Month: February 2019

Politics

Senegal’s President Macky Sall wins second term

Senegalese President Macky Sall easily won a second term without the need for a runoff, election officials announced Thursday in the West African country.

The four opposition candidates said they would not pursue a legal challenge, ending days of uncertainty in this democracy long known for its peaceful transfers of power. Earlier in the week the opposition had denied unofficial reports that Sall won an outright majority, and they told their supporters to prepare for a second round.

The joint statement released Thursday afternoon by the opposition said that while they firmly rejected the outcome, “we will not be taking any recourse at the constitutional council.”

The incumbent leader received 58.3 percent of the vote, according to Judge Demba Kandji, president of the commission tasked with releasing the election results. Provisional results show that top opposition candidate Idrissa Seck took 20.5 percent of the vote while Ousmane Sonko had 15.7 percent.

Continue reading “Senegal’s President Macky Sall wins second term” →

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People

Africa’s richest man makes a $17 billion bid for immortality

By Tom Metcalf and Devon Pendleton

The best way to appreciate the scale of Aliko Dangote’s empire is to hitch a ride on one of his private jets. A half-hour after his Bombardier Challenger 605 takes off from Lagos Airport, it descends into a seemingly desolate area of Kogi State in central Nigeria, dusty fields and clusters of trees stretching to the horizon. Suddenly a tangle of exhaust stacks, silos, and kilns pierces the sky to the left of the aircraft as Dangote Cement Plc’s Obajana plant comes into view. It’s already the biggest in Africa, churning out enough sacks of cement to fill 1,000 trucks a day. A fifth production line now under construction will make it one of the world’s largest.

The cement plant and its two sister factories in Nigeria have long been the bedrock of Dangote’s fortune, Africa’s biggest. But Dangote’s future—and, as he likes to say, that of the entire continent’s economy—lies to the south on the Nigerian coast. About 40 miles east of Lagos, on more than 6,700 acres of former swampland bound by a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, contractors are putting the finishing touches on a fertilizer plant valued at $5 billion. Next to it, construction of a vast oil refinery—a $12 billion project—is under way.

If all goes according to plan, the complex will immortalize the 61-year-old Nigerian businessman as Africa’s most prominent industrialist, vaulting Dangote Industries’ annual revenue from $4 billion to about $30 billion, roughly 8 percent of Nigeria’s gross domestic product. Oil industry experts such as London-based CITAC have questioned the project’s timeline, citing logistical and financial challenges. But Dangote insists the refinery, which will be Africa’s largest, is on track.

“By 2020 I will finally dispatch oil,” he says during a January interview at his Lagos home. Continue reading “Africa’s richest man makes a $17 billion bid for immortality” →

Opinion

America needs to vote more like Senegal

By Serena Piervincenzi,

There are so many things that I miss about Senegal. I miss waking up every morning to the sounds of goats, I miss being called by my Senegalese name, Ayisha,  I miss my adopted family, but more than anything, and perhaps most surprisingly, I miss the political attitude of Senegal as a country.

Senegal is a small country in West Africa, neighboring Mali and Gambia. They gained their independence from France, peacefully, on April 4, 1960. Since then, Senegal has remained one of the most successful, West- African countries. They function as a democracy, not unlike ours and, like us, some of their most important accomplishments have been spearheaded by their youth.

Prior to Senegal’s February 2012 presidential election, Abdoulaye Wade announced his plan to run for a constitutionally questionable third term. This did not sit well with many Senegalese people who believed that instating a third term for Wade would bring them closer to the kind of authoritarian rule that the current Senegalese constitution prohibits. Wade’s candidacy led to protests, organized and attended primarily by youth.

Several of these protests led to deadly encounters between protesters and police.

After losing the election to the opposition candidate Macky Sall, Wade quickly accepted defeat, and Senegal had yet another peaceful transfer of power. Continue reading “America needs to vote more like Senegal” →

People

Somali native gives up American life for military service in his birth nation

It surfaced during his childhood in a typical American suburb setting replete with friends, video games and extracurricular sports.

It lingered in high school with a growing comprehension of his good fortune and a burgeoning understanding of world affairs.

It persisted as he entrenched himself in study at the University of Southern Maine and further gained a sense of what would give life purpose in his adult years.

African-born Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed had nurtured constant suppositions about his fate had his family not immigrated to this country from war-torn Somalia in 1990.

Continue reading “Somali native gives up American life for military service in his birth nation” →

News

Comedian Kevin Hart Reaches Out To Young Nigerian Artist Who Drew Him

American comedian and actor, Kevin Hart has reached out to a young Nigerian artist who posted a drawing of him on Twitter.

The power of social media yeah?

The Kaduna-based artist, Eli Waduba Yusuf had posted the drawing two days ago, February 25, 2019, and asked users to retweet till it gets to Hart and it did.

Yusuf wrote that he is a hyperrealism pencil artist and will like to become like Arinze Egbengwu who is best known for creating hyperrealistic pencil drawings.

He wrote, on Twitter:

“My name is Eli Waduba Yusuf Am a Nigerian, based in Kaduna. Am a hyperrealism PENCIL Artist, I hope to become like . Please Retweet, let see it, thank you.”

Hart replied saying he has seen and will like to support him by paying him to do a pencil of three of his celebrity friends.

“I see it and I want to purchase it…I also want to support you and your amazing talent by giving you a fee to do a pencil drawing of 3 of my celebrity friends that I can gift it to. DM your info and let’s get to work!”

Read from source

People

Kenyan-American Movie star Lupita Nyong’o at the Oscars

Kenyan screen beauty Lupita Nyong’o may not have won an award at the 91st Oscars but she made her presence felt with this beautiful outfit.

View this post on Instagram

Us at the #Oscars.

A post shared by Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo) on

News

Sudanese American Physicians Association Call for Swift Action Against Sudan Regime

Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) are calling for swift action against Sudan regime. They made this call on February 25, 2019 in a statement released to the media.

The association said for the ninth week in a row, Sudanese citizens have taken to the streets to peacefully protest the brutality and corruption of the dictatorial regime of Omer al-Bashir and seek freedom and justice under a new and democratically elected Sudanese government. al-Bashir has met these protests with unrestrained violence, including using live ammunition against defenseless and peaceful gatherings, breaking into homes and hospitals to assault and kill pro-democracy activists, and arresting political opponents on a massive scale.

Despite increasing international outcry, al-Bashir and the head of his security apparatus continue to threaten more bloodshed as protests continue to demand justice and an end to more than 30 years of tyrannical exploitation of the Sudanese people. Per Human Rights Watch 1, the death toll of innocent demonstrators has reached at least 51, a figure that does not include thousands more who have been assaulted or unjustly detained by the security forces.

Continue reading “Sudanese American Physicians Association Call for Swift Action Against Sudan Regime” →

Politics

Buhari wins Nigerian Elections

Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari has won the presidential elections that held on 23rd February, 2019.

Following the announcement of all the results from 36 states including the federal capital territory, by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, Buhari polled 15,191,847 vote.

The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar polled 11,262,978 votes to come second.

Buhari won in 19 states while Atiku won in 17 states including FCT.

Get more details.

Education, Scholarships

Scholarship: Fulbright calls for applications from Nigerians in US

Applications have been called for the Fulbright Student Program available for Nigerian students. Two categories of grants are offered in the ARSP: research grants and program and curriculum development grants.

Funded by the U.S. Government, the Fulbright Programme aims at achieving mutual understanding through the academic and cultural exchange.

Fulbright scholarships will be awarded to applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership qualities, and a commitment to improving cross-cultural relations through international exchange.

The program is open to several individual countries but the country announced in the report is for Nigerian students in the USA.

Get more details from source

Continue reading “Scholarship: Fulbright calls for applications from Nigerians in US” →

Culture

University of Maryland highlights diversity of African diaspora at Black Culture Expo

By Joy Saha

University of Maryland students hailing from as close as Baltimore and Washington D.C., and as far as Nigeria and Ghana, gathered in Stamp on Friday to acknowledge the contributions of various cultures of the black diaspora from Africa.

To celebrate Black History Month, the African Students’ Progressive Action Committee hosted the Black Cultural Expo to appreciate “the many different people that have connections to the African continent,” said the committee’s president Clydelle Agyei, a junior public health science major

“Our organization mainly focuses on African communities, but this time we wanted to broaden the spectrum,” said ASPAC co-vice president Karsten Dankyi, a junior neurobiology and physiology major.

“We wanted to do Africans, African Americans, Afro-Latinos. Just something that everyone could come and share and learn something in the process.The first half of the Expo featured five students showcasing their photography, painting, a cosmetic line and a clothing brand.

Isha Kamara, a junior theater major, displayed Iced Out Cosmetics, her personal cosmetic line that featured brightly colored lipsticks, collections of false eyelashes and a variety of bold facial glitters. For Kamara, her business is more than just makeup. It’s also meant to empower and represent both the black community and the queer community. Continue reading “University of Maryland highlights diversity of African diaspora at Black Culture Expo” →

People

Lt. Jesse Iwuji, Nigerian-American Navy Officer and NASCAR driver to Make Las Vegas Speedway Debut

Las Vegas is known for their Air Force military presence – but this time there will be a new “wave” coming in town. U.S. Naval Academy graduate and U.S. Navy officer LT Jesse Iwuji will be making his first ever Las Vegas Motor Speedway start in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series Race.

Iwuji will be the only current military member racing in NASCAR this weekend and will doing so with Reaume Bros Racing.

In all things Iwuji does, there are two constant elements: his love of country and his fighting spirit. He went from a D1A college football player to a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and is now claimed to be the only current driver in national level NASCAR who has ever been in the military.

Continue reading “Lt. Jesse Iwuji, Nigerian-American Navy Officer and NASCAR driver to Make Las Vegas Speedway Debut” →

Health

US organisation to embark on humanitarian clitoral restorative surgical mission in Kenya

The U.S. based humanitarian organization, Clitoraid, is launching its 2nd clitoral restorative surgical mission in Nairobi, Kenya, March 4 – 14, 2019 to help the victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) regain their dignity and sexual pleasure, thanks to a technique developed by a French urologist.

“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 25% of the Kenyan female population has endured the horrific tradition of genital cutting though the practice is now illegal in Kenya,” explained Nadine Gary, Clitoraid Director of Operations.

The WHO estimates that 125 million women worldwide have had their genitals forcibly mutilated as babies or when they were toddlers or possibly as teenagers. This practice grossly violates the UNICEF Convention on the Right of the Child.

Clitoraid volunteer head-surgeon, Dr. Marci Bowers of San Francisco, USA, will co-lead the clitoral restorative medical procedure in partnership with Kenyan Dr. Adan Abdullahi affiliated with the Kenyan NGO, Garana.

“They will be assisted by local Kenyan doctors as well as MDs from the US, Canada and Australia,” said Gary.

Continue reading “US organisation to embark on humanitarian clitoral restorative surgical mission in Kenya” →

Visit to Africa

African-American business delegation visits Ghanaian Osu community

A 16-MEMBER Black American business delegation arrived last Wednesday to a rousing traditional welcome by the Osu Traditional Stool.

The delegation was received by the Osu Alata Mantse, Nii Kwabena Bonne V, on behalf of the Osu Traditional Council.

Welcoming the delegation, Nii Bonne V said he believed that the business executives were coming back to their homeland 400 years after their ancestors had gone into captivity abroad.

The delegation is in the country at the invitation of the Ghana International Chamber of Commerce and Yoks Investments Ltd, a local private company.

Led by a business strategist and the President of the National Black MBA Association, Mr Jesse Tyson, the delegation is in the country to reconnect with their roots as part of the Year of Return.

The visit is also to afford the delegation the opportunity to explore possibilities and opportunities to connect with local businesses and also enter into partnerships with local businesses.

Read more from source

Politics

Nigerian President Buhari takes early lead in elections

Nigerian President, Mohammadu Buhari, has taken an early lead in the presidential election which held on 23rd February.

The country’s electoral body started announcing the election results in Abuja today.

Out of 10 states announced so far, the president won seven. His closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, has won in three states. There are 26 more states to be announced

The European Union observer group has commended the election even though there were pockets of violence in some parts of Nigeria when elections held on Saturday.

The chair of the opposition, PDP Secondus has, however, raised queries about the credibility of electoral process.

Announcement of the results of the remaining 26 states is ongoing.

Politics

Senegalese vote in Presidential elections

Senegalese voters headed to the polls Sunday for an election President Macky Sall is expected to win after strong economic growth in his first term, although rights groups criticize him for squeezing out rivals.

Senegal’s small fish-exporting economy expanded more than 6 percent last year, one of the highest rates in Africa, driven by an ambitious reform and development plan that included the construction of a new railway.

The 57-year-old told thousands gathered for his final rally in Dakar on Friday that he would deliver universal health care and better access to education in a second term.

Results due next month.

About 6.5 million people are registered to vote at polling stations that opened at 8 a.m. (0800 GMT) and close at 6 p.m. Official results are due Friday with a run-off for the top two March 24 if no one secures a majority.

Continue reading “Senegalese vote in Presidential elections” →