Monday, March 26, 2012

White Collar Crime - Nigeria


Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State.

Nigeria - contributed by Sofunde Osakwe Ogundipe & Belgore

UK fraud conviction highlights Nigeria's deficient enforcement measures
An English court's recent conviction of James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, on charges of fraud and money laundering is just one of several instances in which fraud committed in Africa has resulted in convictions outside Africa. The case adds justification to the perception that the Nigerian authorities – for whatever reason – are content to leave fraud and corruption prosecution to other jurisdictions.
Author: Babajide Oladipo Ogundipe

Read more http://www.internationallawoffice.com/?i=2720383&l=7GC1360



Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Final Nominees for President of World Bank


Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Final Nominees for President of World Bank

26 Mar 2012 06:37 Africa/Lagos

Closing of Nominations for President of World Bank

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank confirmed today that, as announced on February 17, the period for submitting nominations for the position of the next President of the World Bank closed on Friday, March 23. The Board is pleased to announce that the following three nominees will be considered for the position:


Jim Yong Kim, a US national and President of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire


José Antonio Ocampo, a Colombian national and Professor at Columbia University, New York


Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian national and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Nigeria


In accordance with the procedures previously announced, the Executive Directors will conduct formal interviews of the three candidates in Washington, D.C., during the following weeks, with the expectation of selecting the new President by consensus by the 2012 Spring Meetings.

Source: The World Bank


Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
26 Mar 2012
07:03 ECOWAS head of mission okays deployment of observers across Senegal
06:37 Closing of Nominations for President of World Bank
23 Mar 2012
16:10 GameTruck's Patented Concept Weeds Out Imitators
22 Mar 2012
13:34 Former President of Zambia Rupiah Banda and Son Henry Banda Appoint International Legal Team
12:31 EL CARDENAL JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN CLAUSURA SEMINARIO DE ESTUDIOS SOBRE DIALOGO INTERRELIGIOSO EN NIGERIA
12:00 Bristow Group to Present at the Howard Weil 40th Annual Energy Conference
11:45 VATICAN / LE CARDINAL TAURAN AU NIGERIA
11:27 Former President of Zambia Rupiah Banda and Son Henry Banda Appoint International Legal Team
11:10 VATICAN / CARDINAL JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN TO VISIT NIGERIA
07:29 Slum residents across Africa tell governments: 'People live here'
21 Mar 2012
22:31 Brazil Issues Criminal Charges Against Chevron, says Rainforest Action Network Brazil Issues Criminal Charges Against Chevron, says Rainforest Action Network
18:55 The U.S. Should Not Treat the Appointment of an American to the Presidency of the World Bank as an Entitlement
05:45 ECOWAS Observation Mission returns to Senegal for run-off presidential election
05:26 NIGERIA'S RIVERS STATE TO HOST INAUGURAL WEST AFRICAN PUBLIC SERVICE GAMES
20 Mar 2012
13:31 NIGERIA'S RIVERS STATE TO HOST INAUGURAL WEST AFRICAN PUBLIC SERVICE GAMES
13:27 HUMANITARIAN POLICY, THE ECOWAS ACTION PLAN ADOPTED
13:22 ECOWAS FEDERATION OF BUSINESS WOMEN, ENTREPRENEURS GETS NIGERIA CHAPTER
07:57 PEOPLE LIVE HERE: WEEK OF ACTION TO END FORCED EVICTIONS IN AFRICA
06:27 Nigerian journalist threatened over Boko Haram coverage
19 Mar 2012
19:51 Golden Globe® and Grammy® Award Winner and Academy Award® Nominee Queen Latifah Reunites with Award Winning Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan to Star in and Executive Produce the Highly-anticipated Lifetime Movie Event, Steel Magnolias Golden Globe® and Grammy® Award Winner and Academy Award® Nominee Queen Latifah Reunites with Award Winning Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan to Star in and Executive Produce the Highly-anticipated Lifetime Movie Event, Steel Magnolias




Saturday, March 24, 2012

Katarina Hedren On Becoming A Blogger @ 2nd iREP Ducofest


Katarina Hedren

What is the synergy of Blogging and film-making?
Katarina Hedren will tell you this Saturday at the Terra Kulture venue of the second iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival (iREP DOCU-FEST).

Ms. Hedren is a Swedish Ethiopian activist writer and filmmaker based in South Africa and as a key promoter of the Documentary Network Africa (DNA) she is participating in the on going second iREP International Documentary Film Festival at the Terra Kulture and Freedom Park in Lagos, Nigeria.



Over 84 Million Views of Kony 2012 Documentary on YouTube



Jason Russell's YouTube video documentary on Joseph Kony of Uganda's Lord's
Resistane Army has attracted over 84 million views so far within 10
days. But Nigerian writer Teju Cole has more to say on Twitter. Read
what provoked Teju on http://www.inquisitr.com/203192/kony-2012-inspires-supporters-and-enrages-the-critics/



To see real time reports on LRA activity in the D.R.Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan visit: http://www.lracrisistracker.com/

To learn more about Invisible Children's recovery efforts in the post-conflict regions of northern Uganda AND our work with communities currently affected in D.R.Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan visit: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/programs.html



Friday, March 23, 2012

Second iREP International Documentary Film Festival Opens in Lagos





The second iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival (iREP DOCU-FEST) opened to a full house Thursday morning at the Terra Kulture on Victoria Island, Lagos. The Executive Director of iREP, Femi Odugbemi gave the welcome address on the goals of the festival; followed by the iREP Hall of Fame Awards given to accomplished Nigerian documentary filmmakers, Ambassador Yussuf Maman, Cyril Okonkwo, Sandra Obiago and Francis Oladele who was absent and Tunde Kelani received the award on his behalf.



The opening film of the second iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival, An African Election is a film by Jarreth Merz. The 2008 presidential elections in Ghana, West Africa, serve as a backdrop for this feature documentary, which looks behind the scenes of a complex, political machinery of a third world country trying to catch up with the first world. Merz embarks on a once in a lifetime political journey.


Prof. Jean Paul Collyen

The keynote address on African Cinema and the Frontiers of Documentary by Prof. Jean Paul Collyen captivated the audience of both local and international filmmakers, movie buffs, special guests and others. The famous anthropologist and documentary filmmaker and Director of the institute of African Arts in Paris appreciated the sociological perspectives of Nollywood narratives and commended the phenomenal ingenuity of the producers who have been able to make movies without any government support and with their hard earned money in contrast to the big budget studio productions of Hollywood and Bollywood. Prominent Nigerian filmmakers like Tunde Kelani, Ms. Sandra Mbanefo Obiago and Teco Benson and a special guest, Katarina Hedren from South Africa discussed the keynote address and the controversial poster: Is Nollywood Documentary? Which is the sub theme of Democracy and Culture - The Documentary Film Intervention, the theme within the framework of Africa in self-conversation.

About 30 films will be screened in the four-day duration of the festival with special workshops and conferences on camera works, scriptwriting, etc.

The co-founders, Makin Soyinka, Jahman Anikulapo and Femi Odugbemi appreciated their partnership with Goethe Institut and AG DokumentarFilm (German Association of Independent Producers). Also present were representatives of the Association of Independent Producers from Cameroon (APIC).

The organizers said there will be a Producers Forum observed by the Documentary Network Africa (DNA) represented by one of its coordinators, Katarina Hedren from South Africa. iREP is DNA’s representatives in Nigeria and much of West Africa. The Producers Forum is coordinated by Barbel Mauch, a vastly experienced producer, who in October 2001 founded the Babel Mauch Film with intention to co-produce films at an international level. The company also offers consulting agency services for production, distribution and for film festivals, especially from Germany, France and Africa. Bärbel has an extensive network of contacts thanks to her considerable experience in production, distribution and as publicist with Iskra in Paris as well as many film festivals and with her own company. For over 20 years now, she has worked for Französische Fimtage Tübingen, where she organises the African Section, and since 2005 has been a member of the selection committee. Since 2006, she has been a consultant at Berlinale Talent Campus and expert for talents from Africa and the Middle East.

Between 2008 and 2009, she coordinated the SHOOT! Workshops on documentary film production for the Nigerian Film Corporation in Jos, Nigeria; and in 2009 coordinated workshops for the festival Lagunimages in Cotonou/Benin.

From 2009 to 2011, she was chairwoman at the African-German co-production meeting during the festival Ecrans Noirs, Cameroon, organized by AG Dok and APIC in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Yaoundé. She also served 2009 Expert at the Nigeroon/Cameria workshop in Bamenda, Cameroon, organized by the Goethe-Institut.

Jens Wenkel is a Berlin-based filmmaker and medical doctor. As a doctor and researcher, he worked for Doctors Without Borders in different countries of Africa for three years. Recently, he finished a documentary film about urban every day life in the megacity of Lagos, which was premiered at the IDFA in Amsterdam. Together with Matthias Luthardt he organized a documentary workshop entitled Spirit and Spirituality under the umbrella of the Goethe-Institut Lagos. Wenkel has done so much research and cinematic work in Lagos.

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Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
22 Mar 2012
13:34 Former President of Zambia Rupiah Banda and Son Henry Banda Appoint International Legal Team
12:31 EL CARDENAL JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN CLAUSURA SEMINARIO DE ESTUDIOS SOBRE DIALOGO INTERRELIGIOSO EN NIGERIA
12:00 Bristow Group to Present at the Howard Weil 40th Annual Energy Conference
11:45 VATICAN / LE CARDINAL TAURAN AU NIGERIA
11:27 Former President of Zambia Rupiah Banda and Son Henry Banda Appoint International Legal Team
11:10 VATICAN / CARDINAL JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN TO VISIT NIGERIA
07:29 Slum residents across Africa tell governments: 'People live here'
21 Mar 2012
22:31 Brazil Issues Criminal Charges Against Chevron, says Rainforest Action Network Brazil Issues Criminal Charges Against Chevron, says Rainforest Action Network
18:55 The U.S. Should Not Treat the Appointment of an American to the Presidency of the World Bank as an Entitlement
05:45 ECOWAS Observation Mission returns to Senegal for run-off presidential election
05:26 NIGERIA'S RIVERS STATE TO HOST INAUGURAL WEST AFRICAN PUBLIC SERVICE GAMES
20 Mar 2012
13:31 NIGERIA'S RIVERS STATE TO HOST INAUGURAL WEST AFRICAN PUBLIC SERVICE GAMES
13:27 HUMANITARIAN POLICY, THE ECOWAS ACTION PLAN ADOPTED
13:22 ECOWAS FEDERATION OF BUSINESS WOMEN, ENTREPRENEURS GETS NIGERIA CHAPTER
07:57 PEOPLE LIVE HERE: WEEK OF ACTION TO END FORCED EVICTIONS IN AFRICA
06:27 Nigerian journalist threatened over Boko Haram coverage




Monday, March 19, 2012

Concerned Africa Scholars Urge U.S. Government To Support African Nations



19 Mar 2012 06:42 Africa/Lagos

Africa specialists address risks of KONY2012 campaign and military solutions

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Board and Executive of the national Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (ACAS) today called on the U.S. government to give more attention to supporting the African Union of 54 nations in negotiating for peace in the militia‐torn areas of East and Central Africa.


“We have listened to many African people from the war‐torn areas of Congo, South Sudan, Uganda, and Central African Republic,” said David Wiley*, spokesperson for ACAS, “and they are calling for negotiations and peaceful reintegration of the militias into their communities. Many are saying they do not want a widening of the war with national armies who often commit atrocities backed by U.S. troops or advisors that could continue the conflict for decades.”


The Africanist scholars said they are encouraged that so many Americans are concerned about Africa and want to help with the disorder of the militias there. However, the ACAS says:


“… after consulting with scholars of Uganda and Central Africa and with other experts in the region, we are deeply concerned that the recent campaign in the United States to pursue and arrest Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), could have dangerous unintended consequences. Expanding U.S. military operations with the Ugandan army to capture Kony could increase the militarization of the region and lead to deaths of civilians who are caught in the crossfire or become targets of retaliatory attacks by the LRA, as has occurred in the past.”


“Indeed,” Wiley noted, the Ugandan army itself has been guilty of atrocities and abuse of civilians both in Uganda, probably killing more people over the years than the LRA, and now in the Central African Republic while chasing Kony again.”

The Ugandan director of the Makerere University Institute of Social Research, Dr. Mahmoud Mamdani, commented this week.


“The 70 million plus who have watched the Invisible Children video need to realize that the LRA – both the leaders and the children pressed into their service – are not an alien force but sons and daughters of the soil. The solution is not to eliminate them physically, but to find ways of integrating them into (Ugandan) society.”


Instead of military action, ACAS is calling on President Obama and the Congress to support and take the lead of the African Union (AU) and its new Special Representative for Counter‐ Terrorism. ACAS also urges Obama “to take a strong stand against the use of child soldiers by fully complying with the U.S. Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2009 by prohibiting military assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other governments until they meet specific benchmarks,” as urged by Amnesty International.


“Much of Africa,” Wiley noted, “is awash with AK‐47s and other cheap small arms, light weapons, and mines, the munitions of terrorist militias.” So ACAS also is calling on the Administration,


“…to actively seek an effective United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to end irresponsible trade in weapons, munitions, and other military and policing equipment that often inflict misery and carnage on people, especially in Africa. “


“Donations by Americans are very much needed for the pressing needs of these former child soldiers, the raped, and the displaced,” Wiley commented, pointing out that the “excellent programs” of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Children's Fund

(UNICEF) are not fully funded for their work with the people displaced by the militias in the four countries.


* Wiley is Professor of Sociology at Michigan State University, is a former president of the African Studies Association, and has conducted research on Africa for 50 years.



Source: Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (ACAS)



Rebranding Nigeria? Look in the Mirror of Your Life


Photo Credit: Patitos Post.

There is no ware, no matter how damaged that the potter cannot repair.
But the owner of the ware must be honest enough to admit the damages than tell lies.

For how can we re-brand Nigeria if we cannot re-brand our ways of life?

What is the use of saying you are a Christian when you behave like a pagan?

Must you cheat or lie and steal or kill to make ends meet?
And of course, you are what you do, no matter how many lies and photographs you post on Facebook and Google Plus and other places online.
You will only be fooling yourself.
As you go to Church, mosque or even shrine today, you will only receive as much as you give.

Whatever you sow, you shall reap, for no matter the seasons and the reasons, we are judged by our own deeds.

Re-branding Nigeria begins with the person you are gazing at in your mirror.

The truth will always find us out.

Re-branding Nigeria begins with the person you are gazing at in the mirror.

God bless Nigeria and save us from the lunatic fringe among us. Amen.

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima



Friday, March 16, 2012

The Largest Titanic Visitor Experience in the World



Titanic Belfast, the largest Titanic visitor experience in the world, will open its doors in April.




Titanic Belfast Launch Festival

Nearly 100 years after Titanic left Belfast, we are delighted to invite you to experience and explore Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction.

Event: Official opening of Titanic Belfast
date: Saturday, 31st March, 2012
location: Titanic Belfast

Immerse yourself in the amazing story of Belfast in the 1900s, take a spin in the Shipyard Ride, experience life on board and learn about Titanic’s maiden voyage, her tragic sinking, the many stories of human endeavour, and the technology and science that finally found her, and helped to solve some of the many mysteries surrounding that fateful night in 1912.

Titanic Belfast is a ‘must do’ interactive visitor experience engaging all the senses. To celebrate our official opening on Saturday 31 March we’ll be launching a jam packed fortnight of celebratory events on February 29th with our partners Titanic Foundation, Belfast City Council and Northern Ireland Tourist Board....keep an eye on the press for further details.

Exclusively, we're delighted to give you a sneak preview and the chance to buy advance tickets for some of the key highlight events.



St. Patrick’s Day Kicks Off A Special Year for the Island of Ireland



St. Patrick’s Day kicks off a special year for the island of Ireland



New York, NY, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The St. Patrick’s Festival is one of the highlights of Ireland’s cultural calendar — a week-long celebration of music, dance, outdoor spectaculars and of course, on March 17th, the stunning St. Patrick’s Day parade through the historic streets of Dublin. The festival is the traditional starting point of the holiday season and what a year 2012 is going to be.


Northern Ireland 2012

2012 is the year when Northern Ireland will take center stage with a series of spectacular occasions. Titanic Belfast, the largest Titanic visitor experience in the world, will open its doors in April. The new visitors centre at the UNESCO world heritage site at the Giant’s Causeway will open in the fall and the European Tour’s Irish Open golf tournament will return to Royal Portrush in June. These events and many more come under the banner ‘Northern Ireland 2012 –Your time, our place.’


Jump into Ireland

Don’t just come and see the island of Ireland in 2012, ‘Jump In.’ Tourism Ireland’s new brand, launched this year, aims to raise awareness about the unique nature of an Ireland vacation.


N.I. 2012 – A year of fantastic events including the opening of Titanic Belfast, the new visitors centre at the Giant’s Causeway, and Irish Open golf tournament will be played at Royal Portrush.

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland said, “‘Jump into Ireland’ describes the joyful immersion of a trip to Ireland. That sense of uplifting joy as you take part in our diverse iconic experiences and engage with our welcoming people. We are certain that our new brand will whet appetites for what is on offer and we would encourage vacationers to include a trip to Ireland on their calendar in 2012.”


The Gathering 2013


Tourism Ireland is also casting its eye to next year, 2013, when Ireland will host what’s being called, ‘The Gathering.’ The Gathering Ireland 2013 is a year-long celebration of everything that’s unique and great about Ireland and its people.

Throughout the year you can expect to see a huge line-up of festivals and events focusing on the best of Ireland’s offerings in culture, music, the arts, sports and heritage. We are inviting everyone who has ever felt, or wanted to feel, a connection to Ireland to visit in 2013.

Actor Liam Neeson said, “I am an Irishman first and foremost, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being Irish and a citizen of the world has made me truly appreciate Irish culture, music and history. Whether you’re first- or second-generation Irish, or even have no connection to Ireland, you should visit in 2013 for a unique experience.”

For more media information, please contact: Ruth Moran 212-418 1832 rmoran@tourismireland.com.

Visit our Media room at www.discoverireland.com/mediaroom.

For information on traveling to Ireland visit www.discoverireland.com.

Media Contact:

Ruth Moran
212-418 1832
rmoran@tourismireland.com



Brazil Launches Brand New Tools, Introducing U.S. Travelers to Unique Cultural Offerings



16 Mar 2012 14:00 Africa/Lagos

Brazil Launches Brand New Tools, Introducing U.S. Travelers to Unique Cultural Offerings




The Brazilian Tourism Board will launch their new game app, 'Brasil Quest', to celebrate the 12 host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Thursday, March 22 from 12-5 p.m. in Times Square at the northwest corner of 45th Street and Broadway. (PRNewsFoto/Embratur, the Brazilian Tourism.


The Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur) launches educational website and game app as Brazil prepares to takes the world stage

NEW YORK, March 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Embratur, the Brazilian Tourism Board, is giving New Yorkers a first look at the unique experiences that can be found in Brazil through two brand new tools – an interactive Brand Channel website and Brasil Quest, a new video game app. The launch of these tools is part of an ongoing initiative to promote various destinations and cultural offerings travelers can experience in Brazil now and when they visit for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120316/CG70416-a)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120316/CG70416LOGO-b)

The Brazil Brand Channel website, developed in partnership with Google, will assist travelers in planning their trips to the country through interactive tools, images and detailed information about what to do while in Brazil. The site officially launches on Tuesday, March 20th, and at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall from noon to 3:30 p.m. EDT that day, visitors can test out the site, meet travel expert Marybeth Bond, MC for the event, and experience a taste of Brazil through interactive demonstrations and Brazilian live music.

"Traveling to Brazil is a truly unique and exhilarating experience," said Marcelo Pedroso, Director for International Markets for Embratur. "But with so much to choose from, deciding where to go and what to do can be daunting. This new tool provides a one-stop destination for trip planning and makes the process fun, informative and interactive."

Two days later, Embratur is giving New York another first-look with the Times Square launch of the free "Brasil Quest" game app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The game celebrates the 12 Brazilian host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup through the journey of YEP, an alien that decides to visit Brazil in search of happiness and becomes enchanted with the country's beauty and offerings. Users can download the game at their smartphone App Store and Google Play beginning March 23rd.

From noon to 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 22nd, visitors can go to the northwest corner of 45th Street and Broadway to play the game, which will be broadcast on a large screen in Times Square. The top three players will win a trip for two to one of three popular destination cities – Rio de Janeiro, Salvador or Manaus. Additionally, each participant will be able to take home a YEP action figure.

These events are part of a larger campaign, "Brazil is Calling You. Celebrate Life Here," focusing on increasing international tourism and familiarizing the U.S. with all that Brazil has to offer as the world descends on the country for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

About Brazilian Tourism Board:

With its spectacular beaches, lush rainforests, rich culture, exotic cuisine and exciting nightlife, Brazil is one of the most compelling countries to visit today. Travelers are invited to explore Brazil's incredible geographical diversity – from the wetlands to the beaches. With a beautiful, tropical climate, Brazil is an easily accessible, exotic get-away for couples, families and business travelers. Brazil will host two of the world's most important sporting events of the decade – the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games – making it the perfect time to plan a first (or return) visit. For more information, go to www.braziltour.com.

Brazilian Tourism Board Media Hotline: 917.286.4095
Brazilian Tourism Board Media E-mail Address: BrazilTourism@Edelman.com

SOURCE Embratur, the Brazilian Tourism Board

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