The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Africa

  • British Ecological Society Grants in Africa, 2015

    Applications are invited for British Ecological Society grants from ecologists in Africa to carry out innovative ecological research. The maximum value of a grant is £8,000 for research. An additional sum up to £2,000 may be requested to fund travel to help grantees develop connections with other ecologists outside their usual peer group. Travel funds are available for the applicant to spend time working with ecologists in developed countries where facilities and experience will help the grantee on return to their own institution. Successful applicants also receive two years of free BES membership and free online access to the Society’s journals. The grant can be used to pay for basic tools needed to conduct the research project, travel and in some cases part of the applicant’s salary. It cannot be used for tuition fees.

    The application deadline is 11 September, 2015.

    Study Subject: Funding is available for any area of ecological science excluding research focused solely on agriculture, forestry and bioprospecting. Please note that neither purely descriptive work nor studies that might be considered incremental will be funded.

    Course Level: Grant provides support for ecologists in Africa to carry out innovative ecological research.

    Eligibility: Applicants must:

    • have at least an MSc or equivalent degree
    • be working for a university or research institution in Africa (including field centres, NGOs, museums etc.) that provides basic research facilities
    • carry out the research in a country in Africa or its associated islands
    • The proposed work must be completed within 18 months

    Scholarship Description: This grant provides support for ecologists in Africa to carry out innovative ecological research.

    Selection Criteria: The applications will be judged by a panel of reviewers on the basis of the applicant’s personal qualifications, the scientific excellence, novelty and feasibility of the proposal, and the academic and non-academic impact of the planned research. Applicants need to demonstrate that they have made connections with ecologists in a developed country that can provide advice during the proposed project. If international travel is part of the application, applicants must demonstrate close links with those they propose to visit.

    Notification: University aims to notify applicants if they have been successful or not within two months of the deadline.

    How to Apply:

    • Applications will only be assessed once the online referee statement of support has been received from the applicant’s institution, and if applying for travel funds, from the overseas host institution. This referee statement should include why the project is important, what support will be given to the applicant and a statement that any equipment bought for the project will be made available for anyone in the host institution to conduct ecological research. We will automatically contact the referees using the email addresses provided in the application; both reference statements must be completed online before the application deadline. We cannot accept referee statements sent independently via email or by letter.
    • Applications for this grant must be made using the BES online application form. Important: Only complete questions 3, 3a and 3b if you are requesting additional travel funds.

    Application Form: http://www.britishecologicalsocietygrants.org/Africa/images/logo.gif

     

  • Africa and contemporary artistic production in art history

    Africa and contemporary artistic production in art history

    Africa has often been treated as the mythic origin, and a homeland that people want to return to, but not as a place that participates and contributes to the global world.”

    The above assertion was expressed by Ms Joanna Wild, a doctoral candidate of the Department of Art and Art History, University of New Mexico at a lecture delivered at the OYASAF (Omooba Yemisi Abimbola Art Foundation) Fellowship in Lagos.

    While highlighting the theme for the event, Beyond the Black Atlantic: Contemporary Artistic production in Lagos today, Ms Wild praised the contributions of Africa artists and art scholars growth of world art, urging that they do more to dominate the global art space.

    She noted that due to lack of government funding for artists, absence of galleries to constantly represent artists, and hectic situation encountered by continent-based art promoters has been denied access to the transnational art space for so long.

    Ms Wild lamented that despite the contributions of Okwui Enwezor, a widely-acclaimed curator, towards the validation of contemporary African Art on a global scale and his curatorial contributions, his findings have been faulted and challenged by renowned art scholars.

    “Although many scholars contributed to the global validation of Contemporary African art, Okwui Enwezor, a Nigerian-born United State-educated curator, has undoubtedly taken a lead role. He shaped the field through his organization of large scale exhibitions, his directorship on both newly founded and long standing biennials, and his co-publication of survey texts such as Contemporary Africa Art since 1980 but Enwezor’s curatorial and scholarly work hasn’t been unchallenged. “

    She reiterated Art Historian Sylvester Ogbechie arguement that Africa is written out of art history as a relevant site of contempo-rary artistic production because visibility had only been given to a relatively small selection of African artists, such as Yinka Shonibare, observing that such action has led to the drawback in the sector.

    “Transnational scholars, critics, and curators have neglected African art on the continent. Considerations of the “Black Atlantic” would result in representations of transnational experiences defined by the African emigres relationship to a more powerful “Other.” African expatriates such as Shonibare are overburdened by the expectation that they represent Africa, something they decidedly cannot do.” She said.

    To exhibit how the global space interact with Lagos artistic works, she highlighted works of Shonibare, Peju Alatise and Ndidi Dike. Some of the works included Wrapture, one of Alatise’s solo exhibitions that reflected the effects of religious fundamentalism in Nigeria in the past and in the present and her Textile

    Use; Dike’s Waka-into-Bondage, Drop in the ocean and one way, No easy walk to freedom and Economic fabrics.

    Waka-into-Bondage caught the attention of guests. Exhibited at the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos in 2008, it was triggered by the visitation of the artist to Badagry a coastal town that used to channel slaves during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the 2007 commemoration event of the 200th anniversary of the abolition hideous act in Nigeria.

     

  • KUNLE AFOLAYAN, AKON, OTHERS TEAM UP FOR AFRICA

    KUNLE AFOLAYAN, AKON, OTHERS TEAM UP FOR AFRICA

    QUARTZ, a news outlet, has chosen 30 innovators in Africa for their creative approaches to local problems in business, politics, culture, health and more. This was made known by Yinka Adegoke, the editor of Quartz Africa on Monday September 14, at the Quartz Africa Innovators summit.

    Among those honoured at the event was Nigeria’s filmmaker of repute, Kunle Afolayan. Afolayan, got off to a great start this year when his award-winning drama, October 1 became one of the first-ever Nollywood movies to get signed up for distribution on Netflix, the world’s largest Internet-based video on-demand platform. October 1, had one of the biggest ever budgets for a Nollywood movie.

    On the list is American pop singer with a Senegalese background, Akon. The singer is known to have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and Gwen Stefani. He is is reinventing himself beyond American pop music by returning to his African roots and lending his name and media brand to a groundbreaking Lighting Africa initiative.

    Nigeria’s novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi  Adichie, is also one of Quartz’ 30 innovators. One of the continent’s most celebrated authors, Adichie’s novels; Purple Hibiscus, Half of A Yellow Sun, Americanah, and her collection of short stories, The Thing Around Your Neck have reached a global audience, introducing millions to modern Africa, and especially to her native Nigeria.

    Also on the list is Nigerian Singer, songwriter and music producer Cobhams Asuquo. Regarded as one of the most talented musicians in Nigeria, Cobhams has produced hits such as Ordinary People. Though he was born blind, he has never let that dissuade him from being ambitious. Asuquo has been one of the few to stand firm and encourage a new generation of African musicians to retain an “African” sound in their music. He has done this most notably as a judge on the American Idol-like TV show Project Fame.

    Others who made the list of innovators are Jamila Abass, Kunle Adeyemi, Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Eric Charas and Didier Drogba among others.

  • Nigeria hosts Africa mining conference

    In the bid to diversify the Nigerian economy from its dependence on oil and gas, Solid Mines Limited, in conjunction with its strategic global partners, is set to hold the 2015 edition of the Africa Mining Conference.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Frank Ekperigin,said the conference will dissect issues with particular reference to artisanal mining, the environmental Impact of illegal mining as well as specific target will be addressed on African mining industry with the aim to improve the recognition of information technology and mobile technology as key tools among the sector players and of the critical role surveillance will play in mapping and preserving the economic and social integrity of the industry.

    According to him, the incidence of lead poisoning in Zamfara State and most recently in Niger State among other unfortunate occurrences has necessitated the action to convene and document a further sustainable and implementable framework for the mining industry going forward in this new administration.

    He said the mining sector currently accounts for 0.3 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, generating about $1.5 billion annually. ”This is negligible in comparison to other African countries as South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana, whose sectors record 18 per cent, 25 per cent and 40 per cent of the country’s GDP equating to $63 billion, $7.6 billion and $5.9 billion respectively,” he said.

     

     

    Ekperigin  added that the conference, with the theme ”Harnessing the Continent’s Solid Minerals for Economic Buoyancy through Sustainable Public-Private Sector Synergy”, will among other things demonstrate the organization’s capacity for projecting economic innovation and make a measurable investment in shaping the industry.

    The conference, he said, has the endorsement of the Joint Commission Trade and Investment division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will also show its organisation’s commitment to spearheading a resurgent awakening of Africa’s manufacturing capacity which will fundamentally power the continent’s vision to achieve a robust and sustainable industrialisation pathway.

    “This will engender Africa’s much needed global competitiveness from the Agricultural to the Aerospace sector and in all other viable industries in between,” he said.

    He added that the topics to be treated in the three-day conference are Cyber security concerns, bridging the gap between IT and process control systems, big data for mining solutions, Integration/standardization of process control data,as well as cloud services for mining.

    He said the conference, which will run from the 24 to 26 of this month at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, will bring together some of the industry’s leading key stakeholders and decision makers from across the African continent, to discuss the latest challenges facing the industry and discover what opportunities lie ahead for the industry.

    “Delegates, panelists and speakers expected at the event include National President Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sani Shehu; MD Ciuci Consulting Nigeria, Chukwuka Monye; Chairman/CEO Eta-Zuma West Africa Limited, Dr. Innocent Ezuma; General Manager, IT Africa, Middle East and Australia, Vale, Sergio Salim; Vice-President Information Technology, AngloGold Ashanti, Pieter du Toit Oosthuizen and General Manager, Information Technology, Wesizwe Platinum, Kobus Pienaaramong others,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Smile Telecoms secures $365m for LTE in Africa

    Smile Telecoms secures $365m for LTE in Africa

    Smile Telecoms Holdings Ltd (Smile), which owns and operates mobile wireless 4G LTE broadband networks in the 800 megahertz (MHz) band in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, has raised $365 million in debt and equity financing.

    Smile Telecoms Holdings Ltd is the parent company of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited.

    The funding will be used to expand Smile’s 4G LTE networks and services, such that, by the end of this year, the firm will offer voice services, in addition to mobile broadband; and will have national coverage comparable to that of the largest 3G network in each of its countries of operation. It will also launch its broadband network in DRC early next year.

    The funding comprises $50 million of equity, raised from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) for the government Employees Pension Fund (PIC), and a $315 million multi-tranche, multi-jurisdictional debt facility led by Africa Export-Import Bank with participation from the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Diamond Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria, the PIC, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited and Standard Chartered Bank.

    Smile’s shareholders comprise Al Nahla Group, a Saudi Arabian-based company, the majority shareholder; Renven Investment Holdings, a pan-Africa investment vehicle, which represents the majority Nigerian investors, among others; Verene, representing Smile senior management and social entrepreneurs from South Africa; Telecom Investments, a Saudi Arabian-based investment company; Capitalworks, an alternative asset management firm; the PIC; and Smile employees.

    Under the terms, the proceeds will be used to accelerate national network roll-out, including equipment and services provided by Alcatel Lucent and Ericsson, a full Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, a London Point of Presence (PoP) and expanded international backhaul services, and to fund operational expenditure and working capital.

    Smile’s objective is to become the broadband provider of choice for super-fast data and clear voice in each of its markets and to provide the over 300 million potential customers in its four countries of operation with an efficient, reliable, quality tool to accelerate development and wealth creation. Technological advancement has facilitated the realisation of this objective by creating an ecosystem for the 800MHz band that can overcome the restrictions associated with limited fixed line infrastructure and over-contended legacy networks and lead to higher broadband penetration, which is a key driver to economic growth.

    According to Broadband Strategies Handbook, of the World Bank, “A 10 per cent increase in the penetration rate of broadband in developing countries is associated with a 1.4 per cent increase in GDP (gross domestic product) per capita …” Furthermore, there is persuasive evidence linking broadband to job creation; the Brookings Institution states that “for every one percentage point increase in broadband penetration, employment is projected to increase by 0.2 to 0.3 per cent per year.”

    The funding is one of the largest capital raises ever for a telecommunications operator in Africa and brings the total funding committed to Smile since its founding in 2007 to approximately $600 million.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Irene Charnley, said: “Now that we are fully funded to deliver national coverage of unrivalled super-fast internet access and clear voice services, our priority is to ensure that our customers experience and benefit from the power of high speed mobile broadband compared to the narrowband services available to date, including how to effectively manage the superior experience in terms of data consumption.”

    Chairman, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ernest Azudialu- Obiejesi, said the funding is an enabler of its quest to deepen broadband penetration in Africa especially in key markets of Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

    He said: “Nigeria is one of

  • Why we are focusing on Africa, by audit firm

    Panell Kerr Forster, a firm of chartered accountants and business advisers, has identified Nigeria one of the key economic centres in the world and a leading country in Africa.

    It said it is focusing on Africa because of the increasing economic growth put at about seven per cent.

    Its Africa Regional Director, Theo Vermaak, made this known at the Africa sub-region strategy conference in Accra, Ghana.

    He said the audit firm’s focus on Africa was informed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) report of identifying Africa as the continent with about seven per cent economic growth and West Africa sub-region as a major bloc contributing over 30 per cent  of GDP within the African region.

    “As a result of this, PKF International resolved that every available resources including technical and training would be deployed to support PKF offices in West Africa,” Vermaak said.

    He said PKF International was reassessing its brand strategy and would be working on some themes, such as “PKF get closer for sustainable growth. Get closer get connected and get closer get expertise,” to sustain its core values.

    West Africa Director of the firm, a Senior Resident Partner of PKF Nigeria, Mr. Tajudeen Akande, said Nigeria was confirmed as centre of excellence because of PKF Nigeria’s focus and leadership role in West Africa.

    He said the firm would be empowered to offer support to other offices in the sub-region in accounting and financing advisory and Information technology infrastructure.

    He emphasised the need for regional cooperation and integration.

    The meeting was attended by partners and directors from Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

  • REC joins Egypt’s O Capital to tap Middle East, Africa

    REC Solar Holdings AS has signed a deal with O Capital, the renewable energy arm of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE, forming a partnership to sell solar panels and related services in the Middle East and Africa.

    O Capital will manage tenders and turnkey installations while REC will be responsible for the engineering side, it said in a statement. The companies are seeking to provide REC’s solar panels to residential, commercial and utility-scale projects.

    REC sees Middle East and Africa as growth areas for the solar industry, according to Luc Graré, senior vice president for the region.

    “Beginning in 2017, we are expecting 10 gigawatts to be installed every year in the Middle East and Africa, which would make the region second in the world for new solar capacity after China,” he said by phone.

    Egypt is expected to be a major contributor to this growth, since the country is targeting to get 20 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020.

    To reach this goal, it would need to install 2 gigawatts to 3 gigawatts of clean energy a year, Graré said. Cairo-based O Capital was chosen as a local partner to facilitate access to the Egyptian market and surrounding area.

    REC plans to establish similar partnerships in Ghana, South Africa and Kenya.

  • Africa to have improved economy by 2050 – Report

    Africa to have improved economy by 2050 – Report

    Most African countries that today are considered low income will transition to middle income by 2050, the Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) said.

    The ATOR, released Tuesday by the Regional Strategies Analysis and Knowledge Support System (RESAKSS), a programme facilitated by the international food policy research institute (IFPRI), examines the current and future trends that are likely to shape the trajectory of African economies.

    As the second-fastest growing region in the world, Africa has enjoyed robust economic growth in recent years.

    However, that progress has not been enough to make up for the lost decades of economic stagnation that preceded the recent recovery.

    Secondly, the benefits of this growth have not trickled down to the wider population. Today too many people experience poverty and food scarcity.

    “While the recent growth performance is encouraging, African counties still face major challenges in terms of reducing poverty and eliminating hunger and malnutrition,” said Ousmane Badiane, IFPRI director for Africa.

    Badiane added; “this report shows that policymakers need to continue to refine policies, improve institutions and increase investments to sustain and accelerate the pace of growth as well as its inclusivity or broadness—and the outcomes of their decisions can be the difference between persistent poverty and future shared prosperity for many of Africa’s most vulnerable populations.”

    The report found: Africa south of the Sahara is projected to experience more sustained economic growth in GDP per capita between now and 2030 and 2050.

    By 2050, climate change will result in a 25 percent cereal prices compared with a no climate change scenario.

    Trends that are likely to influence the trajectory of African economies include:

    * More volatile food and energy prices;

    * Rapid urbanization, increasing incomes, and the rise of a middle class;

    * Rapid increase in a young population entering the labor force;

    * Greater Climate Variability; and

    * Agriculture as the largest source of employment.

    African diets are changing in response to rapid urbanization and the rise of a middle class.

    Fifty percent of Africa’s population is projected to live in urban areas by 2020. Processed food now represents a significant share of food purchases, even for the rural poor. Diets have also diversified beyond grains into horticulture, dairy, livestock, fish, and pulses.

    Structural change in Africa is now contributing to productivity growth.

    Africa’s informal goods and services sector (e.g., home goods and handicraft production, and food staples processing) is emerging steadily, and must play a major role in future growth and
    industrialization.

    Industrialization in Africa has been weak, and has contributed little to Africa’s recent growth.

    A new industrial strategy needs to focus on investing in infrastructure, especially energy, transport, and “as envisaged under the African Union Malabo declaration, transforming African economies will need ensuring that future growth is broad based and inclusive, especially of women and youth, a critical component of the Africa we want as depicted in the Africa agenda 2063,” said her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission (AUC).

    ‘‘This is a sure way for wealth to be created and jobs to be generated,” she added.

  • 234Radio will take Africa to the world – DJ O’kay Megamixer

    234Radio will take Africa to the world – DJ O’kay Megamixer

    With their stake in the reinvention of online radio, owners of 234Radio have said that they are not resting on their oars by making the unfamiliar terrain the toast of many.

    The station continues to redefine radio broadcasting with a mix of DJs touch and quality radio programming, bringing unparalleled entertainment on the go, beyond geographical barrier.

    Speaking on the success of the radio in its two years of operations, its General Manager, Kayode Olowoyeye popularly referred to as DJ O’kay Megamixer said that 234Radio is a product of several years of in-depth research in online radio programming, hard work and dedication.

    “234Radio is blessed with dedicated and hardworking team that toils day and night to ensure that listeners are entertained. We have been applauded for not recording a minute of downtime since we started transmission two years ago. This wouldn’t have been possible but for our resolve to be a leading radio station in not just Africa but the rest of the world,” he said.

    According to DJ O’kay, 234Radio has positioned itself as a radio of first choice for all and sundry. “We are aware that people listen to radio for different reasons and we factor this in our programming. On 234Radio, we have something for everybody.”

    The station started transmission in Nigeria and across the world two years ago with a promise to be a one-stop shop for entertainment. The online radio has since then grown in leaps and bounds. With transmission points in Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States of America and Jamaica.

    “One of our priorities is to export Africa to the rest of the world. This we have been able to achieve by ensuring that about 95 percent of our programmes and contents are about Africa. This has however received commendations from our listeners both within and outside Africa who now see 234Radio as a point of call for everything African,” said DJ O’kay.

  • Etihad appoints manager for Africa

    Etihad Airways, the national airline for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced the appointment of Bradley Edwards as its new Regional Business Development Manager for the Sub-Saharan Africa & Indian Ocean region.

    Based at Etihad Airways’ new offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, Bradley will oversee key sales strategies across seven countries in Africa with the objective of accelerating the growth of Etihad’s revenues through expanded distribution and segmentation strategies, which increase awareness of the airline and its market share across the region.

    Maurice Phohleli, Etihad Airways’ Vice President Africa Sub-Sahara and Indian Ocean Islands, said: “We are delighted to welcome Bradley to our regional team. Our growing commitment in Africa has seen our regional team grow in order to serve our customers and partners even more efficiently.”

    An alumnus of Henley Business School, Bradley completed his Master of Business Administration in 2013. He also studied Tourism Management at the University of South Africa and Technikon Witwatersrand.

    Bradley has worked in the tourism sector for over 15 years. Prior to joining Etihad Airways, he held various managerial positions at Comair Ltd, British Airways PLC Group and South African Airways, driving sales strategies and ensuring route profitability.

    On taking up his new position, Bradley said: “I’m honoured to be joining Etihad Airways’ regional team. The increase in regional demand presents some exciting opportunities for the industry and I look forward to engaging with various stakeholders to meet this growth.”

    Bradley will report to Maurice Phohleli, and work very closely with the local South African team headed by General Manager, John Friel.