Month: March 2019

Education

Howard Business School Students Travel To Ghana As Global Business Consultants
Advertisements

Each year a group of students at Howard University School of Business travel abroad to put their classroom instruction to work as international business consultants to companies across the world.

Twelve students enrolled in the Global Trilateral MBA (GTMBA) program at Howard University began their travel to Accra, Ghana on Friday, March 8 for a week-long, immersive, global experience working as business consultants to two Ghanaian companies, including Chocolate Clothes, a Ghanaian fashion company whose Founder and CEO, Kwaku Bediako, has designed for international and American stars alike. .

“The mission of our program is to connect students at multiple institutions through a consulting project that allows them to work side by side as global business consultants,” says Curtis Kidd Telemaque, Ph.D., adjunct faculty member for Howard University School of Businessand one of two faculty members accompanying the students to Ghana.

Continue reading “Howard Business School Students Travel To Ghana As Global Business Consultants” →

Sports

U.S. names five Kenyans in team for World Cross Country Championships
Advertisements

United States named up to five Kenyans in its team to Aarhus, Denmark as the battle for World Cross Country Championship medals heats up.

The USA cross country champion and Rio Olympics 10,000 meters’ champion Shadrack Kipchirchir is in a 28-person star-studded team that will take part in the event in Aarhus, Denmark.

The Kenyan born runner will be flanked by 2018 US cross-country champion Leonard Korir, Hillary Bor, Stanley Kebenei and Emmanuel Bor. The senior men’s team will have only one US-born athlete in the name of Mason Ferlic.

Three of the five Kenyan athletes serve in the US Army with Emmanuel Bor and Leonard Korir are Sergeants while Hillary Bor is a Staff Sergent.

Continue reading “U.S. names five Kenyans in team for World Cross Country Championships” →

News

South Africa’s Elon Musk achieves milestone as SpaceX Dragon Capsule returns to earth
Advertisements

South African-born Elon Musk achieved another milestone in commercial space travel as his SpaceX Dragon capsule re-entered earth after a 7 day sojour at the International Space Staion.

Already the most successful private space entrepreneur in the world, Elon Musk watched nervously as his new commercial astronaut capsule completed its demonstration flight with a successful splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.

The SpaceX Dragon vehicle left the International Space Station after being docked there for the past week, and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.

It had a heat-shield to protect it from the high temperatures of re-entry.

Four parachutes brought it into “soft contact” with water about 450km from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Continue reading “South Africa’s Elon Musk achieves milestone as SpaceX Dragon Capsule returns to earth” →

Asylum, Immigration

Congolese top list of refugees accepted in US
Advertisements

Last year, the U.S. accepted the smallest of refugees since the modern resettlement program began in 1980.

According to the latest number from the Migration Policy Institute, 22,491 refugees settled in the U.S. in 2018, that’s just under half of the 45,000 person ceiling set by the government.

Although Texas still leads the nation in resettlements. Last year 1,692 refugees came to the Lone Star State, according to the National Immigration Forum. That’s a 77 percent drop from 2015 when 7,479 refugees were settled, according to Refugee Council USA.

The sharp drop is the result of executive actions by the Trump administration, which wants to limit the inflow of refugees to the U.S. The 45,000 admission cap was the lowest since the Refugee Act of 1980 was approved.

Continue reading “Congolese top list of refugees accepted in US” →

Uncategorized

Trevor Noah visits his South African home, invited to Parliament
Advertisements

Internationally successful comedian Trevor Noah visited his home country and paid a visit to the South African Parliament.

Trevor said he wants to vote in the upcoming elections and is working out how to register overseas.

President Cyril Ramaphosa later welcomed Noah as his special guest in parliament on Thursday.

“Honourable speaker, it’s a real joy to welcome Trevor Noah among us, over there,” said Ramaphosa as he pointed to Noah amid loud applause and whistling from MPs.

“Trevor, I never get this type of applause so I am jealous,” the president quipped.

“We welcome Trevor, he’s come for an assignment but he’s come home as well.

Continue reading “Trevor Noah visits his South African home, invited to Parliament” →

Movies

Netflix increases production of African films
Advertisements

When Godwin Jabangwe stood in front of a room full of Hollywood movie executives to pitch his first feature film last November, he knew his idea wasn’t exactly the stuff of a conventional blockbuster.

He wanted to make an animated movie called “Tunga,” he explained, about a young girl who travels to a mythical lost city on a quest to save her village from drought. It would be set in Zimbabwe. Oh right, and it would be a musical.

“Five years ago, with an idea like that, you would have been laughed out of the room,” Mr. Jabangwe says. But his idea immediately caught the ear of a big production company, and last month, after a scrappy bidding war, Jabangwe signed a deal with them. “Tunga” is going to be a Netflix original.

Continue reading “Netflix increases production of African films” →

Uncategorized

US government felicitates with Ghana on Independence day
Advertisements

March 6th is the Independence Day of Ghana, and even though Ghana is embroiled in a diplomatic tussle with the US government over the fate of 7000 Ghanaians about to be deported from US, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo released a goodwill message to the government and people of Ghana.

This is the full press statement.

Continue reading “US government felicitates with Ghana on Independence day” →

Uncategorized

Trump extends Zimbabwe sanctions by one year
Advertisements

US President Donald Trump has extended sanctions against Zimbabwe by a year, saying that the new government’s policies continue to pose an “unusual and extraordinary” threat to the American foreign policy.

President Trump says Zimbabwean government’s policies pose an ‘unusual and extraordinary’ threat to US foreign policy.

The renewal on Monday comes despite calls by African leaders, including South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, for the sanctions to be lifted to give the country a chance to recover from its economic crisis.

“The actions and policies of these persons continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States,” Trump said in a notice announcing the extension.

Continue reading “Trump extends Zimbabwe sanctions by one year” →

Uncategorized

Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce set for trade mission to US
Advertisements

The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) is set to lead delegates on a five-day trade mission with the theme: ‘Turning Promises to Action,’ to the United States. The event holds between April 28 and May 3, 2019, at the Silicon Valley.

This annual commitment of the NACC, according to a statement, was geared towards promoting trade, commerce, investment and industrial technological relationships between the public and private sectors of in Nigeria and the United States.

It added that the trade mission would attract businesses in information technology, banking, agric-tech, cloud technology solutions, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, blockchain, smart contracts, amongst others.

Read more from source

Business, People

Nigerians, African-Americans dominate list of Black Billionaires 2019
Advertisements

By Mfonbong Nsehe

Of the 2,153 people who made it to the 2019 FORBES list of the World’s Billionaires, 13 of them are black, up from 11 a year ago.

Cement tycoon Aliko Dangote is still the richest black person in the world with a fortune estimated at $10.9 billion. He’s closely followed by Nigerian oil and telecoms mogul Mike Adenuga.

American businessman David Stewart, who is majority owner of World Wide Technology, an $11.2 billion (sales) IT provider, whose customers include Citi, Verizon and the federal government, joins the Black Billionaires Club with a fortune FORBES estimates at $3 billion.

Nigerian businessman Abdulsamad Rabiu, who made his fortune in cement, flour, edible oils and real estate, returns to the 3-Comma club after a multi-year hiatus. He last featured on the FORBES list of the World’s Billionaires in 2014.

Continue reading “Nigerians, African-Americans dominate list of Black Billionaires 2019” →

Uncategorized

NBA Basketball Star, Andre Iguodala Joins Jumia Board of Directors
Advertisements

Leading e-commerce platform in Africa announces the addition of the NBA player and tech “ambassador” on its board.
Andre Iguodala, a member of the three-time reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors, has joined the Board of Directors of Jumia, the leading e-commerce platform in Africa.

As Jumia’s ambassador charged with promoting business development and technology in Africa, Iguodala will bring his network in the technology industry, interest in Africa and vast experience as an athlete on one of the most successful teams in NBA basketball history.

Andre Iguodala plays for the three-time reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors and is widely recognized for his interest and knowledge in technology and e-commerce. And as a member of the Board and a Jumia’s ambassador, he is charged with promoting business development and technology in Africa.

Andre Iguodala who has a strong Nigerian heritage hopes to use his success in basketball to improve life in Africa.

Continue reading “NBA Basketball Star, Andre Iguodala Joins Jumia Board of Directors” →

Health

US, Congo seek partnerships in the fight against Sickle Cell disease.
Advertisements

By Judy Kuriansky

Jacqueline Mikolo and the Director of the Sickle Cell Center of Brazzaville Congo arrived in Washington D.C. to meet with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and with leaders at the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) to discuss the serious problem of sickle cell disease worldwide.

The Congolese Delegation, including the Minister of Higher Education, Bruno Itoua, also met with the Ambassador of the African Union to the United States, H.E. Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao, to focus on funding.

The AU Ambassador, a Ghanaian national, is very familiar with health, as a family medicine doctor and previous Chair of the African Union-African Diaspora Health Initiative — where she was involved in mobilizing African Diaspora health professionals to address healthcare needs of the African continent.

The meetings build on many years of exchanges and advocacy about sickle cell disease between the United States and the Congo, explained Minister Mikolo.

Continue reading “US, Congo seek partnerships in the fight against Sickle Cell disease.” →

Health

US organisation,Battelle, shares expertise on fight against ebola in Africa
Advertisements

While Ebola might not be in the news at the level it was in 2014, it is still a significant health issue in Africa. In fact, the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history is actively ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo now.

Battelle continues to support the fight against the disease by providing training in-country. Recently, two Battelle employees traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 16 days, representing the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

During the trip, they provided training at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa, the nation’s capital. Battelle staff taught Congolese researchers how to conduct serologic assays to detect immune response to Ebola virus in vaccinated and exposed individuals, as well as disease survivors. Continue reading “US organisation,Battelle, shares expertise on fight against ebola in Africa” →

Uncategorized

U.S. to host Trade with Africa Business Summit
Advertisements

Following a successful inaugural event in 2018 held in Bentonville, Arkansas; home to world’s leading retailer and Fortune #1; Walmart, global business leaders, trade experts and policy representatives of U.S. and African countries will convene for the 2nd
edition of the “Trade with Africa Business Summit” in Chicago.

This event positions the Chicago Metropolitan area and the State of Illinois as a favorable destination for Africa’s business & political leaders looking to create new trade partnerships in the U.S.

Theme of the 2019 event is: Growing U.S. – Africa Trade, Trade Financing & Developing Africa’s Supply Chain. Africa offers new markets for U.S. made products. Similarly, U.S. serves as an untapped market for authentic African products (raw and manufactured). Trade with Africa Business Summit 2019 helps fast-track such discussions with stakeholders from the world’s next economic frontier; Africa. Continue reading “U.S. to host Trade with Africa Business Summit” →

Religion

Week of Prayer: Reaching Africa through Minneapolis
Advertisements

By Brandon Elrod,

Philip Nache could have given in to despair. Boko Haram, the jihadist militant group located in Nigeria, had threatened his life, martyred a convert to Christianity and continued to intimidate Christians.

But despite the danger, Nache expected to return and serve the people he’d spent nearly 20 years ministering to, pastoring and planting churches among. He had come to the United States to attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a moment of divine timing that coincided with Boko Haram’s first threats on his life.

As he contemplated whether and how to return to Nigeria, another divine appointment redirected his steps.

At that time, God opened the door for me to come to Minneapolis,” Nache said. “When I was told about the need here in the Twin Cities, I was still thinking of Africa, but after praying, I felt convicted to go to Minnesota.”

Continue reading “Week of Prayer: Reaching Africa through Minneapolis” →

Opinion

The U.S. could end up paying dearly for Trump’s disregard for Africa
Advertisements

By Mark Porubcansky
As if we needed Michael Cohen’s testimony for confirmation, it has been evident for a long time that President Trump neither knows nor cares much about Africa. That could end up costing African countries and the United States dearly.

By way of explaining why he considers Trump a racist, Cohen told the House Oversight Committee last Wednesday that the president once asked him whether he “could name a country run by a black person that isn’t a ‘shithole.’” Recall that Trump also applied the “shithole” label to African and Central American countries last January. Also recall that an ill-informed presidential tweet about its land policy last year angered South Africa, and that Trump once made Africans cringe by misidentifying the country of Namibia.

Also recall that an ill-informed presidential tweet about its land policy last year angered South Africa, and that Trump once made Africans cringe by misidentifying the country of Namibia.

Continue reading “The U.S. could end up paying dearly for Trump’s disregard for Africa” →

People

Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa.
Advertisements

Obinna Ukwuani was the best graduating student in his class in Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the premier Ivy League universities in America. He was expected to get a good paying job and build a comfortable life for himself in the US. But he confounded everyone when he chose rather to return to Africa and promote the development of STEM, robotics and agribusiness.

By Nzekwe Henry | WEETRACKER

Continue reading “Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa.” →
Uncategorized

USA puts visa restrictions on Ghana over lack of cooperation
Advertisements

The United States has imposed visa restrictions on Ghana for a “lack of cooperation in accepting their nationals ordered removed from the United States.”

“Ghana has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to accept the return of its nationals ordered removed from the United States,” Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of Homeland Security, outlined.

“As a result, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has ordered consular officers in Ghana to implement visa restrictions on certain categories of visa applicants.

Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population,” a statement released by the US Department of Homeland Security read.

Continue reading “USA puts visa restrictions on Ghana over lack of cooperation” →

Sports

Major League Soccer: African representation bolstered by new signings
Advertisements

By Mark Gleeson

When the new season of Major League Soccer kicks off at the weekend, all but three of the 24 teams in the north American league will have representation from Africa.

A total of 44 players are drawn from 19 different countries and do not include the players of African heritage who have gone on to play for either Canada or the United States at national team or junior level.

It is a significant representation for the continent whose numbers have been bolstered by several high profile signings.

Continue reading “Major League Soccer: African representation bolstered by new signings” →

Sports

“Nigerian nightmare,” Kamaru Usman, becomes first African UFC champion
Advertisements

Kamaru Usman has become the first African fighter to win a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title.

He won the mixed-martial arts (MMA) bout against American Tyron Woodley.

The fighter, known as the “Nigerian Nightmare”, dominated the Las Vegas contest for the welterweight title.

The UFC is the biggest competition in MMA, where competitors combine boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and other disciplines while fighting in an octagonal cage.

Usman, 31, produced the performance of his career to dominate long-reigning welterweight champion Woodley.

He extended his winning streak to 14 and maintained his unbeaten record in the UFC.

Continue reading ““Nigerian nightmare,” Kamaru Usman, becomes first African UFC champion” →

Policy

US INVESTORS TO HELP BUILD AFRICA
Advertisements

By Bolaji Samuel

The tension between the two economic giants in the world, China and the United States (US), might have a silver lining for Africa. The administration of President Donald Trump is set to increase investment into the continent, in a bid to counter the narrative that China’s influence in Africa is rising, while the US falls off with its “America first” approach.

President Trump signed the legislation, the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act, or the BUILD Act, into law in October 2018. It combines the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and other US agencies focusing on international economic development into a newly consolidated agency called the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

It is anticipated that the DFC will be operational in October 2019 and at that time the DFC will begin deploying US equity capital in African private equity.
The DFC expands OPIC’s budget from USD29 billion to USD60 billion and provides the DFC with the authority to make limited equity investments. Previously, OPIC was limited to debt investments.

Continue reading “US INVESTORS TO HELP BUILD AFRICA” →

Uncategorized

African Union ambassador brings Wakanda vision to Minnesota
Advertisements

By Tom Gitaa

Less than 24 hours after the movie Black Panther took home some Oscars, the African Union ambassador to the United States, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, was in Brooklyn Center to share the AU’s mission to build a real Wakanda in Africa.

Brooklyn Center in November elected the first mayor in the metro area born in Africa when it elected Mike Elliot.

The ambitious project, dubbed Wakanda One Village Project, will consist of five African Centers of Excellence in each of the five regions of the African continent, the ambassador told a rapt audience. She first unveiled the project a year ago.

How to fund the ambitious project was the focus of a lunch meeting with African immigrant community and business leaders on Monday. The goal is to have one center of excellence going in the shared Victoria Falls border between Zambia and Zimbabwe where both countries have pledged land to that effect, the ambassador said.

Continue reading “African Union ambassador brings Wakanda vision to Minnesota” →

Military

Kenyans Rank First Among African Immigrants Serving in the US Military
Advertisements

Kenyan immigrants have been ranked first among African immigrants in the United States who are currently serving in the US military.

Latest data from the US Census Bureau shows that 0.4 percent of Kenyans in the US are serving in the army.

Ghanaians in the US come second with 0.3 percent serving in the armed forces.

The data shows that 0.1 percent of Nigerians and South Africans in America serve in the military.

While immigrants with Green Cards are eligible for recruitment to the US military, they cannot be assigned roles that need special security clearance.

These duties include intelligence, nuclear power as well as special operations.

More than 24,000 immigrants, including non-citizens and naturalized citizens, were serving on active duty in the US military in 2012, a report by the Department of Defense showed.

Continue reading “Kenyans Rank First Among African Immigrants Serving in the US Military” →

Opinion

Trevor Noah’s inside joke at the Oscars was more than just a laughing matter
Advertisements

By Chrizelda Kekana
Over the past week someone said, “Trevor Noah went on one of the biggest stages in America and told an inside joke only South Africans would immediately understand.

In case you missed it, what had happened was:

Trevor took to the Oscar’s stage to present Black Panther as one of the Best Picture nominees and dropped one of the most legendary jokes he’s ever shared.

“Growing up as a young boy in Wakanda, I would see T’Challa flying over our village, and he would remind me of a great Xhosa phrase. He says ‘abelungu abayazi ndiyaxoka’ – which means, ‘In times like these, we are stronger when we fight together than when we try to fight apart’,” Trevor said to loud applause from Hollywood’s crème de la crème.

Meanwhile, here at home, we were rolling on the ground with laughter because what Trevor’s isiXhosa quote actually translated to was ‘White people don’t know I’m lying’.

Continue reading “Trevor Noah’s inside joke at the Oscars was more than just a laughing matter” →

Uncategorized

Nigerians Seek More Collaboration With African-Americans
Advertisements

By Sunday Isuwa

Participants at the US Embassy Black History Month event have called for more collaboration with their brothers in America especially those who can’t trace their African roots.

The programme which was with the theme: “Building Bridges between Africa and the African Diaspora,” the participants said there is no good awareness between Africans in the continent and their brothers and sisters in the Diaspora especially those in Britain, Spain, America, Caribbean and other places about their roots.

According to some of the participants, the great migration from Africa to Europe was huge but insisted if they must build a strong continent, there must be a better collaboration and relationship with the African-Americans.

Continue reading “Nigerians Seek More Collaboration With African-Americans” →

Music

This Kenyan musician followed his love for Dylan to a new life and career
Advertisements

J.S. Ondara discovered he loved the music of Bob Dylan when he lost a bet.

Ondara was in high school in Nairobi when he got in a fight with another student over the song “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

It’s a Guns N’ Roses song, Ondara argued. No, said his classmate, it’s originally from a folk singer named Bob Dylan.

“So, we got into this fight, and we made a bet,” Ondara explained. “I lost a bet. But I got to discover the music of Bob Dylan and fell into this rabbit hole, which eventually led me to Minneapolis, to his home state. ”

That’s right.

When Ondara won the US visa lottery five years ago he swapped Nairobi for Minneapolis — “straight to the cold” — because of his love for Bob Dylan.

Continue reading “This Kenyan musician followed his love for Dylan to a new life and career” →

Uncategorized

Congolese Family Pleads For Help With Dad’s Asylum Case
Advertisements

By Jean Guerrero

The family of Constantin Bakala gathered in downtown San Diego on Thursday to submit a petition with the federal government, with nearly 500 signatures, asking for their father not to be deported.

As soon as Friday the father of seven from the Democratic Republic of Congo may be returned to a country where he fears he’ll be killed. The family fled home in 2017 after they were tortured and poisoned because of Bakala’s calls for democracy, according to the family.

After a harrowing journey through some of Latin America’s most dangerous countries, including a shipwreck where they lost important documents for their asylum case, the family was separated upon arrival in the U.S. through the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Bakala was put in detention while his wife and kids were released on parole. His asylum petition was rejected, his family says, because he couldn’t get an attorney from inside detention until months into his case.

Continue reading “Congolese Family Pleads For Help With Dad’s Asylum Case” →