African Leadership Magazine May - June 2020 Edition

The Barrel trouble - The falling price of crude and its impact

AFRICAN LEADERSHIP

AFRICANS FOR AFRICA COVID-19 Response

MAY - JUNE 2020

Leading Africans and institutions driving the continent's response against the Coronavirus

5 Reasons African Businesses can not be On Pause The Barrel trouble - The falling price of crude and its impact

CONTENTS

Africa for Africans: Exploring the Gains of a connected continent

AFRICANS FOR AFRICA

The Story of a Resurgent Africa

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We should not go back to business as usual after coronavirus

Coronavirus: how oil price war will hurt African producers

5 Reasons Why African Businesses should not be on Pause

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Foresight Africa viewpoint: Skills for a changing world.

sector reeling amidst 44 Tourism coronavirus outbreak

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Driving Economic Empowerment for All in Africa

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Orange Sierra Leone takes Ethics and Compliance to a new Level

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Observations of the COVID-19 Response Across Africa

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...A Publication of African Leadership (UK) Limited

Publisher/CEO Ken Giami publisher@africanleadership.co.uk Group Managing Editor Kingsley Okeke editor@africanleadership.co.uk +44 74 184 71670 Associate Editor Arvy Nahar aknahar@africanleadership.co.uk +44 77 89 590 363 Editor – At – Large Martin Roche martin@africanleadership.co.uk +44 77 157 49621 Editor, International Affairs Kenneth Nkemnacho nkemnacho@africanleadershp.co.uk +44 74 018 88866 Creative Graphic Designer John Mutum Chief Operating Officer / Executive Director Furo Giami Group Head, Finance & Administration Boma Benjy Iwuoha Manager, Adverts & Sponsorships Joseph Akuboh joseph@africanleadership.co.uk Manager, Sales & Business Developments Samuel Moses Elaikwu elaikwu@africanleadership.co.uk Head, Events & Conferences Ehis Ayere Director of Operations North America Happy Benson Head, Research and Admin - North America Christy Ebong Head, South African Bureau Oluwatoyin Oyekanmi Business Development Managers Sheba Nyam, Stanley Emeruem, Amang Saliyuk

Associate Editor John Obu Staff Writer Vivian Ozoemena Executive Assistant to the Publisher Jolayemi Mayowa mayowa@africanleadership.co.uk Contributing Editors Major Aku A Amboson FSS (Rtd) Jibril Ndace Correspondents / Representatives David Lekpa – New York, USA Sabrenah Sumrah-Kelly – Atlanta, USA Saikou Jammeh – Banjul, The Gambia Erin Lewis - Washington DC, USA Kudzai Mtero – Pretoria, South Africa Nomia Machebe – Johannesburg, South Africa Lady Ngo Mang – Paris France Josephine Adageog – Accra Ghana Linda Kimenyi – Nairobi Kenya Contributors Matshona Dhilwayo, Chifuniro Kandaya Arthur Becker, Charles Peter Yomi Henry-eyo, Barnabas Thondhlana Splendour Eloke Young, Miracle Nwankwo

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS Portsmouth Technopole, Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth PO2 8FA, United Kingdom +44 23 9265 8276; +44 74 3880 2727 AFRICA HEAD OFFICE 13 Mambilla Street, Off Aso Drive, Abuja-Nigeria +234 703 682 7724; +234 803 7920 639 e | info@africanleadership.co.uk f | +44 (0)23 9265 8201 w | africanleadership.co.uk ISSN 2006 - 9332 While great care has been taken in the receipt and handling of materials, production and accuracy of content in the magazine, the publishers will not take responsibility for views expressed by the writer. *Cover photo by Tayoro, Guy Roland

...Promoting Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Development In Africa

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A WELCOME ADDRESS

Presented By The Publisher & CEO Of African Leadership Magazine, Ken Giami On The Occassion Of The African Leadership Persons Of The Year Investiture Ceremonies & Awards Gala On 29 February 2020, At The Sandton Conventon Centre, Johannesburg South Africa.

His Excellency, David Mabuza, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa Her Excellency, Bongi Ngema Zuma, former First Lady His Excellency, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, and his lovely wife, Grace Honourable Ministers here present Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic corps Our very distinguished honourees for tonight Our outstanding African business leaders and members of the business community here present Leading African Academics, My friends, members of the Press Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2020 edition of our Persons of the Year investiture ceremonies and awards Gala.

The Persons of the year awards was conceived as a platform to celebrate the outstanding contributions of leading Africans, their services to the continent in

general and their communities in particular, as well as giving the served, everyday Africans, an opportunity to decide who their honorees should be. This year’s edition, which is the 8th in the series, attracted over 300,000 votes and a remarkable 2.2million engagements across various social media platforms continent wide – roughly a 35% increase from the 2018 edition.

We are very happy with the growing involvement of Africans from all shades of thought in the selection process, and we trust that it will continue to grow.

It was that revered African legend, under whose shadows we are here today, the late Madiba, Nelson Mandela, who said, and I quote – “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”. .... Nelson Mandela Unquote.

I can therefore make bold to say that the honorees tonight are the people’s choice, men

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Moreover, the share of Africa’s youth in the world is forecasted to increase to 42% by 2030 and more than double the current levels by 2050

and women, who against all odds, have fought and are still fighting repression and domination of the African people; men and women who have surmounted difficulties, rode waves of betrayals, lack and oppositions; to rise to the top of their respective careers and vocations. They are servant leaders, who by sheer resilience and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of their people, have broken stereotypes and limitations, and are moving society forward in very remarkable ways today.

In Africa, a continent perceived as a group of nations with weak institutions, poor infrastructure and some of the world’s horrific conflicts; the inspiring example and impact that one effective

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leader exemplifies is truly powerful and game changing, not just for the immediate beneficiaries but for the world.

And as the Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew said in his book, From third world to first, “ honesty and effective government, public order and personal security, and human progress – I dare add, does not come about as the natural course of events, but as the products of visionary, ethical and competent leadership”.

Such leaders becomes a notable point of reference for what is possible, and also inspires a whole generation of upcoming leaders, who go on and aspire to solve some of humanity’s biggest problems in the future. That is why we have made it our mission to discover and celebrate these outstanding African leaders and institutions, and position them not just as agents of change, but enable them to continue to inspire and lead effectively, so our world becomes a better place for all.

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As we take on the 2020s decade, It is therefore time for Africans to lead the charge for an African renaissance; and for leading OECD countries and the rest of the west to prioritize trade and investments engagements with Africa above aid and every other equally good considerations.

We particularly celebrate the leadership impact of His Excellency David Mabuza, whose decade-long service to the people, and roles in the current ANC-led South African government is moving the nation forward. We also want to very specially celebrate the winner of our 2019 African of the Year Award, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, whose image as Africa’s developer-in-chief, Africa’s investment mobiliserin-chief, and Africa’s optimist in Chief is both legendary and game-changing for the continent. They have secured for themselves, a place in the Africa’s best 11 team. We are very proud of the work they do, and are happy to be identified with them.

We have not only used our platform to celebrate African achievers, but have continued to use our magazine as an institution, to nominate and promote our most distinguished African leaders for other credible international third party recognitions and global endorsements. We are proud that two of our previous winners of the African of the year awards – Liberian Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed had gone on to win the Nobel Prizes – following our nominations we believe, arguably so. Our high-level events and work with business leaders have also resulted in over $12 Billion in deals over the last 14 years, creating jobs and opportunities for all. These testimonials encourage us to continue, in the face of horrendous challenges.

I therefore welcome you to today’s occasion - the celebration of Africa and indeed the celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit, the resilience, and the communality that can only be described as African. It is the celebration of mother Africa – a continent conceived in hope, and dedicated to the proposition that Africans can lead themselves effectively and also lead the world someday.

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I have always been a lover of African stories and folktales. I still am. I have heard tales of valour and strength, tales of sacrifice and love for the African people.

The names of Kwame Nrumah, Sir Herbert Macaulay, Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere and others were praised as the glory of the entire black race. I have also heard tales of the heroism of not only great men like Nkrumah and Mandela, but also ordinary people who endured great hardship, and made selfless sacrifices in the service of humanity. I hoped then that life might offer me the opportunity to serve my people and make my own humble contributions to their efforts as we make our way towards collective greatness and shared prosperity.

That is why I stand here today. And that is why African Leadership magazine was born and has dared to believe that a new Africa is possible – where peace, democratic values and justice reigns. An Africa, where its people would break barriers, and turn our challenges into opportunities for greatness. An Africa, where its young people would feel safe and enabled enough to disdain the allures of western countries, but roll up their sleeves right here on the continent, and put in the required work to make the Africa the most beautiful and safest place on earth. It is a dream I believe we would achieve some day.

So today is about celebrating Africa and African success stories. But today is also about renewing our collective commitment to make Africa truly great, by addressing some of the challenges that we are faced with.

Of the world’s 28 poorest countries, 27 are said to be in Africa, according to a 2018 World Bank report, and it is projected that Africa might have 90% of the world’s poorest by 2030, up from 55% in 2015. Illegal migration, occasioned by poverty and other issues, continue to be a major concern. This scale

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of poverty also breeds crime, insecurity, health epidemics, and several other challenges that could snowball into global proportions. Trade links within Africa is one of the lowest among the other regions of the world. This statistics must change, and we are the ones that would change it.

That is why the theme of this evening’s ceremonies was chosen as - Africa for Africans – Exploring the gains of a connected continent. We believe strongly we are greater together, than the sums of our individual components, and I am excited that we would be hearing this evening from His Excellency, David Mabuza, the Deputy President of South Africa; and Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank Group. When I listen to these men, my hopes are rekindled – and I dare say there is hope for our continent. We would also be hearing from other distinguished African leaders, whose stories, I hope inspires someone to take action today.

Since 2006, African Leadership magazine Group have focused on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges faced by the continent. We strive to position the magazine as the vehicle of choice in the vanguard of showcasing the continent’s continued progress and growth in the political, economic and socio-cultural indices used as benchmarks of international development. The magazine shall continually seek to herald the dawn of a new Africa as the continent of promise and global leadership, championed by a people of integrity who inspite of challenges are bent on preserving a legacy for future generations of our people.

The magazine is also passionately committed to fighting the scourge of extreme poverty on the continent through our Education-focused corporate social responsibility thrust, via the award of scholarships to indigent African students

in secondary schools across Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana and Kenya currently, with plans on expanding into Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi this year. We plough back a percentage of our corporate profits gleaned mostly from advertising in the magazine as well as sponsorships for our events, to cater for these children – whose unfolding successes is considered our greatest achievement as an organization. We currently have about 86 children under our sponsorship through secondary education and 9 who are at the tertiary level. Your partnership, followership and engagement on social media, and your words of support goes a long towards helping us fight extreme poverty on the continent, using the education of our young people as a tool.

And in closing my address, let it be known that we are Africans and we are proud. From our struggles against colonialism, to the first faltering steps towards nation building, dotted by several

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As we take on the 2020s decade, It is therefore time for Africans to lead the charge for an African renaissance; and for leading OECD countries and the rest of the west to prioritize trade and investments engagements with Africa above aid and every other equally good considerations.

challenges, we have marched on. We might not be where we wish to be as a people, but we are not where we use to be. We are moving forward because of the contributions of leaders like the ones we are celebrating here today. Our hopes are rekindled, our expectations are high. We shall not give up, we shall not let up. No, we shall not let the world find us in their pre cast moulds. We shall stay strong, we shall stay true, we shall stay hopeful and committed until that day when the aspirations of our people are fully met and when we can truly say that the labours of our Heroes past has not been in vain.

May I therefore congratulate all of you distinguished award recipients this evening, for making Africa proud. And may I urge you, not to see these awards as an end in itself, but as an invitation to a greater, more determined service to our continent. We also urge you to not only promote Investments into Africa, but also to promote intra-African trade. For until Africa begins to trade with itself, we shall not be able to truly maximise our enormous potentials. And for those of you who are serving selflessly in your corner, and haven’t been celebrated yet, never worry.

Your time will surely come - For time and chance happeneth to them all, like that great book says. Only keep preparing, keep serving, keep making the world a better place.

Finally, may I in the words of Winston Churchill urge you to “Never give in, Never give in, never, never, never; -in nothing great or small, large or petty-Never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense”. We must remain beacons of hope to future generations of our people, for together, we must build Africa, one person at a time.

Thank you for listening!

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Johannesburg, STAY TUNED South Africa Visit our website: www.africainvestmentforum.com

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AFRICANS FOR AFRICA: Leading Africans and institutions driving the continent's response against the Coronavirus

The world is currently facing an existential threat, which has put over a 3rd of the world's population on lockdown. A report by the World Health Organization puts the global figure of COVID-19 confirmed cases at 3.17 Million; 958 thousand recoveries; and 225 thousand deaths, as of 29 April 2020. The deadly new disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, caught the world napping. From Asia to Europe, Africa to the middleeast, none was prepared for the scale of disruption that has now occurred.

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In Africa, the ravenous pangs of the Pandemic have been felt across about 50 countries – with over 27,000 confirmed according to WHO. Experts are predicting that the continent is yet to approach a curve, as the number is expected to grow. There are projections of a dramatic increase in reported cases in the coming weeks, owing mainly to other obvious gaps, including inadequate health facilities, malnutrition and other diseases.

10 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

In Africa, the ravenous pangs of the Pandemic have been felt across about 50 countries – with over 27,000 confirmed according to WHO. Experts are predicting that the continent is yet to approach a curve, as the number is expected to grow. There are projections of a dramatic increase in reported cases in the coming weeks, owing mainly to other obvious gaps, including inadequate health facilities, malnutrition and other diseases.

Governments responses to the COVID-19 outbreak across the continent has varied from swift to sluggish. Still, all have been quick to promote a lockdown in compliance with WHO's directive on social distancing.

While lockdown is inevitable, the consequences are farreaching, especially for over 60% of the population whose livelihood depends on daily toil.

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In the true African spirit, Corporate Africa is rising to the occasion. Business Leaders and institutions are putting their best foot forward. They are helping governments and individuals cope with the challenges of the present times.

COCAVID's task included mobilizing the private sector in shaping public awareness, as well as directing support for both private and public health institutions.

In this first series, we are looking at five business leaders that are contributing towards beating back the deadly Virus.

demands of social distancing), to legislate a Stimulus Package Act that will cater for all Nigerian citizens," he said.

He also called on the Telecoms companies in the country to help in developing mobile money apps that will assist the government in reaching the unbanked.

Atiku Abubakar

Aliko Dangote Aliko Dangote is Africa's richest man and the founder of Dangote Industries Limited.

He is co-leading a coalition of private sector organizations to raise funds towards supporting the country's efforts aimed at stemming the spread of the Coronavirus.

He alongside other well-meaning Nigerians launched the Coalition Against Coronavirus (COCAVID) and has since raised over NGN 15 billion. Dangote donated NGN 5 billion ($13 million).

The initiative will involve set up of "fully-equipped medical tents" to be used for housing patients as well as serve as training, testing, isolation and treatment centres.

The coalition will also provide a separate facility in Nigeria's Victoria Island of Lagos state, according to local The Nation newspaper.

Nigeria's former vice president, leading opposition party presidential candidate and businessman, Atiku Abubakar was among the first to donate towards the Nigerian government's fight against Coronavirus. Atiku, whose son also tested positive to the Virus and was recently cleared, after receiving treatment in an isolation center for two weeks, donated NGN 50 million to the country. He has also called on government to provide palliatives to the over 60% of the population whose businesses have been disrupted by the Virus and the government enforced lockdown.

In his words, "at an approximate 30 million households or thereabouts, the government should devise modalities to distribute NGN10,000 as a supplement for foodstuff to each household, among other palliative measures, with no one left behind.

"It is thus time for the National Assembly to reconvene in an emergency session, perhaps by teleconference (in line with the

Safe Hands Kenya In Kenya, a team of startups in eCommerce, clean cooking stove, and micro-distribution, created a platform called Safe Hands Kenya. This initiative is one of the most wide-ranging, ambitious and comprehensive interventions currently in the fight against COVID-19 in Kenya.

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In the true African spirit, Corporate Africa is rising to the occasion. Business Leaders and institutions are putting their best foot forward. They are helping governments and individuals cope with the challenges of the present times.

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The action is committed to deploying free soap, hand sanitizer, cleaners and disinfectants, and masks to Kenyans through hundreds of thousand distribution points.

The coalition is unique in that it pairs startups with established manufacturers, raised an operational budget and has appointed a full-time project team.

More remarkable is that all parties have committed to the Zero profit margin on Safe Hands activities and delivering with high speed.

Experts have maintained that lockdowns across the continent are unsustainable, because, African economies are dependent on informal sectors which thrive on daily earning.

Solutions such as Safe Hands Kenya will be increasingly necessary to achieve the compulsory wearing of masks and entrench public healthoriented behaviour change.

philanthropist offered renewed support. He is providing assistance which includes protective clothing, cash, life and health insurance and transport for nurses and doctors.

health and education facilities.

The programme will provide workers with a cash benefit of Z$500 per day in the event they are hospitalized and a lump-sum benefit of Z$50,000 in the event of permanent disability or death from the Virus.

He also donated R5 million to the University of Cape Town to help it manage its response to the global Pandemic.

Masiyiwa had in January 2020 announced that he would be paying health workers in the country a subsidy of Z$5000 – Z$10,000 for six months to end the strike, which had crippled the sector, before the outbreak of the Pandemic.

He is one of the most prominent philanthropists in Africa – helping to educate over 20,000 less privileged Africans.

Patrice Motsepe Strive Masiyiwa Zimbabwean business tycoon and founder of Econet, Strive Masiyiwa is leading the way in the fight against COVID-19 in the Southern African country.

Days after the services of Health workers in the country was cut back due to the non-availability of protective equipment to deal with the Pandemic, the

South African billionaire businessman and head of the investment firm African Rainbow Capital, Patrice Motsepe donated R1 billion ($57 million) towards the countries fight against COVID-19. The Virus has forced the country into total lockdown as infections climb.

According to Motsepe the money would be channelled through the government to build water,

12 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

The billionaire businessman urged South Africans not to feel helpless or panic amidst the Pandemic.

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Governments responses to the COVID-19 outbreak across the continent has varied from swift to sluggish. Still, all have been quick to promote a lockdown in compliance with WHO's directive on social distancing.

While lockdown is inevitable, the consequences are farreaching, especially for over 60% of the population whose livelihood depends on daily toil.

Energy & Infrastructure Category

Coronavirus: how oil price war will hurt African producers Jevans Nyabiage

Africa’s second-largest oil exporter Angola faces taking a major economic hit from an oil price war fuelled by the coronavirus that has seen the largest drop in crude oil prices since the Gulf War in 1991.

Oil accounts for two-thirds of Angola’s tax revenue and 95 per cent of its exports, according to 2017 figures from the International Monetary Fund.

China, Angola’s biggest export market, faces economic headwinds fuelled by the coronavirus outbreak that saw factories shut and travel restricted in January and February.

In 2017, Angola sold 67 per cent of its crude to China worth US$18 billion, according to data compiled by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The southern Africa nation has also signed resource-backed loans with Chinese lenders with repayment collateralised by income from the country’s oil. With lower oil prices, the country will be forced to pump more to repay the loans owed to China and other foreign financiers.

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The coronavirus outbreak has spread to more than 90 nations and infected more than 117,000 people worldwide, with more than 4,000 deaths. In Africa, more than 100 cases have been confirmed, mostly in the west and north of the continent, with one fatality in Egypt and another in Morocco.

Analysts at London-based consultancy Capital Economics expect that Angola will suffer the largest coronavirus-related shock of all African economies and said the impact of lower oil export revenues on the country’s economy had the potential to exacerbate its already severe economic woes.

specialises in Sub-Saharan Africa, said the coronavirus would probably continue to spread in Africa, but “the biggest economic hit will come from lower oil prices”.

“Indeed, Angola may suffer a bigger fall in GDP than anywhere outside the worst-affected Asian countries,” he said, adding that lower commodity prices, especially oil, would dent African economies’ terms of trade, even if prices stabilised in the second half of the year.

“Whereas we’d previously thought that oil prices would rise this year, the escalating price war means oil prices is likely to average almost 35 per cent lower than in 2019,” he said.

“This will be painful for Nigeria – potentially raising risks to the currency peg [with the US] – but even worse for Africa’s smaller producers,” he said.

Oil prices fell recently by more than a quarter after the world’s second-largest crude oil producer Saudi Arabia slashed export prices having failed to reach an agreement with Russia to cut output to prop up oil prices.

The benchmark US crude price plummeted to below US$30 a

State-owned oil firm Sonangol had already been forced to resell a shipment at a discount after Chinese importers cancelled purchases due to port closures, Capital Economics said.

Other African oil exporters such as Congo-Brazzaville and Nigeria – the continent’s largest – that sell crude to China are also suffering from reduced volumes as demand falters.

John Ashbourne, a senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics who

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barrel, before rebounding to US$37.

China, the world’s largest oil importer, is seeing an economic slowdown due to a sharp drop in demand for oil and other commodities during the coronavirus outbreak, which was first reported in the central city of Wuhan in December. But in recent weeks the country has reported far fewer new cases of infection Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed “victory to Wuhan” on his first visit to the city since the outbreak began and called its people heroes for the nation.

Since December, China has placed millions of people in quarantine and restricted travel, moves that forced many factories to suspend operations to prevent the spread of the disease and caused a sharp drop in China’s demand for commodities, including crude oil and copper.

The coronavirus outbreak has spread to more than 90 nations and infected more than 117,000 people worldwide, with more than 4,000 deaths. In Africa, more than 100 cases have been confirmed, mostly in the west and north of the continent, with one fatality in Egypt and another in Morocco.

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Although the number of new infections in China has been falling and authorities have started relaxing lockdown rules, many factories are yet to reopen and a return to normalcy may still take weeks, observers said. .

China’s trade contracted in January and February as the coronavirus slowed the global economy and caused major supply chain disruptions.

The country’s overseas shipments fell 17.2 per cent during this time compared with the same period last year, and imports dropped 4 per cent, according to official figures.

Capital Economics cut forecasts for most industrial metals, “though we’re now actually more optimistic about iron ore due to the likelihood of Chinese stimulus”, Ashbourne said, adding that the general risk aversion would boost gold prices.

China’s oil consumption was expected to fall by 1.5 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2020 and demand for copper was forecast to fall by 300,000 tonnes this year, he said.

Prices of key commodities like copper, oil and thermal coal had fallen by 20 per cent since midJanuary, and “a few reports are emerging that Chinese buyers have postponed overseas orders, some declaring force majeure”, he said.

Resources accounted for 40 per cent of total exports in nearly half of sub-Saharan African countries and around a quarter of China’s loans had been backed by resource concessions, Stevens said.

“On this score, the more indebted – often to China, backed by resources – are Angola and Zambia,” he said.

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Africa’s second-largest oil exporter Angola faces taking a major economic hit from an oil price war fuelled by the coronavirus that has seen the largest drop in crude oil prices since the Gulf War in 1991.

Oil accounts for twothirds of Angola’s tax revenue and 95 per cent of its exports, according to 2017 figures from the International Monetary Fund.

“Taking this together, we think that incomes will fall sharply in Nigeria, Angola and smaller oil producers like CongoBrazzaville.”

But other African economies would benefit from lower oil prices, though this would probably have a small effect on growth, Ashbourne said.

An offshore oil platform in waters surrounding the Angolan coast. The country is expected to be hard hit by the oil price war and falling Chinese demand sparked by the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: AFP The Kaombo Norte floating oil platform seen off the coast of Angola in 2018. Photo: Reuters Jeremy Stevens, a Beijing-based economist for Standard Bank, Africa’s largest lender, said a drop in oil demand and price this year would be very difficult for the world’s second most populous continent.

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Development

Foresight Africa viewpoint: Skills for a changing world Rebecca Winthrop & Eileen McGivney

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By 2030 it is predicted that 2 billion jobs will be automated, half of all those in existence today.

The world is facing a major shift in demographics. In fact, by 2050, Africa will be home to a billion young people. With so many of the world’s youth concentrated in Africa, countries have the advantage of large working-age populations, and could be looking to capitalize on a “demographic dividend.”

But the economic contribution of young people will depend on the skills they possess, placing a premium on education.

Unfortunately, many countries in Africa are struggling to educate their current youth, and

projections in coming decades predict millions more will be left behind. According to the latest UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, based on current trends, sub-Saharan Africa will not achieve universal secondary school completion until after 2080. On top of the issue of schooling completion, millions of young people who do complete school still lack even basic literacy and numeracy skills, and recent estimates from the Education Commission find that more than half the world’s youth in 2030 will not meet even low levels of proficiency.

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By 2030 it is predicted that 2 billion jobs will be automated, half of all those in existence today.

McKinsey predicts this will lead to major skills gaps for the workforce, with far more lowskilled workers than low-skilled jobs and far too few mediumand high-skilled workers that employers will seek. Gaps in schooling and academic skills will also be exacerbated by changes in the world of work that demand a workforce with a broader set of skills that include critical thinking, collaborative

Development

problem solving, information literacy, and creativity. By 2030 it is predicted that 2 billion jobs will be automated, half of all those in existence today. What is perhaps most surprising is that many of these are not manual labor, but those that require “routine cognitive skills” like accountants and lawyers. Already today the lack of technical skills and “workplace competencies” like teamwork and communication skills are barriers for employers to fill open positions.

This climate poses major challenges to African education systems to rapidly expand access to high-quality education, as well as shift the focus of education systems from rote academic learning to a teaching and learning environment that fosters the full breadth of skills needed in a changing world. Already research from Brookings’ Center for Universal Education finds that countries across the continent have articulated a vision for education to fulfill this broad mission, and many have included breadth of skills in curriculum and policy documents. However, most systems are struggling with how to implement a broader vision of high-quality education— which should be a priority in 2017.

Already today the lack of technical skills and “workplace competencies” like teamwork and communication skills are barriers for employers to fill open positions.

African education systems need to rapidly accelerate progress in order to capitalize on their increasing share of the world’s youth. This will not be accomplished with a business-as-usual approach, but rather requires innovative approaches to teaching and learning, reaching children and youth in and out of school.

African countries have already managed to “leapfrog” progress in other sectors—skipping land line phones in favor of mobiles and jumping to mobile banking before reaching everyone through brick-and-mortar banks.

No region may be more primed to do the same in education as well. In fact, our research shows new innovative approaches are reaching even the most marginalized children with more effective ways of teaching and learning breadth of skills.

Such innovations are shifting the teaching and learning environment with a focus on “hands-on, minds-on” learning, altering the ways students are

assessed and competencies are recognized, and utilizing new tools and technology to personalize learning and better build partnerships between schools and communities. For example, e-Learning Sudan, now called Can’t Wait to Learn, has managed to bring math instruction to displaced children with no access to schooling by providing tablets with engaging games and lessons that were designed based on their own drawings. Evaluations have shown children can learn basic numeracy skills aligned to the national curriculum quickly, and the program is a flexible and empowering way for children to learn. Learner Guides, a program run by the NGO Camfed in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi, can also help leapfrog educational progress by expanding the education workforce, unburdening teachers, and helping children foster critical life skills like resilience and goal-setting.

The program supplements the current schooling system by bringing young women who have completed Camfed’s secondary education program back into their rural communities to facilitate a peer-to-peer learning program.

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The world is facing a major shift in demographics.

In fact, by 2050, Africa will be home to a billion young people.

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Category Feature

5 Reasons Why African Businesses should not be on Pause Ken Giami

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The challenges faced by companies at this time are no doubt, mindboggling. Yet, if there were one word that encapsulates the identity and the very essence of companies operating in the African business environment, that word would be’ resilient’.

The whole world may seem to be on Pause and lockdown following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people and businesses. Still, African entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations cannot afford to be on Pause. The challenges faced by companies at this time are no doubt, mindboggling.

Yet, if there were one word that encapsulates the identity and the very essence of companies operating in the African business environment, that word would be’ resilient’. Lockdowns and social distancing must not be taken as a business holiday for companies, entrepreneurs and organizations. People can

18 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

effectively work from home and hold business meetings with different tools and technology currently at our disposal.

Globally, forward-thinking organizations are adapting to the present-day challenge, but committedly working to continue to serve their clients and contribute to solving some of humanity’s problems and meeting their customers specific needs.

Hence, for businesses and entrepreneurs looking for an outlay of reasons why they should dust-up their dreams and visions, roll up their sleeves and do the required work necessary,

Category Feature

so they are fully prepared to thrive, even more than ever; then find the reasons below.

1. Africa’s continued survival and future depends to a great extent on the response of businesses to this challenge: – COVID-19 no doubt represents an unprecedented challenge, but it is a challenge all the same.

However, African companies have never shied away from problems, as it is the challenges that they address that ultimately provides the opportunities they ride onto future business successes and triumphs. Businesses in Africa have been at the forefront of innovating and implementing best practices in corporate governance and problemsolving on the continent, despite sometimes very challenging business climate.

‘‘

. Africa’s continued survival and future depends to a great extent on the response of businesses to this challenge.

Companies on the continent are known for signposting effective organizational behaviour and management to the public sector, to the extent well managed public sector organizations are said to be run as a private sector organization. Hence, private sector organizations should support governmental bodies at all level to fight the spread of the virus and facilitate a return to normalcy by deploying their problem-solving expertise, financial resources, and diverse skills-set to COVID-19 national and regional responses.

Companies and organizations on the continent must, therefore, rise to the challenge and innovate their way out of the present difficulties, not just the health challenge but for economic reasons too – as they have always done. Africa’s continued survival and future would, in no small extent, depend on the response of companies to this challenge.

2. The continent is already behind the rest of the world in most development indicators: – Before the arrival of the virus, the continent already had its hands full of age-long challenges it had been grappling with, ranging from colossal youth unemployment, infrastructure deficits, significant gaps in our education structures, climate change and ecological issues to the now more glaring problems in our healthcare delivery systems – which we have always known, among others. It is also a known fact that with issues of corruption in governmental circles, and weak institutions in some African countries, the African private sector has shown that, comparatively, it is a significant driver of growth on the continent. Hence, now more than ever before, businesses must not go on holiday, not for a day, but continue to put in the bold and decisive actions that would help in addressing the myriads of issues that must be dealt with. The success of the private sector in the telecommunications industry and the financial services industry is a pointer to the possibilities that the private sector in Africa represent at this period of global crises.

3. Progress in the eradication of extreme poverty on the continent must be sustained: – As of 2015, according to a report by the global think tank, Brookings Institute, most of the poorest people in the world lived in Africa, with 27 out of the 28 poorest nations in sub-Saharan Africa. This represented over 90% of the world’s poorest.

However, due to a concerted effort of all stakeholders

including international development partners, governments, and especially a robust African private sector aggressively creating jobs, the percentage of the world’s poorest in Africa reduced to about 70% in 2018, with one in three Africans living below the global poverty line. And from projections from the World Data Lab, as of March 2019, more Africans were escaping extreme poverty than the number of those born or falling below the poverty line. Also, projections by the International Futures (IFs) modelling platform at the University of Denver, projected that sub-Saharan Africa would account for roughly 60% of the world’s poorest people by 2020.

While these numbers do not call for celebrations, as the continent is still disproportionately poor compared with the other

‘‘

The continent is already behind the rest of the world in most development indicators:

continent, It does show that there has been a gradual but steady progress in lifting the African people out of extreme poverty. This progress must be sustained, and the private sector holds the key, working in concert and with help from governments, African development finance institutions, international development partners, and other strategic partners.

4. A shrinking of the Continent’s GDP Growth: – According to a recent report by McKinsey, initial analysis of COVID-19’s economic impact finds that Africa’s GDP growth in 2020 could be cut

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Category Feature

by three to eight percentage points, with African economies potentially facing losses between $90 billion and $200 billion in 2020 alone. Hence, the advent of the virus portends a worsening future not just for an already battered health system, but also an economic crisis of massive proportions, if all stakeholders do not adopt concerted and bold efforts – especially the African private sector. Also, the pandemic, coupled with natural disasters in some countries as well as the oil-price shock being currently faced by commoditydriven economies, could potentially tip African economies into a recession. African businesses and entrepreneurs must then do the hard but necessary work required not just to survive but be ready to take advantage of new opportunities when the lockdowns are over, and the virus is defeated, as it will be.

‘‘

times and re-invent and reimagine their business models, operations and processes in their business continuity plans, so as not to risk playing catch up and possible extinction, when things return to some normalcy.

As we adjust to the unfolding new normal, African businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations cannot afford to put their corporate goals on Pause, or its’ leaders fall to the easy trap of endless television watching or following series on Netflix, but it is a time to commit to working even more hours than ever before – focusing on navigating the times, and re-inventing the business. It is the time to ensure liquidity by strategically pushing out your products and services, innovating new products and services that are suitable to the times, and taking advantage of any stimulus packages from governments. It is the time to stay top-of-mind and continually engage with your clients and stakeholders through strategic media campaigns, as well as participating in CSR efforts aimed at stopping the spread of the virus or cushioning the impact of the virus on vulnerable populations in our communities.

The world as we knew it might have changed forever: -Remote work, remote learning, homeschooling, more online meetings and hangouts could very possibly become the new normal

5. The world as we knew it might have changed forever: -Remote work, remote learning, homeschooling, more online meetings and hangouts could very possibly become the new normal. So clearly, African businesses should embrace the

20 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

‘‘

It is the time to stay top-of-mind and continually engage with your clients and stakeholders through strategic media campaigns, as well as participating in CSR efforts aimed at stopping the spread of the virus or cushioning the impact of the virus on vulnerable populations in our communities.

Business Integrity Showcase Category

Mastercard Underpins its Commitment to Driving Economic Empowerment for All in Africa Authored by Raghav Prasad: Divisional President, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mastercard.

‘‘ Africa is undergoing rapid digital transformation. According to the World Bank, the continent is home to four of the world’s top five fastest growing economies, and as mobile and digital technologies expand, an increasing number of people are now connecting with the tools and networks they need to help them reach their potential, to achieve financial security and advance inclusive growth.

Since embarking on a deliberate journey of financial inclusion in Africa, Mastercard’s efforts have encouraged significant development in various spheres of national economies. As a payment technology company with operations across several countries in Africa, Mastercard’s mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital

economy that benefits everyone, everywhere, by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, Mastercard’s innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize and harness their greatest potential.

Boosting economic empowerment in Africa Financial inclusion is an integral pillar of Mastercard’s business strategy and part of its vision to create a world beyond cash.

Currently, the company is in talks with governments across Africa to expand their digital agenda and look at ways their tools and services can support them.

By using advanced technologies and infrastructure, Mastercard has the ability to scale solutions that support people’s journey from poverty to prosperity.

However, this cannot be achieved alone – which is why a complex ecosystem of different players and partnerships with both the private and public sectors is vital to making a sustainable impact across Africa.

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Category Business Integrity Showcase

In essence, digitization has the unique power to drive socioeconomic growth. Statistics show that each one percent increase in usage of electronic payments produces, on average, an annual increase of $104 billion in GDP. Governments and other public and private institutions can therefore look to leverage technology by bringing entire ecosystems online – from mass transit to schools, and from global trade to local supply chains. This will ultimately improve effectiveness, whilst also saving time and costs.

In fact, Mastercard recently joined forces with Direct Pay Online (DPO), to encourage digitization and help businesses across Africa move online.

Powered by Mastercard Payment Gateway Services technology, the platform enables merchants in Africa to swiftly move their businesses online and continue to trade with their customers.

Currently, 55 businesses providing essential products and services such as supermarkets, restaurants, groceries, pharmaceuticals and fresh produce have already signed up to the DPO Store in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, showing that consumers are increasingly turning to e-commerce for their day to day transactions.

Another part of Mastercard’s strategy is to help societies transition from financial inclusion to financial security, thereby not just enabling access to the digital economy, but also providing tools and services to achieve financial security. This includes providing tailored digitization support to the microfinance sector, thus making it possible for micro-merchants to gain access to credit to grow their businesses and create jobs.

An increase in electronic payments has been found to boost national economic growth by reducing friction and increasing the pool of customers.

To support this expansion, Mastercard has also partnered with mobile operators across Africa such as MTN Uganda and

Vodacom Tanzania to provide Virtual Card Solutions (VCN) that enable safer online purchases locally and internationally, enabling the company to bring their innovations to an entirely new segment of consumers.

Creating shared prosperity through digitization Five years ago, Mastercard made a long-term commitment to drive safe and scalable financial inclusion in Africa, with the aim of bringing 500 million financially excluded individuals into the digital economy. Now that the goal has been achieved, the company is extending this to a total of one billion individuals by 2025. And it doesn’t end there – the commitment further extends by aiming to help 50 million micro and small merchants (MSMs) and 25 million women entrepreneurs connect to the digital economy.

By using advanced technologies and infrastructure, Mastercard has the ability to scale solutions that support people’s journey from poverty to prosperity.

However, this cannot be achieved alone – which is why a complex ecosystem of different players and partnerships with both the private and public sectors is vital to making a sustainable impact across Africa.

Last year, Mastercard announced the signing of public-private partnerships with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and Rabobank to extend the reach of the Mastercard Farmers Network (MFN) to millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. Under this partnership, key partners, will provide support to further roll out the MFN platform across Uganda making transacting much safer and simpler for many more stakeholders in the agricultural value chain – the farmer, the buyer and the agent.

MFN is an award-winning,

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innovative solution that helps to connect small-scale farmers with potential buyers, integrates their businesses with payment systems, and enables them to build a digital transaction record that can be used to access formal credit from banks and other financial institutions.

Without this technology, many smallholder farmers struggle to access the market for their goods and financial tools that would enable them to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

‘‘

Since embarking on a deliberate journey of financial inclusion in Africa, Mastercard’s efforts have encouraged significant development in various spheres of national economies.

As a payment technology company with operations across several countries in Africa, Mastercard’s mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere, by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible.

Business Integrity Showcase Category

By fostering fruitful, longlasting partnerships, not only is Mastercard’s business expanding across Africa, but most importantly, many of the continent’s greatest challenges are also being addressed.

This approach is based on the company’s fundamental standpoint of ‘doing well by doing good,’ by creating a sustainable system where everyone can reap the benefits of a financially inclusive society, including citizens, customers, governments and businesses.

Any business that hopes to thrive in future has to be built on trust and integrity, and even more so when that business has a direct impact on people’s money and affects the way they live and work.

Empowering MSMEs, growing future skills

allows users to load their credit and debit cards into an app and make payments using a QR code.

The service is interoperable, and because a QR code is a simple, low cost tool, it puts digital payments acceptance into the hands of MSMEs. With work founded in building pathways to financial security, Mastercard’s mission is to increase acceptance opportunities for all, as well as providing MSMEs with other value-added tools and solutions to help businesses grow, thrive and succeed.

However, more still needs to be done if Africa is to realize the full socioeconomic benefits that financial inclusion can deliver, including greater income and social equality, an expanded middle class, and better financial inclusion for all.

‘‘

In Africa, MSMEs and the informal trading sector are the primary growth engines for the economy, creating approximately 80 percent of total employment.

In Africa, MSMEs and the informal trading sector are the primary growth engines for the economy, creating approximately 80 percent of total employment.

To support small business growth, Mastercard is actively promoting digital platforms and tools which supports their transition to the digital economy.

One of the platforms supporting MSMEs is Mastercard’s partnership with Unilever and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to offer new lending models for micro-merchants in Kenya.

The program offers a safe digital platform for enabling KCB to provide an interest-free credit line based on the micromerchant’s purchasing history.

The credit line is provided through a secure Mastercard digital payment solution, which is accessible via mobile phones and other handheld devices. This solution allows micro-merchants to buy more products, giving them access to formal credit services and therefore increasing customer traffic.

Other platforms that support this include mobile-enabled digital wallets and Masterpass, a digital payment service that

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David Mabuza

24 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

Memorable Speeches Category

Africa for Africans: Exploring the Gains of a connected continent Being the text of the Keynote Address Presented by the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, David Mabuza, at the African Leadership Magazine’s Persons of the Year Award Ceremony

‘‘

It is my honour to be invited to this African Leadership Magazine’s 2020 Award Ceremony, more so, given this magazine’s focus to reshape positively, the dominant narratives about the African continent.

Ladies and Gentlemen: It is my honour to be invited to this African Leadership Magazine’s 2020 Award Ceremony, more so, given this magazine’s focus to reshape positively, the dominant narratives about the African continent.

It is my privilege to be recognised by the African Leadership Magazine, for the work we have done with the

collective towards the pursuit of peace-building and democracy in South Sudan.

On behalf of the President and the people of South Africa, We stand before you, humbled by your gesture and encouraged that in your wisdom, you have acknowledged the efforts of all those who have worked alongside ourselves to put peace and development of South Sudan and her people at the centre.

Equally importantly, I graciously accept this Award on behalf of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, for demonstrating selfless leadership by making real the formation of the transitional government of national unity in South Sudan.

Their exemplary purposeful leadership, along with that of other political parties in South Sudan, is commended as it

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Category Memorable Speeches

contributes to ending the untold suffering of ordinary South Sudanese who have experienced pain for a long time, instead of peace; destruction instead of development; and poverty instead of progress.

Surely, South Sudan stands as a testament to what can be achieved and gained when dialogue replaces the force of conflict and violence.

This principle has been proven many times over in the course of Africa’s development from the era of one party states and unconstitutional changes of government in the continent , to democratisation era of the 1990s and beyond.

Diplomacy is always the most sensible pathway after conflict and war.

Conflict stunts growth and development. It breeds discontent and it is a recipe for disaster.

At the receiving end of conflict, is always the ordinary people, mostly women and children that bear the most brunt of pain and disruption of their life.

‘‘

Surely, South Sudan stands as a testament to what can be achieved and gained when dialogue replaces the force of conflict and violence.

The task at hand is neither to stand before you and pontificate about our past as a continent, nor the current state of affairs that is influenced by contemporary geopolitics.

our role with diligence within the African family of nations, driven by the desire achieve peace, development, social justice and economic progress for all on the Continent.

It is rather about us meeting to exchange views on the direction that Africa should take to claim its place under the sun.

Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the democratic government under the African National Congress, has sought to ensure that South Africa is a trusted ally and partner in the development and advancement of our own continent.

African challenges are welldocumented. They range from poor infrastructure; small and fragmented markets; instability linked to armed conflicts and insecurity, and poor political and economic governance; and inadequate human capital and ‘brain drain’.

It is in pursuit of this ideal, that we strive to always contribute with our limited resources to peace, security, stability and development on the rest of the continent.

For our part as a country, our destiny and aspirations are inseparable from those of our brothers and sisters on the continent. We yearn for the same economic and social progress.

Shoulder to shoulder, we will stand together and continue to build an Africa that is free and independent.

It is in this regard that we have worked with the rest of Africa at bilateral, multilateral and regional levels to achieve the goal of a united Africa that is characterised by integrated regional economies, regional networks and people-topeople integration.

The struggles of our people and their development aspirations remain fundamentally intertwined with those of fellow Africans elsewhere on the Continent.

We have consistently done this, as a conscious agenda of ensuring that extra-continental relations and Africa’s global integration are leveraged to serve the developmental priorities as defined by African countries themselves.

These are the values that President Oliver Tambo and President Nelson Mandela taught us.

Our commitment to the cause of a prosperous and better Africa is unwavering.

It is in that spirit that as a country, we have placed our resources both human and financial, to the resolutions of conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Sudan, South Sudan and many other places.

Our resolve remains firmly that as Africans we must find ‘African solutions to Africa’s problems’.

We are committed to playing

26 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen Africa is blessed with variables that demonstrates a continent moving in a positive trajectory.

We have the highest number of countries with a high GDP growth.

Our markets are expanding with a sizeable consumer middle class, and the youthful population augurs well for investment in innovations in telecommunications, agriculture, manufacturing, and industrialisation.

We have in the short period of our democratisation agenda, made possible for instance, the tangible realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Memorable Speeches Category

‘‘

Quite clearly, as Africa we are making significant inroads towards connecting as a continent. There is notable progress in establishing hard infrastructure of network industries like roads, rails, airports, ports, water and power grids.

This major development, will make feasible integration of African economies, promote free trade and movement of goods, services and people within our motherland without the constraints on imposed colonial borders and fragmented markets.

Quite clearly, as Africa we are making significant inroads towards connecting as a continent. There is notable progress in establishing hard infrastructure of network industries like roads, rails, airports, ports, water and power grids.

It is also encouraging that some advances are made to take advantage to entrench soft infrastructure of data and information networks.

However, we cannot begin to imagine an Africa that is connected, if we neglect the conscious agenda of institution building, infrastructure entrenchment, investment invitation, and innovation prioritisation.

This demands that investment and growth should be balanced with capacitating our young people with requisite skills

and training that is basic and advanced.

It makes no sense to be described as a resource-rich continent but being unable to take advantage of our abundant arable land, hydro-electric power, and alternative energy supply like sun and wind sources.

Therefore, to speak about African solutions to African problems amounts to putting in place the basic fundamentals such as:

It remains inexcusable that whilst we have abundant oil and gas reserves, we still lack on reliable energy supply to spur our growth.

Building institutions that harness and maximise the provision of common goods to deal decisively with the poverty-unemploymentinequality nexus,

It should blot all of our conscience, that local beneficiation remains a policy intent than practical implementation to drive our development.

Solidifying and regular maintenance of the infrastructure necessary for the connections of people or goods through roads, capital through open markets, and data and information through networks, Prioritising local and international investment that empowers young people to access opportunities, convert ideas to projects, and adequately capacitates women to participate as equals in the economy, political spaces, social life without fear of discrimination, violence and harassment.

If we are genuinely sincere about exploring and exploiting the gains of a connected continent, then charity should begin at home.

If we are to convert the 21st century into an African Century, then it is imperative that we reframe our thinking and practice to be anchored on self-reliance, self-reference, self-dependence, and self-development.

There is merit in the argument advanced by the likes of Francis Fukuyama, that the dream of African sovereignty will

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Category Memorable Speeches

remain deferred until we have normalised in our countries, durable institutions able to withstand political uncertainties, economic improbabilities and social unrest.

It is only when we have in our countries, inclusive institutions that effective governance can take root.

It is only if there is a guarantee of the rule of law, that local and international investments can come voluntarily to partner with government to advance public goods of education, healthcare, security, and poverty eradication.

It is only with transparent institutions and regular democratic elections that we can raise our levels of development.

If we fail to entrench opportunities that will lift those on the margins of the economy, then it is not inconceivable to see

the masses of our people being susceptible to regressive acts like xenophobic sentiments.

As South African government, we have said before that such sentiments amount to black-onblack-prejudice that has no place in a civilised world.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Exploring the gains of a connected Africa amounts to transitioning as soon as possible from being exclusively commodity-dependent countries to becoming truly diversified economies that focus on strengthening people-to-people integration and harness our untapped potential of young people and the rising middle class.

As South Africa assumes the Chairmanship of the African Union, we will work together based on respect for each

other’s’ national sovereignty.

We will work with other nations to silence the guns and create conducive conditions for Africa’s development.

Allow me to conclude with the wise words of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, HE Abiy Ahmed when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019: “I believe that peace is an affair of the heart. Peace is a labour of love.

Sustaining peace is hard work.

It takes a few to make war, but it takes a village and a nation to build peace. Peace requires good faith to blossom into prosperity, security, and opportunity”.

‘‘

Exploring the gains of a connected Africa amounts to transitioning as soon as possible from being exclusively commoditydependent countries to becoming truly diversified economies that focus on strengthening peopleto-people integration and harness our untapped potential of young people and the rising middle class.

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The Parliament Category

How Ghana’s 3Ts Strategy helped in slowing the spread of COVID-19 – Hon. Freda Prempeh

Ghana has attracted commendation for its swift response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. With the outbreak of the pandemic, the government prioritized the 3 Ts – Testing, Tracing and Treatment, which helped towards curbing the spread of the pandemic. In this exclusive interview with Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Women Affairs and member of parliament, Hon. Freda Prempeh, she talks about the government’s response to the Pandemic and the role of parliaments in containing COVID-19 in Africa. Excerpts: As a member of Parliament and as part of your support for the less privileged members of the community, you presented palliatives to members of the Kumasi and other municipalities.

Tell us more about your outreaches during the COVID-19 Pandemic and how your constituents are coping?

In times of crisis like this one, women and the underprivileged are the worst hit. For the ministry of Women, Children and social protection, we deal with the vulnerable groups in the society. When I talk about the vulnerable, we are talking about the women, the children, those young people who sell things on the roadside and the young girls who hawk on the street and those taking care of the elderly.

For us, I see our ministry as a problem-solving ministry, which is not just about school feeding.

We deal with issues of rape, human trafficking, early child marriage, teenage pregnancies, among others. The objectives

of supporting such groups are to stop them from deepening vulnerability and to protect them, so theta their current situation doesn't deteriorate.

I must say our outreach was very successful, and it also gave me the first-hand experience to see how the distribution of food was managed. Some of my observation was as follows: I coordinated the delivery with the regional coordinating council, social welfare officers, faith-based groups, and district and metropolitan officers.

In this way, we were able to reach out to a lot of vulnerable people at the grass-root. We did the cooking at the various constituencies to observe the lockdown and Kumasi has about 47 constituencies, but only 14 of those constituencies were part of the lockdown enclave.

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Category The Parliament

So, what happened was that the President, in his wisdom, decided to give raw food as well to these vulnerable groups apart from the cooked meals. We gave them fresh food and also gave them daily meals. Some of the challenges that we had were with the sharing. Some people thought that they had to be part of whatever that was going on, even passerby wanted to be part of the sharing. If these people were not supported, many of them might not have been able to survive this lockdown period.

So our outreaches focused on the needy groups, which was drawn through mapping and the data made available to us by the Ghana Statistics Bureau.

We supported widows, disabled, orphaned, single moms, and generally those living in poverty, including those in slumps. My outreach aimed at providing them with emergency food items and a safety net during this period. It is difficult to tell a hungry person to stay at home, that's why we had to reach out to them. For them, the fear of COVID-19 is nothing before a decimal point. Though a lot of information has gone out to people, we needed to also engage with them at the grassroots to get immediate feedback. Some of them have had about the virus, but very ignorant about the real issues and magnitude of the danger.

The need to survive was more of the pressing issue than coronavirus. I am happy that I was able to address some of the urgent needs.

Working in the 14 constituencies was very exciting, and I am happy that I was able to touch the lives of people in these places. Ghanaian are very resilient and creative when it comes to coping with difficulties.

My constituents are drawing from their inner strength in addition to our palliatives. Our provisions have ranged from health essentials like PPEs to foods supplies. The government, on their part, has made an excellent intervention, but, one major problem that we have had at the grassroots level is

the breach of social distancing.

People think that its nothing to talk about. The security operatives have stepped in also to help us, and I believe with time, we will get them to comply. We also educated our market women that every time you touch money, they try as much as possible to wash and clean their hands. We are also working with Hairdressers who are in the business of handling humans, that they must put up some protocols for those who are using their services. I must also say that our President has been very proactive. He closed the borders in time, and this has helped in shielding the country from what would have been a disaster.

How would you rate your government's response to COVID-19 since the outbreak, especially it affects women?

We have always known our President to be someone who supports women and children.

He has still paid attention to the needs of women and children.

The way he has handled this Pandemic has been phenomenal and has earned him the name Oba Tampa Nana Ado. He gave a directive to the gender ministry on how to distribute the food for the vulnerable members of society. We were providing one daily meal initially, but, a lot of people trooped to the ministry to request for raw food. To prevent the spread of the virus, the government has acted proactively by shutting our borders and travellers at the airport, were not only tested but put under mandatory quarantine at the cost of the government for 14 days. The government has also focused on the 3 Ts, which is testing, tracing and treatment and that has been working very well. The Minister of information has been providing a daily update on the virus. Those who have tested positive were quickly isolated for treatment. Imagine what would have happened if the government hadn't acted fast by identifying and isolating the infected people. The President took the bold decision to locate

30 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

and quarantine about 1080 people. Ghana is arguable the only country in Africa to have conducted more than 80,000 tests. It has been ranked number one in Africa for administrating test per million people. The government has also activated aggressive contact tracing. The government was also proactive in banning all gatherings.

Churches, mosques, parties, funerals, games and all other meetings have been prohibited.

Transport operators have also been advised to operate with a limited number of passengers, to enforce social distancing.

Fighting the virus will have to be a collective responsibility. No single ministry can do it alone.

The President, in his wisdom, has put together an inter-ministerial committee, comprising of the department of transport, local government, gender, and health.

The ministry of local government along with the metropolitan and district assembly, has so far disinfected several markets across the country and implemented measures to ensure the maintenance of enhanced hygienic practice in the markets and lorry parks.

Washing buckets and soaps have become standard features in our markets. They have even moved a step further to disinfect the senior high schools across the country. I understand that universities will also be covered.

I must commend the President, because immediately when the Pandemic broke out, he closed down all schools in the country. The ministry is currently coordinating with the MDC to disinfect the schools. The three weeks lockdown of Accra, Kasuwa and the Greater Kumasi districts to contain the virus. The President has gone ahead to provide free water and electricity for the poorest of the poor and 50% reduction in electricity bills for other households. There has also been the provision of small loans to small and medium scale businesses to ensure they stay in business, within this period.

Ghana has a lot of success stories to tell regarding the fight against the Pandemic.

The Parliament Category

The President in his last address to the nation said that its time Africa came up with its vaccine and we are working very hard towards that. We are honoured to have a very renowned professor who is chairing that project. I must also commend the Minister of health and the presidential adviser on health and everyone for their roles.

We want to ensure that we can curb the spread of this Pandemic, because of its deadly nature and no respecter of persons. The President has said it time and again that no one should politicize the Pandemic.

The President also provided leadership and inspired local companies to innovate and come up with products that can help our people cope with the challenges of the present.

Some companies branched out into the production of hand sanitizers. He also provided a 50% increase in salary for nurses and doctors to motivate them.

A lot of people are producing local face masks and creating jobs for our teeming youths and tailors. So far, the President has given us direction, and if we can adhere to the protocol and maintain social distancing, we will be safe. Though the numbers are currently going up, I believe that if it had not been for the President's proactive interventions, we would have been more exposed.

Just last year, Ghana hosted the year of the return. How successful was this initiative?

It was a great success.

It provided an excellent opportunity for our brothers and sisters in the diaspora to connect with their roots and historical heritage. Many of them had only read about their journey to the west in Books, but, through this initiative, they have been able to have first-hand experience.

For many of our friends who came for the year of return, they were amazed, and it was an emotional homecoming for the majority of them. Most of them broke down when they visited the ports in the central region. They saw where their

great-great-grandfathers pushed through slavery and where they passed through. It was also an opportunity for the diaspora and those at home to have some bilateral collaborations. A lot of people came to realize that there are a lot of things they can tap from Africa and Ghana in particular. It also brought substantial economic benefits for our traders as more people benefited from the trade boom.

Ghana is predominantly and informal sector economy, so the year of return helped this sector a lot. It provided an opportunity for integration as some of the visitors had to stay in the local communities rather than staying in hotels. It was a significant boost for both the informal and the formal sector because the major hotels also had their share of the benefits of the initiative.

Every facet of the Ghanaian economy was affected by the year of return.

Ghana made history as the first country in Africa to do this, and we made a lot of foreign exchange. We hope that other African countries will emulate something like this and try to plan along this line. It is indeed an excellent initiative, and we are looking forward to consolidating.

This year we are looking forward to building upon it, but with this Pandemic, we will have to restrategize.

We are looking forward to Beyond the Return.

Women and children are no doubt part of the most vulnerable, especially during this Pandemic. As the Deputy Minister of Women Affairs, what plans are in place to safeguard these groups of people?

Social protection is one of the core mandates of our ministry; we are trying to move people from the poverty line.

We also have the livelihood empowerment program, which is also a policy of the department.

The Statistical services have just completed a survey which mapped out households in the

poverty trap, and we intend to use this method to improve on the social protection programs.

We have decided to move to the communities and have a dialogue with those affected. We are going into the community to hear from them and solicit their input and use the feedback to shape policy and decision making. We are trying to make sure that women who are the gatekeepers of the family are carried along in the project. We are working on the affirmative action bill and the school feeding program. We are also working on the aged-bill and others.

Our ministry is problem-solving, dealing with defilement, rape teenage pregnancy, human trafficking, child trafficking, early marriages and all that. We also handle domestic and genderbased violence, and we see these issues daily.

COVID-19 Pandemic is having a different impact on gender.

It is a public health issue and causing economic crisis as well. The gender dimension of the impact of the Pandemic cannot be played down at all.

The Pandemic is having a toll on young girls, especially women who will have to care for their families and the physically challenged people. We have received numerous complaints of gender-based violence as against family bonding during this lockdown. It's an interesting scenario, because, while somewhere happy that lockdown will provide time for bonding, some have been complaining of molestation and other forms of domestic violence.

So, we look at how pandemic induced lockdown has increased economic issues as well as gender-based violence for women. It is also having a toll on the family, and women are at the receiving end because they have to care for the children, husband, aged parents, among others. In some families, it's the women that are the breadwinners, and you find that some of the women have been stretched. It was quite prudent for the President to step in and provide food for the less vulnerable members

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Category The Parliament

of the society. He also offered one full meal a day while this period was supposed to provide a platform for families to know themselves, because, the President asked schools from Kindergarten to basics to close down. Due to the spread of the virus. Instead of the children to stay at home, I discovered that their parents were exploiting them. Some send them out to the market to sell things. We also saw that pregnant women and other vulnerable members of society find it difficult accessing healthcare during the period of the lockdown. So the effect on women and children has been quite tremendous. The ministry has taken it upon themselves to organize sensitization workshops along with our donor partners in specific target areas. We are seeking data in the target area, and also teaching protocols on proper handwashing techniques, usage of hand sanitizers. We have also supplied and distributed several hand sanitizers to these groups as well. We have also organized some public health programmes working with the local authorities. Some healthcare professionals have also been trained for the management of women and young girls in some of the communities. We are also ensuring that our children at home will not be idling away. So, we have put together an online program where their teachers can interact with the children while at home. We have had many community and traditional engagement and distributed food to the refugee camps.

We have covered slumps and where we find overcrowding we try to educate them on the dangers and how to adhere to the protocols even though it was difficult.

Lack of proper nutrition was also a problem we discovered has come within the last few months.

So, as a member o parliament, I will say that the Pandemic is profoundly affecting women and children in my constituency.

The economic impact on these women is so vast, and most of them are the breadwinners.

Majority of them are in the informal sector, and they often have to live very early. Its been a challenging era for all us, especially for the women and girls.

That's why our ministry is championing the distribution of kits and palliatives to women and other vulnerable groups.

I believe that this will teach us another lesson so that even those in the informal sector will know when and how to save. It will also help us to plan in terms of the home front. We are also encouraging our women and children to eat a lot of food to boost their immune system. We are advocating for a lot of fruit intake and a lot of vegetables. It was an exciting experience for me in Kumasi when I went out to distribute the goods myself. In Ghana, women constitute about 51% of the population, so, it has been a difficult situation for us as a ministry. I believe with that with hard work and dedication; we shall defeat the Pandemic. I have also formed a small unit of about twenty different groups, who go about within the community to sustain the outreach that we have started. I believe that with the efforts of everyone, we shall overcome this Pandemic.

What should be done to present a common front by all national leaders and stakeholders to confront this Pandemic on the continent?

As our President said during his presentation to the ECOWAS recently, we have different dynamics in our countries, so we must adopt local strategies and avoid choosing what other countries are doing, without modification. We have to look at our country dynamics and tapping into local expertise to solve our problems. While it is essential to embrace partnerships, we must not also lose the essence of countryspecific solutions. However, corporations and alliance will help in this time, because, united we stand and divided we fall. We must put aside differences and come together

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on a single platform, with joint goals and objectives. Leaders must galvanize the support of the private sector, civil society, media and everyone towards fighting the Pandemic. COVID-19 is a fierce battle, and it shouldn't be handled with kids gloves, and we must avoid the temptation to politicize it. We all need to sing from the same hymn book. It is also about planning, because, when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. When the case of the COVID-19 was rife, the Ghana health services swung into action with planning, which gave birth to the strategic work that is being followed today. Research is also essential, so that should there be a reoccurrence we will not be caught napping. This is a new disease, and no one has all the answers. I hear countries like Madagascar are trying their hands-on local remedy, let's see how it works. Ghana is also working very hard to find a permanent solution. There are also those advocating that we go back to our roots to boost our immune system with our local foods. The virus is taking us back to the things we should have been doing in the first place; perhaps, most people didn't take it very seriously. People are becoming more healthconscious and increasing their hygiene practices. The President of Ghana has tasked our ministry to work with the faithbased organizations to provide palliatives for the vulnerable.

How should national Parliaments in Africa respond to ensure Africa is ready to deal adequately with the pandemics of the future?

ANS: Parliament indeed has a role to play in this whole COVID-19 Pandemic. The Pandemic is no respecter of persons, and we have to collaborate and coordinate among ourselves, especially those of us in Sub-Saharan Africa. We do have some dynamics in our different countries on lawmaking, but, things are the same. The Parliament of Ghana is a member of the African Parliamentary

The Parliament Category

Union, APU, and we are also members of the ECOWAS parliament and the PanAfrican Parliament. We are also members of the international parliamentary Union. So, it's a collective effort, and we all have to compare notes and coordinate with each other and see how the dynamics of our countries can apply to we do. It is imperative to note that as much was; we are hopeful that the Pandemic will be kicked out of the continent, but, things will no longer be the same. We have to put systems in place to ensure that we reach out to our parliaments across Africa. The Pandemic is affecting bilateral trade, affecting businesses across sub-Saharan Africa and the globe. We see job losses in the formal and informal sectors, and this is a severe issue.

We are also loosing our social lives in terms of public gathering and congregation in churches, funerals and other social groups.

Before the Pandemic, we used to attend exchange programmes with other sister parliaments, and some others also come down to Ghana on a training program. All these things have changed, and we have to find a way of getting back together – be it virtual or through any other means. Here in Ghana, when the Pandemic broke out, there was a circular that was issued that all travels have been suspended and those who were out had to be called back. We strictly observed all the protocols of handwashing and sanitizers before you enter the chambers. We tried as much as possible to keep the social distancing even in the house.

So, it's a worrying situation, and this Pandemic is affecting our healthcare system. It is also disrupting our economic values and everything you can think of.

I think the Parliament will need the support of the international community, especially the World Health Organization.

We also need to see how best to implement the protocols by WHO. For the impact of Social Distancing, it is something we are all dealing with across the globe, and we need to evolve strategies to sustain these debates across the continent

in our countries. Parliaments in countries like Egypt has already put some systems in place, but, for us, in Ghana, we are currently on recess, and upon resumption, we will see what other protocols will be put in place. The Pandemic has also brought some positives, in that it has brought some unity among member states. The continent is working together to come up with a vaccine. We are all in the situation together. The Pandemic is spreading so fast and currently in about 185 countries, making it a global threat – posing a huge challenge for governments, parliaments and individuals.

The most important thing for all of us it to take steps to reduce the danger of COVID-19, and looking at the economic impact of the Pandemic as well.

We all have to put our heads together since we are fighting a common enemy. All hands should be on deck. We have to collaborate and coordinate to see how best to deal with this Pandemic. As parliamentarians, our core mandate is to legislate and play an oversight function on how our monies are spent especially at the executive level and lobby for projects to our communities and represent our various communities in the Parliament. Parliamentarians must as a matter of necessity contribute their quarter by way of education, sensitization and donation of palliatives and PPEs to your constituency so that together, we can fight this Pandemic.

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The most important thing for all of us it to take steps to reduce the danger of COVID-19, and looking at the economic impact of the Pandemic as well. We all have to put our heads together since we are fighting a common enemy. All hands should be on deck. We have to collaborate and coordinate to see how best to deal with this Pandemic.

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Category Opinion

Op Ed: In Defense of a Pan Africanist Dr Akinwumi Adesina Ken Giami

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Key critical stakeholders have also never agreed as they are today, that Africa has one of such men in Dr Akinwumi Adesina

In an Africa, dealing with monumental infrastructure and energy deficits; a teeming youthful population desperate for jobs and opportunities; and currently facing what is arguably its most daunting challenge the COVID-19 pandemic; the continent has never been as in need of leaders, who care about the development and welfare of its people, as it does now. Leaders who transcend myopic classifications and are pan Africanists in the mould of Thomas Sankara, Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela. Key critical stakeholders have also never agreed as they are today, that Africa has one of such men in Dr Akinwumi Adesina. He crisscrosses the globe preaching the gospel of a resurgent

Africa and has been severally nicknamed Africa's developer-inchief, Africa's promoter – in-chief, but, one stands out, Africa's Optimist-in-Chief.

A distinguished development economist, and agricultural development expert with over 28 years international experience, Dr Adesina was at different times the Vice President of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa; Associate Director, Rockefeller foundation; and Principal Economist, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA. He also served as Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 20112015, during which time he pioneered innovative agricultural investments projects to expand opportunities for the private sector, receiving several awards and accolades for excellence

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during the course of work. Dr Adesina was elected in 2015 as the 8th President of the African Development Bank – the first Nigerian to head the leading development institution in its long chequered history.

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS at its 56th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of States, endorsed the reelection of Dr Akinwumi Adesina as the President of the African Development Bank.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the authority noted that "in recognition of the sterling performance of Dr Akinwumi Adesina during his first term of office as President of the African Development Bank, the Authority endorses his candidacy for a second term as the President of the bank."

Category Opinion

Preceding his endorsement for a second term, Dr Adesina had won the 2017 World Food Prize – a parallel to the Nobel Peace Prize. The World Food Prize on its website, while announcing the award, stated that "through his roles over the past two decades with the Rockefeller Foundation, at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and as Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria, Dr Adesina has been at the forefront of galvanizing political will to transform African agriculture through initiatives to expand agricultural production, and thwart corruption in the Nigerian fertilizer industry."

In February 2019, Dr Adesina co-won the Sunhak Peace Prize, alongside Waris Dirie, the tireless fighter for female genital mutilation and women's rights in Africa. Later the same year, he was overwhelmingly voted as the African of the Year 2019, in the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards by Africans from all spectrum of society with over 68% of total votes cast in his category - the continent's leading vote-based poll. And there has been a deluge of several other endorsements from governments, individuals and organizations from within and outside the continent.

Like the famous quote, "behind every successful person lies a pack of haters", It was therefore unsurprising to see the uninspiring media attack cloaked in the garb of revelation by "whistleblowers-cum-group of concerned staff". This weak attempt at pulling down a shining star, published in the French tabloid, Le Monde, would certainly pass for a malicious piece, designed to muddy the waters. One can also safely say that they are meant to detract the African Development Bank from focusing on its core mandate, which it had tenaciously pursued under the leadership of its President, Dr Adesina.

Someone of Dr Adesina's pedigree is not opposed to

scrutiny. He has become an apostle for good governance and best practices, the twin message that has become his anthem at meetings with key African stakeholders. According to the 2018 Aid Transparency Index Report, released by Publish What you Fund, African Development Bank was ranked 4th among 45 development organizations around the world.

A careful study of the issues as raised by the 'whistleblowers' in their report, which was the source of the Le Monde article – calls for a closer look at the 'invisible ink'. In the story, he was accused among other things of a plan to "Nigerianize the AfDB by giving compatriots key positions, but also by more easily granting lines of credit to leading Nigerian companies."

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He has become an apostle for good governance and best practices, the twin message that has become his anthem at meetings with key African stakeholders.

Nothing can be further from the truth. Nigeria, though the largest shareholder in the Bank with about $6 billion portfolio, appears to be getting the short end of the projects. For instance, an approved list of projects on

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Category Opinion

the website of the AfDB showed about 75 projects totalling $64, 584, 648, and none of the majors was mainly targeted at Nigeria alone. While Senegal, Cameroun, Tanzania, Rwanda, Namibia amongst others, had specific projects aimed at the individual country levels, Nigeria was lumped more in the multicountrywide projects categories.

In any case, one should think that Nigeria, with its vast population and very well known energy and infrastructure problems, and as the largest shareholder of the Bank, should have a much more significant share of the Bank's projects.

It may therefore not be surprising if the 'invisible ink' in these accusations is linked to Dr Adesina's stubborn resolve to detangle Africa from the shackles of over-dependence on others but seek self-reliant African solutions to Africa's problems. He has also taken upon himself the onerous task of challenging the negative stereotypes about the continent.

One would also wonder, if the timing of these accusations published in the French tabloid Le Monde, and the recent calls by two French doctors on live television for COVID-19 vaccine trial tests to be carried out in Africa, at a time that the AfDB had just successfully listed a US $3Billion Social bond on the London Stock Exchange to help Africa deal with the pandemic, are linked?

It was appalling to see two French doctors on the French television channel, LCI, propose that the potential vaccine for the Virus be tested on Africans first, before deploying it to Europe and Australia. Instantly, this set-off a backlash from people of goodwill from around the continent and beyond. This kind of thinking from some westerners is what leaders like Dr Adesina have consistently challenged, and some vested interests aren't happy about it. Make no mistake, Africa has some worthy partners in the west, but her adversaries come in equal measure.

On his part, Dr Adesina, in his response to the Le Monde article, has said that "the African Development Bank has a very high reputation for good governance." He restated, the Bank's confidence in the governance system put in place by the board of Governors of the Bank and asked that the ethics committee of the Bank be allowed to do its job without interference. We dare say without any media trials also.

Dr Adesina, since his emergence as the 8th President of the Bank in 2015 has led the Bank on what many analysts have described as an exceptional tenure. A leader in agricultural innovation for over 28 years, Dr Adesina has contributed significantly to food security in Africa, aimed at improving the lives of millions in the continent. The Bank, under Dr Adesina, has recorded many firsts and marked several milestones including: •

Increase in the Bank's capital, showing the shareholders' high level of confidence in the institution.

•

The Bank's governors, representing shareholders from 80 countries, approved a historic capital increase of $115 billion. The institution's capital more than doubled to $208 billion, which solidified the Bank's leadership in financing development in Africa. The unprecedented increase, the largest since the Bank's creation in 1964, provided clear evidence of shareholders' trust.

The African Development Bank Group continues to play a central role in Africa's development under the leadership of Dr Adesina. We, therefore, call on all stakeholders, including the UN, WHO, President Ramophosa-led African Union, Afreximbank and other institutions, currently at the forefront of pushing for the continent's survival in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, to band together and do all it takes to save the continent, and indeed the world by defeating the

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It may therefore not be surprising if the 'invisible ink' in these accusations is linked to Dr Adesina's stubborn resolve to detangle Africa from the shackles of overdependence on others but seek self-reliant African solutions to Africa's problems.

virus in Africa, rather than give credence to a seemingly stagemanaged media spat. As Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed rightly said, "If COVID-19 is not defeated in Africa it will return to haunt us all".

Ken Giami is the Founder and Publisher of the African Leadership magazine, and writes from the United Kingdom.

Special Category Report

Why Africa urgently needs an Ubuntu Plan Victor Oladokun

Africa urgently needs a globally coordinated Ubuntu Plan in response to COVID-19, a fiscal stimulus that recognises our shared and connected humanity, as we find ourselves in the midst of an unprecedented crisis.

The world’s largest cities are eerily silent. One virus has disrupted the whole world in a manner never seen before in history.

COVID-19, a term that did not exist in our vocabulary a couple of months ago, has brought virtually everything to a grinding halt. It’s a surreal almost cinematic scene. Except that we are all living through it.

With governments balancing economies and the welfare of

their citizens, entire industries and institutional systems find themselves fighting for survival in the midst of mandatory lockdowns. Food supply chains, transportation networks, educational systems, governance and judicial systems are either strained or barely functioning with medical services being the worst hit.

Unlike any other pandemic, COVID-19 will alter the way we live, work, and socialise. The financial costs and the economic devastation are already of epic proportions. This is why Africa in particular urgently needs an Ubuntu Plan. A globally coordinated fiscal stimulus plan that recognises our shared and connected humanity.

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The case for an Ubuntu Plan This past week, America passed a 2 trillion Dollar stimulus package that will keep markets operational, support Americans out of work, and help reduce Federal Reserve lending rates.

It is the largest bailout in the history of the United States.

European economies likewise have announced stimulus measures in excess of 1 trillion Euros. Chinese factories are ramping up again, backed by a $344 billion stimulus package.

In contrast, Africa’s economies are already buckling. Global demand for oil and gas and commodity products – the mainstays of Africa’s leading economies – has stalled.

Revenues which were already overextended have dried up and small, medium, and large enterprises are at risk of total collapse.

Last Thursday, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

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Which is why an Ubuntu Plan is now critical in order to cushion the harsh social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.

estimated that the pandemic could reduce the growth of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) from 3.2% to 1.8% in 2020.

On 27th March, The Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres said: “Africa is a continent with very little capacity to respond and I am extremely worried that in those situations, we might have millions of cases with millions of people dying.”

Lockdowns are not equal Even though the United States, Europe and many parts of Asia are better suited economically and infrastructurally to a lockdown, they are struggling to cope with the burden of this sudden pandemic. A situation that will likely will be worsened by the duration and unpredictability of the pandemic.

If these societies are struggling, the impact on Africa is best imagined.

Prior to the crisis, 41% of subSaharan Africa’s population lived on less than $1.90 a day which is very little to survive on. Seven out of ten persons (70%) in Africa are in vulnerable and precarious forms of informal employment eking their living on a daily basis.

Lockdown, homeworking and teleconferencing is therefore not an option. Family support systems from blue and whitecollar workers and the diaspora, are themselves under threat. Job losses will strain these critical informal support systems to breaking points.

In Africa, formal social safety nets rarely exist. Therefore, stockpiling food items for extended periods of isolation is out of consideration. Linked with this, Africa requires vast food supplies to meet the needs of the continent’s poorest who can barely afford a decent mmeal.

Recent cyclones, Kenneth and Idai, and a plague of locusts, have already put considerable pressure on immediate food supplies for the continent.

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Which is why an Ubuntu Plan is now critical in order to cushion the harsh social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Such a plan would include a fiscal stimulus package, the development of critical infrastructure and support for the continent’s most vulnerable populations.

The fact is that in the 21st century, clean water supplies and access to electricity are the stuff of dreams for millions of Africans. Globally, almost 800 million people are without access to clean water. Of these, 40% live in sub-Saharan Africa. The simple act of hand washing which the pandemic requires for prevention is still not possible for millions.

Linked with this, less than 58% of Africa’s population has access to modern healthcare facilities.

Special Category Report

A race against time

and disease …”

Africa and its partners have already been striving hard to tackle the challenge of eradicating poverty with measures such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Development Bank’s High5 strategy.

Rethinking the future

The COVID-19 pandemic however shines the spotlight on Africa’s poor healthcare delivery systems and facilities and its vast challenges. Africa has one of the highest population densities in the world. For people living in tens of thousands of informal settlements, the idea of social distancing is inconceivable.

Millions of vulnerable lowincome people live in cramped communal houses and rooms and in areas that lack basic amenities, especially water and sanitation.

In the short term, to effectively combat COVID-19, we urgently need self-testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs), makeshift living spaces and hospitals, recovery units and inexpensive easy-to-operate ventilators.

In the mid to long term, we must urgently rethink social life, urban and rural planning and our budgetary priorities, if life is to be preserved. We must decongest informal settlements rapidly and in their place develop affordable housing that is suitable for isolation and quarantine, in the event of future pandemics.

There is no better time for a globally coordinated Ubuntu Plan. To stop the global spread of COVID-19 and its global devastation, it must be stopped in Africa. The world must pay attention and lend a helping hand by strengthening global cooperation, now more than ever before.

Ubuntu – The preservation of human dignity, health, lives and wellbeing, demands nothing less.

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Africa and its partners have already been striving hard to tackle the challenge of eradicating poverty with measures such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Development Bank’s High5 strategy.

Dr Victor Oladokun is the immediate past Director of Communication & External Relations at the African Development Bank Group

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already issued a ten-point strategy that calls for the creation of corridors on the continent to facilitate emergency deployments and material shipments. The plan also calls on governments and the private sector to help increase supplies, medical equipment and care, and to strengthen surveillance and public awareness, in order to prevent continent-wide community transmission.

In the short window available, global cooperation is imperative.

The African Union’s Vision Agenda 2063 and action plan states among other things, that “We are part of the global drive through the United Nations and other multilateral organisations to find multi-lateral approaches to humanity’s most pressing concerns including human security and peace, the eradication of poverty, hunger

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Category Special Report

Ikponwosa Ero: Holding The Torch For People With Albinism Machaba Matsapola

People with albinism have been persecuted for way too long in the African continent because of the deeply rooted myths and superstitions. Some of the myths said about people with albinism include them not dying but disappearing, their body parts bringing riches and that sexual intercourse with a person with albinism can cure HIV/ AIDS. Even in the year 2020, there are still reports of killings of people with albinism in countries like South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya. With mainstream media only reporting on the atrocities suffered by people with albinism, there are a few media outlets that shine the light on the lives of people with albinism and try to tell the enlightened narrative.

Ikponwosa Ero is at the forefront of the movement of advocating for the rights of people with albinism, teaching the world about albinism and working with the judicial powers and head of states to put laws in place that will protect people with albinism and if possible eradicate the attacks that have been making people with albinism to feel unsafe. The 38-yearold activist and lawyer is a United Nations Independent expert on the enjoyment of PWA and has been working tirelessly over the years to try and bring change.

As a woman with albinism herself, the remarkable work that she does is very close to her heart and she can relate to most of the stories that she comes across. Through her work she gets to promote social cohesion and make a contribution towards encouraging communities to learn and spread factual information about people with albinism, encourage people with albinism to realise their full potential and learn about their human rights. She takes her time to talk about her background, work, aspirations and life in general.

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Special Category Report

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African Governments should also focus on our tourism because it can generate billions of dollars which can aid infrastructure and provide social amenities.

I found many of these answers slowly through my Christian faith.

Thankfully, my family also tried to live out that faith. This meant that I was accepted by them, and treated like any other child at home. I was encouraged to dream and was supported. I had chores and was scolded when I did wrong. In the face of daily taunts, they spoke resilience into my heart – “Don’t listen to them; you are God’s creation. They have no right to mock God’s creation” and so on. I believed my family. They were small in number versus those that mocked me on a daily basis but they succeeded in planting seeds of resilience in me.

How was your school life?

Tell me about your childhood in Nigeria.

My childhood in Nigeria was tough. It was generally tough for most in the country but having albinism made things extra challenging in peculiar ways. It was an ordeal to go out because doing so meant certain mockery in Nigeria’s densely populated streets. By age 6, I would ruminate and struggle with anxiety while preparing to go into the city with relatives. I remember the chants of songs about albinism that other children (and adults in some cases) would sing to me when I walked on the streets. These songs - often filled with myths about albinism – would begin by one or two children. These lead singers would be followed by a loud chorus of song supporters.

For some reason I would feel shame like I had chosen to wear the wrong cloak. I would also feel shame also for the adult who had taken me out. By the age of 7, unlike most children my age, I was glad when I was not chosen to go to the city with an adult. I worried about what my future would be and how I might survive or thrive later in life. I started asking some profound questions: why was I born this way? What is the purpose of life?

School was good overall. I loved learning. I liked literature and history. I also liked mathematics and biology. I particularly liked the logic in these latter courses; how everything in them appeared internally coherent.

The problem was mathematics and biology were often taught on the board and I could not see the board. Albinism often comes with a vision impairment and it is often an unexpected discovery among family members. It was also unknown by my teachers.

After finishing preschool, my mother was called in and advised that I was unteachable and should repeat the class.

My mother, a teacher herself, refused to accept this report.

“My daughter is intelligent,” she said. I will teach her over the holidays, give me the curriculum.

While teaching me, my mother saw how quickly I learned but also saw how close I moved to the blackboard she had set up at home. After going to various optometrists and painfully accepting that there was no cure, only assistive glasses and devices, she dedicated a lot of her time showing up at my primary school to verbally twist the arms of some of my teachers to move me closer to the board so I could see. In secondary school, I struck a deal with a friend who wrote notes

for me while I completed some of her homework. She was highly intelligent in mathematics but hated English and history so I did her work in those areas. In secondary school I also learned how to thwart bullying. My mother had intervened in several instances of bullying in primary school including one notorious case when I was 4 years old, whereby the little boy beat me mercilessly on a daily basis, so much that I refused to go to school. By secondary school, I had developed a certain level of confidence and could ward off bullying as much as possible, or at least pretend to ignore it.

What studies did you do and what was your first job?

In the 1990s, my family moved to Canada before I finished secondary school in Nigeria. In Canada, I finished secondary school, attained bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees in Political Science and International Relations. I subsequently went to law school after which I practiced briefly at the Federal Department of Justice of Canada and was subsequently called to the Bar in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.

When did you start to be an advocate for people with albinism and what inspired you to take on this role?

The short answer is that it began in small ways in 2002. The long answer is that it began in earnest in 2008. Here is how and why it happened. In 2001, I returned to Nigeria to visit my father. While there, I saw people with albinism in the streets. Some selling as street vendors, others hawking and still others peddling. One of them, a hawker with a tray of unidentified goods on her head was selling at a bus stop when suddenly, a fellow hawker without albinism saw me and called out to her in Yoruba: “hey, come and see your sister!

Go ahead, both of you, speak your hidden language. Speak French!” He chuckled. I will

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never forget that moment, I was in an unmoving bus looking through the half-open window at her. She stared right back at me and smiled, “heel,” she said.

“You look nice.” I looked back at her, at a loss for words. Her smile revealed she was young, likely younger than me. But her skin was wrinkled badly from unprotected sun exposure, her face extremely burnt with a dark pink hue, her eyes badly squinted, trying to look at me, no glasses, no sun shades to protect her eyes from the bright sunlight.

I sat there in a public bus not sure whether to cry or give a quick lesson in sun protection knowing fully well she was also poor and had to do this work outdoors. She probably couldn’t go to school too. I smiled as best as I could and was glad when my bus suddenly jolted forward.

My sister who saw everything, and who doesn’t have albinism said to me, “You have to do something. You have received far more than she has. Do something for them in Nigeria.” I knew she was right so I said nothing.

By 2002, I had registered an organization in Nigeria to respond to the situation. This marked the beginning of my work on this issue. However, never did I imagine that things would escalate to frequent ritual attacks against people with albinism in several African countries. In 2008, my work in advocacy for people with albinism intensified to respond to these extreme human rights violations.

How did you get involved with++ the United nations human rights?

Between 2008 and 2012, I worked as a part time consultant to a non-governmental organization responding to the crisis of attacks against persons with albinism in Tanzania called Under the Same Sun. In 2013, I started working with the same organization but in capacity of international advocacy and legal officer. In that role, I researched and produced high-quality reports for Ambassadors and Delegates to the UN Human Rights Council as well as position

papers used by policy-makers.

While doing these tasks, the UN established the position of independent expert to respond to the extreme attacks faced by persons with albinism. I was appointed to that role in 2015 based on my experience in the field.

What does being an independent expert on albinism entail?

The position of independent expert could be understood as a type of consultancy. There are scores of independent experts at the UN of which I am one.

The UN human rights council and the UN in general rely on such experts in the ability to objectively pay attention to certain thematic and country situations. Independent experts conduct in-depth studies and monitor human rights through country visits and the issue of thematic reports relevant to their mandates. For instance, I have written a report on the right to health in context of persons with albinism which includes the issues concerning skin cancer faced by persons with albinism and low vision and the disability supports they need in this regard. I have done several country missions including to Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Mozambique, Fiji, Brazil and South Africa.

Advocacy is another area that the independent expert can act.

Accordingly, I have done scores of activities across six continents to raise awareness about albinism and to demystify the condition. To help everyone see people with albinism as ordinary people.

What are some of the most shocking and hurtful stories you’ve come across?

Recently a young girl with albinism in Zambia, age 7, was attacked and one of her arms hacked off and taken away.

Prior to that, I saw photos of a woman with albinism in South Africa who had been hacked into pieces. These are part of hundreds of such horrific crimes that people with albinism face

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in several African countries. The attacks are often based on belief that the body parts of people with albinism can be used in so called “witchcraft” rituals for wealth and goodluck. This is completely false and a lie from the pits of hell perpetrated by hellish people to take advantage of a group, that has for so long been discriminated against, mocked and persecuted with no one to speak for them. These cases make me very angry and I often weep while working. When I have the privilege to meet the family members of victims, I weep with them. It is because of these cases that all shyness disappeared from me when I began working in advocacy in this field. I call for a change of heart and total repentance to any one who engages in these practices, including all forms of ritual attacks. I call on those who discriminate – even basic mockery against persons with albinism, which contributes to their dehumanization – to have a permanent change of heart.

Change and join the movement to make the world a better place.

We all deserve to be here.

Who are some of the most prominent people you have met?

The Pope. While I have met Ambassadors and heads of government, my meeting with Pope Francis was the most striking. In the meeting, I gave him a photo of people with albinism from around the world for his blessing. The photo was a symbol of all the work being done for person with albinism around the world. He blessed it.

Months later, I was appointed as independent expert. I do not think the chance meeting we had with Pope Francis was a coincidence. Whenever I encounter difficulty in carrying out my mandate, I remember that time and that blessing. I know that this work is supernaturally ordained. The lives of many people with albinism over the decades and centuries has been heeded.

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What are other skills and talents do you possess? (laughing) I am not sure anymore. I have been so immersed in albinism advocacy in well over a decade (Not complaining, it has been a privilege). But if I am pushed, I would say, language skills, singing skills (not dancing skills unfortunately), organizational skills (I considered becoming an event planner many years ago), communication skills (which has been put to very good use on this mandate).

In your opinion, where do you think all the myths about albinism comes from and why is it so hard get rid of them?

Myths come from a place of pride. When we do not understand something, the humble and right thing to do or say, is I do not understand or I do not know. Therefore, myths are the answers prideful people give in the face of something s/he does not understand and is not humble enough to admit their lack of knowledge in this regard.

Pride is also the culprit when one knows the truth but still chooses to believe the myth. In other words, the refusal to learn or willful blindness for whatever reason.

people with albinism in over 20 countries in Africa. The Plan contains concrete measures to implement in advancement of the well-being of people with albinism.

That said, I am still working full-time but have some opportunities to return to some hobbies e.g. learning a new language. I am currently learning Swahili and Spanish.

African government should implement the measures of the Plan and support organizations representing persons with albinism so that they too can implement those parts of the Plan within their ambit. The Plan can be viewed at its online platform: actiononalbinism.org

The lockdown has also allowed me to be more appreciative of everything I often take for granted: a new day, water, and all the health workers at the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19.

1What are some of the things that keep you busy during the Covid-19 lockdown?

Honestly, I am glad not to be kept busy. The last few years have been too busy and so I welcome this forced calm.

Would you ever consider getting into politics?

Yes, if the right opportunity arises.

Who are your top 5 favorite Africans dead or alive?

Benedict Daswa, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Aliko Dangote, Fr. Anslem Adodo, Nelson Mandela

Therefore, it is hard to get rid of new and old myths because it is hard to get rid of pride. This is why I have learned that in advocacy, using honey is better than vinegar. It is important to help ignorant people save face.

To help the ignorant transition from pride to humility requires constructive dialogues and not necessarily shaming them.

What do you think African governments should do more on this issue?

There is a Regional Action Plan that the African Union put in place recently which I helped to develop in context of my mandate at the UN. More importantly, the content of the Plan was determined by leaders of organizations representing

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Category Tourism

Tourism sector reeling amidst coronavirus outbreak Nathan Craig

Durban - Since the Covid-19 scourge hit South Africa, precautionary measures have resulted in fewer customers, till rings and a dip in tips for restaurant owners and their staff Restaurants up and down the Florida Road strip were shells of their former selves as business has presently slowed down to a trickle. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a national state of disaster.

Some waitrons, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were fearful that their earnings from tips would dip sharply, and the lack of traffic also made business owners fearful.

‘‘

The creation of an enabling environment within the African Union is a clear goal, allowing the opportunity where some countries will learn from their peers.

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Category Tourism

Police officers were seen patrolling along one of Durban's best known social hotspots, they now have the added responsibility of ensuring that the new precautions brought on

by Covid-19 was adhered.

Wendy Alberts of the Restaurants Association of South Africa said there was constant communication between restaurateurs and government departments.

“Guidelines were given to establishments for the safety of all staff and customers. But as a result of limiting patrons, you will be limiting business.”

Alberts said no more than 50 people, including all staff, were allowed per establishment, regardless of whether alcohol was being sold on the premises.

She said the hours of liquor sales were from 9 am to 6 pm on Mondays to Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm on Sundays and on all public holidays. All liquor opened, closed, finished or unfinished must be off the tables by the cut-off time.

‘‘

It looks like the hospitality sector is taking a big knock but we are doing everything in our power to help the people.

Alberts said a register is being kept of all persons entering premises.

“This includes name, surname, address, contact number, identification number and next of kin. Authorities will do inspections and failure to acquire such information from patrons will result in restaurant owners being prosecuted.”

On Friday, at an inter-ministerial press briefing in Pretoria, Police Minister Bheki Cele said in the coming week he would engage with provincial liquor boards, gambling boards, the hospitality industry, and stakeholders to secure their commitment and compliance to the new regulations.

“If you fail to comply with any regulations or precautions then members of the SAPS, the SANDF and Peace Officers shall take appropriate action.”

While social distancing was prescribed that did not mean a total shutdown.

Scott Langley, marketing, sales and events director for the Durban International Convention Centre, said as a matter of practice they ensured optimum hygiene standards, and rules and regulations were complied with.

“Therefore, the Durban ICC is assisting clients with

rescheduling events and for those wishing to reduce the number of delegates. We also offer a full video-streaming service for those clients who wish to proceed with their programmes and broadcast their content to an online audience.”

Nomusa Dube-Ncube KZN's Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC said the province was already negatively impacted by the virus.

“Our tourism sector has been hit the hardest with some of our entities postponing international events. Thus far we have calculated losses of more than R 1 billion. On Monday, we will meet with stakeholders in the industry to discuss a recovery plan.”

Dube-Ncube said KZN tourism contributed 4% of the provincial gross domestic product, and was responsible for more than 81 000 direct jobs and many more throughout the value chain.

Riefdah Ajam, the general secretary for the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa), said back-to-back meetings were being held in various sectors to manage the aftermath of coronavirus.

“It looks like the hospitality sector is taking a big knock but we are doing everything in our power to help the people.”

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Category Special Report

We should not go back to business as usual after coronavirus, says Secretary-General

‘‘

Today there is an eerie silence across the globe.

Bustling cities have gone quiet and highways that were once jammed with bumper to bumper traffic, are empty.

Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral Patricia Scotland on World Health Day Today there is an eerie silence across the globe. Bustling cities have gone quiet and highways that were once jammed with bumper to bumper traffic, are empty. In homes, thousands of families are anxiously awaiting a phone call from a hospital about their

46 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

loved ones. Many have already received the devastating news that their mother, father, child, spouse, sibling or friend has died from coronavirus complications - often without the comfort of someone familiar to hold their hands.

And in the very trenches of the war against this new disease that changed our world with astonishing speed, are nurses,

Special Category Report

doctors and other hospital staff. Every day they put on their uniforms and turn up to the frontline to battle, with or without the armour of Personal Protective Equipment.

COVID-19 has touched every nook and cranny of our globe.

Big and small, developed and developing have seen their economies grind to a halt; businesses buckling under the strain of lockdowns; toilet paper, hand sanitiser and pasta becoming rare and precious items; schools closing and major sporting events being cancelled.

And, of course, it has exposed serious gaps in health services and systems.

But, even as we wake every day to this frightening and sometimes surreal experience, it is encouraging and comforting to hear The Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, declare, on Sunday, that “we will succeed” in the fight against this global crisis.

So, on this World Health Day that has been, rightly set aside to celebrate the contributions of nurses and midwives, it is important that we take the opportunity to re-evaluate the status quo and the current models that support our daily lives; and begin to assess the lessons that are already emerging from this catastrophe.

have critically assessed various strategies to help countries achieve Universal Health Coverage. It is now undoubtedly clear that addressing human resources for health shortages and financing sustainable healthcare systems that cater to the needs of those in poverty and the most marginalised in any society, is critical if we are to win the fight against COVID-19 and be ready for any future outbreaks.

Another challenge that this pandemic has exposed is the acute shortage of essential health supplies, drugs, equipment and tests. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Commonwealth had developed strategies to help countries to pool procurement of essential medicines. This was presented at the 2019 Health Ministers Meeting chaired by Fiji. And since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been exploring how we can tailor approaches such as a price sharing and pooled procurement platform to provide important information on these essential health supplies, drugs, tests and equipment necessary to combat the pandemic across the Commonwealth.

What we have already witnessed, for example, is that healthcare systems that are more equitable, providing access to basic healthcare to all individuals and communities without them experiencing financial hardship, are more equipped to respond to the pandemic. These countries that provide healthcare to all, known as Universal Health Coverage, have been more successful in providing testing and treatment during the pandemic.

There is no doubt that this pandemic is affecting us all - its impact leaking into every aspect of our life. Both physical and mental health is on the line, as people lose their way of life, their livelihoods and their loved ones.

Many of us will feel the long-term effects of poor nutrition, decline in fitness and the disruption of human relationships. But COVID-19 does not affect us equally. There is certainly a disproportionate impact, for example, on households that depend on daily paid labour and people at risk of domestic abuse.

So, governments stand before a goliath challenge that requires a coordinated response involving all sectors.

This particular lesson has been a top agenda item for Commonwealth health ministers at their annual summits for the last four years. Their meetings

But I again return to the wisdom of The Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, that “better days will return”. If we work

together, share resources and equipment and follow advice of governments and the World Health Organisations, we will, eventually, be able to wake up our cities, return to work, school and leisure, to meet and chat, or to hug each other.

But it is important that we never go back to the business-as-usual that we knew before coronavirus.

We must use the opportunity to learn from this outbreak and decide, not only how we could have more resilient, connected and accessible healthcare systems, but also how we could address connected issues such as climate change and access to quality education for all.

‘‘

day to this frightening and sometimes surreal experience, it is encouraging and comforting to hear The Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, declare, on Sunday, that “we will succeed” in the fight against this global crisis.

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The Plantation City – Nigeria’s Real Estate Sublime in the South-South Sam Ogrih Like an Oasis, The Plantation City, one of the largest real estate developments in Nigeria’s South-South region has defied conventional wisdom – becoming a major attraction for real estate investors from within an outside the Country.

In an exclusive interview with African Leadership Magazine UK, the Managing Director and CEO, Sam Ogrih shares some insight about real estate investment, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, among other sundry issue. Excerpt.

Delta Mega Trend is one of the largest real estate firms in the South Southern part of Nigeria, tell us what features make DMTL attractive to clients?

Delta Mega is the developer of The Plantation City, Southbrook Gardens, both in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria and other real estate developments in Nigeria and the United States. People invest in our properties for different reasons. Some clients buy and subscribe for various reasons. Some buy because of the high security we offer, especially considering the security issues in the region; others buy because of the tremendous value that our development provides. Some of

the subscribers have seen over 100% increase in the amount of their purchase, because, we invest in continuous value addition as a company. Some others buy because of the value of services we offer, including 24 hours power supply; highlevel security presence, amongst others. It might interest you to note that, we have our own Independent Power Project, IPP, which services the estate and its environs. We also have a dedicated police station that handles all estate-related cases and a mini commercial hub that caters for the needs of residents.

We are building a community of people.

apartment in our estate is about 2.5 million. Meanwhile that same three-bedroom apartment in the town which he has so many, gives him about 300,000 Naira per annum. Hence, people have different reasons for investing in The Plantation City and other developments that we promote.

Some also consider an ideal environment for raising their children.

So, these services translate to a tremendous value for clients. It helps our clients define if ‘this is a good investment for me’ either in terms of the social status of it, or the economic status of it or the security status of it.

Investments in real estate come in two-fold; you have the social status investors and security consideration – the latter group look at the things that makes them feel secured.

For instance, I have upped the game by creating an artificial lake. Maybe next year, we are going to have an international fishing Festival. Where people all over the world will come and have a tournament. I have done the lake, and it’s already there, and I should start stocking it.

We want to start it by next year, hoping that the person who catches the biggest fish will go with a prize and the prize will be about nothing less than fifty thousand dollars.

The third group are those who invest primarily due to the investment’s benefits of the real estate. A three-bedroom

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The Plantation City’s Unique Selling Proposition…

First of all, I think you need to identify the need of the people.

What do people want? What is lacking in a place?

So, what does this Translate to?

When such tournaments are

The Mogul

on, you will find out that people will look for accommodation, where to stay, you find out that those who come in, will want to eat, you find out that those who come in here will need transportation, so the drivers are going to work. Drinks will be sold, the multiplier effect as a result of that singular act that will grow the GDP of the environments by 30 per cent.

When going into real estate, don’t just think about selling lands because that is not real estate, as far as I’m concerned.

As a real estate investor, your properties should be able to work for you; that is the point I am trying to make. Value addition is the only language we speak in The Plantation City, and that is who we are.

For some people in your field, Business Integrity is only a buzzword and means nothing to them. How has Integrity defined your ethics in business?

For me, you will have to ask yourself - Are you doing the job or you are doing the work?

Those who are doing the job can follow the shortcuts, because, for them, it is just another job, not their work or passion. When they adopt alternatives, and the building collapses, they can always get another job, especially since we in the part of the world that does little or nothing to punish bad behaviour.

However, when this is your life, your passion and your work, it means you don’t have anywhere else to go, and you must make sure you put transparency and Integrity over anything else. Sink or swim, you have got to stay with it. So that is the business dichotomy between a job and a work.

Having said that, the business we do has a very long-term gestation period. For instance, properties with C of O has a lifespan of about 99 years. So if you have a C of O today or a building, it is deemed that in the next 99 years you are going to be with that property. Unlike buying a laptop today or phone in another month, it is gone or at

best one to three or four years or too good ten years. But here we are, we find ourselves in a business of 99 years minimum, you must make sure that this human being you are selling the product to, you are going to live with him in the next fifty years.

So if you adopt any form of sharp practice, you will be bound by the consequences for the rest of your business life. But when you decide to do things right, adopting best practice, yes, it might slow you down in terms of returns, but on a long run, just as we are now, you will smile, because the Integrity is there.

Anybody that you serve will always make a referral because our business is more of references. We have been able to build confidence in our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. Today a 3rd of the world is in some kind of business shutdown, but, we have been receiving clients from the Diaspora. We are on conference calls with them and sorting their property needs.

Before this time, there has been the practice of sending money to family members, and it often ends up in protracted court cases. But we have saved our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora that agony, by coming out transparently and they are dealing with us and they also see their investments.

First, by the nature of our business model, we have taken it upon ourselves by telling ourselves that this is our work and not our jobs, so we have to be there because we have nowhere else to go.

Secondly, the nature of the work that we have in our hand has a very longterm period, so it is not something that when there are issues, we just walk away.

Third, we also managed some of our developments, and we don’t want to build and walk away. We have created a sustainable process in this style of management. Additionally, I come from a family with

pedigree and a long history of Integrity, it is ingrained in our bones, and it defines us. I am from a royal home, and I have a name to protect.

The dramatic increase in building collapses in Nigeria has forced the governments of some states like Lagos to set up committees to advise the government on how to curb the menace. As a professional, what do you think is a solution to this disturbing trend?

Building collapse is often occasioned by compromised Integrity. We have seen cases where either the developer or the engineers compromise on approved standards, with the active connivance of some regulators. Sometimes the developer might make the funds available, and the engineer in a bid to cut corners, end up buying substandard materials or even outrightly buying half the approved quantity of materials.

It could also happen that the engineers point out a concern to the developer, but, they don’t pay attention, or they disagree and insist on having things their way. The only way to curb this trend is to enforce available laws that govern building construction in Nigeria. It is also important that developers work with certified professionals, who understand that their certification is on the line, should anything go wrong.

‘‘

So if everyone is okay, then there will be no envy. Your son that you have trained somewhere can quickly drive back home and interact with people at home and have a fulfilled life.

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Category The Mogul

On our part, though we also provide land and allow clients to develop, we enforce stringent compliance with the approved standards from the foundation.

We advise you, and even correct you, when you refuse, we tell you to stop! Or we tell you; “sorry sir, you cannot progress” and we are also quick to refund your fund.

We have done that on so many accounts. We do not tolerate substandard construction because I don’t want to be put behind bars for a collapsed building, so I would rather have a clash with you for you to go with the standard.

“When God prospers you, increase your giving and not your living.” This has been your abiding principles as it relates to philanthropy. Tell us why you have adopted this approach?

When you start life as a child growing up, you never can say what tomorrow will be. It is the grace of God that takes you there. You may have other

plans and the rest, but when the grace of God is not there, there’s nothing that you can do.

The covid19 issue we have today, even the rich are looking for a solution, and they are scared, so when God blesses you those blessings are not just for you alone, there is a purpose why those blessings are coming so what do you do with them?

There is an African Proverb that says, “one does not measure the amount of salt to put in his/her soup by the size of his wealth.”

So when God gives you those things, it is for a purpose. And I look at myself, and I ask, why me? And how did I come to this level? I went to school; how did I go to school? I painfully went to school. If I have not gone to school, perhaps, I wouldn’t have been where I am or, whatever I am doing now, I would have done it differently not like someone who has gone to school. So I looked at it and said I should give back to that same society, to those Innocents people who more or less have no control of how they were born. Things are difficult.

It is not the child’s position to change them, and your parents are unable to pay your school fees, it is not your position at that time to say you want to support them. You were born into it. You have to live with it.

So this age group are actually helpless at that level. It’s a dependent level, they can’t even approach anybody, they can’t call anyone, they don’t have the credibility. They don’t have the wisdom, so I decided that I must go back to that level and support them.

One of the areas that have obviously caught our attention is your commitment to Youth Development. Is this because of the high level of criminality in the region or just a passion?

I think one drives the other. First, it is a passion, and secondly, it is also to reduce the level of criminality. Criminality knows no bound if you don’t help those

50 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

youth, your child that you are training in the city or outside the country may not even be able to go back to your hometown. So if everyone is okay, then there will be no envy. your children that have been exposed to the good life in other parts of the world are able to return; and interact with others at home and have a fulfilled life. But, when you are mostly focused on catering for your immediate family, even when the resources are available - it is a recipe for envy and insecurity. So show them love and the way to go and not giving them cash but directional flow. Some of us were guided and we followed and listened.

But unfortunately, some of them are not so willing because they are looking at the cars you are driving. Some of them wan to be on the fast lane.

My passion is to reduce the level of unemployment which leads to criminality because the man who is engaged will not be thinking of how to steal from people. They can work and earn legitimate income.

For my community we have over 150 boys who are doing different work here, more than ten percent of them have gone to the Village to build their houses. And I’m happy, thrilled.

Many people know Sam Ogrih as the Real Estate Mogul from Warri, but I know that there is much more to that. Tell us more about your other business interests?

I was an education entrepreneur.

Education used to be my core business. I have been into education for over two decades.

We started real estate twelve years ago, but before then, we were into education. We are also into fishing. It will interest you to know that we are just trying to bring the fishing business back to Warri, there is a cold room that we are working on now because we have electricity 24/7.

We also have some investments in the Hospitality Business. Our latest venture is in the area of Power generation.

The Category Mogul

Tell us about your Power Generation business, especially since Power Supply is one of Nigeria’s major problems?

We are still studying it to know whether we will take it out because our experience here has revealed that getting power out to the public is a significant challenge. I’m not trying to scare you. I want to believe that our generation will pass away before this country has a regular power supply from what I know. If not careful, the next generation, our children will also experience the same, except something revolutionary comes up from the power sector. We keep blaming the Discos, but, they are incapacitated.

There is a severe energy theft ongoing in different parts of the country. With the current structure for distribution of power, we have given room for dubious characters to steal energy without traceability.

Energy theft has limited the capacity of Discos to pay Gencos for power supplied, so we have a severe problem in our hands.

In our case, what we did when we saw such things was to put all the meters inboxes. The residents don’t have access to their meters; they can only recharge the meter from the comfort of their homes. So, you find that residents pay precisely what they use. And what we found when we did that was that what they consume from what we generate dropped by 75%, because they now know that they have to manage the energy. If we can experience this in a place like The Plantation City, talk more of the outside world where cables are flying everywhere.

Some businessmen have argued that business and politics are two different worlds and must not be combined. That has been the position of a lot of people, but we have also seen people who say that; good business managers and leaders would make better political leaders.

What are your views as a leading business person who also

understands the intricacies of politics?

Both are correct, in the sense that you have to draw a line. We are in an economy where the policies are drawn up by politicians and are most times politically influenced. So your starting point as a businessman is, don’t go into active politics.

If you go into active politics, when I mean active politics, I mean, partisan politics – attending party meetings, party congresses and party campaigns, it may be suicidal for your business. It is difficult to dutifully commit to the business and partisan politics, because, they are two parallel lines. But you can also be an influencer or more of a pressure person, where you can talk to the people, give them suggestions and let them have a direction of flow.

Take for instance in real-estate today; we could suggest that we can make wealth in the states through this; for example, in The Plantation City, we have over 400 to 500 persons that come into work here every day. So if you give that feedback to those in politics and governance, saying that if we have about three or more estates in the states, we could have about 500 to 1,000 people going to work there every day. They will be the ones to put up a quality framework and decide whether to build an industrial park or a housing estate, by so doing, they are creating jobs and wealth.

of where he came from within a short while he hit it big because the environments differ. But, young entrepreneurs in Africa do not consider our different Melius.

For them, what is obtainable in the US should be available in Nigeria. We must recognise our environmental factor; where we come from, where our business is situated, what are the things that are valuable for you? So my advice to them is that they should look at their immediate environment - where you are and see how you could grow your business rather than copying a model that you know cannot be sustainable in the long run.

If you take a census of all the major players in Nigeria’s economy today, we can see a history of how they started. They started small, and they have been consistent with it.

Finally, you have to have multiple streams of income.

Aliko Dangote is Africa’s richest man, the most expensive of his products is about 2000 naira, while others are NGN100 or NGN150, but when you aggregate all of that it makes up a lot.

Here in The Plantation City, diversification has been our secret and we strive to create multiple streams of inflow, that way we are able to create a consistent income that caters for our basic costs.

So, it’s either you are a businessman or a politician.

What will be your final word for budding entrepreneurs in Nigeria and the continent at large? What pitfalls must they avoid?

The common mistake that they most avoid is the pursuit of instant gratification. You have to cultivate the habit of perseverance. Look at the richest man in Africa today; he has a story with traceable growth pattern. Meanwhile, consider the owner of Google because

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Sports

Category Sports

Cancelled matches and growing turmoil: The impact of Covid-19 on the sports industry Simon Chadwick

the virus. For the foreseeable future, such decisions may well be the “new normal” for the sporting world.

The process started in Asia, the epicentre of the epidemic.

Chinese football’s Super League, which was supposed to start at the end of February, won’t begin until at least April. UEFA Champions League matches have become ghost games, staged in stadiums bereft of people and atmosphere. The virus has even risen to top management – Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Greek team Olympiakos, tested positive, giving rise to responses from across European football.

‘‘

You have to ask is it worse to play football without the spectators. We do our job for the people and if the people cannot come to watch us, there is no sense.

In recent weeks, sports organisations around the world have been forced to confront the reality that the coronavirus Covid-19 is likely to have a significant impact on the industry – not just in the short term, but also the long term.

As the virus has spread, an increasing number of matches and events have either been staged behind closed doors, postponed or, increasingly, cancelled outright. Among the most recent developments was the suspension of the entire NBA basketball season in the United States after Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert tested positive for

In tennis, the Indian Wells tournament in the United States has been cancelled, and more tournements could follow. When members of F1 team crews at the Australian Grand Prix tested positive for Covid-19, the race was cancelled, and the Bahrain and Vietnam F1 races won’t take place anytime soon. The Tokyo Marathon took place as scheduled on March 1, but amateur runners did not participate and there were few spectators.

Reason for caution – with heavy consequences There are obvious reasons for the caution, as the Covid-19 virus can easily be transmitted between large numbers of people

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Category Sports

congregated in close proximity to one another – yet that is the very heart of the experience of mass sporting events.

The suspension of the NBA season is just the first of what are no doubt many more significant decisions – more leagues, matches and races will affected. Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, believes that rather than playing matches behind close doors, authorities should postpone or cancel them: “You have to ask is it worse to play football without the spectators. We do our job for the people and if the people cannot come to watch us, there is no sense.”

But postponements would take us deeper into a year that is already crowded, with the Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the UEFA European Championships. Scheduling and venue congestion will become an issue, as will the impact upon the start of next season’s competitions. Cancellation would be ground zero for many, as there would be all manner of ramifications: In essence, competitions would have to designed and implemented

‘‘

As the virus has spread, an increasing number of matches and events have either been staged behind closed doors, postponed or, increasingly, cancelled outright.

from scratch in a matter of days and weeks in order to draw this season’s competitions to a close.

Options for ending seasons early are already being considered, ranging from special play-off games to the use of current points scores or league positions as the basis for identifying winners and losers, and those who are or aren’t promoted.

Sporting officials and leaders are in a difficult position. Faced with a global pandemic and major public health issue, they have to take action. At the same time, broadcasters and commercial partners will be watching carefully to ensure they still get what they paid for. Individual players as well as teams will also strive to ensure they do not suffer the adverse consequences of decisions over which they have little control.

A security guard donned gloves to hold a basketball during halftime of an NBA game in Houston on March 5, 2020.

The 2020 NBA season was postponed after a player tested positive for Covid-19. David J. Phillip/AP

Olympic-sized headaches The biggest challenges arguably lay ahead, with the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games looming, as well as European football. The respective governing bodies – the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) – initially appeared intent on going ahead with their events.

UEFA implored governments across Europe to help protect its showcase national team competition, but is now discussing postponement of the tournament to 2021. For now the IOC has indicated that it doesn’t want to postpone the games.

The initial determination to forge onward is unsurprising given that both are “mega-events” – the scale, complexity and stakes

54 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

are immense. For such events to be postponed or cancelled would be a logistical, legal and economic minefield. Even trying to comprehend of the consequences is mind-boggling.

To cite just one example, Tokyo has spent 26 billion US dollars on its preparations and will certainly want to get the anticipated return on investment.

In the case of UEFA, this summer’s competition is a 60th anniversary event unusually being staged across twelve different venues. Trying to replicate this model at a later date would be very difficult, hence postponement was always going to be one of the lines of last resort.

Uncharted territory In short, sport is encountering challenges that are unique and have never before been encountered. There have been natural disasters that have led to venues being changed – for example, in 1989 the Loma Prieta earthquake disrupted the World Series between the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants. Yet earlier events were geographically specific, less far reaching and therefore more easily dealt with. One has to look back as far as World War II for anything remotely comparable to the currently situation. However, sport back then was entirely different – now it’s a global industry with a complex network of interrelated economic and political interests.

The protection of public health is of paramount importance, and should be, but sports authorities are also acutely aware of the significant costs that are likely to be incurred by any major disruption to this year’s sporting calendar. Indeed, some of the tensest sport battles this year are likely to be staged not in Tokyo or London, but in courtrooms across the world.

Simon Chadwick, is a Professor of Eurasian Sport and Director of Eurasian Sport, EM Lyon

Category SDG

Sustainable Development Goals: Why the United Nations need to Consider an Extension from 2030 Mayowa Jolayemi

A critical consideration of deliberate individual, national and global actions currently at work in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the ongoing global health crisis pose major challenges to the delivery of the 17-point Global goals by 2030 as anticipated by the United Nations.

The Agenda, which may be described as the most ambitious shared global vision has the potential to deliver to humanity, a near-perfect world when all 17 United Nations

Sustainable Development Goals are institutionalized, without leaving anyone behind. These Goals whose supreme objective is to end poverty forever by promoting prosperity and building a peaceful world while protecting the planet, have seen nations, governments, civil societies, and individuals actively braced-up and doubling efforts to implement and achieve them, although not at the speed or scale required if the 2030 year of attainment remains constant.

On the morning of January 22, 2020, The United Nations

Secretary-General, AntĂłnio Guterres, briefed the General Assembly on his priorities for the Year, where he also officially launched the “Decade of Actionâ€? for the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2020s that precedes the year 2030 that the Global goals must be significantly achieved have been named the Decade of Action. This then calls for more actions that are resilient from individuals, countries and global communities to secure greater leadership commitment, more resources allocation and engage smarter solutions to generate unstoppable movement to accelerate sustainable solutions.

Amongst the other several challenges that have confronted the SDG implementation and achievement, the novel coronavirus that is currently threatening the entire existence of humanity globally has continued to spread. Although its ripple effects are difficult to assess and model, it has shown varying levels of impacts on the socio-economics of different nations. The rich countries have been able to mobilize fiscal stimulus programs for their citizens, put to proper use their efficient health systems, and combat the disease from their abundance of resources.

However, this is not the same for the low/middle-income countries who are vulnerable and least prepared for such a degree of crisis.

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Category SDG

‘‘ By 2022, total E&M revenue in South Africa is expected to reach R177.2 billion, up from R129.2 billion in 2017.

Globally, this disease has greatly disrupted global economies and everyone everywhere has their livelihood affected. The Coronavirus that has infected over 4 million persons, claiming over 250,000 lives has not only challenged the Sustainable Development Goal on ensuring healthy living and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages.

It poses a great threat to the global workforce as nearly half of global workforce risk losing their livelihood, as warned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), thanks but no thanks to this pandemic.

Even the World Bank and IMF estimate that some 60 million more persons will be pushed into extreme poverty because of lockdowns and movement restrictions as measures employed to contain the spread of the disease. If these figures are to be considered, this means that progress made to reduce poverty since the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals some 5 years ago has been lost!

dramatically. Currently, UNESCO reports that 1.26 billion learners are affected; this represents 72.4% of total enrolled learners in 177 countrywide school closures.

With these figures, dropout rates across the globe are likely to rise because of the long-term massive implications on the most vulnerable. This will negatively affect the initial record of about 90% school enrollment rate previously reported.

Although this global crisis has made way for innovative approaches to solving our collective problems, on one hand, it may take some persons and countries a longer time to adjust to the new opportunities the crisis may have presented. More so, governments and businesses globally are particularly focused on containing the spread and impact of the COVID-19 on their economy, which may have led many to temporarily suspend the initial drive to implement responsible actions to achieve a better world by 2030.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the course of Education

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Considering the current state of the world, the United Nations should critically consider the limitations that have slowed down the implementation of large parts of the goals and to make the SDGs more achievable, an extension of about 5-10 years may be required. This extension will allow nations to recover from the devastating effect of the COVID-19, recommit to ensuring countries, businesses, civil societies, and individuals re-strategize to achieve the global goals. It is important to consider that for global actions to be effective and inclusive, it is most critical to build resilience for more vulnerable societies to economically stable positions.

The United Nations with all her agencies have devotedly committed resources to achieve the 17 global goals with impacts felt even in most remote parts of the earth. Nevertheless, much, so much more needs to be done to make the world a better place that is anticipated.

Memorable Speeches Category

The Story of a Resurgent Africa Being the text of the Keynote Address Presented by the President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, at the African Leadership Magazine’s Persons of the Year Award Ceremony

‘‘

However, the truth is, I will not be here, neither would I be recognised for success without my darling wife Grace — who is here tonight — and who has been my rock during the past 36 years of our marriage.

Good evening to you all!

It’s wonderful to be here tonight.

The 2019 African of the Year Award — what an enormous honour!

To say that I feel humbled is an understatement.

Humbled to be recognised for my very modest achievements and contributions to Africa.

Humbled to be nominated by what I gather to be the 60% of the votes cast by some one million people.

Humbled to be at the helm of an organisation that is making a tremendous difference across Africa — the African

Development Bank. An organisation that is making daily making prosperity a reality.

Humbled to be an African, and to be recognised by one’s own.

Honoured to be on this platform on account of the voices of the people.

However, the truth is, I will not be here, neither would I be recognised for success without my darling wife Grace — who is here tonight — and who has been my rock during the past 36 years of our marriage.

So from the start, I’d like to dedicate this award to Grace, whose love has helped me grow, whose strength has held me up, whose wisdom has guided me, whose prayers have lifted me

many times and enabled me to rise up and keep on running, and whose sacrifices form the ladder on which I stand tall. Honey, today I stand tall because your selfless support has made this possible. You are the real African person of the year. I love you!

I also dedicate this award to all my staff and colleagues at the African Development Bank and to all our shareholders, who entrust us with resources to do more for Africa. I did not get to this point by myself. So many have walked with me, helped me, encouraged and stood by me.

Tonight, I wish to acknowledge the support I have received from so many people too numerous to mention. I am grateful.

I dedicate this award to my mother, Eunice and late father,

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Category Memorable Speeches

Roland, who brought me up, and gave me good education, despite being of very little means.

I dedicate this award to all those I have worked with my entire life, to Nigeria which always gave me air in my lungs, to all African countries, and to all Heads of State and governments across Africa, for their unrelenting support.

I dedicate this award to the young mothers, struggling to bring up a child, to the farmer in search of a better tomorrow, to the youth of Africa longing for a better future, and to Africa’s journalists who risk their lives in helping to tell Africa’s true story.

And I dedicate this award to you all, who voted for me, because you believed in me and wanted to encourage me. Your votes got me here today. Thank you all!

I commend Dr Ken Giami and his colleagues for their initiative.

The African Leadership Persons of the Year Award has earned its place as the leading vote-based third-party endorsement award event on the continent. This is democracy in action!

I’m greatly honoured to follow

in the footsteps of previous winners: Former Liberian President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2011); Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim (2012); former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar (2013); former President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete (2014); former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan (2015); Tanzanian businessman and philanthropist Mo Dewji (2016); President of Rwanda Paul Kagame (2017); and Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Nobel Peace Prize winner Abiy Ahmed (2018).

In their own unique ways, they have epitomised the real meaning of the word leadership.

They’ve shaped and transformed nations and their respective circles of influence. They’ve been role models to many and of noble service to all.

The greatest mark of a leader is not strength, but kindness. You must feel. You must put yourself in the shoes of those you lead.

Day in day out. A kind heart will always lead you to do the right things.

58 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

And we must all continue to love Africa and its people, and every single day, wake up and make Africa better than yesterday.

Africa must progress much faster.

We have a duty and obligation to move Africa forward relentlessly.

‘‘

In their own unique ways, they have epitomised the real meaning of the word leadership.

They’ve shaped and transformed nations and their respective circles of influence.

They’ve been role models to many and of noble service to all.

Memorable Speeches Category

That’s what drives me ever since I was elected in 2015, as President of the African Development Bank. Daily my colleagues and I carry a torch for Africa. A torch of development.

And its flame must never die!

engineering and math.

Dr Giami visited me at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan last month for interviews for the African Leadership Magazine. I recall him saying: “You’ve turned so many things around in the short time that you’ve been the President — what’s your secret to success?”

Opportunities abound all around.

African economies are growing well. Last year 17 countries grew at 3-5% and 20 countries grew at 5% and above.

The answer is simple: I focus on solutions, not problems. My principle for development is also simple: I simply list down the things I feel most ashamed of, and then I do the opposite. It’s how I came up with my idea for the African Development Bank’s High 5 strategy to light up and power Africa, to feed Africa, to industrialise Africa, to integrate Africa, and to improve the quality of life of the people of Africa. Five simple, strategic, and highly focused objectives. A very effective strategy!

Over the past four years, we have helped 18 million people obtain access to electricity, 140 million people to agricultural technologies for food security, 13 million people to finance through private sector investee companies, 101 million people to improved transport services, and 60 million people to improved water and sanitation.

People such as cocoa farmer Antoine Mani Tonye from Cameroon who has seen healthy yields from the moment he began planting a locally adapted seed variety.

People such as millet seller Robiro Kadokah from Togo whose business has been thriving since the opening of a new highway in his area.

And people such as IT-specialist Jeanne Yamfashije from Rwanda who helps girls in her country excel in science, technology,

Let me share some other encouraging facts with you.

Real people, real results.

I truly believe there’s never been a more exciting time to be an African.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has shown significant improvement, recording a growth of 11%. Compare that to the FDI growth of Asia, which grew at 4%.

Even more significantly, globally, FDI declined by 11%. If we extrapolate the numbers further for developed countries, FDI declined by 23%.

Africa is where the growth is rising fastest for FDI.

‘‘

The African Development Bank was founded in 1963 on the promise that Africa would take its destiny into its own hands. Fast forward 57 years and the continent has changed beyond recognition. A burgeoning youth. A growing middle class.

Accelerating economies.

Africa is on the rise and the best is yet to come.

Africa’s population, currently estimated at 1.2 billion, is rising very fast. McKinsey in their recent book Africa’s Business Revolution observes that: Nearly 90% of companies based in Africa, and 58% of those based in other regions, expect their revenues on the continent to grow over the next five years and most plan to expand their African footprint to additional countries.

1 The size of business and consumer expenditures in Africa will rise to $5.6 trillion in five years. The size of the food and agriculture business alone will reach $1 trillion in just ten years.

And with the African Continental Free Trade Area, the size of the economies will be $3.3 trillion.

Welcome to the Africa of the 21st century.

The Africa of the 21st century is keenly aware of its place in the world and determined to be a global investment haven. The Africa of the 21st century is open for trade. Savvy investors know that if you’re not in Africa, you’re not in business.

Africa is where the focus of the world is right now as the growth and investment frontier. Just last month, I was in London for the UK-Africa Summit. Prior to then, there had been a China-Africa Summit, a Japan-Africa Summit, an India Africa Summit, a KoreaAfrica Summit, a Russia-Africa Summit, a US-Africa Summit and several others.

Last year, at the second Africa Investment Forum right here in Johannesburg, we welcomed over 2,200 delegates from more than one hundred countries.

Within 72 hours we secured investment interests for deals worth a whopping $40.1 billion.

This is a new, more confident Africa. Confident, but not complacent.

We know there’s work to be done.

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Category Memorable Speeches

We must get on with the job of creating jobs for young people.

With 12 million graduates entering the labour market each year and only 3 million of them finding a suitable occupation, youth unemployment has the potential to rise sharply.

Considering the pace of change driven by the 4thindustrial revolution, we must invest in re-directing and re-skilling our labour force. We must and we will prepare young people for the jobs of the future — not the jobs of the past.

That’s why the African Development Bank, as part of our Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy, launched the establishment of Coding for Employment Program. It’s designed to foster young digital entrepreneurs. We hope to develop 130 centres of innovation over the next five years to help create 9 million direct and indirect jobs.

change, with the most costeffective ratio as possible.

Ladies and gentlemen, The African Development Bank was founded in 1963 on the promise that Africa would take its destiny into its own hands.

Fast forward 57 years and the continent has changed beyond recognition. A burgeoning youth. A growing middle class.

Accelerating economies. Africa is on the rise and the best is yet to come.

The Bank is the partner of choice for countries across the continent.

Her Excellency former President of Liberia, Helen Johnson Sirleaf articulated it really well, last month at the presentation of our African Economic Outlook report. She said of the African Development Bank: Africa trusts you! That’s what makes you different from all other financial

We must also address issues of insecurity. Growth in West Africa has been dampened by the rising insecurity challenges, especially in the Sahel. Several countries in West Africa are spending a very high share of their budgets on security.

That’s why the African Development Bank is calling on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to work with us on a financial support system that will help address these exogenous security shocks which — if left unaddressed — will have broader spill over effects that will lower growth and investment in the region.

And then there’s the challenge of climate change. African countries cannot continue to reel from one emergency to the next. We need sustainable solutions.

That’s why the African Development Bank ensures that all investments we finance are “climate-proof", meaning they are designed, installed, implemented and managed to reduce the effects of climate

60 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

‘‘

Over the past four years, we have helped 18 million people obtain access to electricity, 140 million people to agricultural technologies for food security, 13 million people to finance through private sector investee companies, 101 million people to improved transport services, and 60 million people to improved water and sanitation.

institutions”. Africans trust us, she said. They know we keep our promises. They know we do as we say and we say as we do.

Truth, trust and transparency!

That’s the African Development Bank.

Our membership has grown to 80 countries including 26 outside Africa. They’ve come to know the Bank as an institution that meets people where they are. We have opened more than 40 offices across the continent including several in fragile states.

Last year, the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank boosted our capital base from $93 billion to $208 billion — a $115 billion increase of capital, the biggest increase ever since the establishment of the Bank.

Meanwhile, our donors committed $7.6 billion to the African Development Fund to help Africa’s poorest and most fragile countries on the road to recovery. An important vote of confidence. But more important is what we do with the money.

Our goal has been and always will be to transform Africa through investments that make a difference for those who need it most. We are a bank that invests in people. People are our core business. Their quality of life is our greatest return.

At the end of the day, it’s not GDP that matters. Nobody eats GDP. Growth must be visible.

Growth must be equitable.

Growth must be felt in the lives of people.

So at the African Development Bank we look beyond numbers.

We listen to the voices of ordinary Africans, we feel their aspirations. We are there for them.

Ladies and gentlemen, I may not look like it, but a few weeks ago I turned 60 years old.

I like a good night’s sleep but on the eve of my birthday I stayed

Memorable Speeches Category

up very late.

At some point, Grace came downstairs to check in on me.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “You should have come to bed a long time ago!”

I looked at her and said: “Honey, you don’t think I want to meet my 60th birthday in my sleep, do you? I want to meet my 60th birthday on my knees — praying and thanking the Lord for everything he has done for me over the course of my career.”

So that’s what I did. I prayed. I thanked God. And I counted my blessings.

I have a lot to be grateful for. A loving family. Fantastic friends.

Fabulous colleagues. A great continent, whose potential I must work to unlock, with all that’s within me. They motivate me to get up in the morning and give everything I have.

I believe life is only useful to the extent to which it is used to help others.

Sure, I put in long hours. It’s work, work, work. But it doesn’t feel like that. Why? Because the truth of the matter is that I don’t have a job — I have a mission.

My mission is to build a better Africa. It’s what I’ve been doing for many years. And it’s what I intend to do for many years to come.

I am proudly African! I will live always as an African, die as an African and on the resurrection morning rise as an African!

As I look around this auditorium, full of eminent people, and joined by millions via television and social media, I feel overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed that the son of a man who grew up as a poor farmer could be so honoured.

Overwhelmed that someone like me who grew up in a village school, would today be recognised by a continent of 1.3 billion people. Overwhelmed that I have been given another great platform to continue to serve my beloved continent.

Today, yet again, I hear a clarion call: “Go and do more for Africa”. I can hear it in my ears, it resounds in my soul, it beats in my heart and drives me again with a renewed sense of urgency.

For there will be no rest for me until Africa fully develops.

Africa does not need anyone to believe in her or to affirm her place and position in history.

Africa will and must develop with pride. For right on the inside of us, as Africans, lies our greatest instrument of successes: confidence!

I have been privileged to receive numerous awards and I am grateful for every single one of them. But they are not given simply to hang on the wall or to be put on display in a trophy cabinet. Awards are there to inspire you to do more.

So, let’s rise, bold and determined. Let’s run and never be weary. So let’s walk and not faint. For Africa must develop in our lifetime. Lift up your head Africa, for nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising. Africa, I say, arise!

It’s under this agreement that I accept the title of “African of the Year”. I accept to lead by example. I accept to go above and beyond and help Africa make even greater strides. I accept to deliver selflessly.

I accept to serve Africa and Africa’s interest until the day that I die.

But it takes a village. So tonight, please join me by reaching out for the hand of the person next to you. Hold them. Then tell them: let’s do more, together, for Africa!

Together we sow. Together we reap.

Together we build a better Africa.

I see a new Africa emerging today. I feel the thirst for more, a sense of the urgency of now, and a roaring confidence, like the lion in the African savannah. Our time has come and against all odds, Africa will thrive!

In the Bible, a prophet called Elijah told the king of Israel — after a period of dry spells when everyone was discouraged and perhaps had given up hope that things would change — “Get ready. It’s going to rain! I hear the sounds of abundant rain”.

Today, I can hear it too. It may not thunder. There may not be wind. But I can tell you that the cloud is forming like the cloud the size of a man’s hand.

Thank you and God bless you all.

‘‘

The size of business and consumer expenditures in Africa will rise to $5.6 trillion in five years. The size of the food and agriculture business alone will reach $1 trillion in just ten years. And with the African Continental Free Trade Area, the size of the economies will be $3.3 trillion.

Welcome to the Africa of the 21st century.

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Category Security

No Single Lake Chad State Can Crush Boko Haram ISWAP Without Others – It’s a Regional Affair!

David Otto

“The Lake Chad Basin Is So Culturally Intertwined That All Hands Must Be on Deck At The Same Time – This is the Only Answer To Jihadist End Game In The Region” We are faced with an unprecedented war against Coronavirus-COVID19 strain – a virus that emerged in late 2019 from the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province – someone got infected in the famous Huanan seafood market after apparently feeding on some animal. Globally COVID19 has killed more than 80,000 people within a couple of months- at the time of this article. It is still not known how and when medical scientist working round the clock will eventually normalise this pandemic.

War (WW1). Each nation is directly and indirectly affected by this invincible, indiscriminate and deadly coronavirus. Difficult economic and social choices are implemented by both powerful and weak nations alike to fight the spread of the pandemic, forcing other existential security and terror related threats to take the backseat on the global agenda for the first time since 9/11 New York Twin Tower attacks by Al-Qaida – at least until such a time when a vaccine and perhaps a treatment is approved.

Right now, COVID19 is spreading throughout Europe, Asia, America and Africa at breakneck speed. Compassionate calls

by UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres for immediate ‘silence of the Guns’ has fallen on deaf

COVID19 is nothing like a Third World War (WW3) as various analysts have argued. First, the virus cannot be defeated using any sophisticated weapon; unlike Ebola, there is no agreed scientific consensus on exactly how COVID19 is transmitted from one host to another; crucially, the global impact on the world economy and social interaction and behaviour changes is the first of its kind witnessed in modern and contemporary time.

A Distraction to the War On Terror; COVID19 is the Real First World

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‘‘

Lake Chad Basin states must engage in regionally coordinated and multifaceted military and civilian efforts aimed at simultaneously uprooting jihadist presence in the region.

Category Security

ears amongst global Al-Qaida and ISIS linked Jihadist. To add insult to the injury, ISIS core has linked the virus outbreak to God’s punishment to all infidel, one the jihadist allude is well deserving to its sworn enemy – the West and its coalition partners anywhere in the world.

police officers. In Chad, Jihadist linked to Boko Haram-ISWAP factions launched a deadly attack on March 23rd 2020 in the Lac Province bordering Niger and Nigeria killing more than 98 Chadian soldiers including senior officers – more than 40 escaped with life threatening injuries.

The Lake Chad Basin – Boko Haram ISWAP.

In Nigeria, ISWAP insurgents laid a deadly ambush against Nigeria Armed Forces killing about 100 soldiers in Gorgi village, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, North East Nigeria. April 6th 2020 – Cameroon, about 7 people including a village head were killed along the Cameroon –Nigeria border town of Amchide by two Boko Haram suicide bombers.

In Sub Sahara Africa, case in point - the Lake Chad Basin, jihadist linked to Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates – known locally as Islamic state of West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified offensive attacks against military targets in the region since the end of 2019 and the beginning of this year.

Distracted by the COVID19 global pandemic, Boko Haram jihadist have seized the vacuum to launch coordinated attacks in the Lake Chad Basin. In early March 2020, jihadist stormed the South-eastern region of Diffa – Niger Republic, killing about 7

All Hands on Deck: The Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) under the leadership of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) was created with various regional states sectors as a task force to

defeat Boko Haram insurgency activities and limit single state only planned responses against Boko Haram jihadist cells in the region. This is because the Lake Chad Basin is so culturally and geographically intertwined that all hands must be on deck at the same time. This is the only approach to Jihadist end game in the region. Boko Haram/ISWAP groups continue to exploit regional gaps when individual states launch attacks without coordinating with other MNJTF sector states.

At the peak of COVID19 pandemic struggle, international ‘war against terror’ partner support for Lake Chad Basin states could be severely impacted as European Union, UK, US and other global partners divert and reserve much needed resource to respond and manage COVID19. Traditional funding from partners in the form of technical and resource assistance for regional counter terrorism efforts will eventually take a hit.

In addition to the existential

‘‘

At the peak of COVID19 pandemic struggle, international ‘war against terror’ partner support for Lake Chad Basin states could be severely impacted as European Union, UK, US and other global partners divert and reserve much needed resource to respond and manage COVID19.

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Category Security

jihadist conflicts and other insurgency movements operating in the region, Lake Chad Basin states have very weak medical and health infrastructures which would severely impact on how they manage the COVID19 pandemic.

The time overdue for these regional states to set aside any existing differences and focus on the common enemy – Boko Haram ISWAP jihadist. Together under the umbrella of MNJTF, Lake Chad Basin States should design and implement a robust coordinated military and intergovernmental support strategy to have a much better chance of eliminating Boko Haram and ISWAP affiliates in the region by tactically blocking their ability to manoeuvre through porous regional borders given them the option to retreat, escape, hide, recover and plan further counterattacks against unsuspecting regional military and civilian targets.

Lake Chad Basin states must engage in regionally coordinated and multifaceted military and civilian efforts aimed at simultaneously uprooting jihadist presence in the region, counter their twisted ideology, suffocate local and external support networks and degrade their ability to plan and launch attacks against hard military and soft civilian populations within and across border states.

To achieve a comprehensive and sustainable victory, each regional state must establish or enhance existing community cohesion activities and trust building networks with credible local partners together with credible civil society organisations and international partners. These local networks, given the right capacity, security and trust, would gain the skills and resources to directly and engage the most vulnerable groups and ensure that jihadist narratives and tactics do not continue to create gaps needed for winning the hearts and minds of the local population.

No single nation in the Lake Chad Basin can ‘Play God’ against a deeply rooted ISIS and Al-Qaida core and affiliates even when reported internal leadership rivalry amongst jihadist prevents them from establishing a highly centralised and unified movement. Individual state led battles against jihadist groups will be won and lost from time to time, but only a joint sustainable regional strategy will successfully crush Boko Haram jihadist activities in the region.

The strategic importance for collective regional collaboration - from planning, preparation to force deployment – explains the genesis and rational behind the creation of the MNJTF– more than ever, the global COVID19 pandemic and its impact on external support partners should present the need for MNJTF member states to resuscitate , regionally fund, Command, control and place a priority to collectively achieve its most important goal of suffocating all Boko Haram and ISWAP jihadist presence and menace in the Lake Chad region. No one Lake Chad country however powerful and strategic will succeed to crush and defeat Boko Haram ISWAP on their own without a genuine MNJTF civil and military collaboration and coordination.

About The Author: David Otto is the Global Risk International (GRI) Director of Anti & Counter Terrorism programme design and training.

David is a world renowned Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Expert. He is a Certified Anti Terrorism Specialist (CAS), a Certified Master Anti Terrorism Specialist (CMAS) and a programme trainer with the Anti Terrorism Accreditation Board (ATAB); a Certified Expert in Field Criminalistics from The National University of Penal, Administrative and security Science – Mexico; He holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Counter Terrorism & Organised Crime & BA(Hon’s) in Law & Criminology from the University of East London

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United Kingdom of Great Britain.

David is a certified ProQual Level 2/ C4Skills practitioner on Preventing Radicalization and safeguarding solutions. He serves as a Senior Advisor to the International Police Commission (IPC). David is also a selected expert and lecturer for NATO forces on Defence Against Terrorism at the NATO School and Subject Matter Expert (SME) on US DoD Africa Command. He was a pioneer Expert panellist and contributor to Interpol’s Global CT Strategy 2016 in Bali Indonesia.

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No single nation in the Lake Chad Basin can ‘Play God’ against a deeply rooted ISIS and Al-Qaida core and affiliates even when reported internal leadership rivalry amongst jihadist prevents them from establishing a highly centralised and unified movement.

Individual state led battles against jihadist groups will be won and lost from time to time, but only a joint sustainable regional strategy will successfully crush Boko Haram jihadist activities in the region.

Country Category Report

Observations of the COVID-19 Response Across Africa Kevin Nolan and Lambert Akwa

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African leaders are currently faced with the daunting challenge of combatting the spread of a relentless, borderless virus with finite resources.

When the world’s richest nations are struggling to provide their own citizens with masks, testing kits and ventilators, how can countries with even less resources cope?

Although much of the continent has seen considerable advancements in political processes, economic diversification and increased foreign direct investment in recent years, African leaders are currently faced with the daunting challenge of combatting the spread of a relentless, borderless virus with finite resources. Not surprisingly, across Africa the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been as varied as the continent itself—with praise for the swift, courageous and resilient actions by some governments matched by the criticism of sluggishness and ambiguity of others. As limited

resources equate to increased vulnerability, it is arguably more important for the governments across the African continent to provide services and information to their citizens that are consistent, timely, and accurate to effectively mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

But the challenges extend beyond the lack of resources to be sure. Namely, with public trust in African governments varying greatly between countries, how can governments position themselves as credible authorities on matters related to public health? History has shown—and not just in Africa—that authoritarian leadership exploits such crises as opportunities to entrench greater influence over the media, increase control over state coffers or to imprison political opponents all in

the name of public safety.

African governments must also convince the movers and shakers of bustling informal economies across rural areas, townships and megacities alike to stay home without adequate programs in place to supplement their income. Finally, how do governments ensure public safety when, in some countries, scenes of police road blocks, military patrols and checkpoints evoke painful (and often recent) memories of political unrest or turbulent transitions of power?

While most countries of the world look after their own national interests in these uncertain times, we opted to take a snapshot of several governments across Africa who are implementing myriad strategies to combat COVID-19 and protect their citizens— often applying creativity and

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Category Country Report

resourcefulness where there are few resources.

South Africa Although the government of South Africa was lauded in the initial phases of the pandemic for implementing one of the most aggressive national lockdowns seen worldwide, including police and military enforced bans on exercising outdoors and the prohibition of alcohol and tobacco consumption in public, the continent’s second largest economy has the highest number of confirmed cases.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize have been praised for their passionate and knowledgeable understanding of the crisis, as evident in the rapid establishment of testing centers in such densely populated townships of Yeoville outside of Johannesburg and the wide distribution of hand sanitizer via government vehicles. Yet critics of the lockdown cite troubling allegations of lawenforcement and military officials engaging in excessive force and abuses resulting in additional deaths. As a result, many south Africans have taken to social media to express their feelings of disconnectedness

with the #DearMrPresident hashtag looking for additional clarifications on evolving guidance and swift justice for the victims of police brutality.

Some have noted that its history of combatting malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and, more recently, coercing a stubborn Cape Town population to dramatically reduce its water usage habits in the 2018 crisis the provided some valuable lessons learned for Ramaphosa’s government.

Morocco The North African Kingdom of Morocco, one of the first to close off its airspace, borders and mosques, has also enacted stringent new laws requiring masks and permits for citizens venturing outside of their homes. But it’s bold approach to combatting the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 online may be just as impactful as its offline tactics. In recent weeks the government has taken to incarcerating individuals for sharing false statements and rumors on online platforms such as YouTube, resulting in a number of arrests as the country continues to release previously imprisoned individuals to prevent the spread behind bars.

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Morocco has also benefited from a new Twitter activation across select African nations that aims to promote the disbursement of accurate and timely information and advisory services by authorized authorities and health officials and mitigate false information that may lead to public unrest and further spreading of COVID-19.

Not surprisingly, the pandemic has decimated the country’s manufacturing sector, often

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When the world’s richest nations are struggling to provide their own citizens with masks, testing kits and ventilators, how can countries with even less resources cope?

Country Category Report

hailed as a true success story of government-led programs and private investment, and the tourism sector—a key driver of foreign exchange for the Kingdom. North America’s diminishing appetite for buying up phosphates from the Western Sahara hasn’t helped either. As it considers a variety of fiscal stimulants, all options are on the table from tapping into an IMF credit line to rolling out a government-sponsored fund with substantial contributions of the country’s wealthy elite.

Ghana Ghana has been decisive in its response to the COV-19 crisis, although efforts have been somewhat fraught with the echoes of past national trauma surrounding the enforcement of measures of confinement for citizens.

The good news is, following the confirmation of the first two COVID-19 cases in Ghana by the renowned Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research at the University of Ghana, things moved very quickly. A concerted effort towards contact tracing began, non-admittance of travelers from countries where at least 200 cases of COVID-19 were recorded was declared and a dedicated website to provide official updates and information went live. Further, several major outdoor markets in and around the capital were disinfected, beaches were closed to help contain the spread of the pandemic and the county's borders were closed for an initial period and then extended by the President for another.

Impressively, Ghana has also produced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as face masks, locally and given a 50% pay rise to frontline health workers amongst other laudable initiatives.

initial, underlying national anxiety, such as hasn’t been seen since the days of coup d’états and military rule. In the national psyche, such stringent measures, even where necessary, are usually associated with a tough militaristic approach to enforcement. As a result, the circulation of videos showing brutality from security services— some factual and others out of context--but depicting violence nonetheless—has added another layer of tension to a system that is stretched to capacity.

In a recent national address, the President tackled this issue head on; the first steps toward bridging that trust gap. Here we see that, just as important as mainline mitigating measures, are communication protocols that endear confidence, trust and hope—the hallmarks of true crisis leadership.

More Vulnerable Nations Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, noted on April 7 that COVID-19 cases in Africa have risen to more than 10,000. It is likely that this number will increase substantially and tackling

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While most countries of the world look after their own national interests in these uncertain times, we opted to take a snapshot of several governments across Africa who are implementing myriad strategies to combat COVID-19.

Despite seemingly having done all the right things, the enforcement of the President Nana Akufo-Addo’s stay at home order for parts of the country was met with some

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Category Country Report

the pandemic will require a decentralized response. She further argued that communities must be empowered and receive the resources, information and expertise needed to tackle outbreaks at the local level.

Faso is expected to triple in the next lean season. This coupled with the fact that the country has seen the largest number of COVID-19 related deaths anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa makes for a dire story indeed.

While the UN health agency reports that thus far countries like Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria have succeeded in expanding their national testing capabilities and increasing efficiency, others are lagging behind with existing crises impeding their ability to initiate any real sustained response to the pandemic.

Additionally, human rights experts are renewing their call for an end to fighting in South Sudan as the pandemic spreads.

In an appeal to the authorities to step up efforts to contain the spread of the virus, its Commission on Human Rights has warned that millions of people who have fled years of violence are at greater risk.

Zimbabwe is one such country where urgent international support is required to prevent millions from plunging deeper into hunger. According to the World Food Programme(WFP), as COVID-19 takes hold the impact will be compounded by existing crises related to drought and a lack of food.

In a recent tweet, the WFP also indicated that, the number of food-insecure people in Burkina

It is therefore reassuring that, given the scale of the crisis, several African countries are due to benefit from a nearly $2 billion programme from the World Bank aimed at helping developing countries deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This represents a commendable international effort aimed towards ensuring a balanced response across hard hit communities and hopefully offer some respite.

‘‘

The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is one that must take place on several fronts.

Critical to victory is a government strategy that addresses the intangibles like hope, collective morale, transparency and cooperation, as much as the all-important frontline efforts.

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The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is one that must take place on several fronts. Critical to victory is a government strategy that addresses the intangibles like hope, collective morale, transparency and cooperation, as much as the all-important frontline efforts. In the story of African countries and their efforts towards containing the spreading virus, while there have been some missteps indeed, we see a strength of will, vigor and ingenuity that often goes underreported or altogether ignored. While in some ways the continent still needs the support of the global community, the world is waking up to an Africa that is showing signs of sophisticated, heart-led and organically African solutions to the pandemic amidst worldwide disarray.

--Kevin Nolan and Lambert Akwa – KARV Communications KARV Communications is a communications consulting firm headquartered in New York.

Category Opinion

Madagascar Herbal Remedy – An African solution to COVID-19?

Kingsley Okeke

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As the world races to produce a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, Africa appears to be spectating. Is the continent only primed as a perpetual ground for vaccine testing?

When will Africa join the league of solution providers?

According to data obtained on the 12th May 2020, from the Corona Virus Resources Centre at the John Hopkins University, the world currently has 4,277,832 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 292, 311 deaths across 187 countries. We are not even halfway through to the curveline. The predictions still speak gloom.

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Category Opinion

Throughout history, nothing has killed more human beings than viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

A World Health Organization report puts the global infectious related deaths at 17 Million per year. The report further states that 30 new diseases have emerged in the past 20 years and now together threaten the health of hundreds of millions of people. More worrying is the fact that, for many of these diseases, there is no immediate treatment, cure or vaccine.

In Africa, the novel coronavirus is exacerbating an already bad situation, occasioned by poor health infrastructure. Available data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control shows that as at the 12th May 2020, the continent has 69,597 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,402, COVID-19 related deaths. Painting a depressing picture, Scientists at Imperial College London in a recent research paper, predicted that if not aggressively checked, coronavirus could claim about 3 million lives across the continent. Add this number to the over 500,000 deaths that are to be expected from aidsrelated illnesses, due to the anticipated six months disruption in antiretroviral therapy, and we have a hideous situation.

Though the World Health Organization and other experts have maintained that, to slow the spread of the virus, confinement, social distancing and other basic hygienic practices should become the routine, the only way to restore normalcy globally, would be the vaccine.

Nearly 80 companies and institutions are aggressively pursuing the timely production of a vaccine, and five are already testing their vaccines in candidates. As the world races to produce a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, Africa appears to be spectating. Is the continent only primed as a perpetual ground for vaccine testing?

When will Africa join the league of solution providers?

However, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina, stunned the world recently when he announced a local herbal remedy which is believed to cure the novel Coronavirus. At the last count, over ten countries in Africa have already indicated interest to share in Madagascar’s “miracle remedy.” During the launch of the remedy in the country’s capital, Antananarivo, President Rajoelina said that “ tests have been carried out, and this treatment has now cured two people. Since then,

70 | African Leadership | May - June 2020

about 105 COVID-19 patients have recovered, using the herbal mixture. The treatment which was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, IMRA, gives results in seven days.

‘‘

In Africa, the novel coronavirus is exacerbating an already bad situation, occasioned by poor health infrastructure.

Available data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control shows that as at the 12th May 2020, the continent has 69,597 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,402, COVID-19 related deaths.

Opinion

President Rajoelina, who was the first to drink the herbal tea, in demonstration of his absolute faith in the treatment, maintained that “the treatment will be offered to school children.” He brushed aside concerns that the treatment needs authentication by the world health organization and other international organizations. The President slammed the World Health Organization for not endorsing its herbal remedy. In an interview with newsmen, president Rajoelina maintained that “ if it were a European country which had discovered this remedy, would there be so many doubts.”

Continuing he said, “the problem is that it comes from Africa and they cannot accept that a country like Madagascar which is one of the poorest countries in the world, has discovered this formula to save the world.”

Thus far, Madagascar is among a handful of countries that hasn’t recorded any COVID-19 related deaths. More significantly, Madagascar has about 192 cases of coronavirus with about 105 recoveries and no documented cases of death, since March, when it recorded the first case of COVID-19. While the country is only one among about 31 countries yet to record any COVID-19 related-death according to coronavirus tracker by google, it is the only country that has made a governmentbacked claim to a potential solution to the pandemic.

President Rajoelina, while backing his claim, maintained that “a marked improvement was noticed in the health of patients who received this remedy just 24 hours after they took the first dose. The cure was noted after 7 to 10 days. This remedy is natural and non-toxic.”

tremendously over the past three decades with not less than 80% of people worldwide relying on them for some part of primary healthcare.” Similarly, a report

by Jon Tilburt & Ted Kaptchuk, published in the World Health Organization Bulletin, titled: Herbal medicine research and global health: an ethical analysis, observed that: “ eighty per cent of African populations use some form of traditional herbal medicine and the worldwide annual market for these products approaches US$ 60 billion.”

The study further stated that: “In China, traditional herbal medicine played a prominent role in the strategy to contain and treat severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).”

Countries like China, India, Nigeria, the United States of America (USA) and the World Health Organization have all made substantial research investments in traditional herbal medicines. The Pharmaceutical companies have also invested millions of US dollars looking for promising medicinal herbs and novel chemical compounds.

Madagascar’s herbal remedy should, therefore, attract global attention, especially from pharmaceutical companies.

Though herbal supplements are not subject to scrutiny by governing agencies, making the use somewhat controversial, it wouldn’t hurt to subject potential remedies like the CVO to fair trials to prove the veracity or otherwise of the claims.

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Nearly 80 companies and institutions are aggressively pursuing the timely production of a vaccine, and five are already testing their vaccines in candidates.

The Herbal remedy may be Africa’s unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the face of growing calls for Africa inspired solutions to the continent’s challenges.

Africa is home to over 1000 different plants species that have proven to cure various types of ailment. It has also proven to be cheaper and more accessible to the continent’s rural dwellers where quality healthcare facility remains a mirage for over 90% of them.

The practice of herbal supplement dates back to thousands of years. A report by Martins Ekor titled: The growing use of herbal medicines: issues relating to adverse reactions and challenges in monitoring safety, stated that: “the use of herbal medicinal products and supplements has increased

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Category Opinion

Comparatively, Africa may not have the requisite funding or the institutional capacity to research the same ethical standards as the west independently. But it has the local knowledge to pursue domestic remedies to what troubles the health of her people.

Africa doesn’t have to be the testing ground for vaccines, like the two French doctors- Camille Locht and Jean-Paul Mira, suggested in a live TV interview, eliciting continent-wide condemnation. There is nothing wrong in being part of a clinical trial for a potential vaccine.

However, the continent must go beyond playing at the fringes.

The continent can dictate the pace of her post-COVID-19 recovery and adaptation by pursuing local solutions – one that can be managed locally.

the AU said, “once furnished with the details, the Union, through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), will review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 Organics. “This review will be based on global technical and ethical norms to garner the necessary scientific evidence regarding the performance of the tonic,” the AU statement further disclosed.

herbal remedies that have not been scientifically tested.

Madagascar on its part has requested South Africa’s assistance with scientific research on Artemisia – the herb used in the production of COVIDOrganics. The country is building a factory to scale up production.

The President also said the cure was to undergo clinical trials and that aside from the drinks, injection options were being pursued.

Countries like Tanzania, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo and Guinea-Bissau, among others have already received the herbal remedy.

COVID-19 has presented yet another opportunity for the continent to put its best foot forward, and it will require the concerted efforts of all stakeholders and leaders. Should the continent not be involved, it will be an aberration. The alternative is to wait, for the world to find a solution, then come to the continent's rescue.

The choice is ours.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, WHO; have reiterated its caution against people putting their faith in

Last month, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina participated in a teleconference meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government with the Chairpersons of the AU Regional Economic Communities. He joined as the Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

During the meeting, he made a presentation to his peers regarding the herbal remedy. The teleconference was convened

by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa, and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), and had the aim of appraising the Chairpersons of the RECs about the actions and initiatives undertaken by the African Union in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the continent.

Consequently, the African Union has opened discussions with the Republic of Madagascar, through its embassy in Addis Ababa, to obtain technical data regarding the safety and efficiency of a herbal remedy.

The AU is expected to make her position known after reviewing the technical data to be supplied in line with global standards.

In a statement on its website,

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‘‘

Comparatively, Africa may not have the requisite funding or the institutional capacity to research the same ethical standards as the west independently.

But it has the local knowledge to pursue domestic remedies to what troubles the health of her people.

Business Integrity Showcase Category

Orange Sierra Leone takes Ethics and Compliance to a new Level In the last three years the company has invested about $ 400,000 dollars mainly in the areas of women empowerment, health, education and the environment. Orange remains the first operator in Sierra Leone to contribute to the government’s Free Quality Education (FQE) Agenda by pledging the sum of $1.5m in material assistance over a period of five years. In 2019, the company engaged in the following CSR activities : • Globally renowned Telco, Orange has been present in Sierra Leone for only three years. Yet, it has already firmly stamped its innovative footprint on the country and its telecoms industry. Bringing new era telecommunications to Sierra Leone.

Since the inception of Orange Operations in Sierra Leone, the company has invested about $133 million dollars in the areas of Network modernization and expansion, Human Resources as well as corporate social responsibility in the last three years.

We are pursuing a strong industrial project in Sierra Leone that is geared towards covering most of the country with telecoms services, services that will improve rural connectivity and also our quality of service says Aminata Kane Ndiaye , Orange CEO. Orange acquired 247 sites, In only 3 years , orange has completed a total of 147 new

sites , thereby connecting more than 1,170 new localities , with thousands of Sierra Leoneans now accessing data, voice and financial services for the first time. Orange is now a proud owner of 394 sites across the country with the widest coverage in Sierra Leone covering about 74% of the country’s population In respect of Human Resources, Orange has invested about $16 million dollars in the last two years. The company prides itself in capacity building by ensuring that its employees benefit from soft skills, technical and leadership trainings .The Company nurtures talent from on boarding, ensures retention and provides exposure opportunities to other orange affiliates.

Orange being a multi service provider and a responsible corporate citizen places emphasis on corporate social investment. Orange also prides itself in giving back to Sierra Leone through its robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda.

Support the Thinking Pink foundation in creating awareness of breast cancer among women through sport – mini marathon. Also providing financial assistance to cancer survivors for treatment.

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In recognition of the role Orange plays in the area of environment, the company received the Outstanding Humanitarian Award by Shout Climate Change Africa in partnership with EPA.

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Category

•

•

Orange Social Venture Prize – to identify and support local entrepreneurs and startups.

Distribution of 2,000 hygiene packs for girls between the ages of 12-18 years in fulfillment of our 2019 FQE commitment.

In readiness for the country’s digital transformation the company also launched the first coding school for young people in Sierra Leone in partnership with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) with an estimated cost of about LE2.75 billion.

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Orange being a multi service provider and a responsible corporate citizen places emphasis on corporate social investment. Orange also prides itself in giving back to Sierra Leone through its robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda.

Environment: In the area of environment, Orange remains the first company to secure an Environmental Impact Assessment license from the Environmental Protection Agency in 2018 upon the successful completion of an environmental and social impact assessment study with its consultant, CEMMAT. The License is secured annually to ensure that Orange conducts its business responsibly guaranteeing that the impact of the activities of the company to the environment, is mitigated.

In recognition of the role Orange plays in the area of environment, the company received the Outstanding Humanitarian Award

by Shout Climate Change Africa in partnership with EPA. We note with importance the recognition granted to us as one of Africa’s top business integrity organizations, by Africa Leadership awards, as that serves as a super motivation for us to keep maintaining and improving our organizational structure. Achieving such feat is based on standard systems that we have incorporated into our working environment and we ensure strict adherence of such systems by all employees, regardless of their capacities within the company We are currently a signatory to New York Stock Exchange, a renowned company which provides the platform for us to be able to maintain high and consistent business standards. We have six (6) features/key priorities which provides the guidance for our environment. These six are:

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1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Our first policy towards maintaining compliance is the support we have been having from the hierarchal structure of our administration and having strong ties with ACC, as they are the country’s leading compliance machine.

Ensuring governance structure within the company is well monitored to ensure everyone stays within the ambit of the company’s procedures and practices.

We further ensure that we have a strategic risk map analysis which provides analysis on potential areas we should strengthen, if any, in order ensure that we stay alert with the ever changing business environment.

We further ensure that all policies and procedure are being followed to even 3rd parties dealing with us. We ensure that all contracts have compliance clauses and we also implemented a whistle blowing mechanism which keep everyone with our brand on their toes.

We further ensure that training is conducted for almost all our employees.

We further have a dedicated department that ensures all specific process and procedure are adhered to.

Notwithstanding the aforesaid, as a result of the aforesaid structures our CEO, Aminata Kane Ndiaye was appointed to serve in our country’s AntiCorruption Advisory Council and such appointment cannot be unconnected to our strong internal compliance policies and procedures.

Category

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