The Nation Newspaper

Tag: African Union

  • AU urges Member States to work towards financial independence

    AU urges Member States to work towards financial independence

    African Union (AU) Chairperson, Moussa Mahamat Faki, on Thursday called on member states to strengthen efforts towards the pan African block’s financial independence.

    Faki made the call during the opening session of the AU’s 32nd Executive Council’s meeting, comprising AU member states’ foreign ministers, at the pan African block’s headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.

    Faki, who stressed the need to strengthen efforts to support AU’s ambition towards financial independence, said that “Without its independence Africa is nothing, with its independence Africa is everything.”

    According to the chairperson, the year 2017 has witnessed an increase in AU member states financial contribution to the Union, while helping to decrease financial contributions from non-African partners.

    According to Mahamat, the contribution from non-member partners for the AU’s Peace Fund was reduced to 74 per cent during 2017.

    He also disclosed the plan to further down the number to 59 per cent during the year 2018.

    AU leaders had adopted a financing proposal at the 27th AU Summit, which was held in Rwanda in 2016, to direct all.

    AU member states to implement a 0.2-per cent levy on eligible imports from non-member countries.

    The initiative mainly aspires to create an equitable and predictable source of financing for AU and to reduce dependency on partner funds.

    The financing proposal targets to cover 100 percent of the Union’s operational budget, 75 per cent of its program budget and 25 per cent of AU’s peace fund.

    As of December 2017, 20 member states were at various stages of implementing the decision.

     

    NAN

  • Africa: Address refugee crisis to ensure development — AU Commissioner

    Africa: Address refugee crisis to ensure development — AU Commissioner

    African Union Commission says Africa must urgently confront structural root causes of instability in various parts of the continent to address the refugee crisis confronting many members states.

    Mrs Minata Cesssouma, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, said this in Nairobi on Saturday at the opening of the 5th  AU Annual Humanitarian Symposium.

    Cessouma, who was represented by Dr Khabele Matlosa, Director, Political Affairs, said no country could achieve meaningful development in an atmosphere where majority of its people could not contribute to its development because they were either refugees living outside the country or internally displaced.

    She said Africa was host to more than 3.5 million refugees and 15 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), adding that future projections were more worrying, given the growing effects of climate change and new conflicts on the continent.

    She added that “it is equally worrying when majority of displaced population are women, children and youth and the very fabrics of their lives are disrupted in terms of access to health and educational facilities.”

    The AU commissioner said member states had in 2016 adopted Common African Position on Humanitarian Effectiveness which led to AU’s new humanitarian architecture to empower states in dealing with humanitarian issues.

    She said the newly adopted tools should put the AU and member states on the path to strengthened humanitarian response on the continent.

    She noted that “change in the way of humanitarian action in Africa is not an option. It is not only a matter of choice but rather a blueprint and a standing principle of Africa’s humanitarian action that the AU has embraced.”

    Read also: AU welcomes Mugabe resignation

    She explained that this year’s symposium should identify innovative ways by which African countries could demonstrate international solidarity and responsibility sharing in delivering solutions to refugees trapped in protracted situations.

    Cessouma urged participants to evolve ways to address the root causes of displacements to advance the creation of conducive conditions for voluntary repatriation of refugees to their countries of origin.

    Abdi Affey, UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy to Somalia,
    said more than one third of the world’s refugees and asylum seekers’ population was generated by conflict, poor governance, natural disasters and environmental degradation.

    He said Cameroon, Chad, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and  Uganda host 4.9 million of Africa’s 5.6 million refugees.

    He added that these countries already faced severe structural barriers to economic growth and development and had the least resources to respond to the needs of refugees, thus required international assistance to cope with the situation.

    Kenya’s acting Commissioner, Refugees Affairs Secretariat, Mr Kodeck Makori, who
    declared the symposium open, said although it was part of African culture to share the little with others, there was need for international solidarity in addressing the movement of large number of refugees.

    He said there was also the need to address the education needs of young refugees
    to enable them to become productive members of the society.

  • Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    The Presidency says it has uncovered plan by politicians seeking the destruction of national institutions such as the courts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) and “everything good that the nation stands for”.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    The presidential aide cited the recent series of interviews by a former governor of Jigawa and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Alhaji Sule Lamido, attacking President Buhari’s efforts on ongoing war against corruption, as part of the grand plan.

    He, however, described the attacks by Lamido “as” a reflection of the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the opposition in the country.

    “It is only in Nigeria that a leader will divert money belonging to the public into his children’s account then turns round to start pontificating on public morals, in the process subjecting the nation’s honest leadership to daily attacks based on falsehood.

    “It is even worse that such a person, facing criminal prosecution will start going round saying he wants to be president. Is this not one of the reasons why other countries are laughing at Nigeria?

    “This is hooliganism. It is not opposition politics,’’ Shehu noted.

    The presidential spokesman challenged Lamido to convince Nigerians that his trenchant attacks against the government and the judiciary were not a smokescreen to becloud the atmosphere of his criminal prosecution.

    “In his diatribe published in the Vanguard newspaper last week, it is clear that the former governor not only set out to mock the President but the judiciary and important national institutions.’’

    According to him, this is part of an orchestrated plot to divert public attention from his scam related cases.

    He added that, “If President Buhari’s war against corruption as he said, was a mockery what does one say of Lamido’s sworn efforts to sabotage the country’s efforts to rid itself of the cancer of corruption?

    “If accountability of public officials is the very essence of a mature democracy, it is indeed ironic that a politician, seeking the leadership of the country, making a mockery of institutions and leaders seeking to entrench that.

    “As a country, Nigeria settled for President Buhari not just as President but the watchman of people’s wealth.”

    Shehu observed that the citizens are happy with Buhari’s efforts in fighting corruption and the whole world was applauding him, while the African Union, the AU named him as the Champion of the war against corruption.

    He stated that opposition politicians like Lamido needed to come to terms with the fact that their act needed updating.

    Shehu further quoted Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) that said, “the nation’s war against corruption spearheaded by EFCC was incidentally formulated by the a past PDP administration.

    “It is a tragic irony that the leaders of the same party are doing their utmost to weaken or destroy it. Watch it, is that why he is seeking to lead the country?

    “Time and again, President Buhari had lamented that strongmen had destroyed the country’s strong institutions and that it will take strong men to rebuild them.

    “He deserves the support of everyone to rebuild such institutions because they serve a common good.”

    The presidential aide, therefore, appealed to  opposition politicians to give President Buhari the support he needed to rebuild national institutions such as the EFCC.

    NAN

  • Buhari urges D-8 members to prioritize incentives for trade, investment

    Buhari urges D-8 members to prioritize incentives for trade, investment

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on D-8 leaders to prioritize incentives and measures aimed at increasing trade and investments among member countries.

    Garba Shehu, the President senior special assistant on media and publicity, in a statement said Buhari on Friday in Istanbul said private sector and business communities in the economic organization must be assisted with incentives to widen economic cooperation among member-states.

    He said, ‘‘As the D-8, we need to intensify our activities with a view to enhancing various measures and incentives introduced to promote trade and assist the business communities from Member States to invest in our countries and widen our cooperation”.

    ‘‘We need to work hard to establish integrated manufacturing structures and markets. I will like to reiterate the importance of increasing trade and investment among our Member States,’’.

    President Buhari the statement also read used the occasion of his speech to reiterate Nigeria’s commitment to international trade and development even as he affirmed the country’s readiness to host the Meeting of D8 Ministers of Industry from November 14 – 17 in Abuja.

    Highlighting the attractive business and investment opportunities in the country, the President stressed the need for prospective investors to take advantage of the Federal Government’s new policies on trade facilitation.

    ‘‘Nigeria is committed to, and is actively pursuing a policy of trade and investment facilitation for growth. The gains from trade are reflected in greater competitiveness, improved productivity, job creation, consumer welfare and prosperity.

    ‘‘Economies that grow fastest and at more sustainable rates are those that actively promote trade and attract investment. We are committed to creating an enabling environment and making Nigeria an attractive place for business and investment,’’ he said.

    The President also urged D-8 member countries to support the efforts of the African Union (AU) to establish the first ever single market for trade in goods and services on the continent.

    He described the AU-backed Continental Free Trade Area for Africa as a ‘’win-win for all, including member countries of the D-8.’’

    Read also: Photonews: Buhari participates at 9th D-8 Summit

    ‘‘I am pleased to inform you of positive market developments currently in Africa, that will support our efforts as Members of the D-8 to enlarge our markets, facilitate our trade and investments, and develop our economies.

    ‘‘In Africa, we are on the threshold of finalizing negotiations to establish the first ever Single Market for Trade in Goods and Services on our Continent, in the Continental Free Trade Area for Africa. This will be a win-win for all, including member countries of the D-8.

    ‘‘As partners, I urge that we work together to support this effort of the African Union that will have a positive effect on global economic development and integration,’’ he said.

    Earlier, President Buhari had congratulated the outgoing Chairman of D8, Pakistani government, and Dr. Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi, the outgoing Secretary-General, on their commitment and strong resolve to forge the organization ahead even in the face of serious challenges.

    He also congratulated Turkey on assuming the new leadership of the economic organization.

    He assured D-8 leaders that Nigeria would continue to support the Secretariat in its assignments to achieve the visions and objectives of the organization.

  • AFRIMA receives 4,816 entries for 2017

    AFRIMA receives 4,816 entries for 2017

    • Eastern Africa has highest entries

    Organisaers of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have announced a large number of entries for the 2017 edition of the award.

    At the close of the two-month entry submission process on Monday, July 17 which raked in close to 5,000 from African music artistes and music professionals, organisers noted that this edition is on its way to becoming an epoch-making awards event.

    “The African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA had opened the 2017 AFRIMA Call for Entries on May 8 giving the opportunity to African music artistes, record producers, songwriters, video directors and music journalists to enter their qualified works on the AFRIMA website www.afrima.org and the awards social media platforms.

    “The overwhelming response to this call putting the total number of entries received for 2017 at 4,816 is an astronomical increase from the 2,714 number of entries received in 2016 which amounts to a whopping 77.25% increase compared to last year. The analysis reveals the regions with the highest entries as Eastern Africa, with 47% of the total entries and Western Africa, with 30%. This immense progress is a positive marker and has elicited satisfaction from the African Union, the International Committee of AFRIMA, the Regional and Country Directors of AFRIMA, the statement reads.

    Expressing excitement at the high number of entries in 2017, the AFRIMA International Advisor and member of the International Committee, Mr. Rikki Stein stated: “This is tremendous news, indicative of an increasingly healthy music industry across Africa, particularly from a creative perspective.

    Rikki Stein, former friend and Manager to African music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    “AFRIMA is plugged in to the aspirations of the African continent, providing a platform for excellence in the field of music and a source of inspiration and encouragement for its associated fields of endeavour; songwriters, producers, sound engineers, distributors, publicists, marketers, photographers, videographers, stylists, journalists, bloggers, DJs and on and on.”

    The former friend and Manager to African music legend, Fela  Anikulapo Kuti also added that,

    “As one by one, African artists are making their mark in the wider world, acting as ambassadors of their countries and their culture, the eyes and ears of that wider world are opening and turning towards Africa as the source of much more than entertainment. In its finest form, as will be evident amongst AFRIMA nominees and eventual winners, they provide an antidote to negativity and cynicism, offering a healing form for ailments of heart and spirit; what Fela used to call ‘The Underground Spiritual Game’.

    To follow the close of entry submission is the screening and adjudication processes from July 18 to July 28 and August 2 to August 8 respectively. The 13-man AFRIMA Jury will review the 4,816 entries to determine the works of African talents that are adjudged on merit to be on the AFRIMA 2017 Nominees List.

    In partnership with the African Union, AFRIMA is centred on the promotion and marketing of African music and is by far the largest gathering of such magnitude of stakeholders in Africa. The biggest awards event on the continent packs exciting activities into its annual events calendar including the AFRIMA Music Village, the Africa Music Business Roundtable and the AFRIMA Host City Tour.

    The event is scheduled to hold from November 9 to12 with a live broadcast to 84 countries across the world.

  • Nigeria welcomes strong AU-UN partnership

    Nigeria welcomes strong AU-UN partnership

    Nigeria welcomed the continued efforts of the UN to enhance its relationship and cooperation with the African Union and to support effective implementation of the 2063 Agenda.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, made the remarks while delivering Nigeria’s message at the Security Council Open Debate on Peace and Security in Africa.

    Bande said “we, therefore, need to redouble efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, both at the operational, political and tactical levels.

    “This will enable us to address, in a holistic manner, the challenges faced in the fields of peace and security.

    “In this regard, Nigeria welcomes the signing in April of the new landmark framework to strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and the AU on peace and security pillars”.

    According to him, the framework will ensure a better response to the changing dimensions and evolving challenges of peace operations.

    Bande pledged Nigeria’s support to the continued efforts to strengthen African peacekeeping capabilities and emphasise the importance of implementing the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security.

    “We also recommend the enhancement of an effective partnership, in order to improve the planning, deployment and management of African peacekeeping operations.

    “In this regard, we stress the importance of finding ways to secure predictable, adequate and sustained financial support to AU-led Peace Operations.

    “This is to ensure that the missions deployed could effectively maximise their operational capabilities to the tasks at hand,” he said.

    He noted that the option of a jointly developed and jointly funded budget would require additional work by the UN Secretariat and the AU Commission before it could be put into practice.

    “Nigeria endorses the four options outlined by the Secretary-General and we call on the Security Council to endorse these options in principle.

    “In addition to the issue of financing, we take note of the proposal in the Secretary-General’s report for a decision-making framework aimed at making the joint action more effective between the UN and the AU.’’

    Bande, however, said if indeed the primary responsibility of the Security Council was to maintain international peace and security, its work in managing international peace and security should be viewed through the lens of preventive diplomacy.

    The Nigerian envoy noted that “if the United Nations is able to assist African nations and communities in restoring their social and institutional fabric, we can reduce propensities for conflict.

  • Internet Society, AU launch Internet Infrastructure Security Guidelines for Africa

    Internet Society, AU launch Internet Infrastructure Security Guidelines for Africa

    The Internet Society and the African Union Commission on Wednesday unveiled a new Internet Infrastructure Security Guidelines for Africa.

    According to a statement by Mr Michelle Anekeya, the society’s Communications Officer, the guideline was launched at the ongoing African Internet Summit, taking place in Nairobi.

    He said the 3-day summit, which started on Wednesday, May 31 will end on  Friday,  June 2.

    Anekeya said the guidelines would help Africa to create a more secure Internet infrastructure, saying it sets to change the way African Union States approach cyber security preparedness.

    He  said the guidelines, the first of their kind in Africa, were developed by a multi-stakeholder group of African and global internet infrastructure security experts, as  the first step towards building a more secure Internet in Africa.

    He said the guidelines would help AU member states strengthen the security of their local Internet infrastructure through actions at a regional, national, ISP/operator and organisational level.

    He added that Africa’s cyber security environment was facing a unique combination of challenges, including a lack of awareness of the risks involved in using technology.

    “Kenya was ranked the 69th most vulnerable country out of 127 in the 2015 Deloitte Global Threat Index.

    “Some of the main reasons are: low awareness, underinvestment, talent shortage and overload of data. Deloitte further estimates that Kenya lost $171 million to cybercrime in 2016.

    “Africa has achieved major strides in developing its Internet Infrastructure in the past decade.
    “However, the Internet won’t provide the aspired benefits unless we can trust it.

    “We have seen from recent experiences that Africa is not immune from cyber-attacks and other security threats.

    “These guidelines, developed in collaboration with the African Union Commission, will help African countries put in place the necessary measures to increase the security of their Internet infrastructure,” Anekeya said.

    According to him, the guidelines offers actions that are tailored to the African cyber security environment and solutions for an ever changing online landscape.

    He quoted Dawit Bekele, Africa Regional Bureau Director for the Internet Society, as saying that the document was launched at a time when the world felt the real and urgent need to build and reinforce structures aimed at tackling the growing cyber threat to the global digital economy.

    He added that Governments, companies, network operators, universities and organisations across African Union member states are encouraged to take action to implement the Internet

    “The Commission of the African Union will continue its partnership with the Internet Society on a second set of guidelines addressing personal data protection in Africa,” he added.

    Anekeya said according to ITU ICT Facts and Figures 2016, it was estimated that 25.1percent of Africans were now online.

    He said despite lower Internet access rates compared to other regions in the world, there had been a sustained double-digit growth in Internet penetration over the past 10 years in the continent.

    He said this was partly  due to an increase of mobile Internet and in more affordable smart phones in the market and Africa’s young, technology-savvy population.

    He said to continue to improve access and connect the unconnected, people needed to trust the Internet.
    Symantec, a global leader in cyber security, observed that 24 million malware incidents were targeted at Africa in 2016.

  • Fed Govt to report killer-herdsmen to African Union

    Fed Govt to report killer-herdsmen to African Union

    To the Federal Government, itinerant herdsmen are ‘illegal’ aliens. As part of efforts to check their influx, there are plans by the government to take their matter to the next African Union (AU) Summit

    The Federal Government will take the case against invading foreign herdsmen who are killing Nigerians to the African Union (AU) at its next summit.

    This is to force their countries of origin – especially in West Africa – to prevent their illegal entry into the Nigeria Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Audu Ogbeh alleged said yesterday.

    The government has repeatedly that most of the herdsmen who kill farmers across the country are invaders from other lands.

    Ogbeh spoke yesterday at a Town Hall meeting organised in Abuja where ministers gave account of their stewardship before a cross-section of Nigerians.

    He said the move had become necessary as a result of the incessant crises between farmers and herdsmen across the country.

    Ogbeh expressed regret that most of the violent herdsmen who attack farmers and damage their farmlands were foreigners from neighbouring West African countries.

    The minister said that ranching was a sure way of reducing the disagreement which would in turn eradicate the old and outdated wandering style of rearing cattle.

    He said: “The conflict between farmers and herdsmen is a serious security issue. We are going to table the matter at the next AU conference.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is leading the way. Most of the cows and the violent herdsmen you see are not from Nigeria.

    “Those of them who carry AK 47 come from far away countries and our borders are open. So, we are trying to get every country in West Africa to contain their own cattle and we will deal with our own here.

    “We do not want the conflict. So,  we have to deal with it.’’

    On rice importation, Ogbeh said the Federal Government had information that eight ships were on their way loaded with low quality rice heading to the Republic of Benin to be smuggled into the country.

    The minister said the government was planning to reduce the prices of local rice to ensure affordability and availability – all aimed at crashing smugglers’ activities.

    He said Nigeria  imported 580,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand and India in 2015 at  $410, 000 dollars per tonne, but the figure dropped to 58,000 tonnes last year.

    Ogbeh said the total cost of the 580,000 tonnes was $238 million but was reduced to $24 million within one year.

    He said: “We have 20 giant rice mills for an average capacity of 100 tonnes a day. We will sell them at 60 per cent discount to make it easy for women, cooperative societies and youths.

    “We will distribute another 27 palm oil mills and we will bring vegetable oil mills for distribution too.’’

    Ogbeh, however, appealed to citizens to be patient with the government, noting that it was working assiduously to ensure food price reduction.

    The Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said the ministry had empowered no fewer than 174,160 youths out of the 200,000 selected for the N-Power programme.

    The N-Power programme recruits and trains young unemployed graduates as teachers, agricultural extension workers and health support workers among others.

    He said that all beneficiaries from 36 states had been engaged and receiving payments as part of the implementation of the N-Power programme.

    The minister said the N-power was being implemented under the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) as promised by President Buhari during his campaigns to help the poor and vulnerable people.

    Udoma said: ‘‘Hence, in the 2016 Budget, we voted N500 billion for the SIPs.

    ‘‘These projects are being implemented by the Office of the Vice- President, with my ministry as the accounting Ministry and Department Agency (MDA) for the programme.’’

    Udoma said that so many people had also benefited from the  Cash Transfer Programme, the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

    He said that the Cash Transfer Programme was aimed at providing targeted transfers to poor and vulnerable households, with the final aim of graduating them out of poverty.

    ‘‘So far, 35 states have been engaged in the programme by signing its MoU and 30,000 households with validated Bank Verification Number (BVN) have been paid in the first nine states.

    ‘‘Payments to address backlogs are currently ongoing.’’

    Besides, he said that the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme was designed to increase the enrolment and completion rates at the primary school level.

    The minister said it was called home-grown because it relied heavily on the local value chain from the small holder farmer in the community to the accredited caterer in the same community.

    He said: ‘‘Twenty six states have so far been engaged with the programme by carrying out their capacity building workshops with the aim of establishing their multi-sectoral teams and determining the delivery flow in their states.

    ‘‘Of these 26 states, home-grown school feeding has commenced in seven states while cook-pupil mapping has been carried out in 16 states.

    ‘‘So far, 11,937 cooks have been selected, trained and engaged, and have commenced feeding the pupils; 1,051,619 pupils are currently being fed in 8,487 schools across the seven states.’’

    Udoma further said that GEEP had so far disbursed a total of 57,000 soft loans across 28 states to various beneficiaries.

    ‘‘GEEP aims to provide soft loans to artisans, traders, youth, entrepreneurs and market women among others”, he said.

    The minister said that the SIP would continue under the 2017 Budget entitled: “The Budget of Recovery and Growth,” which has just been passed by the National Assembly.

    He said the budget would consolidate on the gains of last years’ budget, including earmarking about 31 per cent for capital projects.

    Udoma said: ‘‘The budget was prepared on the basis of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and contains many projects that will stimulate growth in the economy such as the social housing fund and the Special Economic Zones programme.”

    According to him, the ministry had followed up with the development of a more comprehensive medium term – ERGP 2017 – 2020, saying: ‘‘ERGP will take us out of recession to a strong, diversified, inclusive, and sustained growth.

    ‘‘The Plan will help us fire on multiple engines of agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, services etc., and not just the single engine of crude oil production.

    ‘‘It sets out our policy direction for the economy over the medium-term, and serves as a guide for investors and businessmen.”

    The minister assured that President Buhari would deliver on his promises of tackling corruption, restoring security and fixing the  economy.

     

  • Teenage boy launches campaign against child abuse

    A teenager, Usman Gashash, has launched a campaign against all forms of child abuses through his guitar music in Kaduna State.

    Gashash spoke with the journalist shortly after his performance with little kids at his parent’s house on Sunday in Kaduna.

    The 10-year old boy appealed to the African Union to end child exploitation, early child marriage, kid-soldier, the killing of albinos and violence against children accused of witchcraft in the continent.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gashash has held series of campaign in schools, homes and in his neighbourhood, against all forms of child abuse and tortures, through his musical group.

    The creative and talented young music artiste appealed to the continental body to find means of ending terror activities, religious extremism and insecurity destabilising millions of children.

    The young artist said child abuse was a major problem “in our world today and it is the responsibility of everyone to contribute toward finding lasting solution to it”.

    He expressed worry over the increasing violation of child right throughout the African continent.

    He noted that action must be taken urgently to enable every child have his or her freedom and right as a citizen.

    “Lives of albinos children in Africa is under serious threat as many of them are now been hunted by for ritual purposes.

    “The climate change is also another contributing factor that needs to be considered in saving the lives of such children.

    “We must stand to fight against any kinds of challenges that can cripple the lives of our African albinos,” he said.

    According to him, most of his songs are anchored on child rights, which include access to education, rights to adequate food, shelter, clean water, primary health care, leisure and recreation among others.

    “Many children in Africa have become refugees due to religious conflicts, political crisis, farmers and herdsmen clashes and terrorism.

    “Problem of malnutrition is the biggest challenges those children refugees are facing day-by-day.

    “Child soldier is also on the increase in various regions of Africa due to senseless political and ethnic crisis as well as poverty.

    “These children are forced to join the militia groups in different countries in Africa.”

    He, therefore, appealed to all concerned to join hands fighting for the rights of children and eradicate some obnoxious practices like female genital mutilation, which is rampant in many African countries.

    “I urge all children network organisations worldwide to rise up and speak against all the challenges facing them.

    “As for me, I will keep using music as an instrument of spreading the message of fighting against child right violation.

    “I will also keep on calling for all African children freedom against all forms of humiliation and torture through my songs.”

     

  • African Union unveils AFRIMA calendar in South Africa

    African Union unveils AFRIMA calendar in South Africa

    The African Union Commission (AUC) has formally unveiled the 2017 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) calendar.

    The event was held on Tuesday at The Maslow Hotel, Sandton, South Africa.

    It was attended by AU officials, members of the International Committee of AFRIMA, past AFRIMA winners and nominees from Southern African, media executives and other stakeholders in the creative/entertainment industry.

    President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA Mr. Mike Dada said the first activity on the continental awards event calendar is submission of entries, which opens globally on Monday, May 8. He added that submission closes on Monday, July 17.

    Dada advised artistes, managers, producers, record label owners, video directors, publicists and entertainment/music journalist to submit their works or those of their artistes within the stipulated timeline to stand a chance at the awards.

    ‘’Irrespective of how popular an artiste or their works are in Africa, failure to submit for the awards means their chances of being nominated for AFRIMA 2017 is practically non-existent,” Dada said.

    Delivering the AU opening address at the event, Head of Culture Division, African Union Commission, Ms. Angela Martins, thanked the government of South Africa and the people for receiving the AUC and AFRIMA for the calendar unveiling.

    She added: “We would like to hail the All Africa Music Awards initiative for the laudable impact it has for its three editions (2014, 2015 and 2016). AFRIMA has been able to mobilise millions of people and renowned artistes from the five regions of Africa’’.

    Some of the attendees at the unveiling were African music stars such as: Wax Dey; Sjava; Buffalo; Mi Casa; Busiswa; The Soil; Heavy K; Ugly Priddy; Cindy Munyavi and Fungisia among others.

    Other music industry stakeholders present included: MD, Africori Digital Music Solutions, Mr. Yoel Kenyan; MD and Content Connect International, Mr. Munya Chanesta.