The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Africa

  • High expectations as nomination opens for 100 most notable women Africa 2024

    High expectations as nomination opens for 100 most notable women Africa 2024

    Organisers of the 100 Most Notable Women in Africa have announced the commencement of nomination of the prestigious honour for the 2024 edition.

    The honour seeks to recognise the contributions of African women who have made significant impacts in business, entertainment, politics, fashion, and more.

    Announcing the commencement of the nomination on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the lead organisers, Peace Ambassador Agency Worldwide and DavDan Peace and Advocacy Foundation said women in Africa have not been adequately appreciated for their efforts in nation-building, saying this is one of avenues put in place to show them appreciation.

    The Project Director Africa, Amb. Kingsley Amafibe said nomination is open for all women in the 54 countries of Africa.

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    Amafibe said nomination will open Dec. 23, 2023 and end February 6, 2024.

    About a week later, publication and presentation will commence February 15th.

    “Acknowledging the Enduring Contributions of African Women in Fostering Strong Communities and Upholding Family Traditions”. Let’s celebrate you African women.

  • Africa will be poorer with the ‘drop-fossil-fuel’ pact

    Africa will be poorer with the ‘drop-fossil-fuel’ pact

    By Ikenna Emewu

    Reasonable occupants of our planet can’t argue the need to start now and do as much as can be done to check the slide of our home planet into climatic crises. The earth and the ecosystem never change save the changes we, the human factors cause.

    The effort of the UN and other agencies to make the world act fast is quite encouraging and welcome as renewable energy alternatives are favoured to protect the earth with their almost zero pollutants and emissions. The efforts have engendered more research and the production of electric cars, buses, trains, industrial machines, and more.

    But these bodies seem to be in a hurry to manacle the entire world into this straightjacket of dropping what we have, the fossil fuel, just overnight.

    In the past 150 years, fossil fuel has been the dominant energy force. Even today with the rising crusades against it, it still constitutes 80 percent of global energy consumption, directly and indirectly. No country is left out of its usage, and it raises the question of whether there is any possible research into eliminating or drastically reducing the harms of fossil fuels while it remains in use.

    On ranken-energy.com, 144 to 6,000, bi-products of crude oil are listed. These are raw material bases for hundreds of sectors of the economy and are classified into four broad products – solvents, diesel fuel, motor oil, and bearing grease. Each has 35 products all deployed in further production of thousands of industrial goods. When fossil fuel goes, they all go with it.

    In the efforts so far, including of course the immediate past summit, COP28 in Dubai, the fall guy to re-green our earth has been fossil fuel which most countries and systems need to fuel their survival until the day they will phase it out. If they hurry into re-greening without fossil fuel, they will wither too fast from the vagaries of other deficiencies than the ecology, while the partially green earth still limps on.

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    On December 13, the issue blew open that the world agreed to drop fossil fuel in the next 27 years. The statement read that “Countries finally agreed, for the first time, to transition away from fossil fuels in Dubai on Wednesday to avert the worst effects of climate change after clashing over whether to include the wording “phase-out of fossil fuels” in previous drafts. The global stocktake text has been adopted, with no objections.” 

    The deal as finally sealed will leave the poorer countries, including Nigeria which runs a mono oil-based economy to choke to death as most of them never in the past made any safeguard efforts on survival in case oil fails.

    Disruptions will surely happen to the poor countries as they don’t produce machines of any type – industrial, automobile, etc. that rely on fossil fuel. Those that produce them have started winding down and phasing out most things that use fossil fuel.

    The statement that: “While the US, the EU, and small island nations were among those demanding a commitment to phase out coal, oil, and gas, this was rejected by oil-rich nations including Saudi Arabia and Russia,” is no assurance. It is just a matter of time before nobody remembers this to implement. Don’t forget the oil boom era when OPEC countries held the large economies by the jugular in the very early 1970s and how the US bullied them to submission with all manner of unilateral, unbridled merciless, and coercive diplomacy. That history may soon repeat in the next 10 years or earlier.

    I truly sympathise with African countries that produce almost nothing and bring only 4% of traded goods to the global market. The continent is going to face severe hardship in multiple dimensions.

    Even the cheaper solar electricity option is not exploited by Nigeria and other African countries as they should. I am not aware of solar power farms built by governments to augment the lack of hydroelectricity which relies on fossil fuel to power the turbines. What we have are just droplets by a few individuals in their homes and on a few streets to light them at night.

    A sharp and abrupt alteration will tilt the global economic scale and create another problem that would be larger than what we intend to solve which would be better realised when we gradually take on the journey.

    The smaller economies that rely on fossil fuel should tread with utmost caution in order not to step into a waiting landmine. Indeed, the haste with which this agenda is pursued makes me suspect that there is more to it than we know.

    In the late 1970s, the tide of the global economy turned towards a pro-market system that later got forcefully rammed down the throats of all countries, even those that were the least ready.

    Champions of the new system canvassed that it was a one-size-fits-all thing. Even though they had embarked on the journey for close to 40 years after they created the Bretton Woods institutions that rebuilt Europe from the ruins of World War II through public welfarism, it didn’t matter to them whether others were ready or walked at an equal pace.

    With nothing as the foundation, all countries were cajoled to jump on the train of the pro-market system and told lies of the benefits to jettison every plan and policy of the government to continue with welfarism and cover the inherent gaps elicited by misrule-induced poverty. Most of those poor victims since the late 1970s still live at the mercy of the overbearing strategists who care not about their survival but rather force on them grants, loans, and expertise from the UN and its organs.

    Perpetually, these countries have been emasculated debtors with no respite as the overlords brag about their kindness, not wanting to mention that they give loans with the right hand and subtly take back the money with the left.

    Even as a pro-environment person, I worry if the net zero campaign targeting just the next seven years in the short term and 20 more years in the long term is another of such gambit.

    The net-zero decrees: “To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C – as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.”

    Renewable energy usage at the global scale jumped to 29% in 2020 from 27% in 2019, while biofuel use at the industrial level increased by just 3%. That sounds positive, but the gap is still wide and will need a long-term overhaul, policy direction, and concerted implementation for the concerned countries to wriggle out of the climate trap. As African countries mobilise thousands of delegates to COP conferences, they contribute nothing other than signing implementation death warrants for their country’s economies. 

    Renewable energy use increase as demand for all other fuels declined. The primary driver was an almost 7% growth in electricity generation from renewable sources. Long-term contracts, access to the grid, and continuous installation of new plants underpin this growth.

    Renewable electricity generation in 2021 was projected to expand by more than 8% to reach 8,300 TWh, the fastest year-on-year growth since the 1970s with solar PV and wind contributing two-thirds of growth. China achieved almost half of the global increase in renewable electricity in 2021, followed by the United States, the European Union, and India. 

    The heaviest users of renewable energy are mainly in Europe and include:

    Iceland – 86.87%

    Norway – 71.56%  

    Sweden – 50.92%  

    Brazil – 46.22%

    New Zealand – 40.22%

    Denmark – 39.25%

    Austria – 37.48%

    Switzerland – 36.72%

    Finland – 34.61%

    Colombia – 33.02%

    On the installed capacity to generate, the superpower economies swing the balance with China leading the whole world with a capacity of around 1,161 gigawatts. The rest of the top three are the USA with 352 gigawatts, and Brazil that is Number 4 world’s highest user.

    It is in situations like this I see China as a shining example of how to approach these dicey diplomatic issues. Already, China leads the rest in installed capacity and generation, even though that is still like a drop in the ocean to their energy consumption. Rather than China dropping coal energy as the world cajoles for the gain of the champions of this idea, China holds to coal but steadily works on advancing clean coal technology (CCT) to reduce the hazards from emissions and pollutants to almost the barest minimum. That is why China has hundreds of coal power plants running, including that of Nindong power base in the Ningxia-Hui Autonomous Region north of the country.

    But to those countries, especially in Africa, that wait for others to think on their behalf, there is danger ahead. They will obey and drop fossil fuel without any ready alternatives to please their masters like they did in the market economy gamble.

    One of the ready options is such countries renegotiating and securing a longer time to implement the net zero agenda. But even if they do, would the manufacturer or capital-exporting economies turn back the hands of time for Africa and other poor and dependent worlds?

    • Emewu is journalist and publisher.

  • Africa can become the world’s green manufacturing powerhouse

    Africa can become the world’s green manufacturing powerhouse

    • By President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    As the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I lead a country of more than 200 million people.

    At the same time, in my role as chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I preside over a region battling with security threats and socioeconomic challenges.

    These pressing issues and their link to climate change were at the forefront of my mind during my participation at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    COP28 marked a critical milestone with the first Global Stocktake on implementing the Paris Agreements, a comprehensive review and inventory that allows each country to assess its progress in reducing emissions and achieving climate goals.

    Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has battled back against major obstacles, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, short-term challenges from economic reforms, and the ongoing unification of foreign exchange rates. However, we remain steadfast in our resolve to reconstruct a better, cleaner nation despite these challenges.

    To uphold our legally binding commitment to a cleaner world, Nigeria launched the Nigerian Carbon Market Initiative at COP28 by joining the African Carbon Market Initiative.

    The Intergovernmental Panel’s Sixth Assessment Report released earlier this year underscores the inadequacy and slowness of global efforts against climate change. It remains clear that developing nations, despite contributing minimally to the problem, endure most of its impacts.

    We all want to solve the problem, but too few of us are currently willing to do our fair share.

    The rapid loss of water resources and the escalating rate of desertification are closely tied to the Sahel crisis, which is characterized by the emergence of extremist and authoritarian elements.

    The startling loss of 90% of Lake Chad over the past three decades is a perfect example of this. We seek urgent international collaboration in both financing and technology toward the total recharge and recovery of this critical body of water.

    Together, with one voice and coordinated action, we can stop the desert from consuming Nigeria’s vast arable land, displacing communities, and causing food insecurity and social dislocation that often erupts into violence.

    In southern Nigeria, rising ocean levels threaten coastal areas. Throughout the nation, flooding kills hundreds of innocent civilians and decimates farmlands, towns, and villages, all while rendering tens of thousands of our people homeless.

    Nigeria has taken significant steps and acted decisively in enacting the Climate Change Act and committing to net-zero emissions between 2050 and 2070.

    However, challenges persist as energy and food crises caused by conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have weakened the willingness of wealthy nations to fully cooperate with less developed economies. This affects the ability of less developed countries to pursue national plans for achieving net zero emissions, even when those plans are detailed and achievable.

    Africa’s most populous nation has successfully mobilized tens of thousands of youths nationwide to plant 250,000 trees annually to honour a pledge to plant 25 million trees by 2030 as we build our great green wall to fight back against encroaching desert across the northern region of our nation.

    In recent weeks, we/ signed an agreement with a German energy firm to massively convert flared gas into high-grade natural gas exports to Europe. This is critical to reducing one of the major ways the country contributes to global greenhouse gases.

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    At COP28, I joined COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber, US Special Presidential Climate Envoy John Kerry, and Chinese Climate Envoy Xie Zhenhu on a panel where I committed Nigeria to eliminate methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases, highlighting our readiness to take the lead in Africa’s efforts to decarbonize the world economy.

    While in Berlin last month at the G20 Summit, I announced Nigeria’s commitment to develop blue and green hydrogen capacity for international export. In conversations with Middle Eastern oil producers, I also solidified this commitment. We now seek to mobilize private capital with support from initiatives like the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative and the new US and EU global infrastructure programs.

    Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer, but we are aggressively pursuing the exploitation of our abundant wind and solar resources. Transitioning from fossil fuels, our economic main-stay, will not be easy.

    However, we have implemented the Nigerian Energy Transition Plan (NETP) to make this shift. This data-driven strategy targets net-zero emissions in key sectors— power, cooking, oil & gas, transport, and industry. The NETP demands a $10 billion annual investment until 2060.

    The truth is that we need partnerships for a new green economy in Africa. The European Union’s Global Gateway program and the US Build Back Better World initiative are potential resources we are keen to explore.

    We are also looking to diversify our economy by engaging in friendly competition with Russia in the supply of energy to European markets. We can do it with natural gas and through green energy. This is why we are investing massively in both.

    African countries simply cannot travel on this road alone. There must be a fair and cooperative approach. For too long, too many developed nations have hesitated to do what they should.

    But the time for watching and waiting is over. Developed nations must honour commitments in the form of significant contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund and the $100 billion annual climate financing pledge.

    In September, African countries embraced the Climate Positive Growth paradigm at the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya. We envision Africa becoming the leading green manufacturing hub globally, with targeted financial support and access to global markets.

    Nigeria and much of Africa possess a unique advantage — we do not need to decommission coal-fired power plants. We have an unparalleled opportunity to leapfrog decades of conventional, high-emission industry by building our industrial future on a new green foundation.

    The world faces a stark choice: prioritize the economic status quo or genuinely reduce dangerous emissions. This is a crucial moment.

    Choosing equity and justice in the global economy offers a chance to right past wrongs, save the planet, and create a better future for all.

    It is time to seize the moment.

  • Realising Africa’s growth aspirations through education

    Realising Africa’s growth aspirations through education

    • By Jane Muthumbi and Sweta Saxena

    Africa has ambitious development aspirations. Realising these aspirations – reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want – requires actions that promote inclusive and equal opportunities for all.

    As recent crises have laid bare, growing poverty and rising inequalities pose challenges to an increasingly fragile social contract that could threaten the social fabric and the attainment of peace and security. Indeed, as our future prosperity depends on the extent to which the benefits of development are broadly distributed, member states need to rethink their relationships with their citizens.

    The need for member states to forge a social contract that ensures the benefits of development accrue to all was at the core of the fifth session of the Committee on Social Policy, Poverty and Gender (CSPPG) held on November 2 -3, 2023. Aptly titled, “Building Nes Social Contracts in Africa: Choices to fulfill Development Aspirations through Education,” deliberations focused on the role that education can play in tackling Africa’s development challenges.

    While education can be a lever for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), its potential to fulfill Africa’s development aspirations is yet to be realised. Quality education remains largely unaffordable and beyond the reach of the poor and other marginalised groups. At the same time, lack of access to quality education, hampered by infrastructural deficits and poor urban planning, disproportionately affects children from poor and marginalised communities.

    Moreover, with the education obtained having limited applicability, in large part due to the mismatch in skills acquired and those that the labour market demands, the employment prospects of high school and university graduates are often curtailed.

    Member states deliberated on how best to provide high-quality education and promote lifelong learning that can effectively respond to Africa’s development challenges. Among the recommendations made were the need to provide education and training opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), with concerted efforts aimed at encouraging girls and young women to pursue professions in these fields, along with the need to accelerate digital technical and vocational training for employment and other economic opportunities, and to foster better planning and infrastructural improvements at local levels.

    With climate change, urbanisation, digital transformation and demographic shifts expected to shape the continent’s future, Africa seeks to reap benefits from the four mega trends if they are properly managed.

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    The continent, however, faces demographic headwinds: With more than half of Africa’s population below the age of 25 by 2050, Africa’s youth has the potential to support the ageing population globally. However, the reality is more sobering: with a fifth of Africa’s youth currently not in employment, education or training, the continent is grappling with an urgent challenge to provide quality education and equip its youth with the appropriate knowledge and skills to enable them to take advantage of economic opportunities, and lead productive and fulfilling lives.

    To unlock the potential of education to contribute to the achievement of a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future, member states need to:

    •Implement targeted policies that reduce underlying economic, social and institutional barriers, particularly for disadvantaged groups, including women, the poor and those who live in rural areas, so that all can benefit from accessible and affordable quality education and skills, and

    •Increase government spending in education and boost investment in skills development in order to provide the relevant labour market skills that promote competitiveness, raise productivity, and foster structural transformation in Africa.

    In addition to supporting member states to accomplish these goals in the next two years, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will also engage with partners, and the African Union in particular, in the ongoing dialogue on ensuring education can play its rightful role in supporting the continent to realise its development aspirations.

    •Muthumbi and Saxena work with the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division of Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

  • Pomp as Masai  Ujiri’s Giants of Africa  celebrates 20th  anniversary

    Pomp as Masai  Ujiri’s Giants of Africa  celebrates 20th  anniversary

    Giants of Africa, the non-profit organization co-founded by Toronto Raptors vice-chairman and president Masai Ujiri, marked its two-decade journey with ‘Dream Big Weekend’ in Toronto.

    The programme was held between December 1st  and 3rd.

    The celebration not only looked back at the organization’s remarkable achievements but reaffirmed its continued commitment to the future.

    Since 2003, Giants of Africa has positively impacted more than 40,000 African youth across 17 countries through access to 34 basketball courts and 80 camps or clinics. Twenty-nine of the total courts have been made possible through ‘Built Within,’ the foundation’s multi-year, 100-court commitment to investing in sports infrastructure across Africa, launched in 2021.

    Masai Ujiri, reflecting on 20 years of Giants of Africa’s impactful journey, stated, “For two decades, we’ve been inspired by the resilience, dreams, and potential of African youth. As we celebrate this milestone with ‘Dream Big Weekend’, we not only commemorate the progress we’ve made but also eagerly look ahead. The next chapter holds new opportunities to empower, uplift, and amplify the voices of the incredible young people we serve.

    “With pride and gratitude for all who have supported us, we continue our commitment to using basketball as a tool to empower and inspire African youth. ‘Dream Big Weekend’ signified not just a celebration but a renewed dedication to deliver positive change. We look forward with optimism because the journey continues, and we are resolute in our commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve.”

    The  three-day ‘Dream Big Weekend’ was a comprehensive celebration, featuring, on December 1st, The Toronto Raptors against the New York Knicks on ‘Giants of Africa Night’ at Scotiabank Arena. The evening featured in-game presentations showcasing African culture in celebration of Giants of Africa’s 20th anniversary.

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    The December 2nd  events were done in collaboration with the Muslim Women’s Summer Basketball League. Giants of Africa hosted an all-girls basketball clinic led by an all-women coaching staff, including Toronto Raptors assistant coach Mery Andrade and current and former Team Canada players such as Kia Nurse.

    Meanwhile, the December 3rd was presented by Bell and held at HISTORY, the gala aimed to raise funds to support Giants of Africa’s ongoing mission of empowering African youth. The night featured performances from R&B sensation Boyz II Men and award-winning Afro-fusion artist TÖME.

    To commemorate the 20th anniversary, Giants of Africa has launched the ‘Lift a Giant’ program, an initiative that enables young people to participate in transformative, life-changing experiences. Donations made have the power to create a profound impact on the lives of African youth by providing opportunities to participate in camps, clinics, and access well-equipped basketball courts.

  • Why more men commit suicide in Africa, by CDC

    Why more men commit suicide in Africa, by CDC

    Dr Naeem Dalal, Advisor, Non-communicable Diseases, Injuries and Mental Health for Africa CDC, has stressed the need to stop cultural stereotypes that prevent African men from seeking emotional and mental wellness help. Dalal spoke on the side-line of a parallel session on Youth Mental Health in Africa, at the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA).

     According to him, this is necessary as statistics specifically show that more men die by suicide on the continent in Africa. The CPHIA, an annual event, is organised by the Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), with the 2023 edition being hosted by the Government of Zambia. The CPHIA2023 has the theme: “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture.’’ The annual event runs from November 27 to November 30. Dalal is a Psychiatrist from Lusaka, Zambia, a youth mental health specialist and currently the National Mental Health, focal person and specialist for the Zambia National Public Health Institute.

     He said: “There is more active suicide amongst men. When we talk about suicide, we need to understand two things. There’s suicide which is passive and suicide, which is active. Active suicide is where you die by suicide. Passive suicide is where you have thoughts of dying by killing yourself or harming yourself, but you don’t go ahead with those thoughts. So, that’s passive suicide. Now, when we talk about statistics specifically for men on the continent in Africa, more men die by suicide. So, there’s more active suicide amongst men. For every 50 per cent of it, it is amongst the men that die and this is because men use more lethal with dying.’’

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     Dalal highlighted some reasons that make men resort to suicide rather than seek help. “It’s also important to understand that men do not reach out for help for mental health concerns or issues that they face because of the culture that we have in Africa, where men are supposed to be supportive. Men are supposed to be responsible and breadwinners in communities. Showing that part of vulnerability is not something that is accepted in our communities across the African Continent in general. And not just to stereotype it, but also to be factual that men are also taught not to be reaching out for help growing up as boys and boys are told to be strong and responsible. So, this also causes an issue for men to reach out for mental health services, even when they are there. These are the challenges we are facing,’’ he said.

     Dalal proffered some solutions aimed at reducing suicide on the continent. “However, the solutions and the implementations that Africa CDC is currently carrying out is in the non-communicable diseases, injuries and mental health strategy. They have flagship programmes that are looking at mental health advocacy for communities, looking also at men’s health. But in addition, there’s also mental health fellowships that are coming up, where they will build capacity amongst healthcare workers to also seek mental health as a profession. This is because the other challenge is in Africa; healthcare workers do not want to do mental health speciality. These are the implementations that we are carrying out. We are also promoting more advocacy amongst the younger generation because the third leading cause of death by suicide is from the ages of 15 to 29.’’

     According to Dalal, a lot of advocacy is ongoing especially by the Africa CDC through the African Union. “We are also advocating policy changes, where we make mental health applicable to the current realities that we are living,” he said. He commended Nigeria for recently passing a Bill on Mental Health

  • Foreign aid in Africa: Balancing progress and sovereignty

    Foreign aid in Africa: Balancing progress and sovereignty

    • By Anjorin Oludolapo Charles

    Foreign aid is a critical component of international relations with developed nations providing various forms of assistance to less developed countries. In Africa, foreign aid plays a significant role in addressing various challenges, from economic development to humanitarian needs.

    To understand foreign aid better, it is fundamental to understand that it comes in various forms, each with its unique attributes and consequences.

    Military aid for instance, entails the transfer of military personnel, weapons and training from one nation to another. This can substantially bolster a recipient’s capabilities.

    Technical assistance on the other hand involves sharing of expertise and knowledge often accompanied by experts from the donor nation educating and training personnel in the recipient country.

    Grants and commodity import programs are another facet of foreign aid. Grants provide financial support to developing nations, while commodity import programs inject capital into the recipient’s economy, fostering industrialization and self-sufficiency.

    Developmental loans as the name suggest are long term loans provided to less developed countries to support their economic growth. These loans typically allow the receiver ample time for repayment. Take as an instance, The Nigerian Railway Modernization Project (Lagos – Ibadan section) was funded with $1.267billion, the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Abuja – Keffi Makurdi Road with $460million, the Supply of Rolling Stocks and Depot Equipment for Abuja Light Rail Project $157million, and the Nigeria Greater Abuja Water Supply Project with $381million. All four loan facilities from China were obtained in August 2017 and May 2018, with the maturity dates of September 2037 and March 2038 respectively.

    Social and cultural aids encompass the transfer of educational materials, food and medical supplies, contributing to cultural activities and addressing humanitarian needs. Initiatives like ‘Live Aid for Africa’ in 1986 and UNICEF’s vaccine programs to Nigeria fall under this category.

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    While these forms of aid vary, collectively, they fall under the umbrella of “economic aid.”

    In a broader sense, foreign aid can come from individual nations (unilateral aid) or international bodies like the United Nations, African Union, or the African Development Bank (multi-lateral aid).

    Yet, foreign aid is not a purely altruistic endeavour; it often reflects the interest of the donor nations. Aid is typically administered on terms that align with the donor’s national interest. This dynamic creates a situation where foreign aid can simultaneously benefit and burden the recipient nation. Often, conditions are attached to aid packages, which can significantly influence the recipient’s policies and decisions.

    To illustrate, a developed nation might use economic aid to gain economic concessions, to advance their political interests in the recipient country, or influence its foreign policy. This can lead to a situation where the recipient’s sovereignty is compromised, as they must comply with the donor’s demands.

    Foreign aid is indeed a double-edged sword when it comes to its impact on African countries. On one hand, when used judiciously, financial grants or loans can substantially accelerate development. The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have remarkably and meaningfully impacted Nigeria’s educational sector, benefitting thousands of households. As proof, of its impactful contributions, DFID provided support to 10 of Nigeria’s 36 states through two significant program UNICEF-led Girls Education Program (GEP) and the Education Sector Support Program in Nigeria (ESSPIN). DFID’s financial commitment to these programs was sizeable with an expenditure totalling £102 million within the period of 2005-2019.

    Moreover, military aid has also led to improved security cooperation between African nations and superpowers such as China, enhancing counterterrorism efforts, and local production of military equipment and exchange of knowledge.

    Humanitarian aid particularly from the United States has played a pivotal role in supporting Africa’s most vulnerable communities. In fiscal year 2022 alone, USAID provided more than $6 billion in multi-sector humanitarian assistance to Africa. This underscores the international community’s commitments to bolster live-saving aid in these regions.

    Furthermore, foreign aid has contributed to infrastructure development in African countries. For example, Chinese developmental loans have supported construction of critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and ports which enhances economic growth and trade.

    Education and healthcare in African countries have received a significant boost through aid from donor nations. This support has translated into improvements in the education system, increased access to healthcare, and overall wellbeing of African citizens.

    Agricultural development has also been positively influenced by foreign aid. Resources, training and technology transfer have paved the way for improved agricultural practices, thereby boosting food security and economic growth.

    However, foreign aid’s downsides cannot be overlooked. It has the potential to create dependency on Western nations making African countries increasingly reliant on external support.

    Furthermore, donor nations may use aid as a means to influence foreign policy of the recipient, potentially compromising their independence.

    Economically, over-reliance on foreign aid can exacerbate challenges, by burdening African nations with debt, inflation, and vulnerability to currency fluctuations. In some cases, this has led to civil unrest and conflicts.

    Nigeria has encountered issues related to corruption and mismanagement, with significant funds being diverted away from their intended purposes, hindering development.

    Again, a Global Fund audit report that covered the period between January 7 and December 17 2018, revealed how aid money disappeared in the hands of corrupt officials in some African countries. According to the report, seven countries top the list of nine indicted of fraud and incompetence in the 2018 ‘audits and investigations’ from the Office of the Inspector-General (OIG), an independent arm of Global Fund. For the same reason, investigations for each country were detailed in separate reports they all reveal a similar pattern of fraud, coercion, collusion, administrative lapses, inefficiency, bad or no accounting, and non-compliance with aid agreement. 

    Zambia and Mozambique have faced substantial debt burdens due to loans and financial aid raising concerns about their ability to repay these loans and their impact on economic stability.

    Ethiopia’s remarkable growth has been accompanied by concerns about her over-reliance on foreign aid which raises questions about long-term sustainability and economic independence.

    Similarly, conditionalities attached to foreign aid have posed great challenges for countries like Uganda as donor nations often use aid as leverage to influence political decisions, potentially undermining the country’s sovereignty.

    The challenges in dealing with foreign aid are significant, but they are not insurmountable. Overcoming these challenges necessitates a multi-pronged approach.

    Transparency and accountability are crucial, with African nations needing to prioritize rigorous checks and balances to track and ensure funds are used as intended.  Also, diversifying funding sources is critical to reduce economic dependency. African countries should stimulate domestic industries, attract foreign direct investment, and expand trade to decrease reliance on foreign aid.

    Afterward, strengthening of governance is also essential to combat corruption and ensure that foreign aid reaches its intended target. African government must demonstrate a commitment to good governance and anti-corruption measures.

    Finally, diplomatic negotiations with donor countries can help reduce conditionalities that may undermine sovereignty. Engaging in discussions about mutually beneficial terms of conditions can foster a more balanced relationship.

    To conclude: foreign aid in Africa is a complex issue with both positive and negative implications. Balancing progress and sovereignty is key to ensuring that aid contributes to sustainable development without compromising the independence of African nations.

    • Anjorin is a political scientist and socio-political analyst
  • I love colours reflecting Africa’s uniqueness

    I love colours reflecting Africa’s uniqueness

    Amid growing concerns for the environment, Prof. Khadijah Iyabo Tijani is an artist that advocates environmental sustainability  through recycling of fabrics. Tijani, who is the publisher of the Art and Artists Magazine, lectures at the Department of Fine Art, Faculty of Environmental Design, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In this interview with Evelyn Osagie, she speaks of her passions and more.

    Being a woman

    Being a woman has never been more than an identity to me because, I was brought up in the era of what a man can do, a woman should do, too. This ideology must have been my mum’s because she rose through the ashes of the ideology that a woman must remain at home so it made her insist that my sister and I must maintain a job at all cost. My mum kept this maxim and she drummed it into our ears at every opportunity that much as one must keep a family, one should also keep a job. Being a woman is a lot of job if you don’t want to be a trophy wife as my children says in their modern parlance. You have to be a home maker, and also be career minded. For me, I got a good support from my family to carry on and that gave me a good cushion.

     Growing up for me that impacted the woman I became

    I grew up in Kaduna. I went to both primary, secondary there, and then university in Zaria. I was brought up under very strict observation of my parents. My dad of blessed memory was a civil servant. My mum, though trained as a nurse was a stay at home wife. She was and still is a very stern person who believes so much in being upright and doing the right thing always. This impacted my life so much to the point of me going into teaching. I have taught all my life.

     Lecturing or art?, which came first

    I grew up as someone that always engages in the arts. So I could say I was an artist before I became a teacher. I have been teaching for so many years. I am closer to retirement than I am to where I started from.

    My inspiration as an artist

    As an artist I see art in everything and everywhere I look. I am never short of inspiration to create art.

     My journey into the world of Art

    It has been exciting. My best memories come from time spent in the art room of my Alma matta as a student, among friends that one trusted whole hearted. I’ve been asked how lucrative is it being an artist and a lecturer? To this, I say any job that comes from ones passion may not necessarily be lucrative but we do get by. You get a lot of job satisfaction and in time you learn and know the business side of your trade and it helps. In short, time is the greatest teacher.

     My advocacy on waste management and recycling of fabric

    The whole idea of the depletion of the ozone layer is to be curbed by serious reduction in human waste. And women should be at the forefront of it, particularly because we are homemakers. Every item used that can be reused should be encouraged, including fabrics. And non-biodegradable materials should be discouraged as much as possible. The Ankara fabric is made from cotton as such it will easily dissolved if left for some time and rather than allow it to litter it can be converted into art for hanging on the wall.

     Why Fela Kuti caught my attention as an artist

    I am not really a fan of Fela’s life style but he was an activist and music was his means of speaking directly to society. His full name was Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti. He was also called Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. He was born on 15th October, 1938 at Abeokuta in Nigeria; he died on the 2nd August, 1997, in Lagos Nigeria. I was attracted by his music and activism that led him to launch a modern style music called Afro-beat, which fused American blues, jazz, and funk with traditional Yoruba music. Kuti was highly engaged in political activism in Africa from the 1970s until his death. He criticised the corruption of Nigerian government officials and the mistreatment of Nigerian citizens. I find it He spoke of colonialism as the root of the socio-economic and political problems that plagued the African people.

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    SDG, Art Pedagogy and its adaptation system in Nigeria

    Nigerians are kind-hearted people and I believe if only our decision makers will pay a visit to their own old schools and see what is obtainable there, it will help convince them that we have indeed reached that stage where we change or perish. In my opinion, no child should be left behind.

    Nigeria is only one of the member nations of the United Nations that agreed to adopt the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stemming from the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that ended in 2015. It all has to do with the sincerity of government and the driving force which requires nothing but the belief in the country Nigeria.

      Events that led me into publishing

    Publishing is part of what you learn as a graphic artist as such I also became a lecturer of the same course while in the polytechnic. After many years of teaching it, I decided to practice what I preached. I succeeded in seeking out the news and all other aspects except the marketing and getting sponsorship that eluded me. I was expecting merit to sell itself but the usual Nigerian factor killed it. I found that publication is another aspect that I could succeed at. It is actually inborn.

    I enjoy doing the magazine job except that it was not financially rewarding. Sometimes I am the journalist, the editor, the photographer and it sometimes gets overwhelming when there is no support coming from anywhere. Many people enjoy a good tabloid but are not willing to put their money where their mouth is? They are not, so it is a lonely road and you the publisher is the only one seeing the road.

     Marrying both careers, along with family life

    It is not easy to combine the home front and the job. Family means a lot to me as such I have ensured that I combine the task of raising a family with all I done in the area of job. It requires a lot of coordination. Everyone in your life has their own demands even friends sometimes can be a pain in the neck, excuse my French. But we’ve got by and we thank God. The point is not to misplace your priorities. Sometimes you have to say ‘No’ even if it means losing some friends because everything has a price. You just need to remain focus and keep going. To the glory of God, I am married to the love of my life, who is an accountant by profession. He is running his own personal business and we have two of our children following in his field of accounting, both them are chartered and working in different parts of the world.

     My thought on beauty

    As an artist beauty is difficult to define because what is beautiful to me may not be beautiful to you, like the popular adage: ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’.

    However, beauty can be used to refer to the quality of being attractive, especially to look at i.e. natural beauty. I personally believe that beauty comes from within though with the advent of makeup sometimes you need a second look to know if what you behold is the truth. As the saying goes that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

     My fashion style

    My fashion sense used to be quite high in the past. Becoming an academician is very demanding as such comfort became my watch word. I love to dress daintily so long as I am comfortable in what I’m wearing. I love subtle colours reflecting the African in me wherever I go.

     Fashion item I can’t do without

    I like to be modest in my dressing, so long as I’m covered. And I love perfume. I wouldn’t want to do without my perfume ‘Beautiful’ by Estee Lauder (laughs.)

     My escape place

    Some of art works are done for relaxation. I love to watch a good movie too because it teaches one life’s lessons and about other people’s culture.

  • Firm eyes Africa’s $40.80b e-commerce market

    Firm eyes Africa’s $40.80b e-commerce market

    An indigenous tech company, X-Agon Digital Solutions Limited, said it is eyeing Africa’s e-commerce market expected to reach $40.80billion this year, adding that despite the rapid growth of the ecommerce sector on the continent, online shopping is still under the global average, even in Africa’s driving markets.

    Speaking in Lagos at the weekend during the unveiling of its app, AnyworkX, its Executive Director, Product and Strategy, Bolaji Bayo-Tijani, said a research carried out by Statista showed that the revenue of the ecommerce market is expected to show an annual compound growth rate (CAGR) between 2023 and 2027) of 13.53per cent.

    He said according to recent data, some 41 per cent of internet users in Africa have made an online purchase.

    The rapid growth of internet penetration and the use of mobile telephony, along with the adoption of mobile innovations have greatly boosted financial inclusion and encouraged reliance on electronic payment.

    According to him, AnyworkX is an online marketplace where vendors of legitimate services can showcase their business, competence and experience to prospective customers who may need their services anywhere and at any time, adding that the platform was designed to bring convenience and safety to both service providers and customers who are in need of services. There are endless services available on the App as we keep updating.

     “There is an established strong basis for e-commerce development on the continent; traditional methods of finding service providers are time-consuming, unreliable and often end up with lack of desired quality,” he said, adding that the platform takes away frustrations for customers and service providers alike.

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    Another issue he identified was that most Africans struggle to find reliable service providers due to the limited database of service providers while there are issues with payment and trust.

    He said there was also the issue of inefficiency in the matching process, stressing that in moments of emergency or urgent service need, people often resort to calling a few people to get a referral to a good service provider.

    He said the service industry is fragmented as the different sectors under it do not have a common market which makes it very difficult for customers to access quality service providers, stressing that trust issues and inconsistent service quality existed with valuable time wasted searching for a credible service provider.

    The absence of a robust directory like the yellow pages in the past also made the problem more chaotic, adding that AnyworkX has come to solve all the problems.

    “The App is designed to enhance the productivity of service providers by creating a platform through which they can be listed, advertise their services, showcase their experience, have the flexibility to work anytime and have a borderless market which enables them to get customers from anywhere their services may be required. It is an App positioned to create a boost for the African economy through the service industry. The objective of AnyworkX App is to provide a safe platform to connect service providers to customers and provide customers with different filtering options during a search for a service provider.

    “With AnyWorkX, customers can seamlessly find and request a service provider whose profile and terms suit their needs and can meet the urgency required,” he said.

    According to him, AnyworkX eliminates a number of challenges customers face and which service providers also face. The app is to revolutionise the process of ordering services and make it digital in line with an increasingly digitised world. AnyworkX is a productivity app for service providers, a convenience app for customers and a trust enabling app for both service providers and customers by making ordering for services seamless, safe, and efficient.

    “Our user-friendly app lets you browse through different categories of services, see the aggregate ratings from customers for each service provider that has been engaged via the app, and provides a unique opportunity to compare service fees and find the best deal and the best fit. Payments are secure through the app and disputes on payments as well as trust issues are reduced to the barest minimum through the use of the in-app wallet where all financial transactions are made. You never have to worry about having cash on you even during periods of emergency service needs. Service providers need not worry about payment from customers. AnyworkX is a trusted intermediary.

    “AnyworkX is a platform that can enhance entrepreneurship in Africa and create a 24/7 economy wherever it is safe to do so. It is expected to attract and capacitate the hardworking, self-employed youths across Africa by providing a huge borderless market for income generation with transactions settled through secure payment mechanisms and trust issues mitigated,” he said.

  • Governance, cooperation key to unlock Africa’s trade potential, says StanChart

    Governance, cooperation key to unlock Africa’s trade potential, says StanChart

    African exports are expected to cross $1 trillion by 2035 based on support from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while Intra-Africa trade is expected to grow by 3.9 per cent per annum and reach $140 billion by 2035, the latest Standard Chartered Bank report on Africa trade potential has shown. 

    CEO Standard Chartered Bank, Africa and Middle East, Sunil Kaushal, said  the opportunities in Africa are enormous. He said   a well implemented AfCFTA can boost this figure even higher by 29 per cent. Intra-Africa exports, which are forecast to reach $140 billion by the same year, could be boosted by an additional 81 per cent as a result of AfCFTA. 

    He said that governance and cooperation are key to achieving this as there needs to be a concerted effort to put into place policies that promote regional value chains which include coordinated industrial and trade policies. 

    Kaushal explained that in the four years since it first entered into force following almost a decade of negotiations, the implementation of the AfCFTA has emerged as a critical imperative for delivering cross-continental cooperation, development, and progress. 

    He said  the global pandemic demonstrated the acute need for Africa to build a robust economic and social model that can withstand substantial external shocks without derailing the significant progress that has been made over the past three decades. During the pandemic, treasuries ran low on foreign reserves, many African markets struggled to obtain vaccines, key industries and supply chains were disrupted, and raising capital became extremely difficult and costly. 

    “AfCFTA forms part of the solution. The AfCFTA has now been ratified by the majority of African states and, once fully implemented, will enable, and drive intra-Africa trade and accelerate sustainable economic development. This report sets out key considerations for policymakers and stakeholders to support the AfCFTA in transforming its objectives into tangible outcomes,” he said. 

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    Continuing, he said: “Informed by in-depth research, a comprehensive survey of business leaders across Africa, and our expert analysis of key policies, this report establishes our perspective on how to enable African economies to develop manufacturing while avoiding the commodity trap through value chain formation and value adding for local, regional and global export markets.” 

    Group Chairman, Standard Chartered Plc, José Viñals, explained that within the story of modern global trade, Africa remains an important but peripheral player, nudged aside by developed markets in America and Europe, and the growing power of Asian economies. 

    “This is not for a lack of prospects on Africa’s part. It has a young and fast-growing population, set to double by 2050 to 2.5 billion. Many of its markets are resource-rich, with growing manufacturing muscle and pioneering digital services,” he said. 

    He explained that as globalisation continues to power cross-border trade, exports from Africa, currently $645.3 billion, are set to reach $952 billion by 2035, across connections with South Asia, East Asia and the Middle East growing at particular pace. Intra-Africa trade is also expected to flourish – flows within East and West Africa will grow by 15.1 and 13.2 per cent respectively, far outpacing the global average of 4.2 per cent. 

    There’s work to do to guarantee this expansion, though. African markets face complex and uncertain trade rules, poor governance, underdeveloped infrastructure, and high costs of capital. These are all a concern for – on average – half of the business leaders in the region. 

    Africa also has a high rate of variance in development levels among its constituent nations. We must take care to avoid the pitfalls of a blanket approach to trade policy and development. 

    This report lays out our recommendations for navigating the challenges ahead. Broadly, Africa’s businesses and markets should focus on building up regional value chains and integrating into the global economy. The introduction of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – a landmark achievement bringing together 54 diverse markets – should help significantly here.