Category: Inside Africa

Rave reviews have continued to trail the operation of a Nigerian family-orientated restaurant known as ‘Ruth’s Buka’ in faraway United States of America in Foothill Boulevard, Oakland, California as a result of its unique offering of Nigerian home-made cuisines.

Accolades poured in from people on social media and the restaurant’s website on how good the joint is showcasing the Nigerian culinary culture to the world and thus putting the country on the world’s map as a possible destination for good food.

According to the owner and founder, Ruth Ejuwa, a professional America-based, Nigerian caterer from Delta State, Ruth’s Buka is a family-oriented food from The Root restaurant, started in an average garage of her home and catering for various people throughout the Bay Area.

“We are an authentic family-oriented restaurant. Every spice we use to make our delicious food at Ruth’s Buka are from back home in Nigeria that will make you miss home once you take a bite,” says Ruth Ejuwa.

@gardenia commented: “ The food is all so amazing! I stick to what we make at home, jollof rice, rice, efo, plantains, beef stew and fufu. The beef chunks are meaty and flavourful, the jollof is fluffy and not soggy at all, the plantains are cooked well and not dry, and the efo compliments everything so well. Returning and recommending,” on the restaurant’s website while people are implored to drop comments and criticism on the menu.

Another reviewer said: “After discovering my ancestral roots at 23 and wanting to experience the West African food culture. I googled a few places and the family chose Ruth’s Buka. When we walked in it was very welcoming and the music gave the dopest vibe.

“The young lady behind the counter was very beautiful and patient with us as we decided on what we wanted. The food was attractive to the eyes and nose and the prices were very affordable. We got a lot for the price and I also liked the way they accommodated us.”

South African hair line brand, Precious Brand Hair Couture has opened a new branch in Capetown at Ronderbosh main shopping centre, South Africa.

According to the founder, Precious Udoye fondly called ‘The Boss lady ‘ on her Instagram page, it is the sixth hair line store the company would be opening in South Africa

“Thanks to everyone who has been supporting and demanding for a store in Capetown. We listened and see that as a nice idea to satisfy our customers’ needs. We have opened a store for you and sales are available,” she said.

Precious Udoye is the founder of Precious Brand Hair Couture and

a celebrity hair artist who has been empowering youths with her creativity.

A new educational technology platform, GetBundi, was launched in Lagos recently to help equip youths across Africa with high-quality, engaging and accessible Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and digital skills. In this interview, Osita Oparaugo, founder/CEO of GetBundi, shares insights about the platform and why STEM learning is relevant to Africa. Excerpts:

You launched GetBundi recently to drive STEM learning and STI digital skills across Africa. Why is STEM learning so important to Africa?

Yes, the platform is dedicated to STEM learning. The STI Digital Skills will be launched on the platform on October 1st, 2022. STEM learning is so important to Africa because science and technology plays a very critical role in nation building. To build infrastructure, one needs civil engineers; to exploit our natural resources, one needs scientists; to manufacture goods, one needs technology. Africa is in low supply of its own kind of these persons. Either they are in diaspora or so underrepresented that governments have to hire expatriates, keep borrowing or depend majorly on foreign entities. With STEM learning, Africa can be the king of its own development and compete globally in the realm of science and innovation.

The platform also targets secondary education? Why is this so?

Secondary school-aged students have a better appreciation of education than those in primary. They are at the stage where they have received the building blocks of education from the primary level. So, what next? They will be able to understand the GetBundi platform and be able to utilise it properly.

Sadly in Africa, only about 13 percent to 20 percent of students who enter the university each year study STEM-related fields. It means the like or dislike of STEM is in the secondary education level, hence our approach.

Again, for those in tertiary education, or business owners, our upcoming STI Digital Skills learning is targeted to them. Those at that level would have chosen a degree path and so it is best to help them develop skills useful to support them during and after learning, while they focus on their tertiary education.

In clear terms, who is GetBundi meant for, and why should anyone go for it?

GetBundi STEM is meant for you if you are a student. It is meant for you as a parent if you want your kids to excel in science and technology. Schools need it as teachers’ aid and continuous assessment for students. So also government agencies, NGOs and lovers of STEM education if they want to help build an Africa beyond aid.

GetBundi STI is meant for everyone who wants to learn digital skills mostly in graphics, video editing, coding and digital marketing. You should go for it, and support the platform because we are here to serve Africans and give them the skills they require to compete globally.

STEM education has been described as the bedrock of any meaningful development. Could you give instances of countries that have benefitted from STEM education?

Singapore is an excellent example to use because this is a country with no natural resources. It was a third world nation, rife with all the issues African nations face today. Yet, through investment in science and technology, they transformed their nation to be a first world country in less than 50 years. China went from no flush to building space stations within 40 years all credit to STEM.

Is GetBundi conceived as a replacement for the physical classroom? Or what exactly will be the relationship between the two?

No. First of all, GetBundi is not designed to be a replacement for the traditional method of teaching. Rather, the relationship GetBundi has with the traditional secondary school is to supplement the teaching and learning process, whether as a teacher’s aid, study companion, revision guide, etc. We are here to support both teachers and students.

What is the cost of subscription to the GetBundi platform?

We offer three (3) tiers of payment which provide unlimited access to GetBundi. We have 90 days at N10,000 or $20; 180 days at N18,000 or $36; 365 days at N25,000 or $50.

Poverty and low internet penetration in Africa could deny many people access to GetBundi. Do you have plans or strategies to bypass these barriers and ensure that the product gets to the people who need it the most?

Yes, indeed. We already have an understanding with EutelSat, which is still in the works, to provide satellite-based internet. This ensures that our product gets to those who need it regardless of their geographic location.

Internet adoption in Africa has increased to nearly 54 percent and many more countries are improving on their infrastructure.

We are also in talks with phone and tablet manufacturers to work out possible collaborations that will allow our apps on those devices run without internet.

While STEM adoption is low in Africa, it is worse among girls. How does GetBundi plan to encourage more girls into STEM?

When we engage with NGOs, we tend towards those who have the girl-child as priority. This ensures we reach the girls disadvantaged as a result of their gender. Our parent company has a Foundation that will invest 10 percent of our gross profit towards charity and half of it is targeted towards the girl-child.

Considering the importance of STEM learning to Africa, are you working with regional organizations in the continent on this project?

For now, we are having talks with the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as some state governments in Nigeria

The United States has welcomed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) resolution on democratic transition in Mali.

Spokesperson of the Department of State, Ned Price, in a statement on Wednesday, said the United States is encouraged by the outcomes of the most recent ECOWAS Summit held on July 3.

The statement said the United States was pleased with the agreement between ECOWAS and Mali on a 24-month transition timeline starting in March 2022.

“We trust the transition government of Mali will turn its full attention to implementing the benchmarks of the remainder of the transition as expected by the Malian people and the international community.

“We remain concerned by reports of allegations of human rights abuses and violations committed by the Malian Armed Forces alongside unaccountable international partners,” the statement said.

The statement added the US was encouraged by the transition government’s proposal to ECOWAS for a two-year transition timeline to return Burkina Faso to democratically elected governance.

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“ECOWAS will continue to play an important role in support of transition processes and security.  We urge partners to prioritise productive engagement with the transition government and to take into account Burkina Faso’s security and humanitarian challenges.  We welcome the release of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and look forward to hearing from Burkina Faso’s authorities on the next steps towards a transition,” the statement said.

On Guinea, it urged the transition government to move the country quickly toward a constitutional democracy through a transparent and consultative process.

“We welcome ECOWAS’s continued engagement in Guinea and encourage further cooperation and dialogue with all stakeholders.  We urge all stakeholders to work together to agree on a transition timeline with concrete, measurable benchmarks that facilitates progress towards democratic rule.  We welcome steps towards increased dialogue between stakeholders and firmly support the right of peaceful assembly exercised in peaceful protest,” the U.S. said.

It commended the leadership of Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo over the past year and welcomed the election of Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Embalo.

“The United States remains committed to supporting ECOWAS and the transition governments of Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso as they navigate their paths toward responsive democratic governance,” it said.

As part of its unwavering commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the African entertainment space, multimedia giant Paramount Africa (home to the biggest and iconic entertainment brands like BET, MTV, MTV Base & Nickelodeon) has published its new insights study titled ‘Reflecting Me: Representation on Screen’.

This wealth of research– derived from surveys from 2.5 million kids, teens, young adults and adults spanning 73 countries– directly reflects consumer insights, exploring how different people of varying ages perceive representation on-screen with particular focus on spectrums encompassing ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, disability, amongst others.

Focusing on Nigeria, as one of Africa’s biggest social hubs, the study focused on how certain target groups comprising 1008 people aged 13-49 across six regions (North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South and South-West) felt about representation on-screen. Findings were obtained through remote video interviews and immersive digital experiences amongst diverse audiences in order to bypass geographical and COVID-19 constraints.

Giuliana Dias, Director of Research and Insights Division at Paramount Africa, said that the study was aimed at ensuring that Paramount Africa has an impact on the issue of diversity and representation.

Commenting on the results, she said, “The study outcomes direct and shape how on-screen content should look and feel, and also shows that improvement is necessary in many aspects”.

The statistics revealed that 94 percent of people of different ethnicities and cultures in relatively equal proportions agree that companies making TV shows and movies should commit to increasing diversity and representation on-screen. 89 percent, however, were of the opinion that these companies should commit to increasing diversity and representation off-screen.

However, majority (90%) of the respondents agreed that change is needed with regards to on-screen representation as there needs to be more diversity in TV shows and movies. Sixty four per cent were satisfied with the current levels of representation on screen, while 40 per cent feel there needs to be a variety of types of groups and identities represented in TV shows and movies.

The study further revealed that poor representation affects Nigerians’ sense of belonging, self-esteem and confidence, making a case for more accurate representation in TV shows and movies as they influence perceptions in the real world.

“The screen is considered by many to be a depiction of what happens in society. While we may argue that imagination plays a crucial role in shaping what is aired on TV and other visual platforms, imagination is never completely independent of reality. Hence, when we do not adequately represent people on-screen, it sends a message that they are not seen, they are not heard and they do not matter. This is one thing we are working actively prioritising across all of channel brands”, said Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Country Manager (Nigeria), Paramount Africa.

Country Manager (Nigeria) for Paramount Africa, Akintunde Bada Johnson noted that the study is insightful and enlightening, citing it as “a definite and encompassing inquiry into the modern African predisposition towards diversity and inclusivity in media and entertainment.”

“Media, in all its forms, has immense power to shape perception. Television, films and digital media can influence how we see others but more importantly, how we see ourselves. As Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s foremost screen content creators, Paramount Africa will continue fostering accurate and authentic on-screen representation that conveys inclusivity at its highest – helping our viewers break down perception barriers, open them up to new ideas as well as provide powerful and inspiring role models,” he concluded.

Founder of GetBundi, an educational technology platform, Osita Oparaugo, has urged gvernments across sub-Saharan Africa to embrace STEM learning considering its economic returns in terms of growth, poverty alleviation and social cohesion.

He spoke on Monday during a virtual conference organised by Wings of Justice Africa, the parent company of GetBundi.

Oparaugo said STEM learning encourages creativity, innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills which are very relevant in the 21-st century world.

These components, he said, prepare developing economies to compete in the global market.

Addressing proprietors of private schools in Africa at the event with the theme: “The secondary education system faces challenges in balancing access, quality and equity”, Oparaugo acknowledged that sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has made significant progress in secondary school enrolment—from an overall net enrolment rate of 11% in 1970 to 32% and 22% for lower and upper secondary, respectively, in 2018, according to UNICEF 2019 report.

He, however, observed that most of that increase happened in liberal arts and not science and technology.

“As more children complete primary school, demand for secondary education continues to increase, giving the governments and private school owners opportunity to rethink secondary education by focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) taking into cognizance the nexus between STEM knowledge and formal work,” Oparaugo said.

He urged the governments to look at some of the issues that have caused the high rate of exclusions across sub-Saharan Africa because secondary education still favours the wealthy and urban kids against rural students, poor students, girls, disabled students, and internally displaced students and refugees.

“Sub-Saharan African countries must allocate more resources to expand access to secondary education so it serves not just elites but all students.

“Governments will need to balance expanding access with simultaneous improvements in both quality and equity. The magnitude of this challenge in the next few decades is historically unprecedented,” Oparaugo said.

“Improving access to secondary education and ensuring quality and equity will require significant policy changes and large investments of human and financial resources. It will also require greater investment in both primary and tertiary education since the secondary system is inextricably linked to, and influenced by, both,” he added.

He emphasised that the use of technology would go very far in improving access to, and quality of, secondary education in the region. This is because across the globe, educational technology is being deployed to improve the quality and delivery of primary, secondary and tertiary education.

For Ghana’s radical economic activist, Ernesto Yeboah, the proposed African Continental Free Trade Area, otherwise known as the AfCFTA, holds more harm for Africa’s economy than good.

Yeboah gave his reservations while featuring on the Toyin Falola Interview Series. The series which has as its chair, eminent professor of history, Toyin Falola, regularly features prominent economists, activists, industrialists, politicians and academics with the intent of giving a voice to the African continent.

Speaking, Yeboah stated that what Africa needs are homegrown economic initiatives and policies that prioritise Africa. The African Continental Free Trade Area is an ambitious trade pact to form the world’s largest free trade area by connecting almost 1.3bn people across 54 African countries. The agreement aims to create a single market for goods and services in order to deepen the economic integration of Africa.

However for Yeboah, fears of significant tariff revenue losses and an uneven distribution of costs and benefits are among the main obstacles to the continent’s integration. According to him, “Everything is not coming from us; they are dictated to us and we are simply following. With this new trade arrangement that we intend to have under the AfCFTA, it doesn’t benefit Africa in the long run. The established industries and companies are just going to migrate to the continent to establish their factories, and they will still be producing. We need to have a coherent vision owned by the African people, and it has to be consciously pushed by the leadership and all sections of the society. Until this happens, Ghana’s attempt to resolve its issues wouldn’t yield much.

“We are confronted by existential realities which are wrapped up in neocolonialism. Under neocolonialism, you cannot be anything but a consumer. You are like a dog; you only eat what your master gives you. The various countries making up the African continent are all under the mastership of Europe and to a large extent the West and Asia. This is where we are. Until we confront issues of neocolonialism, many of these actions and questions may not yield much. That is why I think what is happening in Rwanda is a good example without linking it to the total liberation of the African continent. In a few years down, they will come down to ground zero. It was exactly what the likes of Kwame Nkrumah saw which on the day of Ghana’s independence declared that the independence of Ghana was meaningless until there was the total liberation of the entire African continent.

“Ghana, with a population of a little about 30 million, has her traders having to bring in their goods with the dollar, because it is cheaper. Until we have a coherent African vision, borne by us, the African people, and followed through by us, we would not be able to resolve some of these key issues.”

He informed the gathering that his movement was “championing a new constitution in Ghana. In that constitution are frameworks that would protect local industrial areas, collapse negotiations that help foreign companies from migrating their profits out of the country. We could negotiate for a certain percentage to not less than 6o percent of the profits they make, and that they must not be taken out of the country. These are things that are not in our hands. This growing dissatisfaction that many people feel has accosted us in many places that we have visited.

“Sometimes we are just stopped and told that we need guns. In fact, there are some who feel that for Africa to rise to the level where we all expect, there must be a full blown war. And they would often point to the example of Rwanda, saying that it was after the war in Rwanda that Rwanda had the breathing space to be able to put things in place. Our own Nkrumah said we should take to arms in liberating ourselves. We have to interrogate that space carefully. What we are doing is holding the forte and preventing the avalanche of violence from breaking.” He said.

On the urgent need for Africans to have ideologically propelled education, he submitted that: “The lost bearing of the African is rooted fundamentally in the kind of education that we are getting. Until we are able to correct that anomaly, the African of today and the future will continue to be a confused person who doesn’t understand the existential realities that confront him. Chinua Achebe says that the frog does not loiter in the day for nothing. It is either something is pursuing it or it is pursuing something. What is pursuing Africa and what is Africa pursing? What has happened to African leaders who confronted the problems bedeviling Africa? Such leaders are often vilified, isolated and killed. We have seen that with Thomas Sankara, Patrick Lumumba. Recently we saw that with Ghadaffi.

“This is our existential reality where a body of people somewhere actively worked to ensure that we do not have the right kind of leadership that would advance the core cause of our society. To the extent that this has not agitated the minds of policymakers in our society. Kwameh raised the question of what the vision of Africa is. When this is asked, this people will quickly point you to some MDGs and SDGs and visions that have not emanated from us, that have been imposed on us and all we are doing to rehash these things. Talk about Agenda 2063 by the African Union and these leaders are telling us that that is when the see the unity of the nations of the African continent.” He said.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday announced the re-opening of land and sea borders and the lifting of most of the COVID-19 restrictions.

In his 28th nationwide COVID-19 address, the president said the decision was made after reviewing the raft of measures put in place to help win the fight against the virus, against the background of rapidly declining infections, and the relative success of the vaccination campaign by the Ghana Health Service.

“From Monday, the wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory.

“I encourage all of you to continue to maintain enhanced hand hygiene practices and avoid overcrowded gatherings.

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“All in-person activities, including religious gatherings, conferences, workshops, and funerals, may resume at full capacity, as long as the audience and participants are fully vaccinated, but hand washing and hand sanitizing points should be made available.

“Fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry through the land and sea borders without a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result from the country of origin.

“It has been a difficult two years, and we see light at the end of a very long tunnel. I appeal to all of us to live responsibly, protect ourselves, and do everything we can to stay safe as we lift these restrictions,” Akufo-Addo said. (Xinhua/NAN)

The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) will celebrate its 20th Anniversary during the 9th World Water Forum in Senegal’s new city, Diamniadio.

The Council will use the occasion to launch activities to formulate the post-2025 Africa Water Vision towards a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

This is the second time in the 25-year history of the World Water Forum that the event is being held in Africa.

As part of the Forum programme, the Republic of Senegal will also be convening a session of the Heads of State and Government to discuss water and sanitation issues.

Obinna Anah, AMCOW Knowledge Management and Information Sharing Officer explained in a statement that commemorating 20 years of AMCOW leverages ongoing processes to refocus AMCOW’s ambition in the face of current global trends, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The events will include dialogue and discussion sessions that collectively contribute to strengthening and ensuring the sustainability of AMCOW.

“The commemorations will also launch activities to formulate the post-2025 Africa Water Vision towards a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development,” Anah said.

During a special luncheon some founding leaders of the Council including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo would be honoured.

Obasanjo would be recognized for his foresight and benevolence to establish the AMCOW Secretariat in Abuja.

Others are President Macky Sall of Senegal, a former AMCOW Vice President who is at the forefront of initiatives to promote water and sanitation issues at continental and global levels.

Key among these initiatives is the establishment of a Blue Fund to expand sources of capital for sustainable, climate-resilient WASH infrastructure investment; and Mukthar Shehu Shagari who served as the first President of the AMCOW Council of Ministers.

The water community will also celebrate working in partnerships with AMCOW’s various funding, implementation and technical partners.

READ ALSO: Provision of water, sanitation facilities key to tackling COVID-19, says health expert

Highlights of this will include announcements of implementation and funding arrangements for facilitating alignment of member states’ sanitation and hygiene policy environments with global and continental commitments and international best practice; and translating into action the AMCOW Secretariat Work Programme for the period 2022 – 2024.

In a recent consultation, Abdoulaye Sene, the Executive Secretary of the 9th World Water Forum Secretariat in Senegal, underscored the significance of AMCOW’s activities during the Forum.

He said, “AMCOW is unique. It is the only platform on water established by a continent. We need to celebrate this uniqueness and encourage other continents to emulate such initiative.”

In 2002, the African Ministers responsible for water – after critically examining the global water situation and its implication for Africa – adopted the “Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Water – a key to Sustainable Development in Africa”.

This declaration established the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW).

The World Water Forum, also called the Forum, is organised by the World Water Council in collaboration with a host country every three years.

It is the largest water event globally that mobilises governments, water sector leaders and professionals, development agencies, civil societies, students, youth, the academic and research community and the media for joint action for change in the sector.

Secretary-General António Guterres, on Wednesday, strongly condemned the arrest of four members of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), who were arrested in the capital, Bangui.

UN Spokesperson, Mr Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement, said the secretary-general called for their release.

Local gendarmerie arrested the personnel on Monday while they were escorting a senior military officer from the mission, which is known by the French acronym, MINUSCA.

The incident occurred at the airport and those arrested were French peacekeepers, according to international media reports.

The UN chief emphasised that MINUSCA personnel “enjoy privileges and immunities which are held in the interest of the United Nations”, he said, in line with the 2014 Status of Forces Agreement between the Organisation and the Government of the CAR.

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“The secretary-general recalls that the 2014 Status of Forces Agreement establishes a specific procedure in cases where members of MINUSCA are suspected, by the authorities of the Central African Republic, of having committed an offence,” he added.

“The secretary-general notes that this procedure has not been followed in the present case.”

The secretary-general has called on the CAR Government to abide by all its obligations under international law, including the Status of Forces Agreement, and release the MINUSCA personnel unconditionally and without delay.

He also reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity and continued support to the country. (NAN)