The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mandela

  • Mandela at times like this

    Last Tuesday, July 18 marked Nelson Mandela Day (NMD) as declared by United Nations. It was launched in 2009 with unanimous decision by the UN General Assembly. Madiba is the only global citizen to be so honored with an annual international day in furtherance of his historic achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace, and reconciliation. He died at 95 in December 5, 2013. For 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity of his 95 years on earth —” as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa”.

    On annual NMD, we are enjoined to spend minimum of 67 minutes to do something positive and tangible in the service of humanity. In 2008, “retiring from retirement” (his words), Mandela told those who listened that “It is in your hands to make of the world a better place”. Almost a decade after he tasked humanity in positive service continuity and four years after his death, is the world a better place according to the vision of Nelson Mandela?

    At times like this, what would be Mandela’s reactions to global developments from the alleged state capture by Zuma/Gupta family in South Africa, (his home country) to wholesale nation-capture manifesting in massive cash and properties seizures from public officials in Nigeria? What would be Mandela’s reaction to Donald Trump’s ascendancy in 2016 American controversial presidential election? What about the forgotten war of attrition in South Sudan? What would be Nelson Mandela’s thoughts on Nigeria, a respected former “frontline state” which tirelessly worked to liberate him and his country from apartheid atrocities, sliding into insularity led by new bigoted corrupt leaders misguiding the youths into divisions and violence? In a speech to an International Women’s Forum in 2003 on the eve of the second Gulf war, Mandela courageously damned both George Bush and Tony Blair with historic withering attack unapologetically implying the duo were racists bent on destroying Iraq in return for its oil. Witness   Mandela’s verdict on George Bush: “…a president who has no foresight and cannot think properly … wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust”. Witness him on Tony Blair: “He is the Foreign Minister of the United States; he is no longer Prime Minister of Britain”.

    Given the four years long America-Russian serial carpet bombings in Syria, at times like this, what would be Madiba’s quotable words on the iconic image of a stunned and bloodied Syrian boy pulled from rubble in Aleppo? The Nelson Mandela Foundation dedicated this year’s Mandela Day to Action Against Poverty, “honouring Nelson Mandela’s leadership and devotion to fighting poverty and promoting social justice for all; encouraging everyone to take action against poverty in a way that will bring about sustainable change”.

    In May this year, two  months before Nelson Mandela day, UK-based OXFAM international released  a report on Nigeria’s extreme inequalities in figures: “combined wealth of Nigeria’s five richest men – $29.9 billion – could end extreme poverty at a national level yet five million face hunger. More than 112 million people are living in poverty in Nigeria, yet the country’s richest man would have to spend $1 million a day for 42 years to exhaust his fortune”!

    Whence Mandela-like voice on this grim statistics which depicts private wealth side by side with common poverty, in place of common wealth? What then happened to our sensitivity on this Nigeria’s “great-wealth divide” after Nelson Mandela? In April this year, Donald Trump proudly announced the deployment of “mother of all bombs” (some nations do give births to bombs, not babies!) – “the largest conventional bomb it has ever used in combat…” striking a complex of tunnels and bunkers used by ISIS militants in Achin district in Nangarhar province killing some hundreds. Only Pope Francis commendably damned the US for the carnage, more importantly for daring to name the US military’s largest non-nuclear explosive (reportedly weighing some 21,600lb (9,800kg!),  ”the mother of all bombs”!

    Witness the people’s Pope: “I was ashamed when I heard the name…A mother gives life and this one gives death, and we call this device a mother. What is going on?” he asked. Pope refreshingly and almost singularly acted Mandela in an increasingly unipolar insensitive world. What “is going on” after Mandela’s death?  I had a singular privilege of spending my 2017 “Mandela Day 67 minutes” in Lagos. Many thanks to the wonderful  Oluwafunso identical twin brothers who had graciously  invited me as a Guest Speaker to the 25th year Anniversary of Pan African Arts Festival ( Panafest) Colloquium with the theme: “Leadership failure in Africa. Is it a culture?

    Ironically, the gathering of youths (in their 20s and 30s) were not conscious it was Nelson Mandela Day.  The theme further underscores the story of despair among the African youths. Things “are truly falling apart” (apology to Chinua Achebe). We are really in trouble; African youths are unconscious of historic African leadership success figures such as Nelson Mandela, Murtala Mohammed, Amical Cabral, Samora Michel, Micheal Imoudu, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Kwame Nkrumah, Sam Nujoma, Herbert Macaulay, Gambo Sawaba, Mallam Aminu Kano, Mrs Funmilayo Kuti. Things must just fall in place, starting with the return of history to schools. Thanks to Mandela Day, yours truly agonized for more than 67 minutes to explain that leadership success is also part of   African DNA. Who then leads like Nelson Mandela at times like this to impress on our youths that there is still a role model in leadership after all? Interestingly, Madiba leadership is not by big political issues alone. Or better still, Madiba with his globally acknowledged enviable sense of humour and jokes, ably conveyed sobering messages of conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace, and reconciliation. He was a witty wag with an eye on political impact! Mandela was also a dancer. But at times like this, Madiba as a dancer would have conceded graciously to Nigerian dancing senator, Ademola Adeleke representing Osun West Senatorial District in Nigeria. But on jokes, Mandela’s joke highlights can make a book. One joke is of profound relevance to Nigeria today. During the multiparty negotiations before the 1994 democratic election, it was reported that “he would often gently tease the leader of a rightwing Afrikaner party, Gen. Constant Viljoen, by saying, “We have to let the white man talk; after all, he is from the supreme race.” This joke helped to warm up often racially charged atmosphere during negotiations. Whence a Nelson Mandela today to help moderate  Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti on his serial unprovoked verbal darts at President Muhammad Buhari  (PMB) with some words like these; “ We have to let Governor Fayose keep on talking. After all he is the unopposed President-in-waiting of the Republic of comedians and jokers”!.

     

    • Aremu mni writes from Textile Workers House, Kaduna.
  • Mandela personified humanism, says Soyinka

    Mandela personified humanism, says Soyinka

    The late President Nelson Mandela’s resilence and his commitment to peace, reconciliation and social justice are values that endeared him to people, Nobel Llaureate Prof. Wole Soyinka said yesterday.

    The literary giant said Mandela’s name inspired doggedness and compassion, adding that his principles will remain a guide for people seeking freedom from oppression.

    Soyinka spoke at an event with the theme: Mandela’s vision of end to poverty: Reflection and way forward, organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in collaboration with the United Nations Association of Nigeria to mark the Nelson Mandela International Day.

    The dramatist said the late anti-apartheid icon personified the idea of humanism. He added that Mandela’s selflessness, generosity and sense of humour gave him out as an embodiment of state of total freedom for which every human being crave to attain; a state the Nobel Laureate described as Mandeland.

    He said: “Nelson Mandela was stubborn but he was not dogmatic. His stubbornness and determination make me conclude that this man embodied a certain Never-Never Land, an imaginary perfect world which all of us strive to attain.

    “We cannot attaint this perfect land, but it is sufficient to know that Mandeland exists and we must internalise this Mandeland and become citizens of Mandela’s own Never-Never Land.”

    The playwright said the best tribute anyone could pay to the memory of the late Mandela was to promote the values and ideas, which he represented.

    Soyinka added that Mandela’s resolve to entrench peace and unity among all ethnic nationalities in post-apartheid era permanently healed the wounds of oppression to which South Africans were subjected.

    Explaining why the United Nations got involved in marking Nelson Mandela International Day yearly, the UNIC Information Officer, Dr. Oluseyi Soremekun, who represented the UN secretary general, said the first black South African president’s dedication to the culture of freedom and conflict resolution prompted the UN General Assembly to pass a resolution in recognition of Mandela’s principle.

    Soremekun said the theme of the event was in line with the first item of the UN’s Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs), which is to end poverty.

    He said: “We must seek to continue building on Mandela’s legacy of fighting poverty through commitment to ensuring social and economic inclusion in the society. Madiba was a model global citizen, whose example continues to guide people towards building a just and peaceful world.”

    Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Australia Ayo Olukanni, noted the role played by Nigerian youths and students in fighting the apartheid regime in South Africa, describing the effort as “worthy”. He called for mass action against poverty, saying the effective implementation of the SDGs would promote all ideals espoused by the late Mandela.

    The Consul-General of South Africa High Commission in Lagos Mr. Darkey Africa, who described poverty as a man-made phenomenon, said Mandela’s struggle would not be in vain if governments of African countries initiate sustainable programmes against poverty and conflicts.

    The event featured discussion and performance of South African cultural dance.

  • Seun Kuti blames Mandela for Xenophobia

    Seun Kuti blames Mandela for Xenophobia

    Followig recent reports of violence against Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa, Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has accused the late president of the country, Nelson Mandela for the xenophobic attacks.

    Seun, the charismatic leader of Fela’s legendary Afrobeat orchestra, Egypt 80 questioned the attacks in a Facebook post.

    He asks; “Hey Black South Africans aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? Has your spirit of revolution completely destroyed by your rudderless ANC to the extent that you have become cowards who bully fellow Africans? Fellow Brothers?”

    The post further reads: “Ok answer me this. If every Nigerian is deported out of South Africa there will be no more crime in South Africa? There will be no more injustice and inequality? Mandela once again thanks for your rainbow nation. Thanks for teaching your people to love whites but forgot to tell them to embrace blacks.”

    Though his father passed on almost two decades ago, his spirit still lives on in Seun Kuti as he has proven himself to be an outspoken political activist.

     

  • Oduah ex-aide wins Mandela Fellowship

    Oduah ex-aide wins Mandela Fellowship

    former Special Assistant on Financial Strategy to former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, Mr. Obiefule Iroabueke, has been selected for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship programme for this year.

    Iroabueke, who is also the Assistant General Manager, Business Development and Investment, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), was selected from the 10,000 Nigerians that applied for the fellowship.

     The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and a key component of President Barrack Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa.

     The White House developed the initiative in recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.

    Iroabueke, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said that the fellowship would afford him the opportunity to contribute to Nigeria’s economy.

    He said: “The Mandela Washington Fellowship is an opportunity for youths to harness their ideas towards improving socio-economic development in Africa, strengthening of democratic institutions as well as enhancing of peace and security in Africa.”

  • Group cleans Warri for Mandela

    Group cleans Warri for Mandela

    •Members of group sweeping of the street
    •Members of group sweeping of the street

    Traders, tricycle operators in the Ugbuwangue area of Warri metropolis in Delta State recently carried out a special cleaning of the community and its market in commemoration of the birthday of late  former South African President Nelson Mandela.

    The event tagged ‘Sweep for Madida’ was in celebration of the Nelson Mandela International Day as declared by the United Nations.

    The cleanup was  organised by an NGO, the  Concerned Itsekiri Social Media Activists (CISMA), in collaboration with Warri based OAP and jazz music promoter Omatseye Atsenuwa of Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri to mark the 97th post-humous birthday of of foremost anti-apartheid icon.

    The cleanup exercise started from the Ugbuwangue  market area through  to main entrance of Ugbuwangue and tricycle park and the recently  constructed pedestrian bridge.

    The United Nations set aside every  July 18  as Mandela Day to marked the birthday of the great African. Individuals and group are expected to set aside 67 minutes to a special cause that impact on others in celebration of the day.

    In an address delivered by the coordinator of CISMA,  Prince Onesan Oritseweyinmi Jerry, the group called on elected and appointed officials of the government to imbibe the spirit and character displayed by the late Mandela.

    They urged politicians and elected officials residing in Ugbuwangue community to facilitate the speedy completion of the the pedestrian bridge and market for the use of the public.

    He said: “We wish to appeal to the Honourable Commissioner of transport Hon. Vincent Uduaghan, Political Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Omimi Esquire, Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area.

    Hon. Mofe Edema and others to kindly facilitate the installation of hand rails on the  pedestrian bridge and other finishing touches before commissioning.

    “We also plead that efforts should be made to facilitate the completion and usage of the Ugbuwangue market as it is fast becoming an eyesore.”

    Also speaking, the Director of publicity of the group, Mr. Gedu Godwin Toju, thanked the traders, tricycle operators and participants at the clean up exercise for turning up in their numbers to support the group.

    He  urged the Ugbuwangwe community to reciprocate government’s kind gesture of siting the state’s  first ever pedestrian bridge in the community by taking ownership and encouraging its use.

    He said: “CISMA is deeply pained to see students and other pedestrians dashing to cross the ever busy road, risking their lives when a simple stroll on the bridge will take them across”

  • DIFF: Anti-apartheid film to screen on Mandela Day

    DIFF: Anti-apartheid film to screen on Mandela Day

    As part of this year’s Durban International Film Festival which started on Thursday, award-winning and world-renowned French filmmaker Euzhan Palcy, will showcase her most celebrated work, A Dry White Season (1989), in honour of the late South African freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela.

    The screening is also in commemoration of the film’s 25th anniversary, which was adapted from a book by the acclaimed South African writer Andre Brink who died earlier this year. Palcy will be honouring Brink on July 18; Mandela Day.

    Additionally, in a tribute to her contribution to the South African film industry, Palcy will be honoured at the Simon Sabela Awards on July 19. Karina Brink, Dame Janet Suzman and Thoko Ntshinga will attend both the screening and the awards.

    At the time the film was produced, Ms. Palcy was distinguished for being the first black female director to be hired by a major Hollywood studio (MGM) and to direct an anti-apartheid film during Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence. She is also the only woman to have directed Marlon Brando and the first black person to win a French Oscar.

    Andre Brink’s book, a narrative about the social movements of South Africa and the 1976 Soweto riots inspired Palcy’s impassioned response to illustrate an accurate account of the reality of apartheid. Palcy made the film in 1989 after doing extensive research undercover in Soweto. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Marlon Brando, Zakes Mokae, Susan Sarandon, John Kani, Winston Ntshona and Jürgen Prochnow amongst others.

    “We are pleased to be able to present an important work created by a black woman, which highlights and even represents the lost voices of the people of this continent; the unspoken narratives and the untold stories,” says Pedro Pimenta, Director of DIFF. “Her courage to create a work which could stand out and give three dimensional life to Brink’s book, and by association the voiceless at the time, required an enormous amount of bravery. We are proud to be able to salute her at the DIFF this year.”

    A Dry White Season will be screened at Suncoast at 20:00. This will be followed by a question and answer session with Ms. Palcy. Her first classic award winning film, Sugar Cane Alley, which Brink apparently screened in secret to his students, celebrates its 30th anniversary and will be screened as a South African premiere at Suncoast on Monday, 20 July at 19:30, in which she will also be in attendance.

    According to Patrick Aglae, director of communications for Euzhan Palcy and producer of A Dry White Season, “It has been a long journey since we decided to officially screen A Dry White Season in South Africa on the big stage. Euzhan Palcy had made the promise to Nelson Mandela to comeback one day to officially screen the film. In March at the Andre Brink’s Memorial at the University of Cape Town she said “Let’s make it happen”. So to do it on the Mandela Day is magnificent. I’d like to thank DIFF’s new leadership to make this dream a reality alongside MGM and Park Circus, its worldwide distribution partner which played a key role to restore this film and make the DCP on time. To make it so fast speaks volume about their respect for the film.”

  • UN to remember Mandela with a Prize

    UN to remember Mandela with a Prize

    United Nations (UN) has on Wednesday said that it is accepting nominations for the 2015 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize.

    The organisation noted the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize was organised as a tribute to the late South African leader.

    “Our best tribute to Nelson Mandela is not found in words or ceremonies but in actions that take up the torch he passed to us.”

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his remarks to the General Assembly in June 2014, following the adoption by consensus of the resolution establishing the prize.

    By the terms of the resolution, the assembly asked the Secretary-General, in consultation with the President of the assembly to establish within six months of adoption of the text, the criteria and procedures for bestowing the prize.

    UN has however, said that the list of laureates is expected to be announced later in June this year with the first prizes awarded at UN Headquarters in New York during the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18.

    The 193-member General Assembly has a proud record of acting against apartheid and for Nelson Mandela.

  • Idris Elba releases Mandela tribute album

    Idris Elba releases Mandela tribute album

    British actor, Idris Elba, who portrayed Mandela in the 2013 film, Long Walk to Freedom, has released an album in honour of the late South African president and activist.

    Titled Idris Elba Presents: Mi Mandela, the album showcases the best of South Africa’s emerging talents, features music that are influenced by various South African musical traditions.

    Reports have it that majority of the album was written while Elba, who also moonlights as a Disc Jockey, was filming Long Walk to Freedom, in Johannesburg.

    The work is said to be part of what Elba hopes will be ‘character albums’ based on various roles he has played, although, as with Mi Mandela, Elba is unlikely to sing on most of the tracks.

    “Mi Mandela is part of a series of albums that I’m going to make called character pieces, character albums,” Elba said in an interview with NME. “I take the character that I played and sort of explain the journey playing him, and the journey of the character, in music. What would he have listened to, what might have influenced him, what influenced me as an actor … This suddenly becomes these new songs, these new ways to write songs and express emotion attached to a character.”

    Elba has recently been under much media scrutiny after it was revealed that Sony has been considering him as the next James Bond, following the hacking of Sony students.

    The idea was met with mixed reactions. While Rapper Kanye West loved the idea, telling The Sun that casting Elba as James Bond would be ‘visionary’,  others were more critical, with radio show host Rush Limbaugh insisting that Elba can’t be James Bond ‘because he’s black’.

    Elba himself took a lighter approach to the ‘controversy’, by tweeting a picture of himself looking a little disheveled with the caption ‘isn’t 007 supposed to be handsome? Glad you think I’ve got a shot! Happy New Year people.’

    In a 2011 interview, he said that while he would certainly consider the role, he did not want to be ‘the black James Bond’.

    “Sean Connery wasn’t the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn’t the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don’t want to be called the black James Bond,’ he stated.

  • New exhibition celebrates Mandela and Gandhi

    The relationship between two great icons in the struggle for freedom and social justice is the inspiration for the Mandela Gandhi Wall at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg.

    The wall, created by renowned artist and author, Birad Rajaram Yajnik, is an interactive exhibition that focuses on the lives of and relationship between two heroes, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi,  as well as the relationship between India and South Africa.

    The exhibition is interactive in a couple of ways that will enthral visitors of all ages. But most impressively, Yajnik has found a way to make the exhibition particularly interesting to the youth, who he recognises have a fondness for technology.

    For those who are less technologically inclined, the interactive aspect of the wall has been designed to be both simple and easy to use, while still stimulating and engaging.

    Next to the wall is a stack of what look like postcards with questions on the back that relate to the lives and struggles of Gandhi and Mandela. The picture on the front of the postcard matches one of the photographs on the wall, while the questions on the back are multiple-choice, with a list of possible answers.

    Visitors can discover the correct answer by matching the photo on the card with the corresponding photo on the wall. The picture on the wall has a small letter in one corner, which corresponds to the correct answer on the back of the card.

    The questions are designed to enrich the visitors’ experience of the wall and also to prompt engagement.

    Yajnik showed some of the guests at the recent opening of the exhibition how the question cards work. “This is where the engagement starts,” he said, adding,  “because it will take some time to match this picture.”

    But the ingenuity of the exhibition is in the way it works with and embraces technology.

    Dotted about the wall are QR (quick-recognition) codes that can be read by smartphones, which then play videos or audio clips that Yajnik has loaded on to the internet.

    The free wireless internet at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory means that you can experience these parts of the exhibition without using your own data or air time.

    One of the videos that the QR codes will direct you to is the first-ever recorded footage of Gandhi.

    For Yajnik, the best part is that he can keep the exhibition fresh by changing the videos, so that the same QR code might not always direct to the same video. Said Yajnik, “We can keep enhancing it more and more.”

    According to him,  “The favourite part is how the youth can engage.” He is also passionate about being able to speak to the youth and share with them the stories of ‘two great icons of peace in the world.

    Yajnik hopes that by availing the youth the opportunity to engage with and understand the stories of these icons, he can help inspire the next Gandhi or Mandela.

    ‘My message is for the youth,’ he said. ‘Most of my work is targeted at high school students.’

    Yajnik is proud of this work. ‘It turned out very nicely,’ he said. ‘Simplicity works the best.’

  • Delta honours Madiba at Mandela Garden in Asaba

    Delta honours Madiba at Mandela Garden in Asaba

    Last week, the Consulate of South Africa in Nigeria marked the country’s 20 years of

    freedom and democracy, as well as the Nelson Mandela International Day. A series of events were organised in South Africa and Nigeria to mark the milestone events.

    In Asaba, Delta State capital, a programme was held at the scenic Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees in honour of the late freedom fighter. The Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees was founded in 2013. It was a programme jointly initiated by the Delta State Government and a non-governmental organization (NGO) known as Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE). It is a research, educational and recreational centre that boasts a library, a mini zoo and recreational facilities.

    The celebration in Asaba was jointly organised by the Delta State Government and FADE. At a press briefing, Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa, said the main objective of the celebration was to identify with the nations and peoples that stood by South Africans and supported them in the days they were struggling for freedom. He said because Nigeria played an important role in the liberation of the majority of the South African people, it became an obvious choice for the celebrations on the African continent.

    Monaisa observed that Nelson Mandela International Day, a global event, is an evidence of the values and ideals that Mandela exemplified, adding that the consulate “has identified Delta State as one of our key friends with which we would like to share this moment.”

    The ambassador noted that the occasion served to acknowledge and thank the Nigerian citizens for their unwavering support and further strengthen the bilateral relations between both countries.

    Responding to a question, Ambassador Monaisa said his country was already realising the dreams of Nelson Mandela and his peers. He said although the iniquities of apartheid could not be redressed overnight, the South African government has made strides in social programmes, power generation, infrastructure development, health and education, among others.

    He said: “Apartheid has been with us for centuries and we have been free from it and we redress the iniquities of the imbalances that were caused by the apartheid regime. This cannot happen overnight; it becomes a process.

    “But so far, we have achieved a lot towards the dream of Nelson Mandela and his peers who early in our struggle fought very hard to bring us to where we are. Some of them, like he himself, have gone, but we are carrying on the beacon.

    “If you go to South Africa today, it is definitely not the South Africa of 1994. We have addressed a lot of imbalances .We have social programmes to bridge the gap between the haves and the haves not.

    “We have built a lot of schools for the people. We have social grants to take care of the aged, the disabled and the needy, especially abandoned children .We have built electricity and more hospitals in the country.

    “You are aware that South Africa is highly industrialised and therefore generates power, but even then has built more power plants. Many homes, especially the homes of the previously

    disadvantaged, are electrified. A lot of roads have been built, especially to areas which used to be for blacks only.

    “In the area of education, SA is now building three new universities in three provinces which had no universities. Universities used to be concentrated in certain areas, such as Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban. We did not have universities in Northern

    Cape, Umphumalaga. We are really living Mandela’s dream.”

    He said government had tackled crime in South Africa headlong, noting that the crime situation was more of perception than reality. According to him, the media exaggerated the issue of crime in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

    He said: “We demonstrated to the world that what they read in the newspapers and the perception they had were not true…the World Cup came and went without a major incident. People were so free that many decided to stay longer. Some of them came back to buy property in South Africa.”

    Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Festus Okubor, described Nelson Mandela as an icon. He said the state was honoured to host part of the celebrations commemorating South Africa’s 20th anniversary and Nelson Mandela’s birthday.

    He said the honour by the South African consulate speaks volumes about the “concerted efforts of the Delta State Government under Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to open up the state to the outside world.”

    He said the event was a statement to the outside world that Delta State is a safe destination. “If Nelson Mandela can live in Delta State, I believe that the peoples of the world should know that Delta State is not only a safe place, but a good place to visit… These are important steps towards attracting investment into the state.”

    The founder of Fight against Desert Encroachment (F.A.D.E), and renowned environmentalist, Mr. Newton Jibunoh, who in partnership with Delta State Government hosted the South African consulate, said he adopted Nelson Mandela as his mentor about 50 year ago. He said his NGO, in concert with the state government in 2013 built the Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees to commemorate the life of sacrifice exemplified by Nelson Mandela.

    “All the 95 trees are doing well and some have even started flowering,” he noted, adding that FADE had partnered with the state government on many environmental issues, including the forest rangers initiative which promotes the culture of gardening among the populace.

    He said that more than 40 per cent of forest resources in the state had been lost as a result of bad farming methods and urbanization, warning that the world would suffer for it, especially in bio-diversity development.

    The highpoint of the occasion was a visit by Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa and his entourage to Madonna School for Children with Needs at Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area. The group donated books, writing materials and T-shirts to the over 193 pupils of the school run by the Catholic Mission.

    The pupils were also entertained with soft drinks in the ceremony that lasted more than two hours.