African Voice Newspaper

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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ISSUE 481

SINCE 2001

B R I TA I N ’ S N O . 1 A F R I C A N N E W S PA P E R Cash flow a “huge challenge” for small businesses

Nigeria seeks closer economic cooperation with Sweden

SEE PAGE 8

SEE PAGE 9

Man convicted of murder and attempted murder SEE PAGE 14

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Young jobless face deepening crisis

By Alan Oakley A new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warns that a predicted rise in youth unemployment over the next five years is likely to deprive society of a generation of skilled workers and lead to social unrest on an epic scale.

Although there are regional vagaries, the global youth unemployment rate continues to rise and is expected to reach 12.8 per cent by 2018. According to the ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013 report, an estimated 73.4 million young people – 12.6 per cent – are expected to be out of work in 2013, close to the levels reached at the peak of the economic crisis in 2009. This is an increase of 3.5 million between 2007 and 2013.

“These figures underline the need to focus policies on growth, massive improvements in education and training systems, and targeted youth employment actions,” says José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ILO’s Assistant Director-General for Policy.

“Employers, education providers and youth often live in parallel universes, they do not sufficiently engage with each other.

Continued on page 2

José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ILO’s Assistant Director-General for Policy

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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Africa Jubilee Business Forum

The year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the African Union and its predecessor the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) will be marked in London with the Africa Jubilee Business Forum, a day-long event under the theme “African-British Business Partnerships at 50 and Beyond”.

The Forum will be held at Lancaster House on 13th May 2013, and is jointly organised by the African High Commissioners/Ambassadors’ Group in London, the Commonwealth Business Council and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The Forum will be opened by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has been engaging Africa ahead of the G8, and H.E. Dr Tedros Adhanom, Foreign Minister of Ethiopia and Chairman of the AU Council of Ministers.

The Africa Jubilee Business Forum will focus on new ways of capitalising on the increasing opportunities and openings for business on the African continent. The discussions will be grouped around four themes: Capitalising on the African opportunity, a panel of senior African and British business leaders will discuss the biggest opportunities on the continent.

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi News Editor Emmanuel Urhiofe Sub Editor Alan Oakley Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Assist. Sports Editor Olubunmi Omoogun Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Michael Adekoya Rasheed Ogunlaru Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer Alvin Brown Legal Adviser Godwin Okri London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

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African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

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News Somalia Conference 2013: PM details help for new government The British Prime Minister David Cameron has set out how more can be done to help the Somali government at a co-hosted conference in London. The 7 May Somalia Conference is aimed at providing international support to the new federal government’s plans. More than 50 partner countries and organisations are in attendance, including the UN, African Union and IMF. Somalia’s new parliament and government was elected last year, and has set out an ambitious plan, the Six Pillar Policy, for rebuilding the country after more than two decades of conflict.

Opening the Somali Conference in central London today, the Prime Minister reminded the international community of why it needs to help the new Somali government build a strong and democratic country.

He explained: Somalis make a great contribution to our country and their remittances play a valuable role in Somalia, but many would like to return and rebuild their own country. We need to make it safe for them to do so.

Despite the gains made against Al-Shabaab the recent tragic and despicable attacks in Mogadishu - including one just last weekend - remind us how much work there is still to do in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

These challenges are not just issues for Somalia. They matter to Britain - and to the whole international community. Why? Because when young minds are poisoned by radicalism and they go on to export terrorism and extremism, the security of

The Governments of the UK and Somalia are co-hosting an international conference on Somalia the whole world is at stake. companies from all over the world lookAnd to anyone who says, this isn’t a ing at Somalia as a place to consider doing priority or we can’t afford to deal with it, business. But for investment to flow and I would say that is what we’ve said in the jobs to be created, people need to know past and look where it has got us: terrorism where their resources are going. and mass migration. We made that mistake For our part, I hope the international not just in the Horn of Africa, but also in community can send a strong signal to the Afghanistan in the 1990s and we must not International Financial Institutions about make it again. the need to follow the World Bank’s lead The Prime Minister also set out how and help Somalia to deal with its debts and more can be done to help Somali develop access the vital finance it needs. And I will a transparent and accountable government. seek support for this from my G8 partners He said: Under the previous government when we meet at Lough Erne next month.

Somalia struggled with endemic corrupThe Somalia Conference is one of a series tion. So I very much welcome the commitof events in 2013 that will support the counment to public accountability that President try, including the G8 meetings, the Tokyo Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has made and the International Conference on African Deplan he is setting out at this conference. velopment in early June and an EU-hosted Tomorrow will see a major international conference in September on the New Deal Trade and Investment Conference – with for fragile states.

Young jobless face deepening crisis Continued from front page

We know a lot about what works but real impact and scale can only be achieved through close partnerships and collective action,” he added.

According to the report, young people continue to be three times more likely not to have a job than adults, which is a depressing statistic for school leavers and graduates. The document asserts: “The weakening of the global recovery in 2012 and 2013 has further aggravated the youth jobs crisis and the queues for available jobs have become longer and longer for some unfortunate jobseekers.

So long, in fact, that many youth are giving up on the job search.”

Of the fortunate few that manage to secure work, more and more young people are forced to settle for temporary or part-time employment. Frequently, the jobs they are engaged in are a mismatch for the skills they have gained.

The ILO report says such mismatches make solutions to the youth employment crisis more difficult to find and more time consuming to implement. Not only does this mean society is missing out on new

skills from high-qualified youths, but also that the overeducated are denying less qualified young people from entering the workplace. The increasing use of interns by employers has also put pressure on young people and had the effect of flattering the unemployment level.

Unemployment among those young people who are not in employment, education or training – the so-called NEETs - is an issue in the UK. A report in March found that a lack of computer skills could be damaging the career chances of young Britons, after more than one in 10 said they did not think their computer skills were good enough to use in the job they want.

The Prince’s Trust said research among 1,378 British 15 to 25-year-olds, including 265 NEETs, found that one in 10 cannot send their CV online, while a quarter dreaded filling in online job applications.

Employers have reacted in different ways to the skill shortage. While some companies – particularly in the finance sector - have installed training schemes

for A-level students that would allow them to bypass university, others – particularly in the public sector - will not even grant an interview to applicants without a graduate degree.

Recent data from the UK and eurozone shows young people continuing to be the hardest hit by the unemployment crisis.

There are 979,000 unemployed 16 to 24year-olds in the UK, after a 20,000 rise in the three months to February. The jobless rate in the single currency bloc hit a record 12.1% in March and youth unemployment was almost double that at 24%.

In Greece and Spain more than half of all young people are unemployed, though it is unclear how many work in the hidden economy in jobs that sidestep national insurance registration obligations and income tax.

The International Labour Organisation is an agency of the UN. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

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News

UK commits to help Somalia improve security

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Plans to help address terrorism and piracy by tackling poverty

he UK has committed to help the new Somali Government to tackle the threat of international terrorism, crime and piracy by helping it to manage its public finances, cope with future famines and create a more peaceful and secure future.

The UK, alongside other donors, committed international support for Somalia’s new federal government at today’s Somalia conference.

The commitments made at today’s conference will improve lives in Somalia and protect the UK’s national interest.

The international community endorsed the Somali Government’s plans for developing the country’s armed forces, police, justice and public financial management systems. These plans are a pivotal part of tackling poverty, improving security and tackling the root causes of humanitarian disasters, mass migration, terrorism and piracy.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “The people and government of Somalia can rightly be proud of the huge progress the country has made over the past year. A new parliament and government have been appointed in the most representative political process in a generation. Al Shabaab has lost large areas of territory. The diaspora are returning and the economy is starting to revive.

“But this progress is fragile, and maintaining the momentum will require leadership in Somalia and support from the region and the international community. That is why the UK convened this conference and that it is why it was crucial that the international community agreed that Somalia is on the right path, recognised the challenges Somalia faces, and set out its support for the Somali Government’s priorities and plans.

“The funding committed by the UK today is a clear demonstration of our commitment to Somalia and our determination to support the Federal Government and the Somali people in the years ahead.”

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “Somalia has begun a rapid recovery in the last year, but this will be put at risk if the Somali Government cannot manage its own public finances properly, avoid future famines or tackle terrorism and piracy.

Britain’s new package of support will help ordinary Somalis across the 4

place rigorous accounting and financial reporting. This £2.8 million pledge will help Somalia to put systems in place to pay its civil servants, police officers and other public officials as well as putting in place the groundwork for further financial support from international financial institutions.

Preventing famine

Millions still in need of humanitarian aid

country to start getting the day-to-day assistance they need to get on with their lives and rebuild their country.

“Somalia’s new Federal Government has a bold and ambitious plan in place.

With the right support, advice and investment we can help Somalia to recover from decades of conflict.

“Tackling the root causes of poverty, crime and instability in Somalia is also firmly in Britain’s national interest.”

During the Conference, Somali Government Ministers shared detailed plans for developing the country’s armed forces, police, justice sector and public financial management systems.

The international community endorsed those plans and committed expertise and funding to deliver them. The UK Government committed to provide £35m to projects to help address Somalia’s challenges of security and governance, and £145m to help Somalia cope with future famines. This comprehensive package of support is designed to help the new Somali Government’s efforts to manage its public finances and resources, create a more peaceful and secure future, and cope with future famines or natural disasters.

The UK commitments will support Somalia’s Federal Government’s own recovery plan in the following areas: Security Britain will support the Somali Government’s plans to develop effective and legitimate national security forces that can protect people and preserve public order. UK support will include military experts to advise the Somalis as they develop their armed forces, as well as £10 million over two years to help extend forces beyond Mogadishu, conditional on progress in tackling hu-

man rights and financial management concerns. The UK will also commit almost £1.5 million to support Somalia’s Maritime Resource and Security strategy, secure Somalia’s coastline, and aid the prosecution of suspected Somali pirates in the region.

Policing and justice Britain will support Somalia’s fight against international crime, terrorism and instability by repairing and rebuilding Mogadishu’s crumbling prison, doubling police numbers and setting up a series of mobile courts to operate across the country. Britain’s new £14.5 million pledge will help to improve public safety, tackle serious crimes and human rights abuses, including sexual and gender based violence, piracy and terrorism. It will also help lawyers and court officials to travel to areas without access to permanent courts, including refugee camps and remote districts outside of Mogadishu for the first time.

This money will also enable the Somali government to pay salaries and help them to nearly double the number of police officers from 6,000 to nearly 12,000. This will include a £1.5 million rehabilitation of Mogadishu’s Central Prison will bring it up to international standards, increase prison capacity by providing new accommodation for 250 prisoners and 40 juveniles and help prevent outbreaks of disease.

Public finances Britain will support the Somali Government’s plans to boost public finances and manage their own resources and revenues better. This will include providing expert advisers to assist Somalia’s new Ministry of Finance to put in

Britain will launch a major new humanitarian programme to help 500,000 Somalis to survive the current food crisis, become better able to withstand future droughts and crop failures, and plan for the future. Delivered over four years, the programmes will give Somalis back the opportunity to grow their own crops, buy food from local markets and vaccinate livestock against disease. Somalia remains in an extreme humanitarian crisis with more than one million people still in need of humanitarian aid and many more are at severe risk. The new £145 million package will give tens of thousands of malnourished people nutrient-rich food, clean water, shelter and healthcare for tens of thousands of Somalis. Real-time monitoring using satellite imaging and third party monitoring will ensure aid is directed to where it is needed most.

Peace and stability Britain will help the new Government to resolve local conflicts and deliver better services. Working through the Stability Fund which was launched last year, the new £5 million package will help the Government to work with local communities to understand what services they require, help the Government to resolve local disputes peacefully and encourage young people to contribute to their communities, find jobs and keep away from crime and violence.

Tackling sexual violence Somalia remains one of the worst places in the world to be a woman. Britain, alongside Somalia and the UN Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, has announced that a team of UN experts would deploy to Somalia in the summer. The pledge follows the joint announcement by the UK and UAE to provide £2 million to support the Federal Government, including training and capacity building and help for them to deliver on the UN team’s recommendations.

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News

Britain toughen Immigration Laws

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For those wishing to settle in the UK the government has introduced a tougher life in the UK

By Milton Tella new Immigration Bill to further reform the immigration system by tightening immigration law, strengthening enforcement powers and clamping down on those from overseas who abuse public services is the centrepiece of the Queen’s speech 2013.

The Government has slashed net migration by a third so far, with levels at their lowest since December 2008. Yet, it is still transforming all routes into the UK to bring immigration back under control.

The much abused student migration route has been blocked, ensuring those who bring family members to the UK can support them without relying on the state and set an annual limit on the number nonEEA people who can come to Britain to work.

The requirements on educational establishments that are allowed to sponsor international students are tougher. Students now have to have a graduate level job in order to stay in the country when their course is

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finished.

A new credibility interviewing system for students from higher risk countries has been introduced from 2013. Route for entrepreneurs, MBA students and it is now easier for those with PhDs to find jobs once they have finished their studies. A new exceptional talent route for those recognised as being among the best in their field has also been launched.

A new provision to ensure Article 8 (the right to stay in the country because of family connections) is not abused so courts balance the crime committed against the right to remain in the country.

Landlords of private housing will now have to check the immigration status of tenants and face fines of thousands of pounds if they don’t.

Migrants will have no access to the NHS, ensuring that temporary migrants make a contribution and tough action against businesses that use illegal labour, including more substantial fines.

A new residence test that means most individuals must be lawfully resident in Britain for at least 12 months before they

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at the State Opening of Parliament can get access to civil legal aid. This requires secondary legislation later this year.

Access to certain benefits for EEA national jobseekers is limited and retained workers to six months by amending the

Immigration Regulations (2006) to create a statutory presumption to come in to force in January 2014.

All EEA national cannot have a right to claim certain benefits for more than six months if they do not actively seek work

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News

Prime Minister David Cameron and Ed Miliband and show that they have a genuine chance of getting a job.

A new rule will make sure that only those with a well-established local residency and local associations qualify for social homes in their area. We will do this through new statutory housing allocations guidance to

set out that a reasonable period of residency would be between two and five years; Right of appeal for family visitors has been scraped, bringing it in line with all other visitor routes – stopping approximately 44,700 appeals clogging up the system.

The probationary period for settlement

Chuka Umunna to Lead Trade Mission to Nigeria and Ghana Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna is to lead a joint London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and UKTI North West trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana next week from May 13-17.

The mission, which will visit Lagos in Nigeria and Accra in Ghana, gives small and medium sized businesses the opportunity to meet prospective clients as well as business organisations in both countries.

Africa has the fastest-growing middle class in the world, set to grow to 1.1 billion by 2060. Seven of the 10 fastest growing in the world are in Africa. Nigeria is one of the fastest growing countries in Africa and it is estimated that it will surpass South Africa as the continent’s largest economy by 2016.

The trip will coincide with UKTI’s export week, which is designed to help businesses export.

Commenting, Streatham MP & Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna said: “The historic links and deep cultural ties between our large African Diaspora communities in the UK and the next generation of emerging economies in sub-Saharan Africa mean that we are uniquely placed to make the most of the strong economic growth from the region to boost African Diaspora businesses and entrepreneurs in the UK. “Whilst a lot of emphasis is rightly put on the need to increase our exports to countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China, it is also crucial that we push to boost trade

for non-EEA spouses and partners has been extended from two years to five years, to test the genuineness of the relationship and now allow adult and elderly dependants to settle in the UK only where they can demonstrate that, as a result of age, illness or disability, they require a level of long-term personal care that can only be provided by a relative in the UK. There is no limit on the number of intra company transfers that can come to the UK and it is even easier for these individuals to come to the UK by reducing the amount of paperwork they need to provide.

Major reforms of the UK Border Agency has taken place, a new National Crime Agency with a border policing command; the Identity and Passport Service continues to operate to a high standard; and since the split of the Border Force from UKBA last year.

The Home Secretary recently announced major reforms of the UK Border Agency which will mean, UKBA will cease to be an arm’s length agency and will now sit in the Home Office, reporting to Ministers.

UKBA will be split in two to have a immigration and visa service and an immigration law enforcement organisation; The Queen’s Speech is intended to introduce measures that will help people get on in life. Other Bills that back individuals

every step of the way and allow them to show their full potential and flourish include a National Insurance Contributions Bill will cut the cost of recruiting new employees - taking forward the commitment in the last Budget to slash National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for small businesses, meaning up to 1.25 million employers will benefit, with around 450,000 of these taken out of paying employer NICs altogether – one third of all employers.

A Deregulation Bill which will reduce the burden of unnecessary legislation on firms looking to grow - weeding out unnecessary red tape and burdens that can make life difficult for small businesses.

A Social Care Bill to cap social care costs, so pensioners do not have to sell their homes to fund their care; A Pensions Bill to create a simple, flat rate pension that encourages saving and helps women who have had long career breaks; and, A Consumer Rights Bill to promote growth through competitive markets - covering consumer rights including goods, services, digital content and unfair contract terms. It would also consolidate of over sixty pieces of legislation on Trading Standards’ powers to investigate beaches of consumer law into one piece of legislation.

with the next generation of emerging economies which include a large number of countries in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to achieve a growth rate of over 5 per cent over the next two years and Africa’s middle class is forecast to grow to over 1 billion over the next five decades.

“Area’s like my constituency in South London have large African Diaspora communities that work incredibly hard and epitomize the increasingly diverse face of British business. These businesses need support from government that they don’t have at the moment, and there also needs to be wider recognition of the huge opportunity we in the UK have to work with the emerging African economies and more work done to realise that potential.

That’s why I am looking forward to leading this trade mission for UK businesses to Nigeria and Ghana. We want this trade mission to help build stronger links between the economies of West Africa and the UK, and I am determined to do whatever I can to help make that happen.”

Commenting, Chief Executive of the LCCI Colin Stanbridge said: “It is very clear that in order to drive growth we need to get companies exporting their products and services to a range of emerging markets. We need to be grasping opportunities in these markets and encouraging more companies to get involved in exporting.

“West Africa offers a huge market for British goods and I hope that the companies on our mission are able to make the most of all the opportunities on offer.”

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Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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Cash flow a “huge challenge” for UK small businesses

George Osborne: Chancellor of the Exchequer

A new report has called into question the effectiveness of the British government’s drive to end a lending drought to small businesses and unlock the economic growth that has eluded

the country since the financial crisis.

Nearly half of Britain’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are concerned about managing their cash flow over the next year, a survey of 451 companies with

a turnover of over 50,000 pounds ($77,500) showed.

In addition, 46 percent of those companies said they had recently suffered at least one disruption to their cash flow, mainly due to customers being late or unable to pay their bills.

“Cash flow clearly remains a huge challenge for thousands of UK businesses,”

said Marcelino Castrillo, head of SME at Santander Corporate & Commercial, which commissioned the study.

New regulations brought in after the financial crisis have forced traditional lenders to cut risky financing and left many small businesses short of funds.

The British government, which sees a lack of credit to small businesses as a major factor behind the country’s slow recovery from the financial crisis, has tried to reverse that situation with various schemes aimed at boosting lending.

Last week it extended and expanded its flagship Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS), which offers banks cheap credit if they increase lending to households and businesses.

While the Santander survey showed an increasing number of businesses are turning to alternative financing to help deal with cash flow fluctuations, Castrillo said more should consider going down this route.

The survey found one quarter of larger businesses, those with annual revenues between 5 million pounds and 20 million pounds, said they had used or intended to use invoice finance in the next 12 months, compared with just 2 percent of firms with revenues of 250,000-500,000 pounds.

Invoice financing - advancing funds to firms by buying their outstanding sales invoices - is booming in Britain as online platforms look to fill the gap left by banks.

FDI to Africa On Continuous Rise

By Margaret Wahito

Africa’s share of global foreign direct investment (FDI) has grown to 5.6 percent over the past five years from 3.2 percent, highlighting the growing interest from foreign investors, according to Ernst & Young’s third Africa Attractiveness Survey released on Monday.

The report combines an analysis of international investment into Africa over the past five years with a 2013 survey of over 500 global business leaders about their views on the potential of the African market.

“A process of democratisation has taken root across much of the continent, ongoing improvements to the business environment and exponential growth in trade and investment,” Ernst & Young’s Managing Partner Mark Otty commented.

The outlook also appears positive, with the region as a whole expected to grow by four percent for 2013 and 4.6 percent for 2014.

A number of African economies are predicted to remain among the fastest growing in the world for the foreseeable future.

Eighty-six percent of those with an established presence on the continent believe that Africa’s attractiveness as a place to do business will continue to improve.

Those surveyed rank Africa as the second 8

most attractive regional investment destination in the world after Asia.

On the other hand investment in FDI projects from developed markets fell by 20percent.

Although FDI projects from the UK grew by nine percent year-on-year, those from the US and France - the other two leading developed market investors in Africa - were considerably down.

In the period since 2007, the rate of FDI projects from emerging markets into Africa has grown at a healthy compound rate of over 21 percent.

In comparison investment from developed markets has grown at only eight percent.

The top contributors from the emerging markets are India, South Africa, the UAE, China, Kenya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and South Korea - all among the top 20 investors over that period.

Intra-African investment on the other hand, has been particularly impressive during the same period, growing at 33 percent compounded rate.

South Africa has been at the forefront of growth in intra-African trade and broader emerging market investment.

Kenya and Nigeria have also invested heavily but it is expected that others such as Angola, will become increasingly prominent investors across the continent over the next few years.

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President Jonathan urges African leaders to make economic emancipation their highest priority

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has said that having successfully liberated the continent from colonialism, racism and apartheid, African leaders must now give the fullest possible attention to the economic emancipation of their countries.

Addressing the South African Parliament in Cape Town during his state visit on Tuesday, May 7, President Jonathan called on his colleagues across the continent to now make building strong economies and strengthening democratic governance their topmost priority.

“On the 25th of this month, Africa will be celebrating the golden jubilee of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union. As we take stock of the achievements of our continental organization, it is also appropriate that we reflect and decide where our continent should be in the next fifty years.

“That destination has to be a democratic and united Africa that is at peace with itself and can compete with the rest of the world,” President Jonathan said.

Noting that Africa has emerged as the new frontier for trade and investment in the world, President Jonathan said that African leaders must rise to the challenge of managing the new opportunities presented by this situation for the benefit of their peoples and countries.

“There is certainly a lot more that we can do. We must work together to put an end to

the exploitation and exploration of Africa’s resources for export without any value added; African countries must transform from being primary sources of raw material into producers to create jobs and opportunities for our people.

“We must check the loss of Africa’s trained manpower to already developed countries. We must work together, to promote trade and investment among our countries and build trans-national infrastructure in such critical sectors as trade, telecommunications, and transportation in order to fast-track the process of peoplecentred, continental integration.

“We must check the illicit transfer of huge sums of money to the developed world from Africa through sharp practices such as transfer pricing, tax evasion and corruption, all of which contribute to Africa’s economic under-performance,” the President told the assembled members of parliament.

President Jonathan said that while there were positive developments in the area of governance in Africa with the continent now having more democratic nations than at any other time in its history, democratic institutions were still weak in many African countries and needed to be strengthened.

In this regard, the President said that African legislatures must see the need to insist on respect for the rule of law and accountability in the conduct of governmental affairs across the continent.

Noting that harmonious relationship between all the three arms of government,

From left: Dr Olusegun Aganga; president Goodluck Jonathan; president Jacob Zuma of South Africa and the South African minister of trade and industries, Dr Rob Davies, at the South Africa-Nigeria business forum in Cape Town especially between the legislative and executive arms, is imperative for the objectives of good governance, and national progress, he said that he was delighted that the Executive and the Legislature in South Africa have forged a strong partnership for the benefit of the country.

“It is an example that is worthy of emulation by some other countries where the doctrine of the separation of powers and cordial intra-governmental relations still remain a knotty challenge,” President Jonathan said.

Recalling Nigeria’s partnership with the leaders of the African National Congress to

achieve the liberation of South Africa and ending of apartheid, President Jonathan said that both countries must continue to work together in the interest of their people and the continent.

The President paid tribute to the “singular and collective heroism, as well as the inspirational examples” of former President Nelson Mandela, Chief Albert Luthuli, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Thambo, Govan Mbeki, Steve Biko, Chris Hani, and other South African men and women of “valour and integrity who were imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, patriotism, and devotion to the common good”.

Nigeria seeks closer economic cooperation with Sweden Nigeria has called for increased bilateral ties with Sweden for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo made this call when he received a Ministerial delegation from Sweden, led by the country’s Minister of International Development Cooperation, Mrs. Gunilla Carlson, on courtesy call in his office at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, May 7.

The Vice President said “we assure you that we deeply appreciate our relations, we are looking forward to increasing our economic cooperation. “ Vice President Sambo, however, observed that the trade value of the two countries was below expectation, urging that the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2011 between the two countries be revived, to allow faster growth of the economies of the two countries.

Arc Sambo called on Sweden to tap into the huge potentials in the power, agriculture, railways, waterways, ports, education, healthcare services, manpower

development, finance and other sectors of Nigeria’s economy, with huge returns on investment.

He also used the opportunity to implore Sweden to assist in fast-tracking the development of Nigeria’s small and medium hydro-power plants, which he said would open up more economic corridors for wealth and job creation, emphasising that Nigeria has over 200 existing dams.

Vice President Sambo reiterated government’s commitment to providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive, stressing that the President Jonathan administration was reforming all sectors of Nigeria’s economy to allow for partnership with the private sector saying “we have an open policy, we are addressing the issue of security to ensure the safety of our nationals and also our friends and investors in the country.”

The spokesperson of the delegation and the Minister of Finance of Sweden, Mr. Anders Borg, in his remarks stated that they were in the country to enhance greater eco-

Nigeria and Sweden had been “traditionally cordial and very strong”.

He noted the trade imbalance between the two countries, stating that exports from Nigeria in 2011 amounted to about $26 million dollars only, a huge drop from that of 2010, which was $88 million. He further said Vice President Namadi Sambo (right) with the Swedish minister that imports from of finance, Mr. Anders Borg Sweden to Nigeria nomic ties based on cooperation, mutual had steadily increased over the years reachunderstanding and beneficial investment, ing $825 million in 2011. adding that Nigeria has one of the fastest Present at the event were the Minister of growing economies in the world with a Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, the strong demographic push and investment Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Svante opportunities.

Kilandex, and top Nigerian government ofEarlier the representative of the Minisfi cials ter of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Kabir Garba, stated that the relationship between 9

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Osun NULGE hails gov’s initiatives

Local government workers under the aeiges of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have lauded the administration of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola for the initiatives it has introduced to governance in the state.

The chairman of the union, Comrade Adekomi Babatunde, gave the commendation at the occasion of the one year celebration of the executive and award ceremony to some council chairmen in the state.

Babatunde while speaking at the occasion, noted that the union was impressed with science and technology that have been introduced to environmental sanitation and the revenue-yielding capacity of O Clean programme, the computerization of education through the computer table “Opon Imon” initiative and the school feeding programme tagged O-Meal for primary school pupils as well as massive employment of teachers and construction of standard classrooms.

The union maintained that the state government had provided a suitable operational environment to the members of the union to thrive and excel adding that the members were enjoying job security as well.

“The local government workers enjoy upward review of housing and vehicle loans. All our promotions, conversions and advancement are approved as at when due. Our retired members are paid their entitlements. Equally, our members are enjoying local and foreign trainings.

Today, three members of the union have been appointed permanent secretaries. With all these

outstanding achievements of this administration in capacity building of all our union members, the physical development of all the local government are going on progressively. With all these, we appreciate you sir,” the chairman added, The union, however, demanded that local government staff should be made to serve in the Local Government Service Commission in accordance with the directive from the Federal Government stipulating that the commission be staffed by local government workers.

The union, noted that it was only in the state that staffers of the commission were drawn from the state civil service.

The union further asked that the terminal grade level for their directors be put at Grade Level 17 as it was being done for the state civil servants.

The local government workers also commended the state legislators for their support and interventionist roles in most issues brought before them concerning the union’s members in the state.

Babatunde noted that the union had been keeping watch on the activities of all executive secretaries and have come into conclusion in given award to some of them who have performed well in their respective council areas.

Some of the council chairmen honoured included the Executive Secretary of Ayedaade, Mr. Nathaniel Arabambi, Mr. Taiwo Olaiya, Mr. Taiwo Fatiregun of Oriade Local Government and Mr. Kunle Ayanytoye of Ifedayo Local Government. Culled from Tribune.

FROM LEFT-Secretary to the State Government, State of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable representing Osun East Senatorial District, Hon. Babajide Omoworare and State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC], Comrade Saka Adesiyan at a dinner party organized by the Executive Governor, State of Osun at State Government House, Osogbo

Photos: Taofeeq Adejare

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting Award of Good Performance to the Executive Secretary, Aiyedaade Local Government, Honourable Nathaniel Arabambi while Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori watches, during the 2013 May Day Celebration held at St. Charles’ Grammar School, Osogbo

FROM RIGHT- Secretary to the Government, State of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba Titi Laoye- Tomori, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Engineer Micheal Oluwole Idowu, his wife Mrs. Yetunde Idowu and Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye during the official presentation of 250 copies of the books titled Reinforced Concrete Design: Practical Approach Authored by Engr. Micheal Idowu at the State Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo

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Belgium

Police round up ‘perfect heist’ suspects Police investigating February’s audacious Brussels Airport diamond heist believe they have gone a long way towards capturing the gang responsible.

31 suspects have been detained across three countries in connection with the robbery, in which armed robbers posing as police drove onto the airport tarmac with blue lights flashing and boarded a plane, seizing 120 parcels of diamonds and precious metals.

A Frenchman who is believed to have been one of the actual robbers was detained in France, while six people were detained in Switzerland and 24 in Belgium. Police believe they have proof that diamonds found in Switzerland were part of the cache that was spirited away in the brazen February 18 robbery that ranks among the biggest diamond heists of recent times.

Suspects in France and Switzerland were detained on Tuesday (May 7), and the following day Belgian police carried out a massive early-morning operation, with 250

police involved in 40 house searches.

“In Switzerland, we have found diamonds that we can already say are coming from the heist, and in Belgium large amounts of money have been found. And the investigation is still ongoing,” said Jean-Marc Meilleur, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office. Meilleur was scant on detail, yielding no clues as to how police got on the trail of the suspects.

This latest development marks the first major breakthrough in the investigation of a robbery that many had started comparing to a Hollywood script for its clinically clean execution during which no one was injured. On a cold winter evening, the diamonds had been loaded onto a plane bound for Zurich when robbers, dressed in dark police clothing and hoods, drove through a hole they had cut in the airport fence in two black cars with blue police lights flashing.

They drove onto the tarmac, approached the plane, brandished machine guns, offloaded the diamonds and made their getaway in an operation that barely took five minutes.

Later that night, investigators found the

Brazil

Drug-crazed teenage rapist surrenders to police

L to R: Wallace Aparecido Souza Silva, Carlos Armando Costa dos Santos, and Jonathan Foudakis de Souza, pictured after their initial arrest, have been formally charged with attacking the tourists in Rio de Janeiro

A 16 year-old, the third suspect in a gang-rape on a Rio de Janeiro bus, has handed himself in to police in Rio de Janeiro after admitting to raping a woman, robbery and assaulting other passengers at gunpoint.

The teenager turned himself in early on Tuesday (May 7) in Rio’s northern district with his mothers support as a police net closed in on him. He admitted the crime and voiced regret for his action, saying he was under the influence of cocaine when he perpetrated the crime.

Police said the incident occurred on March 30 in a poor suburb west of the city centre known as Favela do Muquico, where three armed males boarded a bus, robbed passengers at gunpoint, and raped a woman on the moving bus. The victim, a 21-year-old American student, was repeatedly sexually assaulted, and

her French boyfriend was beaten. They were forced to withdraw money from cash machines and hand over bank cards before being released.

Police had already arrested three suspects, who, according to police chief Alexandre Braga, were traced using bank receipts and transactions. At the time, there was insufficient evidence to hold them, as the main victims had left the country.

“We identified the places (where transactions took place) and sent out teams of police where we obtained even more information about the suspects’ physical characteristics and then, a little while after, their identity,” he said.

The attack will have increased already heightened concerns about the security at next year’s football World Cup and the Olympics in 2016.

This burnt-out van was the only trace left of what seemed at the time to be the perfect heist charred remains of a van most likely used bers. “This person has a very heavy judicial in the heist, but little else. background in France and his extradition to The stolen parcels contained both rough Belgium has been requested.” and polished stones. The trail ran dry until Belgian authorities said that about 10 of the the surprise announcement on Wednesday 24 people detained in Belgium were known criminals. The suspects ranged in age from (May 8). Meilleur said that the man held 30 to 50, they said. in France is suspected to be one of the rob-

USA

Newborn mortality: US worst in industrialised world A recent study by Save the Children has revealed that the United States heads a list of some 180 industrialised countries based on newborn baby death rates, followed by Canada and Switzerland.

The report showed that the 27 countries that make up the European Union collectively have fewer than half as many first-day deaths as the US, despite having 23 per cent more babies born. Of 5.3 million births across the EU annually, about 5,800 babies died within 24 hours of being born; just over one death per 1,000 births. Over the same period, 11,300 babies of the 4.3 million born in the US die on their first day; 2.6 deaths per 1,000 births. The US showing is even worse than developing

nations such as Cuba, Egypt and Mexico.

The lowest first-day mortality rates in the world were in Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Singapore and Sweden at around one death per 2,000 births.

Experts believe America has a high infant mortality rate because about one in eight babies are born too early. Wherever babies are born in the world, premature births are the leading cause of infant deaths. Another reason there may be many infant deaths is because the US has more teen mothers than any industrialised country.

“Teenage mothers in the US tend to be poorer, less educated and receive less prenatal care than older mothers,” the report said.

Italy

Berlusconi tax fraud sentence upheld by Italian court A Milan appeals court upheld a four-year sentence for tax fraud against former prime minister and centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday, adding to the complications facing Italy’s fragile coalition government.

In addition to the jail sentence for tax fraud in connection with the purchase of broadcasting rights by his television network Mediaset, the court’s ruling would also bar Berlusconi from holding public office for five years.

However, neither sentence will take effect unless confirmed in a final appeal before the court of cassation when the three-stroke appeals process allowed under Italian law has been exhausted.

The 76-year-old media magnate was accused of inflating the price paid for

television rights using offshore companies under his control, and skimming off part of that money to create illegal slush funds.

Berlusconi, who is facing a separate trial on charges of paying for sex with a minor in notorious “bunga bunga” parties, had appealed to reverse the four year sentence handed down in October.

However, his lawyer Niccolo Ghedini said he had little confidence that the Milan court would listen to his arguments and repeated that judges were biased against Berluscno for political reasons.

“We realised it was totally useless to give our arguments to a court of appeals that in our opinion had decided from the first day what its judgment would be,” Ghedini told reporters.

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News

London Conference On Somalia: Placing

T

hroughout Somalia’s armed conflict, successive transitional governments and international actors have overlooked widespread human rights abuses by all parties. The failure to address these abuses and the culture of impunity in which they have taken place has contributed to ongoing conflict and insecurity. A substantial improvement in the respect for human rights and accountability for serious abuses is now essential. Given the scale and nature of the crisis that has wracked the country for two decades, the needs are significant.

The 2013 London Conference is an important opportunity for the new Somali government to convert its positive public commitments into its security and justice reform agendas. The conference offers the government and international supporters the chance to identify and commit to concrete measures that will help to enhance human rights protection and accountability, particularly for the most vulnerable citizens including women, children and displaced people.

The Somali government and its supporters should focus commitments to urgent reforms in the following areas: Vetting in Security Sector Reform Throughout the conflict in Somalia, Human Rights Watch has documented serious abuses by the Somali security forces, including the army, police, intelligence agencies, and government-affiliated militia. Abuses documented include murder, rape, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, and looting. These abuses were committed with almost complete impunity.

For example, a March 2013 Human Rights Watch report documents the involvement of government military forces and affiliated militia in abuses against the displaced population in Mogadishu, including rape, beatings, looting of assistance, arbitrary arrests and detention, and clan-based discrimination. Victims of abuses told Human Rights Watch repeatedly that they have nowhere to turn to for redress and do not trust the authorities.

Creating a relationship of trust between the civilian population and the security forces, first and foremost with the police, is critical.

Accountability must be central to security sector reform. Clear command and control structures should be put in place and both the army and the police should be appropriately vetted, trained, and held to account for abuses. The responsibility of vetting should be shared between the Somali government and the countries offering training and assistance to recruits.

Army Vetting measures to remove abusive commanders and individuals from existing 12

Members of Somalia’s hardline Islamist rebel group al Shabaab

forces and new recruits should be an immediate priority. The government should take these short-term steps to send a clear message that abuses will be investigated and abusers will be held to account: Government and military officials at the highest levels should immediately issue clear and public orders to ensure that the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) and allied militias comply with international humanitarian and human rights law; and Suspend SNAF personnel against whom there are credible allegations of abuse until the allegations are properly inves-

Establishing hiring criteria that includes an individual’s human rights record, setting up an information database into which formal and informal information on human rights records can be deposited, and establishing clear complaints procedures; Ensuring that all recruits are individually vetted; and Ensuring that the human rights and humanitarian law components of trainings given to existing and new recruits is reinforced and includes training on responding to sexual violence and other issues of particular concern.

Somali government forces run in a street during skirmishes with al-Shabab fighters in the Wardigley neighborhood of Mogadishu.

tigated and appropriate disciplinary or criminal prosecutions carried out.

Medium-term measures should include: Establishing clear vetting procedures to identify and remove individuals responsible for serious abuses, including sexual violence, during recruitment and integration of new forces into the SNAF;

Establishing an accountable, rightsrespecting army will also mean ensuring that children are excluded from these forces. In a 2012 report on abuses against children in Somalia, Human Rights Watch documented the continued presence of individuals under age 18 within the Somali forces, including within government affil-

iated militia, and highlighted the need to ensure that stringent screening procedures are in place prior to further recruitment or integration.

The government, with assistance of international actors including the United Nations, should therefore: Prioritize the speedy implementation of the national action plan against the recruitment of children, signed with the United Nations; Establish rigorous and systematic screening procedures to ensure that no one under the age of 18 is conscripted into the armed forces and that all recruits, including those integrated from militia forces, are screened according to the same high-level standards; and Cooperate with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other child protection agencies to demobilize children within government forces and affiliated militias and transfer them to appropriate civilian rehabilitation and reintegration programs.

Police As part of the reform of the police, the government, notably the Ministry of Interior and National Security, should take similar short and medium-term measures aimed at establishing vetting measures as outlined for the army above. The government should also seek to establish or strengthen codes of conduct, a public complaints unit in which members of the public can file grievances against the police, and an internal police oversight body to investigate misconduct. Such mechanisms will require financial and political support in order to be effective.

In addition, the Somali authorities should ensure that its police can respond to the needs of the most vulnerable members of society. Establishing a competent and accountable police force in Mogadishu, capable of providing basic security and redress, is key and should not be overlooked in the effort to extend security control over new areas vacated by al-Shabaab.

Furthermore, the Somali authorities and donors supporting the police should give special attention to the security needs of women and girls in the process of police reform, particularly by: Ensuring that police officers at all levels receive appropriate training on human rights; Recruiting more female police officers to act as focal points in police stations; Supporting specialized training for police and other security personnel to assist investigations and prosecutions of sexual violence; Adopting procedures to protect the confidentiality of persons reporting sexual assault; Taking all necessary measures to protect

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News

Human Rights At the Center of Reform

women’s security, particularly at camps for internally displaced Somalis where they face a significant risk of rape. Ensuring that sufficient, competent, and trained police are deployed to protect these displaced communities; Appropriately discipline or prosecute police or other security forces responsible for sexual violence ;and After the above measures have been adopted, directing the police to conduct public outreach to strengthen trust in the police so that more cases of sexual violence and other crimes will be reported.

Accountability in Justice Sector Reform Establishing a justice system in Somalia capable of delivering justice in accordance with international standards both to victims of abuse and to criminal suspects is a top priority. It will require extensive and ongoing attention and support. The recent deeply flawed and groundless trial of a woman who alleged rape by government forces and a journalist who interviewed her has highlighted the many failings of the current justice system.

Somali police, rather than investigating the rape allegations, expended their very limited financial resources on discrediting this woman’s character. In addition, the April 14, 2013 attack on the Mogadishu court complex underscores the importance of ensuring protection of judges and lawyers, who are often working at great physical risk.

While strengthening the justice system is a long-term challenge, the government can take some immediate steps to improve respect for due process and fair trial rights.

The government should: Publicly commit to protecting basic fair trial rights of all defendants, including the rights to legal counsel, to presumption of innocence, to present a defense, and to an appeal; End trials of civilians in military courts; civilians should only be prosecuted in civilian courts; and Immediately impose a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolishing the death penalty.

While the government has publicly committed to combatting sexual violence, Somali authorities need to take meaningful steps to prevent crimes against women and girls from continuing with impunity.

Any justice sector reform needs to effectively address and respond to sexual violence and take into consideration the barriers that women and girls face in accessing justice, including stigma and victimization. The government should: Properly fund and support the Office of the Attorney General in its investigations and prosecutions of sexual violence cases; Provide specialized training to profes-

Violence returns to Mogadishu, Somalia

sionals to conduct forensic examinations; Build the capacity of prosecutors and judges to effectively deal with cases of sexual violence; and Revise the penal code and other legislation to ensure that all forms of sexual violence can be appropriately prosecuted and that the punishment is proportionate to the crime.

While the government, and particularly the president and prime minister, have publicly committed to tackling the climate of impunity surrounding the many killings of journalists in the country, much more needs to be done for these commitments to become a reality. Concrete action would send an important message that the new government is committed to the right to free expression and accountability more broadly. The government should: Initiate effective and impartial investigations into the killings of journalists, and fairly prosecute all those responsible.

Finally, given the scale and nature of the human rights abuses committed in Somalia, addressing them will require tackling longstanding impunity. Even a significantly strengthened national justice system will not be able to tackle this alone, but will need to be reinforced by international efforts. The government and international actors should therefore: Call for and support the establishment of a United Nations commission of inquiry-or a comparable, appropriate mechanism-to document and map serious international crimes committed in Somalia and recommend measures to improve accountability.

International and National Human Rights Monitoring The establishment of strong and indepen-

dent oversight mechanisms, both international and national, that are capable of systematically monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Somalia is crucial to improving the human rights situation.

International human rights monitoring will enhance information on developments on the ground, inform policy and programmatic responses in all spheres, including in the security and judicial sectors, and build a body of evidence that will be crucial to long-term accountability efforts. It will also help to monitor the new government’s progress. The Somali government and key donors should: Support an enlarged Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) presence in the new UN mission and ensure that this presence has sufficient resources, including staff with expertise on sexual violence, and capacity to conduct significantly increased human rights monitoring and public reporting.

In addition, an active and independent national human rights institution may help to promote and protect human rights at the national level. If the Somali government through the parliament establishes such a commission, it should: Ensure that the national human rights commission is set up and functions in accordance with the Paris Principles on National Human Rights Institutions; Ensure that the commission has a broad mandate with the power to independently initiate investigations, to have unhindered access to witnesses, documents, and locations, including government officials and agencies, and to set its own priorities without government interference; Ensure that commissioners have guaran-

tees of independence, including terms of appointment, tenure and removal clearly specified in law; and Dedicate adequate funding and material resources to the commission for it to effectively undertake its responsibilities.

The establishment of such a commission will not in itself contribute to an improvement in the human rights situation, and should not be seen as a replacement to internal oversight mechanisms within the security forces, an independent judiciary, a fair and competent justice system, and international human rights monitoring mechanisms.

Women’s Rights Curtailing violence and discrimination against women should be a top priority.

High levels of sexual and gender-based violence persist in Somalia, creating longterm threats to security and to women’s health. Women in IDP camps are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. Along with the security sector and judicial reforms mentioned above, Somalia authorities should: Ensure that women are able as a matter of law and practice to equally and fully participate in any future transitional processes; Adequately respond to survivors of sexual violence. Health professionals should receive specialized training to provide care and treatment to survivors. The authorities should sufficiently fund treatment including medical, psychological and rehabilitation programs, and legal support; and Support civil society organizations that protect and promote women’s rights, including those acting on behalf of women’s rights defenders.

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CRIME

Man convicted of murder and attempted murder A man who fatally stabbed an innocent man while attacking a love rival has been found guilty of murder.

Delaney Barnett of Baring Road, SE12 was found guilty on 7 May of the murder of 20-year-old Harold Muzeremwi and the attempted murder of 25-year-old Nash Leigh Walsh- Drew following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the murder and 14 years imprisonment for the attempted murder to run concurrently.

The court heard how Barnett attended the address of his former girlfriend in Kingsley Wood Drive, SE9 on the afternoon of 20 October 2012. The previous evening, a party had been held at the address which both victims had attended.

On entering the address, he found his ex-partner watching television with WalshDrew in a bedroom at the property.

Barnett went to the kitchen and armed himself with two knives before attempting to attack Walsh - Drew

Harold Muzeremwi, who was in the lounge of the flat, heard the commotion and went to protect his friend. Both men sustained knife injuries in the ensuing struggle before Barnett fled from the scene.

London Ambulance Service attended the address but Harold Muzeremwi was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem examination subsequently revealed that one of the knife wounds had severed his pulmonary artery. Walsh- Drew was taken to hospital suffering stab injuries to the front and back of his body - he has since recovered from his injuries.

On the evening of 20 October 2012, Barnett surrendered himself at Lewisham Police Station and was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, investigated the incident. He said: “This case concerned the callous taking of the life of Harold Muzeremwi who was defending his friend from an armed attacker. The defendant, Delaney Barnett,

Delaney Barnett was enraged that his former partner had formed a relationship with Nash Leigh Walsh- Drew.

“He attacked Walsh- Drew and stabbed his rival, causing serious injuries. Harold

intervened and died as a result of the stab wounds he received.

“Harold was unarmed, and with no thought for his own safety, sought to protect his friend from an armed attacker.”

A statement from Harold Muzeremwi’s family said: “When I said goodbye to my son on Friday 19 October 2012, I was hoping to see him on the 20 October as arranged. I always encouraged my son to stay indoors and not on the streets. Harold heeded my advice but met his death indoors where he believed he was safe.

“Harold was stabbed by someone whom he did not know, whom he had not wronged. It was only because he tried to be a peacemaker that he consequently paid the ultimate price.

“Someone’s moment of madness resulted in my son’s death - the loss of a child, a best friend and brother. Nothing and no one can bring my son back but justice has been served and Delaney Barnett will make no other parent walk down a lifelong path of pain as I will.”

Man jailed for drugging woman for sex Trident targets gang members in day of action

David Watson

A man who drugged a woman for the purpose of having sexual intercourse with her has been jailed for eight years at Woolwich Crown Court on 3 May. David Watson, 33, of Paddle Steamer House, Pettacre Close SE28 was found guilty of administering a substance with the intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual intercourse. He was found not guilty of rape. He was found guilty on 2 May at the same court.

The court heard how on 15 April 2012, Watson gave his victim a drink with 14

drugs with the intention of attacking her.

Both parties were known to each other.

A short while after consuming the drink, the victim began to feel unwell and went to bed. Watson then had sexual intercourse with the woman as she lay helpless on the bed. Following tests it transpired that Watson had laced the drink with the drug MDMA with the intent of rendering the victim helpless while he carried out his attack.

DC Ricky Norman of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Sapphire Command led the investigation. He said: “This was a pre-meditated attack on a young woman who was left helpless by the drug Watson had spiked her drink with.

“David Watson is a calculating and controlling individual who refused to admit to his actions. He will be on the sex offenders register for life after a lengthy prison sentence - and rightly so.”

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Thomas of the Sapphire Command added: “The victim has gone through a harrowing experience but with support has ensured Watson’s actions were punished by the court.

“I urge others who have been the victim of sexual offences to come forward and tell us what has happened to them.

“There are specially trained officers and other agencies that can provide advice and assistance and ensure those responsible for such crimes are put before the courts and dealt with appropriately.”

A sawn-off shot gun, ammunition, a large quantity of cannabis and various quantities of class A drugs (including heroin and cocaine) are just some of the items seized by Trident Gang Crime Command officers across London, (on 8 May), in a day of action against active gang criminals.

Officers from the Trident Gang Crime Command and 20 boroughs, assisted by officers from the Met’s Territorial Support Group (TSG) and SCO19 Specialist Firearms unit, conducted series of dawn raids as part of the Met’s continuing crackdown on gang crime across the capital.

Those targeted are believed to be active gang members who are suspected of various offences, including possession of drugs with intent to supply.

More than 50 warrants have been executed and so far a total of 10 people (nine men and one women) have been arrested on suspicion for various offences including robbery, kidnap, theft of motor vehicle and possession of class A and B drugs. Those arrested are aged between 18 and 44. Searches will continue throughout the day and we expect this arrest figure to rise.

The majority of the warrants were executed at residential addresses.

All those arrested have been taken to various police stations across London where they currently remain in police custody.

The shotgun and ammunition and a quantity of what is believed to be heroin was seized at an address in Hackney. In

addition, a large amount of what is believed to be cannabis was recovered from an address in Westminster.

The 20 boroughs in operation have been identified nationally by the Home Office as Ending Gang Youth Violence (EGYV) boroughs - a scheme to combat youth crime and violence.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Haydon, Head of Trident Gang Crime Command, said: “Historically Trident focused primarily on gun crime and homicide within the black community and the recent loss of our murder investigation capability has led to many communities and in particular gang members to wrongly believe that Trident has disbanded.

“This is not the case; a large part of Trident’s work is around the prevention of shootings and disrupting gang members’ criminal activity.

“Since April last year Trident and local borough officers have made more than 5,500 arrests against known gang members, with well over half of those arrests resulting in a charge. Our sustained activity has resulted in significant reductions of all gang-related crime types. Our expertise continues to be used, with Trident officers providing support to the Homicide and Serious Crime Command where needed.

“Trident is not just a logo, it’s about having the very best detectives, committed police staff and strong community links. Our remit may have changed but our ethos has not. We are still here, still targeting violent gang members, and for those involved who seek a better life, a life away from gangs - through our partners, community and voluntary groups we will seek to help them into education, employment and a more positive life path.”

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Ohio rescuer is this week’s internet hot property

Kris Cross rapper found dead at 34

Kelly (left) and Smith in their 1990s pomp as Kris Kross Charles Ramsey during that TV interview

Charles Ramsey, the man who rescued Amanda Berry, has emerged as an unlikely hero and internet sensation after his TV interview went viral. In what is obviously a very serious and tragic case, despite the happy ending, Ramsey’s naturally funny commentary on the events leading up to the liberation of three young women who had been unlawfully imprisoned for more than a decade has proved a YouTube must see.

Ramsey told TV reporters he was eating a Big Mac when he heard the young woman’s fateful screams.

“I went to McDonald’s. Came home. I’m eating my McDonald’s. I hear this screaming,” Ramsey, who is being hailed as a hero, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

“This girl is kicking the door and screaming. So I go over there, with my by Big Mac, and I said, ‘Can I help?’”

Ramsey, thinking it was a domestic violence dispute, kicked in the door.

“And she said, ‘I’ve been kidnapped. I’ve been in this house a long time, and I wanna go. Now.’ Alright.”

Berry told Ramsey her name, but it

didn’t click at first. “I knew something was wrong when a little pretty white girl ran into a black man’s arms,” he told an ABC reporter. “Either she homeless or she got problems.” He told the Cleveland Plain Dealer Amanda emerged with a little girl. “She said this is his daughter. It didn’t dawn on me who ‘his’ was. I didn’t know she was talking about him, my neighbour. I thought she meant another dude.”

In the home, police found Gina DeJesus, 23, who vanished in 2004 at 14, and Michelle Knight, who went missing in 2002 at age 18 or 19. Amanda went missing 10 years ago when she was 16.

Of his neighbour, Ramsey told TV reporters: “You got some big testicles to pull this off, bro, ‘cause we see this dude every day. I mean every day. I barbecued with this dude. We eat ribs and whatnot and listen to salsa music.”

His heroics could put Ramsey in line for a $25,000 FBI reward posted years ago for information regarding Berry’s disappearance. (If you agree, help spread the word on Twitter by using the hashtag #RamseyReward.)

Chris Kelly, one half of the ‘90s rap group Kris Kross was found dead at his Atlanta home last week. He was 34.

Tributes have flowed in from the music community and record industry over the past week. Upon hearing the news, fellow Atlanta artists, including OutKast’s Big Boi, posted their condolences. Meanwhile, fellow rapper LL Cool J dedicated a song to the late artist.

The duo of Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith, noted for introducing the brief fad of wearing clothing back to front, cemented their place in pop history with their first single, the raucous teen anthem “Jump,” which spent eight weeks atop America’s Hot 100 in

1992. “Jump” was, at the time, one of only 11 songs to top the Hot 100 for at least eight weeks, dating to the chart’s launch on Aug. 4, 1958. No other rap song had led the chart for so long.

Jermaine Dupri, just a teenager at the time, discovered the pre-teen Kelly and Smith at a local shopping mall in 1990.

“They were real fresh. People were paying attention,” Dupri said in the Billboard Book of Number One Hits. “I said, ‘If you have that captivation over people right now, if you had a record out, this might be ridiculous’.”

Two years later he produced “Totally Krossed Out,” their Ruffhouse Records debut. The album topped the Billboard 200 for two weeks amid a 65-week chart run, and led Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for six weeks. The set has sold 4 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album produced four singles including “Jump,” “It’s a Shame,” “I Missed the Bus” and “Warm It Up,” which reached No. 13 on the Hot 100.

They followed up with “Da Bomb” a year later, which failed to match the success of “Totally Krossed Out,” but did reach No. 2 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Their third and final studio album, “Young, Rich & Dangerous,” also peaked at No. 2 and featured guest appearances by Da Brat, Aaliyah and Dupri.

Ja Rule back on the street - almost

Ja Rule was released from prison this week after having served almost two years for illegal gun possession and tax evasion.

The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Atkins, was picked up from the Raybrook correctional facility in New York and taken to his home where he will be confined subject to conditions set out by the court until his official release date of July 28.

“My client Jeffrey Atkins aka Ja Rule was released this morning from the Raybrook Correctional Facility in Upstate New York to serve out his federal time obligation due under the terms set forth in accordance with home confinement which were secured by his attorney Stacy Richman,” said spokesperson Melanie A. Bonvicino in a statement. “At present, he looks forward to spending some time with his family while he completes his memoir.”

Rule served 20 months on a gun possession charge after pleading guilty in 2010 to attempted criminal possession of

a weapon. New York City police found a loaded 40-calibre handgun inside his car during a traffic stop. He was later sentenced to 28 months on a tax evasion charge after he failed to pay taxes in New Jersey on more than $3 million in income from 20042006.

While he earned good time behind bars on the gun charge, at the end of that sentence he still owed some time on his federal tax case. He will be allowed to serve the rest of that time at his home. During home conferment, Rule will be monitored by authorities and with proper permission, will be allowed to leave in order to go to the recording studio and resume other professional duties as a performer.

With $1.1 million owed in back taxes, Rule, who began his first prison term on the gun charge in June 2011, is eager to get back to work and release new music. He was welcomed home by rapper N.O.R.E., who tweeted, “Just spoke to @Ruleyork everybody tell him welcome home!!!”

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Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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Gospel

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By Michael Adekoya

DO NOT QUIT

“Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up” Gal. 6:9.

ear Reader, can I tell you what you need to watch out for in a great race, match, fight, and marriage; even in a great church, in a great process of parenting, in a great process of building a company, business or ministry? ‘Weariness!’

Paul told the believers in Galatia, “You did run well but who hinders and discourage you?” He went on to say, “Let’s not be weary in well doing; for you shall reap in due season if you faint not.” What do you do when you’re weary?

You may ask, “What’s weariness?”

Webster says, “Weariness is when you have your sense of pleasure exhausted.” Weariness is when your sense of joy or enjoyment decreases. When you first started running, when you first became a Christian, when you first became a member of your local church, when you first started dating that man or woman, when you first started building the business or ministry of your dream, you were enjoying it but not anymore. Sound familiar?

Listen! It is easy to discover your purpose in life and get weary in the middle of developing or deploying it. It’s easy to be discouraged and grow weary of being a spouse, a single parent, a Pastor, a worker in the church, an employee, a member of a local assembly or club, an employer, a resident of a nation…the list goes on…and you just want to quit! My friend, is this where you are now?

Are you tired of the whole thing and contemplating of giving up or quitting? I have Good News for you.

Rise up and resist that temptation because if you don’t, you’ll make a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling or situation. Where you are now is not where you are going. The journey is still far. Better days are ahead of you and God will not leave or forsake you.

One woman who resisted such temptation was Abigail, the wife

of Nabal (1 Sam 25). She was such a beautiful and an understanding wife; but Nabal, her husband, was harsh and evil - the type of a man who takes advantage of his wife’s good heart. Despite his cruel attitude towards her, she didn’t give up on him. She even saved him from the sword of David because she chose to honour her husband instead of humiliating him or quit the relationship. Did you hear that? What a virtuous woman!

Abigail drew joy, patience and strength from God, not from what’s happening in her surroundings and God rewarded her. Even when Nabal died, David, the king, was so impressed with Abigail that he took her for his wife. My friend, are you tempted to give up, to leave it all behind, to throw in the towel or to quit? Don’t do it! Make God your joy and wait for His reward. The joy of the Lord is your strength. We are not faithful to get a reward, but we are rewarded for being faithful.

That’s profound, my friend!

In a race, you may get rid of every weight that can hinder you; you may get rid of the sin – your sin – that easily ensnares you but until you get rid of your weariness, you may be hindered, stagnated, give up or want to quit! As powerful as Prophet Elijah was, a threat from Jezebel, the witch, got him running from his calling. Why? Because he was weary. How will a man, who outran the chariot, not be worn out?

But because God knew that Elijah’s ministry was not yet over, He fed him, made him to rest and strengthened him to carry on. My friend, you can’t quit because it is not over until you achieve, until you finish your race and win.

Things weren’t going well for the disciples. What worked before, wasn’t working again. They told Jesus, “…we have toiled all night and caught nothing…” My friend, does that describes you? “Lord, I tried so

Are you looking for a church? ­­

Not settled in any particular congregation?

Perhaps now is the time to pray about it If you are not yet saved try one of the following: Jubilee International Churchmeets at 2,30pm on Sundays at Kings Avenue, school, park hill. London SW4. Part of Jubilee International Churches worldwide. For information, you may call (020)8697 3354 New Wine Christian Church- 11am holds meeting at Ringcross Tennants club, Lough Road, Holloway, N7. a member of the Icthus fellowship

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worldwide. For more information call 020 7609 959 or 07957 757 663.

Praise Tabernacle- 10:30am holds meetings at 620 Western Avenue (A40), park royal Business centre, opposite Warner Bros. Cinema Complex, W3. part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. For information you may call 020 8993 3010 New Life Christian Centre 10.30am & 6.00pm. meetings at Cairo New Road, Croydon. The church has

hard but look at my life, look at how my husband is treating me in this marriage?” “Lord, I have obeyed You in my tithe, I gave offerings every time, I gave to the poor, and served You with all my heart, with my time, with my talent and treasures in this church but see what’s happening?”

“Lord, I have prayed, fasted, sown seed and believed You so much but why am I still single?” “Lord, I have married since five years ago, yet no child.” “Lord, why are people not coming to my shop?” “Lord, I worked so hard, why am I having nothing to show for it?” “Lord, why is my parent, spouse, child, friend still not saved?” “Lord, I have put in all efforts that I can into this company, this club, this team, this government, yet no growth or progress”. “Lord, what’s happening to my finance, career, education, business and my nation?” I’m tired and I want to quit. My friend, is this where you are now? I have a word for you.

Peter, John and James were once in your position. They were washing their nets; the last thing fishermen do before they give up and head for home. They were tired, fed up, discouraged and wearied for lack of results and saw no point in trying again. My friend, hear me! The Lord God often waits until we’ve been humbled and challenged by circumstances, even by people, then He steps in with a life changing word. God has a comforting and transforming Word for you in every situation.

God still speaks today to people and when He speaks, it is your make or break moment. It may be a word that is so hard to accept at first and you become so defensive. Sometime, when this Word comes through a person so familiar to you and you may want to water it down, make a joke about it or resist it thinking, “He doesn’t know what I’ve been

through” or saying to the person, “I really don’t care anymore about the issue. What will be will be!” This is a wrong attitude! God’s word is His bond. It produces results.

If you go with your feelings or you are arrogant to resist the Word of God, you’ll miss what God has got for you. But if you exercise your faith and determine not to give up on the issue or quit from the whole thing, there will be a turnaround. All things are possible with God. When your back is to the wall and you feel like you’re out of options or feel there is no way, you should be honest to tell God how you feel. Peter told Jesus, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” Luke 5:5. My friend, it’s time to go on your kneels and be open to God. Don’t be too full of yourself to despise God’s word for your life!

Generally, the greatest discoveries about God take place when we have reached the end of our rope. God usually shows up when we need Him most. No matter what may be happening around you, you need to exercise patience, trust in the Lord and have hope to find new strength.

You’ll soar high on wings like eagles; you’ll run and not grow weary and you’ll will walk and not faint (Isa 40:31). My friend, seek the face of God and get a word from Him when the going is tough and you want to give up or quit. We walk by common sense. Nobody goes to school to learn how to walk. But we can only fly higher in life by obeying instructions. High flyers don’t fly by ideas or by much teaching but by obeying instructions.

My friend, God is in control of every circumstance you’re facing today.

Always invite Master Jesus into the situation. Jesus is the Master over troubled marriages, attacks, temptation, weakness, fear, lack, barrenness, impatience, sickness, unbelief and discouragement. Ask Him for

a bible school, primary, is involved in extensive mission work in Eastern Europe, Italy and India. For information you may call 020 8680 7671 Ruach Ministries - holds meeting at 9am, 11am and 6pm. For information you may call 020 8678 6888 International Central Gospel church - Battersea chapel, holds meetings on Sundays from 2.00pm. . For information you may call 020 8684 4934 Jesus Arena International- Sunday service at 11.00am at Broadwater farm centre, Adams road N17 The Bible Life Church UK- They meet on Sunday mornings at 2.30pm at St Giles Centre, Camberwell

Church Street, London SE5 Christ Apostolic church (Full Gospel & Pentecostal) Surrey Docks District 163 Ilderton Rd South Bermondsey London SE16 2UT. Tel. 020 7252 2086.

Time of worship: Sunday English service 9- 11.30am. Yoruba service 11.30 -2.30pm. Prophetic counselling: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12noon- 5pm, Saturday only 5- 7pm.

Holy Cross Church InternationalSunday 10.am- 1 pm at Crown House 71-73 Nathan way London SE28 0BQ Tel: 07904 234 126, 07809 381 886 Times of service:Bible study: Thursdays 8pm. Night Vigil: Friday Forthnightly 12am

revelation and directions for the way out and He would speak to you.

He told Peter, don’t quit “…launch out into the deep and get down your nets…” What an instruction! What a prophetic utterance! Peter decided to respond, in faith, to the divine instruction by saying, “…nevertheless, at Your Word, I will…” And he was rewarded! Did you hear that?

My friend, the majesty and sovereignty of God’s voice in your situation is the gateway to solution. Revelation is the answer to frustrations and the cure for all tears (Isa 60:20; Rev 5:4-5). On the other side of your decision to obey God’s voice (or His Word, His command, His law, His instruction) and also make Jesus the Lord of your life and the Lord of your situation, then salvation, breakthrough, deliverance, victory, prosperity, fruitfulness and blessings await you so great that it will also touch those around you. When God speaks, He commits Himself to perform what He says (1Thes 5:24).

He sustains only what He ordains!

My friend, you need to catch God’s voice to become a voice. Operating your life, home, ministry, business, government, even the Church of Jesus, as commanded by God, puts you in supernatural command. It is time to break the spirit of fear, weariness, doubt, murmuring, discouragement, division, defeat, disobedience, unbelief and failure. It is time to quit doing things in our own way but in God’s way. No matter the challenges, attack or persecution, my friend, press on, move on, continue praising God, keep doing what’s right, keep putting efforts to what you are doing, keep renewing your mind, keep walking with God in faith, keep on obeying Him and praying with expectation, keep being part of the team that makes things happen!

Don’t give up! Don’t quit! Remain blessed!!!

Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at Unit B1 Galleywall Trading Estate, South Bermondsey, London SE16 3PB meets Sunday 7am & 9am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm. For details call 020 7237 7894 CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH GRAVESEND, ST. AIDAIN’S CHURCH, ST. AIDAN’S WAY, GRAVESEND, KENT, DA12 4AG TEL. 01474 355 841, 07956 38 38 70 TIME OF WORSHIP: Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm to 9:00pm Friday, Night Vigil: 9pm to 11pm Sunday Worship: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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Nollywood

“At last I have killed poverty in my life” –– SAKA, Hafiz Oyetoro

Hafiz Oyetoro above and below in an acting role

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Hafiz Oyetoro recieves one of the numerous awards for acting excellence

afiz Oyetoro’s controversial move from Etisalat to MTN as a brand face seems to have changed his fortune for good and he has also confirmed it.

“To the glory of God, level don change.

Let me put it like that. I believe that in the nearest future, level will finally change.

But now, level don dey change. I have murdered poverty and God has finally murdered it for me. I am no longer poor, but very comfortable.”

The lady he wanted to marry rejected him because of poverty but today his story has changed…

Oyetoro, who has also established himself as an actor and a popular face on TV, also recently stirred the scene. This is courtesy of his ‘shocking’ appearance in the MTN’s I don port advert, a commercial that many have described as an excellent one – not minding the fact that some believe it is a below-the-belt jab for Etisalat, the telecoms company for which he worked as an

advertising model for some time.

Ever since Oyetoro’s crossover, in which he is required to lead a major advertising campaign to drive the network portability initiative by Nigerian Communication Commission, Nigerians have not stopped talking about him and his amazing rise to fame and riches.

The deal is believed to be worth about N20m, which is enough to give the hardworking and self-effacing actor a clean break from poverty. But while the man himself has declined to comment on the positive twist in his fortune, he was recently quoted in THE NEWS as saying that he had finally conquered poverty.

In a telephone interview with Punch, SAKA said he was not ready to talk about his new contract with the telecommunications company. “For now, I don’t want to say anything. I promise you that I will talk at the appropriate time,” he said.

But when asked if his new responsibilities as a brand ambassador for MTN would not clash with his job at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, he replied, “I

am a responsible civil servant. My duty is to teach other people’s children well, just as I would expect others to teach mine. So I cannot abandon my job. I assure you, everything has been taken care of.”

A few years ago, little was known about Oyetoro.

Although he studied Theatre Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ago Iwoye worked as a part-time lecturer at the Olabisi Onabanjo University before moving to Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education in Ijanikin, Oyetoro remained relatively obscure for a long while.

In those days, he managed to appear in a few insignificant theatre productions, in which he played mostly comic roles. It took a while before the qualities that would raise him a notch higher than most of his peers began to manifest.

First, Nollywood came calling with an opportunity to establish himself as a regular face on the lighted screen. Oyetoro, who was burning up with a desire to prove himself, had to grab it. Still, a few years later and with appearances in hundreds of Nollywood films to his credit, he was far from hitting the limelight.

Then another opportunity presented itself. This time, it came from Centrespread, an advertising agency. The agency wanted him to be their model for its advertising campaigns with Etisalat. The deal clicked and Oyetoro’s transformation began in earnest. That was when, for the purpose of the campaigns, he assumed a new identity: he became known ‘Saka’, a character that he helped create in 2004 for a TV comedy series titled ‘House A-part’.

Eventually, Oyetoro became the face of Etisalat campaigns. Within a short time, Saka had become a household name and Oyetoro could look forward to a brighter future free of the clutches of poverty.

In an interview published on the Internet, the actor cum lecturer admitted that he was involved in a bitter struggle against poverty for a long time.

Hear him: “Poverty was my friend and family for a long time. As you sit with me here side by side, that was how I was sitting with poverty in the past. There was a lady who disqualified me because I didn’t have a car. But, thank God, I eventually got a wife who genuinely loves me and who I genuinely love.”Culled from Daily Post 17

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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artist African Fashion Travelmusic

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n ongoing craze that doesn’t show signs of stopping is ethnic or tribal fashion finds.

The Western fashion world has aggressively adopted the beaded, feathery and kaleidoscopic designs of tribal culture and has integrated them onto every imaginable contemporary wear, from accessories to evening gowns.

With fashion trends constantly taking inspiration from different cultures, mixing two or more styles from different cultures results in a unique look that is bound to appeal Haitian Italian Designer, Stella Jean, took a bold approach to her S/S 2013 collection this year. Every piece is fresh and modern, donned with bold African prints, and bright beautiful colors that reflect her creole heritage.

What we love the most about her collections, is how classic and modern pieces are combined to create an effortlessly chic look. Everyon is raving about her collections.

Fashion designer Stella Jean wearing one of her creations 18

In association with

to a wide range of people.

The colourful designs are fun to wear and very expressive too. With all of the wonderful bits and pieces, ethnic-tribal fashion is one that will be very difficult to get tired of. So if you like vibrant wear that’s full of bold attitude and colourful graphics then ethnic fashion is definitely something you should look into this coming spring/summer.

From Tribal or Ethnic Prints to Safari Patterns – this cluster of multicultural designs, highlights our fascination for other cultures and our willingness to embrace styles from other regions of the world

Stella Jean

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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African Fashion

The Evolution and Future of the African Print

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f you are of West African heritage, there is no doubt that you have an item of wax print specially tailored and sewn hanging in your wardrobe. In Ghana the traditional outfit is known as “kaba and slit” (top and long skirt) and depending on the type of print, is worn typically to special events, although sometimes the more common prints are worn as every day outfits.

In Ghana it is known as Ntuma, in Nigeria as Ankara, and various other names in other countries, but all of them share the characteristics of bright colours and geometric prints. Presently, they are undergoing a renaissance as many West African designers use Dutch Wax Print in their collections. Because of this, and the fact that many African women in the Diaspora wear it, the US/UK population has started to take note and it has started to be utilised in a few mainstream fashion brand collections (Burberry 2012, ASOS Africa). But where did wax print originate from, how did it become so popular and how can we use its popularity to develop African fashion, African manufacturing and overall, the African economy?

It may surprise you to learn that batik cloth prints are actually Indonesian in origin. They were (and are broadly still) made with a particular technique of dipping a cloth in wax, then dyeing over that wax cloth to make a particular pattern.

The Dutch, who had conquered parts of West Africa, and were intent on capturing Indonesia, saw these cloths and how popular they were, and looked for ways to cheaply mass produce the cloths. They achieved this by applying resin instead of the wax plus dye. However, those cloths were of a perceived lower quality. They had a “crackle” effectsmall circles and lines of faded colour started to appear and so they were offloaded to West Africa.

In Africa, they gained a new appreciation-Dutch Wax began to acquire a reputation for prestige and status, and soon they were in high demand. The brighter the colours and more elaborate the geometric shapes, the more they were appreciated. They were often included as a bride’s dowry price in traditional marriages.

Nowadays, several Dutch Wax manufacturers play on this status. Vlisco, the sole Dutch

Wax Manufacturer based in Holland, and others like ABC Wax (UK) and Woodin (West Africa) are just a few examples.

Of course, now Dutch Wax is seen as central to African fashion renaissance, with several African labels such as Jewel

by Lisa and Duro Olowu, (which are worn regularly by celebrities such as Michelle Obama and Solange Knowles), heavily featuring Dutch Wax in their collections. Gwen Stefani has also featured Wax Print in a few collections of her line, L.A.M.B. Many young women are instructing seamstresses to sew We s t e r n clothing with the Wax Print Cloths into pencil skirts and playsuits.

But is this popularity proving profitable for Africa?

Sadly it seems that it is not. In Ghana, the number of Wax Print manufacturers have shrunk from four to only one in the past ten years, and that company, Printex, reports that it is suffering competition from “counterfeit” cheaper wax cloths being made in

China and sold for roughly half the price of Printex-produced Wax Cloths. The number of employees working in wax print textile production has also shrunk from 25,000 to 7,000 within 20 years. The brands with premium, Vlisco and ABC Wax, are usually owned and operated not

by Africans, but by Europeans.

We must take urgent steps to protect the industry of one of our most enduring exports, otherwise the livelihoods of many African women i.e. seamstresses, fashion designers, traders and factory workers, may be seriously at risk. There steps remain to be seen.

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Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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Arts

WHO CARVED THESE STATUES?

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By Yomi Adeboye

hat seemingly simple but very crucial and scary question must have been on the lips of Baragbon and his people back in 1775, when the over 1,500 Esie Soapstone Statues were discovered in mysterious circumstances in the thick forest. At the time of its discovery, the site of the images was said to have been at a distance of about 300 metres from the inhabited parts of the town.

Today, about 238 years after that historic event which positively altered the fate and fame of the town and placed it on the map of the world at a time when most of the bigger towns in today’s Nigeria were still shrouded in total obscurity, that question still remains without an answer. Certainly it is not for want of efforts; just that the Esie Mysteries, as they are most often referred to, have so far defied all previous efforts to unravel them.

Apart from many known denigrating attempts by early Eurocentric anthropologists who laboured in vain to dismiss the statues as no more than primitive and valueless art, various other dispassionate attempts have been, and are still being made by scholars, researchers and archaeologists to proffer an acceptable answer to that most persistent among many questions about the origins and purpose(s) of the Esie mysterious images but every likely answer has only succeeded thus far in yielding to many more questions.

Precisely 170 years after Baragbon’s historic discovery of the Statues and about two years after the founding of the Nigeria Antiquity Service, now known as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the British Colonial Government had established the first ever Museum in Nigeria. The year was 1945. The place was Esie, in present day Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. And the main purpose was to preserve the unique Soapstone Statues, and terra cotta heads ‘reminiscent of Ife and Nok’ that were first discovered in 1775 by the people of Esie town.

That, in a nutshell, was the beginning of what is widely acknowledged till date as the mother of all museums in Nigeria, the Esie National Museum.

Although Nigeria is well known for her many attractive sculpture traditions with some dating back several centuries before the advent of colonialism such as those from Ife, Owo, Benin, Nok, Ikom, Oron, and Igbo-Ukwu, most experts agree that by far the most realistic, unique and mysterious of all are the Esie Soapstone Statues.

Esie, about 53km from Ilorin, capital of Kwara State, is an ancient Igbomina Yoruba town that is rich, very rich, in unique historical monuments, including the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael (Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion) which celebrated a centenary last year, the Elesie’s ancient palace, the burial place of past Esie monarchs at Agbo Ile Ooye, Baragbon’s 20

final resting place at Oke-Sanlu on which stands today a distinct monument with a modest plaque that lists the names of all past Elesie, various historical tools and artefacts, but the Esie National Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of realistic human representations in African Stone Sculptures is the main attraction to the town.

According to oral historical sources, including the Elesie of Esie Land, His Royal Majesty Oba Yakubu Agboola Babalola Egunjobi II, Baragbon was reputed for constantly embarking on hunting expeditions during which he usually spent many months in the bush. They attest to the fact that it was during one of such activities that the more than 1,500 statutes in soapstone were discovered together in the bush by the founder of Esie and renowned hunter in 1775.

After their initial fears of the mysterious images, the Elesie continued, the people consulted ‘Ifa’ and were given assurances that the Stone Images were harmless; rather, they would guard and protect the land and its people. They eventually appointed a Chief Priest (Aworo) called ‘Ayarun’ in the Igbomina variant of the Yoruba language to lead the regular worship of the stone statues. The statues were the most dominant gods in Esie cosmology but with the advent of Christianity and Islam, Esie people have stopped worshiping the images.

Baragbon had found the statues neatly seated in a semi-circle formation under a palm tree with the ‘Oba Ere’ (King) of the images seated in the middle as if presiding over a community meeting. A tree known locally as ‘Peregun’ was planted to demarcate the site of discovery in 1775. Fresh excavations carried out in 2008 revealed that more of the statues are still buried in the ground.

Another important and interesting site within the Museum compound is the Shrine where the people of Esie used to worship the mysterious statues before the advent of western and other foreign lifestyles. The shrine is arranged in three layers with the King, the Queen and errand or slave boy in sitting positions. Some paraphernalia of office are also on display.

Available information at the Esie National Museum indicates that the Soapstone Statues range in height from 14 to 120 centimetres and weigh between 0.55 and 104 kilograms. They are described as realistic representations of men and women mostly seated on stools and sometimes kneeling. Royalty and well being pervade this collection with many of the stone images adorned with beads and headgears. Some of the statues play musical instruments, hold machetes, arrows, and other objects.

Others simply place their hands on their knees as if in deep contemplation.

Their various facial marks, diverse and rich paraphernalia, occupations and elaborate hair dos attest to the strong likelihood of earlier contacts between the people of the area and other major civilisations in parts of Africa South of the Sahara. In addition to the Yoruba culture, some sources have suggested links between many others as they depict styles identifiable in parts of Nupe land, Benin (Edo), South Sudan, Egypt, Ghana, among others.

Besides, the artistic sophistry and aesthetic values are further buttressed by the accuracy of rendition of the various highly elaborate hairstyles; the skills, technology and vision that could have produced the Esie masterpieces remain mysteries to be unravelled and that will never cease to awe those with creative inclinations.

According to the renowned historian,

scholar and culture patriot, Prof. (Mrs) Bolanle Awe, “Apart from being the mother that gave birth to all other museums in Nigeria, the unresolved mysteries of the Esie Soapstone Statues reinforce the unique point that they represent an indispensable link to key epochs in the history of mankind.”

Prof. Awe also noted that “Tourism has been the mainstay of many thriving economies in Africa and elsewhere. It is a sustainable revenue earner that will remain long after the oil wells would have dried up. Compared to oil, tourism requires far less amount of resources to develop; it is devoid of all the negative environmental impacts that are usually associated with oil and once fully developed, tourism offers the widest possible prospects for job

creation within the local and national economy.”

Instead of promoting a deliberate policy of cultural amnesia and expending huge resources to encourage the patronage of lesssignificant foreign tourist destinations, the governments at all levels should be giving young Nigerians the gifts of the many good values that the nation’s heritages offer, she appealed.

Mr. Ololade Oyeyipo, an indigene of Esie and Secretary to the annual festival committee, told this writer that the Esie Stone Statues had actually been attracting local and foreign tourists before the formal establishment of a museum to house the images. “For example, as early as the year 1912, the respected German traveller and anthropologist Leo Frobenius had visited the site of the museum and was astonished by the size and sophistication of the stone carvings,” he said.

Oyeyipo, however, expressed hope that the new gallery built by the Federal Government will be put to use so that Esie National Museum will no longer be poorly housed in the old gallery that was built by the community 66 years ago. He urged the Federal, State and Local Governments to accord Esie National Museum and the host community the attention, assistance and respect they deserve.

Despite some present odds against the Museum, Oyeyipo expressed optimism that “with the envisaged full support and partnership promised by the Federal and Kwara State Governments, the Custodian of all Esie Monuments His Royal Highness, Oba Yakubu Babalola Egunjobi II with the Esie Monuments Festival Committee is set to host the world next April. We invite all lovers of culture to come to Esie and enjoy themselves.”

For families, groups and individual visitors to the museum (and they never cease coming), there is a lot to see, learn and enjoy with the kind assistance of the Curator and her team of skilled personnel of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the introductory notes strategically positioned at the entrance of the gallery.

If the Esie National Museum were a Republic, the ‘Oba Ere’ (King of the Images) and his subjects would have conferred the NCMM staff with various national honours and citizenship; but even after years of living, working, caring for and interacting with the Esie Soapstone Statues, the Curator and her colleagues still have no answer yet to the simple question on every visitor’s lips.

One can only hope, along with numerous others across the world who have encountered the mystery of the Esie National Museum over the past 238 years, that one day in the future, providence will shed divine light on scholars’ and researchers’ paths to the right answer to that age-long question: Who Carved the Esie Stone Statues?

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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Change of Name I formerly known and addressed as Benedict Jojnson now wish to be known and addressed as Benedict Bryan Johnson.

All former documents remain valid. Members of the public, Home Office and Nigeria High Commission, London should please take notice.

I formerly known and addressed as Vicoria Modupe now wish to be known and addressed as Victoria Ademodupe.

All former documents remain valid.

Members of the public, Home Office and Nigeria High Commission, London should please take notice.

I formerly known and addressed as Adamu Belo now wish to be known and addressed as Adamu Belo Aliyu main valid. Members of the public, Home Office and Nigeria High Commission, London should please take notice.

I formerly known as Bashiru Ahmed, date of birth 11th January 1976 now wish to be known and addressed as Beshiru Ahmed, date of birth 11th January 1968.

All former documents remain valid. Members of the public, Home Office and Nigerian Embassy, London should please take note.

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Meyiwa – God was with me Keshi plans Anichebe talk

Victor Anichebe in action playing against Sunderland

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has said he will convince Victor Anichebe to return as he considers replacements for injured Emmanuel Emenike.

Senzo Meyiwa

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa says he knew he was going to save both of TP Mazembe’s penalty kicks during their CAF Champions League match on Sunday, saying ‘God was with me’.

The Buccaneers progressed into the group stages of the Champions League after they bettered the Congolese outfit 3-1 despite having lost 1-0 in the return leg in Lubumbashi.

Meyiwa, who gave a visual account of both his penalty saves, admits that the atmosphere felt like they were at a home game and that he saw himself saving the penalty.

“Penalty number one: that was not a penalty. I told myself, let me do it for the country, for Orlando Pirates supporters, for the team. We’re in the Congo, we’re doing it for the nation. I told myself: I will do my best,” he revealed on Metro FM on Monday evening.

“They [the home fans] were wearing black and white. I thought they were supporting Orlando Pirates! When you’re playing away games, there’s not as much pressure. You can do anything you want and then you go home.

“I was doing everything. I was not scared of the supporters behind my back.

The guy, before he kicked the first penalty, I could see myself saving it.

“How did I guess right? Eish, I don’t know. I stood behind the line. So there was no chance of a retake. I just stood there, watched this guy, then I told him straight: ‘You won’t score’. He was laughing, I said it again.

“Then I made the save.”

Roger de Sa’s men had all the factors going against them, having seen their skipper Lucky Lekgwathi shown red just 30 minutes into the game.

That, however, didn’t seem to dampen 22

Senzo Meyiwa

Meyiwa’s spirits as he was called to face a second penalty - a penalty which he believes was saved by God. “The second penalty: I caught it; I could see they wanted to follow up. When they were busy fighting with the referee. I was alone at the goal post. I said: God, you want us to fail this thing? Please God, give me power. I believe in you,” continued Meyiwa.

“It was towards the end of the game.

And then I cried. God came to me, he said ‘I know you, you’ll do it’.

“The captain, who plays in the national team, he took it this time, he was scared.

I got to him. He saw I was crying. He thought: ‘This keeper’s mad’.

“I thought ‘come to me’ and I managed to save it. I said: ‘Yeeees’!

“It was one of those penalties where he stopped before he took it. I didn’t even move. t“You know, God was with me. That was not Senzo Meyiwa. God himself was in me. He saved my team, he saved the nation, he made the nation proud of me.”

Emenike has suffered another long-term injury after he was sidelined for about two months with a hamstring injury he picked up against Mali in the semi-final of the recent Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The Spartak Moscow of Russia striker will therefore not be available for selection during a busy schedule in June that will see the Eagles play two World Cup qualifiers as well as feature in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Keshi told MTNFootball.com that he will now consider Anichebe, Werder Bremen striker Joseph Akpala and Turkey-based Michael Eneramo to replace Emenike.

However, last week Anichebe said it was not the right time for him to return to the Super Eagles, saying he would rather prefer to focus on his Everton career particularly as he has suffered many injuries lately.

Keshi, who returned to the country on Monday morning, he was disappointed Emenike will miss the Eagles matches in June.

“I am sad with the injury of my top striker. I called him the other day to ask how far and he said coach I am out but I am with the team. It’s really sad but that is football for you,” disclosed the Eagles coach.

“I have listed three players as his replacement with Victor Anichebe top on the list and Joseph Akpala and Micheal Eneramo. But I am just hearing that Anichebe has said he would not be available for selection, which is very sad.

“I have made effort in the past to speak with him through Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Joseph Yobo and (Dickson) Etuhu but he said he was not ready to play. I will still make effort to reach him, you never can tell, I could be able to convince to have a change of mind.”

Keshi also hailed the return to action of AFCON hero Sunday Mba at the weekend for Enugu rangers in a CAF Champions League clash in Angola.

“It’s a very good thing, that is all I have been preaching since because the boy needs to be regular in action. He also scored for Rangers which is very good. I am happy for him,” the coach said.

Ex-Chelsea sports psychologist to visit SA

Former Chelsea FC sport psychologist Erik Matser will visit South Africa in July to introduce his findings on the importance of neurological testing in sport. Basically, the tests he runs help identify world-class players.

The Dutch neuro-psychologist was part of the Blues’ setup from 2005 to 2009 and worked alongside the likes of Jose Mourinho and Luiz Felipe Scolari.

He has developed a Neurological and Personality Test to identify world-class players and has also worked with the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord and is currently a consultant at Swansea City.

He will be presenting his latest research across the country during the first week of July and is scheduled to meet up with representatives from local sporting associations

like the South African Football Association (SAFA), Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the South African Rugby Union (SARU).

Matser’s methods of using neuropsychological testing to aid the clubs during talent identification and team selection have long been in use in Europe but local clubs will now have an opportunity to find out what this process entails.

According to his research, there are certain characteristics that can be used to identify world-class players at an early age based on neurological and personality tests.

“Neurology gives us an idea of somebody’s potential. But personality is also important,” Matser said.

“Personality is based on four things: the first of these is dominance, or the desire to have control over other people and situations.

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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Bafana vs CAR in Cameroon

Bafana Bafana will play Central African Republic (CAR) in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier at a neutral venue in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé on 9 June 2013.

The match will be played at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on a Sunday, but details of the kick-off are still to be confirmed.

The appeal to move the match came from the South African Football Association (SAFA) who requested FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to move the return leg with CAR to a neutral venue following political unrest in that country.

This followed the tragic news in which thirteen (13) South African soldiers died in skirmishes with the rebels in that country’s capital Bangui two months ago.

The number of casualties rose to 14 after one of the wounded soldiers died late last month.

“I am happy that the venue issue has finally been settled. I must commend SAFA, FIFA and CAF for making this happen because we lost our loved ones there not so long ago and the environment is still too tense to have a match in that country. It would definitely not have been the right atmosphere to play there,” said Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund.

“But it would be silly of me to say that now that we are playing at a neutral venue, it will favour us. It will still be a very tough

Bafana Bafana national team match, but the advantage is, it will be away from the intimidation of the home crowd.

“We will definitely be having our own supporters in the stands; which is a plus for us. We played well against them in the home leg but they showed they are a formidable side, so we need to be on guard and not take things lightly. We should get all three points here and keep the pressure on Ethiopia who are two points ahead of us in the group. We cannot afford to lose this match,” added Igesund.

Bafana Bafana team manager Barney Kujane will soon leave for Yaounde to go

and do a fact-finding mission and work on logistics ahead of the squad’s travel to Cameroon.

A week after the clash with the CAR, South Africa will face Ethiopia in the capital Addis Ababa.

The match is scheduled for Sunday, 16 June and will kickoff at 16h00 local time in Addis Ababa (15h00 SA time).

South Africa will host Botswana in the last match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup group stages.

The match will be played in September at a venue still to be determined.

Vieira, Essien, Kompany praise Sir Alex

Sir Alex Ferguson

Footballers from all over the globe took to twitter to heap praise on Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson who announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season.

The legendary Red Devils manager has been at the helm of the club for 26 years, winning 13 Premier League trophies as well as many more national cup competitions and European trophies in the process.

They may be bitter rivals but Manches-

ter City captain Vincent Kompany still praised ‘Fergie’s’ Scots influence.

“Sir Alex, one of the best managers of all time. After 26 years of success in the game, we all owe him a tribute,” said Kompany.

Arsenal legend Patrick Viera, who is currently Manchester City’s Football Development Executive, also praised the Manchester United coach.

“It is the end of an era for a truly great ambassador, not only for the Premier League but for football overall. Best of luck Sir Alex,” tweeted the man who was born in Senegal.

Ghanaian duo Kevin-Prince Boateng and Michael Essien also took to the social networking platform to praise the former Aberdeen manager.

“A legend and one of the greatest managers ever. Good luck in your retirement. #respect.” tweeted Essien, while Boateng simply said: “End of an era… #siralexferguson #manunited.”

Former Bafana Bafana and Charlton Athletic defender Mark Fish also had great things to say about the footballing icon.

“If all the rumours are true. Good bye True Great!! Well done to Sir Alex Ferguson on being just Awesome!!” tweeted Fish.

Cote D’Ivoire referee to handle Kenya-Nigeria tie

Ivorian referee Doue Nomandieze will handle the 2014 World Cup qualifier between Kenya and African champions Nigeria on June 5 in Nairobi.

FIFA has communicated to the Kenya FA notifying them that Nomandieze will handle the game together with his compatriot Yeo Songuifolo and Claude Birumushahu from Burundi will be his assistants while Egyptian Marzouk Mazen will be the match commissioner.

Harambee Stars managed to hold the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a 1-all away draw on March 23 and will be hoping to make home advantage count.

But before the game against Nigeria, Kenya has a friendly against Ghana on June 1 in Nairobi.

Kenyan is already holding non-residential daily training sessions under head coach Adel Amrouche and assistant James Nandwa with the home based team.

Meanwhile, Gor Mahia forward Edwin Lavatsa who was part of the team that held Nigeria in Calabar but had been omitted on the first list has been recalled together with three other local-based players.

Nairobi City Stars’ Boniface Onyango, Sofapaka’s Eugine Asike and Karuturi Sport’s Andrew Murunga are the other three players that have been included in the squad, while four other players have been dropped.

Nigeria league signs $12m title sponsorship deal

League Management Company has concluded a title sponsorship deal with telecommunications company Globacom worth about $12 million.

This development brings to an end a three-year wait for a title sponsorship in the elite division in Nigeria.

The LMC Limited entered into a three-year title partnership with Globacom Nigeria Limited that will run till 2015.

The deal was finalised on Monday with the title sponsors, who will pay the money by three instalments in three years starting with the current season.

The first payment of N550 million (around $3.4 million) is expected to be made available for the ongoing season.

For the 2013/14 season, the top flight championship will get another N550 million, which will increase by 10 percent.

Globacom will conclude the payment for the title sponsorship rights in the 2014/15 season with another N550 million and a 20 percent increase.

23

Friday, 10 May 2013 – Thursday, 16 May 2013

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ISSUE 481

MeyiwaGod was with me SEE PAGE 22

Pirates to be unseeded

By Agency Reporter Orlando Pirates are likely to be unseeded when the draw for the group phase of the African Champions League is made in Cairo next week.

But their chances of continuing to do well in the competition are enhanced by a surprise field that features three newcomers and only three of the traditional old guard.

Pirates will find out the identity of their next opponents at the draw on May 15 at the Confederation of African Football’s headquarters where the eight teams are divided onto two groups of four – two seeds and two unseeded.

Seeds are determined by recent form in the competition which means holders Al Ahli of Egypt; last year’s runners up Esperance of Tunisia and Coton Sport of Cameroon and Zamalek of Egypt are likely to be

seeded. Pirates have an outside chance but it is unlikely they will be seeded.

The three newcomers to the group phase will all be unseeded. They are surprise package AC Leopards from Congo, who won last year’s African Confederation Cup; Sewe Sport of the Ivory Coast and Recreativo Libolo, the Angolan club that Pirates lost to in the first round of the 2012 Champions League. Bucs could be presented with a chance for revenge.

The down side of qualifying for the last eight means Pirates now have brief vacation after their final game of the season on May 18 … and be back in action just over two months later.

Their first game in group phase is on the weekend of July 19-21. The next weekend Pirates play arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the annual Carling Black Label Cup at Soccer City on July 27 and the weekend

after Bucks go back in Champions League action.

It means they are set for many disruptions to their domestic programme at the start of the 2013-14 season and will have to play catch up later on.

Pirates are guaranteed six group games until late September. Should they finish in the top two in the group they go onto the semifinals, to be played over two legs, in October.

The final of the Champions League is in November, also over two legs home and away, with the winner going onto the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco in December.

Pirates now earn a minimum of R3,5million for participating in the league even if they do not win another game.

The Champions League winners gets a prize of R13,4-million, the runners-up

almost R9-million, the semifinalists R6,2million and the team who finish third in the group stage almost R4,5-million.

Five percent of this prize money must be given to the South African Football Association, which presents the delicious irony of Irvin Khoza contributing the coffers of his sworn political enemies at bankrupt SAFA.

African Voice Newspaper is published by African Voice Communications. Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP. Tel: 020 7274 3933 Registered at the British Library as a newspaper. ISSN 1475-2166.Email: africanvoicenews@googlemail.com