Prof. Omosewo being presented with the Membership Plaque
Mrs. Esther Ore Omosewo, the first female professor of physics education in Nigeria has been inducted into the Governing Council membership of the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators - IARSA.
Members of NIDO Swiss Executive
“When we took over the reign of NIDO Swiss, on 14 December 2019, our focus was to rebrand and change the organization’s image which had been bastardized.” Johnson Odibo, the president of NIDO Swiss asserted in his annual report at the organization’s Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 5 December 2020.
The United Nations is marking 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, spotlighting their vital role in human nutrition and food security, as well as urging efforts to improve sustainable production and reduce waste.
Dr. Corneille Karekezi, Group MD and CEO of Africa Re
NIGERIA - Over 1,250 professionals took part in the 6th edition of African Insurance Awards held virtually on Friday, 18 December 2020. The African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) appreciating the roles paid by all the participants and the judges expressed it gratuities to all of them.
(Togo First) - The committee of ministers of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) project met in Lomé recently to discuss operational aspects of the infrastructure through which natural gas is transported from producing countries (Nigeria, mainly) to countries that import the fuel (Benin, Ghana, and Togo).
(Togo First) - Orabank Togo and Togocom will launch Mbanking, a service that allows its users to transfer money between the bank and a mobile wallet.
A United States human rights group, Article3.org, has honoured retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu with the Human Rights Global Treasure Award “in recognition of his lifelong commitment to advancing peace, equity, equality and human rights.”
President Félix Tshisekedi (Photo:www.digitaljournal.com)
The organisers of Mining Indaba online conference “are extremely pleased to confirm that His Excellency, Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed his participation at the online conference.”
Will Swiss hospitals be able to cope if infections rise again over Christmas? (Photo: HUG)
For a nation that prides itself on being on the global forefront of new technologies and science, particularly health care, Switzerland has an astoundingly poor record for dealing with Covid-19. The Lake Geneva region, which borders locked-down France, ranks as one of the worst coronavirus hotspots in Europe. Many Swiss, too, act as if there is no pandemic by crowding into shopping malls or socialising without masks.
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has earmarked two billion dollars to empower smallholder farmers in Nigeria, according to the National Coordinator for the agency, Princess Gloria Akobundu.
The 6th edition of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) conference held on 02and 03 December in South Africa explored post-pandemic recovery for the African markets and addressed women’s economic empowerment.
DHL has appointed Clement Blanc as Managing Director for its business in South Africa, one of the key markets for the logistics giant in the fast-growing region according a press release for the company.
Sani Yaya (Photo: Togo First)
SouthBridge Group, an innovative, pan-African financial advisory and investment firm, working with corporates, sovereigns and multinationals across the Continent, concluded two significant transactions in the Republic of Togo.
Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa Chairperson of the NIDO Commission (Photo: News Express)
The Nigerians In Diaspora Organization World Wide (NIDOWW) has condemned the brutal killings of Nigerian youths, “who were voicing out the issues confronting them in Nigeria with regards to SARS and other law enforcement abuses.” In the same vein it condemned “the wanton destruction of properties and facilities by hoodlums, who infiltrated the peaceful demonstration, resulting in the destruction of many economic values, many of which will never come back to live.”
The Federal Council defined the objectives of Switzerland's foreign policy back in February. In the MENA strategy it has now set out how it intends to implement these objectives in the important region spanning from Morocco to Iran. Switzerland's focus in the region over the next few years will be supporting sustainable economic development, better job prospects for young people, and peace and human rights
Simonetta Sommaruga
Switzerland is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Elections for the 2023–24 period will be held in June 2022. The candidacy entered its final phase with a virtual event in New York attended by the president of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.
Padraig Ward of Roche (Photo: Roche)
With the pandemic in the midst of its second wave in Europe, the Africa Business Day (ABD) had to innovate its way into our home offices. Ironically, Covid 19 has enabled the Africa Business Day, ran by the Swiss African Business Circle (SABC) and hosted by Roche, the chance of widening their audience. This year, their theme of Emerging Business Models, was beamed not just to people residing in Europe, but across Africa and other continents as well.
Jordanian psychologist Manar Bashara conducts a counselling session at a mental health clinic in Azraq refugee camp run by UNHCR and the International Medical Corps. Every day she sees around five people. © UNHCR/Lilly Carlisle
Q&A: ‘Before the pandemic, refugee mental health was severely overlooked. Now it’s a full-blown crisis’ UNHCR’s Senior Mental Health Officer Pieter Ventevogel says COVID-19 has been a tipping point for many refugees in distress. But with the crisis comes an opportunity.
Bishar A. Hussein, Director General of the UPU (Photo UPU)
SWITZERLAND: This year the UN is marking its 75th anniversary with the UN75 initiative, which, throughout 2020 has gathered public perspectives on global challenges and ideas on how to tackle them.
Mr. Yofi Grant, CEO Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. ( Photo: GIPC)
GHANA: Ghana has recorded total investments of US$869.47 million, with total FDI value amounting to US$785.62 million between January to June 2020 as FDI inflow showed rare strength in the final moments of the second quarter of the year, undeterred by the Covid-19 pandemic. The total FDI of US$785.62 million represents investment recorded by the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) (https://www.GIPCGhana.com/) and the Petroleum Commission.
Verena Utzinger (File Photo SABC)
Africa Business Day (ABD) took on a new virtual form in 2020 in a bid to ensure with certainty that it could be conducted in a safe and meaningful way in the current context of COVID-19. The innovation coincides with its 10 anniversary.
Verena Utzinger (File Photo SABC)
Africa Business Day (ABD) took on a new virtual form in 2020 in a bid to ensure with certainty that it could be conducted in a safe and meaningful way in the current context of COVID-19. The innovation coincides with its 10 anniversary.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pan Igbo cultural organization has disassociated the Igbo nation and people from statements credited to the leader of Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the destruction of Yoruba assets in Lagos.
NIGERIA: The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned in very strong terms the unwarranted shooting and killing of unarmed protesters by security men in different parts of the country.
Pan-African housing development financier Shelter Afrique has signed an agreement with the Rwanda Social Security Board to scale up the development of large-scale affordable housing in Kinyinya, a suburb of Kigali city, according to an official statement recently issued in Kigali.
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(From left to right) Vera Songwe, Irene Ochem and Arunma Oteh, former Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank and Academic Scholar, Oxford University(Source: (AWIEF)
An Interview with the creator Giselle Rufer
DELANCE SWISS WATCHES
UAE makes Avani Barbarons Resort Available to Seychelles
SEYCHELLES, 04 April 2020
Under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the ‘Avani Barbarons Seychelles Resort’ will be made available to the Government of Seychelles to be used by the Department of Health as a facility to accommodate their health personnel and supporting frontline service members, in the efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to our weekly brief on the spread of COVID-19 and the actions that Africa CDC is taking to help member states, Africa CDC has begun to share a weekly brief detailing the latest changes in scientific knowledge and public health policy changes, as well as updates to the latest guidance from WHO and others.
ANGOLA - The increase in trains on the Benguela Railway (CFB), in 2021, is a strong possibility with the recent reception of two more locomotives ordered from General Electric.
ANGOLA - The Agricultural Development Institute (IDA) will open, in January 2021, agricultural training schools in the municipalities of Icolo and Bengo, Viana, Cacuaco and Quiçama, in the province of Luanda, announced the director of the institution, David Tunga.
ANGOLA - The government of Cuanza Norte wants to reactivate the irrigated perimeter of Mucoso, due to the agricultural potential for generating jobs and exporting products.
(Togo First) - After closing them for more than a year, Nigeria has reopened its land borders. The news, reported by local media, came from President Buhari who approved the immediate reopening of four land borders.
(Ecofin Agency) - Tunisian investment firm Ekuity Capital and asset manager United Gulf Financial Services-North Africa (UGFS North-Africa) jointly co-invested in the capital of Société moderne d'industrie plastique et d'emballage (Somipem), a Tunisian company specializing in the manufacture of caps and tops.
The rejection of the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections by presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. John Dramani Mahama and the congratulatory messages by Nigerian and the US on the victory of President Nana Akufo-Addo are the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Friday.
The decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to resist any attempt by state governors to borrow from pension funds and the lawyers’ view that the non-appearance of President Buhari before the House of Representatives on Thursday has put the Nigerian Constitution on trial are some of the leading stories in Nigerian newspapers last Friday.
SWITZERLAND: To ensure financial stability, the Federal Council decided at its meeting on 29 October 2020 to exempt the interest on too-big-to-fail (TBTF) instruments from withholding tax until the end of 2026. The dispatch on this law will now go before Parliament.
[ISS] The festive season was marked by dramatic scenes of tens of thousands of people amassing at border posts between South Africa and its neighbours where procedures had slowed down due to COVID-19 restrictions.
[Monitor] The Health Ministry has said it is running pilot projects in some health facilities to determine ways of including treatment for non-communicable diseases to usual HIV/Aids treatment so as to curb deaths among the patients.
[The Patriot] Chairperson, Botswana is pleased to deliver this report on behalf of the Africa Region Member States. We thank the Director General for the detailed and informative report on the COVID-19 Response. The Africa Region commend the WHO's leadership and coordination role across all levels in the COVID-19 response. The WHO's Health Emergency Programme which was established under the leadership of the Director-General Dr Tedros, has been a key milestone in this regard.
[AIM] Maputo -- The Mozambican health authorities on Monday announced a record number of cases of the Covid-19 respiratory disease - 895 cases in a 24 hour period.
[AIM] Maputo -- Chimoio (Mozambique), 19 Jan (AIM) - The health authorities in the central Mozambican province of Manica are on high alert and taking a wide range of measures intended to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 respiratory disease within the communities.
[allAfrica] Geneva -- After developing under the radar for a number of years, what has been described as a humanitarian disaster in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado region is now grabbing the United Nations' attention.
[Premium Times] Burna Boy is the only Nigerian and African artiste on the playlist.
[The Herald] Popular host and former radio personality Tichafa Matambanadzo, affectionately known in the entertainment industry as "Tich Mataz", has been selected to represent Zimbabwe at the upcoming Jamaican festival, organisers of the show have confirmed.
[Citizen] Tanzanian artiste Ilunga Khalifa aka CPwaa was pronounced dead early Sunday January 17 at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) where he was undergoing treatment.
[Citizen] Dar es Salaam -- There is a Kiswahili adage that says the only person who knows a child's father is its mother and that has today been proved by Diamond Platnumz's mother.
[Vanguard] Following dwindling oil revenue that has compelled Federal Government to borrow funds, the Chief Executive Officer of SGM Records, Desmond Enobakhare, professionally known as Kex Obax, has said that the government could rake in more revenue from Music with proper investment in the sector.
[New Frame] The jazz pianist's new album, iHubo Labomdabu, is the fifth in a series of seven. Spontaneous and inspired, it is informed by deep meditation on Black life and the meaning of home.
[Daily Maverick] The future of work has been irreversibly altered. Some version of a hybrid remote-office-industry working model is here to stay, depending on the industry. Universities will do well to create curricula that nurture the next level of skills to allow students to succeed in a hybrid working environment.
[Daily Maverick] The National Student Financial Aid Scheme saw a 25% jump in funding applications for 2021. Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says this shows an increasing demand for access to higher education and training opportunities.
[Nation] As the government focuses on tracing girls who got pregnant during the pandemic, with the aim of taking them back to school, it is now emerging that more boys than girls could be missing from classrooms.
[Addis Fortune] Higher Education Relevance & Quality Agency
[Nation] The national assessment of primary school learners that took off yesterday was marred by delays in downloading and printing test papers.
[Nation] Mandera County risks recording a low number of students who will join universities after the March Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
[Nation] Fort Jesus, a Unesco World Heritage site, has been revamped using 3D projection to attract more tourists.
[Seychelles News Agency] The newly announced measures to re-open Seychelles to tourists who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine will not help the tourism industry immediately, the chairperson of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) told SNA on Monday.
[This Day] The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the announcement by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that it will require all travellers to the US to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test undertaken within three days prior to their departure to the country, effective 26 January.
[Daily Maverick] The tourist accommodation sector generated about a third of the income in November 2020 that had flowed its way 12 months before.
[Botswana Daily News] Maun -- Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Basic Education, Ms Bridget John, says introduction of a multiple pathways programme at Maun Senior Secondary School will benefit the business community.
[Citizen] Tanzania was recently dragged willy-nilly into a debate on social media on whether or not it was prudent to name a foreigner as the country's goodwill tourism ambassador.
Tired of being the "grateful" immigrant, Ugandan-British writer Musa Okwonga left the UK to come to Berlin and explores his experience in a novel.
Donald Trump will not be attending Joe Biden's inauguration. While highly unusual, it's not the first time an outgoing president is not part of the ceremony.
The Italian museum where the oil painting belonged was not aware of the theft. The artwork is believed have been painted by Giacomo Alibrandi — a student of Leonardo da Vinci.
Born 100 years ago, the master of psychological thriller novels was as elusive as her characters; the depressive "misogynist lesbian" also loved snails.
Phil Spector, who changed the sound of 1960s pop with his "Wall of Sound" recordings has died of COVID-19, according to authorities and media reports. The musician was convicted of the 2003 murder of a Hollywood actress.
After many years without much snow, this German winter has been a white-powdered wonderland for cold-weather sports. But amid a hard lockdown, few can enjoy it.
[Nation] Ms Ann Kananu Mwenda becomes the third woman to take the reins of a deputy governor subsequent to 2017 General Election.
[Daily Maverick] Cricket South Africa has taken heed of the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa to act against the scourge of violence against women and children by launching the Black Day One-Day International.
[UNFPA] Pemba -- "I came with nothing. Nothing at all," said Amina Daúde, 25, who travelled by boat to Pemba with her husband and three children to flee the escalating violence in northern Mozambique.
[The Herald] Former Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who left Zimbabwe hurriedly in 2017 and faces arrest on various charges on his return, has been accused by veteran modelling instructor Mrs Sipho Mazibuko of raping her 11 years ago when she was pregnant.
[Daily Maverick] Since the initiation of lockdowns, a significant increase in gender-based violence has been noted in virtually all countries, including Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria and Kenya. Sadly, this has happened when social services, including health and shelter, are mainly channelled towards addressing Covid-19. Moreover, access to justice for victims of gender-based violence has been made more difficult as courts are not operating at full capacity.
[Nation] The mechanical engineering field is one that has some of the highest gender gaps globally, with men dominating the sector. But a group of girls has set out to transform this by mentoring girls in Sciences.
Despite COVID-19, up to 50,000 Israelis have been flying to Dubai since last November. The UAE is adapting to the new clientele as mutual business interests start to take off.
Tired of being the "grateful" immigrant, Ugandan-British writer Musa Okwonga left the UK to come to Berlin and explores his experience in a novel.
Economic and social fallout from COVID-19 are among the most imminent threats to the world, a new report shows. The pandemic will leave deep scars on young people, already reeling from financial and environmental crises.
Donald Trump will not be attending Joe Biden's inauguration. While highly unusual, it's not the first time an outgoing president is not part of the ceremony.
The Italian premier survived an earlier vote of confidence in the lower house, but he now faces a tougher test in the Senate, where he hopes to win over enough opposition and independent lawmakers to keep him in office.
The heir to the Samsung conglomerate is going back to jail and South Korea is again examining the dirty intersection of all-powerful "chaebols" and political leadership.
[Daily News] THE Tanzania National Nurses Association (Tanna) has appealed to the government to recruit more nurses and midwives to address personnel shortages at public health facilities across the country.
[Daily Maverick] The Department of Higher Education has invested more than R68m into Covid-19 research and vaccine development. A further R25m has been allocated to the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (Krisp) to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants.
[Monitor] The National Unity Platform (NUP) offices were yesterday surrounded by army and police, blocking all party members and leaders from accessing the office.
[Monitor] Police and other security agencies arrested a total of 223 suspects on allegations of violating the electoral process during the just concluded presidential and parliamentary polls.
[Monitor] By DERRICK WANDERA
[Monitor] The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party's presidential candidate, Mr Patrick Oboi Amuriat, has said they will not challenge the presidential elections results in court.
Economic and social fallout from COVID-19 are among the most imminent threats to the world, a new report shows. The pandemic will leave deep scars on young people, already reeling from financial and environmental crises.
Coronavirus lockdowns and other restrictions in 2020 "had an unprecedented impact on car sales across Europe," according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. Sales were down by nearly a quarter.
Joe Biden wants to spend $1.9 trillion on a relief program aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it has caused in the US. DW explains what the funding is intended for and how quickly it can flow.
[Monitor] Nairobi -- Facebook on Sunday flagged down a congratulatory message by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta to his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni for allegedly containing false information.
[Premium Times] Anyala is Nigeria's newest oil development since the start-up of the giant Egina field in late 2018.
[DW] The billionaire daughter of Angola's ex-president was considered the richest woman in Africa. But the Luanda Leaks scandal brought Isabel dos Santos' house of cards crashing down a year ago.
Borussia Dortmund's title challenge is all but over after being defeated by Bayer Leverkusen. The Werkself celebrated an impressive return to form with a style of football that Dortmund would like to call their own.
[Daily News] EAST African Community (EAC) countries Kenya, Uganda and hosts Tanzania are among nine countries that have so far confirmed their participation at the forth-coming Africa Kabaddi Championship.
[Daily News] TAIFA Stars are ready to play their first match in the unfolding Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals as they face Zambia at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Cameroon on Tuesday.
[Daily News] THE newly signed Simba attacker Perfect Chikwende said the existing competition in the team will help to improve his career.
[Namibian] THE waiting is finally over as the Brave Warriors are due to make their debut at the Africa Nations Championship in Limbe, Cameroon against Guinea tonight.
[New Times] The national football team, Amavubi take on Uganda Cranes in the opening game of the ongoing sixth edition of CHAN 2020 taking place in Cameroon in a few hours. Here are six things you need to know ahead of the highly-anticipated encounter :
[Ethiopian Herald] The Ministry of Agriculture stated that Ethiopia has made clear and trusted policy revision regarding Lowland and Pastoralist communities that could profoundly facilitate inclusive development and enhance the pastoralists' livelihood sustainably.
[World Bank] Bangui -- ccording to the latest « Price monitoring Bulletin » produced by Central African Institute for Statistics, Economic and Social Studies (ICASEES) with support from the World Bank, the prices of basic imported food products, including milk powder, salt, sugar and onions, have spiked from 15% to 240% in markets surveyed across Bangui, Bimbo and Bégoua during the first week of January.
[Premium Times] Officials as Benue residents to avoid using untreated water.
[The Conversation Africa] For months, Ugandans have witnessed a vicious presidential election campaign without precedent. While the incumbent, Yoweri Museveni, has enjoyed free rein on the campaign trail, his youthful main opponent Robert Kyagulanyi and his supporters have faced numerous obstacles - and physical assault. The result is a pervasive sense of political crisis in the run-up to the January 14 vote.
[African Arguments] Mild threats oblivious to how the NRM system actually operates are not enough.
[Botswana Daily News] Damochujenaa -- Efforts are being made to establish a cooperative at Damochujenaa in Mmadinare constituency.
[Daily Maverick] In a patch of sky long trawled across by countless telescopes, astronomers have discovered two gigantic radio galaxies - all thanks to MeerKAT, which spotted these distant objects from deep in the Karoo.
[UCT] Two giant radio galaxies - among the largest single objects in the universe, which were thought to be quite rare - have been discovered with South Africa's powerful MeerKAT telescope. The discovery has been published online in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
[Daily Trust] The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has unveiled a car built by Mr Auwal Hassan, a 30-year-old Nigerian inventor.
[Ethiopian Herald] Besides the legal aspect, patent rights have an important role in boosting productivity by giving confidence for innovators and hence encouraging innovation. Patent rights give confidence to innovators to pursue new ones and come up with product and service that benefits society.
[Nation] Ensconced between a chicken coop and a sheep pen stands a small shed where two young men are huddled working on a table. A heavy whiff of chicken droppings hangs in the air.
[Namibia Economist] The Startup Namibia's Swakop Pop up camp, a coworking community office space for local startups which opened its doors in December last year, managed to give the coastal community a platform to connect, engage and develop ideas.