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Tag: AU

  • AU, AFRIMA release Nominees List

    •Public voting to commence
    Monday, August 27

    A total of 79 songs made it to the Regional nominees list out of 8,009 entries submitted for the 5th All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, scheduled to hold in November 2018. The list was last Tuesday unveiled by the African Union Commission, AUC, and the International Jury of AFRIMA, at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The released nominees list covers the five Regional Categories divided into Female and Male categories.

    The spokesperson for the International Jury of AFRIMA and the Programme Director, Cameroon TV and Radio, CRTV, Mr. Robert Ekukole (representing Eastern Africa) said: “The AFRIMA Nominees list we arrived at reflects and represents the top-notch creative expressions of music talents and professionals within the relevant regions and validity period.”

    Public voting opens on the AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org, on Monday, August 27, 2018 to determine who wins the coveted 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA Trophy in 38 categories.

     

  • AU unveils calendar of AFRIMA 2018 in Ghana

    THE African Union (AU) has unveiled the calendar of events for the fifth edition of the biggest awards event on the continent, All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

    The unveiling on Monday in Accra, Ghana, followed a visit by the AFRIMA delegation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    Akufo-Addo welcomed the visiting delegation led by the Head of Culture, African Union Commission, Mrs. Angela Martins, at the Presidential Office, Jubilee House, Accra.

    The President described the initiative as a platform that showcases Africa positively to the world through the creativity of the music talents and the distinctive African cultural heritage.

    He said: “The people of Ghana are proud to host the 2018 AFRIMA World Media Calendar Unveiling event and to receive the delegation of officials of AU and AFRIMA as well the talented artistes and the media.

    “I’m excited to hear AFRIMA is engaging the rest of the world on an intellectual platform with conferences and the music awards.

    “We hope you have had a remarkable experience of Ghanaian hospitality. Our hope is that we will host the main awards ceremony.

    Other officials of the government of Ghana who received the AU-AFRIMA delegation included the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Catherine Abelema Afeku; Executive Secretary to the President Nana Asante Bediatuo and Principal Personal Assistant to the President Saratu Atta.

    Others are: Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Dr. Joel Sonne; Director, Tourism Council, Ghana Chief Nana Anim and celebrated Ghanaian music artistes such as veteran Nana Kwame Ampadu, who joined artistes from other African countries for the courtesy visit.

    The President directed Minister of Tourism Catherine Afeku to see to the completion of the formalities required to enable Ghana ratify the Charter on African Culture Renaissance.

    Mrs. Angela Martins expressed gratitude to the government and people of Ghana for the commitment and support displayed towards hosting the 2018 AFRIMA Calendar Unveiling.

    “We cherish the partnership with the government of Ghana since it will enhance the pan-African nature of the AFRIMA initiative. The AU also uses the AFRIMA platform to voice key messages related to the Arts and Culture and other social issues for example the campaign on Ebola in 2014,” she said.

  • AU, Ghana partner for AFRIMA 2018 calendar unveiling

    This year’s edition of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) annual calendar of programmes will be unveiled on May 21 by the African Union Commission (AUC).

    The ceremony will be in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and the International Committee of AFRIMA during a world media event and music conference scheduled for Accra, the capital of Ghana.

    Part of the agenda for the calendar unveiling of the fifth annual edition of AFRIMA is a visit to President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is expected to receive African delegates and music stars attending the event from around Africa.

    They include Head of Culture at AU, Mrs. Angela Martins; President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada; Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA; Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi; AFRIMA Regional Director, Western Africa, Mr. Don Obilor; the Ghanaian-United Kingdom (UK) AFRIMA Juror (representing UK-Diaspora) and BBC-1 show host, Ms. Rita Ray as well as the AFRIMA Country Director for Ghana, Mr. Francis Doku.

    Also billed to participate at the event are: past AFRIMA nominees and winners, music professionals and executives, creative/culture industry policy makers, members of the media industry and other award-winning recording artistes living in Ghana and in other African countries.

    Commenting on the event, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku said:  “Arts and Culture, as a sector, remains one of Africa’s greatest strengths. As well as being a source of values, identity and a sense of belonging, the creative industries have become a driver of economic growth and job creation.

    “In agreeing to host the AFRIMA 2018 calendar unveiling, the Government of Ghana is motivated by the need to harness the potential of the creative sector of Ghana to promote national and regional tourism. We congratulate the African Union for lending its weight behind this laudable effort.”

    Afeku added: “The Government of Ghana recognises the potential of the creative industries to shape and reinforce the country’s economic growth. Studies show that by the end of the first decade of this millennium, cultural activities contributed up to 1.53 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our country. Zeroing in on music industry, it is reported with some justifiable pride that the sector alone adds approximately GH¢100 million to GDP.”

     

  • AU demands credible elections

    The African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) has called on stakeholders to ensure a credible, transparent, free and fair election in Ekiti State on July 14.

    AU-ECOSOCC, a group representing Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in 55 countries of Africa, stressed that credible elections are determinant factors for good governance in any society.

    Speaking with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, Nigerian Representative/Chairperson, Social Affairs and Health, AU-ECOSOCC, Dr. Tunji Asaolu, described the Ekiti poll as a pointer to what to expect in next year’s general elections.

    He said the success of the exercise will give the country a good reputation that can make it to attract domestic and foreign investors.

    Asaolu called on the electorate not to sell their conscience to unscrupulous politicians who may want to purchase their votes with money in a desperate bid to win.

    He also urged political parties to imbibe the practice of internal democracy by conducting credible primaries that will lerad to the emergence of candidates through fair processes.

    Asaolu said: “Nigeria needs free and fair election for her greatness, survival and economic advancement. Ekiti State gubernatorial election will be a pre-factor that the world can use to measure the 2019 elections in Nigeria.

    “Therefore, Ekiti State election is no ordinary election at this time but rather an indicative election that will show to the whole wide world how serious Nigeria is with the emerging democratic dispensation.

    “Nigerian prestige this time is on the line, the civilized world will not accept anything short of free and fair election neither will Ekiti citizens accept election irregularities as business as usual.

    “What is expected of Nigeria is to organize and implement a free and fair election to the best of her knowledge especially this time in Ekiti State.

    “But, the key issue is to produce a credible election results that are relatively free and fair, that majority of Ekiti people can accept as a credible result.”

  • UN to help Africa harmonise education standards

    The UN on Monday has pledged to help African states to harmonise their education standards.

    Lack of mutual recognition of academic qualifications in Africa is hindering labor mobility, Abdul-Rahman Lamin, programme specialist at the Nairobi office of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), told a youth forum in the Kenyan capital.

    “We are therefore assisting African Union (AU) member states to harmonize their educational standards at the tertiary level in order to promote continental integration,” Lamin said during the Youth Dialogue on Education Conference on Inclusive and Gender Responsive Education.

    The conference, which aims to provide a platform for young people in Africa to share their experiences on different national context, was hosted by Plan International and partner organisations.

    In 2014, AU members agreed to sign a convention on recognition of academic qualifications in African states in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa.

    UNESCO is assisting African states to ratify the convention.

    Lamin said the UN hopes to create a platform where African states can exchange and discuss the progress they have achieved so far in implementing the convention of harmonisation of higher education.

    He said a harmonised education standards regime will benefit the continent because it will promote student and labour mobility.

    Lamin added that many African states are undergoing social and political conflicts that have resulted in many of their citizens seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

    “However, due to lack of harmonised education standards, the refugees are unable to continue their education or find employment in their host countries.

    “At the end, the host nation is not able to benefit from skills of the refugees due to restrictive policies,” he said.

    NAN

  • Group to AU: probe schoolgirls’ abduction

    THE Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has asked the African Union (AU) to undertake a fact-finding mission to establish the circumstances surrounding the abduction of over 100 school girls from Dapchi in Yobe State.

    It  urged the commission to prevail on the authorities to end similar abductions.

    WELA’s  Executive Director,  Mrs Funmi Falana, wrote the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, chaired by Prof. Benyam Dawit Mezmur.

    Falana said the organisation was concerned that the abduction of the school girls “shows continuing failure of the authorities to take steps to protect our schools and children against violence by Boko Haram’’.

    “The abduction of school girls from Dapchi followed abduction by Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, including the April 2014 abduction of 276 girls from Chibok Secondary school.

    “We believe that attacks on schools place children at risk of injury or death and affect students’ ability to obtain education. Attacks on schools, teachers and students can cause children to drop out or attend school less often, force schools to limit their hours and destroy school buildings and materials.’’

    The group  said where there was violence and fear, children’s education would be affected.

    WELA asked the authorities to explain the  steps they were taking to implement the Safe School Declaration.

    WELA added: “Ask the authorities to publish the number of schools or education facilities that have been damaged or destroyed as a result of attacks by (a) state security forces (b) non-state armed groups since the start of the conflict in the Northeast;

    “Ask the authorities to publish the steps they are taking to ensure that attacks on schools in contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law, are investigated and those suspected to be responsible duly prosecuted and

    “Prevail on authorities to respond to attacks on schools by promptly repairing damage and ensuring that students can safely return to class.

    “Prevail on authorities to ensure the provision of education in crises and displacement, and adopt special measures to ensure children can continue education in highly insecure areas, including by reducing the distance to school, offering distance learning programmes and setting up protective learning spaces for girls and teachers, among others.’’

  • Buhari’s choice as AU’s anti- corruption czar laughable – PDP

    Buhari’s choice as AU’s anti- corruption czar laughable – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked the choice of President Muhammed Buhari as anti-corruption champion by the African Union (AU), describing the choice as laughable, derisory and eminently qualified as Africa’s joke of the year.

    In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said it was clear that leaders of the AU were not well briefed on happenings in Nigeria.

    The party said that unknown to the AU leaders, “heavy sleazes” are being perpetrated around the Buhari presidency, adding that the African leaders were misled by the Federal Government with its deceptive name-and-shame stunt in the anti- graft war.

    The party said it was embarrassing that the Presidency, in its desperation to launder its “irredeemably battered image,” would resort to exporting its deceptive proclivities to the international arena.

    It noted that the AU leaders would not have honoured President Buhari if they knew that what obtained in Nigeria was a direct persecution of the opposition, under the guise of war against corruption, while government officials swim head deep in corruption under the overt protection of the Buhari Presidency.

    The party said: “As we speak, those receiving accolades as champions of anti- corruption have not yet cleared the air on the leaked memo detailing underhand oil contracts to the tune of N9 trillion ($25billion dollars) at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources which are under President Buhari’s direct supervision as minister.

    “They are yet to offer any explanation on series of reported fraud in the oil sector, including allegation of the use of 18 unregistered companies to lift and divert N1.1trillion worth of crude oil in the last one year to service APC interests.

    “This is a government which has provided cover for its corrupt officials, including former state governors, who were indicted of looting funds belonging to their states to sponsor their presidential election in 2015 as well as cronies openly indicted for other various sharp practices; including padding of federal budget, secret oil subsidy deals and stealing of funds meant for fight against insurgency and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    “Perhaps, AU leaders need to know that the Presidency has virtually failed to do anything regarding the heinous diversion of N5 billion meant for the IDPs under the Presidential Initiative on the North East, for which the Senate mounted a stiff investigation, only because some officials of APC government were indicted.

    “They might also need to be shown the motion by Senator Baba Kaka Garba from Borno Central, who exposed how some individuals, known to have connections with the APC, fraudulently cornered N1.2 billion from the Federal Government under the guise of supplying items to IDPs, only for the money to be diverted for other purposes which are related to APC interests.

    “Furthermore, the AU might need to know that the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who was openly indicted by the Senate for stealing funds meant for IDP activities, was only arrested after a public outcry but was quickly released with a pat on the wrist, while opposition members facing similar charges are being detained and persecuted with spurious charges in the various courts.

    “The truth lies bare that the Buhari administration is not engaging in any fight against corruption but political witch-hunt of the opposition, while his government reeks with corruption.”

     

     

  • Buhari meets Obasanjo, Abdulsalam at AU summit (Video)

    Buhari meets Obasanjo, Abdulsalam at AU summit (Video)

    President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met face to face on Sunday at the ongoing African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
    It was the first time they met since the open letter from Obasanjo to Buhari last Tuesday.
    Obasanjo, in the letter, had criticised Buhari’s administration and accused him of nepotism and failure to revive the economy, among other accusations.
    Obasanjo had also advised Buhari not to contest the 2019 Presidential elections.
    They met briefly on Sunday just before the opening ceremony of the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
    Obasanjo first went round to exchange pleasantries with other African leaders attending the summit, before looking out for Buhari among the crowd to also have a word with him.
    They both shook hands and talked for about two minutes.
    Photojournalists at the summit  made frantic efforts to capture the moment.
    Another former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, later joined Buhari and Obasanjo for a snapshot.

    watch the video below…

    [jwplayer zYeIloaB]

  • AU ambassadors demand apology from Trump over ‘racist remarks’

    AU ambassadors demand apology from Trump over ‘racist remarks’

    African Union ambassadors to the UN demanded an apology from U.S. President Donald Trump for his racist remark on the people of Africa.

    The group of over 50 nations in a statement said: “the AU expressed its disappointment and outrage over the unfortunate comment made by Mr Donald Trump, President of the United States of America.

    “The remarks dishonour the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity.

    “While expressing our shock, dismay and outrage, the African Union truly believes that there is a huge misunderstanding of the African continent and its people by the current administration.

    “There is a serious need for dialogue between the U.S. administration and the African countries. The African Union, through its member States, values the strategic partnership with the U.S.

    “This relationship should be from the point of equality and mutual respect based on accepted international principles of respect for basic human dignity of all,” the mission said.

    The Mission demanded a retraction of the statement and an apology from the U.S. leader.

    “The AU mission condemns the statement in the strongest terms and demands a retraction of the comment as well as an apology to not only the Africans but to all people of African descent across the globe.”

    The U.S. president reportedly made the comment during a meeting with congressional leaders in the Oval Office on Thursday.

    “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump allegedly said after being presented with a proposal to restore protections for immigrants from the countries in question.

    The UN has also branded as racist, the reported remark branding Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified African nations as “shithole countries”.

    “If confirmed these are shocking and shameful comments from the President of the United States. There is no other word you can use but ‘racist’.

    “You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as ‘shitholes’, whose entire populations who are not white, are therefore not welcome,” said Rupert Coleville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. (NAN)

  • 487 Nigerian returnees arrive Port Harcourt from Libya

    487 Nigerian returnees arrive Port Harcourt from Libya

    The second batch of 487 Nigerian returnees from Libya arrived Port Harcourt International Airport at about 10.43 p.m. on Monday in Max Air.

    On Friday, the Federal Government announced the establishment of a reception centre in  Port Harcourt for 5,037 Nigerians being evacuated from Libya.

    The returnees were received by officials of National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ), led representatives from other Federal Government agencies.

    NEMA officials conveyed the returnees to Haji camp where they were profiled and fed.

    Officials were on ground to check the returnees’ body temperature and also gave immediate first aid to those in need.

    Read also: 1,295 Nigerians returned from Libya in November

    Officials also said that 487 returnees are expected to be transported back to their states of origin within few days.

    The Federal Government on Monday said it has so far evacuated 1,030 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya between January 7 and January 8.

    Mustapha Maihaja, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, disclosed this at a joint news conference by the Federal Government delegation to Libya.

    Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, had on January 5 led a delegation on fact finding mission to Libya to secure the release of Nigerian migrants stranded in that country.

    Onyeama said the Nigerian mission in Libya was coordinating the identification of the Nigerian migrants with the support of International Organisation for Migration.

    According to him, they are being joined by a technical team comprising representatives from NEMA, Immigration and other relevant Nigerian government agencies.

    The minister said that the political and security challenges in that country made it difficult to secure the evacuation of some Nigerians back home.

    He added that “there are different centres of power in that country.

    The central government recognised by the UN and AU do not have full control of the territories controlled by rebels.”

    He pointed out that there were over 50 detention camps in Libya, many of them under the control of rebels and militia groups.

    NAN