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Nigeria-U.S. Ties 'Reset' as Buhari Visits Obama

From the Editor

O u r G r ea tes t G lor y is n o t in n ever f a llin g b u t in r is in g ever y time we f a ll .

We ar e committted to b r in gin g th e commu n ity th e bes t in N ews f r om Af r ica a n d th e D ia s p or a .  Yo u may als o vis it o u r webs ite a t www.af r ik an po s t.com f or d a ily n ews u p da tes o n Af r ica .

D is cla imer : Th e o p in ion s ex pr es s ed in ar ticles a n d s to r ies in th is N ews pa per ar e th os e o f th e a u th o r s a n d d o n o t n eces s ar ily r ef lect th e views o f Af r ik an Po s t . All co mmen ts a n d s u g g es tio n s a r e welcome.

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D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 7 Issue 7

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Veronica Tabi on why she's contesting Miss Ghana USA 2015 Pg. 37

Dr. Philip Emeagwali Inventor of the World's Fastest Computer Pg. 11

US-based Nigerian, Ayokunle Adeniran Invents Gas-powered Pressing Iron Pg. 28

Search Yourself Pg. 20

SPORTS

Underage African footballers 'trafficked' to Asia Pg. 39

UPDATE Honda Begins Assembly Of Accord Car In Nigeria Pg. 11

President Barrack Obama on Monday expressed confidence in the ability of President Mihammadu Buhari to tackle the multiple challenges facing Nigeria.

Obama gave the assurance in Washington DC, when he received President Muhammedu Buhari, who was on 4-day official visit to the U.S.

According to him, Buhari has come with a clear agenda to tackle the problem of insecurity occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram sect as well as other violence criminal activities.

Obama expressed appreciation to Buhari's leadership style so far, saying that his administration would continue to assist and help Nigeria in overcoming its challenges.

"It is a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here in the White House for his first visit since the historic election that took place

"Nigeria is obviously one of the most important countries in the world, one of the most important countries in the African continent.

"Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place.

Nevertheless, the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process that can change takes place.

"President Buhari came into office with reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda that is to make sure that he has been bringing safely security and peace to his country.

Picture :http://www.theparadigmng.com/

Obama also assured that American government would continue to partner with Nigeria in ensuring political stability in Africa and around the world.

He described Nigeria as one of the most important countries in the world and congratulated the country for conducting peaceful elections.

He also commended Nigeria for taking leadership position in the fight against the spread of diseases like Ebola and Polio and pledged that his administration would continue to accord Nigeria the necessary recognition to bring peace to Africa and the world.

In his remarks, President Buhari commended the American Government under the leadership of President Obama for mounting pressure on former Jonathan's administration to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria will remain forever grateful to America for this singular act.

The visit of the Secretary of State before the elections to see the former president, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission and the opposition was a positive trend that "saw us through the elections".

"And the maintenance of pressure by United States mainly and Europe to make sure that the elections were free, fair and credible made us to be where we are now.

"It would have been almost impossible if the United States did not maintain the pressure on the former Nigerian Government."

Buhari, therefore, thanked Obama for inviting him to "He is very concerned about the spread and the violence that is taking place there and the atrocities visit his country as well as his administration's support to Nigeria. and has a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists.

Governors of Nasarawa, Borno, Imo, Oyo and Edo States as well as some Nigerian government officials "I want to emphasised how much I appreciate President Buhari's work so far. I have seen him put accompanied the president during the visit.(NAN) together a team so that we can do everything that we can to help him succeed and help the people of Source:http://allafrica.com/stories Nigeria succeed.

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Afrikan Post

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Afrikan Post

4 Nigerian Youth, Others Honoured at “Queens Young Leader Awards

The Queen of England honoured 4 Nigerians at the inaugural Queens Young Leaders Awards event.

Honorees also emerged from Canada, India, Cameroon and South Africa, with three winners each.

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First sub-Saharan Starbucks to open in South Africa

According to Vanguard, the awards honour exceptional young people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth. The event was held at Buckingham Palace.

Reports state that “the winners will receive a unique package of training, mentoring and networking, including a one-week residential programme in the UK in association with Cambridge University.

With this support, award winners will be expected to continue and develop the amazing work they are already doing in their communities to raise awareness and inspire change in areas of education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality.”

The four Nigerians who were honored are: Isaiah Owolabi, Kelvin Ogholi, Nkechi Azinge and Oladipupo Ajiroba.

Other guests who attended the event include David Beckham, and 12 Years a Slave director, Steve McQueen.

Nkechi Azinge, runs a Sickle Cell Foundation in which the needs of sickle cell patients are catered to.

Sub-Saharan Africa will get its first Starbucks next year, as part of a new deal between the US coffee giant and a South African franchiser.

The first branch is due to open in Johannesburg in 2016, with more locations to follow, its partner Taste Holdings said in a statement.

Starbucks, which has 22,000 outlets worldwide, will face local competition.

Global brands are increasingly entering the African market to take advantage of the continent's growing middle class.

BBC Africa Live: News updates "The coffee market here is vibrant and growing fast - we want to be part of that growth," Starbucks executive Kris Engskov said in a statement.

Starbucks already sources a considerable amount of coffee it sells worldwide from farms in sub-Saharan Africa.

Franchise operator Taste says that the new cafes in South Africa will be staffed predominantly by unemployed young people from local communities, aged between 17-25.

A number of other US companies have moved into the South African market, including Wal-Mart.

Global fast food brands are already popular in South Africa, but coffee companies have been slower to enter the market.

The US doughnut and coffee giant Krispy Kreme also has plans to open around 31 stores in South Africa over the next five years.

There are already many small independent coffee shops in South Africa, the BBC's Matthew Davies reports from Johannesburg.

It is not clear what impact the arrival of Starbucks might have on its smaller, local competitors, our reporter says. http://www.bbc.com/

Nkechi Azinge and Steve McQueen Photo Credit: Getty Images/WPA Pool/ Naij.com

By BellaNaija.com

Nkechi Azinge and David Beckham

Maranatha Prayer Conference Hosts 6th Annual Conference in the US July

2015 Page 6

Chantilly, Virginia June 25-28, 2015

By Frederick Nnoma-Addison

Maranatha Prayer Conference (MPC) http://www.maranathaprayerconference.org has concluded its sixth annual international conference at the Marriott Hotel Chantily, Virginia, United States.

Prominent U.K. – based, African-born minister Rev. Dr. Jones Boateng was the guest speaker for the conference which focused on Deliverance and Altars, and Dr. Samuell Addy was the conference host. Dr. Boateng was the main speaker for last year’s conference held in McClean, Virginia.

Speaking to a group of mostly African-born Christian believers from across the United States and Canada, Rev. Boateng taught about the negative implications of evil covenants, traditional practices, animal sacrifices, rites and rituals, customs and festivals, on individuals, communities, and nations. Using scriptures to back his teaching, he explained that much of Africa’s development challenges, and challenges encountered by individuals are a result of covenants and spiritual agreements made with spirits resident in shrines, amulets, water bodies and trees.

Making references to common practices in many African cultures where parents consult shrines and false prophets in times of crisis, he explained that those consultations only provided short term fixes in exchange for long term payback. Basing his teachings on the primary reason for which God created mankind:

“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28

He taught that trends like poverty, non-productivity, setbacks, evil cycles, evil dreams, disappointments, failures, bareness, strife, wars, and retrogression seen especially in African communities and nations are contradictory to God’s word, and therefore a form of bondage.

“Deliverance is to release oneself from captivity – any form of captivity, and fulfill God’s ordained destiny in totality. The only one who can bring deliverance is Jesus Christ, not a pastor prophet or witchdoctor, and with God nothing is impossible” He said

Rev. Boateng believes there is a place for culture but warned that culture and cultural practices that engages spirits other than the Spirit of the One True God is unbiblical and consequently counterproductive to human progress and development. He added that those who criticize deliverance especially in the church do so naively because they assume that ungodly covenants are automatically broken after one becomes a believer.

Rev. Dr. Boateng is the Senior Pastor of Deliverance Outreach Ministries in the United Kingdom http://www.domlive.org/. He is an authority on deliverance, a frequent speaker at international conferences, the author of over 60 books on altars, witchcraft, and deliverance, and a regular host on several television networks in the United Kingdom. Dr. Samuell Addy of Maranatha Prayer Conference hosted the conference.

About Maranatha Prayer Conference

Source: www.maranathaprayerconference.org Maranatha was birthed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to provide a prayer forum and platform to meet the needs of many who are unable to attend local churches due to various reasons beyond their control. Realizing the need for the assembly of the saints, it has been an answer to our faithful community of prayer warriors who pray out

(L-R) Rev. Dr. Jones Boateng (Deliverance Outreach Ministries, UK / Guest Preacher); Dr. Samuell Addy (Maranatha Prayer Conference / Host); Rev. Owusu Agyemang (Holy Ghost Revival Church, Amsterdam); Rev. Samuel Sarpong (Living Word Outreach Ministries) of the convenience of their homes, work place and anywhere else in a congregation over the air waves through telephone technology. As Papa Morris declares, “All truths are parallel”.

What is happening here on earth with technology is as a result of the truth and parallel events pre-ordained in Heaven.

Modern technology is a reflection of the Father’s mind and is a only manifestation of the agreement and covenants made in Heaven. Maranatha is therefore humbled and eager to be part of the divine order of our modern world.

The testimonies of what the Lord is doing through this ministry are enormous and only reflective of the awesomeness of our God. The infirmed are being restored, the sick healed, afflicted released, oppressed freed and they that are in bondage are receiving their liberty.

We give glory to the Lord for what He’s doing in our midst and we invite you to be a part of this great conference. We strive to grow each day through prayer and the study of the word and to be flexible and attentive to the voice and leadings of the Holy Spirit.

Join us on our prayer line +1 218-548-0938 Pin 7000# Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/maranathaprayerconference.com About Dr. Samuell Addy

Dr. Samuell Addy holds a Doctorate degree in Pharmacy from Howard University in Washington, DC and is a member of the Rho-Chi Honor society for excellence in academic merits. He migrated to the United States from Ghana in 1986.

In January 2013 he was ordained as a Minister by the Morris Cerrullo World Evangelism Ministry in San Diego, California after decades of Christian ministry and leadership in Christ Ambassadors Youth Ministry, Faith Assemblies Church, Faith & Victory Christian Church, and Gateway International Christian Church.

A terrible 1996 automobile accident that kept him in wheelchair for months and destroyed his finances consequently

brought him closer to God and redirected his path to do the will of his father.

As founder of Alight My Fire Ministries and the Maranatha Prayer Conference, his international ministry now frequently takes him to Australia, Europe and Africa where he organizes crusades for deliverance and healing.

Dr. Addy is a counselor, teacher, and deliverance minister.

Ghanaian Diaspora Engagement In Washington

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), His Excellency Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith (Rtd), has noted, that there is no denying the fact that in an era of globalisation and heightened competitiveness in the pursuit of national interests, no nation can develop effectively without a clear strategy to harness the potentials of its human resource, including its Diaspora and those who consider Ghana as their homeland.

Welcoming members of the Ghanaian Diaspora and other African nationals within the Washington Metropolis to the Ghana Embassy’s Diaspora Professional Summit with the theme “The Role and Contribution of The Ghanaian Diaspora in National Development”, on Friday, July 17, 2015, Ambassador Smith observed that, Global economic events beginning in 2008, have continued to shrink capital for development financing and budget support for developing countries. He added that, “Ghana’s new status as a middle income country at the lower echelon, has resulted in reduced donor support on account of the principle of differentiation”.

Thus, he said, leveraging on the multiple roles of the Diaspora as senders of remittances, investors, philanthropists, innovators, exportable labour and first movers in the growth of important sectors such as tourism and health, and in the development of human capital, can contribute to weaning Ghana off its dependence on aid and development financing, which are waning from developed countries.

Ambassador Smith emphasised the indelible contribution of the Diaspora to Pan Africanism, saying their contribution cannot be overlooked because Government greatly values their ideas and skills just as those living in Ghana, much more than any other natural resource and therefore, considers the entire Ghanaian populace as its basic and first priority.

It is for this reason that the Government is taking steps to leverage Diaspora knowledge, experience, skills, and financial resources to complement those at home for national development, he said.

Ghana’s Ambassador said, the renewed efforts by the Government, has received strong and clear policy directive from President John Dramani Mahama when he directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to mainstream the Ghanaian Diaspora in national development.

All Ghana Missions, he said have been mandated to establish Diaspora Desks to ensure policy coordinated action and provide a structured platform on which the Ghanaian Diaspora could give off their best to national development.

Ambassador Smith announced that for effective Diaspora engagement, a series of events are being planned for effective engagement and reiterated the need for the Ghanaian Diaspora in the U.S. to rededicate themselves to this new initiative. He proposed that the Mission and interested parties form a committee to make the Diaspora engagement process a fruitful one.

Such a Committee, he said will be the main point of interaction and coordinating activities to promote social, economic and cultural awareness among generations of our Diaspora community within the U.S.A. The proposed Committee, he believed, working in close collaboration with the Embassy, will create a database of business net-

works that would publish information on relevant organizations, individuals, and investment opportunities.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Adolf Kofi Afful, observed that for a successful engagement of the Diaspora, government need to create a Diaspora Ministry with its own mandate and accompanying budget and authority.

He said the Ghanaian Diaspora’s contribution to mother Ghana through remittances and financial transactions is in excess of $5 billion a year and it is in excess of $7,000 per capita per a year.

Mr. Afful emphasised that the Ghanaian Diaspora on the average contribute $7,000 per a year to Ghana saying, “Ghana’s Diaspora is its largest partner vis-a-vis all its foreign donors combined per a year”.

The Ghanaian Diaspora’s commitment to Ghana is interest free he said, it is not a sovereign loan and no collateral is attached to it.

To create the confidence and trust between government and the Diaspora, Mr. Afful called on government to implement the laws passed by the Ghanaian Parliament to allow Ghanaians in the Diaspora to also cast their vote during the country’s elections.

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and Creative Arts, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Bank of Ghana to establish an enabling environment, ensure policy coordinated action and provide a structured platform on which the Ghanaian Diaspora could give off their best to national development.

Turning to the purpose and rationale of diaspora engagement, there is no denying the fact that in an era of globalisation and heightened competitiveness in the pursuit of our national interests, no nation can develop effectively without implementing a clear strategy that seeks to harness the potentials of a majority of its human resource, including its Diaspora and those who consider Ghana as their homeland.

Global economic events beginning in 2008 have continued to shrink capital for development financing and budget support for developing countries. In addition, Ghana’s new status as a middle income country at the lower echelon has resulted in reduced donor support on account of the principle of differentiation.

Thus, leveraging on the multiple roles of the Diaspora as senders of remittances, investors, philanthropists, innovators, exportable labour and first movers in the growth of important sectors such as tourism and health, and in the development Find below the full text of the Ambassador Smith’s remarks. of human capital, may well contribute to weaning Ghana off its dependence on aid and development financing, which are OPENING REMARKS BY HE LT.GEN. JOSEPH HENRY waning from developed countries.

SMITH, AT THE DIASPORA PROFESSIONAL SUMMIT As the first in the series of events planned for effective ON FRIDAY, 18TH APRIL, 2015 engagement, I wish to reiterate the need for each and every one of us present tonight to rededicate ourselves to this new I am very delighted to welcome you on behalf of HE the initiative. Moving forward, I wish to propose that the Mission President Mr. John Dramani Mahama and the people of and interested parties here form a committee in order to make Ghana, and the staff of the Embassy to this august event. this engagement process a fruitful one.

I say, august event because this is the first time, besides the In my view, such a Committee will be the main point of interIndependence Day celebrations and periodic town hall meetaction and to coordinate activities to promote social, economings hosted usually in honor of our visiting Heads of State that ic, and cultural awareness among generations of our diaspora we have such a large assembly of Ghanaians in the diaspora community within the USA. with one objective of mobilising resources to contribute to In addition, this Committee, working in close collaboration sustainable development of our country. with the Embassy, will create a database business network As you are aware, this effort forms part of the Government of that would publish information on relevant organizations, Ghana’s policy to reach out to the diaspora to enable them to individuals, and investment opportunities. play their rightful role in the on-going development process.

To conclude, let me remark that Ghana has one of the largest Accordingly, this evening’s event is designed as a platform to and most active Diaspora which, from time to time, has lent a facilitate networking, as well as the exchange of ideas for strong voice, support and exhibited exemplary commitment businesses and investment support schemes between to homeland development.

Ghanaians living abroad and Ghanaian entrepreneurs back This, however, is unsustainable in the absence of an explicit home. development-sensitive Diaspora policy. The Government of The role of the Ghanaian Diaspora in national development Ghana’s formal acknowledgment of the importance of the has, in recent years, won unprecedented recognition from Diaspora and the valuable contribution that Ghanaians abroad Ghana’s government at the highest levels. can make towards the country’s development, has led to the The indelible contribution of the Diaspora to Pan Africanism decision to develop a Diaspora Engagement Policy (DEP) also cannot be overlooked. No doubt, the Government greatly that will span all governmental institutions. values the ideas, skills and contributions of Ghanaians abroad, I therefore wish to implore you all to come on board in more just as those living in Ghana, much more than any other natu- constructive ways for national development. ral resource and therefore considers the entire Ghanaian popu- Once again, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish all you a pleasant lace as its basic and first priority. discussion and I look forward to future engagement with you The Government is thus taking steps to leverage diaspora all in the interest of our dear nation, Ghana. knowledge, experience, skills, and financial resources to com- May God Bless us all. plement those at home for national development.

Thank you.

That said, the renewed efforts by the Government, received a strong and clear policy directive from President John Dramani Mahama when he directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to mainstream the Ghanaian Diaspora in national development.

As a result, all Embassies have been mandated to establish Diaspora Desks to ensure policy coordinated action and provide a structured platform on which the Ghanaian Diaspora could give off their best to national development.

In this direction, the Diaspora Affairs Bureau is charged with coordinating the work of stakeholder institutions such as the Ministries of Finance, Interior, Trade and Industry, Employment and Social Welfare, Health, and Tourism, Culture

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24/7 Priority Daycare Offers Service With A Personal Touch

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By our staff writer

24/7 Priority Daycare is a childcare center located along the ManassasDumfries Road close to Hoadley and Dumfries Road on route 234 in Virginia that provides 24 hour childcare everyday of the week.

The registered and licensed childcare provider primarily offers services to parents and wards of children in the Dale City, Dumfries, Manassas and sometimes Woodbridge areas and is located in a safe, serene and friendly neighborhood.

24/7 Priority Daycare accepts infants from the ages of six 6 weeks up to young children aged 12 years old. Their trained staff provide service and care with a very personal touch. They are located right off the highway.

"One cool thing I like about 24/7 is their weekend mornings services -- as a parent, this gives me a great opportunity to go about quickly running my errands on Saturday mornings, knowing that my child is safe and happy" said an excited customer we spoke on the premise.

"Besides our weekend mornings services, some of our attractions which customers are really seeking to ensure we are capable of is the ability to provide CPR should an emergency arise that requires for such to be administered", a staff of 24/7 Priority Daycare said.

The staff continued to say: "we work hard to ensure customer satisfaction because our customers' trusting us is a key privilege we do not want to take for granted. We are always going out of our way to give our best in whatever we do here to retain client loyalty, which is why we keep our doors open at anytime of the day or night".

Remember to let them know how you heard about them or say #TheAfricanDream and #TheAfrikanPost sent you, they will be sure to give you a special discount which will also apply on a onetime basis to people you refer. Reach them now on phone numbers 703.548.8357 and 571.575.3404 or email them with 24.7prioritydaycare@gmail.com Pay a personal visit to the daycare and feel the genuineness with which it seeks to create a community of care to satisfy existing and potential families.

We recommend you go check them out yourself.

A Law Firm with a Difference Call Today 571-285-5242

Editor's note: feel free to let us know if you will like us to visit your business/service and provide a piece like this one for you.

Photo courtesy of ht.initp

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Dr. Philip Emeagwali Inventor of the World's Fastest Computer in Scientific computing from the University of Michigan and two Masters degrees from George Washington University.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta Wins Continental Award

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The noted black inventor received acclaim based, at least in part, on his study of nature, specifically bees. Emeagwali saw an inherent efficiency in the way bees construct and work with honeycomb and determined computers that emulate this process could be the most efficient and powerful.

In 1989, emulating the bees' honeycomb construction, Emeagwali used 65,000 processors to invent the world's fastest computer, which performs computations at 3.1 billion calculations per second.

Dr. Philip Emeagwali, who has been called the "Bill Gates of Africa," was born in Nigeria in 1954. Like many African schoolchildren, he dropped out of school at age 14 because his father could not continue paying Emeagwali's school fees. However, his father continued teaching him at home, and everyday Emeagwali performed mental exercises such as solving 100 math problems in one hour. His father taught him until Philip "knew more than he did."

Growing up in a country torn by civil war, Emeagwali lived in a building crumbled by rocket shells. He believed his intellect was a way out of the line of fire. So he studied hard and eventually received a scholarship to Oregon State University when he was 17 where he obtained a BS in mathematics. He also earned three other degrees – a Ph.D.

Dr. Philip Emeagwali's resume is loaded with many other such feats, including ways of making oil fields more productive – which has resulted in the United States saving President Kenyatta was recognised for initiating progressive economic prohundreds of millions of dollars each year. As one of the grammes aimed most famous African-American inventors of the 20th century, Dr. Emeagwali also has won the Gordon Bell Prize – the President Uhuru Kenyatta has received a continental award for his leaderNobel Prize for computation. His computers are currently being used to forecast the weather and to predict the likeli- ship. hood and effects of future global warming.

The Head of State was picked for the Africa Education and Leadership Award for his ability to build consensus locally and abroad and his efforts to For more information on Dr. Philip Emeagwali, refer to: change policies for the better and supervise solutions that address Kenya’s pressing issues.

Dr. Philip Emeagwali, "Father of the Internet" Emeagwali.com – Famous African American Inventor Thousands of university students from institutions of higher learning in Africa also recognised President Kenyatta for initiating progressive economic programmes aimed at uplifting the lives of Kenyans.

Honda Begins Assembly Of Accord Car In Nigeria

Nigeria in 1980. In 2013, it established a local automobile business subsidiary and began imports and sales. Honda Motors’ new president and chief executive officer, Takahiro Hachigo, in a speech in Tokyo last week, heralded the Nigerian assembly plant.

Honda views Africa as a new growth market. It has been expanding its motorcycle, automobile and power products businesses in the southern part of Africa through its local subsidiary established in South Africa in 2000.

By Chima Akwaja — Honda Automobile Western Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary, yesterday said that it had begun local assembly of the Accord Sedan in Lagos, Nigeria.

Initial Accord annual production capacity is 1,000 units and it is Honda’s first car plant in Africa.

The firm established the car plant by installing automobile production facilities and equipment within the property of the existing Honda motorcycle production plant.

The automaker began motorcycle production and sales in

In Kenya, in the eastern part of Africa, Honda established an automobile business office in December 2011, followed by the establishment of a motorcycle production and sales subsidiary in March 2013.

Honda Motors senior managing officer and director, Yoshi Yamane, said, “I expect that this initiative will lead to a great leap in our automobile business in Nigeria and become a first step toward expansion to the entire African market.” http://leadership.ng/

The students, who are members of the All-Africa Students Union (AASU), presented President Kenyatta with the award, which, among other things, celebrates “outstanding leadership and educational excellence”.

The AASU is based in Accra, Ghana.

AASU student leaders, drawn from 12 local universities, presented the award to the President at State House in Nairobi.

They were led by AASU East African representative Lone Felix of Kenyatta University.

They were accompanied by Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi , PS Belio Kipsang and a team from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is a previous recipient of the award.

The President said it was important for students to engage the Education ministry when they have issues instead of taking to the streets to protest.

“You should engage the ministry (of Education) in a more constructive manner without going to the streets and throwing stones”, the President told the student leaders, who also told the Head of State they needed more funding from the Higher Education Loans Board.

The President instructed Prof Kaimenyi and head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua to explore how the students can be funded to hold the next AASU summit in Nairobi later in the year.

He said it is necessary to establish more incubation centres where students can nurture their skills and develop their innovative ideas.

President Kenyatta said he was excited by incubation centres where young people are developing products and exploring economic opportunities.

Source:Dailynation.com by- PSCU

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Young African ConneXions Annual Summit and Mandela Day of Service

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As part of its Youth Development program and in honor of Nelson Mandela International Day, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (MOAA), held its first-ever Young African ConneXions Annual Summit titled African Youth Leadership and Linkages at the Howard University School of Business Auditorium on Friday, July 17, 2015 with a subsequent Mandela Day of Service on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 9:00 am at Good Hope Marketplace.

The summit was held in partnership with the Mandela Washington Fellows, Howard University, with the aim to bring together bright minds and foster interactions between the District’s African immigrant community and young professionals from the continent on topics such as youth leadership, public service, technology, community advocacy, and the importance of creating sustained linkages. The Summit and Day of Service reflect Mayor Bowser’s policy initiatives that focus on youth, namely Empowering Males of Color (EMOC) and Families, Recreation, Education/Employment, Safety and Health Summer (FRESH Summer) initiatives, and the youth engagement campaign #IWishUKnew. The summit featured two panels and distinguished speakers, including Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, H. E. Mninwa Mahlangu, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Pape Samb, Chairman and CEO of the Global Youth Innovation Network, and Naomi Ferguson, 2015 Mandela Fellow.

In recognition of his iconic leadership and his 67 years of public service, Nelson Mandela International Day was launched globally on July 18, 2008 to mark the former South African leader’s birthday. MOAA’s Mandela Day of Service is organized to promote community service and civic engagement of the District’s African communities. DC Government agencies such as Mayor's Office of the Clean City, Serve DC, DC Youth Advisory Council were joined by local volunteers and community members to conduct a street clean-up and to remove debris on Mandela Day.

Mamadou Samba, Executive Director, DC Mayor’s Office on African Affairs

Originally from Dakar, Senegal, Mamadou Samba’s unique background has given him both firsthand experience of the challenges that African immigrants and children face when acclimating to the new culture of the U.S., and the passion to speak on behalf of this immigrant population.

Mr. Mamadou Samba received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina Aiken, where he was awarded an NCAA athletic scholarship. He went on to receive a Master of Public Administration degree from Kennesaw State University. In 2011, he was one of six out of nearly 100 candidates selected to join the Capital City Fellows program a mayoral initiative to attract and recruit graduate students to work for the District. Mamadou researched and compiled the District’s first-ever report on African immigrant population growth since the 1960s.

As an immigrant himself, Mamadou has extensive experience in addressing challenges faced by Diaspora Africans in the District and nationwide. He played a significant role in securing grants for African nonprofit organizations. As Executive Director of the Office on African Affairs, he is responsible for leading a variety of programs and services for the African immigrant community in the District.

Afrikan

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July 2015

Nigerian-Born Scientist Wins Annual St. Louis Award For His Cancer-Seeing Glasses

Nigerian scientist and inventor, Dr Samuel Achilefu, is still making news months after he broke new ground in surgical treatments of cancer by inventing cancer-visualising glasses, now commonly known as ‘cancer goggles’

It was an inscription his father left on the wall of their home when Dr Samuel Achilefu was only 5 years-old that spurred him to achieve great heights: “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. But when name is lost, everything is lost“.

According to Achilefu, this meant to him that “…one should be above reproach, that a good name trumps ill-gotten wealth. It set a moral standard that we should follow in life.”

One can understand how this maxim led to him being the brains behind a device that could help transform tens of thousands of cancer sufferers around the globe, into cancer survivors.

According to Washington University in St. Louis, Achilefu’s ‘cancer goggles’ are designed to make it easier for surgeons to distinguish malignant cells from healthy cells, helping to ensure that no stray tumour cells are left behind during surgery to remove a cancerous tumour. The glasses could reduce the need for additional surgical procedures and the subsequent stress on patients, as well as time and expense. The system uses custom video technology, a head-mounted display and a targeted molecular display that attaches itself to cancer cells, giving them a ‘glow’ when viewed through the eye gear.

“A limitation of surgery is that it’s not always clear to the naked eye the distinction between normal tissue and cancerous tissue,” Ryan Fields, MD, an assistant professor of surgery who has used the goggles with melanoma patients at Siteman Cancer Center, said last year. “With the glasses developed by Dr. Achilefu, we can better identify the tissue that must be removed.”

The award is given to a resident of the St. Louis area whose achievements reflect positively on the community. In January this year stood in front of his peers at the Eric P. Newman Center for Education to receive his accolade.

“Our efforts start with two words: ‘What if?’. These words may sound simple, but they embody the belief that each person has the potential to make a difference, if only he or she can take the time to understand the problem.”

After receiving a PhD in molecular physical and materials chemistry at the University of Nancy, France, where he attended on a French government scholarship, and postdoctoral training in oxygen transport mechanisms, Achilefu moved to St. Louis, US in 1993 to join the nascent Discovery Research Department at Mallinckrodt Medical Inc. Currently, he serves as a Washington University School of Medicine Professor of Medicine.

Samuel Achilefu receiving his award at the Eric P. Newman Education Center. Photo: Robert Boston

credit – thisisafrica.me

Dr Achilefu demonstrating the use of the eyewear. Photo: BBC

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Namibian eye doctor wins first UN Nelson Mandela Prize

Afrikan

Post

The President of the United Nations General Assembly announced on Monday that the winners of the inaugural United Nations Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela Prize are Namibian ophthalmologist Dr Helena Mandume and Portuguese lawyer and politician, Jorge Sampaio

including throughout his tenure as Lisbon’s Mayor from 1989 to 1995 and as the 18th President of the Republic from 1996 to 2006.”

On announcing the prize winners, Sam Kutesa, President of the 69th session of the General Assembly said, “The prize recognizes In the United Nations Nelson Rholihlahla the achievements of those who dedicate their Mandela Prize’s first year ever, the selection lives to the service of humanity by promoting committee decided to award the prize to two UN purposes and principles while honouring recipients: Dr Helena Ndume, an ophthalmoloNelson Mandela’s extraordinary life and legagist from Namibia and Portuguese politician cy of reconciliation, political transition and Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio who served as social transformation,”.

President of the country from 1996 to 2006.

Dr Mandume provides free ophthalmology services to sufferers of blindness and eye-related diseases in Namibia. From 2001 to 2007 she was vice-chairperson of the Namibian Red Cross Society and her charitable work has helped tens of thousands of Namibians address their eye illnesses.

Her co-laureate, Jorge Sampaio, has been awarded the distinction for his part in the “struggle to restore democracy in Portugal –

The award ceremony will take place on 24 July 2015, at UN Headquarters in New York as part of the annual UN commemoration of International Nelson Mandela Day. The Day is typically celebrated on the late South African leader’s birthday, 18 July, when the UN joins a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others.

July 2015

United States Dedicates New Embassy in Cotonou, Benin

State Department Photo

Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Department of State

In an important symbol of enduring friendship with Benin, Under Secretary for Management Patrick F. Kennedy, U.S. Charge d’affaires Todd R. Whatley, and Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Managing Director for Construction, Facility, and Security Management Eric Rumpf, alongside local officials, dedicated the new U.S. Embassy in Cotonou today.

The new $189 million campus is situated on an 8.8-acre site along one of the city’s main thoroughfares, Boulevard de la Marina, close to other diplomatic and ministerial buildings near the city center. Sustainable features to conserve resources and reduce operating costs include photovoltaic panels, light-emitting diode (LED) site lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, wastewater treatment, and drought-tolerant landscaping.

NATIVE DOCTOR

Source: United Nations News Centre http://www.risingafrica.org

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Yost Grube Hall Architecture of Portland, Oregon, is the design architect, and PAGE of Washington, D.C., is the architect of record.

B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama constructed the complex.

Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has completed 122 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 39 projects in design or under construction.

OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. Government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

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16

Call 571-229-6817, 14818 Bryan Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193

Student from Ghana raises over $12000 to start a rapidly growing Sauce business in America July 2015

In August 2011, Nana Kwamena Takyi-Micah was selected to represent Hiram College in the Entrepreneurship Immersion Week in Ashland University in Ohio among four other students. His group struggled to find a good business idea to compete with some of the biggest schools in Ohio such as Kent State University, University of Akron and Case Western Reserve. He realized the potential shito had due to its versatile use and his teammates agreed to pitch the concept to the judges in the final stage of the competition.

He always asked himself “If Chinese food can be found globally and used by people of all walks of life, why not Ghanaian food?”. He soon realized stew would be a better idea that would be more marketable and adaptable to Americans. Today, his product is in almost 20 stores throughout Ohio as he plans on expanding to nearby states. The company is growing rapidly and have generated several thousands of dollars in sales.

Ghana is well known for it’s delicious dishes like fufuu and delicious groundnut soup or its authentic jollof rice to mention a few. The latter has been a national staple for many years and it is normally served with stew, chicken and occasionally salad. In most homes, families tend to eat kontomire stew and yam, chicken stew with rice or corn beef stew. A recent graduate of Hiram College from Ghana has figured out a formula to put stew in a bottle giving it a two-year shelf life.

His name is Nana Kwamena Takyi-Micah. When he was a toddler growing up in Ghana, he loved to ask his mother several questions while she prepared various dishes such as her delicious chicken groundnut soup and her famous stew. As he grew older, he developed an appetite and a unique passion for food that he decided to select catering while he attended Ridge Church School for BECE. After graduating from Ghana Christian International High School, he enrolled into Hiram College in the United States and realized he had developed an interest in entrepreneurship. Hence, he was selected to represent his school in the Entrepreneurship Immersion Week, a competition for aspiring entrepreneurs representing schools throughout Ohio. This allowed him to pitch the idea of his mother’s sauce (stew) to a panel of judges. It is a product anyone can use as a marinade, salsa, a marinara or a cocktail sauce for shrimp. Although his team didn’t win the competition, this birthed the idea of Supreme Sauce.

Initially, he did not have the funds to start his business. So he saved up all the allowances his parents sent him as well as picking up three jobs at Hiram College’s campus such as a teaching assistant position, orientation leader and dishwasher. It took him three years of hard work and persistence to finish his business plan and raise the necessary capital. Eventually, he managed to raise about $12,000 which he used to acquire a vehicle, register his company as an LLC, develop a website, a pallet of sauce, a bar code, and a label. Ultimately, Kwamena’s goal is to share his delicious sauce with all food lovers, vegans and the diverse communities across the country.

After only a few months in the food business, his sauce is now available in almost twenty store locations throughout Ohio. Some of his biggest clients include Jungle Jim’s, Zagara’s Marketplace, Krieger’s Health Food Market, Pepper’s Market, Gibb’s Butcher Block and Narrin’s Spices and Sauce in the Westside Market. In the future, he hopes to expand his product line by including a spicier flavor of Supreme Sauce and plantain chips. Outside work, he enjoys inspiring others through the music he writes. At home, he always uses his product to eat kenkey, rice, waakye, jollof and many other Ghanaian dishes. He plans to bring the business to Ghana to create jobs and provide internships for students in secondary and tertiary institutions. He also offers internships to students in Cleveland Ohio to learn the ins and outs of starting and operating a small business. http://www.risingafrica.org

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From Watchman To Doctor: The Story Of Tetteh Nettey

July 2015

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in school for assistance. That was how he wrote his General Certificates of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced Level courses.

He did his GCE Ordinary Level (O’ Level) in 10 months. Immediately he finished, he did not wait for the release of the O’Level results and proceeded to do his A’Level.

In 11 months, he passed his A’Level and was admitted to the University of London where he failed his law courses.

‘The programme was a distance one and I found it difficult to understand the university education and its settings and how things were done. That is how come I wrote the book, You Failed, So What?. He believes that failure to achieve certain tasks is not the end of one’s life.

He did not give up but enrolled in Central University College in Accra and read Bachelor of Science Human Resource Management. At the university too, he was a watchman opening the gate for his colleagues while he studied.

Finally, he came out with a Second Class Upper and followed it up later with a Master’s programme in Entrepreneurship at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administraion (GIMPA) also in between the time he did his undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

He has a passion for education and will do whatever it takes legally to achieve an educational goal he sets for himself. For him, education is the key to an individual’s breakthrough in life.

‘Personally I have come to believe in education. I didn’t have that belief when I was growing up but along the way in the 1990s, my perception of life changed for the better because I suddenly realised that education is really important to success in life’.

time by pursuing a technical programme at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) for three years to study Auto Mechanic.

‘I went on an internship at Construction Pioneers (CP) on three different occasions. On two occasions, I was there as an auto mechanic intern. I was, however, fired as an intern as a result of what they described as day-dreaming,’ he quipped.

These are the words of the Founder and President of High Point Academy, Meridian Pre-University and the Marshalls University For him, he was not sleeping on the job but waiting for his master to bring a certain part for them to comCollege at Odorkor in Accra, Dr Tetteh Nettey. plete the job.

He also serves as the Vice-Chairman of Meridian-Marshalls Holding Limited (MMH), the mother company of Meridian Pre- Apparently, while he waited, one of the CP German University and Marshalls College. The MMH will launch its ini- supervisors who passed by saw him seated idle and tial public offer (IPO) to be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange thought he had nothing to do and so fired him. on April 22, 2015.

That, however, did not deter him, and so he applied again to the same company but to a different departThe event will take place at the World Trade Centre in Accra.

The MMH will thus become the first and only educational insti- ment as a watchman. tution in sub-Sahara Africa to be listed on the Stock Exchange.

He was subsequently posted to the James Town office He is the co-founder of HYPERLINK and the author of the of CP where he worked for two-and-a-half years. book,You Failed, So What?.

Dr Nettey, who recently successfully defended his dissertation for his Doctor of Management Degree in Columbus, Ohio, hails from Gbese at James Town in Accra.

He was born to Maxwell Nerboi Nettey and Mary Opong Ansomaa from Nsawam in the Eastern Region.

He began school with his siblings at the St Anthony Preparatory School at Latebiokorshie.

Young Nettey then proceeded to Cambridge International School after which he stayed at home for sometime because the second cycle schools he chose did not admit him due to his grades.

He did not give up but decided to continue his education this

During night duties and whenever he was less busy, Nettey, then about 24 years, would use the time to read books.

‘I did not like my environment because I was so close to the Korle Lagoon with all the stench. So I had to do a lot of thinking, asking myself whether that was where my life was going to end?’

He told The Mirror that asking himself so many questions about his life and future challenged him to improve upon himself by putting his belief strongly in God. Having considered education as the way out, he was faced with the task of funding his education if he wanted to go back to school to better himself.

Tetteh Nettey took advantage of his 24-hour off shifts to do private studies by going out to friends who were

He introduced the pre-university concept in Ghana, with the setting up of the Meridian Pre-University in August, 2007 because he wanted to give opportunity to students who did not meet the requirements for the universities but had completed second cycle institutions.

‘We started the Meridian Pre-University in 2007 but we did not have a university in mind. But in second/third year, we realised that there was the need to start our own university college. So we started the process of accreditation for Marshalls and by God’s grace in our fifth year, we had the green light from the National Accreditation Board’.

He also went ahead to set up a remedial school called High Point Academy having in mind those who did not pass their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). It was to enable them to pass their examination for university education.

‘I have made attempts in various ways to try and improve myself and I know the only way, in my opinion, is through education,’ he emphasised.

His persuit for more knowledge has caused him to enroll on a Stanford University Programme to further sharpen his skills.

He believes the acquisition of more knowledge would make him better.

Dr Nettey is married to Genevieve and they have three children – Grandsir, Lynnette and Giovanni Nettey. credit – www.modernghana.com

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Afrikan Post

Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah

Sometimes when things go awry in our lives and we experience hardships, we should not always accept them as just the ups and downs of life. When we do that, we might be unconsciously granting permission for an ill to permeate our lives, allowing it to secure a stronghold for months or years to come. Additionally, when we casually accept such things, we are in fact normalizing them as part of the expectations for our lives. On the contrary, the word of God intends for us that above all things, we should prosper and be in good health even as our souls do well (3 John 1:2).

With this godly wish for us, we should infer that when we face certain adversities, something must be amiss and as a result, we not only have to wonder but quietly ponder to determine what precipitated the hardship. At times, we are very clear about its roots, but when we are not, we have to look not only around us, but inward as well to investigate when and where we might have gone wrong and unknowingly or carelessly brought hardship unto ourselves. When we are able to take time out to question ourselves and reflect on the matter and seek God’s face about it, we are likely to get to the truth of it and then be in the position to do something about it. But if we don’t pause to reflect and honestly engage in some introspection and even pray about it, then we are in actuality accepting our condition, failing to see that we don’t have to tolerate it when we can eradicate it.

Over and over again, the Bible presents us with instances from which to learn and apply to our lives. We have numerous examples of individuals causing themselves harm by their actions or attitudes. These actual stories are there to warn us of what could happen to us when we disobey God. The faults of these persons are by omission or commission, but they are faults nevertheless caused by them.

There are however times that perhaps the fault might not rest with us. Sometimes the Lord Himself is testing us by using trials and tribulations to prove our faithfulness and to cause us to grow. However, even with such instances, we will have to question ourselves and honestly determine if the trials and tribulations we are experiencing are a test from God and not trouble we have brought upon ourselves. We have to search ourselves.

In the book of Job, we have a great example of the righteous Job suffering, not because he had deliberately or unintentionally erred in his relationship with God, but that God uses the tribulation to test Job’s faithfulness to Him. What is wonderful about the story of Job is that God Himself testifies of and defends Job against an accusing devil that Job is a righteous man. And because Job is righteous and in good standing with God, God had built a protective hedge around him and his family that nothing may harm them.

However, the devil challenges God that Job is only self-serving and is faithful to him simply because of the blessings and protection that God had provided. Furthermore, he challenges God that should He take away those things, Job would surely reject God, and curse Him. A confident God loosens his protection of Job and allows the enemy to do what he will, but despite the loss of all his property, his children and then even his health, Job remains faithful and God further honors him. The Bible tells us that the Lord

Search Yourself

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rewarded him so much that Job was blessed even more in his latter days than he had been formerly.

The point here is that there are times when we will undergo tribulations, not because we have brought them upon ourselves, but that God wants to test us and move us to a higher level. Another point is that both God and Job knew Job had been perfect and upright and that he did nothing to warrant the tribulations. Because Job was confident in his relationship with God, in his frustration and anguish about his severe suffering, he could boldly question God as to why He had allowed such terrible things to happen to him. Can you boldly question God when you are facing tribulation?

Can you confidently assert that you are righteous and have not committed a sin where God would be displeased and where the enemy, who is roaming about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, may have a charge against you that warrants his mayhem? Search yourself.

Unlike Job, we have a character such as Jonah who, deliberately disobeying God, found himself a prisoner in a whale. A prophet no less, Jonah committed the sin of omission by refusing an assignment from God to prophesy to the people of Nineveh, and boarded a ship in an attempt to run away from God. God responds to Jonah with a severe storm while on the ship and subsequently assigns a whale to swallow him after he had been tossed into the sea, leaving him in the whale for three days and three nights. Jonah had to be honest with himself and admit that his defiance to God’s instructions led him to his predicament. He also realized that his only means of escaping the belly of the whale was acknowledging his sin and praying to God for forgiveness and deliverance. Jonah prays, “ For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. So I said, I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward your holy temple….I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord” (Jonah 2: 3, 4 & 9). After remaining in the whale for three days and uttering his prayer, Jonah was delivered. The Bible states, “Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land” (Jonah 2:10).

Let’s be real like Jonah and cut to the chase. Jonah was not in denial of his sin. He did not have to wonder and ponder about the root of his calamity. He was keenly aware that it was due to his disobedience. What about you? Are you aware of your relationship with God and your adherence to his commandments and instructions? Are you in tune with Him and them or have you erred like Jonah? Sometimes our sin of omission comes from our stubbornness and pride, very common sins. These two characteristics of our sinful nature cannot only hinder our blessings, but can also bring a truck load of problems in our lives. We can sit in church week after week and hear the word of God even on a daily basis, and yet because of our stubbornness and pride, we refuse to honor God’s word. Then we go about our lives as if we are well with God. While we are in fact bringing all sorts of problems in our lives and yet remain in denial about their roots because we would prefer to hold on to our pride and will than to humble ourselves to God. Take a lesson from the page of Jonah and let go of your will and pride. Humbly go to God and see if He will not answer you as he did Jonah.

Like Jonah, I have been there and done that and so trust me when I say, it is far liberating to humble yourself to God’s will than to deal with that truck load of issues.

We have another example in Samson. Samson, a child of promise of whom it was foretold would be a Nazirite, is a special man of God with great strength. His great strength, as the Bible tells us, lies in his long hair. Samson was to keep certain commandments, among them not allowing a razor to touch his hair and not involving himself with women of a different nation. However, as most of us know the story, Samson takes up with Delilah and eventually, she is able to persuade and seduce him into telling her the secret to his

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strength. She betrays him to his enemies, the Philistines, and is captured. With his hair cut off, Samson loses his strength and his eyes are also gauged out (Judges 16). Like Jonah, Samson acknowledged that he had sinned and therefore opened the door of his life to be afflicted and tormented by his enemies. Thus, Samson prayed to God for redemption saying, “O Lord God please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes” (Judges 16:29). And because God is a merciful father who answers the prayers of his children when they are repentant, He hears Samson and grants him his request.

What I have learned from the word of God with such examples and from my own life experiences is that the Lord loves His children and is always ready to forgive them when they are repentant. What sin have you committed or are engaged in that is causing you judgment? Are you aware of it? Do you realize that perhaps you have erred in a way that you should not have? Consider your current circumstance of perhaps job loss, sickness, marital woes, disobedient and wayward children, family troubles and so on. Have you considered them all? Have you honestly searched yourself and found that like Job you are innocent and that God is only putting you through a test, from which He will undoubtedly reward you after your successful completion or have you discovered that you have indeed opened the door to your own difficulties and curses either from the hand of God as Jonah suffered or at the hand of the enemy as we witness with the Samson scenario?

Finally, let us look at another example which did not end well as it resulted not only in the death of the culprit, but also that of his own child. The truth is that the sins we commit do not only affect us, but our children and loved ones as well, for the Bible tells us that our sins can affect our children and our children’s children unto the third and to the fourth generation ( Exodus 34:7). So it is critical that we are careful with our attitudes and actions so that we do not invite damnation to ourselves and our family. The tragic story of King Saul, the first king of Israel is one that we should always keep in mind as a cautionary tale. King Saul, a man selected by God Himself and appointed King sinned against God by performing a burnt offering that the Prophet Samuel was to perform.

What Saul did by offering the burnt offering was stepping beyond his authority and usurping the authority of the prophet. It was also contrary to God’s will. Seeing the grievous sin that Saul had committed, Samuel said to him, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord the God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you” (I Samuel 13:13-14).

Yet again, Saul sins when after the Lord led him to conquer the Amalekites, he disobeys Him by sparing Agag their king, when God had stipulated that none should be spared. To make matters worse, Saul also spared some of their live stock. Finally, Samuel admonishes Saul saying, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king….The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you” (I Samuel 15:22,23,28). From there on, Saul is grievously unhappy, chronically jealous of David, God’s chosen king to replace him, and tormented by demonic spirits. Saul is unrepentant and becomes more evil. In the end, not only does he lose his life but his good son Jonathan also dies. Saul’s sin shames his family and causes him and his heir to lose the throne.

The words of the great prophet Samuel speak volumes and are recorded to warn and caution us about how to relate to God and His will.

It is not our sacrifices and our offerings that God prefers, but our obedience and humility. Our stubbornness and rebellion to His word are like witchcraft unto God and our sins like that of idol worshiping. I think if we would bear in our minds and hearts that ignoring and refusing to honor God’s word is tantamount to witchcraft and wizardry, we would be more careful to order our steps and search ourselves to be in right standing with God. So let us be wise to search ourselves often, determining where we stand and how we are progressing in our Christian walk. Let us be honest with ourselves and our God, for He is ready to forgive and restore even if we err.

"Sixth Sense"

Blind man in a Hotel...

Manager - Menu Sir ???

Man - I'm blind, just bring me ur kitchen spoon, I'll Smell it & order.

Manager got a spoon Blind Smelt & said "Yes, I'll have garlic bread with season Potatoes...

"Unbelievable" said the manager...

Every week he came & was correct each time.

Once manager wanted to trick him, He went to the kitchen and told his wife Maria "Rub this spoon on ur lips".

She rubs it on her lips and gives it to her hubby...

Blind man smelt & said,"Oh ! My God......!!

My classmate Maria also works here!!

Manager fainted !!!

Joke Center

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

During a robbery in Hong Kong, the bank robber shouted to everyone in the bank: "Don't move. The money belongs to the Government. Your life belongs to you."

Everyone in the bank laid down quietly.

This is called "Mind Changing Concept” Changing the conventional way of thinking.

When a lady lay on the table provocatively, the robber shouted at her: "Please be civilised! This is a robbery and not a rape!"

This is called "Being Professional” Focus only on what you are trained to do!

When the bank robbers returned home, the younger robber (MBA trained) told the older robber (who has only completed Year 6 in primary school): "Big brother, let's count how much we got."

The older robber rebutted and said: "You are very stupid. There is so much money it will take us a long time to count. Tonight, the TV news will tell us how much we robbed from the bank!"

This is called "Experience” Nowadays, experience is more important than paper qualifications!

After the robbers had left, the bank manager told the bank supervisor to call the police quickly. But the supervisor said to him: "Wait! Let us take out $10 million from the bank for ourselves and add it to the $70 million that we have previously embezzled from the bank”.

This is called "Swim with the tide” Converting an unfavorable situation to your advantage!

The supervisor says: "It will be good if there is a robbery every month."

This is called "Changing priority” Personal Happiness is more important than your job”.

The next day, the TV news reported that $100 million was taken from the bank. The robbers counted and counted and counted, but they could only count $20 million.

The robbers were very angry and complained: "We risked our lives and only took $20 million. The bank manager took $80 million with a snap of his fingers. It looks like it is better to My neighbour gave birth to twins and said she was tired of regular be educated than to names given to twins like Victor & Victoria, Paul & Pauline, etc. be a thief!"

This is called "Knowledge is worth as much as gold So she asked me to come up with some names and this is what l Credit came up with: Tom & Jerry, Copy & Paste, Praise & Worship, Boko & Haram, Demand & Supply, Terms & Conditions, Chicken & Chips, Ripe & Ready, Pick & Pay, Wash & Wear. When l asked my uncle he said Cash & Carry, what about you?

Suggest a Name

July 2015

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A TRUE LIFE STORY

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A woman abandoned her husband & her four (4) year old son for her rich boyfriend & they both (woman & boy friend) eventually travelled to the U.S.A

Out of frustration & desperation the husband went & married another woman. Unfortunately the 2nd woman couldn't bear a child for the husband. Despite her inability to bear a child, the 2nd woman took great care of the boy & treated him like her own son.

Few years later, the husband died in a car accident. The 2nd wife did everything in her power to educate the boy, she engaged in petty trade such as pepper, maggie, salt, palm oil, onion, tomatoes, etc, in the market square in order to sponsor the boy's schooling. The boy only knew his step mother as his real mother & there4, he called her Mama.

The real mother in the U.S.A did not for once find out about the wellbeing of her son thoughtless of sending a penny for the boy, even after she heard that her x-husband (son's father) died in an accident.

Some years later, this boy grew up into a very intelligent young man waiting for his B.A Hons degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University.

The real mother who also could not bear another child in the U.S since she eloped with her boyfriend, realized that she had made a terrible mistake by abandoning her own son. She decided to return home to look for her son & present to him all her wealth acquired over the years in the States.

She eventually found her son battling between life & death in the hospital for kidney failure. The Doctors demanded huge amount of money for the operation & the step mother couldn't afford it.

The real mother stepped in & paid all the hospital bills & donated one of her own kidneys & the son was saved.

Shortly after, the final results were out & the son got a distinction & also got a five year (5) scholarship to pursue his Masters degree in the U.K

At the presentation of the certificate, the Vice Chancellor gave the mic to the son to call his mother to come up stage & receive the certificate. The moment the Vice Chancellor made the statement, the real mother got up & arranged herself waiting to be called upon whilst the step mother sat down & looked at the boy with tears running her chick.

The answer is suspended..........

Assume you are the son, who would you call on up stage?

A) Real Mother B) Step Mother

Remember only one person you should call.

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Facebook opens its first Africa office in Johannesburg

Mammy Dumbuya at the White House July 2015

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By: SEM Contributor on July 1, 2015.

Sierra Leone’s eminent religious leader and humanitarian, Apostle Dora Dumbuya , was given the stupendous honour she deserves for a lifetime of preaching the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and promoting the work of God .

Facebook has opened its first headquarters in Africa as it looks to add to its existing 120 million users on the continent.

The new office in Johannesburg will focus on growing markets in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, it says.

About one in five people in Africa have internet access, but almost double that figure are expected to have mobile internet connections by 2020.

About 80% of those who use Facebook in Africa access the site by mobile phone.

"This is one of the places where our next billion users are coming from," Facebook's vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa Nicola Mendelsohn told Bloomberg news.

Facebook says it will also be looking to boost growth in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique and Ethiopia as part of its increased presence in Africa.

Mammy Dumbuya was the first and only African minister of the gospel invited to the White House and honored with an international award for her outstanding leadership, ministry and humanitarian services in Sierra Leone and the international community in a banquet after the White House event . She was also the only religious leader invited from Africa to take part in the White House Caribbean-American Heritage Month 10th Anniversary Briefing.

Mammy Dumbuya was accompanied to the White House by Sierra Leone’s Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Nations and Coordinator of the African Union Committee of 10 on UN Security Council Reform , Rev. Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu , who is also Co-Pastor of the Covenant Child World Ministries of New Jersey . Three other ministers of the gospel who formed part of the entourage that accompanied Mammy Dumbuya to the White House included the Pastor of the Bride of Christ International Ministry of New Jersey, Rev. Emmanuel Sengulay; the Senior Pastor/[President of the Jesus Christ Church of All Nations, Rev. Abdul Jesus and the Associate Pastor of the Covenant Child World Minstries , Pastor Gibrilla Dumbuya . Other members of the delegation included Brother Hassan Iftoni jr and Sisters Massa Ndoeka, Fatmata Conteh , Abibatu Daramamy .

Key White House officials at the occasion included the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Home Security , Jeh Johnson; Mr. Elias Alcantara, Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs ; Ms Ashley Allison , Deputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement; Luke Tate, Special Assistant to President Obama For Economic Mobility ; Roy Austin, Deputy Assistant to the President For the Office of Urban Affairs , Justice and Opportunity ; Michael Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Cabinet Affairs For the My Brothers’ Keeper; Karen Andre, White House Liaison for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ; Astrid Dorelien , Foreign Affairs Officer at the Deparment of State; Jeffrey Salai , Director for Central America and the Caribbean at the National Security Council; Gonzalez Gallegos , Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy For the Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs , Kalisha Dessources , Staff Assistant for Public Engagement and Inter-government Affairs , among others.

Mama Dumbuya’s international award was given later in the evening at the International Awards Gala of the Caribbean and African Faith-Based and Community Leadership Conference at the Howard University in Washington DC. SEE REPORT : http://cocorioko.info/unbelievable-scenes-of-jubilation-in-the-u-sas-mammy-dumbuya-celebrated-and-given-international-award/

Mammy Dumbuya also attended the Congressional Legislative Forum last Thursday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.

By KABS KANU, Cocorioko http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/

African Symbols that Prove Africans Were Always Spiritually Superior

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African symbols from Egypt are well known, but now is time to discover more African symbols specially from West Africa, called Adinkra.

Adinkra are visual symbols, originally created by the Ashanti of Ghana and the Gyaman of Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa. They represent concepts or aphorisms, and are extensively used in fabrics, pottery, logos and advertising.The symbols have a decorative function but also represent objects that encapsulate evocative messages that convey traditional wisdom, aspects of life or the environment. The Collection below is from the work of Jean MacDonald, and is destined to African artists and designers for inspiration in logo, websites, clothes, jewelery and fashion design, not forget for tattoos.. Source:http://www.adinkra.org/

MATE MASIE

ME WARE WO

"What I hear, I keep" "I shall marry you " symbol of wisdom, knowledge and prudence symbol of commitment, perThe implied meaning of severance the phrase "mate masie" is "I understand".

From the expression "No one Understanding means wis- rushes into the job of mixing dom and knowledge, but it the concrete for building the also represents the pruhouse of marriage." dence of taking into consideration what another person has said.

NKONSONKONSON

MPUANNUM

NYAME NNWU NA MAWU

"God never dies, therefore I cannot die" symbol of God's omnipresence and the perpetual existence of man's spirit This signifies the immortality of man's soul, believed to be a part of God. Because the soul rests with God after death, it cannot die.

"five tufts" (of hair) symbol of priestly office, loyalty and adroitness "This symbol is said to be the A reminder to contribute to the hairstyle of joy. It is the tradicommunity, that in unity lies tional hairstyle of the priestesses. ... The design of the strength adinkra symbol mpuannum resembles the way the priestesses' hair was tied. ...

"chain link" symbol of unity and human relations

PEMPAMSIE

“Sew in readiness”symbol of readiness, steadfastness, hardiness According to the The Adinkra Dictionary, the design of this symbol resembles the links of a chain, and implies strength through unity as well as the importance of being prepared.

NKYINKYIM

SESA WO SUBAN NYAME YE OHENE

"Change or transform your character " symbol of life transformation This symbol combines two separate adinkra symbols, the "Morning Star" which can mean a new start to the day, placed inside the wheel, representing rotation or independent movement.

NYAME DUA

"tree of god" – altar symbol of God's presence and protection The Nyame Dua is a sacred spot where rituals are performed. Erected in front of the house or compound, it is crafted from a tree that has been cut where three or more branches come together.

TAMFO BEBRE

“the ladder of death” symbol of mortality a "the enemy will stew in reminder of the transihis own juice" tory symbol of jealousy nature of existence in this world and of the imperative to live a good life to be a worthy soul in the afterlife

symbol of majesty and supremacy of God

NSOROMMA

"If your hands are in the dish"

symbol of participatory government, democracy and pluralism

NYANSAPO

"child of the heavens [stars] " symbol of wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience symbol of guardianship An especially revered symbol of the Akan, this symbol conveys the A reminder that God is the idea that "a wise person has the father and watches over all capacity to choose the best meeans people. to attain a goal. Being wise implies broad knowledge, learning and experience, and the ability to apply such faculties to practical ends."

KETE PA

"good bed "

"God is King "

WO NSA DA MU A

FIHANKRA

ESE NE TEKREMA

"house/compound" "the teeth and the tongue" symbol of security and symbol of friendship and symbol of a good marsafety interdependence riage The teeth and the tongue From the expression that Typical of Akan play interdependent roles a woman who has a good (Asante) architecture, in the mouth. They may marriage is said to sleep the communal housing come into conflict, but on a good bed.Arthur compound has only they need to work one entrance and exit. together.

MPATAPO "knot of pacification/reconciliation" symbol of reconciliation, peacemaking and pacification

OSRAM NE NSOROMMA

"The Moon and the Star" symbol of love, faithfulness, harmony

This symbol reflects the harmony that exists in the bonding between a man and a woman.

MMUSUYIDEE

"that which removes bad luck" symbol of good furtune and sanctity

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Akon meets top influential men in Africa including former President Kuffour, Obasanjo and more

Award winning US based Senegalese singer, Akon was a speaker at the Akon Lighting Africa symposium were he rubbed shoulders with some of Africa’s most influential leaders and businessmen including Ghana’s former President J.A.Kuffour, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.

July 2015

HIV: UN meets goal to treat 15 million

The goal to get HIV treatment to 15 million people by the end of 2015 has already been met, says the United Nations Aids agency.

The landmark figure was reached in March - nine months ahead of schedule.

It follows decades of global efforts and investment to get antiretroviral drugs to those in need such as people living in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2000, when the UN first set goals to combat HIV, fewer than 700,000 people were receiving these vital medicines.

According to UN Aids, which has a report out today, the global response to HIV has averted 30 million new HIV infections and nearly eight million Aids-related deaths since the millennium.

Over the same time frame, new HIV infections have fallen from 2.6 million per year to 1.8 million, and Aids-related deaths have gone down from 1.6 million to 1.2 million.

Meanwhile, global investment in HIV has gone up from £3.1bn ($4.8bn) in 2000 to more than £13bn ($20bn) in 2014.

And concerted action over the next five years could end the Aids epidemic by 2030, says UN Aids.

But progress has been slower in some areas.

Ending Aids A major gap seems to be in awareness of HIV status, which is the biggest barrier to treatment access, says the report.

And treatment access for children has lagged behind adults - although this is now improving.

The proportion of children living with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy almost doubled between 2010 and 2014 (from 14% to 32%), but coverage "remains notably lower than it does for adults", says the report.

Even though new HIV infections have gone down, there is still an unacceptable number of new HIV infections each year, contributing to the burden of the epidemic.

In 2014, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 66% of all new HIV infections. And at the last headcount, there were an estimated 25.8 million people in this region living with HIV. The estimated count for the whole world was 36.9 million.

This year sees the switch from Millennium Development Goals to broader Sustainable Development Goals.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations said: "The world has delivered on halting and reversing the Aids epidemic.

"Now we must commit to ending the Aids epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals."

The report says the next five years will be critical and recommends front-loading investment to "sprint" towards an ambition of ending the Aids epidemic by 2030. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-33509656

By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online

http://enterghana.com

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Sankofa Radio Holds 5th Annual Picnic

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Sankofa is an akan word that literally means "Go back and fetch it".A subsidiary of Sankofa Media Group, Sankofa Radio seeks to cater for the evolving needs of their listeners and the changing landscape of the media market. They engage in stimulating and thought provoking conversations on issues affecting our community. Their 5th annual picnic was held on June 20th at the Joseph Hensley park in Alexandria.Bisa K Dei a music star from Ghana were there to grace the occassion. There were fun filled activities as radio presenter Amankrado treated everyone to live music and organized a dancing competition.

Sankofa radio Presenters pose with the Sales Development officer of South African Aiways

Amankrado, Radio presenter entertaining the crowd

Vendors

DJ Ras and friends

Representatives of West African Collaborative Group (WACC-USA) at the fair

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America School of Nursing & Allied Health

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Begin Your Nursing Education Today

Classes Offered

Nurse Aide Training Medication Aide Training Home Health Aide Phlebotomy Training Pharmacy Technician Practical Nursing (LPN)

LPN Classes start August 31, 2015 MorningMon-Thursday 8am-2pm Evening 5pm-10pm Weekend Classes Start on August 31, 2015 8am-2pm

Call 703-490-8402 or Visit us at www.asnahonline.com 14910 Jefferson Davis Highway Woodbridge, Virginia 22191 Fax: (703) 490-8403

BIG SALE

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Nigerian student turns vintage US-based Nigerian, Ayokunle Adeniran volkswagen into $6000 solarInvents Gas-powered Pressing Iron powered car

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Segun Oyeyiola, a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, in Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, has converted a Volkswagen Beetle, using mainly scrap parts donated by friends and family, into a $6000 wind and solar powered car. He describes his creation as “Nigeria’s future car.”

The reinvented vintage Beetle comes fitted with a giant solar panel on the roof— exploiting Nigeria’s abundance of sunlight—and a wind turbine under the hood that takes advantage of airflow while the car is in motion. Also, to ensure the car does not clasp under the added weight of the installed technologies, it comes with an extrastrong suspension system.

The car is still in the early stages of design, and still requires a lot of work to reach the optimal target (the batteries for the solar panel take four to five hours to charge).

However, now that Segun has succeed in building a working prototype, he plans to take his final university exams and then get straight back to working on the eco-friendly car.

His concern for the environment has always been his motivation, this has helped him dedicate much of his time and resources to creating the automobile despite many critics labelling his pursuit ‘a waste of time’. “I wanted to reduce carbon dioxide emission[s] going to our atmosphere that lead to climate change or global warming which has become a new reality, with deleterious effect,” he said. “Seasonal cycles are disrupted, as are ecosystems; and agriculture, water needs and supply, and food production are all adversely affected.”

Source : http://venturesafrica.com

The 'Nepaless Iron' also known as the ‘Iron Rhino’ has been invented by a Nigerian Engineer, Ayokunle Adeniran. A graduate of Covenant University, who works as a mechanical design engineer in the United States. The Iron Rhino is a gas powered device which is portable and easy to use. In a chat with BellaNaija, Ayokunle, talks about the inspiration behind the invention, and how soon we should expect to see the product on our shelves.

What do you do?

Presently, I’m a Mechanical design engineer in United states. I’m experienced in design of elevator components and recently moved towards consumer products.

Tell us about the Iron Rhino The Iron Rhino is a product I designed in response to the inability of people to iron their clothes due to electrical power outages. It is a butane gas powered pressing iron, meaning it does not require electricity to function. It looks very similar to and functions like existing electric irons. The butane comes in canisters that retail for about N120 and can last for 1 week usage at 20 minutes daily ironing.

What inspired you to create the Iron Rhino?

My inspiration came from disappointment. One day, I needed to meet up with my dad at the airport, and the clothing I wanted to wear was rumpled, I was unhappy and had to wear something else. This disappointment brought about the spark of creativity in my head so I decided to proceed with the idea of having an alternative source of powering clothes iron

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these canisters to the consumer?

The canisters presently are being manufactured by a Chinese company, but provisions are being made to have them produced locally by a Nigerian company. The projected production rate is calculated to serve all functioning irons abundantly, also a recycling process of the canisters will mean users can get discounts on recycled canisters.

Are the canisters going to be locally produced?

Yes, eventually in future.

Do you have an idea of how much each Iron Rhino will retail at?

With the present low volume production rate, it is projected to retail for N5,000 per piece, but in future with higher production rate, prices will drop based on economies of scale.

What’s the most exciting part of this project so far?

The most exciting part of this project is the reception it got from people. I’d like to appreciate all those who shared the posts and created awareness of it.

So what is the next step for the Iron Rhino now?

The next step is fund raising through rsvp.com.ng for #IronRhino mass production.

With mass production, the retail prices will be lower and will be affordable for most people.

How long did it take for you to complete the first prototype? credit http://www.tori.ng/news/3479/usbasedIt took about 2 years to complete the first prototype during which the patent had to be filed and the process- nigerian-ayokunle-adeniran-inventsgaspowe.html ing took about 4 years.

How user friendly would you say the Iron Rhino is?

Rhino is very user friendly because the design was built around user ergonomics, while safety was not compromised. The iron functions at most habitable environmental conditions making it very reliable.

The Iron Rhino is going to be powered by little gas canisters. Can you tell us about the accessibility of

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New Era Nursing Training School Holds Graduation Ceremony July 2015

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New Era Nursing is a leading Nursing Training Institution and staffing agency located in the heart of the city of Alexandria in Northern Virginia. The school is managed by qualified and experienced instructors who maintain very high standards to ensure that all their students pass their board exams at their first attempt.

New Era Nursing is ground work for new members of the health care industry with a set of highly qualified faculty who specialize in various fields that will enable students to acquire new skills and knowledge.

Graduates of New Era Nursing have consistently passed their board exams at the first attempt and have gained empolyment in various institutions within the Washington Metro Area .

A batch of students graduated in June, 2015 with certificates in Certified Nursing Associate (CNA) Certificates . New Era Nursing and training School is one of the Premier Nursing Schools in Northern Virginia and has been in existence for over 15 years. New Era Nursing is located at 5999 Stevenson Avenue Suite 401 Alexandria VA 22304 US Tel:1.571-239-8769

A group of students cutting their graduation cake

The Graduating students with their Director

Graduating Students Receiving their Certificates

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Being African: What Does Hair Have To Do With It?

Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says when you have relaxed hair, your hair rules you

Hair has become a political issue across Africa. Chemical relaxers, which straighten hair, have been popular for years. But while the look is seen by some as professional, others call it un-African. There's a move away from relaxing hair - a journey the BBC's Pumza Fihlani has made.

Sundays were salon days when I was young. From the age of 10, my mother would plait or relax my hair for school.

She spent three hours on each of her three daughters' heads.

My middle sister has a sensitive scalp and was the first to rush for the wash basin.

She'd be crying funeral tears by the time she was done.

The chemical sodium hydroxide is put on the hair to break down its protein causing it to become straight. This can be a painful process that sometimes leaves you with a burnt scalp.

Although African hair is versatile, with endless hairstyles to choose from, Africa has been flooded with relaxers to smooth that stubborn kink.

But people are starting to turn away from relaxers.

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has touched on some of the restrictions it brings.

"Relaxing your hair is like being in prison," she wrote. "You're caged in. Your hair rules you."

"You're always battling to make your hair do what it wasn't meant to do."

Natural hair supporters go one step further - to say natural hair is a nod to being a real African.

South African hair blogger Milisuthando Bongela says black hair has been treated with disdain for years because black people have been made to be a problem.

For centuries black women around the world were discriminated against because of their skin, hair and culture. White attributes - including straight hair - were seen as superior.

There are still remnants of that to this day.

When a black woman graces our screens she is usually wearing either a weave or has bonestraight, relaxed hair.

But believing that all women who relax their hair or wear weaves do so because they are trying to be white would be simplistic.

It doesn't take into consideration the social pressures.

Until recently many South African schools and work places favoured relaxed hair because other styles weren't seen as the "professional look".

Eyewitness News reported in 2014 that a 16-year-old girl from Cape Town was sent home from school for wearing thick braids.

Later in life, some women worry that they will be passed over for promotions and relationships if they keep their hair natural.

That's because there is still a stigma around natural hair. Its harshest critics consider it to be unkempt.

Even the Kenyan Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o told the BBC that when she decided to stop relaxing her hair and cut it all off, what grew back "wasn't that bad after all".

I don't ever recall my mother saying long straight hair made us prettier or making any of us feel our bushy natural hair was unsightly. For her, relaxing it meant less time getting us ready in the mornings.

It was simply convenient.

It takes time and effort to look after natural hair. Now I spend anything up to five hours in the salon up, a twice-a-month ritual. Each visit can cost up to 1,500 rand ($120; ÂŁ75), depending on what I get done.

Ms Adichie also points out that many people choose to relax their hair because they don't know how to care for natural hair.

Source:http://www.bbc.com/

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10 Tips On How To Transition From Relaxed To Natural Hair Without The Big Chop

To prevent breakage, use your fingers instead of a comb.

Choose styles that don't need to be changed daily to avoid breakage Keep your hair well moisturised. The drier your hair, the more likely it is to break.

Keep your hair tips tucked away to prevent them from drying out Trim off split ends or excessively dry ends Trying to achieve the same styles that you did when your hair was relaxed will frustrate you . So create some new hairstyles Avoid heat on your hair.

Use weaves, wigs and braid extensions with care. If fitted too tightly or worn for too long they can lead to hair breakage and traction alopecia Many hair products will make unproven growth and strength claims, but scientific trials are yet to prove they do more than aid styling A healthy diet extends to the health of your hair by the BBC's Valley Fontaine, who blogs about maintaining natural hair

'Good hair' For many years, I had below shoulder length hair. I'd often be stopped by strangers to ask what I use to grow it. Many would run fingers through it.

No-one likes this.

"Do you have white blood?" they'd ask.

"Are you Coloured [mixed race]?"

It seemed too far-fetched that a black woman can have "good hair" - a phrase used to mean it is long and healthy - unless there's a white relative in the family to help loosen our tight coils.

Hair is used in this way to categorise each other.

In apartheid South Africa when your race wasn't clear a pencil would be pushed through your hair. In the so-called pencil test, if the pencil fell to the floor, you would be considered white.

If it stuck, you would be considered "Coloured" (mixed race). In some cases, members of the same family were classified into different groups, and forced to live apart.

Breaking type When I decided to cut my hair last December I felt like a major change. But I was also curious how people would react.

It became evident that a lot of people were more attached to my hair than I was.

I was told I was "ungrateful" because many struggle to grow their hair.

This shocked me.

I would like to be seen as more than my hair.

I refuse to be reduced to a type because of my hair, boxed into the category of "beautiful because she has long hair", "successful because she long hair", perhaps even "married because she has long hair".

And what is it about straightening my hair that communicates that I have abandoned my roots?

While I love my new hairstyle - I don't think I'm any more African now than I was before the chop.

As columnist Kuli Roberts says, "we need to stop putting black women in a box".

She has been scrutinised over her choice to wear weaves - questions that are never directed at people from other races.

Some say hair is one of the most contentious issues in black society.

South African columnist Danielle Bowler goes as far as to say in Eyewitness News that "while some women might not choose their hairstyle based on an overt political decision, the choices available to us are themselves inescapably political".

She also notes that hair can be divisive.

The debate is often "reduced to a simplistic antagonistic relationship between weaves and natural hair" she says.

But African hair comes in many different textures - it is versatile and resilient.

It holds braided hairstyles like no other and we can adorn our crowns with these for weeks on end with endless options to choose from.

I look forward to the day when I can leave my hair wild and uncombed and have it say nothing else about me apart from "I didn't feel like combing my hair today".

Whether I weave it, relax it or braid it I'd like to live in a world where the choice of how to express myself - in hair and everything in between - is mine.

As for my sisters; the youngest now has long dreadlocks, my middle sister - who still isn't a fan of combing - rocks a weave most of the time and I have short, colour-treated afro hair.

We are the perfect representation of choice in modern South Africa - and in the end choice and the freedom to express it, is what those before us fought for.

Frenchman Michel Dussuyer named as new Ivory Coast coach

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Frenchman Michel Dussuyer has been appointed as the new coach of African champions Ivory Coast, according to the country's football federation (FIF).

56 year old Dussuyer has signed a two-year deal with the option to extend the contract.

He was on a final shortlist of two names along with compatriot Frederic Antonetti, after a third shortlisted candidate Poland's Henry Kasperczak - withdrew to take over the vacant Tunisia coaching position.

Dussuyer replaces Herve Renard who won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in Equatorial Guinea in February.

Renard resigned as coach of The Elephants to become a club coach with French side Lille.

Dussuyer has considerable experience of coaching in Africa.

He had three stints as coach of Guinea, and most recently took the Syli Nationale to the quarter-finals of the 2015 Nations Cup, where they eventually lost to runners-up Ghana.

He also coached Benin between 2008 and 2010 and before that, he worked as an assistant to Henri Michel with Ivory Coast.

His first competitive match in charge of Ivory Coast will be their 2017 Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone in September.

Source:http://www.bbc.com/sport

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The Scramble for Africa Lives on in the 21st Century

Malema and the Nataleia, where 4,500 families live and farm. These families now risk losing access to their land and the water they need to farm and survive.

One of the reasons advanced to justify why Africa is being targeted for such a practice can be found in one of World Bank’s report of 2009 - Awakening Africa’s Sleeping Giant. A justification states that Africa’s land is empty and available. That much of Africa’s land is underutilised and ripe for commercialisation. Investors are increasingly grabbing "real" assets from nature to create new derivatives-based commodity markets in order to recoup their losses and spread risk since the 2008 global economic crash.

Three main reasons account for the scramble for land in Africa. These are embodied in the quest by western multinational companies to exploit cheaper raw materials to provide food, fuel and finance for their markets in advanced economies.

The food price spikes of 2007/8 showed just vulnerability of food importing nations in supporting its population.

The Fluctuating fuel prices in the period 2007–09, urged companies to acquire land for the production of agro fuel or biofuel crops. The meltdown in international financial markets in late 2009 and subsequent recession caused ‘Land grabs’ stands tall as a major development challenge in Africa. investors to seek to invest in the more tangible asset of Millions of agriculture dependent families are forced to leave their fertile lands for multinational companies who occupy the lands for business farmland, with the aim of having secure investment considering the rising demand for food and fuel. purposes.

Another reason why Africa’s land is being prone to grabAccording to a 2008, report by Thomson Reuters Foundation 100,000 bing is because the land is considered as cheap and almost hectares(ha) of Mali’s fertile land, was handed to Libyan investors in a 50 years renewable lease with no discussion about the impact on impov- free with governments willingly signing off these lands to buyers at highly insignificant commercial rates; again, erished communities, who had farmed this land for generations (over 800years). With the collapse of the Libyan government, it is now uncer- with disregard to communities and individuals who own tain whether this project will continue. This leaves the poor families that these lands.

Many of these land deals involve renewable leases for lived and farmed this land with an uncertain fate of what the future periods ranging from twenty-five to ninety-nine years, in holds for them. More than half of the country's 15 million people live return for small payments made to national, provincial or below the official poverty line and nearly two million are hungry, says local government authorities. Sometimes once-off comthe U.N.'s World Food Programme pensation for locals is included with promises of jobs. Yet This situation is far from coming to an end as many more developed after the land is acquired, enforcement of promises made countries continue to show interest in using huge land masses in Africa remain a challenge, especially as investors’ choices about for activities that will guarantee their economic sustainability. how and how much to invest are framed by factors far Land grabbing is the contentious issue of large-scale land acquisitions; the buying or leasing of large pieces of land in developing countries, by outside the control of host governments. A good example is the situation in Cameroon where Herackles Farms, a domestic and transnational companies, governments, and individuals.

The land grabbed is used for commercial farming, industrial production New York based investment firm is said to have acquired 73,000 hectares of land for palm oil production in the and investment purposes at the expense of the local community. Land grabs contributes to displacement of vulnerable communities and farmer South West region of Cameroon in 2012 (according to a report by the Oakland Institute). However, according to with disregard of the rights of these people. The land is used for large scale commercial activities with little or no attention given to avoid their the presidential decree granting Herackles this land, the company was expected to develop social facilities such as hazardous environmental impacts. community schools, hospitals, health clinics, conduct Why call it Land Grabs?

Research has shown that most of the land given out on long term leases environmental and social impact assessments in the new are not empty, they are occupied and in use mostly for small scale farm- concession and pay land rents as stated in the presidential decree of November 2013. None of these were ever done ing. It is understood that most of Africa’s food is produced by small scale farmers who supply most of Africa’s food needs. Moreover, about as confirmed by SEFE (Struggle to Economize Future Environment) an organisation which has been investigat65% of Africa’s land is communally owned. A good example is ing Herackles closely. Yet Herackles has still been operatMozambique who’s land law gives communities possession over lands ing in the area in clear violation of the laid down condithat they have farmed for over 10 years. However ‘Investors’ and govtions in the presidential decree. Unfortunately, no signifiernments claim that these collectively held territories are "marginal" or "idle", the simple reason being because indigenous communities, small- cant action has been taken to address these outstanding issues. scale farmers, pastoralists, forests, grassland and other critical ecosysCall to Action tems are not producing for the international market.

There is need for governments to be called to accountabilIn a report by Mozambique’s National Farmers Union (UNAC) and ity in all land management deals and to engage in more GRAIN (Genetic Resources Action International), titled Land Grabbers of the Nacala Corridor; Mozambique Agricultural Corporation (Mozaco) responsible investments deals and with the right strategy. has already evicted 1,500 farmers and without compensation to make way for their operations such as cultivation of soybeans. It is calculated By Sylvia Shambo, Research and Advocacy Coordinator, Gravitazz Continental Initiative – Johannesburg,South that several thousand more will lose their lands if the company is allowed to expand to 20,000 hectares (ha). Interestingly the land target- Africa. ed by Mozaco no doubt is situated between two important rivers, the

Remodeling Early Mothers Initiative DannyBeatz of Ghana speaks on his work and what inspires him Empowers youth Of Ada in Ghana

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Author: Oral Ofori

Daniel Owusu Agyapong is a Ghanaian music producer popularly known as DannyBeatz who initially emerged as a BeatBoxer but moved on to production when he realized his talents in creating good music. The use of computers in engineering audio beats slowly helped the young producer master his skills.

As a result of his hard work and determination, the Afropop producer gained recognition when his work was sought after by Guru; one of the finest rappers in Ghana. In 2012 DannyBeatz produced hit songs like Nkwadaa Nkwadaa & Kpa Kpa Kpa Movement for Guru on which the rapper featured the artiste Dobble.

Author: Oral Ofori

Remodeling Early Mothers Initiative (REMI), a not-for profit organization dedicated to the promotion of positive behavioral change through the provision of counseling services, educational and training opportunities for first time early mothers to guarantee quality lives for the mother and child held a workshop in Ada Ghana to train and empower local youths.

Ada, one of the regions in Ghana that has a high rate of teenage pregnancy recently caught the eye of REMI in June 2015 as the organization set out to help mitigate the harsh effects of the alarming rate of pregnant teens in the municipality through educational and self-empowerment workshops.

"We chose Ada because REMI felt the area needed some special attention that our non-profit was equipped to give" according to Rhoda Doku; Founder of REMI, who explained that "we used our efforts and expertise to help raise the self-esteem of these girls who have become pregnant teens whilst seeking social justice and developing their role in building sustainable and productive futures for themselves".

During the interaction with the young citizens of the Ada area in June, Rhoda Doku said she she totally related to their plight and needs, especially the girls. This is because "I personally lost my my father at age 13 and owing to the emotional void I became pregnant and a single parent too" Rhoda explained she was however lucky to have people around her that were supporting of the situation at the time.

"A lot of these youths here in Ada don't have that support structure, the community for the most part shuns pregnant teens; leaving them to shoulder the burden of such a huge responsibility -- the girls suffering the most in these cases" according to Rhoda, who personally led a team of volunteers from REMI to the area to teach its youths skills of self-sustenance in a bid to awaken them while filling them with confidence.

REMI believes it is very significant to empower not just the females, but the males too because it does not take only the female in getting pregnant. The non-profit called on societies in Ghana and across Africa to encourage their young men who indulge in premarital sex to take responsibility for the child when the issue of pregnancy arises.

Some citizens of the area described the June workshop as a positive step in engaging the youth in vocational skills training, psychological and emotional alertness for handling their respective situations and how to turn a seeming negative scenario into a beneficial one.

"The talk on building one's character, competence and capacity as a youth to prepare them well for the future ahead by Ms Rhoda Doku was really inspiring" said one young beneficiary who is looking to return to school and encourage her friends to do same.

The REMI organization was registered by Rhoda Doku in 2010 in Ghana where she majored in Communication studies at the Ghana Institute of Journalism. Rhoda also holds an MA in International Studies from the Ohio University in USA with concentrations on Gender, Environment, and Development and Nonprofit Management.

Find out more about REMI or how to become a part of their vision by visiting their website www.remiAfrica.org

After forming his sync with Guru, the producer garnered attention in the world of Ghanaian Afropop and hiplife music. He moved on to further record Dobble, Pope Skinny, Gasmilla, Tutulapato, Mzbel, Abena Akuaba, Sala, Iwan, 2ras, Ticles and AK Songstress among other big household Ghanaian music recording artistes.

An attempt to find out the inspiration behind the former BeatBoxer’s musical background revealed that though he was brought up listening to Reggae and authentic Ghanaian Hi-life music under the influence of his father, he later went on to discover other genres and unearthed his ability to write and compose his own music too. His lyric writing abilities led him to test the waters as a vocalist with Paradise Entertainment record label.

Under Paradise Entertainment in 2013, DannyBeatz released his first official single - Yensa Mbom (Kalo go Dance) -- on which he featured Ticles. He however parted ways with the label to pursue much more passionate ambitions that culminated in the release of his hot new single titled "Nyame Nsa Ano" in July 2015. He features Guru on that single which he describes his attempts to explain the goodness of God in his life through a gospel genre. Get the track here: http://www.ghanandwom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Danny-Beatz-Nyame-Nsa-Ano-Feat.-Guru-Prod.-by-DannyBeatz-GhanaNdwom.com_.mp3

In June of 2015 as well, DannyBeatz worked on another gospel production for the multi-talented Dobble and Nana B.I.G. to create their new dancehall rhythm titled Haleluya which you can listen to here https://soundcloud.com/oral-ofori-1/haleluyaproduced-by-danny-beatz Before his work with Dobble and Nana B.I.G. in June 2015, the Afropop Producer had helped AJ Dahottest (http://www.oralofori.com/2014/04/aj-introduces-himself-toghana-music.html) a Ghanaian Afropop artiste produce two singles in the month of May that are recieving a lot of air play today. AJ says he chose DannyBeatz because the producer has a way of bringing out the power of an artiste through his production skills.

During an interview with #TheAfricanDream, DannyBeatz said “music production means life to me, I cherish music and I love expressing what I have in me to the world because I believe music production is about expressing what resides inside you through the power of defining rhythms and melodies in a way that suits the expectations of the listening ears and discerning minds, based on the power of your creativity”.

DannyBeatz says becoming famous is least on agenda because “besides the fame and show, this game is a business on its own so from a business point of view I really want to achieve everything possible from a Talent perspective and moreover, to educate, motivate, impact and inspire good music to the world and all who look upon my work”.

When #TheAfricanDream asked the beats’ maker what his source of inspiration is he responded: “I have been inspired by the following producers -- Hammer of Da Last Two fame and Kaywa, as well as a few others simply because of their uniqueness and style of programing, mixing and mastering which has always been an encouragement to me”.

One of the difficulties associated with his work as a producer has been the acquisition of funds to help procure studio equipments, promotion for himself and his work and continuing to personally motivate one’s self during trying times. “It’s not easy but then again it’s not impossible so we keep grinding and believing as we journey to the top” he says.

DannyBeatz promises the music listening public in Ghana and across the globe more great productions from him soon. The Ghanaian music producer who is a graduate of the Modern College of Science and Technology in Ghana says he enjoys watching movies and doing research. Catch up with him on all the popular social media platforms as DannyBeatzGH.

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THE DECODED BENEFITS OF LIFE INSURANCE

that pays a market rate of return.

Basically, it is a policy that has a death benefit and builds up cash value that We’ve crossed path on this platform of can be borrowed from while you are information sharing again. I am excited to write this piece of literature to you. As you still alive. Then, there are the Variable life and Variable Universal life policies would recall, on the previous article, we that have investment fund tied to a discussed the foundation and the imporstock or bond mutual fund investment. tance of life insurance. I trust the message has echoed in your spirit. I would like to re- Life insurance policies have immeasurable benefits that can be enjoyed while emphasize that life insurance policy is not you are still on earth and when you are just for when you are dead and your loved ones enjoy the proceeds. Rather, life insur- called to glory. ance is protecting yourself should you sud- The essence of writing this to you is to broaden the depth of your thinking and denly face any life threatening illness such to show you that there are wealth of as disability or chronic or terminal illness; you can enjoy the benefits of the life insur- information available to you for your financial planning and future. Over the ance policy as well while still providing a years, the community has experienced financial fund stream for your family.

Depending on the type of life insurance pol- sudden tragedies and over and over, it seems that we have not prepared for icy you have, you can also use it as an these events. We are a people that do investment tool for future retirement or as not plan; we wait for events to suddenan educational plan to support your children’s education. There are various uses ly overtake us and then we react. We need to learn the new way of emerging for life insurance and it carries a tax free into the Western culture, where planbenefit. Now let’s talk about the various ning is essential. It worries and sadtypes of life insurance policies.

Term life policy: provides temporary cover- dens me to see that we are perishing age with affordable premiums. Anyone can for lack of knowledge. Having a life insurance policy does not sentence you afford this type of insurance that provide security and peace of mind for yourself and to death; it shows you take pride in your life, your future and your family your family. that will someday succeed you. It creThough, there are various policies that ates and gives a peace of mind that you ascribe to the term life insurance policies, and your family will be taken care of let’s look at a specific product such as the in an unplanned dire situation(s) in life.

Mortgage Protection Insurance that would have an immediate impact in your life. The Please note that this is to give you a general overview of life insurance poliMortgage Protection Insurance policy is a cies. To get a complete understanding term insurance that protects your house in and enjoy the tax free benefits contact case you suddenly become disabled or deemed chronically ill. This is not the same me for a FREE financial consultation. insurance as the Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) that you pay with your mortgage.

The PMI protects the lender should you default on your mortgage. However, this Mortgage Protection Life Insurance protects Anita A. Bediako YOU, the homeowner should something Licensed Health & Life happen to you, your family will be able to Insurance/Financial Consulting Agent carry on the mortgage and still enjoy the CONTACT: 571-229-6694 home you left behind.

Email:divineconsultingmultiservices@g Whole-life policy: it is a permanent life mail.com insurance policy that provides life coverage with an investment fund. It is a policy that part of the premium goes toward building cash value from investment and pays a stated fixed amount when you are called to glory. As the policy is in force and has build up cash value, you can borrow money against the build up cash in the policy without being taxed; you enjoy this benefit while you are still living.

Within the arena of permanent life policies, there are Universal Life and Variable Life.

Universal life policy combines term insurance with money market type investment Hello Reader,

The Joy of Homeownership July 2015

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your credit report.

Question: I have a bad credit can I buy a house?

Answer: Having a bad credit now should not deter you from your dreams or goals or destiny of home ownership. It will require some work on your part to bring you to a credit worth buyer. You can contact me and discuss the strategies that can be taken to reach this goal.

Question: How much down payment is needed?

Answer: The amount of down payment required will depend on the type of loan you are qualified for.

Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR® – There are government programs that requires 0% Licensed in the Common Wealth of Virginia down payment; however there are eligibility guidePrince William County-Local Expert lines set for one to be approved. There are Veteran CONTACT 571-229-6694; Administration (VA) loan and Conventional loan.

Email: abediako@pwrealty.com However, FHA is the most common type of loan.

Typically, FHA requires a 3.5% down payment of the Dear Reader, loan amount or the total sale price of the transaction.

It is always a pleasure to have this opportunity Question: In addition to the mortgage payment, what to ink these articles to you. I anticipate you other costs will I be responsible for? have had the opportunity to read some of the Answer: Well, if you are renting and utilities are covpast real estate articles I have put forth in this ered in your rent, this might be new to you. As a paper titled: “Why People of African Descent home owner you will be responsible for paying your Must Invest in Real Estate”, “The Joy of gas, electricity, water, insurance, property taxes, and Home Ownership”, “A Comeback from Short possible homeowner association (HOA) fees.

Sale or Foreclosure”, Simple Steps to make Typically, property taxes are rolled into your mortHome Ownership a Reality”, and “Tips on gage payment.

Buying a Home After a Short Sale”; just to name a few.

Question: I have foreclosed/short sale in the past, can From these articles, I have had several readers I still buy now? contacted me asking important questions perAnswer: Yes, it is definitely possible to come back to taining to the home ownership process. These buy a house again after foreclosure or short sale of a questions posed by readers such as you gave property. birth to the following questions and answers.

I hope this addresses some of the burning questions Here we go! you have for making the bold decision to emerge into the idea of home ownership.

Question: What are the benefits of home ownFor more information about your real estate needs ership? (buying, selling, and leasing/renting a house) call me Answer: A home is an investment. When you at 571-229-6694 and I will help you get started. rent, you are throwing money away. You write Blessings in full portion! a monthly check and that money is gone forever. But when you own your home you enjoy a lot of benefits such as writing of your mortAnita A. Bediako- REALTOR® –Licensed in the gage interest, you can deduct a room in your Common Wealth of Virginia home as home office business expense and Prince William County-Local Expert biggest advantage is the principle you pay on the mortgage is like putting money in the bank in the form of equity. Home ownership allow you landscape your yard/backyard how you CONTACT 571-229-6694; Email: abediako@pwrewant it, decorate/paint or renovate your house alty.com as you please without dealing with obstinate landlord. The joy of home ownership is priceless.

Question: What documents are required?

Answer: Copies of bank account statements; most recent paycheck stub detailing your earnings; copies of your last 2 years' income tax returns; statement of any investments, list of debts on loans and employment verification.

Question: What credit score do I need?

Answer: The credit score criteria defer from lender to lender. There are lenders who will look at credit score as low as 580. However, for the home buying transaction to succeed you must pay off any outstanding debts on

Veronica Tabi on why she's contesting Miss Ghana USA 2015

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J u l y 2015

(REMI), a Ghanaian non-profit that aims to empower teenage mothers through the provision of counseling and vocational skills training.

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Bob Manuel To Get Chieftaincy Title

"This effort goes a long way to promote development and a better life for both mother and child by helping reintegrate them into the society despite the level of stigmatization that teenage mothers face from friends, family and society as a whole" Veronica says.

She hopes to use her collaboration with REMI as a beacon of hope for mothers and their children to help them put up a positive behavioral change by becoming responsible citizens of their society.

When Veronica was asked about her long term intentions she said: "for future projects, I plan to raise funds towards the building of an educational institution in Kumasi Ghana with REMI to help train and educate these young mothers whose futures we are both passionate about and also teach them skills that will help them become financially independent."

Miss Ghana USA Pageant enters its 5th annual edition in 2015. This year’s event happens at the Alvin Ailey CitiGroup Theatre in New York on Saturday July 25, 2015. #TheAfricanDream editor Oral Ofori talked to Veronica Tabi; one of the contestants, to discover her reason for participating.

Twenty-five year old Veronica popularly known as Akuaba Hemaa is a single mother striving to achieve her goals while taking care of her son and attending Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia. She says she chose finishing her education, working full-time as a single mother and staying positive minded over worrying about the difficulty of juggling all the above.

As a naturalized Italian citizen, Veronica moved to the United States at age 16. She has always been motivated to work in the human service field in her younger years, something which propelled her later on in life to pursue her degree at OId Dominion in Human Services with a minor in Public Service owing to her passion to engage herself more to the service of humanity.

Why is Veronica participating in the 2015 Miss Ghana USA Pageant where she is representing Ghana’s Central Region? Well, she says “after being dejected and going through a difficult stage in my life, I managed to bounce back and thus felt the need to help other young single mothers find their feet by sharing my story and using my influence for positive change”.

“When I had my son at age 22, my life drastically changed and some friends and family looked at me with disapproval, that broke me inside and slumped me into a year of depression. But I bounced back after being motivated by my son and not letting all that negativity continue to keep me down” she said.

Ms Tabi tells this writer that she is “determined to be a living example and this pageant gives me a great platform to share my story while motivating others”.

"My humanitarian goal is to empower early mothers in Ghana who by one circumstance or the other are not able to bounce back after childbirth and have given up on their dreams or themselves". To recognize this goal, Veronica has become the ambassador of Remodeling Early Mother Initiative

"Irrespective of whatever position I place in the pageant, I will still hope to officially launch the United States branch of REMI after Miss Ghana USA. I also hope to launch an online fashion market that will sell products made by the mothers through the institution.

By so doing, I would be able to raise more funds that will go towards providing free vocational trainings for beneficiaries among other things".

Miss Ghana USA is an organization that promotes young women through leadership by giving them a platform to be an influential person to the world starting by representing their respective Ghanaian regions.

Gloria Abena Ofosuah Opare founded Miss Ghana USA in 2009, its first queen--Akua Aqyeman--was crowned in 2011. Akua Tokunboh is the 2014 queen.

Visit the event website for more information at www.missghanausa.org Photo of Veronica by Nii Djarbeng of Lightville

Journalist/Publicist/Social Media Specialist/+12027069881 fb.me/3sznVgkrb Author: Oral Ofori

Renowned actor, Bob Manuel Udokwu has been pencilled down for a chieftaincy title by an interest group in Nollywood called Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood.

The group, in a press statement signed by its president, Harris Chuma and made available to Nigeriafilms.com, disclosed that Bob would be conferred with the title at the forthcoming 2015 Ogbunike Cave City Film Festival, which holds at the Ogbunike Civic Development Centre, Abor-Amawa- Ogbunike, Anambra State from August 9 to 11.

It was further disclosed in the statement that the choice of the actor for the honour was based on recognition and appreciation of his unrelenting effort in revitalizing movie activities in Anambra State.

Also, he was considered for this for being an active promoter of the Igbo culture and language, using Nollywood window and other entertainment medium. He would be conferred with the Ezeship title.

In 2014, this same group conferred veteran actress, Ngozi Ezeonu as Ezenwanyi Ndigbo Nollywood at the Igbo Film Festival held in Asaba, Delta State.

Another actor, Richard Mofe Damijo was also honoured with the Dike Oha title, while Theodora IbekweOyebade, a UK-based actress, was conferred with the Ezenwanyi UK Nollywood title.

Source: Nigeriafilms.com

The 13 year old Sierra Leone inventor – Kelvin Doe

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At the age of 13, a boy living in Sierra Leone created batteries and generators using materials he picked up around the house or from trash bins. Now, he’s wowing experts in the U.S.

Kelvin Doe, now 16, became the youngest person in history to be invited to the “Visiting Practitioner’s Program” at MIT, according to CNN.

Doe, a completely self-taught engineer, manages his own fully-staffed community radio station in Sierra Leone where he broadcasts news and plays music under the moniker ‘DJ Focus.’ The radion station is powered by a generator created from a deteriorating voltage stabilizer, which he found in the trash, while a simple antenna lets his neighborhood listen in.

“They call me DJ Focus because I believe if you focus, you can do an invention perfectly,” Doe said in a video produced by @radical.media for their THNKR YouTube channel.

Among those inventions is a battery that he created to light up homes in his neighborhood.

“The lights will come on once in a week, and the rest of the month, dark,” Doe told interviewers.

It took several attempts before Doe finally had a working prototype for the battery — a combination of soda, acid and metal, wrapped

Rwanda's First Female Pilot Takes To The Skies July 2015

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together by tape.

MIT discovered Doe during Innovate Salone, a national high school innovation challenge held in Sierra Leone by an international organization called Global Minimum. Doctoral student David Sengeh recognized his skills right away.

Esther Mbabazi wheels her bag towards the airstairs of the Boeing 737 sitting quietly on the tarmac at Kigali International Airport. Today she'll be flying from Rwanda's capital city to Juba in South Sudan.

"When I went it was a one-way decision," she says. "If they bounce me, I'll just pack my things and come back -- so that was the way I joined pilot school, and it was a long journey."

“It’s very inspirational,” Sengeh said in the A year later, Mbabazi began training with video. “He created a generator because he needA short hop south with a flying time of around 1 Rwandair in Miami and her exploration of the ed it.” hour and 20 minutes. But for Mbabazi, 26, it aviation world began. isn't about the destination. As Rwanda's first Before attending Innovate Salone this year, Doe female pilot, it's about the journey and her high- "My greatest memories are flying to different had never been more than 10 miles from home. est priority is to get passengers safely to their cities," she says. "Being in the sky gives you a With Sengeh’s help, in September he journeyed terminus. whole other view -- you get to see what they to New York for the 2012World Maker Faire, call a bird's eye view of everything." where he sat on a “Meet the Young Makers” "Growing up I wanted to be a pilot when I was panel with four American inventors. four," says Mbabazi, who became a pilot for Now, the young pilot has become a pioneer in a Rwanda's national airline carrier, RwandAir, at male-dominated industry in Rwanda, and yet Doe’s fame only promises to grow from here.

24. "I'd never been inside a cockpit but I used to she knows she is constantly being closely Soon he will be a resident practitioner with the see a plane in the sky and I imagined that thing watched because of her gender.

International Development Initiative at MIT and must be flown by someone. a guest presenter at Harvard School of "No one ever says, 'Oh it's a male crew aircraft Engineering, where he’ll gain even more practi"I had to go for it. Even though it looked like a that crashed,' even though it's been many of the cal knowledge to help his community. long shot, it was my only shot -- that's how I sort," she says. "But you know, if there's a saw it so I went for it, and here I am." woman on board and something happens, you “Whatever things I’ve learned here, I will share Dream big know, definitely you're going to be mentioned." it with my friends, colleagues and loved ones,” Doe said.

During her childhood, Esther's family would Mbabazi recalls a previous incident where a move on a regular basis due to her father's work passenger realized that the pilot for his flight Watch the video above from THNKR, which, as as a pastor. But her desire to take to the skies was a woman shortly after arriving at the gate part of a biweekly series on young prodigies, never wavered, even after her father passed and refused to get on the flight. details Doe’s incredible story. away in a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo, when the passenger aircraft "The cabin crew said we'll gladly leave you Credit – www.huffingtonpost.com he was traveling on overshot the runway and hit behind. You've already paid the ticket, so if some terrain. your reason is that basic and shallow, it's not because of safety reasons. It's just because you "From day one, he was always my biggest sup- don't want to fly with a woman, we'll gladly porter or fan," recalls Mbabazi, who lost her leave you behind." father before turning 10."[But] an accident is an accident. Like I said, if someone gets hit by a Mbabazi refuses to let her critics win and is car, you don't stop driving. determined to continue being a role model for others. She hopes that her achievements can "You can't live life being scared an in fear of provide inspiration to other women who might anything. If something is bound to happen, you not think they can attain their dreams jobs. can't stop it."

"Time has changed," she says. "Women are out Thus, Mbabazi continued to work toward her there working, technology has changed, and goal of becoming a pilot and achieving what no everyone has the brains to do something, now other woman in her country had done before. it's not about how much bicep or how much energy you have."

Once she completed high school, she packed her Source:cnn.com things and bought a one-way ticket to attend pilot school in Uganda.

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Underage African footballers 'trafficked' to Laos

African footballers as young as 14 are being trafficked to Asia and forced to sign contracts, the BBC has learnt.

Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, after it imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy in February, a BBC investigation found.

Fifa regulations prohibit the movement of players to a foreign club or academy until they are 18.

The club, based in the southern city Pakse, denies any wrongdoing.

"Fifa is in contact with several member associations in order to gather all information to assess the matter and safeguard the interests of the minors," a Fifa spokesperson told the BBC. It has been claimed that Champasak United, a newly-formed club which plays in Laos's top league, intends to profit by selling the players in future.

In a clear breach of the world football governing body's rules, the club has fielded overseas players as young as 14 and 15 in league games this season.

One 14-year-old player, Liberia's Kesselly Kamara, who scored in a full league game, says he was forced into signing a six-year deal before playing for the senior team.

His contract promised him a salary and accommodation, but Kamara says he was never paid and had to sleep on the floor of the club's stadium - as did the rest of the travelling party.

"It was very bad because you can't have 30 people sleeping in one room," Kamara, who is now playing for a club back home in Liberia's top league, told the BBC. All those who travelled to join the "IDSEA Champasak Asia African Football Academy" did so after being invited by former Liberia international Alex Karmo, who captained the club at the time.

Young players gratefully accepted the invitation, since Liberia lacks a football academy of its own, despite being the only African country to have produced a Fifa World Footballer of the Year - George Weah in 1995.

"It's a fictitious academy, which was never legally established," said Liberian journalist and sports promoter Wleh Bedell, who led the group to Laos in February but who has since returned.

"It's an 'academy' that has no coach nor doctor. Karmo was the coach, the business manager, everything. It was completely absurd."

Following initial pressure from both Fifa and global players' body FIFPro, Champasak released 17 teenagers from the original party, with Kamara among them, three months ago.

But six minors chose to remain.

FIFPro says that all have since signed contracts presented to them by Karmo, who describes himself as a "manager for players from Africa in Champasak", and club president Phonesavanh Khieulavong.

These appear to allow Champasak to pay the boys nothing at all, while also demanding that unrealistic conditions be met should the teenagers want to leave.

Karmo says the players are fed three times a day and paid every month.

"We don't give the [minors] professional contracts, just a contract that gives them bonuses," Khieulavong told the BBC. Neither Khieulavong nor Karmo denied the presence of minors at the academies, although Karmo claimed there was just one - a 16-year-old from Guinea.

The BBC understands there are five more minors from Liberia at the club.

Along with eight senior players (six Liberians, a Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean), all are living in conditions described as "deplorable and dis-

turbing" by Bedell.

For five months, they have been sleeping on meagre mattresses in a vast room that lacks any glass on its windows and a lock on the door.

"It's hard to live in a place with no windows. It made sleeping very difficult, because you are thinking about your life," said Kamara.

"Players are in this wild place that is reminiscent of the civil crisis in Liberia when people left their homes and were displaced, [taking shelter] in a makeshift building or auditorium," Bedell, who experienced his country's civil wars of 1989-96 and 1999-2003, told the BBC. The minors' freedom of movement is restricted by the fact that they became illegal immigrants in March after their visas ran out.

They are hoping to receive work permits but these are unlikely to arrive since all are underage.

Karmo, who insists that he did pay Kamara, admits nine of the 14 Africans do not have work permits but asserts that they have the right documentation to stay in Laos.

"Nobody is illegal. Everybody is legal," he told the BBC. With the club having held their passports since their arrival, the boys rarely leave the stadium where they both live and train twice a day.

Despite the situation, not everyone wants the minors to leave Laos.

"I don't want him to come back to Liberia until he succeeds in his dream," said Bella Tapeh, the mother of one 17-year-old still in Pakse.

Some of those who have returned to Liberia have told the BBC they were poorly fed, rarely paid and received no medical assistance from the club despite contracting malaria and typhoid because of the conditions.

One also described their existence at Champasak United as akin to "slave work".

"This is a very serious situation," Stephane Burchkalter, a FIFPro official, told the BBC. "It is shocking to FIFPro that a club from Laos, which - with all due respect - is a very small football country, can lure minor players from Liberia without Fifa noticing."

In a statement, FIFPro said it suspected this case was "probably the tip of the iceberg".

One NGO, Culture Foot Solidaire, estimates that 15,000 teenage footballers are moved out of West Africa every year - many of them illegally.

FIFPro has also called on Fifa to take action against the Laos Football Federation, which has so far failed to discipline Champasak for its alleged breach of the rules.

Evidence of clubs breaking regulations on signing international players under 18 is rare but European champions Barcelona are currently serving a transfer ban for this very offence.

Meanwhile, the parents of 12 boys found themselves in financial difficulty after taking loans to pay $550 towards the cost of the trip to Laos, with one case currently in the hands of Liberian police.

There are three exceptions to Fifa's rules on the movement of players under the age of 18, but none of them apply in this case.

Source:bbcnews.com

July 2015

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One young African player at the academy described his time at the club as 'like slave work'

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