Earnest Gems, Grammar School, (EGGS) ( now renamed Akokwa High School). The school, one of the pioneer post primary schools in the defunct Eastern Region was founded in 1958 by the late Professor Elechukwu Nnadibugha Njaka.

The Diamond Jubilee which is being put together by the EGGS Alumni association will hold on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at the school’s premises, Akokwa in Ideato local government area of Imo state. The event will feature lectures, cultural dances, motions and resolutions, live bands among others. The organisers are optimistic that the reunion will afford EGGS’s old boys and girls the opportunity to reconnect and network. The event is open to all alumni members across class sets.

President Muhammadu Buhari: The Most Incorruptible Nigerian Head of State Since Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

This special profile feature on His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR; is for the celebration of his 76th birthday on December 17, 2018.

President Muhammadu Buhari: The Most Incorruptible Nigerian Head of State Since  Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE  (December 1912 – 15 January 1966) the first and only Prime Minister of independent Nigeria.


About Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa:

Sir Abubakar  Tafawa Balewa was a highly regarded statesman and eloquent nationalist who championed the political independence of Nigeria before he became the Prime Minister. But unfortunately he was overthrown and murdered in the first Nigerian military coup on January 15, 1966 led by mostly southern Nigerian Igbo military officers who also killed many other political leaders, including his old companion Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello KBE (June 12, 1910 – January 15, 1966), the first and only Premier of the Northern Nigeria region and the Sardauna of Sokoto.
The circumstances of his death still remain unresolved. His body was discovered at a roadside near Lagos six days after he was ousted from office. Balewa was buried in Bauchi. News of his assassination spurred violent riots throughout Northern Nigeria and ultimately led to the bloody counter-coup of July 28-29, 1966.

Tafawa Balewa with President John F. Kennedy (JFK) at a luncheon in his honour on July 25, 1961 at the White House. JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963 before the assassination of Tafawa Balewa on January 15, 1966.

Today, his portrait adorns the 5 Naira Note. The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi is named in his honour.
The Right Honourable Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; P.C. was on the cover of the TIME magazine edition of December 1960. His book, Shaihu Umar (Topics in World History) was adapted for a film by Adamu Halilu, the pioneer MD of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) in 1976.



President Buhari, like Sir Tafawa Balewa is from the ruling class of the predominantly Islamic northern Nigeria. He was among the northern military officers who revenged the assassination of the Prime Minister by staging their counter coup d'etat or so-called "July Rematch" masterminded by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed at midnight on July 28, 1966.

Like Tafawa Balewa, Buhari lives as a people friendly humble political leader without luxury in an ordinary house without any misappropriations or diversions of public funds. President Buhari has an aversion to corruption from his first administration as a military Head of State of Nigeria from
December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985, when he launched the national "War Against Indiscipline" and Buhari mounted an offensive against entrenched interests. In 20 months as Head of State, about 500 politicians, officials and businessmen were jailed for corruption during his stewardship.Detainees were released after releasing sums to the government and agreeing to meet certain conditions.
Buhari's military administration enacted three decrees to investigate corruption and control foreign exchange. The Banking (Freezing of Accounts) Decree of 1984, allotted to the Federal Military Government the power to freeze bank accounts of persons suspected to have committed fraud. The Recovery of Public Property (Special Military Tribunals) Decree permitted the government to investigate the assets of public officials linked with corruption and constitute a military tribunal to try such persons. The Exchange Control (Anti-Sabotage) Decree stated penalties for violators of foreign exchange laws.

As a democratically elected President of Nigeria under the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), he has continued his war against corruption in all spheres of public services which has provoked the corrupt ruling elites of Nigeria in the public sector and private sector. He has not interfered with the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute public office holders indicted for corruption. And members of the APC have not been spared in President Buhari's anti corruption crusade.

~ EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor of 247 @247nigeria Twitter, author of The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream.
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima