African Voice Newspaper issue 592

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015 ISSUE 592

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 Businesses and young people back government work experience drive

SEE PAGE 8

£1.00

1 in 3 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are over 70 SEE PAGE 6

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LANDLORDS TOLD: BOOT OUT ILLEGAL MIGRANTS Evict (even without a court order) or face jail

By Alan Oakley The Government has announced it plans to introduce new laws that could allow landlords to evict illegal immigrants without a court order.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of news that landlords, who already face the threat of hefty fines if they rent to illegals, could also be hit with up to five years in prison if they are found not to have carried out adequate immigration status checks.

The Government also plans to create a ‘rogue landlord blacklist’ of homeowners who have fallen foul of the law, making it easier for local authorities to target persistent offenders.

The Government intends to create this now criminal offence as part of the Immigration Bill, which is currently before parliament. It has published a consultation setting out detailed new measures to crack down on “rogue” landlords, which would also include new fit and proper person tests for residential property landlords.

Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, has warned migrants that the new bill will simplify the process of evicting illegal...

Continued on page 4

From right: His Excellency, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR and his wife, His Royal Majesty Oba Adedapo Tejuosho CON Osile of Oke Ona Egbaland and his Olori and His Excellency, Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Olukunle Akindele Bamgbose and his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Adeyinka Abimbola Bamgbose,

Farewell! Most Outstanding High Commissioner, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida See pages 10, 18 & 19 for story and pictures

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Have You News Got News Youth Day 2015 dedicated to For Us fight against global poverty Newsdesk: 020 3737 3077

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

“We can be proud that the international community rallied to defeat Ebola.”

Ambassador Peter Wilson of the UK Mission to the UN at the UN Security Council briefing on Ebola particularly appreciated the way that Nigeria responded to the challenge of Ebola within your own borders but also for the leadership that you showed in providing help to so many others.

He stated further, ‘I welcome the briefings from Director-General Chan, thank you for beaming in from Hong Kong, Special Envoy Nabarro, Mr Antonio and Dr Fallah who spoke so movingly about determination of communities to survive.’

The African Union has made a significant contribution to the fight against Ebola. All 835 African health workers deployed by the African Union, including the 190 Nigerians who volunteered as part of this effort, are testimony to the region’s commitment to defeating Ebola.

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 London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

Tel: 020 3737 3077

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

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International Development Secretary Justine Greening is calling for the voices of young people to be heard in efforts to tackle global poverty, as the world celebrates International Youth Day 2015.

United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year to recognise efforts of the world’s youth in making positive contributions to their communities and global society.

This year is an important year for young people to engage in the future of sustainable development as the UN General Assembly will meet in September to sign up to seventeen new global goals that aim to end extreme poverty. Young people are an essential part of the worldwide effort to lift people out of poverty for good.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: Poverty, conflict and natural disasters mean that millions of girls and boys around the world don’t have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Many miss out on the chance to go to school, and learn skills they need for jobs – things many of us take for granted. For girls, it can mean no choice on who and when to get married and having children

whilst also a child themselves.

The UK is working hard to make life better for these children, getting them into education, creating jobs, and tackling female genital mutilation and child marriage. My goal is for young people here and in developing countries to be at the heart of our fight against global poverty.

When young people have the opportunity to make their voice heard they can be the most powerful force for change. I hope to see even more of them speak up on behalf of those young people without a voice, and I want to work with them to shape a better future.

The Department for International Development is working to protect and empower young people across the developing world, including: • supporting 11 million children into primary and lower secondary school, and training more than 190,000 teachers; • helping to strengthen laws and increase access to health and education to tackle early marriage and female genital mutilation; • working with the #YouthForChange Youth Panel to make sure young voices are heard in high level dis-

International Development Secretary Justine Greening

cussions, including at the Girl Summit 2014; and • supporting 18-25 year old volunteers to fight poverty overseas through the International Citizenship Service (ICS) programme – so far over 15,000 young people have participated in the scheme and many ICS returned volunteers are continuing to be positive agents of change.

The theme of International Youth Day, 12 August 2015, is “Youth Civic Engagement”.

Better mental health for the young and how to get funding It is of course traumatic and unsettling to experience mental ill health at any age – for both the person suffering and the friends and family closest to them. However, a child or young person in the grip of psychological distress can feel particularly helpless and isolated. Timely and effective care, treatment and support are as vital for this age group as any other.

That’s why I was delighted, even before becoming a health minister in the new Parliament, to see Chancellor George Osborne announce the government’s intention to spend £1.25 billion on improving children’s mental health services over the next 5 years.

It’s widely known that mental illness, if not treated or mitigated in early years, can lead to intractable problems in later life.

The emotional, health and economic implications of a life limited or cut short by unchecked psychological impediments are profound – for individuals, families and society as a whole.

This, I assure you, is not a case of central government ‘throwing money at the problem’. Indeed, when it comes to the pursuit of better mental health service provision for children and young people, these funding announcements are broadly welcomed by the health and care sector.

However, you would be right to expect

funding to only be awarded with the promise of a credible and sustainable plan for its use. That’s why, in tandem with partner organisations across the health and care sector, we are supporting clinical commissioning groups to work closely with local partners in the development of local transformation plans. These plans will overhaul mental health services for children and young people in their areas - £75 million of the £1.25 billion has been earmarked for this purpose.

Meanwhile, a further £68 million will contribute, in part, to the expansion of the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme. This will help improve access to evidence-based psychological therapies and collaboration with children, young people and families in every aspect of care and service design. This will be achieved through better participation, regular feedback and outcome monitoring. We are expanding this programme to increase access and coverage across England from 68% to 100% by 2018.

New areas of clinical practice will be added, and additional clinical staff will be trained in the most effective evidence based treatment for self-harm, depression and anxiety.

Eating disorder services will be receiving a separate £30 million worth of extra funding as the result of a very strong evidence base. This will help to improve community services and meet the aspiration of 95% of children and young people with eating

disorders being seen within four weeks, or one week for urgent cases by 2020. We’re throwing good money after good results!

This funding represents the first stage of targeted spending on children and young people’s mental health services. To further underline the point, NHS England has published how these particular tranches of funding will be spent. You can read the full detail of the transformation plans and the access and waiting time eating disorder guidance. Both documents demonstrate rigorous thought and a firm commitment to delivering better services.

I should add the £68 million I have mentioned will also fund improvements in early intervention in psychosis training, inpatient services, workforce capability, innovation and perinatal mental health care – on which point… …it was my privilege to spend time recently with patients and medical colleagues at the Margaret Oates Mother and Baby Unit at the City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health. When we talk about early intervention this is an example of what we mean.

Mental ill health if untreated before, during and after pregnancy can have long lasting effects on the mother, her children and the wider family. All this work builds on the excellent foundations laid by Future in mind – the report of the DH and NHS England led Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce.

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

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News Evict (even without a court order) or face jail Continued from front page

...immigrants from rental properties. Upon receipt of a Home Office notification that a tenant does not have any rights to rent property in the UK, landlords will be expected to evict them immediately. In some cases, landlords will be permitted to do this without needing a court order in place.

Clark said: “Cracking down on rogue landlords profiting from illegal immigration is a top priority. They are exploiting the UK immigration system and vulnerable people for the purpose of making money. New laws mean landlords are obligated to check whether potential tenants are in the UK legally.

“In future, landlords will be required to ensure that the people they rent their properties to are legally entitled to be in the country,” he said, adding: “We will also require them to meet their basic responsibilities as landlords, cracking down on those who rent out dangerous, dirty and overcrowded properties.”

To check the UK immigration status of a tenant, landlords will have access to a ‘right to rent’ scheme, which is currently being trialled in the West Midlands.

The scheme allows landlords to check a person’s right to remain in Britain by looking at their biometric residence permit or passport.

Since August 2014, private landlords in five councils in the West Midlands have been required to conduct these ‘right to rent’ checks on the immigration status of prospective new tenants. The new legislation would formalise this pilot and extend the requirement to private landlords throughout England.

Landlords that let properties legally and later receive a notice that their tenants’ immigration status has changed, rendering them no longer legally resident in the UK, will be expected to take steps to immediately evict. Landlords would be able to take this action without first obtaining a court order in some cases.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Greg Clark wants it to be easier for landlords to put families without leave to remain in the UK out on the street

However, the consultation does not state what these circumstances would be.

The new criminal offence will be targeted at landlords and letting agents that repeatedly fail to conduct adequate right to rent checks or that repeatedly fail to evict tenants without leave to remain in the UK. Offenders could also face sanctions under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Other potential measures set out in the consultation include the introduction of a new fit and proper person test for landlords of properties that have to be licensed; and measures to allow landlords to recover abandoned properties more easily without the need to go to court.

To help local authorities, the government has proposed to extend Rent Repayment Orders so that they can claim back rent payments from landlords who fail to maintain properties used by those on Housing Benefit to a good standard; 4

giving them the ability to share Tenancy Deposit Protection data; and giving them the power to issue penalty notices for certain civil offences and the ability to retain any fines for housing uses. The Government says that this will mean better quality rental property for tenants.

Greg Clark’s announcement comes as foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, and Home Secretary Theresa May make preparations to alternate the chairing of ‘Cobra’ committee meetings. Cobra is the name given to the Government’s emergency committee currently dealing with the ongoing migrant crisis in Calais.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, said: “The Government will be leaving no stone unturned, while we respond to the ‘swarm of people’ trying to reach Britain from Calais.”

Britain erected a new fence at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel on the French side this week.

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Health News

1 in 3 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are over 70 Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE and actress, Dona Croll are supporting Public Health England’s ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ breast cancer campaign targeting women aged 70 and over.

The campaign aims to drive awareness of the risk of breast cancer amongst this age group and to increase their knowledge of lesser-known breast cancer symptoms which could include: • Changes to the skin of your breast • Changes in the shape or size of your breast or nipple • Nipple discharge • Pain in your breast • Any unusual or persistent changes to your breasts

Yvonne aged 77 from London, breast cancer survivor and Breast Cancer Care Supporter: Last year Yvonne noticed changes to the skin of her breast and went straight to her doctor. Yvonne had been diagnosed with breast cancer twice before but didn’t know that the risk of getting

the disease increases as you get older.

Because of this she strongly believes that no matter how old you are, if you notice any changes to your breasts, you should see your doctor straight away.

She says “Women should go to their doctor without being scared. A lot of black people are scared of cancer. But I think, if you notice something unusual it’s best to get it checked out, rather than hoping that you’ll wake up one day and it will just go away. When you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer before, like me, you don’t leave anything to chance.”

Yvonne’s doctor referred her straight away for a mammogram. The results were inconclusive so further tests were scheduled. During this time Yvonne noticed changes to her nipple and she made sure she kept her doctor updated.

Further tests revealed cells in her milk ducts that the medical team thought could become cancerous if left untreated.

Yvonne underwent breast surgery to remove the milk ducts and she was successfully treated. She says, “I had some really good doctors helping me; I

Yvonne

could tell or ask them anything. Also my family were really there for me. They helped me get through this.”

Yvonne said that a lot of women her age think that even if they are diagnosed with breast cancer over the age of 70 they can’t be treated because they are too old. But she confidently believes that she is alive today because she went to her doctor early. “Look at me I’m over 70. I made sure I went to the doctor early and that’s why I’m here today.”

Arikoge Ogedegbe, Consultant and Lead Surgeon at King George Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge, says: “I regularly treat and perform surgery on women over the age of 70 (my oldest patient was 99 years) and always tell women that breast cancer is more treatable if found early. If breast cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage in women aged 70 and over, 93% will live for at least another five years. This figure drops to just 13% for those diagnosed at 6

the most advanced stage.

The physical impact of breast surgery if the cancer is detected early is minimal.

Delayed diagnosis and therefore treatment reduces longevity and has an adverse effect on both immediate and extended families. As a surgeon, I’m delighted to be supporting the Be Clear on Cancer campaign because the earlier we can diagnose cancer, the more treatment options we can offer our patients.”

If you or a loved one such as your mother, a relative or close friend have any concerns about changes to your or their breasts then tell your doctor straight away or encourage them to see their doctor. Finding breast cancer early makes it more treatable and could save your life. For more information on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, visit nhs.uk/breastcancer70.

Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

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News

Tata Tafida! We’ll miss you

By Peter Olorunnisomo

Monday, 10thAugust, 2015 was not going to ring with the ubiquitous buzz of the first day of the week.

The Nigeria High Commission on Northumberland Avenue was preparing to play host to gentlemen of the press on a parley called by the High Commissioner, Dr. (Senator) Dalhatu Tafida, OFR, CFR. The quiet climate of change in Nigeria was already unsettling the summer buzz that hung outside the Mission House.

The High Commissioner had only recently been at a fun banqueting assembly, well attended by fellow citizens of Nigeria. In the past weeks, he had made statements into the public earpiece giving his opinions on a wide range of issues, including his expectations about the relationship between Great Britain and Nigeria, which he felt could certainly use a booster shot of trust and greater cooperation.

Everyone was soon seated and Dr. Tafida soon began relating accounts of his tenure. He reflected on his arrival at the Mission House nearly eight years back and how he had presented his papers for an agreement. With a solemnity that did not take away his usual self from the opportunity to make records good and straight, he recounted the condition of the Mission he inherited. There was need for funds to renovate the building. Staff morale had to be boosted. Public relations had to be improved and services had to be refined to make its large clientele of Nigerians happier and proud.

Given his experience in the public service of Nigeria as a civil servant, medical practitioner and politician, he knew where to start. With his friends and colleagues in Nigeria’s Upper House, he was able to make a strong case for a budgetary injection to transform not only the working environment of the Mission, to all intents and purposes, but also a befitting office, which would soon begin to host business forums, diplomatic gatherings, town hall meetings and other major events at its banking hall.

Dr. Tafida spoke of his policy of inclusion and engagement with the Nigerian populace in the UK, which brought about greater participation and involvement in fulfilment of the Mission’s core duties as a ‘home away from home’ to Nigerians. The issue of poor or unsavoury conduct on the part of one or two staff was soon dispensed with, and consular issues were quickly addressed to make that sector more responsive to the public’s expectations.

In an intervention occasioned by

From left: Abiodun Teriba, Mike Abiola, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK, Golda John – Abiola, Patience Urhiofe, and Peter Olorunnisomo. Photo credit: Ade Omoloja.

His Excellency’s modesty, the head of the political section, Dr. Cyril Gwam, stated the elevated ranking of Nigeria in the pivotal committee of eight in the Commonwealth (something akin to the five permanent seats of the UN) was achieved during his tenure and cited this as a major accomplishment.

In response to a question fielded by the Nigerian Guardian, the High Commissioner stated that he enjoyed the trust and confidence of some four Nigerian presidents, and as a consequence was able to achieve a longer tenure and introduce reforms that served Nigeria’s foremost Mission well. He pointed out that, while he did not necessarily enjoy a close relationship with two of the former leaders, he took advantage of the fact that his reputation and integrity had preceded him.

The bureau chief of Thisday Newspapers

then asked Dr. Tafida if he had solved all the problems at the Mission, and if not what was outstanding. With his usual affable candour, His Excellency’s prompt response was finance. He pointed out the need for adequate funding and how a lot of goodwill, support and co-operation from staff and the use of political “pressure buttons” had always helped to overcome difficulties at crucial times.

But it was not all to be about Q and A’s.

Next on the agenda came the presentation of keepsakes, namely a plaque and pictorial memento in recognition of the High Commissioner’s meritorious service and achievements. Though Mr. Ogar (Head of Information, Culture and Sports) had earlier explained that the occasion was facilitated to meet press inquisitions before the eventual departure of His Excellency, the presentations changed the mood of the gathering, which was already

speaking volumes about how sorely the recalled Ambassador would be missed.

The African Voice family was well represented as they presented a plaque displaying the newspaper’s corporate image to His Excellency. Led by publisher Mike Abiola, arts editor and actress of no mean repute, Golda John, made the presentation with Abiodun Teriba, Patience Urhiofe, and Peter Olorunnisomo in close attendance. The Mission’s indefatigable librarian, Mr. Anthony Adeloye, also took to centre stage with his presentation acknowledging the working relationship he enjoyed during the Ambassador’s tenure and his valued contributions.

When time enviously broke up the parley, all those present took deliberate steps of departure. Their hearts must have been saying ‘tata Tafida’, though none were particularly keen to say it.

From L- R: Helen Grant (MP for Maidstone & The Weald) Kate Osamor (MP for Edmonton) Chi Onwurah, (MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central) and Chuka Umunna (MP for Streatham) with Dr. Dalhatu Tafida Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK. Reproduced with the kind permission of Nigeria High Commission Library, London

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Businesses and young people back government work experience drive More than 30 leading businesses and 12,000 young people will be at the forefront of boosting work experience for young people in the UK, under a new government campaign launched.

Two thirds of employers say that work experience is a crucial factor when hiring staff – more than those who prioritise academic qualifications – according to UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) research.

In a first of its kind, the government is launching the ‘WE can’ campaign, in which 84 Youth Ambassadors from Youth Employment UK (YEUK), will give advice on how others can set up their own work experience placements and make the most of their time in a business setting.

The government has also teamed up with industry body Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) as part of the new campaign to highlight the benefits of work experience.

Employment Minister Priti Patel said:

Young people tell me they can’t get a job without work experience, but they can’t get work experience without a job.

That is why we are launching the ‘WE can’ campaign to give young people practical advice about making the most of their summer holidays – and beyond – to gain valuable business skills.

With 14 million jobs likely to open up in the UK in the next decade, this one nation government wants young people to be at the forefront of the opportunities to get the best start in life.

The new ‘WE can’ campaign aims support young people make the most of those, by incorporating work experience into their career plans.

It is being launched ahead of GCSE and A-Level results and will be supported by up to 12,000 young people who are part of the Youth Employment UK network – led by their 84 Youth Ambassadors from across the country.

The campaign will encourage them to take ‘workies’ – the work version of a selfie – to demonstrate to their friends at

Employment Minister Priti Patel

school, college and university how the new skills they have picked up during

work experience have helped them in their career.

Three million more UK homes and businesses get superfast broadband New figures show that the rollout of the government-funded superfast broadband has now reached more than three million homes and businesses.

The rollout is delivering superfast access - internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps - to those properties not covered by existing commercial networks and is on track to take superfast access to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017. More than four out of five UK homes and businesses already have access to superfast speeds, and the rollout is currently reaching an additional 40,000 homes and businesses every week.

This comes following recent news that BT will make up to £129m available to extend the Government led rollout of superfast broadband across the UK. Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: Reaching three million properties is a huge achievement. Our rollout of superfast broadband is transforming lives up and down the country as every day thousands more homes and businesses are gaining access to superfast speeds.

It’s fantastic to see that the rollout of superfast broadband is now delivering for customers and for the taxpayer. The levels of people taking up superfast broadband in areas where we invested public money are beyond our expectations, and BT is now reimbursing the public purse to deliver further coverage 8

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale

across the UK. This now means that BT will be providing up to £129m cashback for some of the most hard to reach areas.

The additional funding will be made available to local authorities to reinvest the money in providing further superfast broadband coverage to even more homes and businesses, and much earlier than originally planned. The money is being made available as a result of a clause in the contracts BT agreed with government and local authorities that allows the funding BT has received to be returned or reinvested into further coverage if take-up is better than the 20 per cent expected in BT’s original business case. The higher take up rate to date has resulted in BT making a new business case assumption of reaching 30 per cent take-up in these areas.

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

Arts Culture

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

By Edward Mirza

MEMPHIS Now – Oct 18th

The producers of hit Broadway musical MEMPHIS are delighted to officially announce that multi award-winning recording artist Beverley Knight will star as club singer ‘Felicia Farrell’ when the show comes to London’s West End this autumn. MEMPHIS, winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical has Grammy® Award-winning original score

by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan and book by Joe DiPietro.

Inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, MEMPHIS follows the fame and forbidden love of a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break.

“David Bryan evokes the powerhouse funk of James Brown, the hot guitar riffs of Chuck Berry, the smooth harmonies of the Temptations and the silken, bouncy pop of the great girl groups of the period” Charles Isleworth, New York Times.

Directed by Christopher Ashley and with Choreography by Sergio Trujillo, MEMPHIS has Scenic Design by David Gallo, Costume Design by Paul Tazewell, and Lighting Design by Howell Binkley.

Shaftsbury Avenue Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8DP

THRILLER LIVE Now - September 25th 2015

Thriller - Live, the spectacular concert show that celebrates the music of the world’s greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael and the Jackson 5, is celebrating its 2,000th West End performance on Thursday October 24.

Smashing all previous records at the Lyric Theatre, where it recently celebrated becoming the longest-running production in the theatre’s 125-year history, Thriller - Live first moonwalked into the West End in January 2009 after three acclaimed UK tours. It has just extended its West End booking period to Sunday 28 September, 2014 Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7ES

theatre on the touring circuit. Spun together with a blend of Indian music and movement, this brand new production from one of the UK’s leading cross-cultural theatre companies sees Shakespeare’s tragedy reimagined in a contemporary context, as a brew of treachery and ambition sets an Asian family on a road to destruction. The production sees the engineers of Macbeth’s downfall depicted as three Hijras. A strand of Indian society little-known in the west, Hijras are a centuries-old “third gender” community (including transsexuals, transgender people, eunuchs and cross-dressers).

Tara Arts Artistic Director Jatinder Verma, who will direct Macbeth said “Spirits in Indian traditions combine vivacity with viciousness. By casting the Witches in Macbeth as provocative Bollywood queens, I aim to explore the dangerously vain ambition driving Macbeth.”

For information on Black Theatre Live: www.blacktheatrelive.co.uk | For information on Tara Arts: www.tara-arts.com .

THE ETIENNE SISTERS

BY CHÉ WALKER September 10 - Oct 3

‘I can’t believe my own sister would come with this thievery and anarchy to my door...’

Tree and Ree Etienne are laying their mother to rest when an unwelcome arrival at the graveside intrudes on their grief. It’s Bo, their troublesome estranged half-sister.

To comfort her sisters Bo moves in for a while and things begin to look up. But can a leopard ever change her spots? Cracks appear as childhood memories, deep resentments and long put away dreams come to the fore. Tensions build before erupting in a confrontation during which harsh truths are said that cannot be unsaid. Will the sisters destroy all that is left of their family and each other?

This thought-provoking and honest is new play is written by Chè Walker with songs by Anouskha Lucas (Klook’s Last Stand). Set to a contemporary soulful jazz soundtrack, The Etienne Sisters explores what it means to be part of a family today.

By Chè Walker, with songs by Anoushka Lucas Additional songs by Sheila Atim Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN

MACBETH, TARA ARTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH QUEEN’S HALL ARTS & EAST END BOYS, WEST BLACK THEATRE LIVE END GIRLS Now- October 31st July 28th –August 15th Macbeth is the first production from Black Theatre Live, a pioneering consortium of 8 regional theatres committed to increasing the amount of Black and Ethnic Minority

East meets West across the education divide when four London teenagers compete for a prestigious scholarship. As they venture across the capital into unfamiliar territories,

From: ‘Thriller Live’, at The Shaftesbury Avenue Theatre

friendships are tested, aspirations are challenged and each is forced to decide what matters most.

Will the best candidate win or will their postcodes keep them in their place?

This vibrant, timely and touching new work, by award-winning playwright Ade Solanke, takes the pulse on coming-ofage in an increasingly divided city., Ade Solanke’s previous play, Pandora’s Box, premiered at Arcola in 2012 and returned as part of a national tour in 2014. It was nominated for Best New Play in the OffWestEnd Theatre Awards and for the 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature.

Directed by Ade Solanke Producer: Hannah Tookey Set and Costume Designer: Anna Lewis Lighting Designer: Peter Small Sound Designer: Tim Shaw Assistant Director: Maa-Yarkor Addo Stage Manager: Drew MacNeil Casting Director: Caley Powell Cast: Jennie Eggleton, Alhaji Fofana, Ismail Kamara and Montana Mascoll (for date, times, tickets - see pagge 10)

NINE LIVES BY ZODWA NYONI NATIONAL TOUR Now - Jan 2016 Presented by Leeds Studio in association with West Yorkshire Playhouse Performed by Lladel Bryant Directed by Alex Chisholm 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.

25 September 2015 Taliesin, Swansea 26 September 2015 Wakefield Lit Festival, Wakefield 28-29 September 2015 Oxford Playhouse, Oxford 12 October 2015 The Bikeshed Exeter, Exeter 17 October 2015 Trinity Bristol, Bristol 23 October 2015 The Cube, Malvern 06 November 2015 Upstairs at Western, Leicester 12 November 2015 Cast, Doncaster 16 November 2015 Waterside Arts Centre, Trafford 19 November 2015 Arc Stockton, Stockton on Tees 10 December 2015 Brighton, Brighton January 2016 Arcola, London 9

Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

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Nigerian News

Farewell! Most Outstanding High Commissioner, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida

By Mike Abiola

Nigeria High Commission and the community in the United Kingdom held a befitting send-off party on Saturday, 8 August 2015 in the garden of the Abuja House residence in honour of His Excellency, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR, the Nigeria High Commissioner to the Court of St James’s, who rendered a remarkable service during his almost eight years tenure.

Described as a quintessential diplomat by doyens of diplomatic circles, Dr. Tafida, or Baba Tafida as he is fondly called by many of his staff, countrymen and women, is a highly respectable achiever who is popular for his uncommon integrity and dedication to duty. Dr. Tafida’s tenure at number 9 Northumberland Avenue heralded unprecedented achievement in the history of Nigeria High Commission’s service delivery. He restored Nigeria to its pride of place through political and bilateral relations with Britain, the host nation.

At a special media parley to mark his final session with the UK’s ethnic media on Monday 10 August at the Banking Hall of the High Commission, Dr. Tafida reflected on his time in the UK and gave a full account of his stewardship. Going down memory lane, he recalled the rotten state in which he met the embassy, the building and the staff accommodation in London and Manchester. He explained how he encountered a Mission in which visa and passport touts were having a field day in collusion with members of staff at a time when UK Nigerians were paying £500 £600 to acquire a passport.

African Voice used the opportunity to present Dr. Tafida with a Most Outstanding High Commissioner of Our Time award for his support to the organisation, Britain’s Nigerian community and the annual African Film Awards. The High Commissioner is a staunch supporter of Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry. For the last 6 years, he has supported and hosted the annual awards gala organised by African Voice Newspaper UK. Other presentations included that of Mr Anthony Adeloye, the Mission librarian, who presented a framed picture of MPs of Nigerian heritage on a courtesy visit; and Jon Hughes, editor of Nigeria Watch, who presented Scrabble cufflinks with the High Commissioner’s initials.

Nigerians in the UK will long remember the man who has come to be identified as 10

an exemplary leader and a ‘father’. Many wished his tenure would not end. Dr. Tafida has achieved a great deal during his time in the UK. Just to mention a few: he introduced state of the art equipment in the immigration section; he renovated and updated facilities and infrastructure in the dilapidated properties owned by the Mission.

In particular, the Nigeria embassy building at Northumberland Avenue, purchased in the 1960s, and the building at Fleet Street were upgraded to 21st century standards.

For a man who many thought at the commencement of his term in office back in April 2008 was closer to his retirement, Dr. Tafida’s achievements at the Mission, compared to many of his predecessors, were outstanding. He proved to many that he is a man of sterling character. In the words of one of his staff who does not want to be named: “Some of the other High Commissioners before him would not come to work every day of the week; files would have to be taken to their residence for signatures. But Baba Tafida is regular, early and will look out for all the finer details to be achieved to the letter.”

African Voice exclusively sought to know His Excellency’s proudest moment/ achievement during his diplomatic career with reference to his interaction with the host country Britain, the Commonwealth and other African ambassadors in the UK. Dr. Tafida modestly listed the joy he had when the Ministry of Interior decide to send other embassies to understudy the Mission’s Immigration Department. On political relations with Britain, he said, “Nigeria became a separate department with Nigeria having 15 staff same as 15 staff for West Africa.”

“Nigeria is now being held in high esteem by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Nigeria is now a permanent member of the Commonwealth. Each time I attend their functions, the reception l get is different. This makes me happy.” Nigeria enjoins a leadership role while other African countries follow. No decision will be taken without Nigeria being consulted.”

A number of different events were held in honour of Dr. Tafida, such as a reception by Nigeria High Commission staff and another dinner organised at The Shard by a selection of community leaders. At the flagship ceremony in Abuja House, Campden Hill, London anchored by Charles Ajayi - Khiran and Flower Abeni, over 300 guests joined the executives of the different bodies, led by the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), Nigeri-

From right: His Excellency, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR and his wife, His Royal Majesty Oba Adedapo Tejuosho CON Osile of Oke Ona Egbaland and his Olori and His Excellency, Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Olukunle Akindele Bamgbose and his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Adeyinka Abimbola Bamgbose,

Cross-section of guests

ans in Diaspora Organisation Europe UK South, Nigerian Council of Elders, National Association of Nigerian Communities (NANC) and embassy staff in bidding farewell to the outgoing High Commissioner, His Excellency Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida and his wife Her Excellency Hajiya Salamatu Tafida.

Among the attendees were His Excellency, Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Olukunle Akindele Bamgbose and his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Adeyinka Abimbola Bamgbose, His Royal Majesty Oba Adedapo Tejuosho CON Osile of Oke Ona Egbaland and his Oloris, Babtunde Loye and his wife, Ambassadors from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministers/ Heads of Section at the Nigeria High Commission, London.

Tributes to the High Commissioner and his wife filled almost half of the evening, seemingly with everyone wanting to have a say. It was an emotional evening as many of the attendees showered praise and prayers in recalling their experiences with His Excellency, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida. The deputy High Commissioner, Mr Bamgbose, proposed a toast to good health to

a boss he admired and believed is still not tired, and who he hoped will still be there to render assistance to the mission.

In his response, Dr. Tafida recalled the day he first arrived for service and when he presented his letter of credence to Her Majesty the Queen. He paid particular tribute to his staff, especially the senior staff of the Mission, for what is regarded as his achievement. He thanked the government of Nigeria for allowing him an extended service and he acknowledged the contributions of the community to what is referred to as his achievements. He described the various Nigerian associations as a beacon of his success.

“I leave the mission in the hands of a very capable deputy, who l would recommend for the government to retain in full capacity as the substantive High Commissioner in the spirit of the change our nation is experiencing. He said, he would enjoin Nigerians in the UK to continue to support the now acting High Commissioner Mr Olukunle Bamgbose.

Continued on page 18

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News Culture

Ethiopia

Ethiopia sends home partisan South Sudan delegation A group of pro-government political parties headed by South Sudan cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomuro have been deported from Ethiopia in response to Juba preventing opposition leader Lam Akol from travelling to talks in Addis Ababa.

Elia and his group travelled to Addis Ababa with the government delegation last week to participate in peace talks, but Akol, who leads a group of independent opposition parties, said he was prevented from boarding his flight minutes before take-off on orders of President Salva Kiir.

Speaking on Sunday at a hotel in Juba, Elia said an IGAD administrator approached his delegation hours after they arrived in Addis Ababa and told them arrangements were made for them to return to South Sudan the next day. Elia said the administrator showed them a document reading: “unless Dr Lam Akol is allowed to travel with his delegation, the IGAD mediators reject your participation and have directed us to inform you accordingly.”

The minister in Kiir’s cabinet said IGAD was not fully informed about what happened to Lam in Juba. He claimed that Akol was requested to obtain clearance and wait for travel permit from authorities but refused to wait. Akol said a police official

Mariam has had to endure threatening messages, including her image ‘photoshopped’ to appear dismembered

prevented him from boarding the plane.

“Why didn’t the IGAD mediators prevent the government delegation from travelling because it was the government not political parties which prevented Dr. Lam Akol from travelling?” Elia also charged.

Elia accused IGAD of bias against Kiir’s government, and urged that the venue of the peace talks be moved to either Tanzania, Rwanda, or South Africa.

“The attitudes of the IGAD mediators

seem to favour groups both internal and external that are opposed to the democratically elected government of South Sudan in fulfilment of their regime change agen-

da,” he accused.

“It is now our conclusion that for peace to return to South Sudan the entire IGAD mediation team must be reconstituted.

While [Kenyan] General Lazarus Sumbeiywo may be acceptable definitely, Seyoum Mesfin [of Ethiopia] and Mohammed Ahmed Mustaffa El Daby [of Sudan] must be replaced,” he said.

He said the two latter countries are undemocratic and have their own rebels so are unfit to negotiate peace in South Sudan.

This is the latest incident in an ongoing power struggle within the “political parties” group of stakeholders meant to participate in the peace talks between Akol’s group of opposition parties and Elia’s group of parties which have joined the government.

Last year IGAD deported Elia’s associate Martin Tako from Ethiopia. Tako had claimed to represent the political parties after South Sudanese authorities prevented Lam from travelling to Addis Ababa during a previous round of talks.

Mag ordered to pay for ‘Ri Caprio’ baby lie A French court has ordered the magazine Oops! to print a retraction of its story alleging that Leonardo Di Caprio got pop star Rihanna pregnant.

The magazine cover referenced in the suit features photos of Rihanna and DiCaprio and the cover line: “Rihanna Enceinte de Leonardo!” – literally “Rihanna pregnant from Leonardo!” The article in question also claims Leo didn’t want the baby.

A French judge awarded DiCaprio 8,000 euros, ruling that the cover and article effectively violated the actor’s privacy.

According to the Hollywood Reporter: Oops! attempted to argue that Di Caprio never denied a relationship with Rihanna and spoke about his private life in media interviews, but the French court responded that a salacious story on the cover of Oops! was “inherently likely to cause serious harm to” the actor. Moreover, it ruled that the actor’s “alleged appeasement towards the media is not established.”

As part of the ruling, Oops! also has to print an acknowledgement of the news on

Rihanna and Di Caprio fail to emerge incognito from a night club late on Valentine’s Day 2015

its cover which, roughly translated from the ruling in French, reads: The French court orders Oops! to print on its next cover in bold capital red letters “OOPS! SENTENCED TO PAY LEONARDO DI CAPRIO” followed without further comment by this statement: “By order of 27 July 2015, the judge of the High Court of Paris orders the company editor of OOPS! Magazine to pay provisional compensation to Leonardo Di Caprio for having published in its issue 188, 13 to 28 in May 2015, an article without respect for his privacy and his image rights.”

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Opinion

Our Own Worst Enemy: The Iniquities of a People

To be your own worst enemy: to cause most of your problems or most of the bad things that happen to you yourself, because of your character

by Akintokunbo A Adejumo

A few years ago, I wrote an article entitled “A People Beyond Redemption”. Four years later, the psyche of my people remains the same, and I realised again that we are our own worst enemy.

Of course I don’t expect my writing to change 160 million people. (Who am I?) I love my people. I want the best for them. I want their country, their environment to be that which other countries in the world will envy. I want them to live good and comfortable lives as in Europe and America, and even more. I want electricity to work; a decent healthcare system, good roads and rail networks; orderliness, food security and safety; potable water; be able to buy anything they want with their hard earned money; security of lives and properties, no fears of the dark and its lurking dangers because the roads and alleys are well lit and patrolled by efficient and effective police.

I want my people’s welfare to be fully taken care of from when they were born till they die at very good old age.

I want my people to enjoy the dividends of democracy, the system they have strived for and opted for thinking they own the government and the government (and the people they elected into government) will do their bidding to make their lives better. I want my people to enjoy the wealth of their country.

In short, I want the best in life, in humanity for my people. Since there is no way I can provide all these for them, I expect people we entrust with power and our common wealth to do what they have to do to actualise these without dishonesty, selfishness, greed and selfaggrandisement. Yes, that is what we expect.

But on the other hand, I cannot stand my people. They are their own worst enemy; they want and yearn for the good things in life, but 12

yet are not prepared to work to get them. They chose their leaders haphazardly and carelessly, ending up some of the worst people in the world to lead them. Or they allow this ilk of bad rulers to rule them. We do not admonish these bad rulers and leaders. In fact my people do not see anything wrong in having bad leaders, simply because my people, in their primordially and primitive cultural beliefs are so suffused with religious biases, tribal bigotry and dubious political partisanship that they just ignore the calamity about to befall them.

We complain about our leaders’ corruption, greed and selfishness, but we scurry back to our homes, churches, mosques, schools, places of work, markets and do exactly what we complain about, about the incompetent people we elected or allowed to get near political power.

We actively engage in all the vices; in fact we encourage these leaders in continuously perpetuating their crimes on us. They hurt us, but we just shrug, go to churches and mosques and pray for the same people hurting and killing us. We ask God to take care of things for us, then we go back to these bad and cruel leaders, shower more praises on them, defend their actions or inactions, they give us some crumbs and we are happy little children again; some of us are even prepared to kill on their behalf.

These incompetent bunches of inconsiderate humanity called rulers ask us to pray for them; we never ask them, “Why? For you to continue to lord it over us? For you to continue to be successful in plundering our treasury, while neglecting us and abdicating your oath of office to serve us faithfully and conscientiously?” We treat these servants, both civil and elected, like gods, when it should be the other way round. We kowtow to authority too much, forgetting or not realising that these same holders of authority derive their authority and power from us. We need to educate and re-orientate our people. Nothing is working for us because we are not making things work for ourselves, ignorantly, unwittingly or by deliberate commission and self-sabotage. Serves us right!

When there is a patent lack of qualitative leadership, a lack of worthy leaders, what you have is massive corruption, which leads to injustice and inequality, and with a lack of unity of the people, the situation we find ourselves in is even worse, because unscrupulous politicians exploit our religious and ethnic variances for their own selfish ends. My people, there is Unity in Diversity!

Like the saying goes; a people deserve the type of leaders they get. And why not? The leaders we routinely elect (or allow to rig or force themselves) into power are products of the society. If the society is ethical and good,

what you get will be good, honest, sincere, hard-working, selfless and compassionate leaders. No matter what bias you have, America and Europe are good societies, and hence their good leaders and conducive societies. If the society is bad and depraved like ours, you get the type of leaders we are getting now. This phenomenon will not change until the society changes. It is simple. Politics is to serve the people not some people’s families and pockets.

Our brands of politicians rarely go into politics and government for altruistic and ethical reasons.

I can’t stand my people for the magnitude of their hypocrisy and sycophancy. It is of course a cultural thing, which must be exorcised from their hearts and their mind-set.

While several upright and sincere members of our society have come up from time to time, and in fact, we still have many who are good people, what we have are saboteurs, who will continue to ensure things are not working for the rest of the population because of their own private or regional agenda, selfish economic or political interests. All our thoughts are in how to cut corners. It is very frustrating.

Corruption is prevalent in Nigeria society, the reason being that our people don’t believe in honest earnings anymore. No hard graft, but plenty of money. This is reflected in our legislators, governors, ministers, commissioners, civil service, agencies etc. being “chopping jobs” for those “lucky” people there. Those who want to work hard are discouraged and frustrated. Everybody is itching, nay, dying, to “get there and chop their own share of the national free-for-all cake”.

My people love and worship corruption, despite their cries against it. It is the corrupt that we confer with chieftaincy titles; honour in the churches and mosques; give national awards; elect and appoint to political offices.

We run after them on the streets begging for largesse and treat them like demi-gods, “baba ke”, “ranka dede”. My people have no room or time for intellectuals and merit, no room for sincerity and honesty; they prefer mediocrity and charlatans.

I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. (Hosea 5:15) If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1John 1:9-10) I have selected these passages from both the Old and New Testament, as they capture the essence of our times. Nigeria has become a nation of people that refuse to acknowledge sin

as sin, and crime as crime. In fact, for the past three decades, we have watched many long held standards; morality, ethics and traditional values die out like flies in Nigeria.

I am not a hypocrite, and not a virtuous man, but I found over the years hostility and resistance to decency and godliness that I can only describe as vexing and infuriating. No people that excuse their sins and crimes, or put more simply, the vices that debar their progress as a people in a society can find redemption or forgiveness from God, and thereby they will forever not move forward, despite our hypocritical ways or calling on God every time and professing to love the Christian God or Islam Allah even more than those who introduced these religions to us. Even our traditional religions preached certain virtues and values which we have abandoned. The first step is always to acknowledge our sins. When sin is marginalized and condoned, there is no hope for the person or the society.

Many things have been done in the last 30 years while the churches, the mosques and society have been bled out all of its ethics and dedication. We must return to the message of acknowledging our wrongdoings and penitent of them, as well as exorcising them from the general society and our psyche. It is our only hope. If we continue down this road, our society, our nation, our country and hence, our very survival as a people are doomed.

A basic tenet of the Catholic Faith is that there is no sin that you can commit, no matter how horrendous the deed, that it won’t be forgiven if you are truly sorry. God forgives people for their sins as long as they actually *want* to be forgiven. As far as I am concerned, God does not listen to Nigerians anymore; we can pray and go to church and mosque 24/7, convert every building into churches and mosques, He’s not listening anymore. He has given us everything. The rest is left for us.

When it comes to corruption, bribery, fraud (419), fake and forged certificates and meaningless CVs and awards, drug smuggling, fake drugs peddling and selling, armed robbery, and other nefarious activities, everyone knows someone who does it—the corrupt civil servant who whines about the politicians looting the treasury; the man/woman on the street trying to con you out of your money but complaining of bad leadership and bad roads, etc. These people are forever working toward some goal that seems elusive. In fact, their own actions are sabotaging them—they’ve become their own worst enemy.

And that is why I cannot stand my own people. We are our own worst enemy and a people seemingly beyond redemption.

Let the Truth be said always!!!!

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

Israel

Only Jewish terror victims eligible for compensation Members of the Palestinian family whose home was torched by suspected Jewish terrorists, resulting in the death of a toddler and his father, will not be recognized as terror victims by Israel, Haaretz reported Monday.

The Israeli daily said that the surviving members of the Dawabsha family will not be eligible to receive compensation because by law the state is only obliged to compensate Israeli citizens affected by terrorism. This law does not apply to Palestinians living in the West Bank.

The July 31 attack in the village of Duma that killed 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha, and also wounded his mother and brother, led to angry Palestinian protests and an international outcry over Israel’s failure to curb violence by hardline Jewish settlers. Saad Dawabsha died early Saturday in hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba where he was being treated for third-degree burns for the past eight days.

MK Yousef Jabareen of the United Arab List said that Israeli and Palestinian victims should receive the same compensation rights. He asked Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to apply the law to all Palestinian victims of Jewish terror.

“Victims of nationalistic actions must be eligible for compensation, and it doesn’t matter if they’re Arab or Jewish,” Jabareen said, according to Haaretz.

Toddler Ali-Saad Dawabsha succumbed to his injuries eight days after his village was firebombed by Jewish extremists

Dan Yakir, chief legal counsel of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, said that this issue is another example of “the intolerable gap between settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, in every walk of life.”

Yakir pointed out that while Jewish settlers in the West Bank are automatically compensated for terror attacks, Palestinian victims of terror must apply to the exceptions committee.

Prime Minister Netanyahu had con-

demned the attack as “terrorism in every respect” and ordered a crackdown on Jewish extremism that has seen three people arrested, but no one has so far been accused of carrying out the firebombing.

Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon issued a six-month administrative arrest order on Sunday for two Jewish extremists suspected of carrying out and planning terror attacks against Palestinians and Christian targets. The detention warrants follow a government decision to crack down on Jewish terrorism following the arson attack in Duma.

Administrative detention, a measure rarely used against Jews and directed almost exclusively against Palestinians, allows authorities to arrest people without putting them on trial and without telling them of what they are suspected. It is generally used when there is no evidence or insufficient proof that an individual has violated the law, or as a tool to extract information.

Ya’alon’s orders apply to Meir Ettinger and Eviatar Slonim, who were arrested last week. A third terror suspect, Mordechai Meir, was also placed in administrative detention, last week.

Police, under strong domestic and international pressure, have admitted that they are having trouble finding those guilty of the attack in Duma and other attacks on Palestinians and their property, even issuing an appeal to the public last week asking for help in locating the perpetrators.

UAE

Social media and money blamed for UAE divorce rate rise Financial pressures, poor communication and the rampant rise of social media have all been blamed for the UAE’s rising divorce rates by counsellors working to put together the pieces of broken marriages.

The rate of divorce may be comparable to that in Europe but the number of couples choosing to split in the UAE is increasing at a faster rate, according to some experts.

Divorce cases rose by seven per cent between 2009 and 2011 for Emirati couples in Dubai, and in Ajman official statistics showed the number of divorces was up four per cent, from 2,351 to 2,443 in 201213.

Figures for all divorces in Abu Dhabi from the National Bureau of Statistics have remained relatively stable since 2008, when there were as many as four divorces for every 10 marriages. Numbers dropped in 2011, with courts recording 15,105 marriages and 4,145 divorces – about 2.7 divorces for every 10 marriages.

A report presented to the Federal National Council last year suggested that the divorce rate for 2013 surged to 70 per cent.

Kennon Rider, a marriage and family therapist at the German Neuroscience Centre, said a better statistical method is the refined divorce rate - the number of divorces per 1,000 married women.

“Using this method, the rate for UAE nationals from Abu Dhabi in 2010 was 14.2,” he said.

“To put this in perspective, the divorce rate in the US in 2010 was 19.4. The rate is relatively high and is certainly up from a generation or so ago in the UAE.” Dr Rider said several driving forces were at play behind the numbers, including the changing expectations of marriage. Once it was primarily a social and economic arrangement to cement relations between families and produce offspring; now, happiness is seen as crucial.

“Young people are now exposed to other ways of thinking about marriage,” added

Dr Rider.

“They believe marriage should make them happy. When it doesn’t, they divorce and look for someone else.

“Expectations for expensive lifestyles lead couples to overspend, which adds pressure to early marriage. Couples also seem less tolerant of family intrusion.”

Ignorance and fear are preventing some couples from getting the help they need from counsellors. Unresolved conflicts can lead to tensions, and sometimes infidelity, physical or emotional abuse, experts say.

Jared Alden, a psychotherapist and relationship counsellor in Dubai, said technology is also playing its part in straining relationships.

“Social media figures very highly, easily in 85 per cent of the couples that I see,” he said.

“Facebook is fine but it is the same as an email where it is difficult to understand the tone and make the correct interpretation.

“Problems created by social media feature highly in people’s lives.”

Despite the generational change, marriage is still seen by many as the “gold standard”.

“People can come to Dubai in a relationship but when they move here there can be problems,” Mr Alden said, explaining that issues often arise when a person’s family support network disappears.

Mr Alden said higher rates of divorce could also be a result of a rising UAE population. He sees between 15 and 22 patients each week, half of which are couples. It is a much bigger number in Dubai than elsewhere in the UAE, he said, before suggesting that couples should consider sharing a social media account, to involve each other.

“We ask what their common goal is, then it is about negotiating what they can expect from each other in the environment that they are in,” he added.

“If you go to the movies on a Saturday, you see half the people are on their phones.

You question why they have gone to the cinema in the first place.”

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CRIME

Man jailed for causing death by dangerous driving A man from Islington has been jailed today, Friday 7 August, for causing the death of a woman whilst driving with no insurance.

Martin Appiah-Dankwah, 59 of Thornhilll Road, Islington, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death by dangerous driving whilst driving with no insurance.

He received 16 months imprisonment, was disqualified from driving for three years, was told he must take an extended re-test and also had his vehicle forfeited.

The court heard that on Saturday, 31 January 2015, the victim, 29-year-old Nicole Levy of Shrewsbury Road, N11 was with her boyfriend James Hawkins, in Muswell Hill.

The pair were crossing Priory Road N8, heading towards Muswell Hill, before waiting in the white hatched area in the middle of the road to cross the second carriageway.

As they waited they were hit by a Renault Espace driven by AppiahDankwah.

Martin Appiah-Dankwah

Nicole’s boyfriend suffered only minor injuries but Nicole was pushed into the side of an oncoming vehicle, before

striking the ground.

She suffered a devastating brain injury and subsequently died in hospital

as a result of her injuries on Monday 2, February.

After the collision Appiah-Dankwah failed a roadside eye sight test three times.

He told the officer at the scene that he did not need glasses or contact lenses but this account changed in his interview.

He later admitted that he had attended hospital for his eyesight and also required contact lenses.

He also admitted he was driving with no insurance.

Detective Sergeant Cheryl Frost, of the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said at the conclusion of the case; “This is a tragic incident and I would like to reiterate my condolences to the family of Miss Levy, her boyfriend and friends.

I also thank them for their unwavering support and the dignity they have shown throughout the investigation.

“Appiah-Dankwah should never have been driving that day, he was not properly insured and his reckless behaviour has resulted in the devastating loss of a young woman who had everything to live for.”

Man admits causing Former Crown Prosecution death by careless driving Service worker sentenced A man who killed a pedestrian by driving onto a footpath and then fled the scene has been convicted of causing death by careless driving.

Michael Philbert, 18 of Constable Mews, Bromley pleaded guilty on Wednesday, 5 August at Woolwich Crown Court.

The court heard how police were called on Thursday, 19 June 2014 at approximately 11:00hrs to reports of a woman injured following a collision with a black Range Rover in Eynsham Drive, at the junction with Finchale Road, Abbey Wood.

Officers, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended and the 64-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was later identified as Brenda Croke, aged 64 (10.2.50) of Grovebury Road, London, SE2.

A post-mortem took place on Monday, 23 June at Greenwich Mortuary and gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.

Five days later Michael Philbert, who was aged 17 at the time of the collision, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Officers from the Serious Collision 14

A former Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) case supervisor has been sentenced in relation to money laundering and fraud offences.

Michael Philbert Investigation Unit than launched a meticulous investigation which forensically linked Philbert to the car involved in the fatal collision.

Detective Sergeant Richard Budd from the Road and Transport Policing Command said: “Philbert was unlicensed, untrained and uninsured when he drove a car and killed a pedestrian on a footpath. He was driving at speed and rather than attempt to help the woman he drove into, he fled the scene.

Samantha Bernard, 44, of Perth Close, Northolt, appeared at Guildford Crown Court for sentencing today, Monday, 10 August.

She was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, for entering into or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement, and two months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, for fraud by false representation.

She was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Bernard acted as the named registered keeper of a vehicle knowing that in doing so she would be facilitating the acquisition of criminal property, after a second defendant, a man who was later jailed, purchased a car using money obtained from criminal activity.

She admitted that she had committed fraud by making a number of false

declarations when arranging insurance for the vehicle, including claiming the vehicle belonged to her and that she was to be the main driver - both statements she knew to be untrue.

Bernard was arrested on 15 January 2014 after inquiries into the man led officers to her.

He had been arrested on 3 September 2013 when officers stopped him in the vehicle and discovered him to be in possession of a large amount of cash. A subsequent search of his address uncovered quantities of heroin and cocaine with a street value of £30,000. Officers later established that the £10,000 cash deposit used by him to purchase the vehicle had come from proceeds of crime.

On 16 July 2014 Bernard was charged. She originally appeared at Guildford Crown Court in October and pleaded not guilty. Set to appear for trial on 22 June, she pleaded guilty at the start of proceedings.

Suspended from her role within the CPS on point of arrest, she subsequently resigned from the organisation on 18 June.

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

ready for success Smokey up where he belongs Ella Ella Eyre doesn’t think she could have coped with overnight success. The 21-year-old singer signed her record deal in 2012 but is only just readying her debut album, and thinks having a few years to develop as an artist has helped her career “massively”.

Smokey Robinson led The Miracles to 25 more US Top 40 hits in the ten years following ‘Shop Around’ and served as Motown vice-president until the label was sold in 1988.

Asked if she sees waiting for success as a positive thing, she said: “100 per cent.

I’ve massively grown up emotionally and as an artist over the last couple of years.

Waiting for success makes it all the more worthwhile when it does come.

“I don’t know how I’d have coped if things had happened overnight as it does with ‘X Factor’ contestants.”

Ella – whose father has lived in his native Jamaica while she was brought up by her mother in Ealing - has penned her album ‘Feline’ herself and finds it “funny” listening back to some of the songs she wrote in the early days of her career.

She told OK! magazine: “I say that if It comes from the heart then it will go to the heart and that’s what I try and live by.

“I’d never let anyone write a song for me. It’s about all of my experiences grow-

Ella Eyre trained in musical theatre at the Brit school in Croydon

ing up. Stuff people can relate to.

“It’s so funny listening back to how I used to deal with break-ups when I was 16.”

Ella came to prominence during a performance at the 2014 Brit Awards; fronting dance collective Rudimental. Her energetic stage presence that evening has since drawn over 2 million views on YouTube.

“I love fierce performers,” said the Londoner from behind a mane of curls that has its own Facebook following. “This isn’t karaoke… I need to convince you I’m worth listening to. That you shouldn’t go to the bar to get a drink.”

Feline will be released later this month, ahead of a third UK tour in November.

Smokey Robinson (left), pictured with the original Miracles - including wife Claudette, sister of a member of a previous incarnation of the group

The epithet ‘legend’ is hurled about far too liberally in the entertainment arena if the truth be told. In fact, I admit that I may have sprinkled some barely deserving candidates with the term rather more readily than perhaps I should. But every so often, a performer should not have to have departed for the cabin in the sky to have deserved this special accolade.

Besides inducting a new class of inductees annually, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also bestows another honour on musical icons once a year, with their Annual Music Masters Series. This year that honour goes to Motown legend . . . . yes, LEGEND Smokey Robinson.

Each year, the Music Masters series explores the legacy of popular music pioneers with a series of events that includes exhibits at the Rock Hall, lectures, films, a major conference and a tribute concert, all of which benefits the Rock Hall’s education programs. Previous artists to be honoured by the Rock Hall’s Music Masters Series include Chuck Berry, Woody Guthrie, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and

Fats Domino.

Robinson, who was inducted into the regular Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of the second batch of inductees in 1987, was a pivotal figure in Motown Records (and Tamla Motown in the UK), as a singer, first with the Miracles and later on his own. But he has also been a prolific songwriter and has produced and arranged of many of the label’s hits. Indeed he was a co-founder of the label (then Tamla Records) along with Berry Gordy Jr., and served as a talent scout and vicepresident.

With his group, The Miracles, Smokey Robinson gave Motown their first million selling hit with ‘Shop Around’ and even named his first two children Berry (after Motown’s co-founder) and Tamla (the label’s initial name, which later became an imprint running alongside the main label and was used early on for UK releases).

There will be a week of celebrations in Smokey’s honour in Cleveland, Ohio - the home of the Rock Hall – culminating in a Music Masters concert on November 7th at Playhouse Square’s State Theatre, featuring a number of yet to be announced artists performing his songs. According to a press release, the man being honoured, now 75, will attend but not perform.

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

Gospel

GOD IS NOT AN ERRAND BOY!

By Michael Adekoya

“Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Jesus said unto His early disciples and He is saying to all Christians today, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) The Bible says, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”

(Mark 16:20)

I heard this story of a group of Christian women who were holding their regular prayer meeting. The Evangelist at their church – an ardent soul winner – was their Guest Speaker. He heard some of them talking about an immoral woman who lived nearby. The Evangelist asked, “And what are you doing to get that immoral woman saved?” The leader of the women group spoke up, “We’re faithfully praying for her salvation every time we meet.”

“Fine!”, the Evangelist remarked. “But, she’ll go to hell while you pray. Why can’t you go to witness to her? Why don’t you take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to her house and preach it to her soul?” In most of our churches today, this is exactly what we do.

We attend services, meetings, conferences, seminars, conventions, anniversaries and international gatherings in our comfy and cozy church buildings with camera everywhere, then pray for souls and expect God to bring them when the command of Jesus to us, His disciples, is simply, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” As Christians, we have made an errand-boy out of God. My friend, how is soul winning ministry in your local assembly?

Today, lots of us, as Christians, including our leaders have forgotten that God is Sovereign and He is our Creator and Chief Commanding Officer! We busy ourselves telling God to do all the things we ought to do – to visit the poor and widows, to comfort the feeble and those who are mourning, to provide for the needy while we en-masse wealth, to heal the sick, to encourage those who are in prison, to release those who are

oppressed, to sustain the weak and to minister deliverance to those who are bound and yoked.

We pray that God should go into the streets, highways, communities, cities and nations and bring lost and dying souls to our local assemblies. We want the Lord to do all of these things while we seat in our comfy homes or church buildings. Today, we, Christians, have developed what I would call, “Convenient Love and Comfy Christianity.” We are asking too much from God for the unsaved to come to our local church buildings to find Christ; while we kept Christ in our churches and we are unwilling to let Him go out to them through us.

My friend, can I ask you this question? “Can you tell me one thing that God can do in your home, street, community, work-place, city or nation without a body to operate through?” Of course, none! Or can you show me any? I doubt it! Listen!

Whenever God wants to save, deliver or heal someone, He needs a body to work through. Likewise, whenever satan wants to destroy someone, he needs a body to work through. God never said, “Go ye sinners to My house and be saved, lest ye die.” No! He said, “Go ye (believers) into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” If you’re a Christian, your first call is soul winning.

When God visited mankind to show

­­

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

16

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

Himself as a loving, gracious, merciful, forgiving and powerful God, He came in a body – in human flesh. Jesus Christ is God in flesh! He came to save people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). He was nailed on the Cross but He returned in the form of Holy Spirit to take up His abode in our bodies as His Temple and continue the work of salvation of human souls (1 Cor 6:19). My friend, as Christians, we are the Body of Christ – we are the Church with the ministry and the word of reconciliation to reconcile mankind to God. A revival – a rediscovery – of personal evangelism must start with you and I. Listen! If you are born-again, you’re Christ’s Body in your home, street, workplace, school, community, city and nation (Eph 5:30). Christ’s Spirit wants to work through you, not through your denomination! Jesus Christ can do nothing except through you and me. As the Church, we should be an asset to the community where we are. We should be relevant where God has placed us. Our community must feel our presence as light to lighten the area and as salt to preserve the people. We have been called, chosen and anointed to be catalyst for personal, family, relational, corporate, governmental, community; city and national change through the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes (Rom 1:16).

Jesus saved and healed a demon pos-

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

sessed man and told him, “Return to your own house and show how great things God has done for you”. The Bible says, “And he went and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done for him. And when Jesus returned, the people gladly received Him, for they were waiting for Him”. (Luke 8: 39-40). My friend, that is what your spouse, family members, coworkers, friends, neighbours, your loved ones, people in your street and community are doing today….Waiting for Jesus! Don’t keep Him in the church or confine Him to your Sunday activities only. Pray for them but also go to them, as a witness, to tell them what the Lord has done for you, then preach to them.

Today, many people are still waiting for Jesus and it is our turn as true carriers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to introduce Jesus to them. When they come to church to be discipled, they want to see Jesus not politics or fashion. Preach that Jesus and the Holy Spirit is bound to reveal Him to whoever is expecting to see, believe and obey Him. When you meet people tell them what He has done for you and what He can do for them and bring them to Jesus. You have been saved! Go into the world as a witness to others.

My friend, it is not enough to be praying for lost and dying souls, you must go to them to preach the Gospel to them. The power of God to save, to deliver, to heal and to set at liberty is in the Gospel – the Word of God. Since Christ came to the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15); to seek and save the lost souls (Luke 19:10), then to be like Jesus, you’re to be soul winners!

And the first place you need to start your evangelism today is among your people…. your own house, the people you live and work with, the people around you, the people you meet everyday. They are waiting for Jesus; they are waiting for you to tell them about Him. You need to go and tell them how great Jesus is. Loose them and bring them to Jesus. Remain blessed!

...to be 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, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

Africa Newsround Leading opposition candidate resigns ahead of October poll Tanzania

Ibrahim Lipumba, a prominent member of Tanzania’s opposition alliance has resigned from the Civic United Front (CUF), days after former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa joined the opposition Chadema Party following his defection from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). CUF, Chadema and other opposition groups have formed an alliance, UKAWA, ahead of the October 25 general election.

In his resignation statement, Lipumba accused leaders of the opposition alliance of deviating from the original principles that brought the various opposition groups together, aiming to challenge the dominance of the CCM. Professor Xavery Lwaitama of the Josiah Kibira University College says the defection of the former prime minister causes a seismic political shift in both the ruling party and the opposition alliance in the run-up to the national poll. He also says Lipumba’s resignation is unlikely to hurt the chances of the opposition alliance in the vote.

The UKAWA opposition alliance plans to choose a single candidate to represent the group in the upcoming election. Lwaitama says it appears the chances of Lipumba becoming the leader of the opposition alliance in the election are slim, following the defection of the former prime minister.

Ibrahim Lipumba had been National Chairman of the Civic United Front since 1995

“I suspect that Professor Lipumba had thought that [he] would be one of the presidential candidates, because he was one of the most prominent of the opposition in the alliance UKAWA. So this other party having selected Edward Lowassa as the candidate must have upset the legitimate political ambition of Professor Lipumba, because now he can’t carry the alliance

ticket of UKAWA,” said Lwaitama, adding: “That is one of the political earthquakes that are expected when a big shot like the former prime minister leaves a ruling party like the CCM.” The CCM has dominated Tanzania since the country gained independence in 1961.

Local media reports that the CCM is to blame for the opposition leader’s

decision to quit his party. Supporters of the coalition say the CCM wants to undermine the coalition ahead of the election, fearing the defection of the former prime minister would increase the party’s vulnerability in the vote.

“That is why there is speculation that Professor Lipumba leaving might have something to do with the ruling party trying to create trouble in the alliance, because for the first time, the major opposition parties have agreed to field one presidential candidate instead of competing among themselves. So, it is not surprising that Professor Lipumba is now being accused of giving in to pressure from the ruling party,” said Lwaitama.

“It is also possible that Lipumba assessed that it is much better that he is not party to the alliance because the candidate that is going to be fielded by the opposition alliance this time, Edward Lowassa, has a lot of integrity issues around him. And there [are] a lot of misgivings about the opposition alliance fielding Mr. Edward Lowassa, much as he has a lot of influence in the CCM.” Lwaitama says Lowassa’s influence in the ruling party slices the chances of the CCM in the general election, which he says tilts the balance in favour of the opposition alliance in the poll, despite the resignation of the prominent opposition leader. He also says it is likely that the opposition groups would have enough time to mend fences and be fully prepared in the run up to the general election.

Senegal

Gay journalist handed second prison term A well-known journalist in Muslim-dominated Senegal was slapped with a six-month prison term on Friday for illegally engaging in acts of homosexuality.

A court handed out the sentence to magazine columnist Tamsir Jupiter Ndiaye after he was arrested in June following an accusation of attempted rape made against him by an alleged male victim. Ndiaye, who has previously been convicted of engaging in homosexual acts, was chased by an angry mob before taking shelter in a Dakar police station.

In 2012, Ndiaye was sentenced to four years in prison for acts of homosexuality, illegal possession of arms and battery. His sentence was downgraded to two years and he was paroled in 2013.

This time, charges of driving while intoxicated and kidnap of a minor that led to his arrest were dropped and a charge of “acts against nature on a minor” was amended to “acts against nature on a person of the same sex.”

Homosexual acts are punishable by up

Tamsir Jupiter Ndiaye was previously jailed in 2012 for, amongst other crimes, “acts against nature on a person of the same sex”

to five years in prison and fines of up to £1,600 in Senegal.

President Macky Sall, who won the post last year in West Africa’s oldest de-

mocracy, said although homosexual acts are illegal in Senegal, homosexuals are not persecuted and are treated fairly.

“We are not homophobic,” he said.

“Senegal is a country that respects freedoms. Gays are not persecuted, but for now they must accept the choices of other Senegalese.”

Barack Obama, who pushed for gay rights in Africa, said: “When it comes to how the state treats people, how the law treats people, I believe that everybody has to be treated equally.”

However, Obama, who flew to Senegal in June, said he has not specifically discussed the issue with Sall.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International urged Obama to speak out against threats to gays and lesbians on his recent trip to Africa.

Two-thirds of African countries consider homosexuality as a criminal offence.

Consensual same-sex conduct is illegal in 38 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, some of which are aiming to execute new laws that increase existing penalties, said Amnesty International.

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

Nigerian News

Farewell! Most Outstanding High C Continued from page 10

...“l can never forget those l have worked with; especially the deputy, the various heads of sections, the Diplomatic Service support staff, my personal office staff, domestic staff and others who have contributed to the development of our dear country. He identified the Immigration Attaché, Alhaji Mohammed Aminu, and his department as the focal point of improvement in the Mission”.

Dr. Tafida gave special mention to CANUK’s past chairmen Dr. Mark Abani and Chief Bimbo Folayan, present chairman of CANUK Mr. Babatunde Loye. He particularly listed the Council of Elders, particularly Mrs Olowu, the former chairperson of the Elders Council and present executive led by Chief Adebayo Oladimeji,

also the present NIDEO executive led by Mrs Herrietta Abrahams. He identified others who have contributed to his tenure, such as Pastor Femi Adebayo and he specifically mentioned Chief Yemisi Sanusi and Yemisi Jenkins, Jon Hughes the editor of Nigerian Watch and Mike Abiola, the Editor-in-Chief of African Voice “who has been of very good assistance to the mission.”

“My joy is in the love you all have for me and l love you all. I am happy l have enjoyed the contributions of the community, l am leaving behind a community that is coherent and a community with leadership in various cities of the United Kingdom. These were things that were not in place before”.

Finally, he thanked all the guests for coming to honour him.

From left: His Excellency, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR and his wife

Prince Adeniyi seating second from right with community leaders

BEN TV presents a parting gift

Dr. Cyril Gwam, Dr. Peter Ozua, Dr. Boma Douglas, Dr. Okosun and a guest

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Friday, 7 August - Thursday, 13 August 2015

Nigerian News

h Commissioner, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida

Ambassador Olukunle Akindele Bamgbose the Deputy High Commissioner to the UK and his wife

Chief & Chief (Mrs) Aiyegbusi, Directors of Olu Olu Foods

Chairman of CANUK and the executives presented a thropy to Dr Tafida for his role in unifying Nigerians in the UK

CANUK team present a parting gift to Dr. Tafida

Nigerian Women In Diaspora Leadership Forum present a parting gift to Dr.Tafida

Mrs Oshinowo and Engr. Ojo

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Will Iheanacho follow Mikel’s road to mediocrity?

By Solace Chukwu

Sunday’s Community Shield was a light aperitif; dispensed with, focus inevitably turns to the Premier League season in store, and the narratives set to be explored and unfurled in the current weeks and months. One of the chief questions, from the standpoint of the Super Eagles, is in what capacity the lavish talents of Kelechi Iheanacho are to be utilized.

For the second preseason in a row, the youngster has put hardly a foot wrong.

The caveat last time around was Manchester City’s inability to snag him a work permit, an inconvenience that has now been corrected. With Stevan Jovetic off to Inter, and a move to Roma seemingly inevitable for Edin Dzeko, Iheanacho may very well be third in the Citizens’ striking pecking order going into the season.

Consider also that Sergio Aguero’s blitzes of brilliance are invariably punctuated by multiple injuries within the season, and Wilfried Bony is still finding his feet at the Etihad. At some point, Iheanacho will surely get a chance to show what he’s got.

This can only be good for the player’s development. The dicier subplot to resolve is whether it is in the interest of the national team.

On the surface, it is a ridiculous concern— the Super Eagles can only benefit from having the prodigious 18-year-old playing regularly in the biggest league in the world. However, his appearances will continue a trend that, if unchecked, will complete a position-change from creative wide man to central striker.

While he scored six times for the Golden Eaglets side in 2013 as they triumphed at the Fifa U-17 World Cup in UAE, it was clear that his goals were not the main attraction.

Indeed, four of that tally came in one game: a

freakish 6-1 demolition of Mexico; he scored only twice more in the remaining six games, and one of those in the final. Instead, what stood out was his unique vision and creativity.

Employed as one of two playmakers behind first Success Isaac, then Taiwo Awoniyi in a 4-3-2-1/4-3-3 hybrid, Iheanacho thrived when drifting centrally between opposition lines of defence and midfield. His initial wide position often made him difficult to track, and from this zone he wreaked absolute mayhem.

He completed the tournament with seven assists, none more beautiful – or totemic – than his slide rule pass for Awoniyi’s opener in the quarter-final against Uruguay.

His lock-picking abilities fuelled a sense of excitement about his arrival; Nigeria has struggled for overt creativity since the declines of Kanu and, to an extent, Jay-Jay Okocha—players who, in their right, were the final hold-overs of the national team’s golden era in the mid-to-late 90s.

However, since joining City, he has featured mostly as a pure centre-forward. In a way, you could lay it at the door of the broad spectrum of attributes he possesses: he is a very composed finisher and, standing at over 6ft, is no soft touch. His goals for Manuel Pellegrini’s side also suggest he is doing well enough in the role, and he continues to provide assists, as Raheem Sterling can attest.

However, the Chilean’s imagining of the player could, in the long run, be detrimental to the Super Eagles. Nigeria is not short on young strikers with great potential (Imoh Ezekiel, Michael Olaitan, the aforementionaed Awoniyi and Isaac, to name very few), what it does lack is competent playmakers.

Iheanacho could become the player City want, but not the one that Nigeria needs.

If this story arc tugs at the fringes of memory, that is because there is recent form for the national team being deprived of a great

John Obi Mikel (left) and Kelechi Iheanacho

talent through a change in role.

John Obi Mikel , himself a prodigy with the world at his feet, made a move to nouveau-riche Chelsea to much acclaim. What Nigeria got back was half the player, generously watered-down and disinclined to produce the sort of sublime, effortless brilliance that had seen him share a podium with Lionel Messi.

The Super Eagles persisted in fielding Mikel in the role: surely there was something left, the embers could still be coaxed into, if not a raging blaze, at least a flickering candle.

The experiment failed calamitously, leading Samson Siasia, under whom Mikel had blossomed in the beginning, to lament, “Chelsea destroyed the player Mikel once was!”

Pulling in two completely different directions is an entirely apt illustration—by the analogy, the club role exerts greater stress, as international breaks are intermittent. In the

end, the limit of elasticity entailed Nigeria had to accept Mikel for what he had become, rather than what had been expected.

At some point in the near future, when his evolution is complete, Nigeria will have to accept the Iheanacho that has been sculpted at Manchester City. That is not necessarily a bad thing: Robin van Persie underwent a somewhat similar transmutation into a fearsome centre-forward and, in the process, has become the top scorer in the history of the Dutch national team. Still, whatever heights the teenager hits as a striker, there will always be the sense that a great opportunity has been lost Feelers around new boss Sunday Oliseh indicate that Kelechi Iheanacho will be a key component of the new Super Eagles. The question once again is - what version will he be hoping to get, and will he be prepared for the inevitable disappointment?

Africa U-23 Cup of Nations: Nigeria awaits foes Sept 1 Nigeria’s U-23 Men’s Football Team, popularly known as the Dream Team VI, will know its opponents for the preliminary group phase of the forthcoming Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal on Monday, September 14.

According to thenff.com, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), after its recent Executive Committee meeting, confirmed the 22

date for the draw of the second edition of the tournament, scheduled to hold between 28 November and 12 December.

The Dream Team booked a ticket for the tournament after a 2-1 aggregate win over the Red Devils of Congo-Brazzaville in the final round of qualifiers concluded earlier this month. Nigeria and seven other countries including host, Senegal, will be drawn into two groups of four teams each in the final race to choose Africa’s flag bearers in the Men’s Foot-

ball event at next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Other countries for the championship slated for the cities of Dakar and M’Bour are; Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Mali, Zambia and South Africa. The top three teams at the end of the tournament automatically qualify to fly Africa’s flag in Brazil, while the fourth team would engage an Asian side in a play off to decide who joins the party in Rio. Meanwhile, the CAF Executive Commit-

tee, at its recent meeting, also confirmed that the draw for the 4th African Nations Championship, scheduled for Rwanda between 16 January and 7 February, 2016, will take place in Kigali on November 18. Nigeria has Burkina Faso hurdle to cross over two legs in October.

A CAF inspection team is scheduled to visit Rwanda between 23 and 27 August to appraise the state of preparedness for the 4th African Nations Championship, and also have working sessions with the Local Organizing Committee.

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015

Fast-rising Morsi firing Zamalek revival For a whole decade, the Egyptian Premier League shield has eluded Zamalek, the pain of this drought only worsened by the fact that, during this period, long-standing rivals Al Ahly Sporting Club were champions no fewer than eight times. This past season, however, Zamalek ended a remarkably lengthy edition – which lasted 321 days – by winning their 13th title, cue scenes of huge relief and joy from Zamalek fans delighted to see the shield back in their team’s hands.

Zamalek’s dreams had rested on a largely new team, which gradually began to take shape from the beginning of the season in September 2014. Gone, on this occasion, was a reliance on a single star name, with club and fans aware that title success would require the whole squad to pull together for a common goal – a state of affairs that helped keep a lid on expectations and pressure.

The emergence of 24-year-old Basem Morsi thus proved something of a pleasant surprise, the player earning plaudits from Zamalek supporters and beyond with his scoring exploits – going on to finish second in the league’s scorers’ charts. Having gone from relative obscurity to stardom in just a few short months, even earning the nickname “The Idol in White” (in reference to Zamalek’s colours), Morsi spoke exclusively with FIFA.com in the aftermath of the championship win about his rising profile and future goals.

Perseverance pays dividends Though he showed a nose for goal at previous clubs Petrojet and El Entag El Harby, few would have predicted the heights that Morsi has hit this season.

Snapped up ahead of the 2014/15 campaign by Zamalek, he had been told to expect to start on the bench as the team’s fourth-choice striker.

Yet this outwardly calm and reserved

individual is not short on ambition or belief and, though failing to get off the scoring mark in the first five weeks of the championship, come week six he had netted his first goal and never looked back.

With greater focus and more opportunities, Morsi’s charge towards the upper reaches of the scorers’ charts had begun.

“I knew that breaking into the first team would be difficult, but every time I pulled on the white shirt I was determined to make my presence felt,” said Morsi.

“My aim wasn’t just to play, but to help the team to win the league once again and become the top goalscorer. We achieved our main aim and won the league, which was of course the most important thing for everyone. My mission wasn’t finished though, and I ended up coming second with 18 goals (two behind the division’s top scorer).”

So, to what does Morsi attribute his rapid rise to a key role at Zamalek? “The deal all of us Zamalek players at the beginning of the season made with each other to win the league was vital,” he revealed. “Our coaching staff are very well prepared too, which provided us with stability. The players focused their full attention on achieving wins for Zamalek, and on the pitch everyone supported everyone else. That’s why we achieved success and eventually made our dream happen.

“This achievement made us very happy, and I definitely owe a debt to my team-mates who supported me and backed me up in every match,” he continued. “Though I wasn’t able to finish the league’s top goalscorer, that will only increase my determination to come back next season and try again. I won’t settle for anything less than reaching the top.”

What next for Morsi?

Not content with winning the league title, Morsi feels that success is just Zamalek’s first step towards even greater honours: “We won the league title this season but that’s not enough for us: it’s not our only objective.

Basem Morsi

“We’re still in the Egypt Cup, with big matches coming up in the knockout stage as we chase a league and cup double.

We’re also still in the CAF Confederation Cup, drawing close to a place in the semi-finals, and one of our goals is to win another continental title. These goals motivate us to end the campaign in the best possible way, then to come back with renewed strength next season and attempt to keep hold of what we’ve won.”

Another pending issue is whether the striker has the potential to one day translate his domestic form into a move to a major European league, following in the footsteps of his former club-mate Mohamed Salah – now of AS Roma. “Mo Salah and I were team-mates at Tanta FC when we were younger, and of course I wish him all the best in his pro career. I’ve got big ambitions too,” explained Morsi.

“I’m with Zamalek now and I’m going to give everything I’ve got for the White Knight, but if I get an offer from abroad I will naturally consider it. For the moment though I’m happy where I am and my goal is to give Zamalek’s wonderful fans plenty to celebrate. As players, we owe that to them.”

Flying start for Premier League’s African contingent Continued from back page

....Fellow Senegalese, Papiss Cissé, scored Newcastle’s late first half equaliser up at St James’s Park, before his team took the lead just after the break. Sadly, the Magpies could not hold on and it was Southampton that had the final say in a 2-2 stalemate.

On Merseyside, Côte d’Ivoire’s Arouna Koné scored Everton’s second equaliser - sparing the Toffees the ignominy of going down to newly promoted Watford, who had Nigerian Odion Ighabo to thank for restoring their one goal advantage in a game that also ended 2-2.

Back in London, champions Chelsea’s early lead was soon pegged back by Swansea new boy, Ghana’s André Ayew, in yet another game that ended honours even at 2-2.

Finally, Ivorian-born England international Wilfred Zaha started Crystal Palace on their way to a 3-1 away win over promoted Norwich City in a game that could have hinged on a contentious disallowed goal from the Canaries when the score was 2-1.

So, an altogether good weekend for Af-

rican players, many of whom have been enjoying substantial success in other European leagues for years.

Constrained by finances, clubs in the lower divisions patently got the message many seasons ago and have reaped rewards from their adventures in many cases. The transfer window remains open until the end of August, leaving plenty of time for clubs to offer opportunities to players from our previously maligned continent.

Espérance de Tunis seal Bamako win

Espérance de Tunis sealed a 1-0 victory over Stade Malien in Bamako on Monday, in matchday 4 of the Confederation Cup in Group A.

Interrupted at the 49th minute at Stade Modibo Keita on Sunday, due to heavy rains, the match continued this Monday at the same venue, with the same officials and same players, and in exactly the same conditions.

One goal up as the game resumed, after Nigerian striker Samuel Eduok had broken the deadlock in the 23rd minute on Sunday, the Tunisian giants managed to hold onto their narrow advantage until the final whistle with keeper Sami Helal denying the Malians’ only clear opportunity in the 73rd minute.

Still bringing up the rear in their Group A of Africa’s second-tier club competition, four points adrift of second-placed Al Ahly, the ‘Blood and Gold’ are back in the race after opening their tally.

However, Espérance will have to get maximum points from their last two outings against Al Ahly and Etoile Sportive du Sahel to keep their semi-finals hopes alive.

Shabba enjoying Chiefs captaincy

Siphiwe Tshabalala says he is enjoying wearing the captain’s armband at Kaizer Chiefs and is looking forward to this weekend’s MTN8 clash against Bloemfontein Celtic.

‘Shabba’ was handed the armband ahead of the start of the season, with the 30-year-old midfielder succeeding Tefu Mashamaite as the team’s skipper.

Tshabalala’s two matches as captain have been a 5-3 win over Maritzburg United in the MTN8 quarterfinals and last weekend’s goalless draw away to Chippa United in the Absa Premiership.

This weekend he will lead his side out for the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal against BΩ¸loemfontein Celtic at Free State Stadium.

“I’m enjoying the leadership role. It comes with huge responsibility,” ‘Shabba’ said ahead of Sunday’s match in Bloemfontein.

Meanwhile, the left-footed midfielder feels Chiefs showed great character in the come-from-behind defeat of Maritzburg.

“We need to rectify the mistakes from the Maritzburg game. The Maritzburg United game was a test of character. We showed that we are very strong mentally.”

In regards to the match against Celtic he added: “The crowd in Bloemfontein will be cheering them. We need to work hard. We want to play well. We want to win.”

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Friday, 14 August - Thursday, 20 August 2015 ISSUE 592

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Will Iheanacho follow Mikel’s road to mediocrity?

SEE PAGE 22

Clout of Africa

Flying start for Premier League’s African contingent

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez (left) was the early front-runner for Barclays Premier League top scorer until Man City’s Yaya Touré matched his brace on Monday evening

By Alan Oakley

Barely ten weeks since what for a moment looked like a downto-the-wire contest for English football supremacy petered out into a win-at-a-canter for José Mourinho’s Chelsea, the Barclays Premier League is back, and early signs are that Africa could become the new ‘go-to’ place for talent on a budget.

Ten of the goals registered in match day one of the Premier League were scored by African players; shading the seven (including an own goal) that were scored by British players; two from Irishmen; six from continental Europeans; and five (including an own goal) from South or Central Americans.

Algerian Riyad Mahrez topped the scoring charts and can claim have been the Premier League’s leading scorer for 48 hours with his brace in Leicester City’s

convincing 4-2 defeat of Sunderland at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

That was until Côte d’Ivoire’s Yaya Touré netted two in Manchester City’s Monday night clash with West Brom at The Hawthorns.

At the Emirates’ Stadium in north London, Senegal’s Cheikhou Kouyaté stunned Arsenal with West Ham United’s first in a 2-0 win made even more surprising because the Hammers can have barely recovered from a hard-fought Europa League... qualifier second leg on Thursday.

Continued on page 23

African Voice Newspaper is published by African Voice Communications. Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP. Tel: 020 3737 3077 Registered at the British Library as a newspaper. ISSN 1475-2166.Email: africanvoicenews@googlemail.com