African Peace Magazine

AFRICAN PEACE N1,000 $6

ISSUE 21/2017

www.africanpeacemag.com

4

...providing a friendly pla orm towards achieving peace in Africa

LIBERIANS WILL

ENJOY

PEACE PROSPERITY

AND

African Peace Magazine

MACDELLA COPPER

Africans Can Feed Africa and the World

Religion Can bring Peace

Understanding Water Security

How to become a billionaire in Africa

AFRICAN PEACE N1,000 $6

ISSUE 21/2017

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4

...providing a friendly pla orm towards achieving peace in Africa

Chairman Mr. Osho Sunday

Marketing and Business Development Bizchart NG Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)

Editor In Chief (Publisher) Noah Ajare

Editorial Board Prof. Lloyds Williams (U S A) Prof, Muhamed TawďŹ q Ladan (Nigeria) Prof. Paul O. Idornigie (Nigeria) Dr. Abiodun Odusote (Nigeria)

Editor Edify Yakusak Deputy Editor Dayo Ogun Managing Editor Adefolahan Adeyemo Associate Editor Okibe Agbcnu Erica African Peace Team Angela Mandara (Kenya ) Chief Alfred Solomon (Unitcd Kingdom) Joy Umckwe (United Kingdom) Olajide Ajayi(lreland) Somic Kay (Kenya)) Segun Mctor(France) Johnny Mashigo (South Africa) Jemiriye Adeniji (U S A) Laolu Omisade (Canada) Charles Accullcy (Ghana) Tony Stone (Zambia) Mary Anyango Oluoch(Kenya) Noble W.Kel Ngozisonyc(UAE) Deji Gbotosho (Nigeria) Hauwa Gadzama (Nigeria) Ayiroth Sandra (Uganda) Shreya Yadav (India) Sckao Phcnyo ntsosa (Botswana) Charity Lily (South Africa) Eric Emmanuel Sossah (Togo) Salama Kasoga (Uganda) Hadiza Abdulrahman (Nigeria) Sylvia Nachilindi (Zambia) Tonye Suzanne (Cameroon) Sunday Ilonorine (Rwanda) Lillian (Kenya) Ntombi Magagula (SA)

Graphics/ Photograph Edbank Photography Charles Jimmy Mattory digital print Creative Reality Contributors Elvis Lyorngurm Adam Alkali Zoe Secker Victoria Francis Ejodame Emmanuel Uju Nnaji

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CONTENTS 2-14

15-20

RELIGION AS A TOOL FOR

ACHIEVING

PEACE IN AFRICA

with

MacDella Cooper Presidential Candidate, Liberia

37-40

34-35 SKIN TYPES TREATMENTS

AND

Entrepreneurship Development as a Strategy for the Alleviation of Poverty in Africa

43-45

36 HOW TO KEEP YOUR

SKIN

BEAUTIFUL

41-42 The

Q+A

Nigerian

Power Sector

5

Five Reasons Why Sexual Violence Is one of Nigeria's Most Serious Social Problems According to the United Nations, one in three women are victims of sexual violence. This heinous statistic affects all nations worldwide, but Nigeria is ranked in the top ten countries with the highest rape crime in the world. Several campaigns have launched such as Stand To End Rape and Stop Sexual Violence but we need to grasp a clearer understanding on the intensity of the matter.

Here are ten reasons why sexual violence is one of Nigeria's most serious social problems:

46-48

UNDERS TAND ING WATER SECURITY Security is about well-intended measures to counter possible risk that can cause a loss through the weakest link' in any set up.

By Adegoke Femi Dickson

CONTENTS 49-51 AFRICANS

FEED

CAN

AFRICA and the

WORLD

52-53 THE DEATH OF FIDEL CASTRO:

A DICTATOR TO THE WEST,

A HERO TO AFRICANS?

66-69

54-55

10 MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRIES

TRADITIONAL CONFLICT

RESOLUTION

KENYA

In

IN AFRICA

Gladys Njuguna

56-58 THE KENYAN

CONTENTIOUS

CLAUSE

59-64

Q+A with

HE AMB ALVARO

CASTILLO AGUILAR

72-73

Ajayi Olubiyi

How to Become a

Billionaire in Africa

75-76

AMBASSADOR OF SPAIN TO NIGERIA

70-71

SEXUAL

INTIMACY MARRIAGE

IN

Pst Bose

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:

THE KEY TO A BETTER CAREER

EDITORS NOTE FOR

March Edition

In life, sometimes the experiences that matters the most and shapes our life one way or the other are the briefest.

Noah Ajare www.africanpeacemag.com 1

O

ur life is shaped by the experiences we have had, Africa is a deeply religious continent and literally everything has a spiritual connotation. Despite the high level of spirituality which is very commendable but we have not started reaping the benefits of religion by having a more peaceful continent, which is crime free and free from hate and other vices condemned by most religions in Africa. Religion has been a key factor shaping our daily experience. You would readily agree with me that in Africa we have more religious places of worship than anywhere else in the world. In this edition we would examine the place of religion in peace building in Africa.

In life, sometimes the experiences that matters the most and shapes our life one way or the other are the briefest.

Have you ever experienced war, terrorism or armed conflict? If you have, then you will understand the impact of seeing fresh blood flowing on the street on the human mind. The experiences may pass in the blink of an eye: a few days, a few hours, a few moments.

They are the experiences that illuminate the landscape of our memory. They are the moments in which we see, suddenly, something we had not seen before; we understand something we had not understood; we forge a connection we had not expected. In a conflict situation everybody is a victim one way or the other and the memories would be carried on for a life time and beyond.

We have seen wars, terrorism

and conflict situation all around Africa, for me it is a clarion call for us all to change our future together. I ask you to do what we are doing: leave your comfort zones, your homes, to come on board the African peace effort at promoting peace in Africa. With an open heart, an open mind and a passion for humanity, let's change our experiences and those of the unborn generation. Further in this edition we had an exclusive opportunity to interview a prominent aspirant for the forthcoming Liberian election. She is very promising and we are convinced that she will bring peace and stability back to Liberia. As Macdella Cooper battles to be the candidate of change in Liberia, It is a well deserved change for the country, the people are craving for this change and she has what it takes to deliver. To us, Macdella Cooper is credible and sincere when she explained her plans for industrialization, expansion of farm production and a host of others. She got into policy specific and pledged to be the change the people crave for in Liberia.

We equally interviewed other high profile dignitaries in this edition, sit back and enjoy the edition.

Five elections to watch out for in the continent in this year includes; The Kenyan General Election-August 2017, Liberian General Election-October 2017, Rwanda Presidential ElectionAugust 2017, Angola General Election-August 2017 and the Democratic Republic of Congo General Election-2017.

We do hope the Elections would be peaceful and usher in a better season for the respective countries.

RELIGION AS A TOOL FOR

ACHIEVING

PEACE IN AFRICA

I

In a time of intense global conflict, we expect all hands to be on deck. We must all recognize the fact that there is no one path to peace.

Over the years peace has become the most talked about subject and an aspirations for all countries, yet it is the most elusive of all goals, nation's keeps stock piling weapons at the expense of developmental goals in some cases. Religion is a very delicate subject, it easily

become a tool for peace or a tool for war.

According to Wikipedia, Today, the continent's various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of Christianity, Islam, and to a lesser extent Traditional African religion. In Christian or Islamic communities, religious beliefs are also sometimes characterized with syncretism with the beliefs and practices of traditional religions. Intractable conflict Eric Brahm observed that we are bombarded on a nearly daily basis with news stories that

portray religion as a cause of seemingly Intractable conflict the world over. Some, in fact, trace the view of religion as a source of conflict all the way back to the religious wars that ravaged seventeenth century Europe.

1 What does not attract attention is the peacebuilding power of religion. This contribution is often overlooked, in part, because the secular media rarely pays attention to the role of religious peacemakers because their work is often not dramatic enough. However, all of the

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“According to Wikipedia, Today, the continent's various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of Christianity, Islam, and to a lesser extent Traditional African religion. In Christian or Islamic communities, religious beliefs are also sometimes characterized with syncretism with the beliefs and practices of traditional religions.

Intractable conflict�

mitigating conflict.

Relief/Humanitarian Assistance Motivated by a desire to help those less fortunate, many religious-based NGOs are involved in humanitarian assistance.

present, it makes grants to hundreds of grassroots organizations around the world and hundreds of volunteers participate in projects each year.

Catholic Relief Services http://www.catholicrelief.org/ The desire is to relieve suffering, American bishops created the whether due to natural disaster organization in 1943. Inspired by the Gospel tradition, Catholic or man-made calamity. Many Relief Services aims to assist the are also engaged in longerrange development projects. At poor and disadvantaged in pursuit of justice. It does so both times, however, these projects through direct assistance and in have the unintended supporting the development of consequence of creating or local capacity. Catholic Relief exacerbating conflict.

Services has a global network of 3 That problem, combined with offices in nearly 100 countries around the globe. a growing recognition that peacebuilding will aid in the world's major religions have a sustainability of humanitarian significant strain emphasizing Mercy Corps peace. [2] Religious leaders and assistance and development http://www.mercycorps.org/hom programs, this has led quite a workers have proven to be key e/ number of these organizations civil society actors in many Mercy Corps has been working to build peacebuilding efforts to resolve conflicts, since 1979 to provide components into their work. serving as intermediaries or emergency relief. It also Humanitarian assistance third siders or helping to supports the development of programs can also help peace facilitate reconciliation. by promoting poverty reduction sustainable communities through assistance in areas We must at this point admit that and addressing economic such as agriculture, economic religion has been used as basis inequality. development, health, housing, for genocide over the years, and infrastructure, as well as They may also support the more worrisome is the present capacity-building amongst local development of civil society day siege of terrorist organizations. The organization organizations that provide organizations some of which also spearheads efforts to venues for peaceful profess a particular religion as manage conflict peacefully and participation and conflict the bases of their actions, we have so many of them like book management. A few prominent encourage citizen participation examples include the following. and accountability. haram, ISI, and a host of others. Easily brainwashing and World Vision American Jewish World indoctrinating people, turning http://www.worldvision.org Service members into mobile killer World Vision is an ecumenical http://www.ajws.org/ machines with a divine reward Christian relief and The AJWS began in 1985 with upon death. But that is not the a mission of working to alleviate development organization that focus of this article. has recently recognized the hunger, disease, and poverty Rather this essay explores some around the world. In doing so, it importance of conflict prevention and peacebuilding in draws upon notions of social of the ways in which religion both making its relief services justice in Jewish tradition. At has played a positive role in www.africanpeacemag.com 3

obsolete and making its development efforts sustainable.

It does so primarily at the community level. “World Vision's research reveals that participatory processes to identify community needs and to promote community development can help prevent violent conflict. These planning processes contribute to peace through bringing community leaders together across ethnic/religious divisions and through intermixing groups that oppose each other.�

Faith-Based Mediation/Intervention Motivated by religious goals of seeking peace, religious leaders and faith-based NGOs have frequently played prominent roles as mediators or other forms of intervention in conflict scenarios. Some religious figures have been able to use their positions of authority to work toward peace and to forward the cause of justice.

Pope John Paul II, for example, played a prominent role in Lebanon, Poland, and Haiti. As respected members of society, individual national religious leaders have often been at the forefront of efforts to deny impunity and bring an end to fighting. For instance, local bishops have served as mediators in civil wars in Mozambique, Burundi, and Liberia.

The All Africa Conference of Churches [http://www.aaccceta.org/homeEng.htm] brought a temporary end to the Sudanese civil war in 1972 in

part through prayer at critical points in the negotiations and by invoking both Christian and Muslim texts. Under many Latin American dictatorships in the 1970-1980s, the Catholic Church was able to criticize the lack of human right. In Brazil, members of the Church worked with the World Council of Churches http://www.wcccoe.org/ to conduct a private truth commission of abuses under the military government.

Some have pointed to the role that Buddhism can play in building peace in Cambodia as it is the only institution respected and trusted by all segments of society.

4 These efforts, however, often do go unrecognized, particularly the important efforts of individuals and groups engaged in track 11 diplomacy and working at the grassroots level.

Mediators who are motivated by their faith may face challenges unique to their perspective.

5 It is very difficult to work with those who the faith-based mediator may believe to be morally wrong, if not evil.

Furthermore, the mediator may be tempted to abandon their neutral position for 'an eye for an eye' attitude, should they or their loved ones be threatened.

The supreme challenge, although this is by no means unique to mediation, is to find God in others.

One advantage they appear to have is their persistence and commitment. Studies have suggested that faith-based NGOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina have helped

overcome conditions that fueled the conflict by bringing people together for such varied projects as soup kitchens, building homes, and organizing choirs.

The long-term commitment of these NGOs, these studies find, have contributed to reconciliation.

6 Some examples of faith-based organizations that engage in mediation or related interventions include: Quakers (The Religious Society of Friends) Quaker theology is committed to nonviolence. They began providing relief services in the 1960-1970s and had also gone so far as to sponsor conferences for disputants. Their 1984 involvement in the Sri Lankan civil war, however, led the Quakers in a new direction, namely providing mediation.

They came to Sri Lanka hoping to learn more about the conflict, determine if there were development projects they could support, and share their experiences with similar conflicts elsewhere.

7 As the conflict became clearer, the Quakers concluded that mediation might have been beneficial, but no one was filling the role. From that experience, a number of lessons emerged.

One was the importance of operating transparently and observing strict neutrality. The Quakers were very concerned about becoming the center of attention. They demanded that their role as intermediary be kept quiet. In their view, their effectiveness depended on not being seen as part of the conflict. In fact, they www.africanpeacemag.com 4

emphasized their powerlessness in the situation so as to impart on the parties that they had no interest in the conflict. For similar reasons, they refuse to set deadlines for the disputants.

In Sri Lanka, they also repeatedly reaffirmed with the sides that their presence was still seen as useful.

The Anabaptists/Mennonites (Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA) The Mennonites have also become active in peacemaking efforts.

8 Their belief in nonviolence dates back to their origins during the Reformation in the 1500s. The experience of World War II challenged the beliefs of many American Mennonites who shifted from conscientious objection, which was common in World War I, to participation in non-combat roles. After the war, Mennonites continued in similar roles.

Their post-war work in providing relief after natural and manmade disasters led some to suggest that they should focus on the root causes of the crisis.

By the mid-1970s, the Mennonite Conciliation Service (MCS) had been established to provide mediation in domestic and international contexts. For example, Mennonites worked in South Africa from the 1970s up to the end of apartheid. While identifying with the oppressed, they also reached out to the Afrikaner community.

9 Later innovations included Christian Peacemaker Teams

and International Conciliation Service. Mennonite peacebuilding is distinguished by a number of factors: 10 they are careful not to take control of the process from the parties; they focus their efforts on the grassroots level; they commit to serve as witness and stand with the oppressed; and a determination to commit to long-term involvement should the parties desire it.

Plowshares Institute The Plowshares Institute, based in the United Methodist Church, has spent three decades conducting faith-based peacebuilding training around the world. Their goal is to impart conflict transformation skills from a spiritual and moral perspective. In South Africa, the Plowshares Institute has worked with four other South African NGOs to bring together leaders from opposing sides in order to train them to facilitate communication and cooperation across social divides.

In total, they identified some 1400 grassroots leaders in South Africa. The grassroots leaders were first trained to see conflict as an opportunity for systematic change and to build relationships that help transform conflict.

Before South Africa's 1994 national all-race elections, Plowshares brought together South African police and antiapartheid activists that had been mistreated by the police in order to challenge stereotypes and facilitate collaboration through such methods as cross-

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role playing, in which those on opposing sides adopting and advocating their opponents' points of view.

World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) The World Conference of Religions for Peace was founded in 1970 as a venue for dialogue amongst the world's religious leaders to identify common concerns, formulate plans of action, and articulate a vision of the future.

Amongst other things, WCRP has mediated dialogue among warring factions in Sierra Leone, worked to advance reconciliation in Bosnia and Kosovo and to assist the millions of children affected by Africa's AIDS pandemic.

Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) The Fellowship of Reconciliation is an interfaith organization that recognizes the essential unity of all creation, works toward a just and peaceful world, and recognizes the transformative potential of religion in realizing such a vision. Founded in 1914, the organization now has branches in 40 countries.

In one example of FOR's work, in 1984 the Little Sisters of Jesus in the Philippines asked FOR to train Filipino civil society leaders training in the theory and practice of active nonviolence because they feared the country was headed for civil war.

Community of Sant'Egidio Sant'Egidio, a Rome-based Catholic lay organization, has

made significant contributions to peace processes in such far ranging places as Mozambique, Burundi, Congo, Algeria, and Kosovo through a peacemaking approach that is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and theology.

11. Andrea Bartoli, a member of Sant'Egidio describes their work in Mozambique in his interview with Beyond Intractability's Julian Portilla.

Interfaith/Inter-Religious Dialogue John Paul Lederach, amongst others, has cautioned against assuming that religious (or any other form of conflict) conflict can be avoided.

Rather, conflict is a natural outgrowth of human interaction. Recognizing this, there are more or less effective ways of managing conflict. With respect to our present interest, interfaith dialogue would seem an important, often proactive means of minimizing conflict through fighting ignorance and distrust.

as people from different faiths have recognized the importance of communication to facilitate interfaith cooperation and to end religious-based violence. In his interview for Beyond Intractability, Mohammed AbuNimer talks about his work in Jewish-Muslim interfaith dialogues.

Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, Iran The institute works for the greater understanding amongst different religious faiths. It does so in part by maintaining a library with resources on different religions and sponsors language classes for those interested in studying Islam.

What is more, it holds monthly meetings and is involved in local and international conferences to promote knowledge of other religions.

Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) IID works to bring together representatives from different faiths around the world to promote understanding. By learning about other faith traditions, it also builds At its core, inter-religious understanding of one's own dialogue brings together those faith. It also promotes efforts at of different faith traditions for conversation. Dialogue can take religious education to eliminate ignorance. a range of forms and have a variety of goals in mind.

International Council of It may involve any level of Christians and Jews participant from elites to the grassroots. Through discussion, The ICCJ is an umbrella organization of Christian-Jewish groups and individuals may come to a better understanding dialogue organizations in nearly 40 countries around the world. of other faith traditions and of The dialogues got going in the many points of agreement response in response to the that likely exist between them.

As the short list below suggests, Holocaust. Recently, the ICCJ has been pursuing dialogue these networks have multiplied

with Moslems as well. The organization holds yearly conferences as well as ad hoc consultations.

Muslim Christian Dialogue Forum (Minhaj-ul-Quran), Pakistan Established in 1998, the organization has sought to promote equal rights for all religious groups within Pakistan.

It emerged from Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Pakistani political party.

Society for Inter-religious Dialogue (SIDA), Indonesia SIDA was a response to the lack of respect for other religious traditions and inter-religious violence in Indonesia in the late 1990s. It aims both the promote understanding and meetings as well as to fight against the hijacking of religious symbols for political gains.

United Religions Initiatives Created in 2000, URI has thousands of members representing over one hundred religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions in more than fifty countries around the world. They are working to build solidarity and facilitate the spread of best practices to build cultures of peace.

The centerpiece of the URI is Cooperation Circles, which are regional or virtual teams made up of diverse members who identify concerns and articulate a vision of peace.

The fact remains that religion is a potent tool for achieving peace world over and in Africa.

www.africanpeacemag.com 6

The fact remains that religion is a potent tool for achieving peace world over and in Africa.

everyone into their own ideology. The third and final approach is known as “peace with religion”. This approach focuses on the importance of coexistence and interfaith dialogue.

ritual processes across geographic and ethnic boundaries. Generally speaking, African religions hold that there is one creator God.

African religions, religious beliefs and practices of the 2. Gerrie ter Haar suggests that peoples of Africa. It should be noted that any attempt to religion is neither inherently generalize about the nature of good nor bad for peace, and According to Wikipedia, “African religions” risks wrongly that its influence is Religion and peace building implying that there is undeniable.[3] Peace with refers to the study of religion's homogeneity among all African religion, then, emphasises role in the development of cultures. In fact, Africa is a vast promoting the common peace. principles present in every major continent encompassing both Scholars generally accept that geographic variation and religion. religion has been, at different tremendous cultural diversity. points in history, both A major component of religion advantageous and ruinous to Each of the more than 50 and peacebuilding is faiththe promotion of peace modern countries that occupy based non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Douglas the continent has its own 1. However, there have been particular history, and each in many approaches to explaining Johnston points out that faithturn comprises numerous ethnic based NGOs offer two distinct this variability. groups with different languages Nathan C. Funk and Christina J. advantages. and unique customs and The first is that since faithWoolner categorize these beliefs. African religions are as based NGOs are very often approaches into three models. diverse as the continent is locally based, they have The first is “peace through immediate influence within that varied. religion alone”. This proposes community. He argues that “it is Nevertheless, long cultural to attain world peace through contact, in degrees ranging important to promote devotion to a given religion. indigenous ownership of conflict from trade to conquest, has forged some fundamental Opponents claim that advocates prevention and peacebuilding initiatives as early in the process commonalities among religions generally want to attain peace within sub regions, allowing for through their particular religion as possible.” some generalizations to be only and have little tolerance of The second advantage Johnston made about the distinguishing other ideologies. The second features of religions indigenous model, a response to the first, is presents is that faith-based to Africa. “peace without religion”. Critics NGOs carry moral authority that contributes to the claim that it is overly simplistic 15 Facts about African Religion receptivity of negotiations and and fails to address other

by Prof Jacob K. Olupona causes of conflict as well as the policies for peace.

1. African traditional religion peace potential of religion.

Religion in Africa and Peace refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the Roles It is also said that this model African people. It deals with excludes the many contributions No single body of religious their cosmology, ritual practices, beliefs and practices can be of religious people in the symbols, arts, society, and so development of peace. Another identified as African. It is on. Because religion is a way of possible, however, to identify critique claims that both life, it relates to culture and similarities in worldviews and approaches require bringing www.africanpeacemag.com 7

society as they affect the worldview of the African people.

2. Traditional African religions are not stagnant but highly dynamic and constantly reacting to various shifting influences such as old age, modernity, and technological advances.

3. Traditional African religions are less of faith traditions and more of lived traditions. They are less concerned with doctrines and much more so with rituals, ceremonies, and lived practices.

4. When addressing religion in Africa, scholars often speak of a “triple heritage,” that is the triple legacy of indigenous religion, Islam, and Christianity that are often found side by side in many African societies.

have converted to various traditional African religions, and the importance of the diaspora for these religions is growing rapidly. African religions have also become a major attraction for those in the diaspora who travel to Africa on pilgrimages because of the global reach of these traditions.

8. There are quite a number of revival groups and movements whose main aim is to ensure that the tenants and practice of African indigenous religion that are threatened survive. These can be found all over the Americas and Europe.

9. The concerns for health, wealth, and procreation are very central to the core of African religions. That is why they have developed institutions for healing, for commerce, and for the general well-being of 5. While those who identify as their own practitioners and practitioners of traditional African religions are often in the adherents of other religions as well. minority, many who identify as Muslims or Christians are 10. Indigenous African religions involved in traditional religions are not based on conversion like to one degree or another.

Islam and Christianity. They tend to propagate peaceful 6. Though many Africans have coexistence, and they promote converted to Islam and good relations with members of Christianity, these religions still other religious traditions that inform the social, economic, surround them. and political life in African societies.

11. Today as a minority tradition, it has suffered 7. Traditional African religions immensely from human rights have gone global! The Transabuses. This is based on Atlantic slave trade led to the misconceptions that these growth of African-inspired religions are antithetical to traditions in the Americas such modernity. Indeed indigenous as Candomblé in Brazil, African religions have provided Santería in Cuba, or Vodun in the blueprint for robust Haïti. Furthermore, many in conversations and thinking places like the US and the UK

about community relations, interfaith dialogue, civil society, and civil religion.

12. Women play a key role in the practice of these traditions, and the internal gender relations and dynamics are very profound. There are many female goddesses along with their male counterparts. There are female priestesses, diviners, and other figures, and many feminist scholars have drawn from these traditions to advocate for women's rights and the place of the feminine in African societies.

The traditional approach of indigenous African religions to gender is one of complementarity in which a confluence of male and female forces must operate in harmony.

13. Indigenous African religions contain a great deal of wisdom and insight on how human beings can best live within and interact with the environment.

Given our current impending ecological crisis, indigenous African religions have a great deal to offer both African countries and the world at large.

14. African indigenous religions provide strong linkages between the life of humans and the world of the ancestors. Humans are thus able to maintain constant and symbiotic relations with their ancestors who are understood to be intimately concerned and involved in their descendants' everyday affairs.

15. Unlike other world religions that have written scriptures, oral www.africanpeacemag.com 8

sources form the core of indigenous African religions.

These oral sources are intricately interwoven into arts, political and social structure, and material culture. The oral nature of these traditions allows for a great deal of adaptability and variation within and between indigenous African religions.

At the same time, forms of orature – such as the Ifa tradition amongst the Yoruba can form important sources for understanding the tenants and worldview of these religions that can serve as analogs to scriptures such as the Bible or the Qur'an.

The threat of religious extremism is real and well documented. The connection between religion and conflict is in the process of being thoroughly explored, however, to the extent that hyperbole and exaggeration are commonplace.

In the popular mind, to discuss religion in the context of international affairs automatically raises the specter of religiousbased conflict. The many other dimensions and impacts of religion tend to be downplayed or even neglected entirely.

The contribution that religion can make to peacemaking--as the flip side of religious conflict-is only beginning to be explored and explicated. All Religious Contribution to three of the Abrahamic faiths Peacemaking: When Religion brings Peace, not war. Complied contain strong warrants for peacemaking. There are past

by David Smock cases of mediation and In the popular mind, to discuss peacemaking by religious religion in the context of leaders and institutions. For international affairs automatically raises the specter example, the World Council of Churches and the All Africa of religious-based conflict.

Conference of Churches mediated the short-lived 1972 The many other dimensions and impacts of religion tend to peace agreement in Sudan. be downplayed or even In South Africa, various neglected entirely. churches were at the vanguard of the struggle against The contribution that religion apartheid and the peaceful can make to peacemaking--as the flip side of religious conflict- transition. The most dramatic and most frequently cited case -is only beginning to be is the successful mediation the explored and explicated.

Rome-based Community of Sant'Egidio achieved to help Introduction The post-September 11 world is end the civil war in Mozambique in 1992. seized with the dangers of religious extremism and conflict Repeatedly citing these cases as between religious communities, the main points of reference distorts the reality of religious particularly between two or peacemaking. Most of the cases more of the Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. of religious or faith-based www.africanpeacemag.com 9

peacemaking are less dramatic in their outcomes. Also, religious peacemaking is becoming much more common, and the number of cases cited is growing at an increasing pace.

The field of religious peacemaking is also maturing.

With more sophisticated reflections of its growing experience, a body of knowledge is developing. I made an earlier attempt to reflect on this experience in the book I edited titled Interfaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding (Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 2002).

Some of the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field, including Marc Gopin, Mohammed Abu-Nimer, and David Steele, contributed chapters to that volume. The book contains an analysis of the keys of success in interfaith dialogue as a mechanism for resolving violent conflicts.

It lifts up the unique elements of religious peacebuilding, with a particular focus on apology and forgiveness. It also emphasizes the importance of keeping issues of social justice front and center, so that religious peacebuilding does not merely make the participants feel better.

There are a number of other important contributions to this literature. When communal identities, particularly religious identities, are key causal factors in violent conflict, traditional diplomacy may be of little value in seeking peace or conflict management.

Douglas Johnston, president of the International Center on Religion and Diplomacy, has identified conditions in several conflict situations that lend themselves to faith-based intervention: · religion is a significant factor in the identity of one or both parts to the conflict; · religious leaders on both sides of the dispute can be mobilized to facilitate peace; · protracted struggles between two major religious traditions transcend national borders, as has been the case over time with Islam and Christianity; and/or · forces of realpolitik have led to an extended paralysis of action.

Johnston also identifies the attributes that religious leaders and institutions can offer in promoting peace and reconciliation, including: · credibility as a trusted institution; · a respected set of values; · moral warrants for opposing injustice on the part of governments; · unique leverage for promoting reconciliation among conflicting parties, including an ability to rehumanize situations that have become dehumanized over the course of protracted conflict; · a capability to mobilize community, nation, and international support for a peace process; · an ability to follow through locally in the wake of a political settlement; and · a sense of calling that often inspires perseverance in the face of major, otherwise debilitating, obstacles.

By way of example, African

peacemaker Hizkias Assefa, emphasizes the commendable role of religious leaders as an asset in peacemaking. Such religious leaders are particularly effective in working together for peace when they are from different faith communities.

life that are centrally important to peacemaking are empathy and compassion, and the value of tapping into these attributes is readily apparent in effective religious peacemaking.

The development of studies and practice relating to the connection between religion, When the faiths explore and conflict, and peace is paralleled practice common values, such

by United States Institute of as justice and compassion, in public life, religious leaders can Peace (USIP) program development on religious be an inspiration to others. peacemaking. In 1990, USIP established a program on Gerrie ter Haar summarizes religion, ethics, and human Assefa's contention as: rights led by David Little, now a "Bringing the spiritual dimension professor at Harvard Divinity School. into the peacemaking process That program focused on can create access to the more compiling case studies on the deep-seated, affective base of sources and nature of religious the parties' behavior, enabling conflict in such countries as them to examine critically their Sudan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Sri own attitudes and actions.

Lanka, and Ukraine. Several publications resulted from these People's conflict behavior is often based on more emotional case studies, including books on Sri Lanka and Ukraine considerations and thus may regarding conflict between the not be changed simply by faith communities. Overall, rational negotiation processes these studies viewed religion and subsequent agreements. principally in terms of creating Cognitive decisions and conflict. commitments, he argues, do not necessarily translate into After David Little retired from feelings and actions."

USIP in 1999, the Institute decided to continue prioritizing Religious resources are religion in relation to contained in the four main international conflict and elements of which religions peace, but decided to shift the consist. Haar identifies these emphasis from religion as a elements as: religious ideas source of conflict to (content of belief), religious practices (ritual behavior), social peacemaking. organization (religious This shift fully acknowledged community), and religious--or the contribution of religion to spiritual--experiences. These conflict, but lifted up the dimensions can all be used in peacemaking potential of the service of peacemaking.

Two critical elements in religious religious leaders and www.africanpeacemag.com 10

institutions. Working with local institutional partners, USIP's Religion and Peacemaking Program has collaborated in religious peacemaking in Nigeria, Sudan, Israel and Palestine, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Macedonia, and Indonesia. The emphasis is on peacemaking when two or more Abrahamic faiths are in conflict. In some cases, USIP's efforts have focused on helping believers reinterpret their religious principles in ways that contribute to peaceful coexistence with adherents of other faiths.

This Peaceworks builds upon and goes well beyond the book, Interfaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding, which presented general principles to guide effective interfaith dialogue as well as profiles of some of the leading organizations in the field.

This report provides a series of case studies addressing specific religious conflicts through a variety of methodologies.

Some of the cases describe dramatic successes, like the Inter Faith Mediation Center mediating peace between Christians and Muslims in some of the most strife-torn regions of Nigeria. Others tackle some of the most intractable conflicts in the world, such as the Alexandria process among Muslim, Jewish, and Christian leaders working to establish a religious peace track in Israel and Palestine.

The analysis of the Iraqi Institute of Peace shows how the organization has grappled

with the most critical issues currently facing a religiously fragmented Iraq. Not all the cases presented here describe dramatic success stories, but even the less decisive cases provide experiences and lessons that are instructive for future religious peacemaking in other places.

accepted. Usually disregarded, however, are opportunities to employ the assets of religious leaders and religious institutions to promote peace. Traditional diplomacy has been particularly remiss in its neglect of the religious approach to peacemaking.

The cases described in the following sections illustrate the creative contributions that religion can make to peace in places like Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Macedonia, Nigeria, and Sudan. As these cases illustrate, religious approaches to peacemaking do not provide a panacea, but can complement secular peacemaking productively. This Peaceworks is meant both to demonstrate the value of religious contributions to peacemaking, and to extract lessons about what is and is not effective.

All of these cases explore projects by organizations that have been USIP partners in religious peacemaking and have received USIP financial support. Two of the cases (Kashmir and Sudan) describe projects undertaken prior to the Institute providing financial assistance, but all the other projects have been collaborative efforts with USIP. Presenting these case studies describes some of the richest material on this topic and also illuminates the Institute's involvement in this The following sections field. describe and analyze religious peacemaking in Kashmir, This is not an analysis about Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Nigeria, interfaith dialogue in the traditional sense of members of Sudan, and Macedonia.

Though all employ religious different faith communities approaches, these cases meeting to simply tell their illustrate several stories, share their religious methodologies. The Kashmir convictions with each other, or case uses interfaith dialogue. seek common religious understanding. Rather, the cases presented here are stories The Israel/Palestine project describes an effort to develop a of religious communities and religious track to peace as a leaders joining together to complement to resolve religious conflicts that diplomatic/secular negotiations. are at least partially rooted in The Iraq example describes the religious conflict. establishment and operation of the Iraqi Institute of Peace to Religion in many parts of the promote interfaith comity in world is contributing to violent that strife-torn country. The conflict, although exaggerated Nigeria cases describe training in many cases. This is well religious leaders in documented and broadly

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peacemaking, and mediating between Muslims and Christians successfully in Plateau State to end bloody conflict. The Sudan case describes both religious peacemaking between two ethnic groups in Southern Sudan and a project to improve Christian/Muslim relations in Southern Sudan.

variety of commercial interests.

In an atmosphere which is vitiated by such propaganda it is very difficult for the ordinary citizen to filter fact from fiction, thus falling prey to their plan.

They want to marginalize, weaken and minimize the religion's role in influencing the world system.

According to a well-known Indian scholar, Sudhir Kakkar, if we look closely at individual cases around the world, we will find that much-touted revival is less of religiosity than of cultural identities based on religious affiliation. In other words, there may not be any great ferment Before I begin, I would like to taking place in the world of thank the organizers of this religious ideas, beliefs, rituals or conference for giving me an opportunity to present my views any marked increase in the sum of human spirituality, where the in this conference. Being a student of Conflict Analysis and resurgence is most visible in the organization of collective Peace Building, I will focus on: why and how religion & violence identities around religion, in the are associated? And on the role formation and strengthening of communities of believers. of religion in the history as well What we are witnessing today is as in present age to promote less the resurgence of religion peace and to prevent and than of communalism where a resolve conflict. community of believers not only has religious affiliation but also Why and how religion and social, economic and political violence are associated? interests in common which may I believe that religion and come in conflict with the violence are associated with corresponding interests of each other for two reasons: 1) People fall prey to the plan another community of believers sharing the same geographical of Economic Fundamentalists area. and 2) People do not know their Indeed, most secular analysts own and other's religion. and progressive commentators Many powerful government & have traditionally sought to non-government agencies of uncover factors other than the world are involved in religion as the root cause of an propaganda against religion. ostensibly religious conflict. This They use media for this and has been as true of the antimost media houses are owned by large business houses with a Semitic pogroms in Spain in the Lastly, the Macedonia piece describes efforts to establish an interfaith council to promote peace among Macedonia's faith and ethnic communities.

Role of Religion in Promotion of Peace and Conflict Resolution

14th C, of 16th C CatholicProtestant violence in France, of anti-Catholic riots in 18th C London, as of 20th C HinduMuslim riots in India 2. The 'real' cause of conflict between groups in all these instances has been generally identified as a clash of economic interests, explanation embraces some version of a class struggle between the poor and the rich.

Today, the world is subjugated neither by religion nor by science. It is dominated by economy. According to Dr. Javed Jamil, Economic Fundamentalists seek to put economics ahead of every other thing. Every religion aims at achieving peace, harmony and gives less importance to materialistic things.

Religion is one of the strongest institutions that help a person believe in these three things simultaneously as they are important to control human behavior. I would like to conclude by stating that Religion is not only a promoter of peace but it has also worked in the field of conflict prevention and resolution for ages.

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This principle is common to all religions in the world and this is what irritates the 'Economic Fundamentalist' the most. For promotion of materialism, they try to create a love for this world.

Their plan cannot be succeeded, unless people become least 'entangled in moral dilemma', and the love of this worldliness ravishes that of the other worldliness Antireligionists and pro-economists try hard to propagate religion as an evil and they have been successful to a great extent in their mission. But it does not mean that these forces are ProCommunalism.

Peace can be achieved only when there is law and order, and a state of harmony and mental calm prevails. From the beginning of the world, religion has existed to help individuals, groups and communities to achieve justice and peace.

If we look at history, we will find many examples where religion compels individuals, groups and communities to follow the path of peace and to avoid conflict.

Africa, many black South Africans and some white South Africans were inspired by their Christian faith to “fight” for peaceful resolution of the blackwhite divide, to lead non-violent opposition to the racist discrimination against black citizens, and to stand against racism in all its forms.

One of the most notable among black Christian leaders is Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

He went on to head the national Peace and Here I could have quoted Reconciliation Commission hundreds of verses from appointed to publicly scriptures of different faiths acknowledge the crimes of where significance of peace is apartheid, and to bring mentioned. But I would prefer to quote only practical examples offenders and victims to the same table, in order to lay the Communalism was also seen as where religion compels foundation for the newly a major anti-economic player in individuals, groups or communities to promote peace integrated republic to move the international arena. They beyond the colour divides and prevent or resolve conflict. countered communalism more towards nation building. harshly due to its ideology of Here I am quoting examples being anti-economist and 3.

At the group level, marginalized religion by making from 4 different religions, at another example where religion it only a part of “people's private three levels - individual, group promoted peace and prevent and community level. lives”. conflict was of victory of Religion: institution for Muslims over Mecca. The 1.

At the individual level, Promotion of Peace, Conflict Prophet (PBUH) entered one of the best and clear Prevention & Resolution examples is of Asoka the Great. Makkah and captured the city We can't ignore the fact that with hardly a single drop of King Asoka (see Cambridge Religion, next to family, is the blood being shed.

Studies of Religion, pp. 101second oldest institution. It 104) is a significant example of governs the social as well as one who sought to live in a way After his conquest of Makkah, personal behavior of man by that contributed to world peace. the Prophet (PBUH) displayed providing guidelines, laws and Living in India in the 3rd C BCE, the utmost humility and forgave principles relating to his all bitter enemies and declared interaction with his fellow man. Asoka left the life of violence that he led when he was king in a general amnesty. The victory I believe that this was one of the North India, after being greatly of Makkah had a tremendous impact on the Arabs. It showed influenced by Buddhist monks. strongest forces which used to He ruled his kingdom based on that Islam was the religion of maintain peace in the society.

Peace and it paved the way for Buddhist principles.

One of the main aims of the whole of Arabia to accept religion is to promote 'justice'. the faith.

Another example at Since justice is one of the main 2.

At community level, we pillars of peace, the elements of individual level is that during the 4. can find many examples from Apartheid regime in South peace and religion are same. www.africanpeacemag.com 13

we should discover them and become better aware with each other and enhance our understanding about one another. The Almighty has created human beings as different races and nations so that they can be tested, how just we are to those, whom we The Luo - Maasai peace consider “others”? How we can covenant, exhibits a strong feature of religious dimension in live together with thousands of differences among us? It is peace and reconciliation comparatively easier to be kind process. It started with and just to one's people but the convening of inter-communal challenge comes when the meeting on the border where the battle ensued. This was as a same justice has to be extended result prolonged war or conflict. to other people. And our Humanity is failing this test.

The participants comprised men, women, youth and I have no doubt that there will children. be complete peace and tranquility in this world if the Branches of poison trees and followers of different faiths live weapons of warfare were placed along the border so as to up to the high principles set before them by their respective form a fence between the religions, then the world will antagonists. The lactating move from Clashes of mothers of conflicting groups Civilization to Dialogues of exchanged their babies across Civilization. the fence so that each could suckle the babies of the other group. Prayers led by respective Personally, I believe that in the present age, three things are elders and religious leaders missing from people's lives (i) followed this.

Love (ii) Faith and (iii) Fear. If a person loses these three things, They beseeched God to bless he/she becomes Fearless or the covenant of peace (Shenk, violent too. Love for humanity 1983). The exchange of the and God, keeps a person babies across the fence by the mothers and the suckling of one humble and happy. Faith in God that everything will be alright another's babies implied that the warring parties had become keeps a person going on. And Fear from God, keeps one kith and kin” down-to-earth and kind.

4 These are some of the Religion is one of the strongest practical examples where institutions that help a person religion played a vital role in believe in these three things maintaining peace. simultaneously as they are I do agree that we have important to control human differences. But we should not behavior. I would like to ignore them; on the contrary,

tribal religions of African countries as well. In his paper, Kosomo Daniel mentioned that “In Kenya, there was a conflict between two tribes called Luo and Maasai and later it was resolved.

conclude by stating that Religion is not only a promoter of peace but it has also worked in the field of conflict prevention and resolution for ages AP

Personally, I believe that in the present age, three things are missing from people's lives (i) Love (ii) Faith and (iii) Fear. If a person loses these three things, he/she becomes Fearless or violent too.

Love for humanity and God, keeps a person humble and happy. Faith in God that everything will be alright keeps a person going on. And Fear from God, keeps one down-to-earth and kind.

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MacDella Cooper Presidential Candidate, Liberia

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Q+A Kindly tell us a little about yourself Resilience, hope, and inspiration. These words resonate around the world and they resonate with me, MacDella Cooper. I am a native of Liberia. During the early 1990's, Liberia was engulfed in a brutal civil war. According to BBC News, this war killed more than 250,000 people, including many of my close relatives.

To save her my, atage 16, I migrated to the United States.

My journey to the US began after the mysterious disappearance of my father. In search of our father, my two older siblings and I walked into rebel territory.

Surrounded by danger and uncertainty, but resilient, we, at the time three young teenagers took the only photo of our father and set about tracking his path. The search led us to a refugee camp in neighbouring Ivory Coast. After two and a half years of exile in the Ivory Coast, I received clearance from US Government to join my mother and younger siblings in Newark, New Jersey.

Although much better off, and within the armslength of family, Newark presented its own set of challenges for a young refugee. The entire family shared a two bedroom apartment in a Newark housing project and subsisted on food stamps and government aid. Hopeful and undeterred, I set my sights on obtaining

higher education.

Early on, I had been taught that education is the best way to conquer poverty. And, through hard work and perseverance, I graduated 3rd in her class of 1200 students from Barring High School – and was awarded a full academic scholarship to the College of New Jersey where I earned a degree in Electronic Communications. After graduation, Ralph Lauren recruited me to join its corporate team.

In 2003, I started the MacDella Cooper Foundation (MCF). MCF is a 501c3 international charitable organization to provide resources and relief to my native Liberia. MCF improves the lives of hundreds of Liberian women and children. But, I want to do more in Liberia!

MCF's success convinced me that I could, and anyone can see the need for effective change in leadership and government in Liberia.

My commitment to Liberia is founded on the moral imperative to improve the quality of life for all Liberians. At best, basic social services remain well below pre -

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civil war levels. At worst, they don't exist. Most Liberian children survive on less than $1 per day.

Why do you want to become President?

I've been heard talking of "a call to lead" for some time. My passion for my country did not stop when I was forced to flee as a young refugee girl in the 90's, and did not start with my decision to run as President. The "Call" has always been within me, and as I have grown and gone through many sometimes very tough and character building experiences in my life, I have fostered and nurtured this "Call" in different ways. With my decades of experience in dealing with Liberian issues, together with my belief in hope and unyielding drive for action, nothing can stop the movement for a new Liberia.

The "Call" has always been within me, and as I have grown and gone through many sometimes very tough and character building experiences in my life,

Peace means everything to me and more importantly, to the people of Liberia.

What does peace mean to you?

Peace means everything to me and more importantly, to the people of Liberia. They have gone through so much.

Like many Liberians, I was deeply impacted by the brutal Civil War in the 1990s. Peace is precious.

Without peace, there would be no development. Resilience, hope, and inspiration helped Liberians achieve peace. These values r esonate around the world and they resonate for Liberians and with me.

Peace is part and parcel of our story, my story, and indeed, our individual and collective destiny. Even though Liberia was engulfed in a brutal civil war for a very long time, I am determined to invest in and promote peace, our most precious asset.

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Is Peace possible in Africa?

Peace is a reality in the majority of countries -53 Member States- that constitute the African continent. War is far from rampant or widespread in Africa. But the deep seeded conflicts that continue to affect specific regions or countries, such as in Somalia, the DRC, Sudan and South Sudan, Mali, and Libya as well as the low intensity conflict situations such as in Guinea Bissau or attacks perpetrated against large areas and populations by extremist groups such as Boko Haram or the Shabaab tend to hide the fact that the majority of African countries are doing relatively well, enjoy peace and continue to make remarkable progress in terms of economic development and governance. Peace is therefore not only possible in Africa, it is a reality that must be achieved and sustained – wherever peace is fragile.

In his address to Heads of State on the occasion of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa at the end of last month, the new UN SecretaryGeneral AntĂłnio Guterres underlined the

need for a reinforced strategic cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations for building sustainable development and advancing peace and security on the continent.

True, UN peacekeepers have been present in the Congo for almost half a century. True, most conflict situations featuring on the agenda of the UN Security Council are in Africa.

True, there has historically been a negative perception or portrayal of Africa as the "heart of darkness" or an epitome of conflict, violence and poverty. But today's Africa is diverse, complex, with a promising potential.

Indeed, African countries are among some of the world's fastest growing economies. African countries alsoprovide the majority of UN peacekeepers around the world – countries such as Ghana have deployed UN Blue Helmets since the 60s, including to regions such as the Middle East. When it comes to humanitarian crisis, international peace and security, SecretaryGeneral Guterres recalled that African

countries have been among the world's largest and most generous hosts of refugees, keeping their borders open for those in need of protection, when so many borders are being closed.

the fight against terrorism and in support to populations threatened by extremism.

This fight would benefit all, within and beyond the boundaries of the African continent.

Conflicts in Africa have been ongoing for decades, what do you think is the best approach to resolving these conflicts?

More importantly, it is critical that African countries and their international partners

The best approach in resolving these conflicts in Africa is to further explore and apply African ideas and African solutions. Africans must be part of the conversation as well as the solution. It will be effective to rely on local knowledge, the empowerment of women, the involvement of civil society organizations, and the strengthening of cooperation and partnership with local communities as well as Africa's eight Regional Economic Communities.

Also, the international community should provide more effective assistance to the AU, mainly with regards to

invest in projects and strategies that address the root causes of conflict and that would ensure that nations that have achieved peace do not revert to conflict.

This is part of our mission at the MacDella

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Cooper Foundation, and it is the baseline for my approach to success in Liberia; address the root causes. The MCF pledge to educate children, engage & empower the youth and investing in women and girls brings the hope needed to see a new day. My call to lead our country aims to take these ideals further, bring about change, and give the invisible a voice, a sustainable future and the tools to take over the baton to continue to make our country grow.

What is your plan for Liberia?

First and foremost, we as the people, we as Liberians must unite in the ideal that everyone must partner and commit to progress for all. Our guiding principles are simple; Hope & Reform. I believe in education, and am a testament to the fact that education can turn 'anybody' in to 'somebody'. To assure long lasting progress for generations to come, the roadmap to the success of our country must consist of 5 key streams: Education, Healthcare, Electricity, Decentralization of Government and Landownership.

To assure long lasting progress for generations to come, the roadmap to the success of our country must consist of 5 key streams:Education, Healthcare, Electricity, Decentralization of Government and Landownership.

Furthermore, we must not lose sight of the need to reinforce peace and boost sustainable economy and solid infrastructures while always putting the human being at the center of development.

Working with all strata of life, including the diaspora, youth, women and rural groups I intend to address the most pressing needs of the people of Liberia. I am determined to bring a fresh perspective, in which a world view and people centric plan to appropriately husband Liberia's resources will begin to restore humanity to our people, in a way that is inclusive and lasting.

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All African countries, 53 of them except Morocco are members of AU, do you think the AU has succeeded in promoting peace in Africa?

The fact that the African Union succeeded in reinserting Morocco within its membership at the last summit is proof that Africa can be serious and effective in solving its disputes.Moreover, over the past years the African Union has deployed numerous peacekeepers around the continent such as in Somalia, including deployments in hybrid peacekeeping operations with the United Nations, such as in Darfur.

What do you think of the role of ECOWAS in Peace building in Africa?

Liberians have a firsthand knowledge of the effectiveness of ECOWAS in contributing to peace in our country. Early deployment and field operations of the West African Force in Liberia or more recently in Cote d'Ivoire prove that ECOWAS is a reliable entity that can enforce

peace whenever necessary. A most vivid example occurred last month, when ECOWAS forces, spearheaded by Senegal intervened in the Gambia to ensure that outgoing President Yahiah Jammeh would leave the country after his defeat at the presidential elections to allow President Barrow to assume office.

African leaders are renowned for holding onto power at all cost, what is your view?

I agree with a provision that have been adopted

by African Union Heads of State who are now determined to kick out any leader who would come into power by force or military coup.

Grabbing power with guns is no longer tolerated in Africa. The example of Gambia outlined above is an eloquent illustration of Africa's determination to promote good governance and democracy, as much as feasible. I will be a strong champion of political alternance and multi-party democracy as well as decentralization of government.

What do you think of the African Peace Magazine initiative?

Any initiative that further contributes to move the African needle towards the right direction should be supported!

humane way African migrants, and ensue that countries they aim to reach also treat them with humanity.

Africa is a young continent and we must invest in education, training and jobs for youth. That should be a priority AP

What is your advice for African immigrants?

Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa should be committed to the welfare of its migrants. First and foremost, we must address the rootcause that unleash uncontrolled migration. Africa needs its youth.

However, I will be determined to also press development partners so that they fulfil their global commitments because, as Secretary-General AntรณnioGuterres said in Addis Ababa, "Africa needs and deserves international solidarity". I will do all I can to address in a

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RESTAURANT | BAKERY | PASTRIES

www.depepplespalace.com

SKIN TYPES TREATMENTS

AND

Abdulrahman Hadiza

Arewa-Oge Beauty Emporium

S

kin types include normal, oily, dry and sensitive. Some people also have combination of skin types in different areas of their skin.

Skin types can change over time. For example, younger people are more likely than older people to have a normal skin type.

Skin types vary depending on factors such as: · Water content, which affects your skin's comfort and elasticity · Oil content, which affects your skin softness · Sensitivity level Skin types can also be determined by how much or how little oil one's skin produces. To know your type of skin, you can take a skin test using the guide below; Wash your face, Pat it dry, then take a few cleaning tissue papers and press on different spots on your face. If your skin is oily, then the paper will stick, pick up oily spots and become translucent. If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily spot, your skin is likely dry. If it sticks in your t-zone; forehead, nose and chin, then you have a combination

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skin.

Types and Characteristics OILY SKIN Oily skin is a shiny skin, especially in the t-zone which is from the fore head, down the nose to the chin. People with oily skin may also have enlarged pores. The good thing about an oily skin is that it ages better than a dry skin because the oil keeps the skin plump, allowing fewer wrinkles to form.

To take care of an oily skin, cleanse with a cleanser formulated for oily skin before you go to bed. Exfoliate twice weekly with a gentle scrub and use oil free moisturizers.

Powdered blends work better than liquid ones for an oily skin.

NORMAL SKIN Normal skin is not too dry and not too oily. It has no or few imperfections, no severe sensitivity, barely visible pores and a radiant complexion.

To take care of a normal skin, wash with a cleanser that is oil and alcohol free. The reason why you should use an alcohol free cleanser is because the little oil a normal skin has is also useful to the skin, it helps keep the skin moisture intact. You can also exfoliate two to three times a week to peel off dead cells.

DRY SKIN Dry skin can produce almost invisible pores, dull and rough complexion, red patches, less elasticity and more visible lines. A dry skin lacks enough moisture. To take care of a dry skin, cleanse with a nonalcoholic cleanser, moisturize, eat lots of fruits and drink a lot of water to keep the skin hydrated.

COMBINATION SKIN

A combination skin type can be dry or normal in some areas and oily in others; such as the t-zone (nose, forehead and chin). Combination skin can produce overly dilated pores, black heads, and shiny skin.

To take care of a combination skin, make sure you know what kind of combination skin you have. We have: ยง Combination/Oily skin: Oily t-zone and oil on cheeks ยง Normal/Combination skin: Oily t-zone, no oil on cheeks and also not dry ยง Combination/Dry skin: More dry than oily Once you know the type of combination you have, use a good cleanser which is oil free and an alcohol free toner, moisturize, exfoliate and use good make up products that won't clog your pores.

SENSITIVE SKIN A sensitive skin is a skin type that is easily irritated or inflamed due to a substance

that your body's immune system sees as being a foreign body and therefore produces anti-bodies to fight it, causing a resulting inflammatory response.

Sensitive skin isn't a skin type as such. It relates more to your underlying skin vulnerability. Sensitive skin is a common, growing and complex condition with a modern lifestyle association.

Some of the symptoms of sensitive skin are redness, skin rash, itching, heat and swelling.

To take care of a sensitive skin; keep your face clean all the time, be wary of products that you use (you can consult a dermatologist), do not put make up on as much as possible and then minimize scratching or even touching your face. Use a noncomedogenic SPF regardless of your skin type. Finally, do not use hot water to cleanse skin. AP

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Abdulrahman Hadiza Arewa-Oge Beauty Emporium

HOW TO KEEP YOUR

SKIN

BEAUTIFUL Y

our skin protects your body. It's the face you present to the world. When healthy, it's a source of beauty. Your skin can be affected by the choices you make every day, such as; what you eat, where you go, how you feel, etc. If you consider your skin as a source of beauty, then you have to make the right choices in order to keep it looking youthful, healthy and wrinkle free.

Here are some of the things you can do to keep your skin beautiful and healthy:

8 hours a night will keep your body and skin in shape. How you sleep also matters; if you rest your face on the pillow in the same position for years, you'll get wrinkles where the skin is pressed against the pillow. Sleeping on your stomach will also worsen bags under your eyes. The best solution is to sleep on your back.

Wash your face: Your best bet for avoiding breakouts is to wash your face twice a day and use an oil free moisturizer.

these blood vessels can become permanently damaged. Alcohol, especially red wine, can also trigger rosacea flare ups.

Quit Smoking: Smoking is bad for the skin. It causes pre mature wrinkles and dry skin.

Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and contributes to the breakdown of collagen. Less collagen means more wrinkling.

The damage cannot be reversed, but you can stop it by quitting smoking.

Exfoliate: Everyday, your skin comes in contact with pollution, Watch your diet: Higher intake Keep harmful rays o the for instance, car exhaust, of Vitamin C and lower intake skin: About 90% of all skin cigarette smoke or smoggy air. of fat and carbohydrates are damage is due to sun.

As your Keep your skin healthy by associated with better time in the sun goes up, so does keeping it clean.

You can appearance as your skin ages.

Foods rich in antioxidants, such your risk of skin cancer. You can cleanse your face with a gentle protect your skin by always soap or exfoliate nightly with as fish, fruits and vegetables wearing broad spectrum sun gentle scrubs and toners to also help protect the skin. block. Look for products that remove dead skin cells and then Exercise: This is a benefit to contain zinc oxide, titanium apply a moisturizer. Oily skin still every part of your body dioxide or avobenzone. needs moisturizer, but look for including your largest organ, Sunscreens with an SPF of 30 oil free products. the skin. Working out includes or higher are best. Avoid the Humidify: Cold weather and circulation which helps to sun between 10am and 2pm wind causes dry, flaky skin and nourish the skin. Better blood when rays are strongest. can make eczema worse. It's flow brings more oxygen and Reduce intake of alcohol: Too not just the weather outside; dry nutrients and may also help much alcohol is bad for your heat indoors is harsh on skin. your skin produce collagen skin as well as your body.

Fight back by using humidifier which staves off wrinkles.

Alcohol is diuretic which causes at home, drinking lots of water Remember; wash your face the body to loose water, which and applying moisturizer after a workout can contribute to dry skin. throughout the day. Remember Get your beauty rest: Beauty That's why drinkers often have sunscreen when you go out. AP rest is very important. Getting 7- red flushed faces. Over time, www.africanpeacemag.com 36

Entrepreneurship Development as a Strategy for the Alleviation of Poverty in Africa Rashidat I. Bakare

O

ne of the major challenges facing developing and underdeveloped countries of the world, particularly, African Countries, is poverty.

Although the level and extent of poverty and unemployment has been observed to be different within and across nations, it still remains the major obstacle to the optimum utilization of human resources for both social and economic development of nations. As of 2013,

there were about 2.47 billion people in the world living in poverty, most of them from developing or under developing countries located in African and Asian continent. The population living under poverty only declined from 2.59 billion to 2.47 billion between 1981 and 2013.

But it is interesting to note that a significant portion of this decline occurred mostly in developed countries.

The World Bank indicates that poverty is categorized

as both absolute and relative. When poverty is said to be absolute, it describes a human situation which is lacking of resources to meet the physical needs for survival, lacking of basic security, and the absence of one or more factors that enable individuals and families to assume basic responsibilities and to enjoy fundamental rights. On the other hand, relative poverty can be categorized in relation to particular groups

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entrepreneurship development.

Entrepreneurship development here can be defined as the identification of new business opportunities and the mobilization of economic resources to initiate new businesses or regenerate existing businesses, under the conditions of risks and uncertainties, for

or areas in relation to the economic status of other members of the society which is interpreted as a lack of resources to achieve a standard of living that allows people to play roles, participate in relationships, and live a life that is deemed normative of the society to which they belong.

Poverty results from and even consists of a lack of basic securities, which not only include financial resources, but also education, employment, housing, health care and other related aspects leading to deprivation. The World Bank also believes that political instability, lack of improvement in infrastructure, inadequacy of national policy and structural adjustment, lack of investment are among the main causes of poverty.

From the foregoing, poverty is widely understood as the condition of living on an

income below a certain minimum threshold. The World Bank goes further to define those living on under US$2 a day as living in poverty, and those living on under US$1.25 as living in extreme poverty internationally.

There is consensus among entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation scholars and professionals that the best cure for poverty alleviation in any region of the world lies in encouraging more on business activity and startups of new ventures through entrepreneurship development.

Entrepreneurship development here can be defined as the identification of new business opportunities and the mobilization of economic resources to initiate new businesses or regenerate existing businesses, under the conditions of risks and uncertainties, for the purpose of making profits under private ownership. In simple terms, entrepreneurship development is a process which may develop a single entrepreneur or enterprise with the main objective of making profit by using scarce resources most likely under private ownership. On the other hand, entrepreneurship development is concerned with creating long- term value that creates regular cash flow streams on an

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individual or the group of individuals for the future through the process of imagination, initiative and innovation for the purpose of maximizing profits and minimizing risk with the view of long term expansion.

Moreover, entrepreneurship is the key to the growth and development of local industries through the processing of local raw materials into finished and semi-finished goods for the domestic and foreign markets. It also promotes the utilization of improved and cost-effective technology in small and medium-scale enterprises which enhances higher factor productivity at the local level especially in lowincome countries where the traditional rural economy is predominant.

Thus, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MS&MEs) has in this context become an essential tool in entrepreneurship development and the economic growth of countries as well as alleviating poverty through new jobs creation. MS&MEs not only help during the period of economic growth

but also in economic recession. The strong turbulence in the world economy in 1970s had made many large firms in developed countries lay off their employees than MS&MEs did.

The strategic importance of micro, small and mediumsized enterprises in national economic development is widely recognised by many countries, developed and developing countries alike.

Simultaneously, there have been reports and evidence of contributions that MS&MEs make in the process of entrepreneurship development.

It has been noted that MS&MEs consist of 91–93% of the total industrial establishments in countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea.

In these countries, contributions of MS&MEs to employment ranged from 35% to nearly 61% with the contribution to value added

ranging between 22% and 40%. In Malaysia, MS&MEs accounted for about 84% of manufacturing establishments, while their contribution to total value added and employment was about 28 and 38%, respectively.

Moreover, there has been evidence that MS&MEs link themselves with large and multinational companies as has been the case in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany etc.

An ILO study in 2003 which examined firms with fewer than 10 workers found that they generated 58% of total employment in Paraguay, 54% in Mexico, and 53% in Bolivia, on the other hand, it contributed approximately 31% of overall GDP in the Dominican Republic, 13% in Kenya, and 11% in Pakistan.

Entrepreneurship is today considered to be a relevant

vehicle for economic development and women have contributed to it significantly worldwide: indeed, in 2010, 187 million women were involved in creating and operating enterprises, meaning that almost 42% of entrepreneurs in the world were women.

On the other hand, however, women have a number of parental duties and inflexible household obligations which they try to effectively combine to maintain a balance between running a business and running a home.

Moreover, women to date represents an important engine of economic growth for African countries as it has a leading role in generating productive work, achieving gender equality and reducing poverty.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) in 2004 showed that women performed 66% of work globally and produce more than 50% of food globally and these women turn locally available raw materials into processed and finished goods for sale, therefore making them innovators in business.

Women entrepreneurship is relatively a new area of research which originated in the mid-1980s. Three stages can be illustrious in the research into women entrepreneurship. The first stage, before the 1970s,

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was a move from the gender-neutral position to the male-specific position.

The second stage, from the 1970s to the beginning of the 1990s, was conventional in nature, indicating how women are perceived in relation to men.

Finally, the third, postmodernist, stage began to study the otherness of women entrepreneurship.

The postmodernist context makes it possible to ask questions about how women perceive being entrepreneurs and business owners.

Female entrepreneurship can therefore be divided into two categories: the traditional generation of entrepreneurial women, concentrated around businesses involving household services, which require reduced skills and experience; on the other hand, the modern generation, more actively

involved in businesses more oriented towards profit and creating new markets.

Women entrepreneurship is becoming gradually popular across the globe.

The participation of women is progressively being observed as one of the major contributors in economic growth.

Regardless of their involvement in small or medium scale enterprises or in the informal or formal sectors, their contribution to output and value addition is considerable. Women entrepreneurship is not only necessary for their economic survival but also for strengthening the social system.

No doubt, entrepreneurship development is an effective and a key tool for poverty reduction and employment stimulation, and offers a new approach for fighting poverty and stimulating economic growth in African countries.

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Entrepreneurship development thus contributes to poverty reduction when it creates employment through the start-up of new entrepreneurship or the expansion of existing ones such as seen practised by the Africa's Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E) Organization via their various empowerment programs and the Start-Up Nation Initiative developed

by Smart Bluebridge Projects Ltd. Conclusively, promoting entrepreneurship increases social wealth by creating new markets, new industries, new technology, new institutional forms, new jobs and net increases in real productivity and incomes, which culminates in higher standards of living for the population AP

The

Nigerian

Power Sector y heart bleeds each time the issue of power is mentioned.

It is often said that if you are building a house and a nail breaks, do you stop the building or do you change the type of nail being used and continue?

It is a big shame, as the giant of Africa; we are still battling with issues of power.

As we all know without a steady and stable power supply, peace building and economic growth is practically impossible.

There is nowhere in the world that you won't find one or two Nigerians doing extremely well, yet we have not been able to transform these potentials to develop our motherland.

Everything is tied to power supply, fix the power industry

and you would have succeeded in fixing Nigeria.

Each time I travel abroad, I am amazed at the wonders of stable power supply and its impact on economic activities.

And when I return home I see a blessed Country properly positioned by God with loads of promises and potentials, beautiful lush green vegetations, fertile land and loads of natural resources. Yet we remain high on the list of the worlds struggling economies.

Thank God for the new government

and their determination to turn around the power sector but I don't see it been sustained over time. What we need is a total shift to renewable energy.

Folks, it is not that complicated.

Help me tell someone to tell somebody to fix power and the rest is history. Guess we have been doing the same thing and expecting different

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results. I saw a report that the German government pays the citizens to consume power because of its abundance.

Come on, we can do better.

The secret to economic freedom is in renewable power.

We have abundance of sun which can be converted to solar energy, and winds which can be used to power wind turbines, if we tap into these energy sources, mark my word Nigeria would be transformed in all sectors.

All those making billions from the failure in the industry, supplying generators will close shops and we would have a 21 century industrial revolution as a result of abundance of power supply.

Do you know China generates about 5,682TW (Terawatts) of electricity.

If I remember correctly, sometime last year the Minister of Power said Nigeria has the potential of generating 12,000MW (Megawatts) but

unfortunately we've only ever attained a maximum of 5,000MW in the history of a country of 180million people.

Now I decided to use a converter to see what China and other industrialized nations who operate within the Terawatts region will generate in Megawatts.

So let's convert terawatts to megawatts; China. 5,682,000,000MW USA. 4,324,000,000MW India. 1,368,000,000MW Japan. 995,000,000MW UK. 338,000,000MW Nigeria. 2,750MW Seriously Nigerians, is this possible? Did I make a mistake in my conversion because I don't want to believe this...

Are we cursed or what? With all the abundance in this country! What sort of people are we? Yet we rally round these politicians and support blindly based on tribe or religion, when at the long run we're the ones being robbed!

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How can a nation of over 180million people depend on less than 3,000MW of power? How can we grow economically? Where will the development come from when we don't have the capacity.

All we engage ourselves in are tribal/religious wars/killings daily, corrupt leaders in the public and private sectors looting the country's wealth, lawlessness without fear of the law, broken down systems, schools, hospitals, basic infrastructure all collapsed.

I can't believe where we are as a nation. Its a shame really! It's Sad and depressing!

We need to urgently wake up and take action.

Alternate energy supply is the solution.

It is often said that “when the roots of a tree begins to decay, it spreads death to its branches.� We need to tackle the problem from the roots.

We have what we need, we just need to look inward AP

5

Five Reasons Why Sexual Violence Is one of Nigeria's Most Serious Social Problems According to the United Nations, one in three women are victims of sexual violence. This heinous statistic affects all nations worldwide, but Nigeria is ranked in the top ten countries with the highest rape crime in the world. Several campaigns have launched such as Stand To End Rape and Stop Sexual Violence but we need to grasp a clearer understanding on the intensity of the matter.

Here are ten reasons why sexual violence is one of Nigeria's most serious social problems:

ccording to the United Nations, one in three women are victims of sexual violence. This heinous statistic affects all nations worldwide, but Nigeria is ranked in the top ten countries with the highest rape crime in the world.

Several campaigns have launched such as Stand To End Rape and Stop Sexual Violence but we need to grasp a clearer understanding on the intensity of the matter.

Here are ten reasons why sexual violence is one of Nigeria's most serious social problems:

Yes, you read that right!

1.ONLY EIGHTEEN PEOPLE HAVE The fact that Nigeria's laws EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF against sexual violence have RAPE IN NIGERIA SINCE not been implemented INDEPENDENCE effectively in to society is a security risk to women and In a country with a men who have been victims population of nearly 180 and are potential victims of million citizens, only eighteen rape. The 2013 Sexual have been convicted of rape.

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Offences Bill is not acting as it should, which is one of the main reasons in recent times for this drastic fact.

2.BY LAW, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BEAT YOUR WIFE IN NIGERIA AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT CAUSE ANY GREVIOUS BODILY HARM

Nigeria is definitely not one of the safest countries for women and it is time for us to speak up against the oppression of women and work towards achieving gender equality for all.

therefore the psychological effect on HIV positive citizens needs to be treated as importantly as the physical effect, which leads me on to the next point.

2. THERE ARE UNDER 200 QUALIFIED 1. A STUDY OF 652 PSYCHOLOGISTS ACROSS WOMEN IN LAGOS WITH HIV SHOWED THAT 429 OF NIGERIA THEM HAD BEEN VICTIMS With the highest population is law in Nigeria to have the OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE in Africa and the largest right to beat your wife as long as it does not harm her Sexual violence is one of the black population in the world, Nigeria has hardly any main contributing factors to body. It is no secret that Nigeria is a highly patriarchal the rapid spread of HIV and psychologists. other STDs in Nigeria. society that discriminates This is a huge detrimental against women but the The fact that over 65% of the factor for victims of sexual misogyny that is bred within violence as psychological women who were a part of society oppresses women care is not taken seriously and views women as second the research project had contracted HIV through rape enough. It is seen as the class citizens. norm in Nigeria to dismiss shows the need for the notion of mental health immediate action and Cultural bias is a huge and refer to religion and enforcement of laws to end reason for the approval of tradition to explain mental this law as many who follow the issue. Furthermore, illnesses. women who have been strong traditions and rather wayward religious views tend victims of sexual violence are Victims of sexual violence therefore often do not have 1.5 times more likely to to view women as lesser anyone to speak to about contract HIV. beings. their experience or to help HIV is a highly stigmatised disease in Nigeria and www.africanpeacemag.com 44

them get through the experience, which creates a ripple effect of silent victims and liberated perpetrators.

We need to encourage psychology across our university campuses and secondary schools in order to produce more psychologists nationwide. The fact that Nigeria has under 200 qualified psychologists is a straining fact that deserves more attention.

away from their “manhood”.

We need to support Nigerian men and vice versa and focus on the effects of rape on men in Nigeria's society today.

to reduce the heinous statistics that currently exist.

The organisation will be providing rape alarms to three university campuses across Nigeria – the University of Ibadan, This month Our Vision University of Lagos and Nigeria is launching a year Obafemi Awolowo University. long sexual violence Furthermore, OVNG will be campaign alongside other sexual and domestic violence holding a fundraising concert in December 2017 to raise campaigns such as R.A.W andStand To End Rape. Our money for victims of psychological care and there Vision Nigeria (OVNG) is a Nigerian youth organisation, will be an active social media 1. MALE RAPE IS HIGHLY empowering Nigerian youths campaign running based STIGMATIZED AND around the hashtag CONTINUOUSLY IGNORED to maximise national #NoMeansNo. potential. The organisation large amount of people tend was founded in April 2015, Feel free to join in with the aiming to improve several to dismiss the fact that men campaign and fuel the issues that Nigerian youths get raped to. Nigerian men conversation with OVNG! face today ranging from a are serious victims of rape Together, we can reduce the poor social orientation to but due to the country's prevalence of sexual violence patriarchal society, male rape youth unemployment. as a necessity for sustainable is a highly stigmatised issue. human development AP This has caused a lot of men The campaign will focus on the prevalence of sexual to stay silent about their experiences because they are violence across university made to believe that it takes campuses in Nigeria, aiming www.africanpeacemag.com 45

UNDERS TAND ING WATER SECURITY Security is about well-intended measures to counter possible risk that can cause a loss through the weakest link' in any set up.

By Adegoke Femi Dickson

S

ecurity is the degree of resistance to, or protection from, harm. It applies to any vulnerable and valuable asset, such as a person, dwelling community, nation or organization. Security is about well-intended measures to counter possible risk that can cause a loss through the 'weakest link' in any set up.

The defender must cover all points of attack while the attacker needs to identify the weak point to concentrate assault. A lot has been written in literature on the analysis and categorization of security.

Out of the three realms of security – IT, physical and political –this topic is narrowed down to an aspect of infrastructural

security–water sources. The focus of this paper will be to limit the vulnerability of water sources to damage or contamination.

Hydrosphere or water is a basic component of our environment. Other environmental components include atmosphere (air), lithosphere (rock and soil) and the living component (the biosphere).

All these provide a life support for human and all living things. Water is needed in almost every sphere of human activity; it is needed for consumption, washing, cleaning, cooling, transportation and waste management. Availability of water determines where communities settle and where industrial and social activities take place. It

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“Where there is water there is life”is a common paradigm. However, the same water constitutes a source of danger to man, animals and plants when it is assaulted by untreated waste disposal.The term 'water security' captures the dynamic dimensions of water and water-related issues, and offers a holistic outlook for addressing water challenges.

Water sources are exposed to a variety of hazards that may damage or contaminatethem. Water pollution is usually caused by human activities.

Different human sources add to the pollution of water.

There are two sorts of sources: point and nonpoint sources. Point sources

discharge pollutants at specific locations through pipelines or sewers into the surface water. Non-point sources are sources that cannot be traced to a single site of discharge.

Examples of point sources are: factories, sewage treatment plants, underground mines, oil wells, oil tankers and agriculture. Examples of non-point sources are: acid deposition from the air, traffic, pollutants that are spread through rivers and pollutants that enter the water through groundwater.

Non-point pollution is hard to control because the perpetrators cannot be traced.

As numerous as the uses of water to man and the environment are, human consumption of polluted water can make its uses a disservice to man. Organic wastes, sewage effluents, excreta, exudates and fecal matters discharged on water bodies support a good population of microorganisms.

Viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, helminthes, annelids, larvae stages of various insects, and pests thrive on organic matter.

Some of these are responsible for causing dangerous diseases in man, animals and plants.

Dissolved chemicals, toxic metals, acids and alkaline consumed in water by man, animals, plants and aquatic lives have serious

debilitating effects on health causing chronic diseases and even deaths.

Water pollution typeis determined in laboratories, where aliquot samples of water are analyzed for different contaminants (microorganisms, heavy metals and chemicals).

Plants, fish and other aquaticanimals can also be used for the detection of water pollution.

Changes in growth or other characteristics show that the water they live in is polluted.

Specific properties of these organisms can give information on the sort of pollution that exists in their environment. Laboratories also use computer models to determine what dangers there can be in certain waters. Detection of water pollution can be done through computer software in which imported data is analyzed for water impurities.

Counter measures needed to stop a threat from triggering a risk event require aconcerted effort to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human wellbeing, and socio-economic development;for ensuring protection against waterborne pollution and waterrelated disasters;and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability. This is

known as water security.

Water security demands a multi sectorial approach which requires key roles from the following stakeholders; the ministries of environment and town planning, health, commerce and industry, water resources, education and justice. Policy, strategy, planning/budgeting, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and data management experts will also have to be considered to treat as many issues closely interrelated that have multiple causes, impacts and solutions across all sectors.

Achieving water security requires allocation among users to be fair, efficient and transparent; that water to satisfy basic human needs is accessible to all at an affordable cost to the user; that water throughout the water cycle is collected and treated to prevent pollution and disease; and that fair, accessible and effective mechanisms exist to manage or address disputes or conflicts that may arise.

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The community should ensure provision for waste management dump sites, sewage collection and disposal mechanisms are factored into town planning.

Sanitary inspectors (community health workers) should bedeployed and empowered under the law to ensure citizens and corporate organizations comply with the set standard operating procedure of waste management. Annual environmental audit assessmentsshould be conducted on industrial premises to ensure that

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effluent treatment plantsare appropriate andof adequate capacity to handle industrial effluent before being discharged into the water bodies, and reports should be submitted to the Minister of Environment for follow up and corrective actions.

The ministry or department of environment should ensure policies, legal instruments for compliance to waste management, and safe disposal of wastes into the water bodies are not only in place but enforceable.

Annual or biannual laboratory reports of surface water, municipal and domestic wells shouldbe submitted to the appropriate government parastatal charged with the responsibility.

The report should be made public to create awareness ofthe need to support, maintain and sustain water security in each community, state, region and country. AP

AFRICANS

FEED

CAN

AFRICA and the

WORLD

We are now in 2017, with 2020 just around the corner, can we categorically say that Africans can feed Africa and the world.

n 2012 a new World Bank report says that Africa's farmers can potentially grow enough food to feed the continent and avert future food crises if countries remove cross-border restrictions on the food trade within the region.

According to the Bank, the continent would also generate an extra US$20 billion in yearly earnings if African leaders can agree to dismantle trade barriers that blunt more regional dynamism. The report was

released on the eve of an African Union (AU) ministerial summit in Addis Ababa on agriculture and trade.

With as many as 19 million people living with the threat of hunger and malnutrition in West Africa's Sahel region, the Bank report urges African leaders to improve trade so that food can move more freely between countries and from fertile areas to those www.africanpeacemag.com 49

30 years. One major issue is that as much as 80 percent of Africa's agriculture still depends on rain not irrigation.

Images of starving children, epitomised in news coverage from Ethiopia in the 1980s, have given Africa a reputation for famine that does an injustice to the continent's potential.

It's true that a recent report by three U.N. agencies said cereals imported by African countries come from other African countries while huge tracts of fertile land, around The World Bank expects demand for food in Africa to 400 million hectares, remain uncultivated and yields double by the year 2020 as people increasingly leave the remain a fraction of those countryside and move to the obtained by farmers elsewhere in the world. continent's cities.

The African continent holds We are now in 2017, with 2020 just around the corner, the world's largest can we categorically say that proportion of agricultural Africans can feed Africa and land, with 1.2m hectares and 94,500 farms, apart the world. from the small and private “Africa has the ability to grow farms. and deliver good quality food to put on the dinner tables of Thus we can conveniently the continent's families,” said say that we have the potential to feed ourselves Makhtar Diop, World Bank and the world as a whole.

Vice President for Africa.

According to an influential recent analysis, Africa has “However, this potential is around 600 million hectares not being realized because of uncultivated arable land, farmers face more trade barriers in getting their food roughly 60 percent of the global total. to market than anywhere else in the world. Too often And on the land that is being borders get in the way of used, outdated technologies getting food to homes and and techniques mean communities which are productivity is low. African struggling with too little to cereal yields, for example, eat.” are just over one-third of the developing world average The said report notes that and have barely increased in only five percent of all where communities are suffering food shortages.

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Thus we can conveniently say that we have the potential to feed ourselves and the world as a whole.

According to an influential recent analysis, Africa has around 600 million hectares of uncultivated arable land, roughly 60 percent of the global total. nearly 239 million in Africa are hungry a figure some 20 million higher than four years ago. And recent crises in the Horn of Africa and Sahel certainly highlight the desperate uncertainties of food supply for millions – malnutrition still cuts deep scars into progress on health and education.

But the Africa Progress Panel and many others believe that Africa has the potential not

farming related challenges.

Lands should be made available to farmers; all graduates should as a matter of compulsion own farms with government I personally believe that incentives and loans. If we African can feed Africans embrace farming and the entire world, we wholeheartedly as a have the natural resources, continent we would not only the land and a host of free ourselves from the others, but we obviously shackles of poverty but we lacked the political will to deliver what God has blessed would also become a world food power.

Africans with.

only to feed itself, but also to become a major food supplier for the rest of the world.

We should be feeding the world rather we are starving and begging for food, what an irony. It's time to wake up to the challenge, our leaders must do more.

We must stay away from corruption and the government must monitor closely forehand investment in agriculture and other allied business. We must fight drought and other

The government should provide training and facilities for mechanizations. Tax exemptions, simplified export process and a host of other strategies would help develop the agriculture sector of Africa. If we follow this path surely we would feed not only Africa but the world as a whole AP

The government should provide training and facilities for mechanizations.

Tax exemptions, simpliďŹ ed export process and a host of other strategies would help develop the agriculture sector of Africa.

If we follow this path surely we would feed not only Africa but the world as a whole.

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THE DEATH OF FIDEL CASTRO:

A DICTATOR TO THE WEST,

A HERO TO AFRICANS?

Zena Harvey

Writer & Poet, South Africa

T

he passing of former president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, last week, was undoubtedly a historic moment for the entire globe, but especially for the people of Cuba and Africa.

Who can forget the heroic support Cuba lent to the Marxist Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) of Angola in 1975 when 13,000 of its soldiers helped repel the invasion of Southern Angola by the racist and oppressive South African Defence Force or when during 1986/7 the Cuban army also played a significant military role in supporting the struggles of the South West Peoples Organisation (SWAPO) to eventually gain the independence of Namibia in March 1990?

This and many other forms of support Castro gave to

the struggles of the African people for their liberation and even after their countries gained their independence were always etched into the collective memories of Africans.

Besides, Castro enjoyed a global iconic stature as a staunch, consistent and reliable supporter of liberation struggles all over the world. He was truly an internationalist, concerned with the affairs of the entire globe and all humanity.

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Who too can forget how Castro consistently provided support to the poor countries of Africa, which following decades of brutal colonisation suffered from inadequate doctors and medical supplies when they won their political independence? To more than anyone else today Cuba owes the very high regard it is globally held – especially in the Third World – to Castro. In the areas especially of medicine and

education Cuba provided consistent support to various African countries.

It is arguable too that the decolonisation movement in Africa, which led finally to many African countries gaining their independence from their former colonial masters during the 1950's and 1960's, had a lot to do with the inspiration they drew from Castro who led the Cuban revolution of 1959. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Chinese Revolution of 1949 the Cuban Revolution was arguably the most significant development in the Third World in the past century. Such was its formidable impact, both in the Third World and in fact the West.

The impact of Castro and the Cuban revolution of 1959 was to boldly tell the world that oppressed and exploited black people in Cuba, Africa and in fact people of colour around the world were on the rise and that things would never be the same thereafter. More than anything Castro and the Cuban revolution was a beacon of inspiration and hope to the oppressed and exploited people of colour in Africa and around the world. That is still, after the passing of Castro, its greatest and probably enduring legacy for all time to come.

But there is unfortunately also another side to the legacy of Castro and the Cuban revolution we cannot ignore because it is indelibly

woven into history, and that is how the West, broadly, vilified Castro and the Cuban revolution and never stopped doing so. One is reminded of how the USA tried to topple Castro and the Cuban regime so many times since 1959 and the countless but failed assassination attempts on Castro's life.

Why is the legacy of Castro and the Cuban revolution so different between the peoples of Africa, the wider Third World and the West?

One can just think of Britain and the USA now to see this point. The truth is that black people within the West have been at the receiving end of racism, oppression and exploitation for centuries.

Seen from this historical perspective it should not be surprising that generally the whites within the West – propelled mostly and mainly by their leaders to do so have seen Castro as a dictator instead of the hero he is to the people of Africa and the whole Third World.

This is simply because it is the West - Europe, Australia and the USA – which were the chief perpetrators of the slavery, colonisation, neocolonialism, imperialism and now neo-liberalism which people in Africa and the Third World were subjected to for centuries in fact.

Linked to these various systems of oppression and exploitation over centuries was the brutal fate of black people around the globe.

But it is not only in relations between the West and the Third World that black people were oppressed and exploited, but also very much within the West itself.

This dichotomy speaks to the history I referred to earlier and the polarised world we inhabit unfortunately and it is not one that will disappear soon. No, for a long time to come these political, social and geographical realities and divisions will exist.

However, in conclusion, there can be no doubt that the legacy of Castro and the Cuban revolution will last for a very long time to come.

This is not to suggest that Castro or the Cuban revolution was flawless but that the mainspring of that legacy is definitely positive, inspiring and enduring AP www.africanpeacemag.com 53

TRADITIONAL CONFLICT

RESOLUTION

KENYA

In

Gladys Njuguna

deeply rooted in the rich culture and history of the people and are in one way or another unique to each community.

To start with negotiation which entails back and forth communication where direct participation of the parties is involved to get to an agreement of the issue in place. Secondly, mediation It is often carried out by recognised council of elders. which is where the impatial person who is mostly a In Kenya different village elder helps in communities have various ways of traditionally resolving communicating and promoting reconciliation conflicts for different between the parties disputes. The conflict thereafter a mutual resolution structures are

raditional conflict resolutions is referred to as the process of traditionally resolving disputes, reconciliation and peacemaking between parties or communities involved.

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acceptable agreement .

Next, council of elders which is a common mechanism that has been used in resolving conflict in many different areas in Kenya. This institution is often the first point of call when any dispute arises in a community or between parties. Lastly, consensus approach is used which involves communicating to the whole community or parties on the agreement made to be adhered to and compliance of the same followed.

Traditional conflict resolutions mechanism are now expressly recognised by the Kenya government.

However, in many communities participation of women has not seen the light of day since they are termed weak and are to be seen not heard. It is essential to have them as part of the panel in conflict resolving and decision making as they have the capacity to For instance, communities of council of elders referred to negotiate, mediate and bring as kokwo in the three North Rift Kenya which out peace either directly or communities form a comprises of the Pokot, through creation of peace dominant component of the Turkana, Samburu and network. customarily mechanisms of Marakwet have overriding In conclusion a conflict management. The legitimacy of indigenous comprehensive plan and conflict resolution structures elders command authority legal framework to which is impressive. Some of that makes them effective in operationalize the major causes of conflicts maintaining peaceful traditionaldispute resolution among them are; scarce and relations and community way mechanism is needed to help unequal access of natural resources and power, ethnic mistrust ,inadequate state structures, border tensions and proliferation of illicit arms into the hands of the tribal chiefs, warlords and fellow tribesmen.

Still on the same, Modogashe declaration in which members of Garrisa, Mandera and Wajir districts in Northern part of Kenya,agreed to resolve the problems of banditry, trafficking of arms, livestock of life. They control ease the back log cases in movements and resources, marital relations our courts. For instance socioeconomic problems by and networks that go beyond boundary disputes and negotiations and mediation the clan boundaries, ethnic marital issues should first be talks. Upto date the communities still upholds the identity and generations.The dealt with by the council of current peaceful relationship elders through negotiation declaration and peace and military alliance between and mediation before being prevails in most parts, this is the communities are brought to court or tribunals. AP a good evidence of testimonies to the power of traditionallyresolving indigenous customary mechanism working for the arrangements of peace better of the concerned.

In resolving their conflicts building and bounder harmonisation. www.africanpeacemag.com 55

THE KENYAN

CONTENTIOUS

CLAUSE

Diana Nyagah The contentious clause that they are debating about is the proposal to allow the electoral commission to have a manual backup incase technology fails.

T

he Kenyan Elections are coming up on August 7th 2017 and with it comes disagreements between the two major political parties which are Jubilee headed by Uhuru Kenyatta who is the President and the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) which is the opposition headed by RailaOdinga.

The CORD coalition argues that this is a recipe for rigging and having the manual backup is a recipe for disaster as the Jubilee coalition will tend to resurrect the dead to appear as registered voters.

A report published by the Communication Authority of Kenya has identified 1300 polling stations that are not covered by the 3G and 4G network opting for the manual backup.

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However the new law requires that the results be electronically transmitted and be posted on a public web portal for transparency.

On December 23rd the CORD coalition staged a walkout out of parliament as the Jubilee Coalition used their numbers to pass the law.

Leader of Opposition RailaOdinga said in a statement that if the President assents to this new law they would hold countrywide protests starting from January 4th arguing that ,�Digital voting system has been used in Ghana,India,Senegal,Namibi a,,Nigeria,Tanzania,Gambia, why should it fail in Kenya�, Odinga said.

These countries have used biometrics to prepare their voter registration as Kenya shares similar characteristics in regards to electricity and rural population.

In the 2013 elections the Electronic Voter Identification Device(EVID) failed as they were not fully charged therefore unable to operate.

Some people also failed to be recognized as the biometrics that had been captured earlier in the

personnel involved in the 1994 South Africa elections that saw Nelson Mandela become the country's first president.

IEBC chairman Ezra Chiloba has targeted to enroll 8M additional voters by the 2017 elections as compared to 1.5M enrolled in 2013.

The registration of additional voters would begin in January and would also include Kenyans in the diaspora.

biometric voter registration(BVR) were not The balance of the six million configured into the EVID kits. would be met through mass voter registration campaigns KPMG was awarded the set to begin next year and contract by IEBC to audit continuous voter listing. next years 15.85 million listed voters as it beat 12 The President during the others in the bid.

Jamhuri day celebrations that took place on Dec 12th The choice was faulted by warned foreigners against the opposition who argued interfering in the 2017 that it lacked experience thus elections and with this the fearing that mistakes in the government shut down a voters list may never be 20M electoral assistance corrected. However in their programme by IFES which defence,KPMG has hired was terminated on Dec 19th

by the Executive Director of the NGO coordination board Fazul Mohammed on the argument that it was not registered as an NGO in Kenya.

International Federation for Electoral Systems(IFES) operates in 145 countries worldwide and has worked for 21 countries in SubSaharab Africa.

In Kenya it has worked for over 20 years and the current programme was

based on a bilateral agreement between the Kenya and USA government.

The money set aside by IFES was meant to train election oďŹƒcials and conduct civic education ahead of the elections.

In a rapid turn of events Activist OkiyoOmtatah sued the NGO Coordination Board in a suit where IFES and Fazul Mohammed were listed as interested parties.

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The High Court through Justice George Odunga on Dec 22nd suspended the ban that was communicated through a letter from the NGO coordination board.

Kenyans would want these amendments to be resolved as they would not want a repeat of what took place in the 2007/2008 elections where 650,000 people were displaced and 1,133 lost their lives.

The president also in his part who argues that his government will ensure that a free and fair election takes place should abide by his word and ensure that a repeat of the same does not take place.

The Jubilee itself has been tainted by corruption allegations which has seen some key personalities having to step aside to allow for investigations to take place.

The 14 member team that was formed by both parties on June 2016 to deliberate on the IEBC reforms should then go back to the drawing board and analyze this contentious clause and come with a way forward.

In itself Kenya as a country is dong well with a G.DP OF 5.7% and potential investors and the international world as well are on the look out to see whether after this elections there will be a conducive environment where they will be able to invest their businesses.

The opposition on its side should also ensure that they lead in the fight to convince the general public that they can work with the government to try and come to an understanding on these clauses so that when the elections take place they will be in a level playing field.

The Evangelical Council of Kenya is urging the President A report conducted by IPSOS also not to assent to the law between Dec 17th and 19th until there is a consensus the showed Uhuru Kenyatta Catholic Justice and Peace leading with 50% with his Commission has also offered rival RailaOdinga having to lead negotiations between 22% after sampling 1,083 the two parties. respondents.

In whichever way the two In regards to corruption 75% parties decide to take it will were aware of the corruption determine whether the scandals facing the Kenyan citizens will vote for government this means 3 out either of them, clock is of every fourKenyan. ticking AP With all these facts in mind one is left to wonder whether indeed there will be a free and fair election as earlier agreed and promised by the government or a repeat of the post election violence will take place.

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A report conducted by IPSOS between Dec 17th and 19th showed Uhuru Kenyatta leading with 50% with his rival RailaOdinga having 22% after sampling 1,083 respondents.z

HE AMB ALVARO

CASTILLO AGUILAR AMBASSADOR OF SPAIN TO NIGERIA

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Q&A INTERVIEW WITH THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR

HE AMB ALVARO

CASTILLO AGUILAR AMBASSADOR OF SPAIN TO NIGERIA

...................................................................

APM: How has your Stay in Nigeria been?

AMB: From the very first day, it has been fascinating, interesting and a very positive experience. I have enjoyed every minute in Nigeria. Furthermore, it has been rather easy for me to get adjusted to the country, thanks to the friendly help of the Nigerian people and authorities, as well as the embassy's staff.

APM: What is it you enjoy most about Nigeria, its

people and culture?

AMB: The thing I enjoy the most is how diverse this country is: the people, the landscape, the culture.

I have learnt about its ethnic groups, about the ancient cultures of life, Nok, more modern artists like twins seven seven, Ben enwonwu, music, nollywood, languages‌. So many things. Let's not forget about how spiritual the Nigerians, something that is almost lost in Europe are. Attending a

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religious ceremony here, with the music, the dancing, is an unforgettable experience.

APM: Spain has had a similar terrorism crisis in the recent past with the insurgency of ETA in the Basque region.

How did you curtail their activity and suppress their impact?

AMB: The Spanish approach

The Spanish approach to terror activities is based on different elements: Firstly, a coherent and proactive counterterrorism policy, with clear objectives and no hesitation, with good intelligence gathering and information.

Secondly, an absolute respect of the rule of law.

No matter what kind of atrocities terrorists might commit, the state must keep calm and fight terrorism with legal procedures and respecting human rights.

We are not like them.

to terror activities is based on different elements: Firstly, a coherent and proactive counterterrorism policy, with clear objectives and no hesitation, with good intelligence gathering and information.

in the streets shouting ETA stop. We want peace, making them know that their actions were not welcome, that they did not have the support of the people.

we are also part of Africa.

There are two Spanish cities in this continent, Ceuta and Melilla, and the Canary Islands are a few km away off the African coast.

That is something that I am missing here. And fourth, but not least, a comprehensive policy of protection and support of the victims and their relatives, who are the real losers after any terrorist attack.

Therefore, the migration pressure from Africa to our country does not come as a surprise. The border between Spain and morocco is sadly the most unequal in the world, being the Spanish income per capita 13 times higher than the Moroccan.

Thank God, now ETA is a nightmare of the past. But no country is immune to terrorism, which is a global scourge, and of course not Spain which in 2004 endured the deadliest terrorist attack in the European history, when AL Qaida placed 4 bombs in commuting trains in Madrid, leaving 192 people dead. Of course, since then we have also learned a lot about combating this kind of extreme terrorist movements.

APM: What experience can Spain share with many African countries in conflict?

AMB: For obvious reasons,

Spain is a country with a high degree of expertise in counter terrorism and Secondly, an absolute dealing with emergency respect of the rule of law. No situations. We are partnering matter what kind of atrocities and training forces of terrorists might commit, the different African countries state must keep calm and sharing with them our fight terrorism with legal experience. procedures and respecting APM: With the high level human rights. We are not migration from Africa into like them.

Spain, what has been Spain's Thirdly, getting the average contribution in assisting citizen actively involved in the African countries in refusal of terrorism. I controlling the influx? remember, when there was a person murdered by ETA in AMB: Spain is not only the Spain, hundreds of European country closer to thousands, even millions of Africa, just 14kms away, but people gathered peacefully

We consider that a migration policy must foresee a solid program of cooperation for development in those countries that originate migration movement as well as a committed fight against the human trafficking networks and support to its victims. There is also the need to inform people about the huge risks of travelling illegally to Spain and Europe and to let them know that we do not live in paradise.

Because sometimes the situation of illegal migrants is worst in Europe than in their countries of origin.

All this would be impossible without a close cooperation with our African partners and friends. Just to give you an example, since 2005 Spain has opened 8 new embassies in this continent. Among the EU countries, we have the third biggest diplomatic network in Africa, only the after UK and France.

Her at this embassy in Abuja for instance, we manage the Spain-ECOWAS fund for migration and development, established in 2007 with 10millions Euros, to promote programs related to migration and development both with the civil society

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(NGOs) and with the 15 members states of the ECOWAS. APM: What is the tourism potential of Spain?

AMB: More than potential, we can speak about reality.

We are the second most visited country in the world, with 61 million tourists in 2013. We offer a first class infrastructure, a milder climate than in most part of Europe, security, good services, nightlife and culture. Let's remind that Spain is the second country of the world with more sites included in the UNESCO world's heritage list because of its impressive cultural and environmental legacy.

Gastronomy is also an important attractive, the best restaurant in the world, according to several sources, being in Spain.

APM: How has Spain been able to maintain peace despite high rate of unemployment? Could you suggest concrete measures to African countries where welfarism is not practiced?

AMB: One of the specific characteristics of the Spanish society is that, unlike in other parts of the western world, family still keeps an important role. Therefore, solidarity between members of the family unit strongly helps to diminish the impact of unemployment. However, I have to admit that a high proportion of unemployed people are foreign immigrants that have their families in their countries of origin and do not have the means to help.

The other aspect that helps softening the situation as you are implying in your question, is the existence of a high level of social protection for all citizens, including full free medical care and education. And this is only possible, of course, because citizens pay their taxes. These services don't come out of the blue.

Regarding the second part of your question, it is of course very difficult for me to give a valid answer that can apply to African countries in general, taking into account that we find so many different situations in this continent , of course, a legal framework which fosters safe foreign investments can be crucial for jobs creation.

Good governance and accountability also help in this matter. If citizens are able to see what their taxes are used for, they will be less reluctant to pay them.

APM: How would you describe the co-existence of ethnic minorities living in Spain?

AMB: Before the recent waves of immigration of the last 30years, Spain was a very homogeneous country in this aspect. The only ethnic minority living in Spain was the gypsies, also known as roma, established in our country more than 500years ago and that represents around 1% of the population.

It is internationally recognized by most stakeholders, that the Spanish model of integration of the gipsy

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community has been the most successful in the world, up to a point that it is known as the “Spanish model of integration “, and it is a reference for many other European countries with roma communities.

That situation of almost ethnic homogeneity has completely changed in the last 30years due to immigration Spain has one of the highest rates of foreign population in Europe, around 17%. The main foreign communities are the Romanians (500,000).

Despite this new perspective, co- existence has been very peaceful with no significant problems.

This is not only my opinion; statistics say that the huge majority of foreigners living in Spain affirm that they have never felt racism or xenophobia. At the Spanish parliament you cannot find ultra rightist xenophobic parties, as it is unfortunately the case in other European countries in recent years.

APM: In what ways is Spain assisting the African countries to sustain their nascent democracies?

free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

We are working closely with the Nigerian authorities and AMB: Spain considers Africa, especially with INEC for the particularly western Africa, as organization of EU electoral mission in Nigeria which, as one of its priorities for it happened in 2011, will development aid. Since include several Spanish 2006, Spain has dedicated more than 900million Euros observers. (around 1.4 billion dollars) for development in this APM: Conflicts in Africa have region, including of course been ongoing for decades, programs for capacity what do you think is the best building and good approach to resolving these governance in several west conflicts?

African countries. Spain has been very active in assessing AMB: This is an extremely the nations in the area that difficult question. I am not in have experienced recent the position to comment the crisis, like Mali. domestic conflicts existing in several African countries, but APM: This is an election I can say a couple of words season in Africa, what is the about international conflicts.

Spanish government doing to Look at Europe: we have assist these African been fighting each other for countries? centuries, since the middle ages.

AMB: Let me please refer only to the case of Nigeria.

Spain against, France Which is the one i know against Germany, Germany better? As you know, Spain is against France and UK, and a member of the European so on‌ after the devastating Union. As in 2011, the EU is experiences of the first and implementing different Second World War, we were programs to help our finally able to establish an Nigerian partners holding area of peace and security,

the European Union.

Nowadays, nobody will even think about the possibility of a war between its members.

We have learnt that together we can achieve more. In other words, the best approach to resolve international conflicts is to create a common link of interests so strong that nobody would be interested and able to break down.

APM: What is the greatest item of trade between Nigeria and Africa as a whole and Spain at the moment?

AMB: We have had very close economic and trade links for decades with some northern African countries, like morocco, Algeria or Egypt and with some other nations like equatorial guinea, which was part of Spain until 1968, or Angola or Mozambique. Our presence in the rest of Africa is more recent, but it is increasing steadily.

In the particular case of Nigeria, we are depending on the year the third or

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fourth biggest client of this country. Our trade figures in 2013 reached 7.5 billion Euros (more than 10billion dollars), 98% considering in oil and gas. In fact, 19% of the gas and 13% of the petroleum consumed in Spain in 2013 came from Nigeria.

“ �

Nowadays, nobody will even think about the possibility of a war between its members. We have learnt that together we can achieve more.

APM: Do you think AU has succeeded in promoting peace in Africa?

AMB: During its 50years of existence, AU has become a major player in African and international politics. It has played and it is of course still playing nowadays a vital role for the promotion of peace and security, and it is a relevant stakeholder for integration, prosperity and socio-economic development in this continent.

In 2013, AU was nominated for the prince of Asturias award for peace. These awards are the equivalent of the Nobel prizes in the Hispanic world.

APM: Spain is a nation state historically borne out of religious struggle, but now has a peaceful religious atmosphere, what can Africans learn from this?

AMB: You are right, but that religious struggle happened a long time ago, more than half a millennium. Consider that Spain, one of the oldest nation-states in the world, is celebrating this year's its 522nd anniversary.

On the contrary, I think that we European must learn from the mostly peaceful coexistence of religions that

you can find in Africa. Most of the problems that some African countries are enduring in this domain are recent, and one cannot say that they represent the average reality of the continent, where Christians and Muslims work and live in peace, and have work and lived in peace for many years. Let us hope that this long coexistence can be reinstituted in those areas where it has been lost.

government announced that from this day on, Spain becomes a more decent country, because a decent country is the one that respects, protects and does not discriminate its citizens, whatever their sexual orientation might be�.

I understand that for many African people such a statement might be shocking even outrageous. But that is indeed our perception and we are proud of it.

But do not misunderstand me, please. This is our belief, but we perfectly understand and respect others opinions.

I think that the European views in this question have been widely misunderstood, sometimes internationally,. In no way we want to promote same sex marriage in any country; we perfectly understand that each country has the right to allow or to prohibit these kinds of marriages, nothing to say against that.

However, this absolute respect for the sovereign decision of a state to legislate that question, does not avoid the fact that we considers that some of the laws about this matter recently passed in some African countries contain provision that infringe domestic and international APM: 88% of Spaniards commitments, such as the accepts same sex marriage, while major African countries right of freedom, the right of reunion, the right of equal are against it. What is your treatment or human dignity. view on this?

We are very concerned about AMB: Spain was the third that and we will keep a close country in the world to look at the developments of amend its civil code in order their implementations AP to allow same sex marriage, including adoption, back in 2005. When the amendment was passed, the then president of the Spanish

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10 MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRIES

IN AFRICA

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01

MAURITIUS

Here is the rst country. This Volcanic Ireland nation has positioned itself as a trusted platform of estate planning and wealth management. The country parades multi-ethnic and multicultural people. Won't you like to experience the rich African culture at its peak? Then a visit to this country is nonnegotiable. According to the 2016 Global Peace Index, the country is the 23rd most peaceful country free from either internal or external conict.

This large island nation is a semipresidential representative democratic republic. You'll nd medical centers, hospitals and dispensaries all over the country. Education in Madagascar is free and compulsory from the age of 6 to 13. As a result of increased educational access, enrollment rates have more than doubled between 1996 and 2006. Madagascar is sitting on 38th position in the world's most peaceful countries ranking.

03

MADAGASCAR

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02

BOTSWANA

Though relatively a small county, I bet this is another peaceful terrain you can't afford to miss. In 2013, positive peace index ranked Botswana the best governed country in Africa.

The constitution of this mid-sized nation protects its citizens and represents their rights.

Recently, the 2016 Global peace index ranked Botswana as the second most peaceful countries in Africa. It ranked 28th in the world. Impressive, right?

ZAMBIA Zambia is a land-locked country in southern Africa.

Agriculture and mining play important roles in its economy. The country was ranked alongside Mauritius, Ghana and four other African countries in the 2015 Global peace index.

In 2016, Zambia ranked 40th on the log.

It is one of the most highly urbanized nations in sub-Sahara Africa. Though a Christian country, it has a wide variety of

ZAMBIA

04

05

SIERRA LEON

After a decade-long civil war, the tide has changed and sierra Leon has hit the ground running. Rich in diamond and other minerals, development and peace have been Sierra Leon is regarded as one of the most religious tolerant countries in the world. It's the 42nd most peaceful country in the world.

Welcome to the 'warm heart of Africa'. Located in southern Africa, the landlocked country is placed behind Ghana in the list of most peaceful countries. Ranked 45 in the world, Malawi is a democratic country currently under the leadership of peter Mutharika.

MALAWI

07

GHANA

06

Ghana is now among the continent's top peaceful countries. The country has a unitary presidential constitutional democracy. The Global peace index of 2015 placed Ghana behind other most peaceful nations in Africa. In 2016, the country is 44th in the table. Ghana has also seen two peaceful transition of power between political parties.

When you hear of the term “Unity in Diversity”, think of Namibia. In this country, peace and stability reign supreme. The southwest African nation has effectively confronted and overcome the challenges caused by widespread conict and instability. Namibia is ranked 55 in the world.

NAMIBIA

08

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TANZANIA

09

Here's the 9th peaceful country wedged between Kenya and Mozambique.

It is home to Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. It is the only east African country topping the log. It is ranked 58 in the world after Namibia.

So if you are considering visiting a country free from conicts in East Africa region, Tanzania is the best option for you.

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10

EQUATORIAL QUINEA

Here`s the last country, the 10th most peaceful country based on the 2016 Global Peace record, it is a country nestled on the west coast of Africa. It`s major mineral resources is crude oil, it is the 62nd most peaceful country in the world.

African Peace/Social

SEXUAL

INTIMACY IN MARRIAGE Pst Bose

I

ntimacy is about knowing someone deeply and being able to be completely free in that person's presence. Sexual Intimacy on the other hand, speaks of couples, having a deep knowledge of each other's sexual needs as a result of their emotional and

physical closeness, and being able to freely express and explore each other's body for mutual sexual fulďŹ lment.

Sexual Intimacy allows a couple to be completely open to each other sexually without any reservation. This form of intimacy includes a broad range of sensuous activity and is much more than just

sexual intercourse. It's any form of sensual expression with each other. Ideally, sex in a marriage should be the physical embodiment of intimacy. It should come from a place of love and connection but we know this is not always the case.

Intimacy should be the heart of a sexual relationship. Sex in marriage should be the most intimate act, but it can also be an act without consent or a mere physical exchange. The truth is, you don't need marriage to have sex; so many people engage in sex outside marriage, but you certainly do need

marriage to experience the kind of sex that was in the heart of God when He originated marriage. Sex without intimacy is just the sexual act; it leaves people empty, dissatisďŹ ed, and feeling guilty. This explains just one reason why pornography is so destructive: it delivers a momentary, addictive pleasure without the core dimension of intimacy.

An essential to sexual intimacy is emotional intimacy. Emotional intimacy allows husband and wife to comfortably share their feelings with each other or when they empathize with the feelings of the other person, really try to understand and try to be aware of the other person's emotional side. To be emotionally intimate with our spouse involves sharing our most important thoughts and feelings with each other and gaining comfort and strength from these dialogues.

Emotional intimacy is the kind of intimacy that genuine friends have with each other.

It tends to be relatively stable and can last a lifetime. A good marriage, they say, is best friends with passion.

Therefore, for marriage to be fun, couples must combine

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Sex without intimacy is just the sexual act; it leaves people empty, dissatisfied, and feeling guilty.

sexual intimacy with emotional intimacy.

God designed husband and wife to enjoy sexual intimacy in marriage, that was why He gave Eve specifically to Adam, and didn't just make several women for him so that he could make use of anyone of them that comes his way whenever the urge comes. Sexual intimacy in marriage is critical to a healthy and happy relationship between husband and wife. Every marriage partner has equal responsibility before the Lord to fulfill the sexual needs and desires of their spouse. There is complete mutuality within the marriage in the matter of sexual rights. The gift of sex in marriage has been given by the Maker for the pleasure and fulfillment of each partner equally.

Sex should therefore, never be used as a bribe or reward for good behaviour, or as something to be withheld as a threat or punishment.

Husband and wife alike need to be sensitive to each other's emotional and physical conditions. Love, contrary to general belief, is about meeting the needs of others, and is not about selfgratification. Husband and wife must not expect sex on demand, and on the other hand, they shouldn't

consistently try to get out of satisfying the other's needs.

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 5:21, talks about mutual submission in marriage. That applies to sex as much as to anything else in marriage. To develop Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, the following play very important roles: Good Communication Couples must be able to openly share what they think about their sex life, as well as every other part of their lives.

Frustration accumulates when husband and wife are not able to communicate about their problems, desires, fears, or a host of other regularly unspoken issues that impact their sexual experience.

Communication or the lack of communication would be one of the main barriers to the foundation of an intimate relationship.

Caring Caring for your partner means providing them with the sexual experience that pleases them, on their terms, in their way, and in their time frame. A husband caring for his wife might mean he focuses on slow and gentle caresses, speaking of her beauty and his love for her, or perhaps practicing giving a full body massage!

Commitment Couples must be commited to acheiving sexual intimacy in their marriage. Commitment to sexual intimacy in marriage involves doing what is necessary to achieve it, and eliminating whatever is necessary that impedes it.

Commitment also translates into couple spending time together. Intimacy takes time to develop and husband and wife must be willing to

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prioritize their time for sex.

Mutual Agreement Intimacy will not be produced when values held by husband and wife are in conflict. A couple must be in agreement in their beliefs, core values, mutual perspective, and shared goals to be able to achieve intimacy in their sexual life.

Active Listening Husband and wife must learn to focus all of their attention on what their partner is saying and not respond until they fully understand what they are trying to explain.

You must pay close attention to what the other person is actually saying.

Communication verbal and nonverbal is what we are in charge of and it is one of the main factors in establishing any relationship.

Acceptance Accepting Your Partner relates to understanding and at times forg ivi n g t h em for t h ei r imperfections. People cannot achieve intimacy of any kind, if acceptance of each other is lacking. It is necessary to have self-acceptance, because it is difficult to trust anyone else if people do not have the ability to accept their own short comings AP

Ajayi Olubiyi

How to Become a

Billionaire in

S

Africa

uccess in life depends on how you handle your failures. Being a billionaire in Africa is more than having a bunch of zeroes.

Working from a life of little or nothing to living in the lap of luxury is the classic African-man dream. Here's a theory I have cooked up for days on how to become a billionaire in Africa.

1) DISCOVER YOUR PASSION Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what

Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough.

you want to do with your life, be passionate. For there is nothing great that happens in the life of a person without the person first discovering the reason why he exists. I regard this as the first step to becoming that billionaire you sought after. You have got to find that thing that makes you sleep late at night and wakes you up early in the morning. The truth about life is that without considerable effort spent on finding your true self, it will be difficult to gain influence

in life. For everyone's dream is to be known and recognized but only a few has the time to sit down to discover his/her passion.

There is no other way to go around this rather than selfdiscovery, for with it everything in life that was invented began. You want to become great? You don't just sit there folding your arms, get up and find somewhere inconvenient where you can discover your passion truly.

Africa needs your passion, so decide right now that it's

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possible to find it, and use this guidance to gain clarity.

When you find your passion, be assured; it will always guide you right.

2) GET SKILLED If you are to desire being a billionaire, time and study would be required. This is the next thing that happens in your life after first discovering who you are. If you want to be respected, honored, and influential, you have to learn from your predecessors and that's getting all skilled up.

Gaining more knowledge in that passion you have found will make you attain the height you desire. To mention a few names like Aliko Dangote (Nigeria), Christoffel Wiese (South Africa), these people found their passion and didn't just stop there, they went ahead to acquire enough knowledge in what they should know. The moment you think you have nothing left to learn is the moment you kill your potential, for it's what you learn after you know it all that counts. To be a billionaire, you have got to think like one; you have got to sacrifice what you have to acquire what you need.

3) START NOW After close study on discovering your passion and gaining more knowledge on it, the next step is to put everything into action straight away.

Starting your passionate business and taking it to success isn't always easy, but for those with good business sense and the ability to spot start-ups that have potential to be great, entrepreneurship can be the vehicle to their wealth. The truth is that time won't wait for you to begin to explore of all what you have inside of you, you have got to take the plunge and start work immediately. Are you into buying and selling? Start that business now. The world is ruled by men of action and not men of procrastination. Without you showcasing yourself to the world, it will be quite difficult for you to have influence over what you are doing. Until your immediate environment and community know what you do, then you will begin to explore far beyond your capability. Tell someone about what you do and have that person tell another person until what you do becomes no new thing any longer.

4) BE CONFIDENT, DISCIPLINED, DETERMINED After all said and done, you won't be close to being a billionaire if you don't take this step into consideration.

Africa is wide and therefore only those who won't give in to the situation and circumstances around them will eventually triumph.

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Regardless of any business you may want to do; being confident, disciplined and determined will get you to that spot. Those qualities allow you to look at old things in a new way, to see the potential for change and profit where others see only what already had been done. Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough.

5) PUT GOD FIRST When you put God first, all other things fall into place or out of your life. You can work all you want and read all you have but the main factor is God. If you do not put God into what you want to accomplish, you may end up not reaching that limelight. The steps to becoming a billionaire in Africa is the same step you need to becoming that billionaire in the world.

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment; therefore, you have got to reflect over these theories over and over again until you begin to have that feeling that to be great is a thing of the mind.

It's not easy to build your passionate business from scratch, especially when it's a fortune of billions, just remember that time is on your side if you don't rush it. AP

We turn Ideas into Beautiful Picture

...it’s possible

DESTINO PRINT Graphics Design : Printing : Logo Creation : Publishing

By Winifred Osezuah Being personally developed means acquiring skills which we think are necessary in achieving set goals.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:

T

THE KEY TO A BETTER CAREER

he craze for a perfect CurriculumVitae by both employees and employers has led to a general misinterpretation of the term “Qualified for the job� as what most employees look out for are highest degree obtained, alma mater, certifications and even references. As a

result job seekers work towards this with the hope of a perfect job offered on a platter. Not disputing the fact that the aforementioned factors being put into consideration are vital, this article merely seeks to put more weight on personal development.

Being personally developed means acquiring skills which

we think are necessary in achieving set goals.

Whilst this may be academically based, more often than not, they are not usually regular courses offered in our educational institutions, except in rare cases. That is to say, leaving the comfort zone of our regular routines in our

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regular environment is expedient.

Enhancing your personal traits or developing new ones is not easy, neither is it risk-fee. It always takes you through new and uncharted territory but the rewards, if done correctly, are worth the effort. A study done by the International Coach Federation took the opinions of about 210

coaching clients.

personal development.

This study showed that coached clients made positive change in their personal work habits, and this habits made them survive when things got tough, both in and out of work.

It also applies to job seekers as they are more unique in the midst of others as a result of added developed skills and personalities not particularly gotten within the four walls of an attended institution of learning.

The ICF study went on to reveal the following statistics about clients who took personal development seriously enough to employ a coach (N:B you could be your own coach): 62.4% of employees got smarter in goalsetting..

60.5% of employees received a more balanced life..52.4% of employees became more selfconfident..25.7% of employees received more revenue..!!

All of these results happened as a result of each of the above mentioned devoting time to

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The statistics was not only limited to individuals, as result shows that 42% of today's companies do not believe in personal development coaches, yet, the same study revealed that if these companies had used a coach for this purpose, they would have increased income by 46%.

So go out today, learn a new language! Acquire new skills related and not related to your career(companies love the idea of a 2-in-1 package)! Talk to yourself in the mirror to improve your presentation skills!

Volunteer! Stop bad habits!

Be positive!...and your 'CV' just might be the perfect one.