African Film Festival of Tarifa Offers Movies Online

2 Feb 2011 18:12 Africa/Lagos


African Film Festival of Tarifa Offers Movies Online

TARIFA, February 2, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- FCAT's 8th edition on 11th-19th June

3rd African-Spanish film Co-production forum's submission closed

Submissions of films for official competition close February 25th

Submissions of for 4th PhotoAfrica close March 1st


The African Film Festival of Tarifa (www.fcat.es), has entered into a partnership with AfricanFilms.tv, a video-on-demand internet platform with headquarter in Dakar, Senegal, aiming to help the platform build up its catalogue of African films.


African movies online

Due to cooperation with AfricaFilms.tv film fans will be able to watch movies from the 500 films rich FCAT library on the video-on-demand platform when it launches commercially in June. A legal, commercial downloading platform, available worldwide, guarantees fair revenue to African filmmakers and producers. “AfricaFilms.tv is very transparent and straight forward. It is commercial, but the focus is on the African filmmaker. Right holders get 50% of revenue, have online access to the back office and the cession of rights is non-exclusive” says AfricaFilm.tv CEO, Mr. Enrico Chiesa.


“We hope to provide the platform with 20-30 titles from our library per year” says Mrs. Mane Cisneros, director of FCAT and adds “Securing the rights and all the materials related will take time and effort, but we are convinced this is the right platform for us and for the filmmakers”.


Spanish-African co-productions

In January FCAT closed selection process for the 3rd Africa Produce - forum between African filmmakers and Spanish producers, TV commissioning editors and co-production managers, which goal is to introduce African cinema projects to the Spanish co-production market. For this year forum FCAT received 18 feature-length projects and 12 documentary projects, coming from 14 African countries. The most entries in fiction category came from Nigeria (4) and Cameroon (4), while the most documentary projects came from Burkina Faso (3). For the first time ever Equatorial Guinea and Namibia applied in the forum.


Six projects will be selected by FCAT jury and their directors will be present at the festival to convince Spanish producers. “We aim to continue promoting co-production between Africa and Spain. Two films, from Senegal and Mali, presented in the previous editions are now in development” said Carlos Domínguez, África Produce‘s co-ordinator.


Calls for entries still open

Filmmakers from all over Africa can until February 25th send their films to FCAT's committee, which is in charge of selecting movies for the competing and non-competing sections of the festival.


At the same time African photographers can send their entries for the 4th PhotoAfrica until March 1st.


More info regarding application process can be found on www.fcat.es


About FCAT

African film festival of Tarifa (FCAT – Festival de Cine Africano de Tarifa) is an independent and competitive film festival and one of the biggest African film festivals in Europe. The FCAT celebrates its eighth edition from 11th to 19th June 2011 in Andalusian town Tarifa - the closest town of continental Europe to the African continent - the two continents are in fact only 14 km apart from one another in this geographical area.

This year FCAT will screen up over hundred African films and it will bring together some of the most distinguished African filmmakers. Its aim is to spread knowledge about African film production by exhibiting a representative wide variety of audiovisual African works every year: from the classics to more innovative and recent films, from documentaries to feature length fiction films, from South Africa to Morocco and from Senegal to Ethiopia. More on www.fcat.es



Contact:

Filip Hruby

International Press Officer

Festival de Cine Africano de Tarifa - FCAT

Móvil: +420/775011550

gabineteprensa2@fcat.es

www.fcat.es



Source: The African Film Festival of Tarifa

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Who Is Afraid Of Timi Alaibe?

Timi Alaibe


Who Is Afraid Of Timi Alaibe?

~ By Daniel Wilcox.

Since the day Mr. Timi Alaibe declared his interest to contest for Bayelsa State governorship under the Labour Party many nerves have been racked. Those who are yet to grasp the reality of Alaibe's declaration are already hell-bent on snuffing life out of him. This is to be expected from a people who have no political credibility.
Alaibe decided to team up with the Labour Party to wrest power from the incumbent non-performing governor of Bayelsa state. It is natural that when superiority challenges inferiority, the complex in the lesser party would seek to annihilate the higher party. This is precisely the situation in Bayelsa state today. It is now a consensus of opinion that Alaibe is bringing the Midas touch to the governance of the state if voted into power. Not a few would agree that the state desperately needs speedy transformation. But those who want the status-quo of the frittering of the state's resources would do all the pernicious things to stall the machine of re-engineering the state. The recent bomb blast near his home is one desperate effort by the bruised and the humbled opposition to dissuade Alaibe from contesting the governorship of the state. Having traversed many paths assiduously and successfully, Alaibe is not one to give up so easily. His power is derived from the strength of the people who have massed around him like an impregnable wall.
“I will never let our great party and my people down by giving up the support the people have given me,” he said. Such a statement could only come from a man who knows the people to be his constituency. Alaibe knows that this is his hour to bring about a rebirth in Bayelsa.

The current government has failed us in Bayelsa. Security has collapsed because there are no conscious and concerted efforts on the part of the government to build a virile state where relative peace and tranquility will prevail.

The state has an almost a nonexistent commerce. Governance is not only about putting up phony adverts with the money of already bruised citizens. Governor Timipre Sylva promised to address issues of infrastructure, environment, security, youth empowerment and agriculture but he has so for failed to fulfill his promises. There is no time now to do that, because his time is up. The people are now determined to vote out the ruling government in the state, by voting in a responsible Labour Party government spearheaded by Alaibe.

Accountability had been murdered in Bayelsa state by the current administration as huge allocation of the Federal Government to the Local government areas had been misappropriated by the state government cronies. The rate of unemployment in the state had tripled, this partly accounts for the high rate of criminality in the state. You cannot blame the people because the government has been a great disappointment. Rather than the state government to create job opportunities, it continued to deceive the people with unrealistic and unobtainable schemes.

“The Labour Party is resilient, united and fights the cause of the common man,” he stated. I am for the common people. I also will not overlook the needs of others. He understands the Niger Delta terrain and what the rural masses need.
Though Bayelsa State is one of the major oil producing states in Nigeria, majority of its people still live in poverty.

Adequate transportation system, health, education, and other infrastructure are grossly inadequate in the state as a result of decades of insensitivity of government of the state.

The labour gubernatorial candidate urges all Bayelsans to come out and participate in the on going voters exercise; Bayelsans according to him must resist attempts to manipulate the voter registration. If we want a better Bayelsa state, we must take action and join the efforts to make it happen.



Wilcox lives in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State.

Alaibe: The Only Choice For Change In Bayelsa State

Timi Alaibe

Alaibe: The Only Choice For Change In Bayelsa State

~ By Daniel Wilcox

That Mr. Timi Alaibe has declared his interest to contest for Bayelsa State governorship under the Labour Party is no news. It is also no news that he decided to team up with the Labour Party to wrest Bayelsa state from the shackles of the ruling party. What is news is that Alaibe is bringing the Midas touch to the state because it desperately needs speedy transformation. He is known as one not given to failures. His rise from grass to grace attests to his commitment to a purpose driven mission.

“I will never let our great party and my people down,” he said. Such a statement could only come from a man who knows the right time to do the right thing. Alaibe knows that this is his hour to bring about a rebirth in Bayelsa. He knows that the possibility is within his reach judging by the stunning following he enjoys in the state across political, ethnic and religious spectrum in the state. Almost all his life seems a preparation for this moment.

“I chose Labour Party because the party is resilient, united and fights the cause of the common man,” he stated.

Alaibe is not new to administration in any capacity. He has served the nation well and done exceedingly good for his Niger-delta constituency. He rose from being executive director (Finance) to becoming the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. He was later appointed Senior Adviser to the president on Niger Delta Affairs. He was until his resignation from the current administration a moving force in the implementation of the government’s amnesty program for ex-militants. Alaibe, oversaw the implementation of the amnesty, under which more than 20,000 oil militants, surrendered their arms in exchange for development of their region and a retraining program. He understands the Niger Delta terrain and what the rural masses need in Bayelsa.

A true son of the Niger Delta, Alaibe showed quite early in his life the qualities of diligence, intelligence, compassion.

Prior to his appointment as Managing Director, Alaibe was in the banking industry. He served as Vice President of Cosmopolitan Bancshares in 1994, and later as General Manager, Corporate Banking and Investment at Societe Generale Bank (Nig.) Ltd.
He has become a magnetic rallying point among the youth, the women and the elders alike, and at the national level where he has championed the cause of the Niger Delta people.

At NDDC, it is on record that he has been instrumental to the healthy financial and administrative regime of the Commission, in a charged socio-political environment where the mandate of the Commission faces a dire prospect of being easily overwhelmed by political exigencies and social pressures.

A major part of the success of the NDDC in addressing the daunting neglect of the Niger Delta region, as well as in reducing the agitation and violence prevalent in the region before the establishment of the NDDC, lies in Alaibe’s great compassion, brilliance, foresight, natural problem-solving and people-savvy skills.

In line with the vision of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Alaibe helped to enthrone a culture of enduring achievement for the NDDC. Along with his colleagues on the Board and Management of the NDDC, he strove to set in motion, a coordinated response mechanism to the short-term and long-term challenges of the Niger Delta, comprising as key ingredients, an integrated regional development Master Plan, interim action plan for key projects in the states, as well as skill acquisition programs and a re-orientation and empowerment of youths.

Alaibe has been described in many circles as peace advocate, catalyst for change, friend of the oppressed, conduit for development, and symbol of hope and inspiration for the indigent yet hopeful Niger Delta people.

Alaibe holds a bachelors degree in Accountancy from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, and a Master of Business Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

In recognition of his contributions to humanity and the society, Alaibe has been appointed a member of many professional organizations, including the Institute of Chartered Administrators, the Institute of Corporate Executives, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has also received many outstanding awards for excellence. In 1991, for instance, Mr. Alaibe was appointed a member of the Rivers State Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs. A one-time vice-chairman of the Rivers State Wrestling Association, he was also the founding Chairman of the Rivers-Bayelsa Professionals Forum.

He is, also, a member of the Presidential Committee Police Equipment Fund, where he serves as Chairman, Public Sector Sub-Committee.

Among his many awards are: Certified Doctor of Business Administration, Oxford Association of Management, Oxford, England; Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Commercial Diplomacy, UK; Certified Strategist Lifetime Award of the Cambridge Association of Managers, UK; Certificate of Honour from the European Market Research Centre, (Euro Market Forum) 2003; Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria; Distinguished Fellow, Certified Institute of Management, Nigeria; Distinguished Alumnus of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and Outstanding Alumnus Award, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

In addition to his growing international profile, Alaibe has been invited to deliver papers on subjects as wide-ranging as politics, capital markets/country risk rating, sustainable development, peace and security.

These include: Security and Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria,” by the Defense and Security Forum, United Kingdom; Development Challenges of the Niger Delta Region: The Path to Sustainable Development,” at the annual law week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Bayelsa State Branch; Country Risk Rating And Implications For Capital Market Growth In Nigeria: The Niger Delta Question,” at the Nigerian Stock Exchange Annual Conference, Abuja; and Peace and Development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria,” delivered at the prestigious annual Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Series of the Black Congressional Caucus, the United States of America, organised by the Leadership Roundtable of the US-Africa Partnership.

Though Bayelsa State is one of the major oil producing states in Nigeria, it is one of the least benefiting states from the oil income. Majority of Bayelsans still live in poverty. They are mainly rural dwellers due to its peculiar terrain and lack of adequate transportation system, health, education, or other infrastructure, as a result of decades of neglect by the central government and oil prospecting companies. This has been a major problem in the state since its creation and successive governments have failed to address and repair the damage. The state has an almost nonexistent commerce.

In his inaugural speech, following his election, the current governor of the state, Governor Timipre Sylva, promised to address issues of infrastructure, environment, security, youth empowerment, agriculture and industrialization. His government has so far failed to deliver on these promises.

Alaibe is undaunted and remains focused on his program to transform the state for the overall well being of its people.



~Wilcox lives in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State.

Our Revolution will be Live on the CNN

Nigerians protest against corruption

As Prof. John Oshodi has analyzed in the following article on the premonition of a popular political revolution in Nigeria as the masses are revolting against oppressive regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, I know that our own revolution will be live on the CNN.

~ The Publisher/Editor




As Revolutionary Anxiety Grips Africa, the Nigerian Masses of Different Ethnic and Religious Backgrounds Must React With Supportive and Peaceful Expressions

As peaceful uprising fills the air of Africa, the days and weeks ahead could pose questions for other near and far countries in the continent, and underneath the turmoil are traces of corruption, unemployment, underemployment, brutality, dangerousness and lawlessness.

These painful factors remain realistic and vivid in the hearts of ordinary Nigerians, and these are tests for the power-that-be, who find themselves constantly being suspicious of each other, cruel to each other, killing each other, bribing each other, mis-educating each other, lying to each other and pilfering from each other.

These daunting and never-ending forces and pressures on the people have in the last decade created gross societal and institutional neglect as evidenced in squandered treasury, deadly roads, school mismanagement, oil exploitation, inadequate healthcare, rampant violence, electric supply instability, poor policing, and other misguided institutions.

Nigeria has become a country where accountability, transparency, objectivity and high standards in governmental and private practices are almost void, and leadership is defined in fragility due to being accountable mainly to godfathers/godmothers rather to the people.

These signs of institutional tensions should bring the people together in spite of their regional, socio-economic, ethnic and religious differences, and help create a peaceful uprising, protest and revolution. It now appears that the people have in the process internalized these leadership problems and tensions, and as a consequence are turning against each other, resulting in peculiar or abnormal practices as in kidnapping, religious violence, family brutality, cult slaying, ethnic strain, cash laundering, and general insecurities.

The painful and recent history of poor law and order, and the shaky political/economic insecurity, which mainly threatens the lives of ordinary Nigerians, the students, market women and struggling workers especially, makes it proper for a revolution which must be constructive and peaceful with a focus on provoking positive change.

The Nigerian people are known for just wanting to live their lives, and as we all know rallies, protests and outcry for social justice have not traditionally been a part of their collective or individual psyche. So the desire to spontaneously express and peacefully lash out against spoiled Nigerian leadership will not be easy to reveal itself.

But what is clear is that the signs to anticipate popular outcry for change appears to around the corner, and as the April elections draw near the people will be justified to demand for their right and freedom through a participatory, responsive and God-fearing democracy.

A national unity among demonstrators will have more power if good-faith Nigerians in the Diaspora, in America particularly, tell those at home that help is on the way, and actually go home, and present a show of collective force against leadership who need to be held to higher standards.

As we all know April, May, and June are fast coming and the world is watching as to when change will be in the air in Nigeria!

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu

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Statements by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tunisia and Egypt

29, 2011




Thousands of Egyptians break a curfew to continue their protests against President Hosni Mubarak.

© 2011 Reuters


28 Jan 2011 21:23 Africa/Lagos


Statements by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tunisia and Egypt

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2011

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, today made the following statement on Tunisia:

"I spoke earlier today with the newly appointed Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Ounaies.

I congratulated the Minister on his appointment and confirmed the EU's solidarity with the

Tunisian people in their efforts to build a stable and pluralistic democracy with full respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms. I expressed the EU's hope that the transitional Government will be able to organize free and fair democratic parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as possible. I welcomed the liberation of political prisoners and I stressed that freedom of association and legalization of all political parties are key components for the transition.

I confirmed the EU's readiness to provide its assistance and expertise for the preparation and organization of the electoral process and political reforms. I underscored the need to help and empower the civil society. The EU will review and update its strategy and assistance. I also emphasized the EU's commitment to continue our economic cooperation and the need for investors to redouble their confidence in Tunisia.

Minister Ounaies and I agreed to meet in the coming days.

The Tunisian Foreign Minister welcomed the EU's engagement and the offer to accompany his country's transition towards democracy with assistance."

Regarding the situation in Egypt, High Representative Ashton stated:

"I have followed very closely and with profound concern the reports of increased violence, clashes and arrests during today's demonstrations in Egypt.

The continued use of force against demonstrators by police and state security forces is deeply troubling. In order to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt, and to avoid more casualties, I reiterate my call on all parties to exercise restraint and calm and I urge the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all peaceful demonstrators from detention.

I also reiterate my call upon the Egyptian authorities to urgently establish a constructive and peaceful way to respond to the legitimate aspirations of Egyptian citizens for democratic and socioeconomic reforms.

I will discuss these developments with my colleagues in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on

Monday in Brussels."

SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States

CONTACT: Silvia Kofler, +1-202-862 9523, or Kasper Zeuthen, +1-202-862 9530, both of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States

Web Site: http://www.eurunion.org

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Google makes Top 10 Places to work in the world

Happy Google staff in Africa

The world's leader in online search and major stakeholder in online solutions and other gadgets Google makes Top 10 of the best places to work in the world according FORTUNE.

And the winners are...

Fat paychecks, sweet perks, fun colleagues, and over 150,000 jobs ready to be filled -- these employers offer dream workplaces. Meet this year's top 100, network with the winners on LinkedIn, and more. More

SAS
Boston Consulting Group
Wegmans Food Markets
Google
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Only If Public leaders Could Take Tips from the Obi Code of Governance

Rt. Hon.(Prince) Sam Obi, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly


Prince Sam Obi: Only If Public leaders Could Take Tips from the Obi Code of Governance

Suddenly the country in a much tiny way saw what it means to move the acts of governance forward not just with empty or hollow words but with words flowing with actions. Those who in the future seek national or state office could learn from Prince Sam Obi, the current Speaker of Delta State who served as interim Delta state Governor sometime in November, 2010 to the beginning of January, 2011.

Within three months Obi, as an acting Governor was governance-focused both in his words and actions.
It has been a very long time that the public saw a leader making a public pledge, and putting ideas out openly, fearlessly, and unwaveringly in a striking and unflinching manner.
Nigeria is now trying to find its self in the face of innumerable threats to economic security, institutional health and political stability. But here is the good news.

The ex-acting Governor has given us tips and ways that could reduce the sucking of the nation’s capital and has helped open new routes to exercising better leadership in government and in society.

In an introductory manner, Obi reminded us that the people live in “extra-ordinary times’, therefore if the nation is to address some of these “extra-ordinary circumstances” future or current leaders should boldly “fulfill a constitutional duty in accordance with dictates of democratic ethos and above all, the rule of law”.

As part of the Obi code of governance, he sees the acts of “cooperation, collaboration and understanding” as part of leadership challenge.

In a non-figurative manner, Obi, unlike any recent public leader advanced that it is paramount to be “committed to offering selfless service”, “run an open administration”, and remain open to “constructive criticisms”, and he believes in the welfare of the people, as he directs that the “people should (always) go about their normal duties.

As part of the new national narratives, he championed the need for “ hard work’, “honesty”, “accountability and transparency.”
As part of a new normal in leadership and governance strategy, Obi calls for leadership to “pledge loyalty to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and selfless service to all”.

The Obi code of governance states that leaders should be able speak power to truth by making sure that “government will do all within its power to ensure that the machinery of governance continues to run without let or hindrance”.

As to those among the public who harbours the spirit of chaos, Obi believes that leaders should be able “to charge the law enforcement agencies to ensure that…nefarious persons” are controlled for the good and peace of the nation.

The Obi code of governance calls for bold actions and deeds, even if it is only about sending a psychological shock to self-satisfied leaders, and Obi partly demonstrated this process in “ the dissolution of the Executive Council…with immediate effect”.

Obi believes in praising leaders even if it is only to encourage them to do good by using their abilities and experiences to “ ensure smooth running of the machinery of government”.

Obi believed that leaders must act as role models in order to “enjoining them to avoid anything that would portray the government in negative light”.

Obi believes public service requires “workforce to be pro-active, efficient and productive” and he asserts that "civil service should be pro-active and efficient rather than being a liability”. As part of the Obi code of governance, he believes that small improvement s in human service, usually result into bigger dividends, as evidenced by his demand for workers to “avoid cases of absenteeism”, therefore ensuring efficiency and productivity.

He sees time management as essential ingredients to effective public practices, as in the case of “salary preparation to ensure that workers receive their pay on” time, and he asserts that promoting “strategies used in collecting internally generated revenue” are needed in behalf of the state or nation. The Obi code of governance demands on officials “to be careful and avoid fraud in the preparation of salaries and in the collection of internally generated revenue(s)”.

Along the same line, Obi asserts that to restore the spirit of leadership and positive practices “embargo on foreign Trips for Political Appointees and top Government Functionaries” becomes paramount.

Every sensible Nigerian will agree that the leadership situation in the nation currently wallows in chronic wrongdoing and the misuse of politics, as such transformation, no matter how small could come not by throwing the nation backward, as it currently appears but by adhering to the Obi code of governance.

Thank you, Sir and hopefully a leader in your image or mindset could be swept into the office of the presidency or other authority by the people and for the sake of ensuring a disciplined approach to governance.

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu

Journey From Nigeria to Douye: Re-mastered Album From Pop Jazz Artist

26 Jan 2011 14:15 Africa/Lagos


Journey From Nigeria to Douye: Re-mastered Album From Pop Jazz Artist

PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2011





LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Known for her smoothly textured and sultry vocals, Nigerian born, LA based, pop jazz artist, "Douye" oozes with jazzuality as she takes us on a personal, "Journey". www.douyetheartist.com. Marketing and promotion pro Neal Sapper of the San Francisco bay area based New World 'n' Jazz, www.newworldnjazz.com, spearheads "Douye's" newly re-mastered freshman album, "Journey," with new artwork, which officially drops January 2011. 2010 Billboard's #1 of the 50 sexiest love songs of all time, and new to Glee's compilation, "Let's Get Physical's" writer and co-producer, "Terry Shaddick" along with rhythm and lead guitarist, "Jeff Pescetto" throw it down on, "Fly Away," the first track and first single to hit radio. After favorable feedback on its previous limited release it became quite evident that, "Journey" deserved a broader audience.

"Douye" is the perfect expression of a caterpillar now butterfly, with lots of room to grow.

Her grace and that gorgeous, slightly gapped smile puts us in the presence of a dark angel, who, having been in waiting is now ready to show wings that are fully spread.

"Journey", promises then delivers "Douye's" soft, yet open mood leaving your musical palette wanting more.

"Journey" can be heard on www.douyetheartist.com

www.facebook.com, www.twitter.com/douyetheartist, www.myspace.com/douyetheartist, www.last.fm/music/douye

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsjhmR9ThrM

SOURCE ankh entertainment

CONTACT: osiris munir of the ankh entertainment group, +1-310-435-8419, or fax, +1-323-661-2295, ankhentone@ankhentertainmentone.net

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

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Receives the Credentials of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria

27 Jan 2011 13:03 Africa/Lagos


The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Receives the Credentials of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria

ADDIS ABABA, January 27, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping received in his office at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, 25 January 2011, the credentials of H.E. Mr. Eineje Egbadekwu ONOBU, as the new Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the African Union.


Welcoming the new Permanent Representative, the Chairperson expressed his deep appreciation for the key role played by Nigeria in the African Union and its full support for the work of the Commission.


He requested Ambassador Eineje Egbadekwu ONOBU to convey to H.E. President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Odein Ajumogobia his sincere gratitude for their continued support and commended Nigeria for its leadership role in the preservation and restoration of peace, security and stability in West Africa and the entire Continent.


The Chairperson assured Ambassador Eineje Egbadekwu ONOBU of the cooperation of the Commission in the fulfillment of his new assignment.


In response, the new Permanent Representative, who served as Nigeria's Ambassador to Ethiopia and the OAU in 1999, stated that Nigeria values the important contribution made by Chairperson Ping and the AUC towards the emergence of an African renaissance, and promised to work closely with the Commission to further strengthen the excellent relations that exist between the African Union and Nigeria.


The Chairperson and Ambassador Egbadekwu ONOBU also exchanged views on several topical issues related to the forthcoming AU Summit.


The ceremony was attended, among others, by Ambassador John Kayode Shinkaiye, Chief of Staff in the Bureau of Chairperson, Mr. Pierre Moussavou, Deputy Chief of Staff and Ambassador John Evonlah Aggrey, Diplomatic Adviser to the Chairperson.




Source: African Union Commission (AUC)

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