African Voice Newspaper issue 608

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Friday, 4 December - Thursday, 10 December 2015 ISSUE 608

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

Skilled workers harder to recruit - CBI

SEE PAGE 2

£1.00

NEW THINK! Campaign to tackle drink driving

SEE PAGE 6

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DIPLOMAT DEFENDS FORCED REPATRIATIONS Nigerian visitors must “play by the rules”

By Alan Oakley Britain’s High Commissioner to Nigeria has defended the Home Office’s decision to deport 48 Nigerians from the UK, saying those who refuse to play by the rules cannot simply be ignored.

Paul Arkwright told reporters the UK welcomes Nigerians who wish to do business, study or simply want to experience the country or visit family as tourists, but they must adhere to the terms under which they enter the country and cannot expect to be allowed to stay on illegally.

Mr Arkwright was responding to questions about the widely quoted but misleading news that as many as 500 deportees were due to arrive from the UK on specially chartered planes. The misreported figure should have been “about 50”.

He noted however, that the United Kingdom would not condone Nigerians who are staying illegally any more than it would condone any other national staying illegally.

Continued on page 4

Acting High Commissioner to the UK Olukunle Bamgbose wants to be sure that due process is being followed before Nigerians are repatriated

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Have You News Got News Skilled workers harder to recruit - CBI For Us Newsdesk: 020 3737 3077

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

Three countries to join Africa’s solar revolution

Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda are the latest countries to join the Energy Africa campaign, International Development Minister Nick Hurd has announced.

The agreements will see closer working between the UK and each country to power up the emerging household solar market across Africa.

This takes the number of countries pledging to join the Energy Africa campaign to 6, with Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia already on board.

Nick Hurd, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, said: It is unacceptable that two-thirds of people in Africa do not have access to electricity. Families are forced to rely on toxic, expensive kerosene and children cannot study after dark.

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi Managing Editor Alan Oakley News Editor Peter Olorunnisomo Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Milton Tella Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer Edward Mirza Accountant Fanla Agboola Chief Correspondent, Nigeria Olubunmi Omoogun London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

Tel: 020 3737 3077

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African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

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The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that UK immigration restrictions will make it increasingly difficult for Yorkshire employers to recruit skilled staff.

Business leaders echoed the CBI’s warning, stating that stricter UK immigration controls – as well as possible changes making immigration from the European Union more difficult - will make recruiting skilled workers harder.

While hosting an EU debate in Leeds on 30 November 2015, the CBI said ‘employers in Yorkshire face tough challenges to recruit people with the required skills.’ A CBI survey found that recruiting graduates with engineering, maths, science and technology backgrounds is a problem for almost three quarters of Yorkshire businesses.

Additionally, the survey revealed that 25 per cent of the Yorkshire businesses were unable to recruit graduates in the above skill areas. CBI regional director, Lucy Thornycroft, said: “It’s a huge issue now and it’s only going to get worse in the future.” Thornycroft went on to add that restricting freedom of movement would impact Yorkshire’s global competitiveness.

Net migration David Cameron has made it clear to the European Council that he wants a reduction in the number of people entering Britain from the EU. He says that the UK’s net migration of 300,000 people per year is ‘not sustainable.’

Thornycroft said: “We’ve voiced our concerns over a potential cap that the Government is pursuing. The issue is that a UK immigration cap on skilled workers would prevent companies from being able to at-

Lucy Thornycroft, director of the CBI in Yorkshire and Humber

tract or access skilled workers that they require from across Europe. Construction is just one common example of an industry sector lacking the right skills.”

Aside from UK immigration controls restricting the movement of skilled workers, Thornycroft highlighted the significance of international students and the role they play in making Yorkshire’s further education colleges and universities places that ‘create a culture of innovation.’ “Restricting them would be harmful to the education sector,” she said.

The EU debate The EU debate was attended by delegates of companies from across the construction, manufacturing, professional service, retail university and waste management sectors, and took place at KPMG’s new office facilities in Leeds.

Thornycroft said: “Every attendee at the debate was very clear, from a business perspective, that they support the notion of remaining in Europe. However, many would like to see reform in certain areas.”

Some CBI members appeared to recognise the benefits of common EU regulations, in terms of making it easier to do

business throughout Europe; some also had concerns about the reach of the EU’s powers, especially when it targets domestic areas.

Thornycroft said: “Companies can identify with the benefits of EU membership from an economic perspective i.e. creating jobs, growth and expansion plus the fact it simplifies the process of doing business.

However, there is an element of frustration concerning regulatory measures coming out of the EU.” “Such regulations have significant financial implications and this is something that needs to be tackled if doing business easily is going to remain. The top priority of business leaders is to see the EU reach global trade agreements to boost jobs and growth, primarily the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP),” she added.

Thornycroft’s believes a TTIP agreement would help remove barriers to doing business with the US, which is considered Britain’s biggest inward investor, plus one of the UK’s largest export markets for manufacturers and service sector companies.

Ensuring people with disabilities are not invisible

By Lucy Drescher Until very recently, the estimated 1 billion people with disabilities in the world have been left behind in the mainstream international development initiative to alleviate global poverty. This was partly as a result of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) having no mention of disability.

Change began to take place with the 2008 adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD). 160 countries have now ratified the UNCRPD and people with disabilities have started to be included in the laws and institutions of countries around the world. In addition, the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or

Global Goals which were agreed in September include disability which is another major step forward.

We (the Bond Disability and Development Group) were really excited when the International Development Committee in the UK parliament decided to do an indepth inquiry into disability and development, looking into the work DFID does in this area. The inquiry received more written submissions than any previous inquiry and a number of people with disabilities themselves gave oral evidence. It was clear that despite examples of good practice the work that DFID does and funds was often not including people with disabilities.

DFID responded really positively to the recommendations of the inquiry and promised to produce a framework on disability inclusion. The first Disability Framework was launched a year ago and now we are able to look at what has been achieved so far.

The central team in London now includes three people which has enabled so much more to happen. The team have been working both externally to influence multilaterals and internally with DFID country offices to support them in looking at how to include people with disabilities win their work.

Lucy Drescher, co-chair of the Bond Disability and Development Group.

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Friday, 11 December - Thursday, 17 December 2015

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

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Encounter MoneyGram Guarantees Secured Money Transfer in Minutes MoneyGram’s Senior Regional Director, UK & Ireland Marc Matthews reveals the company’s offering to the African communities in the UK in an encounter with African Voice Editor in Chief, Mike Abiola

How long have you been with MoneyGram?

I’ve been with MoneyGram for over 6 years now, senior regional director for 3 years. Leading the strategy and the direction of the region in putting the plans together for each year ensuring that we hit those, leading and working with the senior team effectively and running it on a day to day basis.

So you have hands on experience?

Yes, I certainly do, I started in business development 6 years ago and worked my way up. Took over the region 3 years ago.

How has the African market been for MoneyGram?

It’s a significant part of what we do when you put all the countries together.

There are obviously those that we focus more time and attention on than others that are the key ones for us. There are some we are growing not as well as we would like and there are some that present a challenge to us each month. We are still trying to understand why that is and what the trend is.

The countries that we are looking at are South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Uganda. There are a lot of new things happening for us in Africa as well that will allow us to look at ways of improving the services we offer our customers in their countries.

Africa as you know is a huge place and there are different countries in Africa with their own different needs. Some of them are similar in characteristics, but they are all different.

What are you doing differently, say in Nigeria and Zimbabwe?

With Nigeria, we are looking at the trust element of our product surrounding security, reliability, 10 minute service. So knowing that your money is going to get there in that 10 minutes time window and that the banks we work with have always got the funds to be able to pay out so people don’t have to travel any distance to pick up the money when they know the money has arrived they can rest assured that the money will be ready for pick up. It’s a trust and a speed service from MoneyGram, from the UK, a trusted brand like the Post Office, 4

Thomas Cook and then trusted brands in Nigeria here like Skye bank, UBA and others that we work with. Our fees are very competitive, we have a competitive FX rate as well. We work very much on these message of security, trust and reliability in Nigeria.

For Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe is changing a lot. We just recently launched two different products in Zimbabwe. We are attacking Zimbabwe from a different angle now.

So up until a couple of weeks ago we just had our traditional ten minute product to Zimbabwe. We completed a big upgrade to the post office and we launched two new products with them and with all our other agents on the back of it as well.

Alongside the 10 minute send to Zimbabwe, we now offer a cheaper priced overnight send. A 24 hour send which is only £2.50. It’s a slower service but it’s cheaper as not everybody needs the money to get there in 10 minutes. We felt that that was a market that we were misrepresented in and we’ve launched this new service to look at how we can serve the Zimbabwean community better in the UK in that respect.

From a technology point of view we’ve just launched the echo cash mobile wallets in Zimbabwe. So you can send from any location in the UK or online and you can send it just by adding the telephone number, the mobile phone number. You can send it directly to an echo cash mobile wallet.

We’ve gone from having one product to having three products. Literally in the last couple of weeks. The echo cash is launched with the £2.50 price point as well. So good pricing, good effects and 3 different ways of sending and receive money to Zimbabwe.

Technology is the key drive to Africa, so all those products, the echo cash wallet, the third that we launched on top of Kenya, Tanzania and we have plans for next year to launch a whole range of mobile wallets to countries like Uganda and South Africa.

Technology is advancing and Nigeria we will add bank account, so we will be able to send money to any bank account in Nigeria by next year as well. It’s a fast pace and evolving market and we will need to look at how we segment our customer base and how we work with different agents in different community groups. The idea is whether you want to send in cash or whether you want to send online from the UK, by MoneyGram online, in person or by echo mobile wallet. The idea is we can meet consumer needs right across all the way over Africa.

Are there variation in prices when

you send money online or through the post office?

Yes, there is a different pricing online and in the walk in Thomas cook, post office and Tesco. Both are very competitive versus our competitors in both cases. But because the online space is still relatively new, you have a lot of markets disrupters coming in to that space. The fees on the MGO do tend to be cheaper on the opening bands than in the walk in world. That’s just market forces that dictate the prices.

So it’s safe to say that your money arrives in any location in Africa in Ten minutes. Whether West Africa, South Africa.?

That’s right.

Who are your main agents in West Africa?

We work with all the big banks, the likes of United Bank for Africa (UBA) across Africa, we work the likes of SKYE bank and First bank in Nigeria. In Ghana, we work with Commercial Bank, we have very good relationship with standard bank and First national bank in South Africa, Kingdom Bank in Zimbabwe. Where you see MoneyGram it’s a big brand and we are very much a partnership. You send from trusted brands like Tesco, the post office and Thomas cook from here in the UK and then we pick up with world recognised brands like UBA and Ghana Commercial banks, Skye bank in Nigeria, First bank, Standard Bank e.t.c across Africa. They are the brands you trust and we know that they are the brands who have the funds to supply demand within 10minutes when the receiver comes in to pick up their money.

There is nothing worse than for someone to have to travel maybe 20/30 miles just to pick up some money and then get there and the agent does not have any available funds.

Do customers collect in Dollars,

pounds or if you want it in local currency, do you have those 3 variations?

There are different variations across different countries. If we look at Nigeria as an example, we use to pay out in Naira and in Dollars until Nigerian Central Bank said you can no longer pay out in Dollars, you have to pay out in Naira. So we had the ability to do both and we were quite comfortable doing both. Obviously we have to comply with regulations. In Zimbabwe, we pay out in US dollars, we don’t pay out in Zimbabwean dollars, market forces again. South Africa is interesting in as much as everybody has to pay out in US dollars still and then locally it is converted into Rand. We are in the process of looking at our license in South Africa which will allow us to then be able to have Rand to pay out. Where we are able to, we generally have multiple currency pay outs across African countries. Where regulations dictate then we will comply one hundred percent with what regulations say.

It’s been interesting what MoneyGram has done with Nigerian partnership or with UBA over the years. I would like you to elaborate on your Corporate Social Responsibility, how far have you taken that in Nigeria?

We have the MoneyGram foundation which we run from our core HQ in Dallas, but effectively what we are looking at doing is getting involved in projects within countries that we can look into helping local communities, we were involved earlier this year with a project in Nigeria where we were supplying laptops to schools where they don’t necessarily have that ability themselves to provide that. We work with partners globally to put together packages and deals where we can work with local communities in the country to help people. Creating fresh water wells to projects outside in places like Ghana and more rural areas. MoneyGram foundation has its own website with all the projects we’ve worked on. It is MoneyGram’s policy as a money transfer provider to these countries to keep putting money back into communities in whatever capacity we can.

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Health News

Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

NEW THINK! CAMPAIGN TO TACKLE DRINK DRIVING New research from THINK! shows that while half the population (51%) would not consider consuming any alcoholic drinks before driving, a shocking one in ten people would consider having two or more drinks before they get behind the wheel. This increases to one in five among men aged 18-34 (19%).

The government has launched a new campaign to tackle drink driving, targeting those who do not recognise that even a small number of drinks before driving can be deadly. It urges everyone to THINK! before drinking and driving. New adverts highlight how a second drink can double the chance of being in a fatal collision.

Road Safety Minister Andrew Jones said: “Drivers know that drink driving is wrong. It can destroy families and ruin lives. Yet some irresponsible drivers still take the risk and get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t.

“Over the past thirty years drink drive deaths have fallen significantly but every death or serious injury is one too many. The best way for drivers to keep themselves and

other road users safe is simple: don’t drink and drive.”

Today’s figures show that the majority of drivers in England and Wales are aware of the need to avoid drinking before driving. 60% of people surveyed said that it is not okay to drink at all before driving. However, even though 93% of people don’t think it is right to drive after more than one drink, almost a fifth (18%) admit to having done so.

Sarah Sillars, Institute of Advanced Motorists chief operating officer, said “Many of the people we work with on our drink-drive rehabilitation courses aren’t repeat offenders, many are drivers who thought that a second one couldn’t hurt.

“We support THINK!’s campaign which highlights the importance of avoiding the temptation of ‘just one more’.

“Know your limits and know the legal limit. Getting that second drink calculation wrong is easily avoided just by remembering that if you drive, don’t drink.”

Liz Brooker, Spokesperson for Road Safety GB, said: “The combined efforts to tackle those who choose to drink and drive have been successful over the years.

“But some people still think of a drink

Road Saftey minister Andrew Jones

driver as someone who drinks copious amounts and gets in the car.

“They don’t realise that they could be a drink driver too, by having a small amount to

Hundreds of schools benefit from £3m mental health investment Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has joined forces with NHS England to launch a multimillion pound joint mental health pilot scheme for hundreds of schools.

The Mental Health Services and Schools Link Pilots will test a named single point of contact in 255 schools and in 22 pilot areas, meaning more joined-up working between schools and health services. This has been backed by £3 million of government funding.

It will mean children and young people have better access to local, specialist mental health provision, and that support is consistent across services.

Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, said: Mental health is a key priority for this government and for me personally. The development of character, resilience and good mental health is vital alongside academic success in equipping young people with the skills needed to fulfil their potential.

That’s why I’m delighted to see these schools engaging in joined-up approaches with mental health services to ensure that children, parents and teachers know where to turn and how to access the best support for young people with mental health concerns.

Funded jointly by the Department for Education and NHS England, each of 27 clinical commissioning groups are working with at least 10 schools to trial this new way of working with a named lead across services.

These were chosen from more than 80 applications to receive a boost of up to £85,000 per area.

The single point of contact in the schools will be responsible for developing closer relationships with a counterpart in local NHS CAMHS services to improve knowledge and understanding of mental health issues, and 6

drink and taking to the road.

“This campaign will make people think twice before taking another drink, helping to make our roads safer.”

to help ensure any referrals are timely and appropriate.

They will be supported in the work through a series of training days. The work will be evaluated nationally to understand the impact of joint working.

Dr Jackie Cornish, National Clinical Director for Children and Young People at NHS England, said: This is an opportunity for CCGs and schools to work together more closely, trial a new way of thinking and a new model.

Our aim is to significantly improve the care and experience we can offer to children and young people with mental health problems.

We know that if we can help young people effectively at the earliest possible age we can gain the best possible outcome for them in the long run and that is why we are focusing our attention to improve joint working with schools.

This investment is building on a £1.4 billion government investment in children and young people’s mental health over the next 5 years.

This is a key government priority, as part of the drive to put mental health on an equal footing with physical health.

The pilot is part of the vision set out in the ‘Future in mind’ report, which made a number of proposals on how mental health services could be improved, including for children and young people.

Minister for Mental Health, Alistair Burt, said: When a young person is brave enough to ask for help from their school or doctor, we should never let them fall through the gap because services aren’t in touch with each other. That is why this initiative is so important.

Children and young people’s mental health is one of my personal priorities and these pilots are part of the biggest transformation to young people’s mental health that the sector has seen.

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Minister for Africa Speech at Global Africa Investment Summit At Global Africa Investment Summit on 2nd December 2015, UK’s Minister for Africa draw a strategic approach to integrating security, diplomacy, development and commerce in the British Government’s relationship with African countries while delivering a speech.

Now, it is unsurprising that as the Minister for Africa I am keen to champion trade and investment with Africa. But my passion for Africa goes much deeper.

I have had the privilege of working extensively in Africa in the banking sector.

Swaziland, my first African home, will always be particularly special to me – I met my wife in that country, and we later returned there on honeymoon.

The Africa I came to know in Swaziland, and later living in Cote D’Ivoire and Botswana, is a dynamic place of entrepreneurs, opportunities, an aspirant

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middle class and a vibrant youth culture.

And a couple of years ago, frustrated with hearing sceptical comments about the business opportunities in Africa, I decided to put my money where my mouth was.

I set out to invest £1,000 a month, for 12 months, in 12 different African stock exchanges, in 12 different sectors and write 12 articles to highlight the opportunities and change perceptions.

I invested in a safari company in Botswana. Fast food, car sales and property in Nigeria. And the Tusker beer brewery in Kenya.

I won some and lost some – as you do anywhere else in the world. But I became more convinced than ever of the importance – and the rewards - of investing in Africa.

This is the Africa that I think all of us here today are reaching out to.

And it is important that whether we are from the private sector or government officials, that we respond to the aspirations of citizens and consumers.

No longer should people think of the

Foreign Office Minister James Duddridge MP

1980’s Band Aid depiction of Africa. But rather that African markets are places of opportunity - where the next major economic transformation will happen - hotbeds of innovation, where we might find the next big tech entrepreneur.

Indeed, this transformation is already taking place. Sub-Saharan African growth averaged more than 5% over the last 5 years. And growth this year is forecast to be nearly 4% - and that’s despite the current global commodity slowdown.

The story is even more positive in supposedly low-income countries. Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Tanzania are three of the five African countries with which we have a High Level Prosperity Partnership – and they are all expected to grow by around 7% this year and next.

I know that all of us here today have a shared interest in changing the perceptions of Africa, of supporting Africa’s continued growth out of poverty.

It has been very clear to me from my own personal experiences in Africa that traditional notions of aid are only a small fraction of the story.

Investment, trade and commerce are an integral part of this. It is the private sector that is right at the heart of driving this transformation.

Allowing the private sector to flourish in Africa will create jobs and generate taxes. Taxation will fund the vital social infrastructures such as health and education.

A better educated, healthier workforce will create the entrepreneurs and innovative business of tomorrow, further supporting African growth.

This is a virtuous cycle and it is up to all of us here to help make it a reality. And I have made it my mission to ensure that the whole of the UK Government is joined up on this - both to address the constraints to growth – and ensure that taxpayers’ money is well spent.

Take, for example, the Foreign Secretary’s announcement yesterday – that the UK is establishing a 1.3 billion pound global prosperity fund. This will promote

economic reforms, help remove trade barriers, and tackle corruption. I will make sure a substantial part of this will be directed towards Africa.

Or the Prime Minister’s announcement last week of a new Government strategy for Official Development Assistance.

At the heart of this strategy will be the Department for International Development’s commitment to refocus half its formidable budget on supporting fragile and conflict affected states.

This shows our clear intent to be smart about how we tackle conflict - and to promote what the Prime Minister has called the ‘golden thread’ of conditions that drive prosperity – the rule of law, good governance and the growth of democracy.

But as a government, we also need to communicate better. Not just about the opportunity Africa presents - but how we will work with Africans to support your legitimate aspirations for development, growth and peace across the continent.

So as part of our implementation of our new spending review, I want a more strategic approach to Africa – including a reassessment of how we deliver and with whom.

Much of Africa’s growth story comes from innovation – driven from the bottom up, by young people, by creativity and by entrepreneurial spirit.

These are the relationships we want to build and invest in.

Because these are the relationships and partnerships that will add value, not just tomorrow but into the future.

In conclusion, the Africa I see is a continent of hope and opportunity. A continent ripe for trade and investment. A continent of the future.

And I am convinced that the prize of a prosperous, stable Africa is within our reach if we take a strategic approach - integrating security, diplomacy, business, development and commerce.

So, let all of us here work together – and seize that exciting opportunity with both hands. Go forth and invest in Africa.

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

Arts Culture

By Edward Mirza

WEST AFRICA: WORD, SYMBOL, SONG AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY Now – February 16th, 2016

An exhibition of literature and music – from the great African empires of the Middle Ages to the cultural dynamism of West Africa today.

Fascinating stories from the region’s 17 nations show how West Africans have harnessed the power of words to build societies, drive political movements, sustain religious belief and fight injustice.

Beautiful manuscripts, historic film and sound recordings, books, photographs, and woven and printed textiles offer a unique insight into a profound and engaging literary culture with centuries-old written heritage existing alongside ancient oral traditions.

Hear the myth of the founding of ancient Mali in recorded performance. See the influence of religion through colourful fabric and a saddlebag Qur’an. Celebrate writers and artists including Africa’s first Nobel prize winner, Wole Soyinka, and internationally acclaimed musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti.

British Library, 96, Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB

THE BLACK PLAYS SERIES Now – Dec 5th

In the Clore Learning Centre, our dedicated space for people of all ages to get hands-on with theatre making, we offer regular opportunities to discover the skills and secrets behind the National Theatre’s productions.

This six-week series explores a diverse collection of plays from dramatists of African and Caribbean heritage. Combining performances, clips of past productions and lively discussion, each session examines a topic – from teenagers and revolutions to sport and traditional rituals. The discussion is led by Natasha Bonnelame (previously the Black Plays Archive Project Manager) who will be joined by guest speakers.

WEEK 2 - The Empire Writes Back Saturday 7 November, 10.30am – 12.45pm In this session Natasha Bonnelame discusses the way playwrights of the African Diaspora have re-read and rewritten European plays. This literary rebellion changes the focus and meaning of the plays, challenging Western assumptions. Acts of re-writing are not just dismissing what has come before.

They reveal a relationship between old and new and ask us to reconsider cultural ownership in a globalised world.

Plays covered: Days of Significance

by Roy Williams, Women of Troy 2099

by Courttia Newland, Trinidad Sisters by

Mustapha Matura and The Lower Depths

by Tunde Ikoli.

Cottesloe Room, Clore Learning Centre, National Theatre.

ROBIN HOOD Dec 5 - Jan 23, 2016

Join Theatre Royal Stratford East this Christmas for lots of laughter, brand new songs and a sack full of festive fun in this dazzling new version of the classic tale brought to you by our Olivier Awardnominated team.

Robin Hood, the prince of thieves is on a mission! Join him and his swashbuckling merry band of men as they get robbin’ the rich to feed the poor. Along the way they must undertake a quest to save good King Richard and the poor people of StratEastHam from the evil Prince John who is plotting to steal the crown.

Will Robin and his motley crew save the day? Or will the feisty and fearless Maid Marion (and her devoted Nurse) get there first? And just what is the secret Marion is hiding?

The perfect Christmas treat for children of all ages, this action-packed panto features a whole host of magical surprises and plenty of joining in… oh yes it does!

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN .

CINDERELLA Nov 21 - Jan 3, 2015

Pantomimes immediately welcome you into the spirit of Christmas. With catchy songs, brightly-coloured sets, and always a ‘happily ever after’, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the merriment of the festivities. They tend to follow the same structure; a story teller who invites you into the tale at the start, a handsome hero who wins the princess’ (or princess type character’s) heart, a comedy figure usually laden with sweets to throw and a ‘baddy’, who inevitably brings in the ‘boos’.

This is a Panto with no star line up, something that we have become rather accustomed to. We look forward to seeing our favourite Eastenders star as Captain Hook or the woman behind the bar at The Rovers as thee Wicked Witch. However, Hammersmith’s unique Panto not only has no star, but it also has few of the conventions you would normally associate with a classic Pantomime. After all, we no longer want to see the helpless, blonde princess fall madly in love with the 6-foot tall, handsome and personality-less prince, while size 6 dancers twirl around him. Instead, the Lyric has chosen to present us with a strong-minded Cinderella full of attitude and sass, dancers of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and height, and a wicked stepmother in a wheelchair.

Cinderella, at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

However, these changes were not by any means overpowering because the show still retained all the magic and originality that we all know and love.

Krystal Dockery played Cinderella with mounds of enthusiasm, oodles of energy and a huge smile to top it all off with. With an updated style, confident attitude and glitter converse instead of those old glass slippers; she is the modern fairy-tale princess. Prince Charming was played by Karl Queensborough and he too was full of energy and style. The pair had great chemistry not to mention some wonderfully recognisable singing duets from the current charts. Lovable and bubbly Debra Michaels played Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, who opened the show to a jazzy and sparkly rendition of Fleur East’s ‘Uptown Funk’. Peter Caulfield and Matt Sutton were the two ugly stepsisters, Booty and Licious.

This hilarious duo bounced off one another’s energy spectacularly. Sutton’s Booty was hilariously manly and slightly aggressive, which worked in perfect contrast with Caulfield’s more naive and effeminate Licious.

An aptly-named Samuel Buttery played the adorable and jolly character of Buttons. With his merry demeanour and sweetie-throwing, he was the closest character to his classic counterpart. He was wonderfully entertaining for the children, throwing goodies, playing the innocent fool and getting everyone shouting out all the classics, like “he’s behind you!”. the Lyric Theatre, Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL

NINE LIVES BY ZODWA NYONI NATIONAL TOUR Now - Jan 2016 Presented by Leeds Studio in association with West Yorkshire Playhouse Fleeing from his home in Zimbabwe where a fresh wave of homophobia threatens his life, Ishmael has sought sanctuary in the UK. Dispersed to Leeds, Ishmael waits to hear his fate, he waits for a new life to begin amongst strangers. Strangers who don’t trust him and don’t want him there.

But not everyone is bad… can he find a place to call home again?

Some of us wanted to stop being afraid.

Some of us wanted to find ourselves.

Some of us wanted to belong.

Zodwa Nyoni (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Channel 4 Writer in Residence 2014) threads together humour and humanity to tell the real personal story behind asylum headlines.

16 November 2015 Waterside Arts Centre, Trafford 19 November 2015 Arc Stockton, Stockton on Tees 10 December 2015 Brighton, Brighton January 2016 Arcola, London

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

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News

PM urges Commonwealth to play leading role in fight against corruption

The Prime Minister has urged Commonwealth countries to lead the fight against corruption at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta, ahead of a landmark conference on the issue in the UK next year.

The Prime Minister brought together 9 countries to discuss how to address the challenge of corruption and its role in holding back progress in economic growth and developing peaceful, inclusive societies.

He co-chaired an event with President Khama of Botswana, host country of the Commonwealth’s anti-corruption centre, with leaders and foreign ministers from Canada, Australia, Ghana, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, and Malta in attendance.

The Prime Minister told attendees that corruption is one of the greatest enemies of our time and that, when it comes to tackling it, the international community has looked the other way for too long.

The meeting focussed on 3 key issues: the importance of anti-corruption in supporting growth, boosting development, ensuring security and protecting the environ-

ment, reasons why anti-corruption hasn’t been addressed effectively so far, including the lack of political will and how to tackle the issue in the future.

In particular, the focus is on fighting corruption through transparency, for example company beneficial ownership, good governance and accountability, for example in sport and increased international co-operation, including better law enforcement The Prime Minister acknowledged that all countries – including the UK – need to do more to tackle the issue at home and highlighted the particular role that the Commonwealth can play as an organisation whose members share the same values.

Today’s meeting follows the Prime Minister’s calls at the G7 in June and the G20 earlier this month to break the taboo on talking about corruption ahead of the summit in the UK next year.

The 2016 summit will bring together leaders from across the world, and focus on international action to meet the following key objectives: deterring corruption; ending impunity for those who commit corruption; and supporting and empowering those who have suffered from it.

The UK will invite G20 countries, the leading international organisations in this field including the UN, World Bank, OECD, and the IMF, and a wide range of other countries which are leading the fight against global corruption or have a pivotal role to play in strengthening the international response to corruption.

As the Prime Minister said in Singapore, corruption adds 10% to business costs globally and cutting it by just 10% could benefit the global economy by $380 billion every year.

Speaking at the summit, Prime Minister David Cameron said: The UK has been a world leader in the fight to tackle corruption, which is an evil in itself but which also exacerbates other global challenges such as poverty and extremism. Rooting out corruption is crucial to global prosperity and security.

The anti-corruption summit we will host next year will be an important opportunity for the international community to come together and to agree practical action to beat the cancer of corruption.

Nigerian visitors must “play by the rules” ...Continued from front page

. He also criticised “inaccurate” media reporting of how the Home Office deals with over-stayers.

“Today up to 250,000 Nigerians are living legally in the UK, making a significant contribution and adding to the rich fabric of our society. Every year around 130,000 Nigerians visit the UK from Nigeria for both business and leisure. Nigerians, who come to the United Kingdom in accordance with our well-publicised rules will always be welcome guests.

“So it has been disappointing to read, in a few isolated incidents, inaccurate media reporting of the UK’s policy concerning how we return Nigerians back to their home country when they have been present illegally in the UK. “The UK cannot ignore those who choose not to play by the rules. Like Nigeria, the United Kingdom operates a robust but fair immigration system. The law in the UK is very clear: those who are in the UK illegally and have made the choice not to leave voluntarily will be required to leave.

“Decisions to remove people are not made lightly and we adhere to international obligations – particularly the European Convention on Human Rights – and our own clear domestic law. Decisions made can be appealed and challenged under the scrutiny of an impartial judiciary in court.

Fairness and transparency are key. We apply the same rules for Nigerians as we do 10

for any foreign visitor to the UK”.

The 44 men and four women arrived at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos last weekend accompanied by UK security officials.

An airport source said the deportees complained of the way they were handled by the British authorities, alleging that they were not allowed to take their belongings before being deported. Those alleged to have committed criminal offences were handed over to officers from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Lagos.

Nigeria’s government is coming under increasing pressure to help pave the way for the deportation of an estimated 29,000 Nigerians believed to be living in the UK illegally, according to Olukunle Akindele Bamgbose, acting High Commissioner to the UK. Mr. Bamgbose gave the indication in his office when he spoke with State House Correspondents covering Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to London.

He cited ongoing world crises that have given rise to unprecedented levels of migration as motivation for the UK’s stance and gave four conditions that should be met by the Home Office before the Commission could accept the migration and deportation agenda.

“I think about 29,000 Nigerians have been designated to be deported. We are insisting that due process must be followed before Nigerians are really removed from the UK to Nigeria,” he said.

H.E. Paul Arkwright insists Nigerians are welcome in the UK, but must abide by their visa conditions

“First, we must ensure that they are really Nigerians; they are medically fit to travel; all the legal processes must have been completed and that they have role to play in Nigeria.

“You do not expect someone who has not been to Nigeria for 30 years to 40 years, and does not have any family and you want to deport him.

“He will constitute social problems to us in Nigeria; so these are the sore points

at this moment that we have,” the envoy said.

Mr. Bamgbose said that in spite of the challenge, the relationship between Nigeria and UK had deepened.

“In 2012, trade volume between the two countries was about four billion pounds, which has doubled now. But with what we now have, British investors are ready to move into Nigeria in a massive way.

“I expect that in the next two to three years the trade volume will triple and go to about 12 billion pound or even more.”

Mr. Bamgbose attributed the rise to the new confidence foreign investors have in Nigeria and the new administration.

“The willingness of the British businessmen to even want to come to Nigeria is very important. Because, hitherto, the way we were running the government they did not have that confidence in government.

They are not really sure whether they can go into Nigeria and invest.

“Now with the new administration, what they believe the new administration can do and the fidelity with which the new administration has brought to governance that is the first thing.

“You have to have the confidence of those who are going to Nigeria to invest and I think with what is going on now they are very confident that they can go into Nigeria and invest,” he said.

The envoy also said this confidence also elevated the level of diplomatic service of the country.

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News

Get ready to be ‘Dazzled’ - Sickle Cell Film Premieres in the UK

By Iyamide Thomas Sickle Cell Society (UK)

“Is it worth risking it all to have it all?” So asks ‘Dazzling Mirage’ the new sickle cell love story by renowned Nigerian Nollywood producer / director Tunde Kelani (‘TK’) which premiered at the Ritzy Cinema, Brixton on Saturday, 7 November as part of Film Africa 2015 Festival.

Dazzling Mirage is an inspiring story of love, perseverance and hope in the face of adversity. A talented young advertising executive is in the prime of life – she’s bright, her career is in overdrive, and she has a supportive and loving boyfriend. There’s just one problem - she suffers from sickle cell disease, an inherited blood condition that can cause severe pain, anaemia and organ damage. Kelani’s film gets to the root of the stigma associated with this increasingly common illness, suggesting that it doesn’t have to define or restrict life. The film was adapted from the book by Yinka Egbokhare. When asked what the inspi-

L-R: Grace Lawson, Ade Solanke, Iyamide Thomas, Tunde Kelani

ration was behind his latest film TK stated that three things came together at the right time: he was concerned about drawing more awareness and support for sickle cell in Nigeria, he came across the book ‘Dazzling Mirage’ and he had previously seen ‘The Family Legacy’ (a film commissioned by the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme to raise awareness of sickle cell disease, the myths, stigma and testing for the condition). He then got Ade Solanke the script writer of The Family Legacy to do his screenplay. The ‘sold out’ pre-

miere was followed by a short Q & A which I hosted with ‘TK’, Ade Solanke and Grace Lawson (sickle cell service user) as panellists. Judging from audience reaction it would be safe to say everyone enjoyed the film! This is what one individual with sickle cell had to say: “It would be great to have some more screenings. I would definitely recommend it to my family and friends (or go and see it again myself!). On a more personal level I also felt it was a good watch for my boyfriend who often doesn’t know how to approach

some of the topics that were mentioned in the film. He too enjoyed the screening”.

The Dazzling Mirage premiere was a one- off screening but plans are in place to organise more UK screenings early next year so watch this space!

Useful websites; www.sicklecellsociety.org bit.ly/thefamilylegacy

to many factors, of course) and they have a lot of work and improvement to undertake to truly catapult this primordial police force into engaging with the international police community and regain the trust, loyalty, cooperation and assurances of the people they

By Akintokunbo Adejumo are employed and entrusted to poThis might prove to be the foun- lice, in terms of service, security dation for a new, effective and ef- and safety of lives and property. ficient policing system in Nigeria.

This is the current Nigeria Police offiWe will get there one day. It is cer- cial WhatsApp number: 0805 700 0003 tainly an improvement, forward- for reporting and addressing infractions, looking action and assures the complaints, concerns and queries regarding activities of officers and men/women public that it is doing its best to of the NPF move with the fast-changing world They say it is fast and effective to deal of both environmental and techno- with distress calls or when your rights are logical changes. Whoever are the legitimately wronged by law enforcement new breed of police officers in to- officers. It is discrete and safe.

I have tried the Nigeria Police Force day’s Nigeria Police Force who are WhatsApp No for reporting and addressdriving this change and movement ing infractions, complaints, concerns and into 21st Century policing need to queries regarding activities of officers and be commended, but should also be men/women of the NPF, and BRAVO, reminded that the Nigerian police it is TRUE and it WORKS. I got instant still remains in the Dark Ages (due response within a minute, chatted with an

unseen officer, who seems to know his/her onions and is very respectful and polite, and I congratulated them on this initiative and idea.

To cap this good initiative, the officer I chatted with gave me TWO other numbers for the purpose of reporting Crime: They are: 0805 700 0001 and 0805 700 0002 (these numbers are not for WhatsApp, but voice calls) which he/she explained are dedicated for expressly reporting criminal behaviours, crimes, felonies, etc. It is also discreet and safe.

Yet another good foundation, even if only three numbers for 160 million people, for now, so bear with them.

Just like a friend wrote to me, since they came up with the 999 in the UK or 911 in the US, those services had evolved through feedback, experiences, monitoring and reappraisal into a formidable service. So peace-loving Nigerians should welcome the service even if it is not working up to scratch at the moment. We can all help the Nigeria Police to work for the improvement of that service if they are serious about it.

First we want a memorable and more user friendly phone number like 222 or 777. The service needs to be manned 24/7.

There is technology in place to route calls

to hundreds or thousands of call operators who are monitored. The members of the public must be able to register their displeasure or satisfaction with the service through customer satisfaction surveys and complaints. In addition to the service phone number, there is a need for a dedicated internet website where members of the public could register their encounter with corrupt, brutal and unruly police officers.

Even video evidence could be posted on such a website. I urge all contributors to use this opportunity to offer their advice on how the police live up to modern expectation. The Nigeria Police, Customs, Immigration and the civil services are currently a disgrace. We need the input of everyone to make those services be those the public could rely upon.

I am a Happy and Proud Nigerian.

BUT we should plead with the Nigerian public not to abuse this service, and to the Nigeria Police Force (why don’t we change the “Force” to “Service”) to sustain and improve on the service and strive to make it more effective , efficient, user-friendly and not to relent on their efforts to make our society better

Kudos to the Nigerian Police Force!

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

News

Godwin Okri: My Quantum Formula can Combat The Chancellor’s BTL Onslaught Godwin Okri, who is a Barrister and author of the book “Investing in Property with Strategy” says that George Osborne’s autumn statement may end buy-to-let dreams for many Investors.

On Wednesday 25th November 2015, the Chancellor announced that from 1st April 2016, stamp duty will be increased from 2% to 3% for second home worth £250,000. Since the UK-wide average property prices is £286,000 many investor will be caught by this change. The change will add £7,500 to the cost of this type of properties.

The change in the autumn statement follows the change announced in the summer budget in which a restriction was placed on the amount of tax relief landlords could claim on mortgage interest.Most of Britain’s 2 million landlords have mortgages.

Those of modest income will be hit hardest by this change.

Cross-section of guests

Already the average property prices in London and the South East is preventing first time buyers climb the property ladder.

These plethora of changes will compound matters and dampen the buy-to-let market.

However, Mr Okri says that the strategies set out in his book would help combat the negative effect of the summer and autumn budgets. In fact, he says that even though stamp duty has been raised to kill of the BTL market and mortgage interest relief is about to be removed, his “quantum” strategy would be a strong enough defence to ward off the strong waves of changes being introduced by the Chancelor.

The “quantum” strategy shows investors how to buy below-market-value property, which would not attract stamp duty.

His book also refers to other strategies to investing in property which will avoid the restrictions of the mortgage interest relief.

The book reveals the science of property investment. It exposes the last remaining secret of wealth creation.

Barrister Godwin Okri at the British Library during the launch of his book Investing in Property with Strategy

Barrister Godwin Okri with brother Ben Okri

Italy

Police arrest ‘internet terrorist’ in Milan

Italian and Kosovan police have arrested four Kosovars suspected of being part of a militant cell that spread extremist propaganda and made threats against Pope Francis, justice officials said on Tuesday.

The four, three of whom were arrested in Italy and one in Kosovo, are all suspected of “condoning terrorism” and “inciting racial hatred”, Italian police said in a statement.

A police official said the four were very active on the Internet, promoting their extremist cause, but did not appear to have been involved in any specific plots.

“They were threatening the pope, celebrating the recent attacks in Paris and threatening the former U.S. ambassador to Kosovo,” said Carmine Esposito, a police 12

Samet Imishti, who has been arrested in Kosovo, is believed to be the ringleader of a group of terror suspects arrested in Milan

chief in the northern Italian city of Brescia, where the investigation was based.

One of their messages read: “Remember there won’t be another pope after this one.

This is the last one.”

Two of those seized in Italy will be expelled shortly, while the third will be allowed to stay in the country but put under special surveillance as the investigation continues.

The fourth suspect, named as Samet Imishti, was said to be the leader of the group and had combat experience outside Kosovo. He was arrested in a village in the east of Kosovo.

Italy has increased its controls on Islamist suspects in the wake of the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130. Last week it expelled four Moroccans suspected of promoting extremism.

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Benin

Zinsou announced as 2016 presidential candidate

Bida Nouhoum, the spokesman for Benin’s ruling party, Forces Cauris pour un Benin Émergent (the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin, or FCBE), announced on Thursday (November 26) that Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou has been nominated as the party’s candidate in the presidential election on 28 February 2016. Current president Thomas Boni Yayi appointed Zinsou, who also holds French citizenship, in June.

A French-born former financier in his sixties, Zinsou is a nephew of former president Emile Derlin Zinsou and a key figure in relations between France and Africa. He left a lucrative job as head of European in-

Lionel Zinsou was special advisor to Thomas Boni Yayi from 2006-11

vestment firm PAI Partners following his appointment in June as PM. Last year he spearheaded discussions in Paris to secure some 18 billion euros ($20 billion) in international financing from both the public and private sectors for economic development in Benin.

“Mr Zinsou for us is the choice of reason because it maintains national unity,” the ruling party spokesman said.

Since Zinsou’s appointment as Prime Minister barely 10 months prior to the end of Yayi’s second and final term in office, speculation had been rife that he was the likely successor. However, Zinsou’s nomination has been a divisive issue within the FCBE, with party parliamentarian Nassirou Arifari openly critical of the efforts of Yayi – himself a former banker - to position Zinsou as the party’s presidential can-

Switzerland

Swiss love for horses exposed horses at 18,000 farms in the country.

The 20 Minuten newspaper reported that experts believe that as many as 10,000 people living in Switzerland are suspected of practicing zoophilia (sex with animals). Tier im Recht says the higher prosecution rates are down to tougher

animal protection laws being introduced by the government, to protect their welfare.

Switzerland has a population of just over 8 million, meaning 0.125 percent of the population have a penchant for zoophilia.

USA

Cuba seeks change in US immigration policy Cuba has blamed the U.S. administration for encouraging Cuban migrants to illegally cross the southern border of the U.S. via Central America during a bilateral meeting in Washington, D.C.

No wonder Swiss horses can run so fast

Switzerland is seeing a worrying increase in the number of sex attacks carried out against animals and in particular horses. Figures show cases of animal abuse rose to 1,709 in 2014, an increase of 1,542 from the previous 12 months.

The worsening figures are worrying animal rights groups. Tier im Recht (Animals in Law) said the amount of abuse cases reported has tripled in the last decade. However, it seems as though horses are coming under particular threat, with almost 10 percent of equine maltreatment cases involv-

ing bestiality.

“This rate is relatively elevated compared with other types of animals,” Andreas Ruttimann, a legal expert with Tier im Recht, told the reporters.

“A total of 105 cases of animal cruelty to horses were registered last year, up considerably from previous years but probably below the actual number of incidents,” he added.

Worryingly, the group believes the actual figure could be very much higher, given that around 150,000 people in Switzerland take part in equestrian activities. It also adds that there are more than 110,000

The meeting was held to review the Migration Agreements signed in 1994 and 1995 within the new context of diplomatic normalization between the two countries, after the two nations opened mutual embassies after more than half a century of the U.S. blockade imposed on the Caribbean island.

The Cuban delegation expressed concern over the Cuban Adjustment Act, popularly known as the “wet-foot, dryfoot” policy, which was voted into power

by U.S. authorities in 1966 and updated in 1995. The policy encourages Cubans to leave the island illegally pursuing the so-called “American dream,” resulting in Cuban citizens risking their lives by either crossing the stretch of sea separating the two countries or travelling through the volatile Central American region.

Upon reaching the U.S., Cubans are au-

tomatically granted “legal permanent resident status” – a unique status that applies only to Cubans.

In a communique issued after the meeting, the Cuban Foreign Ministry criticized the policy for stimulating “illegal, risky and chaotic migration” which continues to expose Cubans to the increased risk of human traffickers and organized crime.

The Cuban delegation also condemned the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, implemented in 2006 under the George W. Bush administration, which is depriving Cuba and “many other countries from vital human resources.” In response, the U.S. delegation reaffirmed that Washington has no intention of modifying its migration policy towards Cuban migrants.

The negotiations also covered other aspects of migration policies, such as human trafficking and document fraud. Officials from both countries responded positively to an April video conference between the Cuban Border Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.

A previous bilateral meeting on migration took place in the Cuban capital in March, and a third round is planned in Washington, D.C. in March 2016.

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CRIME

Met warns of dating scams after woman is duped out of £1.6million The Met is urging internet users to be aware of fraudsters posing as love interests online, after a woman was duped out of £1.6million by a gang.

The woman met a man who claimed to be a well-to-do engineer on a dating site. After developing a rapport with the victim, the suspect and a number of others posing as his associates, talked her into “loaning” them sums of money over 10 months.

Two of the gang - Ife Ojo, 31 and Olusegun Agbaje, 43 - are due to be sentenced later today (Friday, 27 November) following an investigation by the Met’s specialist cyber crime and fraud detectives - FALCON. Detective Chief Inspector Gary Miles of FALCON said: “Within the last year, FALCON has investigated the loss of £4 million in relation to 100 victims who have been ruthlessly manipulated by men and women pretending they love them. The suspects showered them with compliments and confided their seemingly innermost secrets to them. In many cases, the suspects were talking to their victims online or over the phone for hours every day.

“Romance scams are not the most prevalent fraud but the financial and emotional impact to victims is huge. Many victims borrow money from friends and family to pay the suspects. Victims typically feel embarrassed and ashamed when they realise they have been duped, so they often don’t report what has happened to them or even confide in a friend.

“Victims of this fraud must understand that

Oje and Agbaje

they are not foolish and they are not alone - the reality is that the fraudsters are extremely manipulative and go to great lengths to convince their victims they are in love and desperately in need of their financial assistance. Anyone who believes they have been defrauded can talk in confidence to the police or report it to Action Fraud.” George Kidd, Chief Executive of the Online Dating Association (ODA), said: “This heartless behaviour defrauds people but can also rob them of their confidence and dignity.

Internet fraud is a scourge that every sector has to fight. We want people to have fun and make friendships in safety. All ODA members work to keep scammers off sites, using technology and know-how. We commit to do still more with better information-sharing with the police, through mobile and other ways of verifying identities and with new advice and guid-

ance.” Frauds can be reported to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online at www. actionfraud.police.uk FALCON has been working with the Online Dating Association and its members to quickly identify profiles belonging to fraudsters and disable their accounts.

But DCI Miles says romance fraud isn’t only carried out on dating sites.

He adds: “Any stranger who approaches you on a chat site, via email or any other way could potentially be a fraudster. In a recent case, a woman was defrauded of £250,000 after a suspect relentlessly tried striking up a conversation on Skype. She eventually answered and the scam progressed from there.” The Met’s advice to anyone talking to a potential partner online is:

1) See through the sob stories: Con artists will tell you tales to pluck at your heartstrings, with a view to gaining your trust and sympathy. Sometimes they will ask for money to help them through a difficult situation. These are lies to get you to send them money.

2) Don’t be fooled by a photo: Anyone can send a picture which supports a story they are spinning. Scammers will quite often use the same story and send the same photo to multiple victims. You may be able to find evidence of the same scam posted on antifraud websites by other victims.

3) Keep your money in your bank account: Never send money abroad to a person you have never met or do not know well, no matter how strongly you feel about them.

No one who loves you will ask you to hand over your life savings and get into debt for them.

4) Question their questions: Suspects will pay you a lot of compliments and ask you a lot of questions about your life, yet tell you very little themselves beyond a few select tales. Never disclose your personal details, such as bank details - this leaves you vulnerable to fraud.

5) Don’t keep quiet: Sometimes scammers will ask you to keep your relationship secret but this is just a ruse to stop you talking to someone who will realise you are being scammed. If you are concerned that you are being scammed, stop communicating with the fraudsters and report it to police immediately.

Two men jailed for firearms offences Two men were jailed at the Old Bailey on Monday, 30 November for a combined 33 years after pleading guilty to firing a gun at two addresses in Brent.

Shaun Campbell, 23 of Lansdown Road, Barnet was sentenced to 13 years and six months imprisonment for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and an additional three years for the danger he had posed to public safety.

Gavin Macintosh, 24 of no fixed address was also sentenced to 13 years and six months imprisonment for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and an additional three years for the danger he had posed to public safety.

The conviction and sentencing follows and investigation by the Met’s Trident Area Crime Command.

On police were called at around 12:50hrs on 26 January to reports of a male with a shotgun leaving and then re-entering a property in Gloucester Close NW10.

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Shaun Campbell

Shortly before officers arrived at the scene, shots were fired at an address in Bruce Road. No one was injured.

Firearms officers searched a number of addresses in the area, and traced and stopped a Vauxhall Corsa believed to be

Gavin Macintosh

involved in the incident.

The three occupants of the car - Campbell, a 23-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman (the driver) - were arrested.

Campbell and the 23-year-old man - Lamar Bowen - were subsequently charged.

The driver was released with no further action.

Bowen was found not guilty following a trial.

Gasvin Macintosh was arrested on 10 March at a hotel in Cricklewood. He was charged that same day with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Detective Constable Paul Valverde of the Met’s Trident Area Crime Command said: “The sentences handed down are the result of combined hard work and tenacity not only from Trident officers but also the witnesses who bravely came forward and assisted the investigation.

“The sentences handed down have taken two very dangerous individuals to a place where they’re actions no longer pose a danger to the public.”

Lamar Bowen, 23 of Regina Road, Southall was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing a firearm whilst being a prohibited person. He appeared at the Old Bailey on 2 November where he was found not guilty following a trial that ran for eight days.

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Skimp my ride: rap gods take Ford Focus to gig

Rap royalty Public Enemy had to fall back on the generosity of a local photographer and his humble Ford Focus to get to a gig in Sheffield at the weekend.

The hard core rappers were signing autographs at a record shop in Broomhill ahead of their show with The Prodigy at the steel city’s Motorpoint Arena when a taxi they had booked to take them to the gig drove off unexpectedly.

“A taxi?” I hear you ask. Well, the group’s tour bus was too wide for Sheffield’s narrow streets. Credibility restored.

When the group’s management realised their cabbie had abandoned them, Kevin Wells, a 50-year-old concert photographer from Kilamarsh, who had popped into the store for an autograph on his way to another gig, offered his services as an impromptu chauffeur.

He said: “Public Enemy had a taxi booked for 6.30pm, but it drove off before the guys had finished signing autographs.

“People started panicking and looking for someone to drive, so I volunteered.”

Kevin put his knowledge of the city’s back roads into action and began the ‘most surreal

journey’ of his life. He drove the multimillionaires – who shot to fame in 1987 with album Yo! Bum Rush the Show – in his faithful Ford Focus.

Kevin said: “They were such nice guys, we had a right laugh.

“We were chatting away, but the phone was constantly going as their management were clearly worried.

“Then as we were coming through Attercliffe, Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen, came on the radio.

“Everyone was singing the words and rocking out in the back of my car, it was like a Wayne’s World moment.

“I was looking in the rear view mirror thinking, ‘is this actually happening?’”

He added: “We got to the arena about 15 minutes before they were due on stage.

“I drove up to security and said, ‘I’ve got the band in the back.’

“They looked at me as if I was having them on, but then I rolled down the windows and Chuck D showed them the security pass.

“Amazing, it just didn’t feel real.”

After a few hugs backstage, Kevin drove off to photograph Scouting for Girls at the O2 Academy and The Enemy at the Leadmill.

He posted a selfie of Public Enemy in his

Kevin Wells had Public Enemy in his Ford Focus and has a selfie to prove it

car the following day, which was liked and shared hundreds of times online.

Barry Everard, owner of Record Collector where the adventure began, said Public Enemy had contacted him the week before the show to arrange the signing. He said hundreds of fans braved the rain to turn up for the event.

Barry said: “Public Enemy were absolutely bril-

liant; such nice guys and they were great with the fans.

“Sometimes fame can ruin people, but it clearly hadn’t with them.”

He added: “They are arguably the biggest act we’ve ever had in the store. It really was an honour to have them and I’m glad they made the show on time.”

Ben may be hittin’, but is Halle smitten?

Affleck (inset) has allegedly been an admirer of Halle Berry for some time

The recent buzz about the budding romance between Ben Affleck and Halle Berry is hinting towards them being the new Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani.

According to Star Pulse, Ben Affleck and Halle Berry are supposedly following in the footsteps of ‘The Voice (US)’ coach Blake and former No Doubt singer Gwen to announce their new found romance to the world.

The report further says the timing of divorce of Affleck and Berry is “proof” of their affair.

It seems Affleck has been smitten by Halle from a long-time and now seems to be a good time for him to make some moves.

“The master plan is for Affleck to coax Berry into starring in one of his future flicks.

In that way, he can spend time winning over her heart,” the report says.

None of the above has been confirmed by any official sources. According to Radar Online, Garner was happily seen spending Thanksgiving with Affleck’s mother and appears to be sporting a baby bump!

The report said, “Jennifer Garner looked possibly pregnant as she made her way to church with ex Ben Affleck’s mother and the former couple’s daughter Seraphina.”

Affleck and Garner, affectionately known as ‘Bennifer’ in happier times, announced they were divorcing on June 30 this year, ten years and one day after they tide the knot. An alleged affair between Affleck and the family nanny is rumoured to have been the cause of the split.

Martinez and Berry announced their plan to divorce on October 27. The pair, who married in July 2013, are reported to have been arguing since January, when Martinez knocked an airport employee to the ground with a child’s car seat at Los Angeles International (LAX) airport resulting in a $5m law suit. Previously in 2012, Martinez badly beat Berry’s ex-husband, model Gabriel Aubry.

Meanwhile, Ben Affleck is busy shooting for “Live by Night.” His films, “The Accountant” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” have entered their post-production phase.

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Gospel

ARE YOU A POWER HOUSE ?

By Michael Adekoya

Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Jesus said, “You shall receive power.” My friend, do you know how the dictionary define “power”? It is defined as ‘a great and an exceptional ability to do something or to perform an action.’ In other words, when a person is referred to as “powerful”, the dictionary says that such a person has an ability to do something or influence others.

In physics, power is described as energy, a force, and a momentum that gets things moving. No matter how you describe it, you must have the power of the Holy Spirit – be a carrier of God’s presence - if you’re really passionate to impact your family, community, nation and the world!

Could lack of power possibly be the biggest problem in the Church today? My friend, is this your question too? Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples, including us, and sent us forth to live as ministers and witnesses. Speaking to Saul, who later became Paul, the Apostle, Jesus says, “Rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you (saved you) for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you” (Acts 26:16). I believe He is saying the same word to us today. We’re saved to carry the Good News to everywhere and He promised us of the power that we would need for living the Christian life and gets the job done.

But God wants to work in us, with us and through us!

It is so sad that today, we go out and try to do God’s work, try to fulfill the Great Commission and try to live the Christian life without connecting with the power that Jesus promised us. That calls for concern!My friend, I like to announce to you that the Church of Jesus Christ that was born over 2000 years ago was not born of silvertongued orators. It was not born through the

slick preaching of the Gospel such as we have today. It is easy to preach the Gospel today because we no longer have to prove anything. All we have to do to be successful now is to be a graduate of a university or seminary with degree in preaching, teaching or inspirational speaking. But preaching or teaching without God’s power is a fruitless and frustrated exercise!

Today, as a preacher, when you articulate your first, second or third point and a conclusion; interject it with a nice story and a little humour or joke; talk about the power of positive thinking and the power of mind over a matter; get the people worked up, then you are deemed to be powerful and successful. My friend, listen! I thank God for great preachers. We have awesome preachers today but the concern is that many people in the world are going to hell. There are many preachers on radio and television in every kind of outreach or ministries today, yet we cannot stop the influence of abortion, pornography, homosexuality, alcoholism, drugs, prostitution, occultism, idolatry, witchcraft, corruption, AIDS, terrorism, and other evils.

The Early Church was not born over 2000 years ago through great education, grammar, entertainment or motivational speaking, nor was it born through the manipulation of people. It was born in a demonstration of God’s power – the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). The Early Church was born in power that saw a total of 8000 souls giving

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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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(PART 1)

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

their lives to Jesus and added to the Church in just two open services; the kind of figure that most churches dream of today. In Acts 2:41, the Bible says, “Those who gladly received Peter’s Word, energized by the Holy Spirit, were baptized; and the same day, there were added unto them 3000 souls.” In Acts 4:4, the Bible says, “Many who heard the Word believed and the number of men was about 5000.” No TV adverts, no gimmicks but just through demonstration of pure power of God - the power of the Holy Spirit!

Today, we are living in a technological age; an age of computers and modems, televisions and radios, aeroplanes and satellites, mobile phones, iPods and iPads. All these things work effectively as they are driven by power that comes from their connections to source. My friend, how can we possibly think we can be effective in the purposes, works and assignments of God by using our natural human power rather than on the power of God, the power that Jesus promised us? Listen! No matter how religious we are, Pharaoh won’t let people go without first a demonstration of God’s power, our education or grammar not withstanding.

Jesus “summoned His twelve disciples and gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. And He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God” (Matt 10:1). He said to them: “Take nothing with you for the journey, neither gold nor

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

silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.” (Matt 10:9). My friend, if Jesus is giving this instruction today, He might have said: ‘take neither an ipod, PC with PowerPoint, or Ipad and gift aid forms, even a single credit card or debit card in their pocket! But go with the power that you have received from Me.’ Jesus was telling his disciples: “Do not put your confidence in human power, in your own talent and gift, or in your money, even if you have millions of it but put your trust on the power of God”. The Bible goes on to say “and they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:6). Peter and John have no money to give to the lame man but gave him what they have - the power of God - which healed the man (Acts 3:111). My friend, AIDS would not have had a chance if we are doing this today everywhere we go. We need enormous power to go to houses, streets, villages; not cities only for the salvation of lost and dying souls.

Petrol is needed to move a car; electricity is needed to turn the lights on and to spin the motor; fire is needed to cook the food and warm the house; a jet motor is needed to fly the aeroplanes; and even more than all of these, every one of us needs the Holy Spirit to live a Christian life and fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ as documented in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-18. My friend, whether you are a Preacher, politician, professional, professor, practitioner or a person, we need the power of God - power to decree a thing and it will be established, power to resist temptation, power to preach the Gospel, power to confront evil, power to change our city and nation, power to live Christian life and be light to this dark world, power to obey God, power to get genuine wealth, power to succeed, power to finish our divine assignments, power to cast out devils. We need God’s power to save and heal!

Remain blessed!

(Continued next week)

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 Forth-

nightly 12am Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners’ Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at 1 Churchill Close, Green Street, Green Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1QE meets Sunday 7.30am, 9.15am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm.

For details call: 01322 292097 Christ Apostolic Church, Surrey Docks District, Solution Centre, 47-47 High Street, Swancombe, Kent, DA10 0DA Tel: 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

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Africa Newsround

Zimbabwe

President Xi visit fuels rumours of Zim infrastructure investment China’s Xi Jinping arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, the first visit by a Chinese leader since 1996, amid expectations that he would sign deals to fund infrastructure, electricity generation and other projects.

Zimbabwe, which became a pariah in the West after President Robert Mugabe’s government was accused of rigging votes and human rights abuses, has increasingly turned to China for investment to help an economy desperate for new infrastructure like roads, power and water.

Zimbabwe and China’s Import and Export Bank is expected to loan Harare more than $1 billion to fund the 600 megawatt (MW) expansion of Hwange coal power station, officials said.

Zimbabwean Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said four agreements on electricity generation, including the expansion of Hwange would be signed, as well as deals on road construction and infrastructure development during Xi’s two-day visit.

China’s Sinohydro Corp won the $1.5

President Mugabe has increasingly looked to China as investment from the West has slowed

billion bid to add two generation plants at Hwange in western Zimbabwe in October last year, in the most ambitious move yet to tackle the country’s crippling electricity shortages.

“Financial closure has been reached and the agreement for Hwange 7 and 8 will be signed today,” Chinamasa told journalists

during a ceremony to welcome Xi at an airport in Harare.

Noah Gwariro, managing director of state-owned Zimbabwe Power Company, which owns Hwange, said engineering, procurement and construction of Hwange would cost $1.175 billion while interest, bank charges and Zimbabwe’s down pay-

ment for the project would cost $325 million.

China is Africa’s largest trading partner and the trade volume between them amounted to $220 billion in 2014, according to China state news agency Xinhua. Its investments in Africa amounted to $32.4 billion at the end of 2014, according to London-based BMI Research.

Africans broadly see China as a healthy counterbalance to Western influence though Western governments charge China of turning a blind eye to conflicts and rights abuses as they pursue trade and aid policies there.

Zimbabwe’s economy is struggling to emerge from a nine-year recession, between 1999-2008, which saw its gross domestic product shrink by 45 percent.

On August 25, Mugabe said his country’s economy was poised for a major take-off with China’s help.

Xi also plans to travel to South Africa, where he will meet President Jacob Zuma and later co-chair the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Johannesburg.

Uganda

Pope side-steps Uganda’s LGBT rights record Pope Francis disappointed LGBT advocates by failing to address anti-gay laws during his visit this weekend. The same was true for his visit to Kenya, though New Ways Ministry notes that Francis did talk generally about individual freedom and “working to shape a society which is ever more just, inclusive and respectful of human dignity.”

Uganda’s ethics minister had told the Associated Press, “I am praying that he doesn’t talk about [gay rights] because it will open a Pandora’s box.” While some activists had hoped Francis would “tell fellow believers that we are human beings like them,” church officials had downplayed the possibility: “John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu, did not believe that the Pope will address homosexuality because there is a clear teaching of the church on homosexuality.

“Because the aim of it is not to promote life but to act against it, those with that tendency are called to abstinence.”

Pope Francis greets well-wishers on the streets of Kampala

While in Uganda, Francis visited a shrine to a group of 19th-Century martyrs, Catholic and Anglican men who were brutally executed by a traditional king because, according to lore, they refused his sexual advances, though some scholars say it was because of their dedication to

defending and spreading their faith. Their martyrdom was cited by Theresa Okafor at the World Congress of Families as an explanation for Uganda’s harsh Anti-Homosexuality Act. Al Jazeera’s Priyanka Gupta interviewed LGBT advocate Frank Mugisha about the

Pope’s visit and the role of the Church in promoting homophobia.

The pope’s visit came shortly after the parliament passed a new law that gives the government vast new powers to shut down community organizations for a variety of reasons.

One clause would require charities to “not engage in any activity which is … contrary to the dignity of the people of Uganda”, which proponents fear could be used to clamp down on groups working to help LGBT people in Uganda.

It would also allow groups to be disbanded “where it is in the public interest to refuse to register the organisation, or … for any other reason that the Board may deem relevant”.

The East African Court of Justice ruled in favour of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS’ request to join as amicus a case being brought by the Human Rights Awareness & Promotion Forum against the Attorney General of Uganda seeking a ruling that the provisions of Uganda’s 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act violate the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

17

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Nigerian News

Ailing Economy: Aregbesola, Ajimobi Identify Agriculture As Panacea The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi have urged Nigerians to see agriculture as a better alternative to oil in the resuscitation of the country’s ailing economy.

The Governors stated this in their separate speeches during the seventh Annual Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun.

The duo noted that agriculture remains the largest employer of labour hence the need for individuals and government at all levels to encourage agriculture in a bid to revamp the dwindling economic fortune of Nigeria.

Aregbesola said since oil has been selling for less than $40 for the past months, it is quite predictable that the figures for November, when it is ready, would have dropped again.

The Governor comparing the present situation when Osun collected N55.8 million to 2013 when the average money distributed to states from the federation accounts was in excess of N800 billion, said Osun’s average allocation then was N3.6 billion.

According to him, “While our monthly wage bill is N3.6billion, the highest amount we have received this year alone was N2.1 billion. It went as low as N466 million in April while the figure for September was N55 million.

“Don’t think this is a problem for the states alone. The Federal Government under the last PDP administration had to borrow N476 billion from commercial banks to pay salaries of some of its workers (not all) for the last four months of that better forgotten tenure.

“We did not make this up. This statement came from the administration’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.The implication is that governments will be under a lot of strain to pay salaries, sustain themselves and embark on meaningful projects for the citizens.

“This also mean that employment in the public sector will be frozen. If this trend continues, it is a recipe for social upheaval and a mortal threat to the survival of the Nigerian state.Given that oil is volatile. Some unforeseen conflict in the Middle East might trigger price surge and change this scenario altogether.

“However, what we are sure of is that Iran will soon add to the oil glut once the sanctions on it are lifted and increasing research and innovations in alternative energy sources will contin18

ue to reduce demand for oil and push further down the price.

He noted that the current economic challenges is an opportunity for government to urgently diversify the economy and break the monopoly of oil, adding that it will also be an opportunity to explore other areas like agriculture, solid minerals, communication technology and services.

“If we respond to this challenge appropriately, the creative energy of our people, especially the youth, will be activated and unleashed. This will lead to increased productivity and wealth creation on a scale we have never witnessed before.

“While it may appear difficult, it is not undoable. The ancient counsel remains, that no matter how far one has gone on a wrong path, the right thing to do is to turn back, if one is to get to the destination. No one can get out of a pit by continuing to dig deeper. One must stop digging”. Aregbesola emphasised.

He maintained that the time has come for government at all levels to come up with value-adding agriculture to re-engineer the socio-political and economic structures of Nigeria.

Governor Ajimobi who was the Guest Speaker spoke on a topic titled “State Financing and Over-dependence on Oil: Issues and challenges” identified a number of factors responsible for the on-going financial crisis in the country.

He called for true federalism as being practiced in advanced countries of the world, saying it is abnormal in any true federalism for any tier to be financially incapacitated as being experienced in the country.

Ajimobi stated that out of the 36 states in the federal structure, not as many as five could survive without federal allocation, saying apart from Rivers, Lagos, Enugu, Delta, Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Bayelsa State, which have tried to balance their budgets since creation, all the other States have had to depend more on Federal Government for survival.

He said, “Ordinarily, states are supposed to make use of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for recurrent expenditure while statutory allocations are to take care of capital expenditure; but the reverse is pathetically the case currently.

“The current scenario whereby IGR and statutory allocation combined are not sufficiently for states to meet their financial obligations is indeed unfortunate. This has resorted to a situation whereby most states cannot generate the required funds needed to pay workers’ salaries.

“Government at the centre is currently assigned 52.68 percent of Federation Account revenues, including 7.5 percent

of the account originally earmarked for “Special” projects like the development of the Federal Capital Territory and the amelioration of national ecological emergencies.

“The state and the localities, on the other hand, respectively get 26.72 and 20.60 percent of Federation Account revenues.

Nonetheless, over-dependence on oil has made nonsense of this Allocation Formula and what is allocated to each tier except the Federal Government.

“The problem of this heavy dependence on the oil sector, started as far back as 1992 when global crude oil prices started fluctuating from $18.4 to $61 per barrel in 2006 and reached $115.05 per barrel by June

2014. Beyond these latent facts, bureaucratic and political corruption combined have crippled a number of states financially”. He lamented.

Ajimobi said the agricultural sector that has been neglected for long on what he described as “black gold” should be revamped to enhance food security, reduce importation of food items and engage able-bodied citizens who are presently either out rightly unemployed or underemployed.

He implored the students to imbibe the spirit of positive leadership qualities by joining the train of development as they explore technology positively to advance in the current and future world.

From right - Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, Host Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Guest Lecturer, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Chairman of the Occasion, former Vice Chancellor University of Uyo, Prof. Fola Lasisi during the Seventh Annual Public Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) acknowledging cheers from the workers at the ongoing construction of Osogbo High School, Osogbo, during his unscheduled tour to the Public High Schools in the State

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Nigerian News

‘Foreign Affairs Committee will be instrumental in National developing and influencing Nigerian foreign policy Assembly under my watch’ - Says Senator Monsurat Sunmonu Briefs Thursday 26th November, 2015

By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs began its work plan with a clear statement and a pledge to enrich Nigeria’s standing in international politics and diplomacy.

Speaking in a well attended inaugural meeting with the Foreign Affairs ministry, the chairman of the committee, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu said she came to this 8th National Assembly with the intention of contributing her quota to the change that Nigerians were yearning for, and happy that the President of the Senate has seen in her qualities that will mean she is up to the task as the chair of a very important committee.

Nigeria’s foreign policy has been characterised by a focus on Africa as a regional power and by attachment to several fundamental principles: African unity and independence; capability to exercise hegemonic influence in the region: peaceful settlement of disputes; non-alignment and non-intentional interference in the internal affairs of other nations; and regional economic cooperation and development.

Senator Sunmonu’s qualities transcend Nigeria. She, until 2011 has worked in United Kingdom with such major organisations as Natwest, a global leader in banking and later United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) working as a Senior Immigration Officer.

Her experience in this areas will indeed come handy, especially as her committee is

Senator Monsurat Sunmonu

one that delves on the protection of Nigerians around the world, international politics and policies Nigeria takes on the world stage.

According to Senator Sunmonu “under my leadership, the Foreign Affairs Committee will be instrumental in developing and influencing Nigerian foreign policy, and we shall liaise with the Executive and demonstrate our position on policies proposed”.

She further said “the committee will consider debate and report important treaties and legislation that affect Nigerians and Nigeria”.

The committee as constituted also covers diplomatic nominations, and will from time to time conduct its assignment through and over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and about 119 Nigerian Foreign Missions abroad as well as oversighting such organs as Technical Aide Corps (TAC), Foreign Service Academy, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Na-

tional Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the National Christian Pilgrims Commission.

While thanking the Senate President, Senator Sunmonu showered praises on Senator Bukola Saraki for the maturity to which he handled the turmoil that ensued at the inception of this senate. She continued “the Senate President has conducted himself in a very respectable and diligent manner. He has also demonstrated the kind of leadership qualities that are needed when leading a house that is made up of people who have different agendas”.

“Importantly, the President of the senate has not allowed favouritism or friendship to cloud his judgement in the distribution of committees. You will notice from the list of committee chairs that he has appointed people on the basis of experience and expertise”.

The former Oyo state House of Assembly Speaker concluded.

Media houses urged to show restraints

By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria

The senate on Thursday frowned at the manner media houses especially social media platforms cast aspersions on individuals.

Senator Dino Melaye, who is basking in the euphoria of winning at the appeal court

where his electoral victory was confirmed against a former Nigeria Union of Journalists President, Senator Smart Adeyemi frowned at online comments orchestrated to tarnish the image he has built over the years. According to him ‘ the operations of these few online media have been monetized and have turned to tools in the hands of sponsors’. In supporting this, Senator Biodun Christine Olujimi advised them to

show restraints and work based on the tenets of the profession and ethics. She said social media is a veritable tool and has helped in elections, dissemination of information but using it to castigate the senate is not fair.’Something needs to be done’.

The senate mandates the committees on ethics and privileges, Judiciary and ICT and Cyber crime to look into it and report back to the chambers in 4 weeks.

The motion on: The Urgent Need to ReAssess Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Objectives in Line with Emerging Economic Realities.

The Senate is worried that despite Nigeria’s vital roles in Africa and the world at large, some of our citizens who reside in some of these countries are treated with disdain.

Moving the motion, Senator Stella Oduah representing Anambra North noted that so many of our nationals are being killed or maimed for reasons that are despicable. She further expressed that the xenophobic attack by the South Africans against Nigerians who live and conduct legitimate businesses in their midst is still fresh in our minds.

Senator Oduah who regrets to note further the degrading and demeaning manner Nigerians living abroad are treated.

She said ‘many Nigerians living abroad face harsh economic conditions from their host countries and sometimes, their efforts to get relief from our foreign missions abroad don’t usually get the much needed attention’. In the light of Senator Oduah’s motion, the senate resolved to call on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and any other relevant Committee to investigate several alleged maltreatment and killings of Nigerians abroad as well as take into consideration the Doctrine of Diplomatic Reciprocity in its activities and report back to the Senate within (4) weeks.

Tuesday, 1st December 2015 Some stakeholders interested in this Supplementary Bill must have heaved a sigh of relief as soon as the news went round that the Senate had passed this Bill.

The Senate through Senator Danjuma Goje representing Gombe Central, received report of the Committee on Appropriation regarding the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Bill. The Bill for the sum of N574,532,726,857, after going through rigorous scrutiny got the nod of the Senators and was passed. With the passage of this Supplementary Budget by the Senate, the focus will now be shifted to the Executive to speedily implement the budget.

19

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Sakho adds to Hammers’ injury problems

West Ham United forward Diafra Sakho will be sidelined for at least two months with a thigh injury.

The Senegal international sustained the injury as he attempted to shoot during the second half of the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. The London side are awaiting the results of a scan to determine the full extent of the injury.

“It’s not good,” said manager Slaven Bilic. “It will be four to eight weeks. Maybe more.

“He has a bit of history with his thigh. It’s a muscle injury. Nothing long term, but we will be without him for a few games, definitely.”

The injury to Sakho, who has hit the net five times this season, is the latest blow to hit Bilic’s attacking players, after Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia were sidelined with ankle problems.

Andy Carroll, only recently back to fitness after six months out following ankle surgery, is set to lead the attack against Manchester United on Saturday.

Hayatou hails reforms as FIFAGate continues

Acting FIFA boss and CAF President Issa Hayatou on Thursday has heaped praise on the reform proposals presented to the FIFA Executive Committee during a meeting in Zurich.

The meeting took place as the massive corruption scandal which has been hitting the world football’s governing body for months widened with the arrest of two more senior officials, interim CONCACAF President Alfredo Hawit and CONMEBOL President Juan Angel Napout.

“These reforms are moving FIFA towards improved governance, greater transparency and more accountability,” Hayatou said at a press conference.

“They mark a milestone on our path towards restoring FIFA’s credibility as a modern, trusted and professional sports organization.

“This signals the beginning of a culture shift at FIFA. It is important to recognise that today’s recommendations build on the foundations established by the IGC in 2011 under Mark Pieth’s leadership, which included the creation of an independent chairman on the Audit and Compliance Committee and splitting the Ethics Committee into investigative and adjudicatory chambers.”

The injured Diafra Sakho

Jemal goal wins CAF Confederation Cup for Etoile Sahel Ammar Jemal scored in the first half to give hosts Etoile Sahel of Tunisia a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates of South Africa on Sunday to lift the CAF Confederation Cup. Etoile triumphed 2-1 on aggregate in the final of the second-tier African club competition following a 1-1 first-leg draw in Soweto last Saturday.

Jemal, 28, a centre-back who has played in Switzerland, Germany, France and Saudi Arabia, also scored in South Africa, both from set-pieces. His second-leg goal at Stade Olympique in Mediterranean resort Sousse was not pretty, but the most important of his nine-year senior career as it gave Etoile a ninth CAF title.

A short corner was followed by a cross that Pirates captain Happy Jele miscued and goalkeeper Felipe Ovono failed to grasp, leaving Jemal to bundle the ball over the line. It was a goal in keeping with a scrappy match, spoilt by a strong wind blowing down the pitch that favoured the hosts in the first half and the visitors after the break.

Jemal claimed five goals during the 16-match Confederation Cup campaign, making him the second highest scorer for the Red Devils after six-goal Bagh22

dad Bounedjah. The physicality of tall Algerian Bounedjah unsettled the South Africans until he was forced to retire injured midway through the first half with Brazilian Diogo Acosta coming off the bench.

Pirates’ best chances in a scrappy climax to the CAF club season fell to winger Thabo Rakhale, a star for the Buccaneers in earlier rounds. A Thamsanqa Gabuza pass set him up for a strike at goal after 18 minutes, but he pulled a weak shot well wide with only goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi to beat.

Rakhale found himself one-on-one with Mathlouthi again in the second half only to hesitate, believing he was offside, and the Tunisian cleared the ball. Pirates had a late chance to equalise, and force a penalty shootout, from a free-kick just outside the box, but veteran Mathlouthi acrobatically deflected a Menzi Masuku shot to safety.

A ninth title draws Etoile level with Zamalek of Egypt as the second most successful clubs in CAF competitions behind Al Ahly of Egypt, winners of 19.

Etoile have lifted the Confederation Cup, Super Cup and the now defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup and CAF Cup trophies twice and won the CAF Champions League once.

The celebrant Ammar Jemal

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Friday, 4th December - Thursday, 10 December 2015

Egypt peg back Nigeria to stay alive Egypt fought back from two goals down to hold Nigeria to a 2-2 draw in an U23 AFCON Group B match in Mbour on Wednesday and stay alive in the tournament.

Like it was against Mali on Sunday, Nigeria raced into a good lead in the first half, before they again collapsed after the interval.

Algeria, who beat Mali 2-0 in the earlier game of the day, are now top of the standings with four points and a better goals difference than Nigeria.

Egypt are third with two points, while Mali are pointless and have already been eliminated from the competition, which doubles as a qualifier for next year’s Rio Olympics.

On Saturday, Nigeria will battle Algeria in Dakar, while Egypt take on Mali to determine the semi-finalists.

Substitute Karim plotted Egypt remarkable fight back after halftime as within minutes of the restart Egypt pulled a goal back through Ramdan Sobi’s header from inside the six-yard box.

They then drew level in the 52nd minute when Karim dashed down the right flank before he delivered a low cross which was sliced by Nigeria defender Chizoba Amaefule into his own net.

Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel pulled off at least three big saves to ensure his team shared the points on the night.

If Egypt shone in the second half, the first half belonged to Nigeria.

Two well-taken penalties by Oghenekaro Etebo got Dream Team VI going.

Warri Wolves flying winger Stanley Dimgba was instrumental in the first spot kick after the Cameroonian referee adjudged that skipper Rami Rabia a cross by the flying winger.

Action from the Egypt vs Nigeria match

Etebo put away the penalty in the 20th minute even after goalkeeper Awad got a hand to the effort.

Etebo doubled Nigeria’s advantage after half an hour when another Egyptian defender handled the ball inside his box as Usman Mohammed went for goal.

Nigeria bossed the possession and the defence which looked shaky and not assured against Mali on Sunday held out until the second half after coach Samson Siasia dropped Kano Pillars defender Zaharadeen Bello for Amaefule.

Nigeria lineup: Emmanuel Daniel – Ndifreke Effiong, Sincere Seth, Segun Oduduwa, Chizoba Amaefule – Azubuike Okechukwu (skipper), Usman Mohammed, Oghenekaro Etebo, Stanley Dimgba – Taiwo Awoniyi, Junior Ajayi Egypt lineup : Mossad Awad, Ragab Nabil, Mahmoud Hamdi, Mohamed Hamdi, Mohamed Hani, Mohamed Fathi, Rami Rabia, Karim Walid, Mahmoud Kahraba, Ramdan Sobhi, Hussein Ragab

U23 Africa Cup of Nations

...Continued from back page

After the break, South Africa came out all guns blazing and drew level after only two minutes through Masuku, who slotted the ball past Toaster Nsabata following a scramble inside the penalty box.

Owen da Gama’s men grabbed the lead five minutes later through Motupa after Kwanda Mngonyama directed a Keagan Dolly corner-kick into the danger area for the Pirates man to nod in from close range.

A shell-shocked Zambia defence conceded a third goal in seven minutes when Motupa latched onto a pass from Masuku.

Chipolopolo, though, were not ready to throw in the towel and reduced the defi-

cit in the 73rd minute - Billy Mutale firing home from a corner-kick to reinvigorate the Zambians, who suddenly threw everything forward in search of an equaliser but eventually came up short and will need a minor miracle to progress to the knockout stages.

South Africa next face Tunisia on Friday with a win against the North Africans likely to secure their place in the final four, while Zambia face the unappealing prospect of taking on the Senegalese on their home turf with no prospect of going any further in the competition after two defeats.

In the other Group A game, favourites

Senegal beat Tunisia 2 – 0 with goals from Ibrahima Diedhiou and Mouhamadou Diallo.

TEAMS: South Africa: February; Mobara (Macheke 62’), Mngonyama, Coetzee, Moerane, Motupa, Dolly, Masuku, Mekoa Mahlambi (Norodien 84’), Zuma (P.Ntshangase 46’) Zambia: Nsabata; Chepeshi, Mkandawire, Kampamba (Samu 48’), Sautu (Chirwa 87’), Musonda, Sakala, Kayawe (Phiri 60’), Katema, Luchanga, Mutale

Algeria send Mali packing in Senegal

Algeria U-23 enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Mali in M’Bour on Wednesday, in their second Group B outing of the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

Defeated 3-2 by Nigeria in their campaign opener, the young Eagles started on the front foot.

And while they came close to opening the scoring on a few occasions in the first half, they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

Well organized at the back and trying to sting the Malians on the counter-attack, Algeria managed to keep their opponents at bay before breaking the deadlock through USM Alger attacking midfielder Zinedine Ferhat on 73 minutes.

The North Africans sealed the win ten minutes later, with CR Belouizdad midfielder Zakaria Draoui forcing an own goal from Malian defender Youssouf Traoré.

The Algerians are now top of Group B on 4 points, one point ahead of Nigeria and three ahead of Egypt who will battle at the same venue at 20h00 CAT. Pointless after two games, Mali will be looking to end their campaign on a good note when they face the Egyptians in their final group encounter, before packing their bags.

As for Algeria, they will try to extend their unbeaten run against the Nigerians and secure a semifinal berth.

No bonuses for Pirates says Mbalula

Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula has denied claims suggesting that the Orlando Pirates players will receive R30 000 apiece from his department for their run to the CAF Confederations Cup final.

Mbalula’s spokesperson Mickey Modisane said on Wednesday that the Buccaneers would be rewarded for their success on the continent, but Mbalula has since refuted those claims.

Mbalula tweeted: “CORRECTION: no player of any club received a bonus from my office for Confed finals.

“The team is question received an Ministerial Excellence Recognition Award from the Sport Awards before the finals. That wasn’t a bonus.

“Mickey Modisane was not mandated to go to the [OR Tambo] airport on my behalf.”

Pirates arrived back from Tunisia on Wednesday morning following their 1-0 defeat to Etoile du Sahel in Sousse on Sunday.

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Friday, 4 December - Thursday, 10 December 2015 ISSUE 608

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Egypt peg back Nigeria to stay alive SEE PAGE 23

U23 Africa Cup of Nations:

SA PIRATE RAID SINKS ZAMBIANS

Gift Motupa’s second-half brace helped secure a come-from-behind win for South Africa’s U23s

By Alan Oakley

South Africa ( 0 ) 3 (Masuku 47’ Motupa 52’ 54’)

Zambia ( 1 ) (Luchanga 35’ Mutale 73’)

2

Orlando Pirates duo Gift Motupa and Menzi Masuku inspired South Africa to a 3-2 win over Zambia in the 2015 Un-

der 23 Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar, Senegal.

The win puts the South African in a reasonable position to progress following a disappointing 3 – 1 defeat against the tournament hosts in the same stadium on Saturday.

Owen da Gama made six changes to the South African starting eleven, including Motupa and Masuku, who arrived from Tunisia late on Monday. The pair’s inclu-

sion would prove decisive in the game’s outcome in a seven-minute post half-time blitz that turned the game on its head.

Zambia survived an early South African surge and after Benedict Chepeshi forced Jody February into a superb save, Chipolopolo grabbed the lead through Conlyde Luchanga on 35 minutes.

Criminal defending by South Africa left the Zambian striker unmarked inside the area and the Lusaka Dynamos forward pounced with a brilliant volley to give February no chance.

Continued on page 23

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