Santorini is a small-town set on a hill. One of the wonderful experiences in Santorini is to climb the steps to the city center rather than using the traditional horses or the cable cars. To do this, you must be physically fit and mentally strong. There are 588 steps, and the way up is very steep. As I climbed those steps panting, I was equally competing with horses carrying people up the hill. I also stopped regularly to enjoy the views as the cable cars were airlifting people to the proverbial city set on a hill.
At a time, I felt I would not make it to the town because I was extremely exhausted, but I kept hearing the voice of my motivational speaker, you can do it !, it says.
As I set my foot on the last set of stairs, I couldn’t help but conclude that it only takes a little planning to make a major city. For example, give people transportation options. I had the option to use cable cars and horses, I only opted to use the stairs. In Nigeria, we practically have only one means of transportation, Cars and vehicles. This is one of the major obstacles to our development.
I have used the metro system in almost all the major cities of the world, from New York to Tokyo to Hong Kong to Beijing, to Moscow and many more, one of my favorite activities is to wander about using the metro systems in different cities. I love to get lost, miss my station, find my way back and get lost again. One of the hallmarks of major developed cities all over the world is the sophistication of their public transportation system. If Nigeria will ever come out of the woods, other states will need to start copying the templates of development in Lagos state. Lagos seems to have a very robust idea of what a megacity should look like, they are only struggling with the implementation of those ideas.
Nevertheless, whatever progress Nigeria will make in the nearest future will ultimately depend on how far Lagos can effectively carry out its lofty developmental plans.
Around seventeen years ago, President Obasanjo sold our moribund refineries to a consortium led by Dangote and Otedola. They paid close to a billion dollar for the two refineries. President Yaardua cancelled the sale and even returned the money.
Many myopic Nigerians hailed him that he was incorruptible. Almost two decades later, those refineries never produced a gallon of petrol. Imagine if the consortium had started refining petrol from those refineries over a decade ago, just think about the catalyst effect it would have had on the economy. We would not need naira to import fuel for more than a decade, Naira would not be under pressure, and we would have had a lot of money for infrastructural development during the Jonathan’s era oil boom. Who came to the rescue of the oil situation almost two decades later? DANGOTE and LAGOS STATE. Two decades wasted. Naira almost irreparably damaged. Lagos came to the rescue with the Tinubu’s inspired free trade zone providing a massive land and the needed business environment for Dangote to build a world class refinery from the scratch, when he could have repaired our moribund refineries decades ago.
While it seems everything is chaotic with the fuel situation, I am so excited about the future. With Dangote’s refinery, we can effectively solve the corruption problem around fuel subsidy. Many people are saying HOW? Dangote said they are installing a tracker to monitor the destination of every liter of petrol loaded from the refinery.
This is a major game changer. The federal government must insist on this as a pre-condition for selling crude to Dangote. As at today, almost half of the fuel we import with our hard-earned dollars are being shipped to neighboring countries to sell in the black market. If the fuel is tracked by Dangote, we can properly track our daily consumption and even if we must pay to subsidize the fuel, it will be very minimal and will be paid in Naira.
Over a decade ago, Lagos also conceived the idea of BRT Lanes to decongest the traffic on the road. In retrospect, I think those lanes would have been dedicated to intra-city trains instead. If you have ever been to Istanbul, you would see that on every major road, a small portion is dedicated to city trains just like the BRT lane. The difference is that while you may be on the BRT lane for hours without a single bus in sight, the train in Istanbul comes at regular intervals. What is the purpose of a BRT lane when there are no buses to ply those routes? Lagos had the idea, but the implementation is poor. I am so delighted that Sanwo Olu’s government is awake again, building extensive rail networks in Lagos state. I am only wondering what other states are waiting for. One of the ways to reduce energy consumption is to build extensive public transportation especially rail networks.
Give people alternatives like I had in Santorini. Divert away from excessive consumption of fuel and use the money saved to further enhance the public transportation system. When it is well developed, restrict the number of cars in all the CBDs using plate number codes. That way, people will be forced to leave the cars behind at home and use the public transportation system.
In London, around 5 million people use the metro lines daily. Imagine that we can get one million people to leave their cars at home and ride the Lagos metro. Fuel consumption will be reduced, less traffic on the road, less damage to the roads and affordable accommodations because people can now live in Ibadan and commute to work in Lagos. I am still of the opinion that the BRT lanes should also be converted to Rail lines. Using Istanbul as a case study, those dedicated lanes are more than enough to build another extensive rail line in Lagos.
Lagos is the only state that seems to have a good idea of what a city should look like even though the state is finding it difficult to implement the goals. The city is still very far from achieving the goal of a megacity, but it is the only one struggling to get there. If your state governor is not coming to Lagos for tutorial, you may need a new governor by 2027 if you don’t want your city to be left behind.
Celebrated FIFA licensed football agent, Dr. Drew Uyi has continued to score big on the international scene, following his invitation to be a guest speaker at UK – Kenya Trade Mission 2024, holding from October 1st to 3rd in Nairobi.
UK-Kenya Trade Mission 2024, themed, “The new GATEWAY To Africa Investment, according to the organisers, “aims to promote new businesses, partnerships and create specific match making possibilities and boost direct diaspora investment”.
The venue of the epoch-making event is the prestigious Weston Hotel,, Nairobi and reacting to his enlistment as a guest speaker to what promises to be a memorable event, Drew Uyi said, “I am thrilled to announce that I will be in Nairobi Kenya from October 1st to October 3rd as a guest speaker at the UK-Kenya Trade Mission 2024”.
The world acclaimed brand strategist further said on his Instagram account that, ” the conference is aimed at connecting international investors with investments opportunities across Kenyan sectors”.
Interestingly Dr Drew Uyi will also be using his trip to Kenya to conduct some talent hunt and developmental programmes in Nairobi.
This much was disclosed by the Kenyan Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Joseph Warui, who said the Kenyan government will partner with Drew Uyi to help scout young football talents
Warui said apart from talent scouting involving Drew Uyi, Kenya will also seek collaboration with a club in the Premier League to promote Kenyan football. He added that the super-agent has also promised to provide support to Kenya organisers planning to host a comedy night at the iconic 02 dome.
“I had a tentative discussion with Andrew Uyioghosa Ogbomoide, a British football agent, brand strategist and entrepreneur, popularly known as Dr. Drew Uyi. He is a registered intermediary with the Football Association (FA) in the United Kingdom and is currently an accredited FIFA players agent,” Warui said.
Speaking further, Warui said, “we delved into promoting Kenyan football far and wide. In October, together with Mr Drew and his team, we will be in Nairobi scouting talent amongst our young footballers.
“We will also seek a collaboration with a UK Premier League club to help market Kenyan football. Dr. Drew Uyi vowed to accord us the support we may need with event organisers in Kenya to host an African Comedy Night at the O2 Dome.”
Recently, Warui leveraged the KCB Investment Forum at Canary Wharf, London, to woo investment to Kenya’s healthcare sector, stressing the urgent need for high-class hospitals specialising in cancer and HIV treatment.
Dr. Drew Uyi’s influence cuts across boundaries and extensively in football and branding. Drew Uyi recently discussed the transformative power of sports in Africa with Kenyan ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Dr. Joseph Warui, at the Kenya Embassy in London.
The conversation morphed into both parties sharing a common goal; to nurture future football stars in Kenya, for the development of the game, as part of the vision of Warui, who has been at the centre of driving expertise and investment to improve different sectors in Kenya, including sports.
“An inspiring day at the Kenya Embassy in London, with H.E. Amb. Dr. Joseph Warui. Discussing the power of sports in Africa, and our shared commitment to nurturing future champions. A new branding for engaging African Sports development has started”, wrote Dr.Drew Uyi.
…NADDC will partner with local manufacturers – Osanipin
Africa has become a dumping ground for 55 million used vehicles from Europe and America, the Chief Executive Officer of the the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), David Coffey, has said.
He said the trend can change if there is synergy between the National Automobile Design and Development Council (NADDC) and AAAM, which is on a mission is to industrialise and grow the automotive sector in Africa.
He said the sector can be developed wworking with African governments to develop and refine policies, collaborating with the public and private sectors, promoting affordable mobility with safe, low-emission vehicles, and eveloping a value chain, including finance sector partnerships.
Coffey, who dissected Nigeria’s manufacturing capability, identified the lack of demand as a key challenge.
He called for the strengthening of the automobile policy for increased investment in the sector, adding that partnership with local businesses would boost local production, enhance technology transfer and raise industrial capacity.
He was impressed by the capability he witnessed and suggested partnering with local businesses.
Coffey spoke during the tour of automobile companies by the Director-General of the National Automobile Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Joseph Osanipin.
Accompanied by the AAAM team, he visited Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) and Afro Asia at Nnewi, Anambra State, where he applauded the companies for their innovation approach.
Osanipin expressed a strong interest in replicating Innoson’s model to boost local manufacturing capabilities across Nigeria.
The Director-General acknowledged the success of Innoson, which manufactures complete CNG buses from scratch, using locally sourced materials like glass, iron, and plastic.
He said the model should be replicated in other manufacturing entities and partnering with Innoson to grow the industry.
Osanipin also emphasised the importance of setting standards and conducting peer reviews with other economies.
He praised Innoson’s use of local content and urged the company to improve it to 70-80 percent in view of the necessary capacity, expertise, and materials available.
Osanipin said the vehicles produced by IVM have met global standards, adding that the factory has the capacity to produce at least 30,000 vehicles per year if orders are placed.
Inoson Motors Chief Executive Officer Dr Innocent Chukwuma, urged Nigeria to adopt Natural Compressed Gas (CNG) as a fuel source, given the high cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He said the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle is the best option, stressing that it is a cheaper attractive alternative.
Chukwuma said: “The federal government should issue directives to promote the adoption of CNG, as it is crucial for saving our economy from the burden of expensive PMS. As the president highlighted, fuel costs are draining our country’s resources.
“By switching to CNG, we can conserve funds for other essential purposes. I urge everyone to support the transition to CNG, as it will benefit both individuals and the nation as a whole. A prosperous Nigeria benefits everyone.”
Osanipin also visited the Afro Asia Nigeria Limited, where the CEO Chief A.C. Okafor, presented a comprehensive overview of the company’s manufacturing processes, ranging from plastic recycling to finished product production.
Okafor, who spoke on the challenges confronting the industry, said policy inconsistency is a significant obstacle.
He emphasised the need for auto policy legislation to unlock the industry’s full potential and facilitate its growth.
On his return from a recent Pilgrimage to the North Pole, High Chief Owolabi Salis, the spiritual leader of The Soul Maker Ministry worldwide, has urged African governments and its people to pay strong attention to their roots arguing that there is a strong bond of connection between the spiritual economy and the physical world economy.
“Paying strong heed and cognisance to your roots has the tendency of lifting Africans out of the present predicament that lamentably locates them at the backwaters of developments in the contemporary global order”said Salis,adding that “It is unfortunate that the majority of Africans presently worship foreign spirits which do not have their back”.
Our planet Earth is a mote of dust suspended by a sunbeam. In the Universe, everything is created in diversity and all are following a set pattern of rules which suggests the presence of a Spirit Being which not only sets the rules,but is also in charge.
Human beings are a living being made of a soul and a body. To many, the soul is a spirit and people worship because of the soul. The custodian of the soul in our body is the heart which keeps pumping and coordinates with the head to manage the entire body.
Both the body and the soul have to be maintained for good living. You maintain your body by bathing, applying lotion and all that. You maintain your soul through worshiping the soul maker. Some people maintain their body in a dirty way such as bathing with infected water. Same way some maintain their soul by facing or worshiping stones, woods, human beings or any form of idols.
When you worship anything, you are submitting your spirit to it. In other words, you are submitting your soul to that thing. After some time, whatever you worship may start to control you.
The question is who made and gave you the soul to come to this world and live as a living being? Ordinarily,the response which automatically evokes from the fore-going is the natural and logical concept of The Soul Maker, who is the Commander-in-Chief of your life; the one that gives the soul and the one that can take it.
This is your first root to life. The Soul Maker gave you the soul to live, therefore, it is the only one worthy of your worship because if you worship anything you are submitting your soul to it.
The mystery is that a spirit being is responsible for creating that soul and bringing us to life. Many people call this spirit being different names in different cultures and many nations have idols and national gods that were repackaged and promoted to the world as universal when indeed,it is not. It is just apt and proper to use the phrase name for the spirit- being which in English means the Soul Maker,that is the person who makes the soul.This frees us from attaching an idolish name to that spirit being.
It is important to free yourself from attaching an idolish imagery or concept to that spirit being or to the soul because the soul that was delivered to give life unto everyone is a pure soul which is very fragile. If you attach an idolish tag, concept or imagery to it, you infest and corrupt the soul and that marks the beginning of earthly problems of various nature
Devotees are to avoid facing or worshiping stones, woods, metals, human beings or any form of idols, because it corrupts and infests the holiness of your soul.
If you worship anything other than The Soul Maker who is the Almighty Lord of the Universe, you do not deserve to live and your soul may not be reposed. This is because you have dishonored the maker and owner of your soul who can evict the soul from your body, meaning that you are dead,and therefore refused the benefit to rent it out to you in future because you are a tenant that failed to pay rent or (worship) in the past. Look at it from the analogy of a single landlord who is renting out souls and you fail to pay your rent by failing to worship but would rather prefer to pay rent to a non landlord or an impostor idol. You will eventually be evicted (or pronounced dead) by the single landlord who may decide not to rent out to you in future which in effect,means that your soul may not be reposed. In contrast therefore,and positively too,a good “tenant” who pays “rents”that is, worshiping the Soul Maker will always have his or her “rents” which in this analogy,implies the soul – renewed.
Every human being has three roots. Your first root is The Soul Maker that gave you the soul. Your second root are your parents and your third roots are your familial ancestors.
You can only worship your first root, the Soul Maker because the Spirit Being is the one that makes and owns your soul and that of your parents and familial ancestors. You cannot worship your parents and familial ancestors. You can only celebrate, honor and pray for them but you cannot worship them because they did not create or own your soul.
To bear spiritual fruits, it is important you water your roots and you do so by worshiping The Soul Maker, who is the Almighty Lord of the Universe and respecting and honoring your parents and familial ancestors. The fore-going message is apparently visible everywhere in nature. Take a tree that you plant for example. If you fail to water it, it will die but if you water it, it will bear fruits and your economy will improve. But if you abandon your own tree to water another person’s tree, that person’s tree will bear fruits and the economy of that person will improve.
Many earthly religions are all designed from certain ancestral roots with links to idol or supernatural myth built around a particular personality or nation etc. Before you pay obeisance to anything, you have to ask yourself, is it part of your root, if not, you don’t need to pay obeisance to it because it is of no value to you. If you do, your spirit will be harvested for the ancestral root or owner that created it. The spiritual economy of the ancestral owners improves while the spiritual economy of the “alien devotee”with no ancestral root to that strange religion,he professes,declines.One hopes that this analogy is clearly understood, especially in terms of the danger, foolishness and profitability inherent in watering a religion, which does not derive from your ancestral root
Under the Soul Maker Ministry worship, the ancestral owner is the Almighty Lord of the Universe that gave you the soul and is the only one worthy of worship. It has no human founders. We are just promoters and reminders.
The Spirit Being that created the Universe passed messages through nature. The only book written by the Almighty Lord of the Universe is in nature discoveries and nothing more.
To improve on your spiritual wisdom, seek knowledge in nature discoveries and avoid discussing unfounded stories of men whose main purpose is to conquer souls for their idolish images and doctrines of which the major victims are Africans – the people and the governments
Appreciate The Soul Maker for nature events, beauties and discoveries such as when you sight a sun rise and you said: “Praise and Glory to The Soul Maker for this beautiful nature etc” or you site a tornado and you said “Praise and Glory to The Soul Maker for this great nature etc” or you face the ocean with waves and swimming sharks and wales and you said “Praise and Glory to The Soul Maker for this beautiful nature etc” and so on.
The Soul Maker is Omnipotent and Omnipresent and created different things in different places as the Almighty Lord of diversity. The beauties created by the Spirit Being is not limited to a particular location. The sun and moon appear in every corner of the planet Earth. Therefore pilgrimage individually or in groups to explore the diverse creations of The Soul Maker on the planet and beyond. This will improve your wisdom and appreciation of The Soul Maker.
The Soul Maker created the Universe in diversity. Therefore, you must pay respect and due to diversity or diverse interests and compete positively but be wary of people who may want to destroy you. Respecting diversity and building positive relationships among diverse interests is also a pathway to being honored by The Soul Maker. Those who disrespect diversity are dishonorable in the eyes of The Soul Maker.
The Soul Maker is Omnipotent and Omnipresent and has the power to make things happen and can be called upon from all directions as The Soul Maker is one and everywhere.
As stated earlier, our planet Earth home is a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam and everything on it grows. Our body is made of water, soil and air which include air soul, the spirit energy and the mystery of life from The Soul Maker. The mystery of our diversity is that The Soul Maker created diversity in the soil, water and the air and in the beginning of diverse generations, air soul, the spirit energy and the mystery of life, was rained down by The Soul Maker to germinate diverse soils into diverse creations. When it rains, let it rain on you reasonably or bathe in or with it.
Under the ministry, devotees are urged to nurse their bodies and spirits with good water, good soil products and breathe good air.
Our goal in the Ministry is to recover devotees from stories of human beings and imposed bondages that have infected the world with physical and spiritual crises. Our planet, the only home we have, was so infested with idol worship of various forms to the extent that some diverse nations have repackaged their national idols or national gods as the Universal Creator of the Universe in an insult to the Spirit Being. There are many repackagings and beliefs that are competing and conflicting with one another. All of them are selfish stories of human beings. These repackagings should be discouraged because they are the source of damaging conflicts we are experiencing on our planet Earth. There are fighting and killings everywhere and these must stop.
The “God” referred to in many books is not the same Spirit Being that created the Universe and its expansion, the Soul Maker of all souls, the Omnipotent and Omnipresent, the Holy Holy and the Almighty Lord of Diversity.
What probably those books are referring to is their national gods made in their idolish image of a man but the Creator and Controller of the Universe has no known image; it is a Spirit Being.
Most if not all of these believers are idol worshipers. They worship their national gods (idols) which were repackaged to others as Universal. You will often hear “God of this nation” and stories of “God of this protecting this nation against that”. Or “God destroyed a nation for another nation”. You will also hear the stories of “God discriminating against another nation or God favors one nation as privileged over another nation”. It is only idolish interests that discriminate.
When there is such a discrimination, it is not Universal; it can only be national to a people to discriminate against other people. Only idolish interests discriminate because of the different idols.
The One and Universal Creator of the Universe created everything in diversity and is for all of us; the Creator cannot discriminate against what the Creator created and cannot decree that this diversity is better than this. We may outsmart one another when competing for planet resources. That is a different issue.
If you worship in any belief that “God” favors one people over the others or “God” created human beings in own image, you are an idol worshiper and you do not deserve to live. That “God” is not the same as the Creator of the Universe and its expansion which has no known image and who created the Universe and its expansion in diversity.
Many of these beliefs are engaged in spiritual science, magic, miracles and witchcraft mysteries which come at a cost to their followers. These are different from holy prayers worshiping the maker and owner of our souls.
Under The Soul Maker Ministry, we encourage devotees to see things from nature as made and written by The Soul Maker in order to free their minds of the damaging conflicts and enhance their spiritual and physical beings.
Soul is deposited in human beings in holy form and one is better off to keep it holy and you do so by desisting from facing or worshiping wood, metal, stone, human beings or any idol. Doing so makes your soul unholy, dirty and can be spiritually attacked by competing idols etc.
Whoever worships an idol does not deserve to live because when you worship anything, you are submitting your soul to it and the owner of your soul is The Soul Maker and not the idol. The Soul Maker as the Commander in Chief of your soul, gives it and can take it.
The Soul Maker should be worshiped directly because when the soul was deposited in you, it was deposited directly and not through any intermediaries. A sinner cannot lead you before The Soul Maker in holy prayers because sinners are not holy and you cannot pray to The Soul Maker in the name of any mortals because mortals don’t create the soul and do not own one. Many sinners leading in prayers often take advantage of their followers by brainwashing and harvesting their spirits.
Spirits most times communicate by signals through the air. Merely shouting an idol over your food and your soul,fully affirm it, the spirit is communicated to the idol and you may be possessed by the idol. Some idols are in various shrines designed to harvest the spirits and hopes of many and such idols have been used to name events that merely participating soulfully in and approving the events, signals are sent to the idol for processing. Be careful not to give your soul to any idol.
If condition permits, devotees to worship The Soul Maker once daily, but if willing to do more than once is ok but not more than 3 times daily, within sunrise and sunset or within 24 hours by circumferencing or circumnavigating the planet Earth octagonally with humble supplications which could be general or specific. Devotees should always have in mind that the only Spirit Being worthy of worship is The Soul Maker who is the owner of their souls. These daily supplications give spiritual protection for the day and sometimes beyond.
The general supplications or affirmations read thus:
“Praise and Glory to The Soul Maker. Praise and Glory to the Almighty Lord of the Universe. Let your Praise Be. I beat witness to your Holiness. Grant blessings to my soul. Grant blessings to my heart. Let your Praise Be”.
There are other approved supplications or affirmations. Any variation should not substantially deviate from the general affirmations and if it does, it will be specific supplications or affirmations.
Specific supplications or affirmations is when you make general supplications plus specific requests or favors from The Soul Maker or make substantial additions to the general supplications. Specific Supplications are personal to the devotees.
When making supplications before The Soul Maker, devotees cannot curse anyone or anything created by The Soul Maker.
Devotees cannot fast against water and air and they are to hold water and air as the spirit of supplications by sipping a little water and wipe the head or forehead with water and or have a deep breath and blow air in their hand and wipe the head or forehead with it.
Devotees may also make Mini supplications by simply raising consciousness with The Soul Maker, mainly to extend the sunrise to sunset period or for any other purpose to seek protection of The Soul Maker. The mini supplications are done by simply reciting all or parts of the general supplications like Praise and Glory to The Soul Maker. Let your Praise Be. This can be recited with or without wiping the head or sipping water.
Making daily supplications or affirmations spiritually protects you against negative energies like damaging magic and witchcrafts etc.
Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima on Monday, August 26, called for the establishment of monitoring mechanisms for the implementation of the free movement of persons and goods in the sub-region.
Ibrahima spoke at the opening ceremony of the delocalised Meeting of the large Joint Committee on Social Affairs, Gender and Women’s Empowerment, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights, Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (MAEP), Legal and Human Rights, Trade, Customs, and Free Movement, in Banjul, the Gambia.
The meeting focuses on “The role of Parliament in the implementation of the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, and the right of residence and establishment in the ECOWAS area”.
The Speaker expressed concern over the huddles confronting the free movement protocols.
She, therefore, called for strong governance, based on mutual trust, shared responsibility, and ownership of results to realise the Protocol.
She said: “The backbone of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) undoubtedly remains the promotion of cooperation and integration between its member states. Recognising that free movement is essential to the achievement of regional integration, the Member States adopted, on 29 May 1975, the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons and the Right of Residence and Establishment in the Region.
“Indeed, in addition to many other advantages, the Protocol allows ECOWAS citizens to enter and move freely in Member States without a visa. They can settle and carry out economic activities, subject to obtaining an ECOWAS card or residence permit. These measures facilitate mobility and stimulate intra-regional trade within our space.
“Despite these advances, considerable challenges remain in the implementation of our own choices. In recent years, free movement within the Community has been severely tested by several factors.
“Weaknesses in the implementation mechanism, differences in national interests and infrastructure problems hinder the achievement of the Protocol’s objectives.
“You will agree with me that the full realisation of free movement in the ECOWAS area requires strong governance, based on mutual trust, shared responsibility and ownership of results. To achieve our objectives, it is imperative to put in place mechanisms that ensure constant monitoring for more effectiveness of our protocols.
“Undoubtedly, the institution best placed to carry out these audits and ensure this balance within the ECOWAS architecture is the ECOWAS Parliament. Unfortunately, the latter is still insufficiently involved in the implementation of the Protocol and its Additional Protocols. This limits its contribution to effective and complete integration.
“It is in this perspective that the Joint Committee met on July 5, 2024, during the First Ordinary Session of Parliament, and adopted the terms of reference of this meeting.
“Policymakers and all stakeholders must unify their efforts to identify challenges and propose solutions that will maximise the benefits of free movement, both at the regional and national levels. These objectives will only be achieved through the development of coordinated policies and actions.
“I am convinced that this meeting of the Joint Committee, which will be nourished by the various direct meetings we will have with the people and local authorities, in order to collect their concerns, will lay the basis for a new reflection on this issue and help us to better understand the Protocol on Free Movement, while opening the way for greater involvement of Deputies in its implementation.”
1. South Sudan: South Sudanese people often have some of the darkest skin tones in Africa. This is attributed to the region’s high levels of melanin, which provides protection against intense UV radiation. The country’s diverse ethnic groups, including the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk, each contribute to this characteristics.
2. Senegal: In Senegal, the skin tones of the population range from medium to very dark. The Wolof, Serer, and Toucouleur ethnic groups, among others, exhibit a broad spectrum of dark skin tones. The high melanin levels in the skin are well-adapted to the region’s sunny climate.
3. Ghana: Ghana is home to a variety of ethnic groups, such as the Akan, Mole-Dagbani, and Ewe, which have varying skin tones. Many Ghanaians have very dark skin, which is a common trait across the West African region.
4. Malawi: Malawians generally have deep, dark skin tones, with high melanin levels being common among the Chewa, Yao, and other ethnic groups. The country’s tropical climate contributes to the prevalence of darker skin tones.
5. Uganda: The diverse ethnic groups in Uganda, including the Baganda, Basoga, and Banyankole, often have very dark skin. The high UV exposure in the region plays a role in the prevalence of darker skin tones.
6. Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe’s population includes the Shona, Ndebele, and other ethnic groups, many of whom have dark skin tones. The country’s climate and UV radiation levels contribute to the predominance of deeper skin colors.
7. Kenya: In Kenya, the skin tones range fronm light to very dark, with many individuals, especially from ethnic groups like the Kikuyu, Luo, and Maasai, having deep, rich skin tones. The high UV levels in Kenya’s diverse climates are a factor.
8. Rwanda: Rwandan people, including groups like the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa, often have dark skin tones. The country’s high altitude and UV exposure influence the skin tone of its population.
9. Nigeria: Nigeria, with its numerous ethnic groups such as the Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, has a wide range of skin tones. Many Nigerians have very dark skin, which is consistent with the high melanin levels found in West Africa.
10. Tanzania: Tanzanians, including ethnic groups like the Chaga, Sukuma, and Maasai, often exhibit very dark skin tones. The region’s high UV radiation levels contribute to the prevalence of darker skin.
These descriptions provide an overview of the skin tone characteristics in each country in Africa, reflecting both genetic diversity and environmental factors.
Water pollution is one of the most significant environmental challenges we face today, prompting researchers and engineers to seek sustainable solutions. Among these innovators is Nko Okina Solomon, a Nigerian-born environmental engineer whose work in wastewater treatment and environmental health is gaining attention in both the United States and Nigeria.
Now based in Baltimore, Maryland, Solomon is affiliated with Morgan State University, where her focus includes environmental compliance, hazardous material management, and sustainability initiatives. She is also conducting research in nanotechnology for wastewater treatment, an area she believes has great potential for preventing pollution before it escalates.
“We can’t keep waiting for pollution to happen before we act,” she emphasizes. “The real solution is to stop the problem before it starts. If we can treat water efficiently at the source, we won’t have to deal with the devastating consequences later.”
Solomon’s journey into environmental engineering began in Nigeria, where she was involved in significant environmental remediation projects. In the Obagi community of Port Harcourt, she played a vital role in efforts to restore farmland affected by environmental issues. While working with Total E&P Nigeria and Chiffy Limited, she led teams that implemented soil rehabilitation techniques, enabling farmers to reclaim their land.
“It was inspiring to see communities coming together to find solutions,” she reflects. “When you work on a project that brings land back to life and help people rebuild their livelihoods, you realize just how important environmental work is.”
Her experience in Nigeria also involved monitoring wastewater treatment systems in the Obite community, ensuring that treated water met environmental standards and was safe for human consumption. It was during these projects that she began to explore ways to enhance wastewater management through advanced technologies.
“Traditional treatment methods often have difficulty effectively addressing pollution, particularly when contaminants exist at very low concentrations,” she explains. “The key challenge is to identify and treat these contaminants early on, before they accumulate and pose risks to human health and aquatic life.”
Solomon’s innovative research centers on the use of nanotechnology, a scientific field focused on materials at the atomic or molecular level, to improve wastewater treatment. By employing nano-scale materials like carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles, her team is creating techniques to detect and eliminate harmful substances from water at the initial stages of contamination. These tiny materials possess a vast surface area, enabling them to absorb contaminants more effectively than conventional filtration methods.
“With nanotechnology, we can design materials that selectively attach to toxic substances in the water,” she explains. “These materials not only identify the contaminants but also remove them before they reach levels that could endanger people or ecosystems. This technology has the potential to reduce the need for large, costly water treatment facilities, making it particularly beneficial for areas with limited resources.”
Her research aims to create portable, affordable nanotech-based water filters that can be used in rural and underserved communities. These filters would treat water on-site, ensuring a steady supply of safe drinking water even in regions lacking centralized infrastructure.
“In a country like Nigeria, where many communities still struggle to access clean water, this type of technology can have a significant impact,” she emphasizes. “We envision a future where water contamination is detected and addressed before it escalates into a crisis.”
In addition to her research, Solomon collaborates with regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Maryland Department of the Environment.
An international commerce association leader and media consultant, Chief Charles Udeogaranya, has urged African leaders to leverage the upcoming 2024 China-Africa Summit to forge the strongest economic collaborations globally.
Following a recent tour of China with members of the Nigerian mainstream media, Udeogaranya emphasised in a press release on Sunday, August 18, that African leadership should prioritize business-to-business (B2B) partnerships and direct currency swaps over loans for government projects with minimal economic impact.
He highlighted that such initiatives would provide opportunities for local enterprises, leading to significant positive outcomes for citizens and creating massive job opportunities.
Udeogaranya also noted that China, as one of the friendliest nations, is eager to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships with African countries.
He urged African leaders to welcome China as a close ally, treating them as Africa’s best friend on the global stage.
Udeogaranya stated: “The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6 is a mere or mar situation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his African counterparts must seize the opportunity and get the best out of it and I wish them the best of luck.”
A philanthropist, Eran Moas, and his Foundation, ASAF Cameroon have taken decisive action to support and see to the recovery of Carlson Balon, a seven-year-old boy, who was attacked by a Hyena in Cameroon.
Recognizing Carlson’s challenges after losing his arm in the incident, Moas has pledged comprehensive assistance.
The assistance includes funding a trip to Hyderabad, India, where Carlson will receive a prosthetic arm and psychological care to help him heal. The entire effort, valued at over USD 50,000, is fully covered by ASAF Cameroon.
The tragic incident that happened at the Mvog-Betsi Botanical and Zoological Garden in Yaoundé changed the life of Carlson.
Carlson, whose father works as a veterinarian at the zoo, was attacked by an aggressive hyena that managed to sever his right arm. This horrifying event, caused by inadequate security measures at the zoo, left him and his family devastated.
The attack occurred while Carlson was enjoying an afternoon with his friends at the zoo. Due to the lack of proper fencing and the absence of security guards, the hyena could get dangerously close to the children. In a matter of moments, the wild animal attacked Carlson, leading to the loss of his arm.
Despite the excruciating pain and shock, the brave boy managed to run home, where his horrified parents immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital. Carlson underwent emergency surgery on the same day leaving deep scars, both physically and mentally.
As Carlson prepares to travel to India for his treatment, his story serves as a reminder of the importance of safety, the fragility of life, and the incredible strength that can be found in the support of others. Thanks to ASAF Cameroon and Eran Moas, Carlson’s future, once filled with uncertainty, now holds the promise of healing and hope.
The most anticipated 100 Most Notable African Leadership and Business Summit at Marriot Hotels in Kigali, Rwanda has come to an end amidst huge success.
With the theme: “Fostering collaboration and networking among business, governance and security stakeholder leaders across the African Continent” attracted very influential Nigerian leaders.
They include former President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Founder, The Prince 7 Youth Development Initiative, Mr. Prince Godswill Edward; Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, Dr. Nahbit Kapur, amongst others
Speaking on the theme, Jonathan stressed on the need for unity amongst African nations.
He argued unity is the bedrock for advancements in business, governance and security of lives and property. “Without unity nothing works”, he added.
Lawal spoke extensively on developmental collaborations and flexible networks amongst leaders and stakeholders in Africa.
Dauda explained that with flexible networks and reliable collaborations Africa can seamlessly move faster towards self-sufficiency in several areas of endeavour.
While officially opening the event, Convener Amb. Kingsley Amafibe, emphasised the significance of the summit to African nations especially those in political, traditional and religious leadership positions.
Amb. Amafibe explained that the 100 Most Notable African Leadership and Business Summit remains a beacon for the actualization of the African dream, with regards to innovative business ideas and responsible leadership.
The occasion which played host to notable personalities across Africa had lineup of activities which included, panel discussions, plenary sessions and award presentation.
The leadership and business summit is targeted at creating new pathways for revolution in Africa’s business and leadership ecosystem.
Those recognised for their efforts include Lawal as Transformational Political Leader in Africa; Dr. GD Singh, as Founder and Chairman Asian-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) and Founder & President, World Peace and Diplomacy Organisation (WPDO), as Global Award for Excellence In Business Development.
Others are, Mr Melody Fidel Okwuazu, Founder, Stability & Sustenance Limited UK, as Africa inspiring impact maker and Adeniyi Victor, CEO of Ivydealz Enterprice Nig LTD as Africa rising star young entrepreneur of the year, George Emeka Okoh CEO – Staten Projects and Construction Limited 100th Energy Services limited Brickwell Alliance Limited as Emerging Africa innovation and leadership award and Rene Iloma Okpara, Executive Director Operations, Fairmont Petroleum Limited as Africa Emerging Award for excellence in leadership and community development.
Others who made the list of 100 Most Notable African Leadership and Business Summit awardees include, Dr Kate Effiong(PhD) Model Analyst, Founder, KMI diamonds, as Emerging Africa inspiring change maker Princess Farida Ahmed, CEO; Raisa Palms Ltd as Emerging Africa inspiring woman of the year, Hon Prof Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance, Economic Development & Investment Promotion Republic of Zimbabwe, as Emerging Africa Award for excellence in excellence development and Peter Asiimwe CEO, Petrelli group of Companies, as Africa Young Emerging Entrepreneur in business
Hon Dr. Aplonia, Honorable Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe, as Award for excellence in community development, Dr Dominic Oduro Antwi, President, Ghana India Trade Advisory Chamber, as Award for Excellence In International Relations and Charles Ananti, CEO of Ace Academy, HIP-City Ent. & TTB Cyber Homes, as Africa Emerging entertainment entrepreneur award will be honoured.
Others include, H.E Professor Smelly Dube, Group CEO, Rivervalley Group of Companies, Zimbabwe, as Emerging Africa Business Woman of the year, Hon Anastancia Ndhlovu, former Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality lndustry, Director Economic Affairs – ZANU PF, Director Manna Ventures, President Manna Foundation, Republic of Zimbabwe, as Africa Excellence Award for Economic Development and Dr Saadatu Adamu, Founder, Secure The Future International Initiative (SDF), Founder SDF & Rehabilitation Counselor Mental Health School Club (MHSC), As African inspiring woman in Advocacy for mental health.
HRM. Queen Vickylextar Okang-Sowah of Omanye Royal Kingdom (ORK), Canada, as Emerging Africa Inspiring Woman of the year, Dr Angel Josephat Natianota, Founder/CEO, HR World Limited Tanzania, as Africa Outstanding Business Team Leader Of The Year, Agness Suleiman Kahamba Tupaze Sauti Foundation, Founder & President Ambassador of Child Abuse Prevention Program | Tanzania Women & Youth Advocacy, as Africa Inspiring change Maker
Dr Simon Adozi, MD/CEO, Adozillion Homes, and Realty Limited, as Emerging Africa Real Estate Investment Management Company of the year, Amb Yusuf Shehu Tijani, Chairman Techno Group Limited as Africa Business Investment Chairman of the year, Hon Dr Dubem Oguegbu, Executive Director Gustavo Cubana Enugu, as Africa Emerging Business Personality Of The Year and Hon Ahmed Bashir, Former Assistant to the President Federal Republic of Nigeria, as Emerging Africa Inspiring Change Maker
Gambo Manzo, CEO GB-View Consulting Limited, as Africa Excellence Award in leadership and community development, Amb. Mohammed Tijjani Sabiu, CEO Impeccable Impressions Nigeria Ltd, as Africa Entrepreneur of the Year, Amb Chinedu Raymond, CEO, Primesmart Ltd, As Rising Star Africa Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Hon Yar Telar Ring Deng, Member of Parliament of South Sudan, as Africa Leadership and Social Change Award, High Chief Higgins Peter Founder/Chairman, Opal Global Communication, As Africa Excellence Award for Corporate Leadership, Amb Tricia Obi-Abu, CEO, Patreva international limited, As Pioneer Faith Based Initiative Excellence Award.
H.E Amb Adeniran Michael Timothy (Special Emissary to the United Republic of Tanzania/ Director Funmilayo Health Foundation Africa, as Africa Renewable Inspiring Youth Advocate and Community Development, Mr. Hero Chinedu Usiagwu, MD/CEO Zioncity Innovation Services Limited. (Telecom); ZionStar Global Solution Services (Production); Chairman, Hero & Franca Usiagwu Charity Foundation, As Africa Innovation and Entrepreneur Team Leader of the Yea,
HRH, Eze Dr. Ken O. Nwala KSC JP, Ugo 1 Of Etche Land, Onye Ishi Agwuru III of Ulakwo/Umuselem Kingdom, as Award for Excellence in Peace and Community Development in Africa, Lady sylvia Nduka (Founder Seed Foundation, as Emerging Africa Inspiration Woman of the year, Dr. (Engr.) Dallaji Noah Nuhu, Founder/President, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), as Africa Excellence Leadership and Visionary Award, Abdelhak najib PHD, Former vice president African global Health NGO / Journalist (specialist of africa ) /Writer, Publisher, as Africa corporate Award of Excellence in Social Responsibility, Dr Daniel Moses, Founder & CEO, Property Wealth Education Ltd, United Kingdom as Africa Excellence Award for Real Estate Development,
Prof. Nicaise Ndembi, Senior Advisor to the Africa CDC’s Director General/Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV), University of Maryland School of USA, as Africa Award for Advocacy and Community Development, Dr. Dahiru Muhammed PhD. Chairman, Presidential Committee on Transfer of Technology, as Africa Leadership and Impact Award and Dr. Nabhit Kapur, President, World Leaders for Mental Health, India, Global Africa best Community Engagement Award,
Samson Abiodun Toye Ph.D Head of Business Development ALJ Group, TV host at Delfi Lithuania, and Senior Lecturer at SMK University of Applied Science, as Innovation Award for Excellence and Leadership, Dr. Kamaldeen T. Kuku, CEO of Redkam Technologies Ltd, as Emerging Africa creativity Award for Innovation and Technology, Dr Imane Kendili, Psychiatrist addictologist and President of African global Health NGO, As Africa woman Excellence Award.
Amb Dr.Victor Okon, CEO of Wrightlinks Group, as Africa Emerging Peace Icons and community development, Dr Abdulrazak Mohammed, MD/CEO Baracai Group as Emerging Africa Business Personality of the Year, Dr. Hauwa Babura, CEO of Teach Africa Today, as Emerging Africa Woman in Advocacy for Positive Change and Amb. Isimbi Alliance, CEO of Lomemo Tours And Travel, as Africa Emerging woman in Advocacy for change and Entertainment entrepreneur, Dr. Samira Buhari (Founder, Daurama Foundation, Zainab Sabo Mustafa, Reneiloma Okpara and Jesse Denfa Cheto.
