Thursday, September 3, 2009

Moving Nigeria Forward To The Next Level

~ By Roy Agiande

It is no longer news that the world has been hit by a severe financial crisis often compared to the Great Depression of the early 1930s and countless jobs have been lost worldwide due to this catastrophic phenomenon. It is scary to note that developed countries are shedding jobs, recording huge losses, cutting down on production cost and salaries. Worthy of note is the report that the UK has been hit by an unemployment figure of over 2.4 million which is the worst recorded over a decade. These are countries that have a well structured policy of job creation and backup policy to absorb the different fluctuations and shortcomings of the economy. I begin to wonder if there is hope for Nigeria, a less developed country where both the Private and Public sectors are all counting monumental losses, some banks are experiencing what you may call SYSTEMATIC FAILURE; where the Apex Bank has sacked the CEOs of major banks for gross insider abuse and the stock market experiencing a meltdown.

There are so many ways of helping the economy bounce back and diverse from its traditional mono-economic ways. One of which is to inject capital to the ailing and hungry sectors. Startup Weekend Nigeria is one of such avenues of doing just that. Fresh and radical business ideas proposed and funded from the scratch and new entrepreneurs are created. If you ask me, it’s like killing two birds with one stone. How?

By creating about 10 companies every Startup Weekend means new jobs would be created as well and the spin-offs could boost the economy, thereby complimenting the government’s efforts of job creation. Secondly, it’s also a way of capital injection to the cash strapped economy. Past minister of finance and present World Bank President, Dr (Mrs.) Ngozi Iweala once said:
“Create entrepreneurs, because it is a definite catalyst for job and wealth creation.”

It might interest you to know that some of the biggest businesses in the United States started as startups which eventually turned to multibillion dollar companies. Believe it or not, Nigeria is blessed with a large array of great thinkers and business minds which are going to be harvested and utilized to full capacity through Startup Weekends in Nigeria. It would also address the issue of the pool of unemployed graduates and those fresh from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme.


Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Zain Nigeria Partners with Harris Stratex Networks to Build State-of-the-Art Network Operations Center in Lagos



1 Sep 2009 13:30 Africa/Lagos

Zain Nigeria Partners with Harris Stratex Networks to Build State-of-the-Art Network Operations Center in Lagos

Harris Stratex' managed network services expertise and service assurance technology allows operator to reduce operational costs and deliver an enhanced customer experience

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSTX) , a leading provider of wireless solutions that enable the evolution of next-generation fixed and mobile broadband networks, today announced it partnered with Zain Nigeria, a leading mobile operator serving 24 countries in the Middle East and Africa, to launch a new network operations center (NOC) in Lagos. The NOC, which Zain commissioned in July, is part of a full, turnkey project completed by Harris Stratex, which includes NOC design and buildout -- supported by Harris Stratex' NetBoss integrated services assurance technology -- and network process re-engineering and optimization. The new facility is designed to boost the resilience and robustness of Zain's network, enhancing the customer experience while drastically reducing the amount of operational downtime.


"Our customers are our number one priority, and we have an ongoing commitment to offer an increasingly compelling experience, particularly as our customer base and network traffic grows," said Khaled Khorshid, Zain Nigeria's chief operating officer.


According to Mr. Khorshi, "Harris Stratex is a long-standing partner, and we knew they had the right mix of expertise in the managed network services business to deliver a world-class NOC and integrate all our network equipment under one manager-of-manager system. The end result will drive toward our goal of achieving 100 percent network visibility, so we can proactively maintain quality of service and improve our overall operational efficiency."


The state-of-the-art NOC is designed to monitor and manage multi-vendor, multi-protocol network infrastructure, including subscriber access, 4G/WiMax access, IP backhaul and core network technologies, as well as network elements providing energy, security and surveillance controls. It provides around-the-clock network surveillance, performance monitoring and trouble ticket management for voice, video and data networks. The center monitors Zain Nigeria's networks to identify network problems before they can impact business functions or productivity, and seeks to resolve issues remotely from the NOC or by dispatching technicians to network infrastructure sites.


This NOC buildout project was implemented by Harris Stratex Networks in conjunction with Middle East Telecommunication Company (METCO), a communications solutions integrator that addresses customer applications and requirements.


"As an innovative telecom provider with a steadily growing presence in its region, Zain Nigeria needs to know that their network resources and subscriber traffic are functioning reliably on a constant basis," said Mike Pangia, senior vice president and chief sales officer, Harris Stratex. "Our system, which captures a wealth of information about the equipment and network traffic, and makes it easily available to those who need to know, is designed to give them this confidence, to maximize the value of their investment and to help them to provide the world-class services they are known for."


Harris Stratex Global Network Services (GNS) managed network solutions are built on two decades of managed network services expertise and field-proven technology. Harris Stratex offers an extensive managed network services portfolio that includes eTOM-compliant NOC managed services, integrated network management systems, process re-engineering and optimization, and a variety of other offerings designed to enhance the process maturity of an organization. With its suite of network management solutions, and hands-on experience in defining, implementing and improving network operations, Harris Stratex enables customers to focus on their core business with the peace of mind that their network is being managed and optimized around the clock according to their needs.


At the core of the NOC and the Harris Stratex managed network services business are its advanced NetBoss service assurance solutions. The technology platform features highly-sophisticated management features, such as high-volume event processing and advanced, flexible filtering and correlation, enabling operators to quickly find and focus on service-affecting network issues, determine root causes and isolate trouble spots. With more than 200 deployments in 35 countries, the Harris Stratex NetBoss portfolio offers customers field-proven, flexible solutions that scale from element management to geographically dispersed manager of managers. For more information on Harris Stratex' network management technology, please visit the overview webpage.


About Harris Stratex Networks, Inc.


Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless solutions that enable the evolution of next-generation fixed and mobile broadband networks. The company offers reliable, flexible and scalable wireless network solutions, backed by comprehensive professional services and support. Harris Stratex Networks serves all global markets, including mobile network operators, public safety agencies, private network operators, utility and transportation companies, government agencies and broadcasters. Customers in more than 135 countries depend on Harris Stratex Networks to build, expand and upgrade their voice, data and video solutions. Harris Stratex Networks is recognized around the world for innovative, best-in-class wireless networking solutions and services. For more information, visit http://www.harrisstratex.com/.


About Zain


Zain is a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to 69.5 million active customers as at 30 June 2009. In terms of country footprint, Zain is the 3rd largest mobile operator in the world with a commercial presence in 24 countries.


Zain operates in the following countries: Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine (currently known as Paltel Group), Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In Lebanon, the company manages 'mtc-touch' on behalf of the government. In Morocco, Zain owns 31% of Wana Telecom through a joint venture.


Zain offers innovative services in its markets such as 'One Network', the world's first borderless mobile telecommunications network enabling customers when abroad to receive calls and sms without charge and to make voice and data calls at local rates throughout 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East. This service allows a customer to top up airtime in one's home country or from more than 1,000,000 outlets within Zain's One Network footprint.


The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). Zain is listed in the Financial Times' Global 500 Index which ranks the world's largest companies based on market capitalization (http://www.ft.com/reports/ft5002008). Zain aims to become one of the top ten mobile operators in the world by end of the year 2011. For more, please visit www.zain.com or email info@zain.com.


Trademarks


NetBoss is a registered trademark of Harris Stratex Networks. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.


Source: Harris Stratex Networks, Inc.

CONTACT: Investors: Mary McGowan, Summit IR Group Inc., +1-408-404-5401,
mary@summitirgroup.com; Media: Jen Anderson, Harris Stratex Networks, Inc.,
+1-919-749-7240, jennifer.anderson@hstx.com; Emeka Oparah, Zain Nigeria,
+234802-222-1120, emeka.oparah@zain.com


Web Site: http://www.harrisstratex.com/


Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
1 Sep 2009
13:30
Zain Nigeria Partners with Harris Stratex Networks to Build State-of-the-Art Network Operations Center in Lagos
12:00
Bristow Group to Present at the Jefferies 6th Annual Shipping & Offshore Services Conference
06:01
Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief


Monday, August 31, 2009

'Celebrate Libya'



30 Aug 2009 13:12 Africa/Lagos

Libya Readies to Take Center Stage
Celebrate Libya

TRIPOLI, Libya, August 30/PRNewswire/ --



- Spectacular Opening Event to Headline a Week-long Series of Celebratory
Events

- Libya's Rich and Ancient History Featuring the Jewels of the African
Union to be Showcased


Preparations are near conclusion for 'Celebrate Libya', one of Africa's biggest ever events, in Tripoli today. The grand celebration will then set in motion a week-long series of festivities for the world to enjoy. Libya appears to be striving not only to outdo any of its earlier Al Fateh revolution anniversaries, but perhaps Any event on the continent as well. The historic celebration designed to mark 40 years of Muammar al-Gaddafi, Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution, also commemorates another significant regional milestone - a decade since Africa's countries came together, under his leadership, to form the African Union.




After months of preparation, the festivities are in their final stages on what is considered to be one of the world's largest stages. Working alongside the Libyan Government, international planners, builders and managers have been flown in to ensure next week's success. The architect behind 'Celebrate Libya,' Philippe Skaff, remarks on his experience throughout the project, "I was an explorer about to embark on a journey of a lifetime with the chance to write the most impressive chapter of the story of my life and this unique challenge has evolved in terms of content to extreme proportions. It is a beautiful thing to control the full event management and the people of Libya made it enjoyable and rewarding from start to finish."


Eight hundred performers, including hundreds of dancers, unique African animal structures, military bands, flame ballet, and laser projections will bring to life 12,000 years of the land's rich history and see the 120 meter-wide screen stage fill with water to recreate the Mediterranean Sea. To top off the grand event a fireworks display will light up the sky, launched from ships off the coast of Tripoli. The show is orchestrated by the French company, Group F, who are credited with some of the most impressive light displays including the Eiffel Tower's Millennium Celebrations and the famed Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve.


More than 300,000 people are expected to gather in Tripoli's Green Park along with hundreds of special guests and dignitaries. Place-cards have already been made for the likes of Berlusconi, foreign ambassadors, leaders of industry and celebrities, along with most, if not all, African heads of state who will already be attending the August 31st Africa Union Summit hosted by Libya.


As for the next seven days, unprecedented events are scheduled to sweep through the country introducing some of Libya's lesser known national treasures to the world. Their itineraries boast castles, floating restaurants, touareg horse performers, hot air balloons, island escapes and a circus. Concerts featuring both international and Arab music are to be set in some of the world's best preserved sites of world heritage while images and lights will be projected on monuments in cities across the country.


Ranked as the second wealthiest country in Africa, after Equatorial Guinea, Libya's GDP reached over US$100bn last year and has remained largely unaffected by the global economic crisis. Along with Nigeria, it is also the continent's largest oil producer with reserves of at least 36bn barrels of high quality oil. In a time when the Gulf's reserves are limited, conflict in West Africa, and Russia's logistically difficult business environment, Libya's largely unexplored hydrocarbon industry appears highly promising.


Libya is seen by many as a long hidden treasure. And to the joy of flocking business executives from New York to Tokyo, the 'Gateway to Africa' has been increasingly liberalizing the role of the private sector. The country has even partnered with the Middle East's leader in alternative energy innovation, the UAE, on an ambitious eco-tourism project in the Jebel Akhdar. Other industries with emerging opportunities include telecommunications, real estate and tourism. Plans for a 500-unit Movenpick Hotel with a yacht club and a JW Marriott Hotel in Tripoli's new central business district are already underway.


Libya's sanctions have for decades impaired access to investors and tourists alike, leaving its five UNESCO World Heritage sites pristine yet unseen. The cave drawings found in the Sahara's Fezzan area, date Libyan civilization back to at least 12,000 B.C. and since, the country has experienced occupation under Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans and Byzantines, all leaving behind traces of their conquests. Visitors to Leptis Magna, Sabratha, or Cyrene can marvel at some of the world's most well preserved ruins, explore the Sahara's exotic wilderness or simply enjoy a holiday break on one of the 1,200 miles of unspoiled coastline.


Libya's rich history, culture and its determination to see change happen will be a celebrated by the most historical opening to the world on September 1st, 2009.


For access to full media materials, visit http://www.celebratelibyapress.com. This site will be updated with new materials and images throughout the week's events.



Contact:
- Bushra Hamwi
- Rebecca Farquhar
- Luiza Carter
- Jordana Tasker - +218-917-171294
or celebratelibya@greybeirut.com




Source: Celebrate Libya

Contact: Bushra Hamwi, Rebecca Farquhar, Luiza Carter, Jordana Tasker - +218-917-171294 or celebratelibya@greybeirut.com

Other related links:

Libyen bereitet sich auf seine grosse Show vor

La Libye s'apprête à prendre le devant de la scène


28 Aug 2009
18:39
Climate change / Africa seeks reparations
27 Aug 2009
06:03
Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief


Friday, August 28, 2009

Nigeria builds first Ozone village in Africa

24 Aug 2009 19:08 Africa/Lagos

Nigeria builds first Ozone village in Africa


ABUJA, August 24, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Nigerian Government is building an Ozone village to serve as a technology development.


The announcement was made by the Nigerian Federal Minster of Environment, John Ode at the opening of the 4 days ODS Officers Network (ODSONET) Joint meeting, which is being held in Abuja, Nigeria.


The village is located in Ogun State. As part of this project, some locally fabricated prototype Ozone friendly machines have been developed. The machines include a box of foaming machines, CFC recovery and recycling machine and hydrocarbon refrigerant production machine.


The box is said to be globally competitive and the initiative will be presented to the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol to consider the Hydro carbon production machine as a pilot demonstration project to be considered under the HCFC programme.


The Montreal Protocol requires countries to also start freeze the consumption of hydro fluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 1st January, 2013 and some countries have already started restricting the importation of HCFCs to enable them meet the 2013 target.


The Head of Paris-based UNEP OzonAction Branch, Rajendra Shende said: “HCFCs have a high potential of global warming. Unlike for the CFCs where the phase out plans were only meant to address the ozone depleting potential, we now want to also consider the value added to the mitigation of the climate change. In phase out the HCFC we will also be counting how much global warming potential we will help reduce”.


Judging from past experience in CFC phase out, it is likely that there will be an influx in import of equipment using HCFCs towards African countries as other parts of the world will be grappling to get rid of there unwanted uses.


“This will surely increase to demand in HCFC making it difficult to many countries to meet their obligation. Most countries present here are enforcing their ODS Regulations which controls importation of ODS including HCFC. But I can assure you that regulations alone will not help if they are not backed up with a good and well funded and assisted phase-out Programme” Mr. Shende added.


The ongoing meeting is meant to provide a platform for Ozone Officers to compare note on the measures taken in the past years and draw the lessons learnt and in a few specific case still needing readjustment.


It is expected that this Joint meeting, which also brings together journalists from different parts of Africa, would allow countries in the region to exchange views on the process for the development of their respective HCFC Management Plans.


Note to editors:





Hydro chlorofluorocarbons, known as HCFCs are ozone depleting substances (ODS) that are used mostly as refrigerants or foam blowing agents.


For More Information Please Contact: Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson, Office of the Executive Director, on Tel: +254 20 762 3084; Mobile: +254 733 632 755, E-mail: Nick.Nuttall@unep.org or Angele Luh-Sy, Regional Information Officer, on Tel: 254 20 762 4292, Mobile: 254 722 429 770, E-mail: Angele.Luh@unep.org


Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
27 Aug 2009
06:03
Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief
05:32
Addax Petroleum initie une campagne d'exploration dans une zone de <<>> (développement en partenariat)
05:27
Addax Petroleum beginnt mit Explorationskampagne in der gemeinsamen Entwicklungszone (Joint Development Zone/JDZ) > (développement en partenariat)" src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/icons/french.gif" border=0>
26 Aug 2009
11:53
Addax Petroleum Commences Exploration Campaign in Joint Development Zone
10:58
Addax Petroleum commences exploration campaign in joint development zone
09:23
CNOOC Ltd. Announces First Half-Year Results with Great Increase of Production and Excellent Exploration Performance
08:00
Leading Fingerprint Software Chosen to Enroll and Verify Pilgrims at Hajj by the Kaduna State Muslims Pilgrims Board in Nigeria
24 Aug 2009
21:06
AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund Releases Monthly Portfolio Update
19:08
Nigeria builds first Ozone village in Africa
19:08
Sealing the Hole and Sealing the Deal / Resolve of African Countries 135 days Before 2010 Deadline for Total Phase out of CFCs / Confirming the success story as 100% African countries are set to meet the deadline
15:51
IBM Expands Corporate Service Corps in Emerging Markets
14:54
Bristow Group Announces Preferred Dividend and Mandatory Conversion of Preferred Stock
12:50
CDII Trading, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of China Direct Industries, and China Armco Metals Enter into Strategic Partnership Agreement for Metals Procurement


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Sir Edward Kennedy "the Lion" of the Democratic Party Has Passed On


Edward Kennedy, 1932 --2009‎.

Senator Edward Kennedy, the Lion of the Democratic Party has passed on to glory .

Sir Edward Kennedy lost his long battle with brain cancer on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

Ted Kennedy was born in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, who were both members of prominent Irish-American families in Boston. Some of his elder siblings include John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

The United States Senator from Massachusetts was the Lion of the great Democratic Party and has been serving since November 1962, with nine terms in the Senate. He was the second most senior member of the Senate, after Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and the third-longest-serving senator of all time. Ted was a champion of liberal causes and bills. The torch bearer of the great Kennedy family after the death of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both victims of assassinations. His son is Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy.


Senator Kennedy received an honorary knighthood bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II of England, the Order of the Aztec Eagle from Mexico, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Order of the Merit of Chile, and honorary degrees from a number of institutions including Harvard University.



He passed on the torch for the leadership of the Democratic Party to President Barack Obama whom he endorsed during the melodramatic Presidential Campaign in 2008 and helped to become the the first African American President of the United States,


Hot Topics
Bob Dylan's Christmas In The Heart To Be Released October 13
Toys"R"Us, Inc. Launches National Program to Spotlight Potentially Unsafe Baby Products Still in the Marketplace
Recession Could be Over as Stocks and Shares ISAs Provide 10 Month Gain of 67.8%
41st Annual PDK Poll Reveals Strong Public Support for National Tests, Charter Schools, Teacher Performance Pay, Early Childhood Education, and President's Stimulus Package
CASA* 2009 Teen Survey Reveals: Teens Likelier To Get Drunk, Use Marijuana, Smoke Cigarettes If They See Parent Drunk
Investigation of Interrogation Techniques
Cash for Clunkers


Monday, August 24, 2009

Re: Why ATHEISM is GREAT (for those who don't think it is).

Orikinla Osinachi says:
Atheism is based on ignorance of the origins of our existence.
We have a beginning and our beginning has an author and the author is God. May I advise anyone who thinks the existence of God, spirits, and other heavenly beings are myths to read Scientists Discover Hell: As Astronauts Find Heaven by Olisaemeka A. G.
The book has facts based on actual testimonies.

The above response is my reply to the discussion on Why ATHEISM is GREAT (for those who don't think it is) published on Amazon.




Saturday, August 22, 2009

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Don "The Dragon" Wilson Will Be in Nigeria on Monday


Jean-Claude Van Damme

Top martial arts experts and famous actors Jean-Claude Van Damme and Don "The Dragon" Wilson will be in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday.


Don "The Dragon" Wilson

The Kick-boxing Federation of Nigeria (KBFN) is hosting the two top Kick-boxing experts and actors in Nigeria. President of KBFN, Mykel Eneduwa said the two stars will be at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.


Culture of Corruption in America

A Personal Message from Michelle Malkin

Dear Reader,

I'm so proud to announce that my new book, Culture of Corruption is #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for the second consecutive week!




If you haven't read it yet, let me give you just a little taste:

Phew. Janitors in newsrooms across America worked overtime in the halcyon days after Barack Obama won the presidency. It wasn't easy cleaning the drool off laptops and floors in the offices of journalists everywhere. New York Times columnist David Brooks praised Team Obama's "postpartisan rhetoric" and "practical creativity." Awestruck Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts echoed the conventional wisdom: "Some would say it's a team of rivals, Ã la President Lincoln, or is a better comparison a team of geniuses as FDR did?"

I wrote this book to give you the exhaustive answer that President Obama's gyrating media harem doesn't want you to read.

Obama's team is a dysfunctional and dangerous group of business-as-usual cronies. The corruption stretches from wealthy power brokers Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett, to pay-to-play-tainted Michelle Obama and Joe Biden, to ethically challenged, bailout-bungling money men Larry Summers and Tim Geithner at Treasury, crime-coddling corporate lawyer Eric Holder at DOJ, to the crooked Service Employees International Union, and the ever-expanding swamp of Washington lobbyists.

This book pulls together the familiar and not-so-familiar pieces to force Obama hagiographers to confront an alternate narrative. A reality-based narrative. A narrative of incompetence, nepotism, influence-peddling, and self-dealing that defies the stubborn myth that Barack Obama is the One True Agent of Hope and Change.

In short: This is a government of the crony, by the lobbyist, and for all the well-heeled, well-connected people Barack Obama spent his entire campaign demonizing.

In the era of "new politics," judge him as you would judge other mere mortals. Judge him not by the company that preceded him. Judge him by the company he keeps.

Thanks for your time. If you've already bought Culture of Corruption—thank you! If not, use one of the links below to buy it online today.

Sincerely,

Michelle Malkin


Friday, August 21, 2009

Sudan / UNAMID holds first round table meeting with signatories to Darfur Peace Agreement

20 Aug 2009 16:20 Africa/Lagos

Sudan / UNAMID holds first round table meeting with signatories to Darfur Peace Agreement

EL FASHER (DARFUR), August 20, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) yesterday convened a Round Table meeting of the Parties and Partners of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) on the implementation of the DPA chaired by UNAMID Joint Special representative (JSR), Mr. Rodolphe Adada

In his opening remarks, Mr. Adada stated that the meeting was convened primarily to provide the needed forum for the parties to the DPA including the signatories of the Declaration of commitment (DOC) to take stock and build a common understanding on issues related to DPA implementation, including challenges, and charged participants to seek to define responsibilities and roles, in so far as the implementation of the Agreement is concerned.

The JSR commended the signatories and participants for their commitment to dialogue, peace, reconciliation and development which he said led to the historic choice in Abuja, and subsequently paved the way and laid the foundation for the deployment of the Hybrid Operation in Darfur, adding that despite numerous challenges, UNAMID has, in accordance with its mandate, achieved significant success in the areas of protection of civilians, support to aid agencies in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, confidence and capacity building, as well as reconciliation and conflict prevention at local levels.

Mr. Adada underscored the role of the DPA Partners in the implementation of the Agreement and strongly called on them to re-activate the Darfur Joint Assessment Mission (D JAM) and finalize assessment particularly in areas where security could be guaranteed by UNAMID, adding “the Mission stands ready to provide whatever assistance is needed to move the D JAM process forward…those who embraced peace deserve to reap its dividends”, he concluded.

He urged all parties to support the ongoing peace process in order to succeed, “because that is the only way to go in order to give a new lease of life to the DPA and, by extension, to the people of Darfur”.

The participants welcomed the round table meeting and agreed that progress has been achieved in the implementation of the DPA. They however observed that a lot remains to be done to achieve full implementation, in particular as regards incorporation of the DPA into the interim National Constitution.

In expressing full commitment to the continuous implementation of the DPA, the participants called upon the international community to play a more active role in the implementation of the DPA. In particular, the parties requested the international community to re-activate the Darfur Joint Assessment Mission. Participants called upon UNAMID to play a stronger role in supporting effective implementation of the DPA as per its mandate. The meeting also agreed that the parties to the DPA have a crucial role to play in galvanizing the peace process.

The meeting further agreed that a mechanism be set up to monitor and assess the status of implementation of the DPA, including identification of remaining gaps and challenges that impede the implementation process and recommendation of appropriate measures.


Participants from the DPA parties included the Government team led by Dr. Omar Adam Rahamat from the Presidency, SLM (MM) led by Mr. Mini Minawi, and signatories of the Declaration of Commitment to the DPA, including (SLM Free Will), JEM (Peace Wing), SLM (Mother), and the popular Forces for Rights and Democracy (PFRD). The participating DPA Partners included representatives of the African Union, European Union, League of Arab States, Egypt, The Netherlands, Nigeria, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The Joint Mediation was represented by Deputy JCM Azouz Ennifar.


Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Sex-exploitation In Hip-hop And Hiplife Music In Nigeria


Two popular Nigerian Hiplife Artistes

Sex-exploitation is doing collateral damage to the psyche of Nigerian youths who have become addicted to the psychedelic and pornographic musical videos flooding the TV in Nigeria and the worse victims are the impressionable and vulnerable young girls and women who are paid to display and portray themselves as sex objects and are now seen more as prostitutes than dancers in Nigerian musical videos.

Please read The Exploitation of Women in Hip-hop Culture by Ayanna on My Sistahs.


The erudite Dr. Reuben Abati addressed the dangers of the negative influences of Nigerian music and how desperate to get-rich-quick Nigerian Hip-hop and Hiplife artistes are suffering from identity crisis and the tragedy is that the majority of them are ignorant of the grave consequences. Bella Naija and Linda Ikeji have addressed this in the so called Dr. Reuben Abati vs. Banky W debate. Many of the ignorant artistes called it the generation gap between them and Reuben Abati's generation.

How old is Reuben Abati?
How old are the producers of these ignorant Nigerian Hip-hop and Hiplife artistes?
I know them very well, from when they were all smoking garri decades ago to date.
I have produced a single in OJB's studios and OJB was not born yesterday.
DJ Jimmy Jatt and I were born on Lagos Island.
I was born in Obalende and I produced my first single in the United States in 1984.
The sheet-music is in the Library of Congress.

Even the highly gifted Nigerian Jazz artiste Mike Aremu knows the truth as he said:
"People now think that once they do Yahoo-Yahoo, the only cover-up they have to do is music." ~ Page 27, Saturday Punch, August 8, 2009.


My own primary concern is the negative images of our young women in their musical videos. Their lyrics are shallow and they rush to the studios to voice-over already recorded sounds and music lifted from a software synthesizer. Most of them do not even know the rudiments of Music and they just Lip-synch to synthesize and synchronize to the dubbed music. Finis. What's next?Oya, omoge shake ya booty musical video is made and then they bribe the local DJs and VJs to play their music and videos showing shamless girls and women as sex objects.
No wonder the cases of HIV/AIDS are increasing among Nigerian girls and women when they are decreasing in America.

Are there no positive images of dignified Nigerian girls and women to show in musical videos?Must you use them as sex objects to sell your music!
Don't you have enough brains to compose sensible lyrics and produce good music like Asa?


Nigeria o ni baje o!



Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
19 Aug 2009
11:00
Pro-Family Leaders From 63 Countries Attend World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam Last Week
18 Aug 2009
18:32
AJWS Announces $3.2 Million in New Grants
13:23
Sinopec Group Completed the Acquisition of Addax
10:00
Africa - A Booming Business Opportunity for U.S. Investors
14 Aug 2009
13:00
China Armco Metals Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter and First Six Months of 2009
09:00
Logia lanza "Mo-Tip", para que los canales SMS personales sean territorio para todo el mundo
13 Aug 2009
16:23
Logia Launches "Mo-Tip", Makes Personal SMS Channels Everyone's Territory
00:17
APHL Chosen by PEPFAR to Develop Global Health Laboratory Systems