Believe Africa Magazine

RWANDA

AFRICAN

RECOVERY BEYOND WOMEN STEP UP THEIR IMAGINATION GAMES

NIGERIA

FINDING

CREEPS BACK INTO DEBT TRAP SIX YEARS AFTER RELIEVE

THE LUMPS IN THE BREAST

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DIEZANI ALLISON-MADUEKE: THE CONTROVERSIAL REFORMER

CLEANING THE ROT IN NIGERIA PETROLEUM INDUSTRY Nigeria: N500 Ghana: C3.00 U.A.E. 20 DRH South Africa: R50 USA: $5.00

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IN

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EDITORIAL

WIND OF CHANGE

IN THE “HOPELESS AFRICA” n the May 21st, 2000 edition of The Economist magazine, an article titled “Hopeless Africa” was published. The 974 words article catalogued Africa, from Sierra Leone to Congo, and concluded in the opinion of the writer(s) that our continent is hopeless. A portion of the article reads, “Sierra Leone manifests all the continent's worst characteristics. It is an extreme, but not untypical, example of a state with all the epiphenomena and none of the

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Advisory Board: Capt. Paul Thahal, OON- (Chairman) Prof. Taiwo Akinlosotu Rev. Seyi Adenuga Editor in Chief: Alex ‘Yele Akinlosotu Associate Editor: Nathaniel Olatunbosun Contributors Appiah Adomako USA Simon Akam Sierra Loene Musa Tansa Cameroun Alphonso Toweh Liberia Falodun Abiodun Europe Graphic: Emmanuel Yamtu Circulation: Arashiya Ruth Kagarko Marketing Consultant: Playhorse Communications Ltd Legal Acolade Legal Service

Contact: Suite 362, Olusegun Obasanjo Block Garki International Market, Abuja, Nigeria P.M.B. 5666, Garki, Abuja Editorial Hotline: +234 818 400 2373 Adverts: +234 803 462 5550 Email: info@believeafrica.net Web: www.believeafrica.net twitter.com/believeafrica; facebook.com/believeafrica Letters to the Editor, with the writer's name and address, should be e-mailed to info@believeafrica.net.

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Online Edition of Believe Africa news is available on our news website: www.believeafrica.net.

Photo credit: flikr.com; Fresh Professional Photo Studio, Ibadan Nigeria.

Copyrights 2012. Believe Africa Magazine is published every month by Alxmyr Media and Event Company. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission in writing of Alxmyr Media and Event Company. Printed in Dubai, U.A.E. by Dubai Printing Press.

institutions of government. It has poverty and disease in abundance, and riches too: its diamonds sustain the rebels who terrorise the place. It is unusual only in its brutality: rape, cannibalism and amputation have been common, with children often among the victims. For this it can thank, above all, Foday Sankoh, the rebel leader brought into government in an ill-advised “peace” deal”.

While the article could have been a reflection of Africa then in the 90s and early 2000s, Africa has indeed pick up its shackles, start the genuine processes of mending the wounds created by wars and violence. It has begun new journey into prosperous continent.

Rwanda is a good example of how a country once raveled by war and genocide can recover and mend its broken and shattered dream. Rwanda provided the opportunity for the world to see. It gives hope that despite wars and strife in many countries of Africa, Africa can indeed solve her problem and the Africa is not hopeless.

In the task of rebuilding Africa, women are not left out.

Currently, two African women are President. This is the first time in the history of Africa that out of the 54 nations in the continent, 2 are women attending African Union Summits as sitting presidents. African Union knowing the significance of women in peace and nation building elected a woman as the head of the organization.

Opportunities abound in Africa. Investments in any sector in the continent yield more return than any other continent. African leaders are now focusing on reforms and transparency. Today's Africa has departed significantly from the Africa that was called Hopeless by the Economist.

Today's Africa is the Africa that is ready to embrace change, clamour for good governance, take on development reforms and confront its fears.

The consensus is building up. From the revolution in North Africa that evolving into democratic North Africa to entrenched democratic example in Ghana and the stable gross domestic growth in Nigeria, Africa is gearing up to take a pride place in the comity of nations.

Our mandate is to locate abundant opportunities that abound in Africa and bring those opportunities to the attention of the world. We explore the beauty of its people, the splendour of its environment and the allure of its culture.

This edition is packed with juicy and well researched articles. It also provide you an opportunity to explore the beauty of Africa culture. More importantly, it educates and entertains your pleasure.

I hope to see you in the next edition when we will be unveiling gold mines that are least exploited in Africa. It promises to be an eye-opening edition, as we unveil hidden treasures in real estate development in Africa. The next edition of Believe Africa magazine is a must for every African and friends of Africa.

Gratia.

Alex Yele Akinlosotu

CONTENTS

10

Nigeria Creeps Back Into Debt Trap Six Years After Relieve

12

22

Africa Women Step Up Their Game: As They Break New Grounds

15

Cleaning the rot in Nigeria’s Petroleum industry 7 The New Petroleum Industry Bill 9

Finding the Lumps in the Breast: Easy Way Detect to Breast Cancer Early

PALM OIL PLANTATION DEAL QUESTIONS AFRICA'S READINESS FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

28

30

Allison-Madueke: The Controversial Reformer 10 Ondo Heats up as Guber Candidates Emerge

NEXT EDITION

34

20 Read On Android, Blackberry and iPad

Fashion According to Jeannette Kagame, Rwanda First Lady

Magazine www.believeafrica.net/mobile

Brief News

HARARE

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME SAYS 1.6 M PEOPLE NEEDS AIDS IN ZIMBABWE ARARE - The number of people needing food aid in Zimbabwe will rise by 60 percent this year to 1.6 million, the World Food Programme said recently, citing an annual assessment carried out by the United Nations and the Zimbabwean government.

A poor farming season this year is blamed on erratic rainfall and limited access to seeds and fertilisers, which prompted Finance Minister Tendai Biti to cut the 2012 growth forecast to 5.6 percent from 9.4 percent.

Zimbabwe harvested 1.077 million tonnes of cereals in the 2011/12 season, down by onethird from the previous season and the lowest since 2009 when a unity government formed by President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai helped revive a sinking economy.

Nearly one in five rural people in the southern African state will need food aid during the peak of next year's "hunger season", which runs from January to March when new crops are not ready for harvest, the WFP said in a statement.

"Our field staff are already reporting signs of distress in rural areas, including empty granaries and farmers selling off their livestock to make ends meet," said Felix Bamezon, the WFP country director.

In December the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 1.45 million would need food aid.

Biti said last week that agriculture production for the 2011/2012 season had fallen 5.8 percent, leaving a grain deficit of 445,000 tonnes, which would be partly met through imports by the private sector.

The WFP said it would import cereals from neighbouring countries to distribute in rural Zimbabwe but would also hand out cash in some areas to allow people to buy their own cereals.

H

ACCRA

GHANA RULING PARTY PICKS PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

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hana's ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party has agreed to name President John Dramani Mahama as its candidate in a presidential election due in December, a top party official told Reuters on Thursday.

"The (National Executive Committee) has adopted a motion to endorse President Mahama as the NDC flag bearer for the 2012 elections. There was no opposition to the motion," George

Lawson, NDC deputy general secretary, said after a party meeting in Accra.

Lawson said the NEC resolution meant Mahama, who took over as Ghana's leader after incumbent John Atta Mills died on Tuesday, would be unopposed and officially endorsed at a September 1 party congress.

ABUJA

'Things Fall Apart' Gets Persian Translation

hings Fall Apart, the world best-selling novel by Nigerian author, Prof. Chinua Achebe, has been translated into Persian by Ali Hodavand and has been released in Iran.

Things Fall Apart is an English-language novel by Achebe, published in 1958.

It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first African novels written in English to receive global critical acclaim, according to IBNA. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world. The title of the novel

T

comes from William Butler Yeats's poem “The Second Coming”.

The novel depicts the life of Okonkwo, a leader and local wrestling champion in Umuofia one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people (archaically, and in the novel, “Igbo”).

It focuses on his family and personal history, the customs and society of the Igbo, and the influence of British colonialism and Christian missionaries on the Igbo community during the late nineteenth century.

The novel is studied widely in Europe and North America, where it has spawned numerous secondary and tertiary analytical works.

Cover Story

CLEANING THE ROT IN NIGERIA’S PETROLEUM INDUSTRY Story: Yele A. Akinlosotu with Agency Reporters

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igeria President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan promised to give women 35% cabinet posts during his campaign for include women in his cabinet, 13 women made it into his Federal Executive Council. Amongst the 13 women are Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former managing director of World Bank, former minister of Foreign Affairs and Finance and an IVY League graduate and Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, former minister, former director of Shell Petroleum Development Corporation and a first class graduate of Architecture. Both have special task, first is to rescue the nation from reckless financial burden and chart a new fiscal policy for the nation of largest population in Africa, the latter's job is to clean up the petroleum sector; the mainstay of Nigeria economy. But for either of the two, these are herculean task.

Most especially for Diezani Allison- Madueke she has to grow thick skin to deliver on her mandate for President Jonathan's administration.

Her job involved tackling entrenched corruption in oil industry.

Petroleum Industry The petroleum industry in Nigeria is the largest industry and main generator of GDP in the West African nation which is also the continent's most populous. Since oil was discovered in Oloibiri, in present day Bayelsa state in the late 1950s, the oil industry has been marred by political and economic strife largely due to a long history of corrupt military regimes and complicity of multinational corporations, notably Royal Dutch Shell.

Nigeria petroleum exports account for more than 80% of foreign earnings and about 70% of federal government revenue, as well as generating more than 40% of its GDP. It also provides 90% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of government budgetary revenues.

Nigeria's proven oil reserves are estimated at between 16 and 22 billion barrels but there are claims that there could be as much as 35.3 billion barrels reserve. Its reserves make Nigeria the tenth most petroleum-rich nation, and by the far the most affluent in Africa.

Nigeria has a total of 159 oil fields and 1481 wells in operation according to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The most

productive region of the nation is the coastal Niger Delta Basin in the Niger Delta or "South-south" region which encompasses 78 of the 159 oil fields. Most of Nigeria's oil fields are small and scattered, and as of 1990, these small unproductive fields accounted for 62.1% of all Nigerian production.

The U.S. remains the largest importer of Nigeria's crude oil, accounting for 40% of the country's total oil exports. Nigeria provides about 10% of overall U.S. oil imports and ranks as the fifth-largest source for oil imports in the U.S. Nigeria's total petroleum refining capacity is 445,000 barrels per day (70,700 m3/d), however, only 240,000 bbl/d (38,000 m3/d) was allotted during the 1990s.

Subsequently crude oil production for refineries was reduced further to as little as 75,000 bbl/d (11,900 m3/d) during the regime of Sanni Abacha. There are four major oil refineries: the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Plant which can process 125 million barrels (19,900,000 m3) of crude per day, the New Port Harcourt Refinery which can produce 150 million barrels per day (24,000,000 m3/d) (there is also an 'Old' Port Harcourt Refinery with negligible production), as well as the now defunct Kaduna Refinery. The Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries both operate at only 30% capacity. It is estimated that demand and consumption of petroleum in Nigeria grows at a rate of 12.8% annually.

NATIONALIZATION OF OIL INDUSTRY In May 1971, the Nigerian federal government, then under the control of General Yakubu Gowon, nationalised the oil industry by creating the Nigerian National Oil Corporation through a decree. Following the war with Biafra, the government felt it necessary to secure and gain more control over the oil industry. Nationalization of the oil sector was also precipitated by Nigeria's desire to join OPEC, which required that member states acquire 51% stake and become increasingly involved in the oil sector.

Although the Nigerian government had maintained involvement in the industry prior to 1971, this was accomplished mainly through business deals on concessions of the foreign firms in operation. The creation of the NNOC made government participation in the industry legally binding. The federal

government would continue to consolidate its oil involvement throughout the next several decades.

BEHEST OF CORRUPTION However, it was during the years of Gowon and his successors Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo known officially as the Heads of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, who ruled amidst the oil boom of the 1970s that the political economy of petroleum in Nigeria truly became characterized by endemic patronage and corruption by the political elites, which plagues the nation to this day. At both state and federal government levels, power and therefore wealth has typically been monopolized by select lobby groups who maintain a strong tendency to 'look after their own' by financially rewarding their political supporters. At the state or community level this means that interest groups in power will reward and protect their own; this is typically based on ethnic/tribal or religious affiliation of the interest group. The heavy patronage based on tribal affiliation has fuelled ethnic unrest and violence throughout Nigeria, but particularly in the Niger Delta states, where the stakes for control of the immense oil resources are very high. At the federal level, political elites have utilised patronage to consolidate power for the ruling government, not only by rewarding their political friends in the federal government, but also by paying off major interest groups at the state or tribal level in order to elicit their cooperation.

Inevitably these financial favours are distributed unequally and inefficiently, resulting in concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small minority.

Following the NNOC's genesis, the Nigerian government persisted in garnering control over oil revenues, in 1972 it declared that all property not currently owned by a foreign entity is legally the property of the government, which gained jurisdiction of the sale and allocation of concessions to foreign investment. The military regime oversaw the implementation of a number of other important milestones related to oil: 1974: Participation in oil industry by government increases to 55%.

1975: Decree 6 increases federal government share in oil sector to 80%, with only 20% going to states.

1976: First exploration and development venture by NNOC undertaken and drills to uncover commercial quantities of petroleum off-shore.

1978: Perhaps most importantly, the federal government created the Land Use Act which vested control over state lands in control of military governors appointed by the federal military regime, and eventually

led to Section 40(3) of the 1979 constitution which declared all minerals, oil, natural gas, and natural resources found within the bounds of Nigeria to be legal property of the Nigerian federal government.

1979: In an effort to establish further control over the industry, the government merges and restructures the NNOC and the Ministry of Petroleum to form the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, an entity which would exert more power over the allocation and sale of concessions than the NNOC. By 1979, the NNPC had also gained 60% participation in the oil industry.

The 1982 Revenue Act implemented by second republic government of Alhaji Sheu Shagari would eventually be modified by yet another military regime in 1984 via Decree 36 which reduced government share of oil revenue from 80% to 55%. 32.5% go to states and 10% to local governments. The remaining 1.5% was earmarked as a special fund to develop oil producing areas, this was not complied with. During the Shagari regime corruption in Nigerian governance reached its zenith and capital flight out of Nigeria peaked, while the oil-producing peoples continued to receive little to no share of the oil profits despite generating as much as US$ $24.9 billion, Nigeria still managed an international debt of $9 billion.

By 1985 when General Ibrahim Babangida, took over power, Nigeria had been saddled with a crushingly large international debt. This was because, despite over 101 billion US dollars having been generated by the oil industry between 1958 and 1983, nearly all of these funds had been siphoned into the private bank accounts and the state sponsored pet projects maintained by the succession of Nigerian governmental elites.

The 1980s military juntas conducted several attempted re-organizations of the NNPC to increase its efficiency. However, according to most sources by the early 1990s the NNPC was characterized by chronic inefficiency and waste. Red tape and poor organization are standard, with the NNPC being divided into several sub-entities, each fulfilling a particular function. This is despite the NNPC's growing participation in the industry, including development and exploration of numerous off-shore wells. As a result, the functionality of the industry is dependent on foreign corporations, not the NNPC. The sudden jump in oil prices caused by the First Gulf War in 1990 and 1991, as most researchers confirm, was at best squandered.

The Babangida junta has been widely accused of "mismanaging" the oil windfall from the Gulf War price jump, which accounted for about $12.5 billion in revenues. Another alleges that the federal government siphoned off about $12.2 billion between 1988 and 1994

into private accounts or expenditures, "clandestinely undertaken while the country was openly reeling with a crushing external debt".

Joint Venture companies All petroleum production and exploration is taken under the auspices of joint ventures between foreign multi-national corporations and the Nigerian federal government. This joint venture manifests itself as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, a nationalised state corporation. All companies operating in Nigeria obey government operational rules and naming conventions (companies operating in Nigeria must legally be sub-entities of the main corporation, often incorporating "Nigeria" into its name).

Joint ventures account for approximately 95% of all crude oil output, while local independent companies operating in marginal fields account for the remaining 5%. Additionally, the Nigerian constitution states that all minerals, oil, and gas legally belong to the federal government.

NATURAL GAS FLARING Nigeria flares more natural gas associated with oil extraction than any other country, with estimates suggesting that of the 3.5 billion cubic feet (99,000,000 m3) of associated gas (AG) produced annually, 2.5 billion cubic feet (71,000,000 m3), or about 70% is wasted via flaring. Statistical data associated with gas flaring is notoriously unreliable, but AG wasted during flaring is estimated to cost Nigeria US $2.5 billion on a yearly basis.

Gas flaring is discouraged by the international community as it contributes to climate change. In fact, in western Europe 99% of associated gas is used or re-injected into the ground. Gas flaring in Nigeria releases large amounts methane, which has very high global warming potential. The methane is accompanied by carbon dioxide, of which Nigeria is estimated to have emitted more than 34.38million tons in 2002, accounting for about 50% of all industrial emissions in the country and 30% of the total CO2 emissions. As flaring in the west has been minimised, in Nigeria it has grown proportionally with oil production. While the international community, the Nigerian government, and the oil corporations seem to agree that gas flaring need to be curtailed, efforts to do so have been slow and largely ineffective.

In November 2005 a judgment by, "the Federal High Court of Nigeria ordered that gas flaring must stop in a Niger Delta community as it violates guaranteed constitutional rights to life and dignity. In a case brought against the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (Shell), Justice C. V. Nwokorie ruled in Benin City

that the damaging and wasteful practice of flaring cannot lawfully continue."

CLEANING UP OIL SECTOR When Diezani Allison-Madueke took over the rein of leadership of Nigeria's oil sector, she was hailed by all and sundry as the square peg in a square hole. Having spent all her career life in the petroleum sector where she rose to the position of an executive director at Shell Petroleum, she was expected to understand the industry. She clearly understood the challenges facing the industry and she is determined clean up the industry. Her resolve made her step on toes.

The toes Allison-Madueke stepped on are toes of powerful individuals, who had entrenched culture of corruption, blocked every effort of successive government to clean-up the mainstay of Nigeria economy and had enshrined itself in the practice of economic sabotage at the expense of 165 million Nigerians.

THE TOES DIEZANI STEPPED ON Immediately she assumed office, she sought the consent of Nigeria president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to investigate and audit the account Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. This is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria Oil Corporation; its account has never been subjected to auditing.

When she brought in international reputable audit firm, it was clear to the cabal within the corporation that it is no longer business as usual.

Then she intensified efforts at ensuring the passage of Petroleum industry Bill (PIB) during the life span of the Sixth National Assembly. The bill though was submitted to the National Assembly by the late president, Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua, it lacked the backing of members of the National Assembly. Many saw the bill as an effort to make the northern parts of the Nigeria pay more for petroleum products than their southern counterparts.

Soon after Allison-Madueke initiated a process that ensured that every parts of Nigeria 'is constantly wet with petrol'. This ensure that more importer of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS have access to license that enable them to import fuel. Although the process was grossly abused but it threw up major debate on the continuous dependent of the sixth largest exporter of crude oil on imported fuel. The furore that trailed the removal of fuel subsidy gave birth to the new Petroleum Industry Bill currently under consideration of the Nigeria National Assembly.

THE NEW PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BILL The New Petroleum Industry Bill is aimed at creating conducive business for petroleum

operations, enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources, optimize gas supply for power generation and industrial use, and commercialize parastatals currently enjoying government monopoly in the industry. It will also ensure deregulation and liberalization of the downstream sector, create efficient regulatory agencies, promote transparency and develop Nigerian content in the industry.

OWNERSHIP The new Petroleum Industry Bill vested the ownership of petroleum in the Federal Government of Nigeria and the government manages resources from the industry.

ROLE OF PETROLEUM MINISTER DEFINED Under the new bill functions of the petroleum Minister include formulation of policies, determination and monitoring of government policies for the petroleum industry. The minister exercises general supervisory functions, report development in the industry to the Federal Executive Council. S/He is expected to advise the government on all matters pertaining the petroleum industry, negotiate and execute international treaties and agreement with other sovereign countries, international organizations on behalf of government.

The minister also exercise power upon advice to grant, amend, renew extend or revoke licenses for upstream petroleum, gas transportation pipeline, gas distribution, refineries, LNG and GTL plants, petrochemical plants, gas exports and downstream sector of the oil industry. S/he is expected to advise the president on appointments of Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate, Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency, National Oil Company, Asset Management Corporation and other agencies created by the Act. NEW AGENCIES PETROLEUM TECHNICAL BUREAU The bureau is to be a special unit in the office of the minister comprising of experts in the upstream and downstream sector of the industry. It will provide professional support to the minister and assist the minster in the formulation and development of strategies to implement government policies and assist the minister in monitoring government policy in the industry. Other functions include identification of opportunities, development of exploration strategies, evaluation of unassigned frontier and stimulation of interest of local and foreign investors in petroleum industry.

UPSTREAM PETROLEUM INSPECTORATE This body will be a corporate entity and have power to enter into contract and incur obligation. It will be run by a Directorgeneral which will be appointed by the President upon the advise of the Minister of Petroleum. It will be vested with assets and liabilities of Upstream sector. Its objective are to promote efficient, safe, effective and sustainable infrastructural development of the upstream sector, regulate all technical aspect of the upstream, regulate commercial activities within upstream sector, determine and ensure implementation of technical standards and specifications applicable to upstream sector, execute government policies, facilitate enabling environment for investment in the upstream petroleum sector.

The Inspectorate is expected to administer and enforce policies, laws and regulations relating to all aspect of upstream petroleum operations, ensure and enforce compliance with terms and conditions of all leases, licenses, permits and authorizations issued in respect of upstream The new agency will also set and approve standard for design, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance for all plant, installations and facilities pertaining the upstream operations. It is also expected to maintain petroleum industry data bank and as well issue licenses for seismic activities, drilling and design of all upstream facilities. Conduct bid rounds for award of petroleum prospecting license and petroleum mining leases subject to the minister's approval. It will compute assess and ensure payment of royalties, rentals, fees and other charges in the upstream sector.

The inspectorate is empowered to revoke, renew and suspend any license or permits issued by it and advise the minister in regards to this. It will monitor and enforce applications of its tariff and pricing framework and institute legal proceeding against any licensee that fail to comply with requirements dictates of such license.

The inspectorate has special power to investigate any person or organization in relation to any of its function or powers, keep surveillance on oil and gas installations where there is suspicion of illegal petroleum operation and arrest without warrant any person found committing any offence relating to petroleum sector.

DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM REGULATORY AGENCY DPRA Like the upstream inspectorate, it will be a corporate entity . The agency will promote efficient and effective infrastructural development in the downstream industry, regulate all technical

aspects and regulate the downstream industry.

The agency will administer and enforce laws and regulations relating to all aspect of downstream petroleum operations, ensure and enforce compliance with terms and agreement of all license, set standard for operations, design, procurement and construction of all plants and facilities pertaining to the downstream operations. It will also issue and renew licenses, permits and revoke such when needed. It will ultimately regulate the downstream sector in nondiscriminatory and transparent manner. It is expected that the agency will regulate bulk storage, transportation and transmission as well set rule for carriers of crude oil, gas and other petroleum products.

The agency under the new PIB is empowered to arrest situation of abuse of dominant power and restrictive business practices in the downstream sector, establish and implement appropriate dispute settlement mechanisms relating to parties engaged in downstream petroleum operation as may be prescribed by regulations. It will also regulate, license downstream gas distribution, petroleum products and its storage, retail outlets, design and construction of facilities for the industry, promote security of fuel supply in the downstream.

The agency is empowered to modify, extend, renew, suspend and revoke any license or permit, monitor and enforce application of tariff and pricing framework.

The body will be run by director-general which will be appointed by the president and consist of 12 members board with responsibilities to provide general guidelines related to the agency, review and approve strategic plans of the agency and ensure efficient performance of the Agency.

Petroleum Equalization Fund: EF will continue to exist until government decided that petroleum product market has been effectively deregulated. The management board will continue to hold fund in custody and in trust for reimbursement of petroleum products marketing companies suffering loss solely and exclusively as a result of sale of the product at a government benchmark prices.

Petroleum Host Community Fund When the new bill becomes a law, it is expected to tackle the problem of the Niger Delta and its restiveness. In one swoop, the Petroleum Host Community Fund, PHCF will dampened the agitations of youths in the Niger Delta and as well protect the petroleum industry facilities in the host community. The PHCF will be used to develop the economic and social infrastructure of the communities within petroleum producing area. Upstream companies shall remit 10% of their net profit directly to PHC Fund.

Allison MaduekeThe Controverisal Reformer The act attempted to solve problem of vandalism and destruction of petroleum facilities by introducing section 118 subsection 5: “where an act of vandalism, sabotage or other civil unrest occurs that causes damage to any petroleum facilities within a host community, the cost of repair of such facility shall be paid from the PHC Fund entitlement unless it is established that no member of the community is responsible.”

The minister however shall make regulations on entitlement, governance and management structure with respect to the PHC Fund.

iezani Alison-Madueke was born on 6th December, 1960, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, to the family of a royal family from Yenaka, Yenagoa Local Government Area, of the oilrich Bayelsa State.

Mrs Alison-Madueke completed her early education in Nigeria and the United Kingdom before proceeding to study Architecture in the United States. She completed her 5-year professional Architectural degree at Howard University, Washington D. C. She began her working career at Charles Szoradi Architects, moving on to American Interior Builders Inc. as Project Engineer, both in Washington D.C. In 1988, she joined Furman Construction Management Inc. Rockville, Maryland, as Design Coordinator, returning to Howard University as an in-house Project Manager and a member of the Planning and Development team responsible for the design and implementation of a comprehensive master building and renovation plan for the University.

Mrs Alison-Madueke joined Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1992 as Head of the Project Unit of the Estate Development Division in Lagos, supervising the refurbishing and Maintenance of the

D

company's real estate in Lagos, Abuja and Jos. She later moved to the External Affairs Directorate as Head of the newly instituted Corporate Issues Identification and Management Department.

In 2002, Mrs Alison-Madueke was awarded the prestigious British Foreign and Commonwealth Chevening Scholarship and proceeded on sabbatical leave to the Cambridge Judge Business School (then called “Judge Institute of Management”), Cambridge University Hughes Hall, UK, where she obtained an MBA in 2003.

On her return, she was appointed Shell Nigeria's Senior JV Relations Adviser for Strategy and Planning and then Lead Ventures Relations Adviser, managing the company's relations and reputation amongst its Joint Venture partners. In 2006, in recognition of her track record of excellence, she was appointed to the board of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited, as External Affairs Director,

making her the first female to be so appointed in the history of Shell Petroleum Development Company's business practice in Nigeria.

She was appointed Minister of Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in July 2007 by late President, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar'Adua and charged with the responsibility of over-seeing the Maritime, Aviation, Railways, and Road Infrastructure of the Nation; Following a cabinet reshuffle in December 2008, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke was appointed the Minister of Mines and Steel Development in which she held the primary responsibility for directing the ministry's mandate in the exploitation of the nation's solid minerals and steel endowments; After a cabinet dissolution in March 2010, by President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke was appointed Nigeria's first female Minister for Petroleum Resources in which she holds the primary responsibility for the stewardship of Nigeria's vast oil and gas resources.

She was retained by President Jonathan after he won the 2011 election as the Minister of Petroleum. Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke is married with children to Rear Admiral Alison-Madueke (rtd), a former Governor of old Anambra and Imo States and a former Chief of Naval Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Madueke in a brainstorming session with members of Petroleum Industry Bill draft committee

Venue:

NICON LUXURY HOTLEL, ABUJA

Time:

5:00pm

Date:

5th October 2012

FOR ENQUIRIES CALL +234 803 462 5550, +234 818 400 2373 www.believedafrica.net/serviceaward

Agro-business

PALM OIL PLANTATION DEAL QUESTIONS AFRICA'S READINESS FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Herakles plantation is a test case for an African industry-in-the-making. Get it right; the continent could benefit. Get it wrong; Africa could see its resources consumed and its people deprived of livelihoods.

F

abe, a remote village in Cameroun, attracts world attention recently. Its people revolted against the village head; Wangoe Philip Ekole.

The villagers are angry with their chief for supporting planting palm oil in their rainforest home.

They put a curse on Ekole's seedling nursery which made his petrified workers to abandon their work and flee.

Ekole, who believes the project will bring people jobs and wealth, had persuaded them to return. But the whiff of revolt remained. Many of his 200 or so subjects accused him of seeking to enrich himself through the project. Some even disowned him as their leader.

The village dispute is part of the global struggle to feed the world - and central to a New York investment fund's bid to capitalize on that effort in Africa.

Expanding markets from Nigeria to China are fuelling a voracious appetite for more food. A big part of that demand will have to be met by palm oil, a low-cost fat coveted by food manufacturers and a mainstay of cooking across the tropics.

Since 2000, world demand for palm oil has doubled. Millions of hectares of forest in top producers Indonesia and Malaysia have been turned over to plantations.

That has prompted dismay among environmentalists and brought about tough new rules that are forcing planters to look

elsewhere. One of those places is Cameroon, a central African state whose 20 million people live on an average of $3 a day. New York-based Herakles Farms proposes planting a palm-oil farm stretching over 60,000 hectares of land.

Herakles says it will provide locals with steady work, roads and health care. But critics call the planned plantation, which would cover Fabe and at least 30 other forest villages, a land grab. They say it will threaten an ancient forest at the heart of the wider Congo Basin rainforest - the world's secondlargest after the Amazon.

Right now, Africa is the target of many companies hungry for forest land. An April 2012 study by the World Wildlife Fund and France's Institute for Research and Development noted that new regulations and scrutiny elsewhere are "encouraging large Asian companies to heavily invest in Central Africa."

Herakles Farms, owned by New York venture-finance firm Herakles Capital, and other food giants such as Malaysia's Sime Darby and Singapore's Olam, see the next big growth area down the west coast of Africa, from Liberia to Gabon.

The Herakles plantation is a test case for an African industry-in-the-making. Get it right and the continent could benefit. Get it wrong and Africa could see its resources consumed and its people deprived of livelihoods.

Chief Ekole has no doubt about what to do. "Is it the right of a chief to refuse light

where there is darkness?" asked Ekole, ensconced in the wood-carved throne of his royal hut. "Their grievance was that I had eaten all the money alone and they would have to leave their farms ... This is completely phony."

FOOD MACHINE The oil palm, or Elaeis guineensis, is a food-producing machine with few parallels.

Give it warmth, sun and rain and it will transform soil nutrients into fatty acids more efficiently - thus more lucratively than any rival.

The average palm plantation can generate four metric tons (1 metric ton = 1.1023 tons) of oil per hectare a year, six times the typical yield for rapeseed and 10 times that of soybeans. Small wonder it is the world's most important vegetable oil, with annual production of 50 million metric tons worth $20 billion.

Palm oil is used in everything from margarine and soap to biofuel. It is a prized dressing on dishes across West and Central Africa, and as its popularity has surged, so has its price. Malaysian palm oil now sells at around 3,000 ringgit ($940) a metric ton, triple what it cost in 2000.

Take the road from the coastal town of Limbe around the volcanic slopes of Mount Cameroon and barely a minute goes by without a new oil palm plantation.

What looks like a monolithic sea of palm is in fact a patchwork of smallholdings and larger plantations held by both the state and agro-industrial companies. Some plots date back to pre-1960 colonial rule.

Cameroon's current output of 230,000 metric tons makes it the world's 13th-largest producer. That's enough for Peter Okpo wa Namolongo, deputy mayor of Mundemba, at the southwestern tip of the Herakles plot.

Nigeria As of 2011, Nigeria was the third-largest producer, with more than 2.5 million hectares under cultivation. Until 1934, Nigeria had been the world's largest producer. Both small- and large-scale producers participated in the industry.

Benin Palm is native to the wetlands of western Africa, and south Benin already hosts many palm plantations. Its 'Agricultural Revival Programme' has identified many thousands of hectares of land as suitable for new oil palm export plantations.

Kenya Kenya's domestic production of edible oils covers about a third of its annual demand, estimated at around 380,000 metric tonnes. The rest is imported at a cost of around US$140 million a year, making edible oil the country's second most

The last thing he wants is more palm.

"We don't lack palm oil. Shall we not also have space for our family? We have children to feed," said Namolongo. The area around his town should be left to traditional small-scale farming, hunting and fishing, he said. "We are tired of palms, palms, palms."

State firms Pamol and Cameroon Development Corporation offer jobs and homes to their workers. But their plantations limit the land available for farming and hunting. Of the land that remains, much has been protected after Cameroon and ecology-minded donors developed a network of conservation areas in the 1980s.

That network includes the Korup National Park, home of the endangered, baboon-like drill, red colobus and other primates. Korup provided the breathtaking jungle backdrop to the 1984 movie "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes." It is a Pleistocene, or Ice Age, forest that by some estimates contains more biodiversity than any other spot in Africa.

For the people of Mundemba, whose town is cursed with soil too poor to sustain farming, Korup means that the only land available to them lies towards Fabe and beyond - the spot now claimed by Herakles.

Local ecology activist Nasako Besingi said protests held in June in Fabe and other villages in the concession suggest many locals do not want the plantation. At least 10 police summons have been served against opponents since late May, he said.

"Charges are very rarely pressed in the end.

It is an attempt at intimidation," he complained.

Local police declined to comment.

Under local law, demonstrations must have prior consent from authorities, thus

important import after petroleum. Since 1993 a new hybrid variety of cold-tolerant, high-yielding oil palm has been promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in western Kenya. As well as alleviating the country's deficit of edible oils while providing an important cash crop, it is claimed to have environmental benefits in the region, because it does not compete against food crops or native vegetation and it provides stabilisation for the soil.

Ghana Ghana has a lot of palm nuts vegetation, which can become an important contributor to the agriculture of the Black Star region. Although Ghana has multiple palm species, ranging from local palm nuts to other species locally called agric, it was only marketed locally and to neighboring countries,however,production is now expanding, major investment funds are purchasing plantations as Ghana is considered a major growth area for palm oil.

protesters can be served with summons for not having permits.

WINNING CONSENT Herakles takes such allegations seriously.

The company needs the blessing of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a Kuala Lumpur-based certification body set up in 2004 and designed to rid the industry of the forestwrecking image it picked up in Asia.

Without the nod of the RSPO, Herakles would struggle to support its argument that it will be a model for producing palm oil in an environment-friendly way.

To get that imprint, Herakles must prove it has the locals' "free, prior and informed consent", a principle set out in the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and adopted by the RSPO. Herakles officials say they have conducted painstaking public consultations to explain their plan and win support for it. They point to deals made with some villages to provide drinking wells, better schools and medical clinics, and pledges to re-draw project boundaries around traditional hunting areas or shrines.

They also point to local backers such as Atem Ebako, chief of Talangaye village, where another seedlings nursery is located.

Ebako plans to turn his hamlet into a "rural city" with schools and hospitals.

"We are trying to commit ourselves to transparency and respect our commitments," said Herakles Community Relations Manager Daniel Agoons.

A survey of village attitudes to the project in late 2010 was conducted with armed guards because of security concerns, a fact Herakles later acknowledged "may have influenced some of the participants in their

responses."

ENVIRONMENTAL FEARS Environmentalists also have worries.

Herakles commissioned a report on the conservation value of its plot, which found that the "vast majority of the concession is secondary and degraded forest, with few remnant patches of primary" - or virgin "forest."

The HCV Resource Network, a global forest-protection body funded by the World Bank and packaging giant Tetra Pak, among others, rejected the assessment as "completely inadequate" and "severely lacking in nearly every section".

Those concerns were shared in March by senior conservation academics from institutes such as Stanford University in California and Switzerland's Federal Institute of Technology, who have urged Cameroon to suspend the project. Citing satellite images and aerial photos of the Talangaye nursery in particular, the 11 scientists argued in an open letter that nearly three-quarters of the concession was covered in forest similar to Korup park.

Ecologists argue the plantation could damage Korup itself because some of the rare primates living there would lose their migration routes through the forest. “I do not dispute the desire and need for economic development in Cameroon's South West Region," said Joshua Linder, an anthropologist at James Madison University in Virginia and a visitor to the region for 10 years. "But this is a lose-lose situation. Local people might lose their land and way of life, while the region's great biological diversity will be put in serious jeopardy."

A CHANCE TO DO BUSINESS From his 40th-floor office on New York's Park Avenue, Bruce Wrobel, chief executive of Herakles Farms, says he is open to criticism and will act if it is justified. But he also feels the project has been widely misunderstood.

Herakles says it acquired the Cameroon concession in 2009 when U.S. asset manager Blackstone Group sold its interest after deeming the land more suitable for food than biofuels. Wrobel saw it as a chance to do business.

"Our big concern is that over a relatively short period of time there will be no way for the African consumer to compete with the Chinese and the Indian buyer," he explained."That could lead to some of the types of instability and food riots," he said.

Herakles plans to supply the Cameroonian market, and then sell to Nigerian and other West African consumers. He puts the project's total capital costs at $550 - $600 million. The company has capital in place for "the next couple of years" and at some point will consider going public, he adds.

UNFAIR DEAL Neither Herakles nor Cameroon have published full details of the contract they struck for the company's palm oil activities.

But a leaked 49-page document purports to be the 2009 "Establishment Convention" setting out the terms for Herakles' project.

The document sets the term of the deal at 99 years, with an annual surface rent of $0.50 per hectare for undeveloped land and $1.00 for developed land, rising by two percent a year.

That, said Samuel Nguiffo of Yaoundebased lobby group the Centre for Environment and Development, is rock-bottom of a local scale that has offered land at an average 2,500 CFA francs ($4.78) per year for logging contracts and anything up to $13 per hectare for crops such as sugar cane.

In Sierra Leone, the government's recommended rate for leasing land for palm oil is around $12.35 a hectare. Liberia is charging Sime Darby annual rent of $5 a hectare, according to a contract released by the government.

Nguiffo is also concerned about clauses in the alleged Herakles convention giving it a blanket tax exemption for the first 10 years of

production and what he complains is a lack of clear commitments on wage levels. “The project is unlikely to generate much revenue for the Cameroonian government or local people," he concluded.

The purported document bears two signature pages identical to those included in an annex to official Herakles documentation.

Herakles would not confirm the document was real and said it was bound by a confidentiality clause.

But it added that comparisons based purely on rent and tax painted a "distorted picture" by failing to take into account job creation and upgrades to local infrastructure, healthcare and schooling.

IN THE BALANCE Backers of the project in the government of Paul Biya, Cameroon's 79-year-old president, say palm will help the country - even if it means wildlife may lose out. " Should our people remain poor because the gorilla will fret and grow thin?" asked Caroline Mebande, technical adviser in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. "In Cameroon, we cannot put the stress of animals above the hunger of the

people."

To win over environmentalists and secure RSPO certification, Herakles proposed in June to limit clearance to an initial 2,000-hectare parcel of land on which it is certain it can prove there are no conservation concerns.

The RSPO has requested that Herakles hold back from clearing more land until concerns have been settled. It has asked Herakles to work through the issues with the local country office of the World Wildlife Fund. " We've asked the government, we've asked the company, if we can help them choose a better location. It's the heart of a biodiversity hotspot," said David Hoyle, conservation director for WWF-Cameroon. He argues that Cameroon could boost output by planting on degraded land or boosting poor local yields.

The outcome of the dispute is likely to have implications beyond the project itself: Cameroon says palm oil investors from the United States to Asia have filed requests for 1.2 million hectares of land - 20 times the Herakles plot.

Report: Yele Akinlosotu (Abuja), Tansa Musa (Yaounde), Simon Akam (Freetown), Alphonso Toweh (Monrovia), Sophie Walker (New York)

Plan to attend

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

SUMMIT ON GLOBAL AGENDA 2012 The Summit on the Global Agenda is the world's largest brainstorming meeting, aimed at shaping the global agenda by bringing together the most relevant thought leaders of the World Economic Forum's Network of Global Agenda Councils

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri Minister of Economy United Arab Emirate Chairman

Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi Director-General, Dept of Economic Development Government of Dubai Co-Chairman

10 - 12 November 2012 Dubai, U.A.E. visit: http://www.weforum.org/events/summit-global-agenda-2012

Believe Africa Magazine has made adequate arrangement for business and political leaders who want to participate this year’s Summit on the Global Agenda 2012 from Nigeria.

For details call Akinyele Akinlosotu: 08034625550

Women in Leadership

Africa Women Step Up Their Game:

As They Break New Grounds JOYCE BANDA: THE TASK OF REBUILDING MALAWI'S RUINS

J

ust as Madam Ellen JohnsonSirleaf was faced with arduous task of rebuilding Liberia after decades of war and unrest, so also, Madam Joyce Hilda Banda is faced with herculean task of rebuilding Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, after years of misrule, corruption and economic woes.

Her first move was to restore confidence of developed nations which hitherto were at 'economic war path' with Malawi. She devalued Malawi's currency; kwacha, by 40%, to restore donors funding by meeting conditions suggested by the IMF. "The fact that we had to devalue by 40% at once means that Malawians are feeling the shock," Banda says. "While that is going on, they need to see that we are committed on our part, particularly right at the top. The political office holders will need to go through this with the people, side by side."

Indeed, Malawians are feeling the shock, but no one is complaining because they saw a new hope in Banda whom they fondly refer to as President JB. Her decision to sell or lease the impoverished country's £8.4m presidential jet and fleet of 60 Mercedes government cars cemented domestic goodwill for her and confirm her as a darling of foreign donors. This enormously encouraged Britain that recently pledged $51 million to help develop the economy.

For Madam JB, she can travel anywhere in a commercial flight, she said recently, “it's not a luxury that I need to have a presidential jet. I need to improve our relationships with our neighbors. It was a thing for me to do and I did it without any reservation. It's fine. We can make that sacrifice now and in the future we shall have a plane. It's not important.

With 40% adjustment in our currency, it means that Malawians are paying the price. While that is going on, they need to see the commitment on our part, particularly right at the top. The poor are the ones that are going to be most affected, we needs to go through this with the people, side by side.

President JB is clear about her

Africa Women Step Up Their Game: As the

mission and she seems to be moving in that direction-restoring Malawi into the path of prosperity. She is focusing on trade enhancement with her country's neighbours.

She has decided to reform several sectors that can grow the nation's economy in short term. Her government is diversifying agriculture, developing tourism sector and growing the mining industry.

So loans from foreign donors have started coming into the country, Great Britain has pledged $51 million, International Monetary Fund IMF will assist Malawi with $ 157 million, United States restored $ 350 million aid.

But Madam President is careful not to offend her new friends and donors. She would not want to risk Malawi's new status for any Africa country, this may inform her decision to urge Sudan's President, Omar Bashir to stay away from African Union general assembly earlier scheduled to hold in Lilongwe. Her reason was simple, according to her, “few months ago we had COMESA summit in Malawi and the international community told us that we should not invite President Bashir to come to Malawi. The president of Sudan came to Malawi and attended the meeting. And we went from

where we were, which was already bad enough to zero.

I didn't say that he shouldn't come but I made it very clear that we were not prepared to pay that price again. Now it is the African Union that has decided to withdraw the summit. The only concern that I have is that when he was going to attend the summit in South Africa, South Africa said if he comes he will be arrested and Uganda said the same. And the summits were not withdrawn.”

Joyce Banda, the second female president in Africa, holds the bastion of hope for new generation women. The mother of five, who overcame severe domestic violence in her first marriage, left no one in doubt of her readiness steer the ship of Malawi away from imminent collapse which former President Bingu wa Mutharika set for the impoverished nation.

“I want all of us to move into the future with hope and with the spirit of oneness and unity...I hope we shall stand united and I hope that as a God-fearing nation we allow God to come before us, because if we don't do that then we have failed." This was her word after she was sworn-in as the 4th President of Malawi.

W

earing the shoes of her predecessor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo could be daunting, but Fatou Bensouda, the new International Criminal Court chief prosecutor, left no one in doubt that she is capable of leading the fight against War crimes, international terrorism, human right abuses and crime against humanity.

When in 2003 Moreno-Ocampo started work at the International Criminal Court, ICC, he had two staff members with him, six empty floors and no cases ongoing.

He had to build the Office from nothing and he had to develop Office strategies and working methods. As Ms Bensouda took over, she has her hands full. She took over well respected and sound functioning Office, with almost 300 staff from 80 countries, 7 situations under investigation, 14 cases before the Chambers, 7 preliminary examinations and one verdict.

That verdict is indeed the conviction of former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor for crime against humanity and his role in Sierra Leone.

Her elevation to her present position did not come on a platter of gold, she had distinguished herself in various offices her had held in the past. She is a brilliant lawyer, well versed and lettered. Her appointment was by consensus. A Search Committee set up for the purpose produced a shortlist of candidates. The candidates gave a presentation to States Parties, at which States Parties in turn had an opportunity to ask questions and engage in a dialogue with the candidates. There and then she was nominated by 76 states out of

FATOU BENSOUDA: ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR the 121 member states.

She is not a new comer to ICC, infact, the success of Luis Moreno-Ocampo's tenure as ICC chief prosecutor is not without ample contribution of Bensouda who was the Deputy Chief Prosecutor throughout the nine year stay in office of Moreno-Ocampo.

The challenge before Ms Bensouda is daunting, she will be hoping that member States step up their domestic efforts to investigate and prosecute Rome Statute crimes. She will also depend on the active support and cooperation of its States Parties. All 121 States Parties must stand firmly for the integrity of the Rome Statute and respond promptly to cooperation requests received from the Court. The requests and obligations to cooperate with

the Court also concern other States. Just a few days before the end of his mandate Prosecutor Ocampo presented another report on the situation in Darfur, Sudan to the UN Security Council. This situation referred by the Council is one where cooperation with the Court is not forthcoming. It is a telling example of the kind of challenges the Court is facing at the present moment. Another example of challenges before the Court is the recent detention of four ICC staff members while on official mission to Libya.

A graduate of University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, she hold a master degree in law from International Maritime Law Institute, Malta. Married with 2 children, Bensouda came into the job with came into the job fully

JEWEL TAYLOR: WAXING STRONG AFTER CHARLES TAYLOR

Senator Jewel Cianeh Howard Taylor had to put behind her the ugly incident of her marriage to Charles Taylor, former Liberia president, and the subsequent conviction of her “first love”, to become one of the most powerful women in Liberia.

Infact, she follows President Ellen SirleafJohnson closely in contest for popularity, acceptance amongst the Liberians and influence on political issues.

For Liberians, Taylor's legacy

continues to loom large. To some, he is the man who once projected a godlike aura and who is being demonized by the international community. To others, he is a warlord who helped tear Liberia apart during its own 14year civil conflict, which left 250,000 dead and the country in tatters. To Jewel, he is the father of her two children, the man she fell in love with before he was a rebel leader, her husband for almost a decade.

The two met in the early '80s, when Jewel was a first-year student at the University of Liberia, and soon had a child together. She later traveled to America and studied at American Institute of Banking in New Jersey and later worked in banking in the U.S. until 1996, when she returned to Liberia. The year after, Taylor proposed, and they were married in a “fairy-tale wedding”

shortly before he was elected in a landslide.

Before long, the fairy tale started to sour.

Jewel said she had a difficult relationship with her husband's other wife, his ex-wife, and his mistresses. Jewel filed for divorce in 2005, months before Taylor was arrested to be extradited back to Liberia.

In 2005, Taylor was elected to the Senate of Liberia in Bong County as a member of the National Patriotic Party. She is the Chairperson of the Senate Health and Social Welfare Committee on Gender, Women and Children.

There is speculation that Jewel could even run for president herself one day. Her term expires in 2014. If she wins re election the battle is expected to be tough she would be in a good position to run in the presidential elections in 2017.

AFRICAN UNION CHAIRPERSON

Dlamini-Zuma: Tasked With Fostering peace and Economic Development of Africa

fter months of stalemate that greeted her nomination for the top job of Africa's highest ruling body, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former South Africa, foreign affairs minister got herself the position of the chairperson for Africa Union. Her job is clearly cut out; foster unity and enhance economic development in Africa. The medic-turned diplomat is lucidly aware of the task ahead of her. She cannot afford to let the women of Africa down.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma came into office with rich dossier. Since the collapse of apartheid in South Africa, she has been a prominent feature in political terrain of

A

South Africa. She was the minister of health in 1994 under Dr. Nelson Mandela, she was one of the major advocate of Thabo Mbeki's African renaissance push from 1999 as foreign affairs minister although her policy of quiet diplomacy; an euphemism for offering friendship to Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party while turning a blind eye to the festering crisis is a major dent to her record.

As home affairs minister, the position she assumed in 2009, Dlamini-Zuma revolutionized the ministry. She turned a corrupt and constantly derided department into one of the country's most efficient. South African passports, which hitherto were easily forged and regularly fall into the hands of al-Qaida and organised crime syndicates became secured during her time. The waiting times for identification documents and passports was drastically reduced.

During her tenure as foreign minister she interacted with the world's leaders at a time when the continent was the focus of campaigns to scrap developing world debt.

President Thabo Mbeki was the main proponent of a New Deal for Africa, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma was the nuts and bolts, the one who got the paperwork signed, sealed and delivered behind the scenes.

This deal-making, in which she forged alliances with the Nordic countries, signed deals with Tony Blair's Labour government

and struck agreements with the Bretton Woods institutions, will stand her in good stead as she moves her new office in Addis Ababa, the AU headquarters.

She has her hands full already. Sudan and South Sudan crisis is brewing. There is tension already built up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mali is on the verge of breaking into pieces due to Tuareg militia.

A new wave of terrorism is weeping across West Africa with Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. The Arab spring is hardly settled.

There are clear cases of poverty, diseases and hunger across the continent of Africa.

Indeed Dr. Dlamini Zuma has a lot to worry about.

She also has the image of the ruling body to battle with. Organization of Africa Unity, from which Africa Union emerged, has a reputation of shielding corrupt, dictatorial and repressive leaders of the continent. The likes of Moumar Gadaffi, Mobutu Sese Seko, Charles Taylor, Robert Mugabe were all at one time or the other the leader of the organization. Recent happenings could not help matters.

Inability of the body to take decisive action(s) against Laurent Gbagbo when he lost Cote D'Ivoire presidential election, the foot-dragging of the body in recognizing the Transition Council in Libya when the government of Moumar Gadaffi collapsed.

These and many more stance of the body portrayed it as weak and ineptitude.

She also has to heal the major rifts between Anglophone and Francophone countries which was visible during her election. South Africa was accused of bullying smaller countries into backing her election and conducting a smear campaign against Gabon's Jean Ping, the incumbent and the man she defeated. Further, three Anglophone powerhouses did not back Zuma Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia leading to tensions between the Southern and Western African blocs.

1967: First female lawyer from Northern Nigeria 1969: First Female Magistrate 1977: First Female High Court Judge in the Northern Nigeria 1987: First Female Judge at the Court of Appeal 2005: First Female at the Supreme Court 2012: First Female Chief Judge 2012: First Female Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON

Justice Mariam Alooma Mukhtar: A Woman of Many Firsts

T

he process of her assumption of office as the 13th Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) began with her nomination

by Nigeria's President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's. She was later drilled by the Nigerian senate. Her brilliance was put to test and Justice Mariam Alooma Mukhtar shone like the star she is. She answered all questions put to her with dexterity, panache and competence. Her nomination was approved and she was subsequently swornin as the first female chief Judge of Nigeria.

It is historic, this is the first time a woman is occupying the position since Nigeria had its first indigenous Chief Judge in 1958, and it is expected to mark the commencement of a new phase in the judicial history of the country.

An erudite judge, full of passion, her judgments has been commended by all and her views on the matter are respected.

Described by many as being as “liberal, highly principled, calm, and with an aversion to acts inimical to due process and the course of justice�. Many are of the opinion that Justice Mukhtar will steer the ship of the judiciary from the shore of public disrepute where it was abandoned at the end of Justice Alousious Katsina-Alu's tenure.

Seen as an introvert and a true picture of what a modern judge should be, Justice Muktar exhibited part of her attributes when, alongside Justices George Oguntade and Walter Onnoghen, they almost voided

the outcome of the 2007 election that brought the late President Musa Yar'Adua and now President Jonathan to power.

While the quartet of Justices Kutigi, Katsina-Alu, Niki Tobi and Dahiru Musdapher dismissed the appeal by then presidential candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples' Party (ANPP), Justices Mukhtar, George Oguntade and Onnoghen held a dissenting view.

They maintained that the allegation of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2006 was proved by the petitioner.

She had earlier in February rejected her appointment as the Chief Judge of the Gambia. A woman of many firsts, she is the first female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court on June 8, 2005. After her, it took four years for the second lady, Justice Olufunlola Oyelola Adekeye, to get the attention of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which has the responsibility of recommending qualified judicial officers for the position.

Justice Mukhtar began her legal career as a pupil counsel in the Ministry of Justice of Northern Nigeria in 1967. She was later appointed Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern Government (1969 1973), thus, scoring another first as the first female Magistrate in the Northern region.

She made another history with her appointment as the Chief Registrar, Kano State Government Judiciary (1973 - 1977) and Judge, High Court of Kano State in 1977

and Justice, Court of Appeal in 1987.

Justice Muktar has been a life Bencher since 1993 and a life member of the Federation of Women Lawyers. She was also the Vice President of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria. In 1989, Muktar was honoured by the Federation of Women Lawyers and in 1991 she was decorated with a Gold Merit Award by the Kano State government.

In 2003, she was, again, honoured by the International Association of Women Lawyers, and in 2004, the Fellowship of the Nigerian Law School was conferred on her.

Upon her swearing-in as the chief Judge of Nigeria she scored another first as the first woman to be awarded Grand Commander of Order of the Niger, GCON. Born 68 years ago, Justice Muktar had her primary education at St. George's School, Zaria and also at St. Bartholomews's school, Wusasa, also in Zaria from 1950 and 1957. She also attended Rossholme School for Girls in East Brent, Somerset, England for her GCE O' Levels in 1962 and went for further education at the Technical College, Berkshire England.

She graduated from Gibson and Welder College in law in 1966 and was subsequently called to the English Bar in absentia. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on June 26, 1967. With her at the helm, the judiciary is believed to be in for some positive firsts.

THEME:

Guest Speakers

Prof. Zhu Chen Hon. Minister of Health China

HRM Dr. Adesimbo Kiladejo Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu Chief Edem Duke Osemawe of Ondo kingdom Minister for Health Minister of Culture and Tourism Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria

Tentative Speakers: Dr. Margreth Chan,

Director General; World Health Organization

Dr. Paul Orhii,

Director General, National Food and Drug Control

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa

Senate Committee on Health

Dr. Akintunde Ayeni,

Chairman/CEO, YemKem International

Dr. Abdulrahaman Sambo

Executive Sec. National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS)

H.E.CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

3RD - 8TH DECEMBER, 2012 CYPRIAN EKWENSI CULTURAL CENTRE, AREA 10, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Exhibition, Stand Booking: Sponsorship and Advert placement: Alex Akinlosotu 0818 400 2373 Joy Odiri +234 818 8013397 or visit www.believeafrica.net

Personality

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s Mrs Ibukun Odusote assumes office as the new accelerated improvement in transparency and sanity as it relates to Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Culture, effective management of the Federal Ministry of Power.

Tourism and National Orientation, she comes into the She is also passionate about career counselling and youth office with rich experience that transverses different development ( she has an NGO dedicated to empowering children ministries and departments in Nigeria public service. and teens in Information technology awareness).

In a way it is a new posting but from her background, Mrs Odusote is an alumnus of University of Ife (now Obafemi she is a woman of competence whose understanding Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, Nigeria where she obtained a degree in of running of public offices has been proven over the years she is no Computer Science/Economics and University of Lagos, (Now doubt a round peg in a round hole.

Moshood Abiola University where she obtained Masters degree in From her early days as the Head, Department of Computer Computer Science and Master of Business Administration. She is a Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, the position she held fellow of many professional bodies, including Nigeria Computer at tender age of thirty-three (33), to her present position, Mrs. Society and Nigeria Institute of Management. She is a Member, Odusote left no one in doubt about her ability to manage both Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Member, human and material resources outstandingly well.

Internet Society, Member, IFIP WG9.4 on Social implications of IT Prior to her taking over as the Permanent Secretary, Ecological to development in developing countries, Member, Nigerian Institute Fund Office in 2009, the office was barely known to the Nigeria of Management. society. The activities of the intervention agency were far from being She founded Digital Peers International, a non-profit, nonco-ordinated and government interventions in matters of the governmental organisation which organises which is aimed at environment were lackadaisical, lopsided and practically grounded. training young minds between the age of eight and eighteen in On assumption of office, Mrs. Odusote drew up the template information and communication technology (ICT). DIGITEST is an for the operations of the Fund office, she embarked on massive annual ICT camp for children and has since 2000 empowered training and re-training of the staff to build up their competence in several young Nigerians in their quest for self-reliance through ICT. handling environmental hazards. She gave coordinated and Her passion for the development of ICT capabilities in children and systematic approach to Federal Government's intervention on issues youths, empowering these young Nigerians through Information of the environment. Having built the capacities of staff, she and Communications Technology, made her participate actively in constituted all the staff into Project Teams to track all ongoing training and planning despite her busy schedules. The latest boot ecological projects and ensure their timely completion She started camp comes up in Abuja and South Africa is month of August.

Eco-Fair Summit, a yearly interactive summit that bring together all According to her, “We owe it to our Creator and Nation, to do stakeholder in the addressing environmental issues and proffer what is right. Anything worth doing is worth doing well; for ample solutions to nagging national questions. whatever you sow you will also reap”! As crusaders of positive She also raised Nigerians' awareness on the issues crucial to change I implore you to continue with what is right and desist from sustainable environmental management. The mode of operations of what is wrong. Be happy to embrace positive change …..it is the Fund during her time changed from the usual bureaucratic important that we all recognize that the future of our nation and tempo to efficient, timely and relevant agency of government. continent lies in good leadership which seems to be scarce. Do what Ecological Funds Office was prompt in responding to major is right ALWAYS”. ecological emergencies that arose during her tenure in office. Some An IT Icon, a well known as a positive change activist, Mrs. of these included Sokoto, Lagos flood in 2010, the Auchi Erosion Ibukun Odusote pioneered the .ng domain; the internet protocol menace among others.

She is the first Permanent Secreatary to raise the standard of project implementation and monitoring in the Office.

She did all this within eighteen months!

It is however not surprising that during her short stay in Federal Ministry of Power as the Permanent Secretary, electricity Mrs. Ibukun Odusote (middle) with members of staff at Federal Ministry of Environment generation in Nigeria rose to 4,200 domain for Nigeria. A quintessential manager of men and resources, Megawatts, the highest in power generation so far. Under her she is ordained as a pastor in Four Square Church, Asokoro, Abuja. auspices, the Federal Ministry of Power experienced thorough reRev. (Mrs.) Ibukun Abimbola Odusote hails from Ikenne-Remo in structuring of its mode of operation. She introduced new measures, Ogun State of Nigeria. She is married to Engr. Adeolu Odusote and redefined previous ineffective ways of working and introduced an they are blessed with a daughter.

Analysis

I

In 2005, when former Nigeria president, Olusgun Obasanjo paid off external debt owed to Paris group, he thought the nation will be free from external debt burden and have more revenues which were hitherto used by government to service the external debt portfolio of Nigeria channel into economic growth and development. But barely six years after the debt reliefffice, Nigeria is creeping back into another trap of external debt.

As at December 31, 2006, one year after Nigeria was granted debt relief, the country's external debt was $2.608 billion with state governments owing $1.375 billion.

However, the total external debt stock has since grown to $4.950 billion as at June 30, 2012, according to the External debt Management Office (DMO) with state governments owing $2.214 billion.

LAGOS LED DEBT-RIDDEN STATES States of the Federation have had their external external debt portfolio rose significantly from 2006. According to record of Debt Management Office, Lagos has the highest external debt burden. The state external debt profile under Mr. Raji Fashola rose by 172% to $517 million from $190.435 million in 2006 under Mr. Bola Tinubu.

Lagos state was followed by Kaduna with $197.155 million under Patrick Yakowa from $84.995 million under Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi an increment of 132% over the six year period.

The $109.361 million external debt profile of Cross River made it the 3rd most inexternal debted state in Nigeria. The external debt profile which was $93.517 million during Donald Duke regime was increased by 17% by Sen. Liyel Imoke.

Ogun state borrowed heavily under Gbenga Dainel in less than five years. The external debt profile stood at $29.230 million in 2006 but rose to $67.900 million in December, 2009 and currently stood at $96.285 million.

Although Oyo state with external debt of $78.878 million is the fifth most indebted state in Nigeria, record shows that the state has consistently reduce its external debt burden over the last six year.

With external debt burden of $113.853 million in 2006, the state under Adebayo Alao-Akala reduced its external debt to $93.990 million.The incumbent, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, paid as much as $15.112 million in the last one year of his administration.

Oyo state was followed by Katsina in the sixth position, with external debt burden currently stood at $74.147 million out of which $66.951 million of the external debt inherited by Alhaji Ibrahim Shema; current governor, from Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua, former Nigeria president, who ran the state

By Nathaniel Olatunbosun

until 2007.

Another state that had its external debt profile grew tremendously since 2006 is Bauchi State. The state incurred $25.093 million debt under Mallam Isa Yuguda's administration. Its current debt profile is $63.029 million.

LEAST INDEBTED STATES The least indebted state in Nigeria is Borno state with external debt burden of $12.726 million, Delta state reduced its debt under James Ibori; convicted former governor of the state, to $15.84 million from $26.396 million it was before Emmanuel Uduaghan took over office.

Plateau is the third least indebted state with external debt of $20.190 million and Taraba ranked 4th with $20.681 million external debt profile.

COMING OUT OF EXTERNAL DEBT There were significant effort by some state government to ease debt burden of their respective states in 2011. A look at management of external debt revealed that the government of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state ranked first in external debt management. Ajimobi paid $15.112 million out of $93.930 million he inherited in office.

His counterpart in Cross River, Liyel Imoke paid back $14.661 million to reduce the state external debt burden to $109.361 million.

Akwa Ibom and Ondo State advanced their movement out of external debt as both Godswill Akpabioand Olusgun Mimiko paid $9.369 million and $8.538 million respectively in 2011.

Despite the intense security challenges, Jonah Jang of Plateau had continued to make spirited efforts to ease the external debt burden of the state, his administration paid $6.783 million to reduce the external debt profile to the current $20.190 million.

However, Adams Oshiomole's administration in Edo state paid back $5.520 million of the external debt owed in last one year while, Nasarawa; despite its meagre

revenue, Kwara, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi and Osun State paid $4.804 million, $4.758 million, $4.605 million, $4.542 million, $4.511 million, $3.587 million respectively .

MORE EXTERNAL DEBT Lagos led the pack of state with increase external debt in the last one year.

The state borrowed $56.934 million. Lagos was followed by Kaduna with increase external debt of $21.722 million.

Enugu under Sullivan Chime, Ogun under Ibikunle Amosun and Bauchi under the watch of Isa Yuguda; sunk further into debt with external debt increment of $6.121 million, $4.982 million and $4.155 million respectively.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEBT As at June 2012 Federal Government external debt profile rose to $3.821 billion out of which $2.735 billion was multilateral debt and non-Paris Club and Euro bond $1.085 billion. The external debt was an increment of 17% over last year external debt of 3.178 billion.

OVERALL NATIONAL DEBT AND IMF WARNING Debt Management Office currently put Nigeria total external debt at $6.035 billion as at June 30th, 2012.

Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund, IMF has warned the country about the rising debt profile of the country.

In its 2011 report, the Fund warned that, “failure to implement politically difficult fiscal adjustment measures could result in faster accumulation of domestic debt and put an undue burden on monetary policy to contain inflation and prevent pressure on the naira and international reserves.” It however advised the Central Bank of Nigeria, to “focus on a clear inflation objective and allow the naira to gradually adjust in response to market conditions.”

FEDERAL AND STATES EXTERNAL DEBT STOCK States Abia Adamawa Akwa Ibom Anambra Bauchi Bayelsa Benue Borno Cross River Delta Ebonyi Edo Ekiti Enugu Gombe Imo Jigawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kebbi Kogi Kwara Lagos Nassarawa Niger Ogun Ondo Osun Oyo Plateau Rivers Sokoto Taraba Yobe Zamfara FCT Sub-Total FGN Total

Jun-12 32,675,176 29,183,119 61,198,851 25,370,843 63,029,388 27,897,952 26,501,393 12,726,029 109,361,503 15,784,110 41,060,947 41,408,441 34,071,754 47,788,770 29,572,867 50,573,895 28,720,760 197,155,526 59,400,227 74,147,092 47,132,689 33,976,282 43,798,144 517,677,672 36,547,616 28,178,180 96,285,548 52,255,534 61,744,689 78,878,401 20,190,628 34,301,764 40,419,413 20,681,518 31,111,005 26,329,659 37,671,246 2,214,808,631 3,820,848,957 6,035,657,588

Jun-11 34,048,102 29,458,962 70,567,947 23,722,254 58,873,702 28,774,639 25,016,599 14,036,552 124,022,648 17,635,052 42,149,601 46,928,749 36,201,716 41,667,547 27,969,357 52,323,009 29,120,607 175,433,479 63,942,259 78,752,527 51,644,129 36,203,340 48,557,098 460,742,760 41,351,902 27,438,430 91,302,729 60,794,080 65,332,679 93,990,753 26,974,166 36,501,894 41,206,907 21,111,306 31,690,891 27,186,630 37,664,520 2,220,339,522 3,177,702,620 5,398,042,142

Dec-09 27,857,950 24,499,443 58,742,129 17,313,839 44,203,369 25,053,462 24,256,921 14,811,780 101,825,758 19,483,027 32,037,172 42,048,371 32,739,702 33,388,532 21,256,361 49,462,458 18,253,299 135,805,843 44,090,119 78,780,729 46,825,133 32,349,784 30,082,079 347,933,278 28,537,837 25,806,350 67,900,419 46,648,533 64,110,849 100,284,747 29,229,988 33,729,036 36,020,506 19,908,685 27,222,983 23,788,244 29,347,469 1,820,712,732 1,683,793,304 3,504,506,036

Data Source: Debt Management Office, Nigeria www.dmo.gov.ng.

FGN debt stock of June 2012 includes Non-Paris Club debt and $500 million Euro bond

Dec-06 19,598,691 15,198,434 60,786,550 16,869,393 37,936,072 16,313,054 14,385,302 11,026,101 93,517,688 26,396,622 20,833,225 34,999,520 20,365,792 22,030,886 10,405,458 33,320,760 12,577,480 84,995,475 42,628,858 66,951,332 39,186,345 20,033,751 20,052,187 190,435,328 25,597,812 31,838,442 29,230,134 39,512,633 55,408,178 113,853,345 38,124,982 28,621,122 25,631,089 18,364,984 16,050,054 12,799,243 10,058,583 1,375,934,905 1,232,365,096 2,608,300,000

Special Focus

RWANDA:

RECOVERY BEYOND IMAGINATION Coming from 1994 genocide, where more than one million lives were lost in ethnic cleansing involving Hutu and Tutsi tribe, Rwanda is emerging as a leading light for Africa.In this report, Nathaniel Olatunbosun and Yele Akinlosotu examine efforts President Paul Kagame to reposition Rwanda....

Rwanda’s rebound from devastating effect of the war leaves many around the world speechless. Her focused leadership under President Paul Kagame, who won overwhelming second term victory in August 2010, has implemented far-reaching economic and political reform that placed the Horn of Africa on an economic path of prosperity.

Rwanda's economy made a quick rebound from the decline it experienced in the past. The decline which was driven by several factors; from the civil war to the contagion effect of the global economic and financial crisis that reduced demand for exports as well as liquidity constraints faced by banks in the domestic economy. It is estimated thatRwanda’s real GDP grew at 7.4% in 2010. The main drivers of the recovery in GDP are continued growth in agriculture, recovery in the services sector, particularly telephones, construction and the export sector.

provision of improved seeds for crops such as maize, wheat, Irish potatoes and cassava cuttings. Of equal importance is the government's programme for rural areas.

Vision 2020 Umurenge combines land development activities in the hill-ranges with employment opportunities for the poorest of the poor. These concerted efforts by the government, as well as better weather conditions, have led to robust growth in the last three years. In 2010, crop production in the first two seasons increased by 8.2%, driven mainly by substantial growth in root crops (18.8%) and cereals (18.7%). The production of export crops also boomed in 2010, with coffee registering a rebound of 22.5% and tea up 10.8%. These increases can be attributed to new investments in the production of coffee, better terms of trade, the privatisation of some of the tea producing firms, and the treatment of diseases that had attacked tea leaves in the preceding year.

AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION Agriculture in Rwanda is a source of livelihood to the vast majority of the population. The government took steps to help the sector play a developmental role, transforming lives as well as ensuring stable food prices for the expanding nonagricultural sector. The Crop Intensification Programme which was implemented by Kagame’s administration seeks to improve farm productivity through the utilization of fertilizers, improved seeds and extension services. The programme promotes the import of fertilizer in sufficient quantities, training of district and sector agronomists in its optimal application, storage of produce at village level to prevent waste, and the

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH The industrial sector grew by 8.4% in 2010, compared with 1.4% in 2009. The construction sector led the way expanding at 10.9% after registering a mere 1.9% growth in 2009 due to liquidity constraints faced by the banks. This recovery was assisted by growth in the manufacturing sector where food processing led the way.

Ongoing investment in utilities such as gas, electricity and water also contributed to the recovery.

Services expanded at a double-digit rate between 2005 and 2008, driving overall growth in the economy during the period. In 2009, growth in services retreated to 5.9%

but rebounded in 2010 by growing to 7.3%.

The recovery in the service sector was made possible by growth in the financial sector (20.0%) and transport and communications (10.8%), particularly the exceptional growth in telecommunications and increased Internet penetration.

ECONMIC OUTLOOK The mid-term outlook for the Rwandan economy depends very much on strategic public investment programmes and global demand for its main exports, as well as the loosening of domestic credit to the private sector. Strategic investments include the broadening of access to electricity for the population by increasing household gridconnectivity from 6% to 16% in 2013; completion of the Fiber Optic Programme that will allow wireless access for up to 100 000 users; the international railway line that will facilitate Rwanda's import/export trade across the borders of Tanzania and Burundi; the construction of an international airport in Bugesera, which on completion has the capacity to make Rwanda a gateway across East and Central Africa; and the new convention centre in Kigali together with a five-star hotel that caters to demands by a variety of customers visiting the country. Rising public investment and efforts to raise agricultural

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and his wife, Jeannette Kagame during inspection of an electricity facility in Kigali productivity have created an optimistic scenario for the economy to grow at 7% or more in the next three consecutive years.

The downside risks for the mid-term outlook are the reliance on a limited number of export commodities for which there is sluggish growth in global demand and the tightening of credit by commercial banks despite the efforts by the National Bank of Rwanda to reduce liquidity problems. Furthermore, low domestic resource mobilization increases reliance on external resources and infrastructural bottlenecks continue to hamper the country's competitiveness in regional and global markets.

WHAT RWANDA IS DOING RIGHT IN FISCAL POLICY Reliance of the government's budget on aid is one of the structural constraints confronted by the country in terms of resource mobilization. 48% of the 2012 budget will be finance by foreign aid, 50 % of the budget in 2011 as financed by foreign aid and 56% in 2010. Though there is significant improvement in recent times but seeking alternative sources of development finance remains a key component of the long-term strategy.

The government developed Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) which is based on 384 policy actions that guide the allocation of

budgetary resources. These policy actions are formed around three clusters: economic, social and governance. The economic cluster covers macroeconomic management, sectoral development with an emphasis on agriculture, infrastructure, private sector development, climate change and natural resources. The social cluster focuses on improvements in the state of education, health, social protection and access to clean water. The governance cluster covers performance indicators on public financial management, justice, reconciliation law and order. As of mid2010, 374 of the 384 policy actions had been implemented an implementation rate of close to 97% and proof it would seem of an alignment of the budget with development strategies. Government spending on key priority areas of the EDPRS had exceeded 94% by the end of March 2010 with a firm possibility that full execution of budget plans would be realized in the 2009/10 fiscal year. The alignment of government spending with EDPRS priorities has increased from about 7% of GDP in 2005 to over 10% of GDP in 2010 a sign of commitment to its stated strategies and perhaps a unique record of achievement within the region. This commitment has led to decline in the expenditure share of wages and salaries, and of goods and services, and a rise in the share of public investment in total

government expenditure.

IMPROVED TAX COLLECTION There have been improvements in the mobilization of government revenue as well.

Reforms of the Rwandan Revenue Authority (RRA) have paid off in higher collections of direct taxes and some indirect taxes. The increased revenue has offset shortfalls in international trade taxes that originated mainly from shifts in imports from East African Community and COMESA, a decline that led to corresponding reductions in revenues. In 2009, RRA registered 1 257 new taxpayers bringing the total to 34 193, which is a significant achievement in terms of broadening the tax base and enforcing compliance, one of the key structural requirements for domestic resource mobilization.

BALANCE OF TRADE Rwanda's exports suffered in 2009 due to reduced global demand for coffee and tea. In 2010, between January and September, overall receipts from exports approached USD 186 million, coffee and tea alone contributing close to 48% of export receipts.

With minerals, the share reached 67% of total exports, underlying the dependency of exports on primary products. Import bills in 2010 were close to USD 998 million and almost two-thirds of it went to import capital and intermediate goods.

A rise in private direct investment bolstered the balance of payments in 2009 helping it achieve a surplus to the tune of USD 139 million that in effect raised the country's reserve to 6.2 months of imports (up by 1.2 months from the previous year). In 2010, the overall balance of payments was expected to experience a moderate deficit of USD 9.4 million, reducing slightly the reserve position by a small margin from its 2009 level.

Rwanda's level of debt is one of the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, partly due to substantial debt relief (which amounted close to USD 1.5 billion in 2005) and the government's prudent debt management. In 2010, Rwanda's external debt was less than 5% of GDP while the average for subSaharan Africa was close to 23% and that of the EAC 26% and about 30% for Low Income Countries (LIC).

DOING BUSINESS IN RWANDA Rwanda is one of the leading reformers in the world when it comes to creating a private sector conducive to doing business.

It ranked 58th out of 183 in the 2011 World Bank's Doing Business report, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to be ranked so highly. Within Africa, Rwanda has gone from a rank of only 37th in 2006, more or less on the same level as its neighbour Burundi, to 5th in 2011, surpassing all other members of the East African Economic Community. Some of the dramatic changes the country has made include the reduction of the number of days required to start a business to just one, the minimum possible time it takes anywhere in the world. For businesses, the number of days required to obtain construction permits fell from 210 days to just less than 30 days. The effort of the government to automate custom clearance is expected to facilitate crossborder trade by significantly reducing the time it takes to process necessary the paper work.

Rwanda was also acknowledged as a country that has made the most progress in economic freedom according to the global Index of Economic Freedom released every year by the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation. The index tracks countries based on ten factors that include freedom to do business and trade, levels of government spending and investment, transparency and competitiveness.

The improved business climate is expected to facilitate capital inflows into the country. Government estimates suggest that foreign direct investment (FDI) and other capital flows will increase by about 12% per year in the next three years from the USD 143 million recorded in 2009. The share of private sector credit-to-GDP in the last

decade has increased almost six-fold, hitting a record of 12%, at least partly as a result of the government's effort to nurture a budding private sector.

This does not mean everything necessary to foster the private sector in Rwanda is in perfect order. Infrastructure bottlenecks, high taxes and tax administration issues remain a challenge to the private sector as it competes in global and regional markets.

CHINESE AND INDIA PARTNERSHIP Rwanda has drawn inspiration from the success stories of China, India, Vietnam and other emerging economies. South-South partnerships in Rwanda, like elsewhere on the African continent, are an emerging trend with a lot of potential. China clearly is one of the important players in Rwanda bilateral trade has increased at a steady pace, reaching USD 23 million in 2009, or about 7% of total exports. Trade with India has begun to pick up in the last decade, reaching 3% of total exports in 2008 but declining again significantly in 2009. By contrast, the share of trade with traditional trade partners has declined steadily in the last decade.

Rwanda's partnership with China is not limited to trade alone. Chinese companies operating in Rwanda completed projects costing close to USD 500 million in 2009. For its part, China provided Rwanda access to its markets on a zero-tariff basis.

China's investment in Rwanda is set to grow significantly over the next five years. China invested in digital pay TV and actively

involved in building a five-star hotel, which is expected to meet rising demand for hotel services by tourists, business travelers and others. China is also engaged in a project to rehabilitate roads in urban areas, particularly in the capital, Kigali. It has expressed interest in collaborating with the government in an effort to build enough power plants to double capacity in the next few years.

Most importantly, China's engagement in Rwanda has helped create jobs and led to a transfer of skills and technology. Rwanda and China are taking further steps to deepen their cooperation by signing the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement and Agricultural Technological Cooperation Agreement.

India is also an important player in Rwanda. A series of agreements between the governments of Rwanda and India since the late 1990s have led to technical and economic co-operation that provides opportunities for both countries. Though small, trade between the two countries has been growing over the years, with Rwanda importing mainly Indian drugs and pharmaceutical products, transport equipment and machinery. More importantly, student exchange programmes are promoting the transfer of professional ICT skills more than 500 Rwandan students have received higher education in India. Furthermore, Indian teachers are working in Rwanda and providing critical support to advance higher learning.

RECOVERY BEYOND IMAGINATION The recovery of the country from the devastating genocide of 1994 surpasses human imagination. It is a story of resilience and sheer determination to write a new chapter in a deeply divided, traumatized and war-torn country. The leadership's efforts to bring about national unity through reconciliation, its abhorrence of genocide ideology, intolerance to corruption, commitment to decentralization to empower communities, and its record of financial transparency have helped the ruling party stay in power. Evidently, the political system, as elsewhere on the continent, is experimenting with democratic ideals against a background of poverty, ethnic dissent, illiteracy and human deprivation all this poses a clear and present danger to its continuity and durability. It should come as no surprise that the government of Rwanda has placed enormous priority on improving the social and economic conditions of the population.

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Politics

ONDO HEATS UP AS GUBER

CANDIDATES EMERGE Three main contending forces emerged in the build-up to October 20 election in Ondo state, Yele Akinlosotu expresses his opinion on fate of the three political gladiators

T

he coast is clearer. The candidates standing election for the coveted seat of governor of Ondo, a south west state in Nigeria has emerged. The candidates will be slugging it out with the incumbent, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko whose four year tenure will end in February, 2013.

Coming out of a stand-alone election in Edo state, where the incumbent Adams Oshiomole won a resounding victory, analysts have urged the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to put a stringent measure in place to forestall the repeat of lapses witnessed in Edo State election.

Materials for the elections in Ondo state must arrive early and the sanctity of the ballot boxes must be protected.

The Ondo state election like Edo will serve as a litmus test for the incumbent; Olusegun Mimiko whose performance in office many regard as slightly above average.

However, passing the test will depend majorly on how main opposition parties namely, Action Congress of Nigeria led by a referred opposition leader; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and the ruling party at the Federal level, Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, settle the internal rifts within their respective parties.

In the case of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the choice of the Rotimi

Akeredolu, a legal luminary and former president of Nigeria Bar Association did not go down well with members of the party, especially those whose affiliation to the party was as a result of the earlier promises by the party leadership that the party will ensure level playing ground for all contending forces within the party.

Rotimi Akeredolu, no doubt is capable of holding his fort. He is not new to Ondo polity. He was a former commissioner and Attorney-General in the state during the military era of late Commondore Anthony Onyearugbulem. His influence cut across the spectrum of Nigeria society. First as a unionist, he is popular in the jurisprudence, having led the Nigerian Bar Association in the past. He is a well rounded man and command presence in polity of Nigeria.

However upstaging Olusegun Mimiko will no doubt be a herculean task.

Unlike Mimiko, Akeredolu will be banking the political machinery of former governor of Lagos, ACN leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the political structure of other notable politicians who lost out to him to prosecute his election bid. He will also be leveraging on the propose South West Integration Plan which is being canvassed by the governors in the South West region, to sway the sympathy of enlightened Ondo voters to his electoral promises.

On his part, Olusola Oke, the Peoples' Democratic Party candidate for October

20th election will need to do more to convince the electorate that his party will make a difference this time around. The PDP in recent time has been under attack from the Nigeria populace. Many believed that the PDP is the bane of Nigeria development. But Olusola Oke, the immediate past National Legal Adviser of PDP is not perturb by public perception of his party. He contends that the though PDP may have fail in the past, the renaissance in the party will ensure that he deliver democratic expectation of the people.

He has since start a process of reinforcing the party and gathering of political support from across the state.

But the real force in the coming election is neither Rotimi Akeredolu's ACN nor Olusola Oke's PDP, the man to beat in the next election is Olusegun Mimiko's Labour Party. The strength of Mimiko is not drawn from Lagos as in the case of Akeredolu, nor from Abuja, as can be said of Oke, Mimiko drew his strength from the villages and chalets across the 18 local government of Ondo state.

Unlike other governors that spent most of their time in Lagos or Abuja and are disconnected from the people, Mimiko stays in his Alagbaka office and feel the pulse of over 3 million people he governs.

From time immemorial, Ondo polity is won from within the people. And every politician of note, take time to build political structure across the state, maintain sizeable presence in all the local governments of the state and ensure the civil service who are major influence in every Ondo politics are at peace with his

Olusola Oke was born on 7th of April,

Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu was born on 21 July 1956 in Owo, Ondo State. He attended the Loyola College in Ibadan. He went on to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Law, graduated in 1977. He was called to the Nigerian Bar 1978.

Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997-1999. In 1998 he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (20052006). In November 2009 he face allegations of corruption when the Bar Association's Third Vice-President, Welfare Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary circulated a petition entitled "Complaints against your fraudulent manifestations, violation of the NBA". In 2008, Akeredolu became Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

In November 2011, Akeredolu expressed his desire to become Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for Governor of Ondo State in October 20 election in the state. He was nominated by ACN as the flag bearer of the party in the election. Akeredolu described himself as a progressive and have agricultural development, fish farming for export, improvements to education, jobs for youths and improved roads as his priority. He also promised to provide free education and primary health care. He was in favor of increased subsidies and greater local control over public spending

plan. Mimiko understood this perfectly well, and he ensured that apart from the disgruntled elements in the state, a vast majority is taken care of.

Political structure no doubt will enhance his re-election bid, but Mimiko’s fate will be determined by his performances in office in the last three and half years of his administration. His performances in office are debatable. While many laud him for implementation of projects and policies that are seen as populist, his critics castigate him for building markets, parks, they accused him of wasteful expenditures.

Notably, the masses who are beneficiaries of his mother and child Abiye health care service will see his as their hero.

1956, in Ilowo, in Ilaje, Ondo State. He started his career as fisherman at age of 7.

He left fishing and started primary school at Methodist Primary School, Ilepete, and Ilaje Grammar School, Ilaje.

In October 1981, he proceeded to Ondo State School of Arts and Science, Ikare, then later gain admission into University of Ife to study law in 1982. In 1986 Olusola Oke bagged a Degree in Law and was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1987 and enrolled at the Supreme Court as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Joined the firm of Chief Olufemi Lanlehin, Ikeja, Lagos, in November 1987 f and later opened his firm, Olusola Oke & Associate on the 14th of July, 1988. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1992 to represent Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency having served as a member of Ondo State Internal Revenue Board earlier.

In 2000, he became Ondo state representative on Niger Delta Development Commission governing board and Chief Executive Officer, Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC). He became the National legal adviser to the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party in 2008.

Oke's priorities are: providing free education, free health care services, creation of employment through agriculture and massive infrastructure develo pment.

The market women who are conducting their businesses in a more comfortable and hygiene environment will score him high.

The state university students who are paying 10% of what their counterparts in Lagos are pay as school fees will continue to laud his administration. The state workers that are earning more than their counterparts in neighbouring Osun and Ekiti states will drum up support for him and organize rally to demonstrate their support for his continue stay in office.

School pupils that today sit in better classrooms, will sing for him.

The state farmers who smile to banks having sold their produce profitably will not want a change in leadership of the state. And of course, commercial drivers

Olusegun Rahman Mimiko was born in October 1954 in Ondo. He had his primary education in Aponmu, his secondary at St. Joseph's College, Ondo from 1966 to 1970.

He attended the Gboluji Grammar School for his Higher School Certificate between 1971 and 1972. He later proceeded to University of Ife, (Now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Medicine in 1972. He earned the B.Sc. Health Sciences in 1976 and went on to earn the MB. CHB. in 1980.

He started his practice career as House Officer in the then Ondo State Health Management Board at the General Hospital, Ado Ekiti and later went into private practice.

He was twice commissioner for health in Ondo state, 1992-1993 and 19992002. He became Secretary to the State Government in 2003 and Minister of Housing and Urban Development in 2005.

He elected governor of Ondo State in 2007 but had to have his mandate affirmed by Court of Appeal in February 2009.

His priorities in government include agriculture development in which he established three farm cities and community development in which his 3i initiative has impacted 230 communities, currently providing free education at primary and secondary level. He also introduced 'Abiye' Safe Motherhood programme solution for infant and maternal mortality.

that now have a better motor park to do their business will want Mimiko administration to continue.

But the unemployed who thought that by now the government should have jump-start the enormous investment opportunities in the state to create job will want a change. Likewise, the political businessmen who had banked on the largesse from government white elephant projects will do everything possible to see Mimiko out of office.

As Ondo gear up for next election, the fate of the state hanged in the balance.

Yele Akinlosotu

Healthcare

Finding the Lumps in the Breast: Easy Way Detect to Breast Cancer Early reast self-exam (BSE), or regularly examining your breasts on your own, can be an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it's more likely to be treated successfully. Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is a critical step you can and should take for yourself.

Over the years, there has been some debate over just how valuable BSE is in detecting breast cancer early and increasing the likelihood of survival. However experts advise women that BSE is an “optional” screening tool.

BSE is a useful and essential screening strategy, especially when used in combination with regular physical exams by a doctor and mammography. About 20% of the time, breast cancers are found by physical examination rather than by mammography. It is recommended that all women routinely perform breast self-exams as part of their overall breast cancer screening strategy.

B

Tips for performing BSE Few women really want to do a breast self-exam, or BSE, and for many the experience is frustrating you may feel things but not know what they mean.

However, the more you examine your breasts, the more you will learn about them and the easier it will become for you to tell if something unusual has occurred. BSE is an essential part of taking care of yourself and lowering your risk of breast cancer.

Try to get in the habit of doing a breast self-examination once a month to familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally look and feel. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you are no longer having periods, choose a day that's easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.

Don't panic if you think you feel a lump. Most women have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time.

Study shows that less than 20% of women who have a suspicious lump biopsied turn

out to have breast cancer.

Know Your Breasts Neighbourhood Breast tend to have different “neighborhoods.” The upper, outer area near your armpit tends to have the most prominent lumps and bumps. The lower half of your breast can feel like a sandy or pebbly beach. The area under the nipple can feel like a collection of large grains. Another part might feel like a lumpy bowl of oatmeal.

What's important is that you get to know the look and feel of YOUR breasts' various neighborhoods.

Does something stand out as different from the rest (like a rock on a sandy beach)?

Has anything changed? Bring to the attention of your doctor any changes in your breasts that last over a full month's cycle OR seem to get worse or more obvious over time.

You may want to start a journal where you record the findings of your breast selfexams. This can be like a small map of your breasts, with notes about where you feel lumps or irregularities. Especially in the beginning, this may help you remember, from month to month, what is “normal” for your breasts. It is not unusual for lumps to

appear at certain times of the month, but then disappear, as your body changes with the menstrual cycle (if you are still menstruating). Only changes that last beyond one full cycle, or seem to get bigger or more prominent in some way, need your doctor's attention.

R

isk Factors of Developing Breast Cancer

A “risk factor” is anything that increases your risk of developing breast cancer. Many of the most important risk factors for breast cancer are beyond your control, such as age, family history, and medical history. Individual breast cancer risk may be higher or lower, depending on a number of factors, including family history, reproductive history (such as menstrual and childbearing history), race/ethnicity, and other factors.

Gender and age: Being a woman is the most significant risk factor for developing breast cancer. Although men can have breast cancer too, women's breast cells are constantly changing and growing, mainly due to the activity of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. This activity puts them at much greater risk for breast

cancer. Growing older is the second biggest risk factor for breast cancer. From age 30 to 39, the risk is 1 in 233. It jumps to 1 in 27 by the time you are in your 60s.

Alcoholism and Smoking: Studies show that women that drink two or more bottles of beer or other alcohol drinks each day have 25% higher risk of developing breast cancer, compared to women who do not drink. This doesn't mean that their lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is 25% it means that their risk of getting breast cancer is 25% higher relative to people who don't drink.

Smoking has a small increase in breast cancer risk.

Weight: Being overweight is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, especially for women after menopause.

Fat tissue is the body's main source of estrogen after menopause, when the ovaries stop producing the hormone.

Having more fat tissue means having higher estrogen levels, which can increase breast cancer risk.

Diet and exercise: Diet is a suspected risk factor for many types of cancer, including breast cancer, red meat and other animal fats may accelerate production of hormones that cause breast cancer. Some researchers believe that eating too much cholesterol and other fats are risk factors for cancer. A low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables is generally recommended. So also evidence is growing that exercise can reduce breast cancer risk. The American Cancer Society recommends engaging in 45-60 minutes of physical exercise 5 or more days a week.

Oral contraceptive use: Studies show that using oral contraceptives (birth control pills) appears to slightly increase a woman's risk for breast cancer, but only for a limited period of time. Women who stopped using oral contraceptives more than 10 years ago do not appear to have any increased breast cancer risk.

Stress and anxiety: There is no clear proof that stress and anxiety can increase breast cancer risk. However, anything you can do to reduce your stress and to enhance your comfort, joy, and satisfaction can have a major effect on your quality of life. So-called “mindful measures� (such as meditation, yoga, visualization exercises, and prayer) may be valuable additions to your daily or weekly routine. Some research suggests that these practices can strengthen the immune system.

Family history of breast cancer. If you have a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, sister) who has had breast cancer, or you have multiple relatives affected by breast or ovarian cancer (especially before they turned age 50), you could be at higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Radiation therapy to the chest: Having radiation therapy to the chest area as a child or young adult as treatment for another cancer significantly increases breast cancer risk. The increase in risk seems to be highest if the radiation was given while the breasts were still developing (during the teen years).

Breast cellular changes: Unusual changes in breast cells found during a breast biopsy (removal of suspicious tissue for examination under a microscope) can be a risk factor for developing breast cancer. These changes include overgrowth of cells (called hyperplasia) or abnormal (atypical) appearance.

Exposure to estrogen: Because the female hormone estrogen stimulates breast cell growth, exposure to estrogen over long periods of time, without any breaks, can increase the risk of breast cancer. Some of these risk factors are not under your control such as: starting menstruation at a young age (before age 12), going through menopause at a late age (after 55).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Pregnancy and breastfeeding reduce the overall number of menstrual cycles in a woman's lifetime, and this appears to reduce future breast cancer risk. Women who have never had a full-term pregnancy, or had their first full-term pregnancy after age 30, have an increased risk of breast cancer. For women who do have children, breastfeeding may slightly lower their breast cancer risk, especially if they continue breastfeeding for 1 1/2 to 2 years. For many women, however, breastfeeding for this long is neither possible nor practical.

STEPS TO EFFECTIVE BSE

B

egin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Here's what you should look for: Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling.

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention: Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin.

A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out).

Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.

Feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to sidefrom your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower.

Parenting

MY TWO YEAR OLD BOY IS MEAN: - DEALING WITH 'TERRIBLE TWOS' IN TODLERS

Q:

My two year old son is mean, he seldom smile with anybody. The only time he enjoys with me is when we wrestle on the bed. He loves rough play; slamming, jumping and other dangrous play. He is stubborn and refused to be corrected. He always want to have his way.

He is a bully in school; always fighting with his mates in class. The day we forgot to put his juice in his food pack, his class mates saw hell . If someone offends him in the house, he keeps it on his mind until he revenge. His vengeance could be simply kicking the person, but you will notice he was satisfied doing it.He has lots of energy, he sleeps late, he is restless and he won't allow himself to be belted when in the car.

Smacking him all the time like his mom does is not working. How do I handle him?

Chukwuemeka Mba This is clear example of bad parenting.

You have not shown him who is in charge, you allow him to have his way often. Starting from age 2 upwards, children begin to develop very clear personalities. They also develop strong opinions on what they like and don't like; what they want and don't want. And they can be manipulative in getting it. This is why that developmental stage is called "terrible twos".

However, this is the time to show that a parent is in charge and not the child. There are ways to do this, and it is more subtle than simply foisting your will upon your child, or smacking him.

Remember, no one likes to be controlled and being told what to do all the time - least of all your child. The solution is to offer them choices, supported by the option of a stricter punishment. For example; get him to agree to put his seat belt on by explaining to him why it is necessary and tell him that is the only way he can come with you. Give him the choice of choosing to stay at home if he does not want to wear the seat belt.

Basically, you are giving him control over his decisions - making him choose what YOU want him to do, rather than forcing your will upon him. You can apply this strategy to everything you want your child to do. Lastly, parent decides when the child goes to bed, not the child. It is important to get children into a specific bedtime routine. This means bedtime at a specific time - everyday, with maybe the weekends as a late bedtime treat.

Also watch his diet of sugary foods or drinks.

I remember my daughter always wanted to tie her shoe laces herself. The problem was she could not do it properly, and always took a lot of time, thereby causing us to be late. If we forcefully do it for her, she would cry the whole afternoon.

After a couple of incidents, I gave her the choice of making sure she tied it herself, but she MUST do it right and in time, otherwise, she would be left behind. It works. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, she would come to me to do it for her because she would not want to be left behind.

Aisha Kwiliki This might be frustrating and sometimes scary. But here is the deal; he has different temperament from you. You have to learn how to control his temperament and channel it into useful venture. Reward good behavior and punish bad ones. Provide him with avenues to vet his rage, enroll him in sports. When he gets older this temperament could help tremendously. It can help him to become a no nonsense business man or a leader. But here is the part you have to play, you have to ensure he has a very strong moral compass; know what is right from wrong. People like him have to be given a black and white picture because they create their own gray themselves. This could mean a lot of religious content in his life; Christianity or Islam.

Samuel Osei There is nothing to worry about; your son is just being a boy. Don't allow anyone to convince you something is wrong with your son medically. He is developing his own personality. However, you need to guide him.

For a start, discuss with your wife and map out things you think both of you can improve upon. You have to be assertive with your son, not necessarily beating him, it may worsen the situation. Your best bet is to give him latitude up to the point of when you think you should put down your feet. Try and teach him the joy that is in sharing and with time he would imbibe this idea. On the diet side, try and endeavor to limit soda in your kids diet and rather let him eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, not juice. Juice is more or less another form of sugar drink.

This is not because of his naughtiness but rather for his general well being.

Another important thing that I want to add is that you should endeavor to always be truthful with your kid. If you don't want him to do something, try in your little way to explain the reason behind your action to him, you will be surprised at how much you can achieve with that.

Finally don't forget that he is just a child so let him grow on his own. Your own intervention should just be to guide and be there for him as he develops his personality.

SPE

CI A

RT EPO R L

IN THE NEXT EDITION

ONDO STATE UNDER

OLUSEGUN MIMIKO BETWEEN LIES, FACTS AND REALITIES

GOOD ONE BAD TERM DESERVES...

In the build up to october 20, 2012 governorship election in Ondo State, Believe Africa Magazine toured the 18 Local Governments in the state, spoke to the locals, and match the performance of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko with resources accrued to the state in the three and half years of his administration...

For Sponsorship and enquiries Call: Yele Akinlosotu on 0818 400 2373 or 0803 462 5550

Africa’s First Lady

Jeannette Kagame Rwanda First Lady: When Fashion is Simple There's striking similarity between Michelle Obama, United States first lady and Jeannette Kagame, Rwanda first lady. Both women have similar taste of fashion. Simplicity.

The beauty routine for Jeanette is not hard to follow. Watch your weight, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water to lubricate your system. Engage in regular exercise.

The ambience and splendor radiate by Jeanette Kagame underscore the beauty of African women‌.

Fashion

WHAT NIGERIA NEW COUPLES WEAR

SOUTH AFRICAN MAIDENS KEEP AFRICAN FASHION ALIVE

ON THEIR TRADITIONAL WEDDING

Atta Mills:

He Is Worth Our Tears

By Appiah Kusi Adomako

“This man is worth your tears and grief”Wilfred Owen

I

n 1945 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away in office, an article appeared in the New York Times that it would take one hundred years for Americans to appreciate the fact that Roosevelt was in the White House. In our case, it would not take many months for Ghanaians to appreciate the fact that President John Evans Atta Mills was the President of Ghana. The record of his leadership is public knowledge to us all. He set out to help build a better Ghana, a Ghana that would become a city on a hill.

He set out to build a nation better than he came to find.

Unfortunately, the irreducible final common denominator of man called death has robbed Ghana of the vibrant presence of His Excellency, President John Evans Atta Mills. A nation is in mourning and a family is in grief. The world is in shock. The pain and hurt from the loss of the life of Ghana's first citizen is hard to bear. Our tear glands do not have enough glands to disburse the volume of tears that must gush forth from our eyes. But as the Greek poet Aeschylus wrote “in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” There can be no gainsaying that Prof.

Mills has not served his country. From his days at the then Internal Revenue Service as the commissioner to a law professor at the University of Ghana through to his years as Vice President and finally as a President of the Republic of Ghana, he has distinguished

himself. He was a man whom the angels above, demons below and Pharisees around would find one common sentence to describe him as: “He was a good man”. He left behind a committed life. He was someone whose depth and height of his integrity and humility could not be questioned. His character and commitment to the cause of Ghana was doubtless. His passion for Ghana was like a fire in his bones that even in his ill health he carried on the duty that he had sworn to Ghanaians.

He has set a new standard for future presidents. He has raised the marking scheme high. He was a true democrat not because his party name has the word “democratic” in it.

The death of President Mills, like his achievement, is unprecedented in our life as a nation. The death of President Mills reminds us that we are all mortal. Back in Prempeh College many years ago, our then headmaster R.T Sackey used to remind us in Latin that memento mori meaning remember that you are mortal. He did not die because he was sick. He died because he was a man, crafted from soil and to the same soil he has returned. Again, it firms fact that death is democracy for everyone including those who do not believe in democracy.

We cannot weep forever. We need not to mourn him but celebrate him and what he stood for. As Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote “death is not evil; what is evil is to be outside God's purpose and plan for your life.” Certainly, Professor Mills found his bearing and followed the True North of peace, justice, sound leadership, humility, God fearing and tolerance. What characterized his life is a rare trait in our present world.

President Mills died whilst serving his country and there can be no tribute that we can give to him than to let the virtues that he espoused for continue to live and dwell in us

as a nation. He promised Ghanaians peaceful elections and never to scuttle the economic gains achieved over the years on the altars of short term electoral expediency.

I am very sure that in his grave he would be looking at us to see whether we will follow his will.

The politics of NDC, NPP, CPP, PNC and PPP divides us as people but there is one common bond of humanity that unites us all. Many years ago, the Hebrew Prophet Isaiah wrote that “lions and lambs will lie down together, none will be afraid, and there will be peace in the valley.” To many of us, this may sound utopian. Lions feed on lambs. Lambs by their natural wiring flee from lions. Rev Jesse Jackson put it this way: “Yet even lions and lambs find common ground. Why? Because neither lions nor lambs want the forest to catch on fire; neither lions nor lambs want acid rain to fall; neither lions nor lambs can survive drought. If lions and lambs can find common ground, surely as a nation we can as well as civilized people.”

President Mills is gone but his spirit and works live with us. He has paid his dues to mother Ghana. His pages of life are now closed. As sad and difficult to bear this pain, I am refreshed by the paraphrased words of Dr King that death is not a full stop that ends the great sentence of life but a comma that leads it into a lofty significance.

And in the grave he is not alone because God has promised that He would be with us till the end of the age. And I know that God would guide him as he pilgrim through next stage of life. The words of the hymnist say it all: Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.

I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand.

Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more; feed me till I want no more.

Fiifi, may your soul rest in perfect peace.

See you in eternity.

Ghana loves you.

Ghanaians would miss you.

Appiah Kusi Adomako is a public policy and management consultant. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. (e-mail: aadomako@cmu.edu)

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