The Voice magazine by The Voice magazine

ISSN:2588-8807

ISSN:1571-3466

Motto: Actuated towards Africa’s advancement

Volume 21. NO. 212 December 2021

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First complete African magazine published in The Netherlands since August 1999

Tony Elumelu celebrated as top Influential individual in Africa President Barrow secures 2nd Term in The Gambia

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Advertorial:

ESA Humanitarian funds brings relief to Kenyan women The pilot project donated by ESA Humanitarian funds of Space Center, Noordwijk in The Netherlands to support 20 women in Kenya on their Agricultural project has commenced and these women are on the path of selfsufficiency and Self-sustainability. According to the organization, Pamoja Kenya Foundation, their aim is to ensure that these women are educated through agricultural procedures. Also to impact the local government and make these beneficiaries financially independent. Their first solar project in collaboration with Perfect Concepts of Mr. John Njeru has also commenced. They are also involved in the Water tank project, which is to enable the rural communities, harvest rainwater and use when there is scarcity. With this water project, the women can grow their own crops and sell their products and have their own businesses. With the operation of the First Solar project, they no longer have need for generators and no high cost of fuel, which has globally become an essential commodity going out of reach of the ordinary people.

The solar panels are installed and already working perfectly well. According to Marion van der Voort, the founder of Pamoja Kenya Foundation, the coordinating organization for all of these projects, she says, ‘we are working with Perfect concept and Optiven Limited which has made additional solar panel available to a family house outside of this project. And these other companies are encouraging partners. There is also the pilot project on Agriculture for women, we have a group of 20 women in the pilot project, the plans for them is to grow crops, to be financially and dependably stable, she added. We also have the rain harvest water project with installed tanks to collect rains and saved for later days and weeks. It is a combination of all 3 partners in one under the Foundation Pamoja Kenya meaning together we can make a difference in our rural communities in Kenya and other places we are called to reach. You can also be part of these projects and support us by donating to Stichting Pamoja Kenya. Transfer to: NL79INGB0005621106/BIC INGBNL2A

info@pamoja-kenya.com Tel: +31654658978

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The Voice magazine

THE VOICE MAGAZINE TEAM

The Voice magazine is editorially independent although we enjoys the support of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, non-governmental organizations and in dividuals of like minds; however the magazine publishers are in no way affiliated to any of these bodies or to any other publishing institution or political interest or group. The Voice magazine strives to foster awareness among the African audience and bridge the widening gap between Africans and the rest of the world in news gathering and dissemination. The Voice is published digitally online except on demand, we print hard copy.. If you want to receive a copy, send us your email address.

Publisher: Stichting Paddi Europa

On the Editorial board are Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh, Jonathan Mgbejume, Sandra Iruh-Monsels, and Henry Oduenyi READ THE VOICE ON LINE AT www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com Our Affiliate partner: www.thenigerianvoice.com

Editor-in-Chief Pastor Amb. Elvis Ndubuisi Iruh elvisiruh@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Founding/Contributing Editor Edward Idahosa Ogbee apexbest2000@yahoo.co.uk Managing Editor Henry D. Oduenyi (Nigeria Office) henry@thenigerianvoice.com Project Coordinator Ifeyinwa Ezeagabu Joy Onoilu (JEBITV) (Belgium) jebitv2003@gmail.com BUREAU CHIEFS Femi Ikutiyinu (London) afpaprint2000@yahoo.com Middle East Vice- President Amb. Laila EL Aftani Rahhal

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Contributors Rev. Tammy Abusi (Nigeria) tamabusi@gmail.com Elizabeth Kameo (France) Eva Nakato (Uganda) nakatoeva91@gmail.com

Jimmie Nicks (Kenya) kollywoodhorizons@gmail.com Eubaldus Enahoro (Nigeria) enabadus2000@yahoo.com Principal Photo Editor: Azeez Badris fatim_26@hotmail.com PA to Publisher Lilian Akintokun (Mrs) raven_lilian@yahoo.com Magazine Designer David Banjoko davosban@gmail.com MEDIA CONSULTANT Jonathan Mgbejume Abeka Salmin Abdallah Mildred Kleinbussink Pastor Duncan Spier Engr. Barry Igbeare Dare Anako You can as well contact our Office Address: Stichting Paddi Europa Inz The Voice Jeroen Boschplantsoen 82 1318 HH Almere, The Netherlands Land Line: +3136-8801341 Tel.: +31 (0)6-48519292 Mobile: +31 (0)6-84999548 E-mail: info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Websites: www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com www.thevoiceachieversaward.com www.elvisiruh.com (For the Publisher book)

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Voice magazine is published in the Netherlands by Stichting Paddi Europa and it is published online since 2016 around the world. It is registered at the Chamber of Commerce Amsterdam. The Voice aim to serve as a vital link among African readers in the Diaspora and we provide objective information and organizes opinion exchange among African people both in the continent and abroad. Thus it strives to foster and enhance complete understanding of developing countries problems and bring information to help address those issues. You can support this project now with as much as one euro a month to help keep publishing our digital copy for you. TV MANAGEMENT

Volume 21 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

NO 212 December 2021

Contents 32-35

The Voice Magazine Volume 21. No 212 December 2021 Edition

50-53

ARTICLES Page 6: - Finally, Africa gets its share of blame for Covid 19 Page 8: - Africa Outraged Over “Unjustified” Travel Bans Page 9: - A successful Afrovibes 2021, Pages 16 & 17: - Why Ethiopia is suddenly on brink of civil war Page 20: - A call to investment in African natural gas Page 21: -Tony Elumelu celebrated as top 25 Influential individuals in Africa’s Energy sector Pages 22 & 23: - ‘The oldest person at our water company is 33’ Page 30: - US$300 million Equatorial Guinea hotel architects lose claim against ZimSun Pages 38 & 39: - TEF funds 5000 African SMES from 54 African Countries for its Entrepreneurship programme Pages 40 & 41: - Son of former Libyan leader Gaddafi to run for president Pages 42& 43: - African Governments must act to protect their Countries’ Oil and Gas Industries after COP26 Pages 44 & 45: - Tessy Ojo receives CBE Award Pages 46 & 47: - FW de Klerk: South Africa’s last apartheid president dies at 85 Page 52: - Action is need to curb international student numbers, universities warn Page 53:-Olu Jacobs has Dementia, Joke Silva Opens Up Page 54: - 4 Kenyan police convicted of 2012 manslaughter of British aristocrat Page 55: - President Buhari hails US for sale of Military Hardware Pages 60 & 61: - Exoneration, not a Pardon for Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 Other Ogonis murdered in 1995 Pages 62-64: - The 25 year old Samburu youngster giving back to his community Page 65: - Madagascar: 1.3 million Face Severe Hunger Pages 66 & 67: - In Memorial: Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha (1953 – 2021) Pages 68 & 69: - The post- election violence survivor creating Tuberculosis awareness in Makueni County Page 71: - Ajax signs Gibson Yah Pages 72 & 73: - Boxing: Canelo To Offer Ilunga Makabu’s Mandatory Thabiso Mchuni A Step Aside Deal

56-58

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Editorial

Finally, Africa gets its share of blame for Covid 19

or whatever reason, the script failed to play how it was originally planned. The outbreak of Covid 19 as to be blamed on Africa for eating bush meat but China took the first blow and now the focus has shifted from China to Africa – particularly Southern Africa takes the blame for the spread of the so called new variant – Omicron and every attention is focus on Africa. The rest of the world is quick to place a travel ban on African countries as if we didn’t know the plans from the beginning. The attempt to lock Africa out of Europe and America, they have tried through immigration policies, it has not worked. The new opportunity has presented itself that the variant virus for Corona is blamed on Africa. Just two cases found in Belgium, alarm was raised. My first question is how did the corona virus reached Africa? Of course from the Western world, they are distributors, just as they did with Aids and blamed it on Africa. A professor and Dean of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, USA, Dr. Peter Hotez was quick to demand from G7 leaders to forget about the travel bans rather they should vaccinate the African people. A request Africans themselves had made but turned down Dr. Hotez was reacting to the emergence and spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in southern Africa and the travel restrictions that many countries and regional bodies, including the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan and others, have imposed on southern African nations. According to him, the solution was vaccinations, not travel bans, explaining that travel bans have not been very effective against COVID-19 which was first detected in China before spreading to the entire world. Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Close to 800, 000 Americans have died due to COVID-19 that erupted in China. When it first erupted, the Trump administration imposed travel restrictions on China but left Europeans travel freely to the United States. They landed mainly in New York City, Atlanta and Los Angeles. As Trump kept playing to the gallery and ranting over the so-called ‘China virus’, Europeans brought it to the United States and tens of thousands of people died in New York City alone. By the time travel restrictions were imposed on Europe, thousands of Americans were dying every day. They were looking at China and using it for politics when actually the virus came to the US mainly from Europe. Then the Delta variant was detected in South Africa which also received the virus from elsewhere. And it ended up killing hundreds of thousands of Americans here in mainland United States and hundreds of thousands in France, the United Kingdom, Germany and elsewhere. A global crisis cannot be solved with travel restrictions and bans when a few countries corner all the vaccines refuse to waive their intellectual property rights, share their knowledge on vaccine and drug manufacturing with developing nations, even as thousands

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of people die daily. Now, a new variant has emerged. South African health authorities identified the variant as B.1.1.529 and a World Health Organization technical advisory group named it Omicron. It is a ‘variant of concern’ with a large number of mutations. As a result, the United States, the European Union and several other countries around Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh Editor-in-Chief the world, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan, have imposed travel restrictions on eight southern African nations over the new variant. Those countries are South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and Namibia. But will that stop or even slow the spread of the virus? We don’t think so and it is a waste of time and a distraction of facing up to their failure to address the virus pandemic the proper way. After two doses of vaccine, now there is introduction of another jab called booster, what next after the 3rd jab? A fourth and fifth and no end in sight for continued vaccination of the people thereby diminishing the life span of the populace. Could this be a plan to gradually reduce global population since they cannot control the global effects of climate change? What if another variant emerges right now, does it mean for every variant, there would be a jab? As long as selfishness and stupidity and massive greed and crazy nationalism continue to guide the response to COVID-19, more variants would emerge, more people will catch them and die, travel restrictions will lead to nothing. In fact, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opposed the imposition of travel restrictions on some southern African nations over the newly detected COVID-19 variant named Omicron, saying that “imposing bans on travelers from countries where a new variant is reported has not yielded a meaningful outcome.” “Africa CDC strongly discourages the imposition of travel ban for people originating from countries that have reported this variant. In fact, over the duration of this pandemic, we have observed that imposing bans on travellers from countries where a new variant is reported has not yielded a meaningful outcome. Rather implementing PHSM should be prioritized,” Africa CDC said in a statement. Or should Africa ban all the western countries who through their citizens, the virus got to Africa in the first place? We seem not to have a solution and moving round circle in the blame game. Wishing you all a safe and successful end of year 2021 and hoping that things would improve in 2022. See you all in the New Year. Editor-in-Chief Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh

Opinion: How I have been wrongly profiled in The Netherlands says Amma Asante Right from the start of the allowance scandal, there was a large article in the newspaper that the tax authorities were targeting Ghanaians. They were being ethnically profiled, withdrawn from the queue by the government and disadvantaged on the basis of origin, surname and nationality. I personally didn’t want to belief that was truly happening in my country, The Netherlands. I now know many Ghanaians, but also people from other African countries who have been duped. To date, everyone involved has worked hard to prevent the benefits scandal from being linked to institutional racism because imagine if this is recognized, the damage it would have done to the government. Unfortunately I can now also publicly say that I also fell prey to this. I didn’t dare to comprehend it for a long time. I didn’t want to let it in. I as a model immigrant but well integrated and hard working. My entire working life so far has been in the public interest to better the Dutch society. I have served as a former city councilor of Amsterdam and became a member of Dutch Parliament. I have served with all my heart. I also received the call from the IRS with an apology. The apology is based on the fact that I was on a list as a fraud all those years without my knowledge. That means that every time I contacted the government or a company (e.g. a bank) with which the government cooperates, the word fraudster appeared in the screen of the person on the other side. But I can rest assured: that has now been rectified. But this is how governmental institutions viewed me in my country, institutions meant to protect every citizen no matter your colour or race “It was unjust and we are very sorry,” said the lady on the other end. My response is rational: I want to know everything in my file. In fact, I would like to cry to express what it does to me to realize that I have been mistrusted and criminalized by my own government for years because of my origin and last name. But the tears don’t come. It does not work. All I want now, even more than before, is justice and prevention. Think carefully the next time you want to let someone know that things are going to be okay and that not everything is racism. I don’t want any apologies here. I don’t want pity. I don’t want understanding. What I do want: people who want to do everything they can to get justice and prevent this from ever happening again. To restore the democratic rule of law because we now know that it is in serious need of recovery. From our parliament

to the judiciary, advisory bodies and watchdogs: no one is excluded. This is a photo of me when I was sworn in as a Member of Parliament and uttered the words “So help me God Almighty.” Then I was a fraud according to the tax authorities. A bit of explanation for anyone who has questions regarding my write up. Every child is allowed to end up at the educational level where he or she belongs from VMBO to VWO. There is no right or wrong. Any child who for whatever reason does not reach his or her level can be hindered for a very long, sometimes lifelong, in development, career and the rest of life. That said, as the child of two migrants who were advised to go to MAVO while I had a VWO level and know what it is like to fight all my life against a system of underestimation based on my origin, skin color and also gender I am not ashamed to say that no diploma is high enough for a black woman in this country. I had a Mavo stamp. No school in Amsterdam accepted me except for pre-university education. What a struggle my parents and I had to fight to be admitted to that school. And what I thought high school was hell. After all, I was the child who always had to prove that she could handle pre-university education. I didn’t enjoy learning until university. Only then did I believe that I could really learn. This is based on a lived experience and that of many other black people. So again: a VMBO diploma is a wonderful diploma because a baker benefits me every day, unlike a surgeon. However, I grant all black children who have (potentially) a VWO level a VWO diploma because research has shown that Hans, who did not finish his school with a prison sentence, has a greater chance of being invited for a job interview than Amma from the Bijlmer or Mohammed from Nieuw-West with a master’s degree and 5 board positions. So please don’t be mad at me. But on the system. Let’s change this system together. Let’s not find naming racism worse than racism itself. And I understand the sensitivity because no one wants to be called a racist. Nobody wants to be a racist on purpose. But racism is real. And it is people who make that possible. Even if they don’t want to or are not aware of it. I experience this in the studies I do into institutional racism. Many white people are shocked when you name it. Just imagine what it means to people undergoing it. Any idea? For the rest: peace on earth www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

NEWS

Africa outraged over “Unjustified” travel bans

resident Cyril Ramaphosa last month blasted “unjustified” travel bans imposed by many European countries following the emergence of the Omicron variant which was first detected in Botswana on November 11th 2021 and reported to the World Health Organization by South Africa on November 24th after it began spreading rapidly in Gauteng province, a predominantly urban area containing the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa. “The only thing the prohibition on travel will do is to further damage the economies of the affected countries and undermine their ability to respond to, and recover from, the pandemic,” says President Ramaphosa of South Africa. The South African leader called on countries to

“is akin to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new

variants quicker than many of the advanced countries.” It added in a statement that “excellent science should be applauded and not punished.” At the White House, here in Washington D.C., U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. met in person with his Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and members of his White House COVID Response Team, and he was told that the current vaccines are likely to provide ‘a degree of protection’ against Omicron variant. “Dr. Fauci informed the President that while it will take approximately two more weeks to have more definitive information on the transmissibility, severity, and other characteristics of the variant, he continues to believe that existing vaccines are likely to provide a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID,” the White House said in a readout.

“urgently reverse their decisions” before “further damage is done to their economies.” He added that “the prohibition of travel is not informed by science, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of this variant.” The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said the latest round of travel bans

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All these developments come as the World Health Assembly special session opens in Geneva, Switzerland, amid Omicron variant scare, imposition of travel bans, debate over science versus politics now dominates discussions and panic measures are been taken by these European countries to curb the spread of the new variant of the Covid virus.

A successful Afrovibes 2021, Tanzanian choreographer Samwel Japhet receives Prince Claus Seed Award

e look back on a very successful festival. For the first time in two years we were back again fully live in the

theatres. Afrovibes 2021 had 12 days of live performances in 14 theatres with 70 participating artists. Of these, 40 came from abroad (South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and the U.S.A.) and 30 from the Netherlands. The festival had 7,600 visitors in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Den Bosch. Tanzanian choreographer Samwel Japhet receives Prince Claus Seed Award In October; the Prince Claus Fund selected 100 artists from 65 countries for the Prince Claus Seed Award. According to the Fund, these artists can be seen as important international trendsetters who will make a difference. Tanzanian choreographer Samwel Japhet, who performed his dance performance ‘A Moment - Wakati’ at Afrovibes, has been selected as one of the 100 inspiring artists to receive this Award. We are proud that Samwel Japhet as one of the participants in Afrovibes festival 2021 has been selected for a Seed

Award by the Prince Claus Fund. A Moment - Wakati can still be seen via our YouTube channel: the trailer including an interview with Samwel Japhet and as full show. And live in Antwerp at the To Be Antwerp 2021 festival from 26-28 November. Next Afrovibes Festival in 2022 has new main festival hub The next Afrovibes festival is from 5 until 16 October 2022. The festival will have a new main venue in 2022. Compagnietheater in Amsterdam will close its doors at the end of 2021 and Afrovibes started looking for a new main festival hub for the festival. And this has been found. In 2022, Frascati Theater in Amsterdam with its four venues will be our new main festival location and festival hub! In addition, we will of course also return to the other theatres and locations where the festival has been held recently, in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. We will announce the first parts of our program in spring of 2022. Main focus in our program in 2022 will be West Africa. But part of the program will remain connected to and originating from South(ern) Africa. The festival could not have existed without the many visitors, staff and volunteers who took part in the program. We thank everyone for the support we have received again. Glad you were there! We look forward to 2022. Want to stay informed about the latest ins & outs of Afrovibes? Follow us on Facebook en Instagram.

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Letters to The Editor

Dear Editor, I saw The voice Achievers Awards on social media I ran into the Voice magazine on social media. Kindly share details and process to be a part of this interesting and growing magazine please. My name is Dr. Dipti R Bhadoriya, Chancellor of Virtual University for international relationship, Vice Chancellor of ITMUT Institute, founder and chairperson of Videv Tejaswini Foundation based in India. I am also from India. ***** Editor’s reply Dear Dr. Bhadoriya, We are an African oriented magazine with a global appeal, we have been publishing since August 1999. I have replied to you via the same channel you contacted us. We look forward to communicating further and working together. Thank you once again. Editor ****** Dear Editor, The Voice magazine is a superb magazine. Keep it up The Voice is rich in everything. The contents are superb. The layout is professionally handled. The graphics are very pleasing to the eyes. The aesthetics are second to none. I am very proud to be associated with the work. Do keep it up. By Owolabi Adeola Lagos, Nigeria www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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ONE EURO A MONTH SUPPORT TO THE VOICE MAGAZINE ..... Since you’re here... Support the Voice magazine so we stay publishing for your reading pleasure….. Welcome to you our readers and our followers. We have a small favour to ask. More people, like you, are reading and supporting the Voice News magazine since we stopped the hard copy print in 2016. We have continued to serve you the magazine in the same format with all production cost covered like editing, page designs, photography and digital distribution via online channels. The Voice News magazine has been an independent organization, we do not receive any form of subsidy except the support of our advertisers, readers and friends. We made the choice to keep our reporting open for all, regardless of where you live or what you can afford to pay. Our advertising drive continue to grow. You can support us through this medium by promoting us among your friends, colleagues and clients as well,. You can promote your businesses and services with us as your way of support. Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. You are free and welcome to contribute both commercial and political independent articles for our reading audience without bias. We want to continue to give a voice to those less heard, exploited or turn away. We continue to rigorously challenge those in power to do what is right and just. We hope you will consider supporting us from now on. We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support The Voice News magazine as little as one EURO and it only takes a minute through your bank account.

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YOUR COPY NOW.... Getting to know you written by Pastor Elvis Iruh Pastor Felix Asare wrote the foreword

BOOK REVIEW Pastor Elvis Iruh’s new book is out…… Title: “Getting to know you” - A book on marital steps with information about marriage Author: Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh About the book Whether you’re preparing for marriage or want to enjoy a deeper union with your spouse, this guide will help you enjoy a relationship built on solid Christian values. Pastor Elvis Iruh is a licensed minister with Victory Outreach International. His book highlights simple principles that are often taken for granted. Learn how to: • get to really know a love interest before deciding to marry; • avoid mistakes that lead to divorce; • appreciate the sanctity of marriage;

partners can carry out with each other as well as guidance for pastors and church leaders who may need help in advising couples. This guide will help couples enjoy marriage that is built to last. ***** About the Author ELVIS IRUH is a native of Delta State, Nigeria. He attended numerous schools in Nigeria, including the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos, Nigeria, before continuing his studies in Europe and earning a degree in theology from Victory Education & Training Institute. He worked for several media organizations in Nigeria as well and has been the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Voice news magazine since August 1999. He is serving as an associate pastor at Victory Outreach Almere, The Netherlands. The book can be used for educational purposes as well as educating your children on the subject of marriage. He is also available to speak on related topics covered in the book at any organized event or church activities. He is open for collaborative efforts to strengthen marriage institutions worldwide. It is a mission he has dedicated himself to helping the younger generation to talk and address the challenges they face in building good and solid relationships which could end up in marriage. You can purchase the book in Holland via his website: www.elvisiruh.com or through his publishers’: www.authorhouse.com/ Elvis Iruh or on www.amazon.co.uk via this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/ aw/d/1665580844/ref=ox_sc_act_

• forgive your partner when they make mistakes. Before you think of getting married, you should take the necessary steps to really get to know your partner. Your past should not contain any surprises - and your values must be aligned. This revealing book is filled with practical exercises that

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image_1?smid=AHRB2OK2Q2YCL&psc=1 You can contact him directly through any of his social media handle for your questions or comments, he would look into it and respond would be sent to you accordingly. Email: info@elvisiruh.com or elvisiruh@gmail.com

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Why Ethiopia is suddenly on brink of civil war Suddenly Ethiopia appears on the brink of civil war, threatening the stability of one of the world’s most strategic regions, the Horn of Africa, and the fracturing of one of Africa’s most powerful and populous countries. But the crisis in Ethiopia, a key U.S. security ally, has been building for months. According to the deputy director of the International Crisis Group’s Africa program, Dino Mahtani, “it has been like watching a train crash in slow motion.” Now Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for sweeping political reforms, faces the sharpest consequences yet of the country’s recent shifts in power. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Two things occurred last month- Communications were cut in Ethiopia’s heavily armed northern Tigray region, and

Abiy announced he had ordered troops to respond to an alleged deadly attack by Tigray’s forces on a military base there. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the fighting. Both stepped up pressure while Ethiopia’s army said it was deploying troops from around the country to Tigray, and the Tigray leader announced that “we are ready to be martyrs.” Casualties were reported on both sides in the earlier confrontation. And by press time, the prime minister announced his government had carried out airstrikes in the “first round of operation” against the TPLF, while the Tigray region is increasingly cut off and heavy humanitarian crisis 16

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growing and could affect the peace with their neighboring country of Eritrea. Some experts have compared the confrontation to an interstate war, with two large and well-trained forces and little sign of backing down. Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most well-armed nations, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front dominated Ethiopia’s military and government before Abiy took office in 2018. It has plenty of conflict experience from Ethiopia’s years-long border war with Eritrea, next door to the Tigray region, and the International Crisis Group estimates that the TPLF’s paramilitary force and local militia have some 250,000 troops. With communications still out, it’s difficult to verify either side’s account of events on the ground. HOW DID WE GET HERE? Ethiopia’s ruling coalition appointed Abiy as prime minister in 2018 to help calm months of anti-government protests, and he quickly won praise and the Nobel for opening political space and curbing repressive measures in the country of some 110 million people and scores of ethnic groups. But the TPLF felt increasingly marginalized, and last year it withdrew from the ruling coalition. The TPLF objects to Ethiopia’s delayed election, blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic, and Abiy’s extended time in office. In September, the Tigray region voted in a local election that Ethiopia’s federal government called illegal. The federal government later moved to divert funding from the TPLF executive to local governments, angering the regional leadership. Tigray leader Debretsion Gebremichael

warned a bloody conflict could erupt if Ethiopia does not stop his advancement on this region. WHAT COULD HAPPEN NOW? The conflict could spread to other parts of Ethiopia, where some regions have been calling for more autonomy, and deadly ethnic violence has led the federal government to restore measures including arresting critics. Addressing those fears, Ethiopia’s deputy army Chief Birhanu Jula said of Tigray, “The war will end there.” Some governments and experts are urgently calling for dialogue over Tigray, but a Western diplomat in the capital, Addis Ababa, says “the message from the Ethiopians is, if you talk about a dialogue you equate the two parties, but ’This is a legitimate government, that’s a renegade group.’” The objective as put forward by Ethiopia is to crush the TPLF, the diplomat said on condition of anonymity, and “if I say I’m going to crush you, then is there really scope for any negotiation?” The TPLF before the fighting said it’s not interested in negotiating with the federal government, and it has sought the release of detained leaders as a precondition to talks. An inclusive dialogue must occur, observers say, but a statement last month by a panel of former U.S. diplomats

and military experts for the United States Institute of Peace warned it won’t go far “while many of the country’s most prominent political leaders remain in prison.” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN BEYOND ETHIOPIA? Few regions are more vulnerable than the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s neighbors include Somalia - Ethiopian forces have reportedly begun withdrawing from that country to return home and Sudan, facing its own huge political transition. Neighboring Eritrea has shown little sign of opening up after making peace with Ethiopia in 2018, and its government and the Tigray one don’t get along. A region in which Abiy has played high-profile peacemaker is now at risk. Observers warn that a conflict could suck in these countries and others not far from the most strategic military outpost

in Africa, tiny Djibouti, where several global powers including the U.S. and China have their only military bases on the continent. The Horn of Africa is also a short water crossing away from Yemen and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula. Ethiopia already was drawing concern over a dispute with Egypt over a huge dam Ethiopia is completing on the Blue Nile. While there have been worries about military action, “I would like to think Egypt is responsible enough as an actor to realize that fragmentation of Ethiopia is fundamentally so damaging to regional security,” former U.S. diplomat Payton Knopf, a senior advisor with the United States Institute of Peace, said last month. In shocking development, the United States Government warns its citizens in Ethiopia to leave the country with immediate effect as they would not send military to evacuate persons as they did in Afghanistan. According to military intelligence, things could crumble anytime from now so they are advised to leave for their own safety. The Biden administration called on U.S. citizens one more time to leave Ethiopia immediately while commercial flights remain available, warning that soldiers will not be sent in for mass evacuations like in Afghanistan. Briefing reporters from Washington DC, two senior state department officials said U.S. citizens in Ethiopia who expect the military to be sent in at the last minute might be disappointed. The officials said those who cannot afford to pay for their flights and those who may not have their travel documents ready should reach out to the Embassy in Addis Ababa for help. Their call came on the same day Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said he would be ready to go to the battlefront and fight and urged Ethiopian citizens to defend their motherland. The calls by Abiy for citizens to fight and from the United States for Americans to leave seem to be another indication that things continue to worsen in Ethiopia where the yearlong conflict has left thousands of people dead and tens of thousands displaced

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32 New State Patrons and Patronesses of the Boys’ Brigade, Edo State Council have been decorated and inducted in Edo State, Nigeria. The General Manager, Independent Radio, Benin City, Pastor Dan Omozusi and the Editor of the Nigerian Observer, Pastor Eubaldus Enahoro were among the new state Patrons and Patronesses of the Boy’s Brigade, Edo State Council decorated and inducted in Benin City The decoration and induction of the thirty two new state patrons and patronesses of the Boy’s Brigade was held with a call from a former Chief Judge of Edo State Rtd. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen for righteous living in this times by believers. According to her lordship, the Boy’s Brigade is one of the leading organizations in the country for young boy’s and girls and as Patrons and Patronesses they should allow the Christ given light in them to shine in all direction, for the society to progress. “The future of this country rest on the youths. We have responsibility to nurture the youths in conduct and character,” she added. In his sermon, the host chaplain of the Nigerian Air force Protestant Church, Benin city, the venue of the Induction and decoration of the state patrons and Patronesses, Rev. Kirgik Augustine urged them to be ready to serve by preparing for the spiritual war. “To be a victor you must prepare for war and preparing for the spiritual war , you need to be spiritual because you cannot use flesh to conquer spiritual matters. As Patron and Patronesses you are God incubator that will support the young ones. “Let us be committed to the kingdom work. We are in the end time, there will be no peace until Jesus returns, let us look unto God by purifying ourselves, sacrifice ourselves before offering ourselves for the work of God,” he noted. Rev. Kirgik Augustine, who lamented that in this end time people are killing human beings and they do not see anything wrong with it, said “We need to prepare our youths with what God has deposited in us for them to see the light.” The President Boy’s Brigade Nigeria, Edo state Council, Sir (Dr) Bibowei James Braie disclosed that the Boy’s Brigade is the foremost international interdenominational, voluntary and first uniformed Christian Youth Organization in the world that was founded in Glasgow, Scotland on October 4th 1883, by Sir William Alexander Smith and twenty five years later it was established in Nigeria in 1908. “The focus of the Boy’s Brigade is to train boys to become useful Christian Citizens and to contribute to National development. We are involved in a lot of programme of activities like drill and parade, camping and exposition, music, arts and culture, Bible study, vocational skill training etc. “We have carefully chosen our patrons and patronesses to add value to the system and count on their support to help achieve the object of Boy’s Brigade which is the advancement of Christ Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness,” he added.

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A call to investment in African natural gas Since Ireland in 2018 became the first country to say it would divest entirely from fossil fuels, governments, activists, and agencies worldwide have begun reciting the same rallying cry: ban all financing on hydrocarbons development and production. The idea of a blanket ban is intended to help reach net-zero ambitions and quell climate change. Proponents say that by reducing funding for oil, natural gas, and coal, more of it will stay in the ground and the world will be forced to switch to renewables for electricity and heat — regardless of whether the infrastructure and capacity exist to provide solar, wind, and hydropower equitably across the globe. Just days before the start of Africa Energy Week 2021, November 9-12, in Cape Town, organized by the African Energy Chamber, in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. We have made an important step to improve our hydrocarbons legislation as the oil and gas sector, accounts for more than 60% of Equatorial Guinea’s GDP. Since 1996, the discovery and development of oil and gas have transformed the economy of Equatorial Guinea. Petroleum products account for the vast majority of our exports, more than 60% of our gross domestic product (GDP), and 80% of our fiscal revenue. Thanks to leveraging our hydrocarbon resources, we are proud to say we have the highest per capita GCP in Sub-Saharan Africa. Like many other countries, however, GDP shrank during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investment retracted as well. With the pandemic receding, at least for now, and the market returning, we must embrace the opportunity to restore our economy. Equatorial Guinea is endowed with huge hydrocarbon riches: 1.1 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves and 1.3 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves. It will take more investment to get those resources produced and put to good use, not less. With that in mind, Equatorial Guinea is revising our 2006 Hydrocarbon Law. Our hope is that it will enable us to attract more regional and international energy participants and incentivize investment across the entire value chain. That will allow us to realize the potential of our offshore natural gas industry and become increasingly competitive in the gas sector. One key factor is the continued monetization of the Alen Gas project, which includes a network of production, processing, and transport facilities at Punta Europa, Bioko Island. The project, which is led by Chevron and partners (Glencore, Atlas Petroleum, Gunvor and GEPetrol), has attracted direct

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foreign investment of $475 million. First gas began flowing at the project in March 2021. Alen Gas represents the first phase of the Gas Mega Hub (GMH). GMH is a national strategy to harness our unexploited domestic gas resources and help our LNG facilities remain competitive, but it goes beyond our borders. GMH includes the proposed cross-boundary project with our neighbor Cameroon, which will allow both countries to benefit from our shared resources in the Yoyo-Yolanda

condensate gas field and build an intra-African LNG industry. We are going to prioritize regional gas deals with Nigeria, as it is key. Working with our American partners, we have a plan for Fortuna FLNG which we intend to use world class technology to produce low carbon LNG. We will not stop there because Equatorial Guinea is a model for how a gas-rich region can exploit its resources and enhance sector growth. In Africa, like many other nations, natural gas means jobs. In Africa, in particular, it has the potential to lift families out of poverty. We will use Equatorial Guinea’s gas to join the fight in Making Energy Poverty History. Imagine an Africa where gas to power projects is used to drive up possibilities for many and create jobs and expand our tax base. What’s more, because natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, it is essential to the energy transition. It’s widely known that nations including the United States, the UK, and Japan are building their transition plans around it. Why should Africa be any different? Instead of calling for investment in African natural gas to be shut off like a pipeline valve, the world should be supporting it as a passage to a net-zero future. By Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea

Tony Elumelu celebrated as top 25 Influential individuals in Africa’s Energy sector

he Africa Energy Chamber (AEC) has recognized Tony Elumelu CON, Chairman Heirs Holdings, as one of twenty-five influential individuals expected to shape Africa’s energy sector in 2022 and beyond. The list is a part of AEC’s highly anticipated annual outlook tagged ‘The State of African Energy 2022’, a report which outlines Africa’s energy sector and provides insight into the various challenges and opportunities within the continent. This recognition came following Mr. Elumelu’s action plan to increase the output of the OML 17 asset recently acquired through Heirs Holdings Oil and Gas, which currently produces 27,000 bonds. It is also owed to his control over the 2,000 MW of installed power capacity in Nigeria via recent acquisitions, which is a major contribution to the country’s growing power demand. Tony Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, his family-owned investment company, committed to improving lives and transforming Africa, through longterm investments in strategic sectors of the African economy, including financial services, hospitality, power, energy, technology, and healthcare. He is also the Chairman of panAfrican financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries in Africa, the United Kingdom, France, and is the only African bank with a commercial deposit taking licence in the United States. He also chairs Nigeria’s largest quoted conglomerate, Transcorp, whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power, one of the leading generators of electricity in Nigeria and Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand. The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading champion of entrepreneurship in Africa. Our objective is to empower women and men across our continent, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and ensuring job

creation. We believe the private sector’s role is critical for Africa’s development and that the private sector must create both social and economic wealth. Our mission is implemented through our programmes, research, communities, advocacy and convenings, including the annual TEF Forum, the largest gathering of entrepreneurs in Africa, and TEFConnect, Africa’s digital

hub for entrepreneurs. The Foundation leverages its strong relationships in the public, private and development sectors to drive its mission of creating prosperity for all.

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‘The oldest person at our water company is 33

ccess to clean water could never be taken for granted, recalls Judith Soila Parantai from her childhood; the water was always far away and often dirty. She is now back on her home ground and has provided a village with tap water. ‘Nothing makes me happier.’ When the pandemic broke out the World Health Organization and the Kenyan government urged people to wash their hands frequently, but in marginalised communities like Isinet that was not so simple. It was there, in the far south of the country at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, with spectacular views of the mountain, that the WASH First project to curb the spread of the disease was set up. Judith Soila Parantai is already waiting for us in Isinet. The jovial but modest 26 year old water engineer grew up in this county. She saw how the community struggled to get water and used to walk for hours with her mother to fetch it. ‘After high school,’ she says, ‘I got the chance to teach somewhere far from home. I saw with my own eyes how difficult it was for women there, because water was scarce. Sometimes they went to bed hungry because there was no water to cook with. It sparked off something in me: it had

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to change, not only there, but where I come from as well. ‘Luckily I received a grant and was able to study at the Kenya Water Institute. After that I got a job at the Loitokitok

Water and Sanitation Company, which is full of young and innovative spirits – the oldest is 33. The director always puts young people first. ‘I had the honour of rolling out the technical side of the WASH First project and had the full trust of the director. He gave me a completely free rein; now and then I would report on progress. First we arranged a “water kiosk” for Isinet and now the community has every reason to smile, because we connected five schools and six churches for free. It makes a big difference,’ she says, her face lighting up. ‘The clothes you see hanging on the line have never been as fresh as they are now’ Isinet was the most remote and forgotten part of the country as far as access to water goes. For decades people had to walk miles for it and when they got there it was usually dirty. In 2020, for the WASH First project the Neighbours Initiative Alliance (NIA)

– supported by Simavi – worked with Soila Parantai’s company to connect homes and other buildings to the water supply. ‘As you can see, there is now one big storage tank, so just imagine what it used to be like. Nothing makes me happier than seeing people here in their homes using water: there are now about 60 households connected, each with about five family members.’ In the community there is not only relief about the supply of clean water, but they can now also wash their hands frequently to combat the Covid virus. While the number of infections in Kenya was rising the government called this one of the best preventive measures – including the better hygiene. Where water is scarce, people run a greater risk of contracting Covid. ‘In my home town of Kajiado West,’ says Judith, ‘people are still suffering from water shortages. This project is the first one of its kind to work with a water company to improve the situation.’ Judith Soila Parantai, Patrick Mwanzia of Simavi, Kenny Matampash of NIA and several staff members of the water company visit a few households to compare the situation now with what it was. They stop first at Esther Kasoi Kasoo’s house. ‘As a greengrocer,’ she says, ‘I used to walk for more than three hours to fetch water and I can tell you it wasn’t easy. I would get up very early to buy in vegetables, hurry back with them and then go out to fetch water. That was my daily routine, and sometimes when I got there the water turned out to be dirty. ‘I then had no choice but to collect it anyway and wait at home for the dirt to sink to the bottom so that I could use the top half. The clothes you see hanging on the line have never been as fresh as they are now – the water shortage made it almost impossible to wash them. Now I’m a happy woman, and my business is doing better too because I have much more time to sell the vegetables, and I even have time to rest.’ Waiting a few metres away is Loyce John, who used to walk for five hours to fetch water. Her husband looked after the cattle, she did the housework. ‘It was tough,’ she says, ‘walking those two and a half hours there and two and a half hours back… And then the water was hardly ever clean – and yet we had to put up with it for years. ‘At the moment I’m so relieved there is tap water nearby. Gone are the days when I had to walk for half a day to fetch what is now simply right here. It even allows me to take a few extra jobs to supplement the family income.’ All that is thanks to Soila Parantai. The director of the water company says he has absolutely no regrets about putting them to work right away, straight out of college and without

much experience. ‘The experienced staff sometimes think it is beneath them, but the young ones are extremely driven and eager to learn as much as possible. Their energy also helps. They are the ones who turn up when there’s an emergency in the middle of the night.’ Soila Parantai says she is proud of her position, mainly

because she comes from the Maa community, where women are expected to be seen but not heard. She wants to be a role model for young people and change that narrative – and she calls on employers to give young people a chance to gain experience on the job. ‘Youth unemployment,’ she says, ‘is starting to become a crisis and it often leads to depression and suicide. Many young people have a diploma, but not yet the experience – which is why they can’t get a job. How can you gain experience if you don’t get the opportunity?’ The programme WASH First is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and contributes towards the promised fight against the pandemic. The aim is to improve hygiene to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in high-risk countries by providing more WASH services and raising awareness about them. It will run for fifteen months (from September 2020 to November 2021) in six countries. In Kenya, Simavi is the lead organisation and SNV and Plan International are the other members of the consortium. The Neighbours Alliance Initiative (NIA) is Simavi’s partner in Kajiado County. WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – and that goes First. This article was published in the youth special of Dutch magazine Vice Versa. Text and image: Nicera Wanjiru and Cynthia Omondi

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King Richard might be Will Smith’s best chance to win an Oscar

ill Smith’s ‘King Richard’ performance have all the Oscar buzz. In the past few years, Will Smith has been nominated for an Oscar twice before throughout his career but his performance in ‘King Richard’ might be the one that gets him the prize. One of these nominations have been from playing historical figures related to sports, Smith simply has a certain aura about him that makes him sportsfriendly. The first and arguably most famous character he played was the legendary Muhammad Ali, he truly embodied the character but he lost that year against Denzel Washington’s performance in ‘Training Day’ (2002). After that, his performance in ‘Concussion’ was only nominated for a Golden Globe in 2016 but he lost against Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in ‘The Revenant’. After five years without having presence in the award circuit and a new blockbuster with 2019’s ‘Aladdin’, it was time for Smith to flex his acting muscle again. Whoever followed this man’s career since it started, you will know he loves a daunting challenge. When the Williams sisters approached him for the role in ‘King Richard’ to play their father, Will

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Smith was sold on the major task to convince the entire family he was the man for the job. The actor confirmed during the press junkets for this movie that the Williams sisters decided they wouldn’t attach their name to the project until they saw

the film. Even more reason to excite Smith to deliver the performance of a lifetime. Is Will Smith finally winning an Oscar for ‘King Richard’? Where ‘Ali’ and ‘Concussion’ failed to inspire at the Oscars, ‘King Richard’ mesmerizes with not only Smith’s heartfelt performance but also through brilliant direction and a stellar supporting role from John Bernthal. Barring a surprise from other great actors such as Andrew Garfield, Denzel Washington, Leo DiCaprio or Benedict Cumberbatch, this is Smith’s Oscar to lose. We are talking about arguably the greatest performance of his career. The fact that Venus and Serena Williams were freaked out when they saw the movie because of how real the performance was is everything one needs to know about how great Will Smith’s portrayal of Richard Williams is in ‘King Richard’. The movie is streaming on HBO Max right now.

Inflation in the Netherlands reaches highest point since 2002 Figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) have revealed that inflation in the Netherlands has reached its highest point in almost 20 years. In October 2021, the prices of goods and services were 3,4 percent higher than in October 2020. Cost of living in the Netherlands continues to rise You might have noticed that, over the past few months, life in the Netherlands has gotten considerably more expensive, but information from CBS shows precisely how much difference one year has made to the prices of goods and services across the country. Inflation in the Netherlands has been steadily rising since the summer and, according to CBS, it reached 3,4 percent in October - its highest level since April 2002. October also saw key manufacturers warn that the price of a weekly shop will also continue to rise, thanks to higher production and transportation costs. This year has already seen the prices of a number of items - namely beer and personal care products rise by over 6,5 percent. Effect of energy crisis on the prices of Dutch goods and services These recent price hikes can be attributed to a number of factors, but have largely come about as a result of the rising prices of gas and electricity across Europe, as well as rising fuel prices and the increased cost of clothing.

CBS also notes the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the cost of living, highlighting the fact that government restrictions resulted in a change in public spending habits which will continue to have knock-on effects for inflation levels in 2021. By Victoria Séveno

Millionaires in NL increased for six consecutive year

The number of millionaires increased for the sixth consecutive year in 2020. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Netherlands now has 278,000 households with a capital of at least one million euros. The percentage of millionaires is highest in Bloemendaal and Laren. The number of millionaire households increased by 24,000 compared to 2019. That does not mean that all these people have a million euros in their bank account. The researchers also included other forms of wealth, like the value of their owner-

occupied home and shares. They deducted any debts, such as the mortgage. The group of millionaires has been growing since 2014. In the preceding crisis years, their number remained more or less the same. There are now over 100,000 more millionaires than in 2008. Due to rising prices, a millionaire can now buy less than someone just as rich 12 years ago. If this is taken into account, 35,000 millionaires were added. The average millionaire household has a net worth of 1.6 million euros. That is 28 times more than the average of other households. Millionaires often have a lot of capital in companies, in a substantial interest or entrepreneurial capital. Last year this accounted for 45 percent of millionaires’ wealth, while 21 percent was in their owned homes. For the average nonmillionaire, the house is by far the most valuable asset. One in four households in Bloemendaal and Laren can call themselves a millionaire, the highest share in the country. These municipalities are also located in the province with the largest percentage of millionaires, namely Noord-Holland. This is followed by Utrecht, Zeeland, and Noord-Brabant. This wealthy group is relatively the smallest in Groningen, Flevoland, and Limburg.

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Column:

THIS CHRISTMAS - WHAT TO EXPECT By Nicholas Jimmy (Jimmie Nicks)

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon for two millennia; Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who Christians believe is the Son of God whose teachings form the basis of their religion. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus) and hence Christ-Mass shortened to Christmas. Christmas is now celebrated by people around the world, whether they are Christians or not. People around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, children waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. Christmas been one among the most celebrated holidays in the worldwide has attracted different scope. And while Christians may look at this season religiously, millions of other people will look at this season through many other eyes. To the farmer it’s about time to cut down some trees and make a kill for the world is in need of a Christmas tree, for the transport businesses is that time of the year to double the cost of travel while the sales person is ready to supply Santa Claus wears. All the same its festive season and I pen this article without motive of explaining the spiritual and

cultural implications. My write as opposed to explaining the origin “the hows”, “the whos”, and the whys” tents to simply create awareness of what will or may happen during this festive season based on many years of observation. While part of this observation may be narrowed to Africa my primary target for my write, some of it is as well a global practice. It’s that time of the year again when advertisements double if not triple. From television to radio, print and social media, expect a lot of advertisements mainly offers with good price margin. And while these offers may be genuine or not-it’s important to note that many products double their prices during 26

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festive season. Other than a regular customer who may know the previous prices, a traveling individual may fall victim of false offers only to pay double. For the many businesses who give plenty of genuine offers do so for various reasons. Among other reasons, some do it to increase sales and market their brands while others do such in the spirit of giving. Either way, be on the lookout for amazing offers. Christmas season may be in my opinion the number one season when millions if not billions of people travel to celebrate with their families. Regardless of the nature of travel (local / international), masses will travel globally affecting economies of the world. While Covid - 19 is bound to affect international travels and some of the local travels, it’s a sure time to be busy season for the transport sector booming with business. For those who wait until the last minute, be sure to part with extra cash than the usual. Christmas is celebrated with lots of joy and happiness as families and friends come together to feast and enjoy time together. Candles, garlands, roping, swags, ribbons, poinsettias, Christmas tree ornaments and wreaths will be plenty on shelves ready for sale/Decor. Many people set up beautiful Christmas trees and decorate it with some of the best Christmas tree decorations. For many children, Santa Claus is their culmination of Christmas. Expect to get a ask by the young ones to take them to a mall where they will get to meet, see, and get gifts from him-Santa Claus. The practice of giving presents to each other and their family members is a very common practice by both the Christians and non-Christians. One of the main reasons for the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas by Christians is to remind the world of the presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men- Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh. Another Christian reason for giving during this celebration is to help reflect on the love and selflessness taught by the Savior and also exemplified by God. Jesus by giving himself to die for humanity while God His father giving his son to die for the world, hence giving brings the full joy of Christmas through kindness towards one another done in love as well as to help those less fortunate. Be sure to participate in giving/humanity this Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New year 2022. Won’t you?

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Global Men’s Conference Changing The Vision of Men William Jackson, M.Ed. Speaker, Advocate, Sponsor

he Global Men’s Conference was a conference developed by Edoseghe Prince Erhahon, creator of One Africa Forum (https://oneafricaforum.org) based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The goal was to address the issues that directly affected men and contributed to suicide, depression, mental health and physical, emotional traumas. Attended by several thousand men virtually and globally, providing a platform where men can share their challenges as men, as parents, how racism affects men of color and culture, the financial stresses of providing for families, dealing with the pandemic and death, and the health challenges of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and even violence against men of color on a global level. Statistics by World Health Organization shows that a man dies by suicide every 40 seconds, childhood trauma is not just the result of being abused and men are less likely to get help or asked if they need help. The 16 hours of the conference allow for men from developing and under-developed nations to speak to each other virtually and support their needs through resources, counseling, collaborations and aligning with governments to make access to mental health for men easier. This is true global works where “iron sharpens iron.”

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) shows a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The 17 SDGs are integrated with supporting men globally, they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and the assistance to men and fathers means that communities can prosper and families can be sustainable and development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. Stated by Mr. Erhahon, “The aim of the conference is to encourage men to come to the table and have a conversation among themselves and help each other navigate through life together by sharing lived or learned experiences in order to inspire men to become the best versions of themselves any day. We are concerned about the alarming rate of suicide, depression, mental health and trauma, violence and other toxicities exhibited in men globally. So this conference is bringing men together from all over the world to discuss these issues, find solutions together and help men mentor other men in order to ultimately keep our women and children safter.” The Global Men’s Conference with Erhahon and Jackson and others is just one of the many virtual global conferences they have worked together on. Since July 2021 Mr. Erhahon and Mr. Jackson and Aida CorreaJackson have collaborated on a Youth Leadership Conference, Ghana Leadership Development Summit, Master Blogging Classes for youth, teens and young adults and planned other events for the future. William and Aida Jackson are educators of STEAM Education and Learning and both higher education Professors. William is a Professor with Florida State College of Jacksonville and Aida is a Professor with Lenoir-Rhyne University. They are dedicated to sharing their knowledge, skills and talents in building Africa and the globe into a better place with their interns Zakaria laajily and Yousra Mounib of Morocco. More information can be accessed from the web site: https://oneafricaforum.com/

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US$300 million Equatorial Guinea hotel architects lose claim against ZimSun

rchitects lose claim for US$16 million in costs incurred drawing up hotel plan which was rejected as too expensive A consortium of local architects, surveyors, and engineers have lost their bid to get hotel chain ZimSun Zimbabwe to pay them US$16 million over a botched deal to construct two hotels in Equatorial Guinea. The consortium, known as Corisco Design Team or CODET had already lost the claim at the High Court before “pursuing a hopeless appeal… which has no merit” at the Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices Elizabeth Gwaunza, Tendai Uchena and Samuel Kudya slapped the witness who chose to represent the consortium in the case with costs. “I am of the view that the appellant represented by Ozywell Manyara pursued a hopeless appeal fully aware that the agreement entered into by the parties did not entitle the appellant to make any claims until the government of Equatorial Guinea had approved the project,” Justice Uchena said in the November 3 judgement, with Gwaunza and Kudya agreeing. Uchena said Manyara took a risk of being ordered to pay costs on behalf of CODET, a company yet to be registered. “The appeal has no merit. It is accordingly dismissed with costs at the legal practitioner-client scale to be borne personally by Manyara.” CODET had issued summons against ZimSun in the High Court demanding US$16,175,740 being fees allegedly owed to it by ZimSun for the services of architectural designs in terms of an agreement between the parties. ZimSun, also known as African Sun Leisure (Pvt) Ltd, had apparently acted as an agent for the government of Equatorial Guinea and sought consultancy services from CODET to build two hotels and a tourism training school in that country. This, according to court papers, was after President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, while on a state visit to Zimbabwe sometime in 2006, was accommodated at Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls and was so impressed by its majestic architectural design and quality of service that he desired to have a similar hotel constructed and run on the same standards

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in his home country. CODET claimed that ZimSun engaged them in April 2007 as consultants for the purposes of designing and developing hotels and training school buildings for the Equatorial Guinea government. The consortium further argued that ZimSun had instructed them to prepare architectural, engineering designs, technical documentation and all other project designs and documentation, adding that the hospitality group also instructed CODET to meet the project costs relating to the development of the hotels. However, ZimSun – represented by Advocate Thabani Mpofu – filed its opposing papers denying ever entering into an agreement with CODET. The hospitality company argued that CODET had no right to claim any payment from it and that the work done was carried out at the parties’ risk. Payment, according to ZimSun, would have been made upon approval of the designs which apparently were rejected by Equatorial Guinea’s government on the basis of high costs. The project estimate was US$300 million. The Supreme Court judges said: “There is nothing on record to prove that CODET entered into an oral agreement with ZimSun. The written agreements did not prove the existence of the contract given that ZimSun did not sign them. An inference can be drawn that ZimSun did not sign the documents because it was not in agreement with the terms contained therein. “ZimSun alleged that it engaged CODET to provide services in the event the project it intended to embark on was approved by the government of Equatorial Guinea… Approval by the government of Equatorial Guinea was a condition precedent in the agreement between ZimSun and CODET.” The judges also said because the initial agreement was between ZimSun and the Equatorial Guinea government, CODET “as a company yet to be formed was not privy to the initial contract and could not seek specific performance against ZimSun.” “In light of the above, the appellant could not sue the respondent in terms of a contract it was not privy to. The appellant failed to establish a prima-facie case against the respondent and there was no evidence upon which a reasonable man could find for it,” the judges said. Advocate Lewis Uriri appeared for CODET.

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Being heard: the voice of a generation is getting through

ow, more than ever, young Africans deserve a place at the policymaking table, say Amref’s youth expert Evalin Karijo and diplomat Tijmen Rooseboom in a joint plea. They discuss ‘tokenism’, contraception and what real youth participation involves. But they have hope. ‘I’m actually very heartened by what I see.’ While European governments worry about the sustainability of the welfare state as their populations age, African leaders have entirely different concerns. Africa is not only the world’s youngest continent, it is also the only one where the number of young people is set to grow over the coming decades. According to the Brookings Institution, by 2050 an estimated billion or so Africans will be under the age of 24. This brings opportunities – a young population gives a bigger ‘demographic dividend’ – but also challenges, from high youth unemployment to a growing number of teenage pregnancies. Furthermore, many African countries are gerontocracies, where political decisions are made mainly by older leaders. This fact is beginning to get through to established development organisations and Western governments, two experts tell us on a Zoom call. Evalin Karijo (34) is the Kenyan director of the Youth and Adolescent Hub of Amref Flying Doctors, the biggest health organisation working in Africa. Tijmen Rooseboom (39) is a diplomat, and the Dutch Ambassador for Youth, Education and Work. Youth participation is not just an option, but a necessity In view of demographic developments, more youth participation is not just an option, according to Karijo, it is a necessity. ‘We’re at a tipping point’, she says. Until recently Karijo was head of Youth in Action, an Amref initiative launched in 2017 to help young people get into policymaking. Since then, it has grown into an entire movement, with over 800 affiliated youth organisations in Kenya alone. For some months now, Karijo has been coordinating Amref’s two-year Youth and Adolescent Strategy. ‘We had 32

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several youth initiatives, but there was too little connection between them. Apart from the youth programmes, we had few young people in positions of leadership. We plan to change this over the next two years.’ Rooseboom preaches the same brand of youth evangelism, but his is the world of diplomacy and development cooperation. He became ambassador in 2019. The Netherlands is the only country with a special ambassador who champions the interests of young people on the global

stage. Less than a year later the Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled its own youth strategy, Youth at Heart. The idea is that the focus of development cooperation must be shifted more to young people. The Dutch government is working with several partners, including companies and UN agencies, to invest in opportunities for young people in developing countries. One of the programmes is a fund that is helping 200,000 young people in Africa and the Middle East find work. In November Rooseboom and the Ministry organised a virtual Youth at Heart forum, an online event on education and work. Young people from all over the world gathered in four recording studios to discuss these matters with each

other, with representatives of international organisations and with the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. ‘Sometimes this means that older generations have to give up their seat’ The Youth at Heart principles were presented at the forum, in the form of a youth manifesto written by twelve young researchers from the focus regions. ‘In essence’, says Rooseboom, ‘it’s about ensuring that young people get a seat at the table everywhere. Sometimes this means that older generations have to give up their seat. That applies to me too; I’m not young any more either.’ He almost qualifies, however – certainly by African standards. African countries generally employ a broader definition of youth, Karijo explains. ‘In Africa you’re generally regarded as a young person until you turn 36.’ She herself just still qualifies, at 34. Though Rooseboom is no longer officially a young person, he talks about his work with a youthful passion. His interest in youth participation was kindled before he became ambassador, when he lived and worked as a diplomat in a number of countries in Africa. ‘I soon learned that though you might work in a setting with lots of young people, it doesn’t necessarily mean that what you do will actually improve the lives of young people.’ He talked to young entrepreneurs from Somalia, for example. ‘They were very sceptical about the established institutions in their country, particularly the Chamber of Commerce. Shortly afterwards I talked to a big international organisation where I was told they were setting up a programme for youth employment in collaboration with – you guessed it – the Chamber of Commerce. So I asked, “Have you actually thought about what young people themselves think of the plan?” They fell silent.’ Karijo: ‘This illustrates a broader problem – a small group of people taking decisions for the majority. Three-quarters of the population are under 35, but you wouldn’t say so if you look at our political leaders. We’ve a long way to go before African politics actually reflects the population of Africa.’ Why is it that they tend to be so old? Karijo: ‘There are historical reasons for it. In many countries society is not only patriarchal, but traditionally it has always been older people who take the decisions. Older generations often regard the growing number of young people as a threat. We have to move to another paradigm, where young people are seen as an asset, not as a threat.’ Young people may be a growing majority, but that fact alone will not necessarily give them more political influence. ‘Lots of young people never learn how to influence policy’, says Karijo, ‘or how to organise themselves politically. You may have lots of ambitions, but how do you set about achieving them?’

This is what she is trying to change. With her work for Amref, she teaches young people lobbying skills, and coordinates several campaigns. In Kenya, youth-led local action groups are drawing policymakers’ attention to the high number of teenage pregnancies. The youth movement Youth4UHC (Youth for Univeral Healthcare) is campaigning for all African countries to have a collective health system by 2030. ‘Our attempts to connect young people in different countries are really disruptive – in a good way.’ Are policymakers prepared to debate with empowered young people who do manage to find their way to the table? Karijo laughs. ‘It’s not that bad actually, the atmosphere is not that hostile. Our talks with politicians are generally on pretty good terms. They often admit that they find it difficult to reach young people.’ Rooseboom: ‘That sounds familiar. African leaders generally also realise the opportunities and challenges associated with their young population. In that sense we’re not telling them anything they don’t know.’ He also tries to draw attention to young people’s interests outside Dutch youth programmes, too.

‘Last week the Dutch ambassador and I talked to some young people from Burkina Faso. They told us about the specific problems they encounter on the labour market. That same Continued on Page 34 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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day we had a meeting with the minister for youth affairs, who’s also a special adviser to the president. We highlighted the young people’s concerns. It’s just a small example, but that’s how we use diplomacy to show what the Netherlands regards as important.’ Karijo and Rooseboom both say that youth participation is not just about non-committal meetings and one-off roundtable talks. There has to be real change. ‘Accountable’ is a word that comes up often. Karijo tells us about the Youth Power Hub, a digital platform set up by Youth in Action to enable young people from Africa to take part in the International Conference on Population and Development held in Nairobi in 2019. ‘Now we are looking to see if the promises are being kept. That’s not so common’ ‘As young people, we had input into the agreements made at the conference’, she says. ‘Now we are looking to see if the promises are being kept. That’s not so

common here.’ ‘Countries made certain commitments at the conference’, she explains, ‘that more money would be made available to combat sexual violence, for example. We made a list of all the promises each country made and we’re keeping track of progress. We discuss this at follow-up sessions with policymakers, and we point out areas where work still needs to be done.’ Rooseboom: ‘The great thing about what Evalin does, I think, is that it’s not just “tokenism”: quickly getting young people into the conference at the last minute. Young people are properly involved at all stages.’ Karijo’s job mainly concerns youth participation in the health sector. There is relatively little about health in the 34

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Dutch Youth at Heart strategy, it’s mainly about work and education. Why is that? ‘Young people’, Rooseboom says, ‘are often in a transitional phase of their lives, moving from learning to earning. The strategy therefore focuses on education and work, but that’s not all. We also do a lot on climate, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We might be able to work together more on the latter in the future, Evalin, so keep in touch with the Dutch.’ He continues: ‘Every year millions of young people enter the labour market, but are unable to find a good job. Most of them have qualifications, but the skills they learn at school are often not what they need for the work that is available. One boy from Kenya put it really well. He’d worked really hard at school and was proud of his qualifications. But once he started working, he realised “The world is a desert, and I have a diving certificate”.’ This skills gap is an intractable problem in Africa. According to a 2017 World Bank Report, over the past few decades spending on education in Africa has increased sevenfold, but it has not improved the situation much so far. Is it not also a matter of self-interest for the Netherlands? Something like: let’s invest in skills for young people, because that will provide opportunities for Dutch business? Rooseboom: ‘I understand why you ask the question, but Youth at Heart is mainly intended to improve Dutch development cooperation – and if you regard that as something countries do largely in their own interests, then you could say yes.

‘All our programmes are based on the same question: what do young people themselves think they need? Although more economic development and more startups are also good news for the Netherlands, of course.’ Evalin, do you regard Western countries as allies in the battle for young people’s rights in Africa? ‘Hmm... We always have to remain critical of Western governments, but we do try to focus mainly on the positive aspects of their policies. I’m glad to see more focus on young people in Dutch foreign policy. What’s more, at the end of the day we need each other. ‘Just think about an issue like migration. One of the risks is that you get a “braindrain”. At the same time, lots of Western countries need younger workers because of demographic ageing. So young Africans going to Europe or the US to earn an income does not necessarily have to be a problem. ‘We too realise that the West needs Africa, and Africa needs the West’ ‘As long as there are good policies that ensure countries can help each other out. We too realise that the West needs Africa, and Africa needs the West.’ Rooseboom has noticed that the importance of youth participation has already moved higher up the SRHR agenda. ‘If you look at the partners we work with in this area, I think they are much more aware of the fact that it’s good to involve young people. The Netherlands has a special Youth Ambassador for SRHR, and we work closely with Choice. Would you agree, Evalin? Is youth participation in the SRHR sector a good example of how things should be done?’ Karijo: ‘Yes, I agree entirely. And it’s no surprise, as matters related to SRHR, like contraception are of course particularly relevant to young people. SRHR is indeed ahead as a sector. In education, strangely enough, the importance of youth participation hasn’t really been taken on board, whereas you might particularly expect it to be there. I don’t know why that is.’ Isn’t it striking that on SRHR in particular – which is associated with quite a lot of cultural and religious sensitivity – young people are starting to play such a big role in decision-making? Karijo: ‘Yes, but it’s because the old way didn’t work. You had situations where organisations would launch contraception campaigns, but they’d often been devised by older people, and they tend to be non-users. Many young people just didn’t respond to those campaigns. Policymakers started scratching their heads and wondering why it wasn’t working. ‘Lots of young people prefer to buy the morning-after pill at the checkout in a store’, she continues with a smile, ‘rather than going to a health centre where they might encounter their aunt or their parents. It’s little things

like that. If you get young people involved, you’re more likely to find these things out. Policymakers realise that now.’ If it were up to Rooseboom the SRHR sector would soon no longer be an exception in this respect, and he has reason for hope. ‘There’s a movement afoot’, he says. ‘If you look at what Amref is doing, what the Netherlands is doing, at what I believe you at Vice Versa are doing too. All around me I see young people gaining

a voice. I hope that the Netherlands can continue to drive this movement by drawing attention to the interests of young people in our contacts with the EU, major UN agencies and donors. ‘It’s also becoming more of a hot topic at our embassies, particularly over the past year. Some even have special youth circles. I’m actually very heartened by what I see. I hope of course that in the future this movement becomes unnecessary, and that young people have a place at the table everywhere in ten years’ time.’ Do you, Evalin, as a young African woman, have any advice for the Dutch government? She thinks for a moment. ‘I would say, invest more in South-South partnership, in a way that is also relevant to young people in developing countries. Organise forums where young people in West and East Africa can exchange ideas, or meetings where African and Asian youngsters meet and launch projects together. That way, we’ll ensure all young people benefit.’ This article was previously published in ‘Vice Versa Jongerenspecial 2021’ Text: Elian Yahye

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Amsterdam to ban investors from buying cheaper properties to rent out

msterdam city council plans to stop investors buying up cheaper properties and renting them out, when new legislation comes into force in January 2022. New housing chief Jakob Wedemeijer plans to bring in the ban as soon as possible for the entire city. It would mean investors could not buy any property for less than €512,000 without a commitment to live in it for at least four years. The ban would not apply to property which is already being rented out, as long as that was for at least six months prior to the sale. Property can be rented to close family members or for a short period if the owner is abroad. Some 30% of homes in the Dutch capital is currently in the hands of private investors, according to city figures, and officials say they are pricing most people out of the market. Utrecht, Tilburg, The Hague and Groningen are also looking into adopting the new legislation, broadcaster NOS reported earlier.

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The property investors’ association Vastgoed Belang says the proposal will lead a greater shortage of rental homes, particularly in the mid-market sector. ‘Councils are prioritizing people who want to buy above newcomers on the housing market and people who can’t or don’t want to buy,’ the organisation said in a reaction. Wedemeijer said the move is an important step forward but that more needs to be done. ‘We need national government to make it possible to limit rents so that more people can find an affordable home,’ he said. Housing minister Kajsa Ollongren is known to be considering several measures to limit rents outside the social housing sector. These include expanding the point system for determining rents to more properties and changing the way the points are calculated by reducing the weight given to property values

President Adama Barrow wins presidential elections in The Gambia The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has easily won re-election in this month’s early polls that took place on 4th December 2021. It is the first election after 22 years long regime of former leader, Yahya Jammeh who is presently in exile in Equatorial Guinea. According to the Electoral commission, President Barrow received around 53% of the vote, while his nearest rival Ousainou Darboe on scored 28%. Although Mr. Darboe and other candidates announced that they could not accept the results of the poll and challenge it in court. The vote is being seen as a test for democracy in the country and according to observers, the elections was peaceful and transparent that they did not see any reason to doubt the results released so far. It would be recalled that in 2016, President Barrow, unknown in the Gambia politics then defeated Yahya Jammeh, who was forced into exile after refusing to accept the result. Mr. Jammeh’s 22-year rule was marked by allegations of abuse, with witnesses recently telling a truth commission about state-backed execution squads and Aids patients being forced to take bogus cures. President Barrow’s major surprise defeat of Mr. Jammeh during the last vote in 2016 drew international attention to him as a politician to watch for the future. He has proven his critics wrong that he is unpopular as he formed a new political party, which went into alliance with other smaller parties to win this election. As news emerged of President Barrow’s win, his supporters started celebrating in the streets, while supporters of his closest rival, Mr. Darboe, gathered at his house.

Addressing supporters during a victory speech in the capital Banjul, President Barrow called for unity between the country’s political factions. “I call on all Gambians, irrespective of your political divide, to put aside our political and other differences and come together as one people to work towards the development of our country,” he said. Mr. Darboe and two other candidates - Mama Kandeh and Essa Mbye Faal issued a joint statement before the final result was declared, questioning the figures. They said they were concerned at delays and that their party agents had raised a number of issues. Illiteracy is high in The Gambia so a unique voting system involving marbles is used. On arrival at a polling station, and after their ID has been verified, a voter will be directed to a series of drums painted in the party colours of the different candidates. Voters then slot their marbles into the drum of their choice. The Gambia is one of Africa’s smallest countries with a population of 2.4 million. According to reports, about 1 million registered voters participated in the elections. With his reelection, the world waits to see how President Barrow will handle his economy, which solely depends on tourism, but it has been hit by coronavirus in the past two years. Congratulations to President Adama Barrow and his party and coalition partners as they begin the process of forming a new government for the next five years. TV

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TEF funds 5000 African SMES from 54 African Countries for its Entrepreneurship programme

he Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, has selected 4,949 entrepreneurs from across Africa for its 2021 Entrepreneurship Programme. The 2021 beneficiaries were selected from a pool of over 400,000 applications, based on their innovation, performance, and growth potential to create jobs and eradicate poverty on the continent. Consisting of both new start-ups and existing small businesses, the 2021

are doing very well, with 68% representation this year.” He added: “To our African leaders – these young, intelligent, energetic hardworking, resilient Africans are ready to go. We need to keep creating the right enabling environment to enable our young ones to succeed. We must realize that their success is success for all of us on the continent. We must prioritize them because nations and continents that prioritize their people succeed. To my fellow business leaders, let us realize that in the 21st century and beyond, it is about impact, legacy and about how we work together

Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs have undergone world-class business training, mentorship and coaching and will have a life-time access to the Tony Elumelu Foundation alumni network. Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu shared, “To you young African entrepreneurs – work hard, dream dreams, and be very disciplined. You must continue to think of impact. The entrepreneurship journey is not linear – there are ups and downs, but by staying focused and resilient, ultimately success will come your way. The future of our continent is in your hands. What you do as entrepreneurs will go a long way in lifting Africa out of poverty. I am happy that our female entrepreneurs

to power people out of poverty. It is such a great feeling to see 5000 young Africans also commence their own entrepreneurial journeys today.” Speaking at the event, Director-General, International Cooperation and Development, European Commission, Mr. Koen Doens stated: “I remember very well, a few years ago in Brussels when I first met Tony Elumelu at one of the events his Foundation was organising. Both of us were struck by how there was such a clear match between his vision on how he could support African entrepreneurship and the European Union’s own vision on how we wanted to support African entrepreneurship. Ever since, our partnership has embodied this same spirit that ultimately

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African growth cannot neglect the huge potential, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that harbours so many Africans, especially young people and women. I am extremely glad our partnership is moving into this active stage, and I am very glad that over 2400 women will benefit from the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s training programme, and will get seed capital to support their ideas. I am extremely happy that at the European Union, we are able to be part of this great endeavour and to support it.” Also speaking at the event, Assistant Administrator, UNDP/Director, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa stated: “Our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation on youth entrepreneurship is informed by our belief that Africa will only succeed when young Africans are given the opportunity to excel. This is what has inspired us to invest more than $20 million in emerging African entrepreneurs since we entered into our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Our joint ambition is to empower 100,000 young African entrepreneurs over the next ten years across Africa, recognising that entrepreneurship is the only way dreams can be realized.” Speaking, Secretary General, OACPS, H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti stated: “On behalf of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), I would like to heartily commend the Tony Elumelu Foundation for this extraordinary achievement. We are proud to have partnered with the Tony Elumelu Foundation and our longstanding partner, the European Union to unlock the potential of 2420 young African women through this TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, providing mentorship and funding, to grow and sustain these small businesses.” Speaking on the panel with Mr. Elumelu, 2015 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur, Hauwa Liman, Founder of Afrik Abaya, shared: “I am always proud to say that I am from the inaugural cohort of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme. My business is located in Kaduna, Nigeria. I benefitted from this Programme in 2015, and it opened up lots of doors and opportunities. It is not just about the seed capital, but what really fascinates

me about the Programme is the knowledge. I call it a mini-MBA programme, because from the ideation stage it teaches you how to really articulate your business, and it gave me my first business plan. The network, visibility and opportunities are endless. My entrepreneurship experience cannot be complete without the Tony Elumelu Foundation. I will start exporting soon courtesy of the Foundation. We now employ ten permanent staff and an additional eight staff on a commission basis.” Tony Elumelu Foundation CEO, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, concluded the event stating: “Today, we have trained ten times more young African entrepreneurs than we have trained from 2015 to 2019 combined. Today in 2021, we will be paying out a record US$24,750,000 directly to the hands of African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries. This is impact.” Since its inception, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has now funded a total of 15,847 entrepreneurs who have created more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs and counting. Through TEFConnect, the Foundation’s proprietary digital platform, it has provided capacity-building support, advisory and market linkages, to over 1.5 million Africans. Applications for the 2022 Tony Elumelu Foundation opens on January 1, 2022, on www.tefconnect.com. For a list of the selected 2021 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs and information on our applicants, please visit the website of the Tony Elumelu Foundation

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Son of former Libyan leader Gaddafi to run for president

aif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has registered as a presidential candidate for the country’s December 24th election, an official from the electoral commission said. “Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi submitted his candidacy for the presidential election to the High National Electoral Commission office in the [southern] city of Sebha,” a statement by the commission said last month. Gaddafi is one of the most prominent figures expected to run for president – a list that also includes renegade eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. Photographs distributed on social media showed Gaddafi, with a grey beard and wearing glasses and a traditional brown robe and turban, signing documents at the registration centre in the southern town of Sebha ahead of campaigns for the election. Despite the public backing of most Libyan factions and foreign powers for elections on December 24, the vote is still in doubt as rival entities squabble over the rules and schedule. A major conference in Paris last month agreed to sanction those who disrupt or prevent the vote, but there is still no agreement on rules to govern who should be able to run. The elections are envisaged as a key moment in a United Nations-backed peace process to end a decade of violent chaos that has drawn in regional powers since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. Wrangling over the election threatens to unravel the wider peace process, which also includes efforts to unify longdivided state institutions and to pull out foreign mercenaries who remain entrenched along front lines despite a ceasefire. The Gaddafi era is still remembered by many Libyans as one of harsh autocracy, while Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and other former regime figures have been out of power for so long, they may find it difficult to mobilise as much support as major rivals. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi remains something of a cypher to many Libyans, having spent the past decade out of public sight since his capture in 2011 by fighters from the mountain region of Zintan. He gave an interview to the press earlier this year but has not yet made any public appearance speaking directly to Libyans.

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Complicating his presidential ambitions, Gaddafi was tried

in absentia in 2015 by a Tripoli court at which he appeared via video link from Zintan. He was sentenced him to death for war crimes, including the killing of protesters during the uprising a decade ago, but was later pardoned. He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. Ibrahim Fraihat, an associate professor of conflict resolution at the Doha Institute, said Saif al-Islam Gaddafi “has some support among the former regime loyalists, and also within certain tribal forces”. “I don’t think he has any chance of winning this election, I don’t think he himself thinks that he has a chance,” Fraihat added. “For him, this is a political message that he’s trying to send; that he’s back at the political scene and part of the game and also that he can run in the election and he’s ignoring the International Criminal Court’s request for him to be handed over.” Educated at the London School of Economics and a fluent English speaker, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was once seen by many governments as the acceptable, Western-friendly face of Libya, and a possible heir apparent. But when the uprising broke out in 2011 against Muammar Gaddafi’s long rule, Saif al-Islam immediately chose family and clan loyalties over his many friendships in the West, telling the press: “We fight here in Libya; we die here in Libya.”

Libya prosecutor opposes Gaddafi’s presidential bid Libya’s military prosecutor, Mohamed Gharouda, has asked the electoral body to halt processing the paperwork for the presidential candidacy of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the country’s late ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The prosecutor also asked that the paperwork for warlord Khalifa Haftar who is also seeking the presidency be suspended. The electoral commission said that Mr. Gaddafi had submitted the necessary documents as a presidential candidate in the elections set for next month. But in a letter to the electoral commission, Mr. Gharouda warned that the commission would be held responsible for consequences if the processing of the paperwork were not halted. “Saif al-Islam and Khalifa Haftar have been accused of criminal acts” and their presidential bids “must be halted until the investigation is completed”, the military attorney-general’s office says in a letter. The registration of Mr. Gaddafi’s candidacy, although expected, has jolted people in Libya and abroad for his role in the brutal crackdown of the uprising against

PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION ON SELECTION OF 5000 YOUNG AFRICANS FOR 2021 ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME

President Muhammadu Buhari lauds Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu on his

his father’s rule. He is still wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes committed in 2011. A US court for allegedly torturing Libyans during the war wants Mr. Haftar, who leads forces in eastern Libya.

remarkable vision in training, mentoring, and funding entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, describing it as “a truly lasting legacy.” The President says Nigeria remains very proud of Mr. Elumelu, a global icon, whose business and philanthropic interests continue to create opportunities for growth and development not only in Nigeria, but Africa as a whole. “I would like to specifically congratulate the Tony Elumelu Foundation on this extraordinary humanitarian act of funding 4,949 entrepreneurs! “I am particularly pleased that this year alone, the Tony Elumelu Foundation will fund 1,522 Nigerian entrepreneurs from all the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory of the Federation. This unifying act by a private sector leader is commendable and worthy of emulation by others,” the President says. He notes that entrepreneurship and youth empowerment are important components of the work of this administration, adding; “we believe that they are the key to the future and recognize that by empowering our youth, we will build businesses that in turn sustain our economy.” To all 2021 Tony Elumelu Foundation beneficiaries unveiled in Lagos last month. President Buhari congratulates them on the accomplishment and wishes them all the best in the future. www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

African Governments must act to protect their Countries’ Oil and Gas Industries after COP26

By NJ Ayuk, Chairman, African Energy Chamber

s we approach the end of 2021 and COP26, the African oil and gas industry is in a precarious position. As if the economic devastation of the pandemic weren’t enough, we’re also faced with increasing pressure to reduce our production of fossil fuels and move toward renewables. Many of the majors are beginning to divest from African oil and gas projects because of the issues emerging around the energy transition. But oil and gas remain critically important to meet Africa’s economic and energy needs, and that need is greater than ever. Our countries rely on oil production for revenue and jobs, and natural gas is still an important means of reducing energy poverty. It’s also essential to build much-needed infrastructure so we can industrialize and diversify our economies. We face challenges on all sides. Our economic survival depends on a thriving, strategically managed oil and gas industry, and African governments must act now to protect our industry and our future. The Clock is Ticking The African Energy Chamber recently released our 2022 Outlook outlining the industry forecast for next year and beyond. While the report indicates signs of recovery, it also signals the need for African governments to step up their efforts to ensure the health and longevity of our industry — and the need for even more immediate and decisive action in the post-pandemic environment. If our oil and gas industry is to deliver the benefits of a just energy transition to the African people, our governments must move quickly. The AEC report brings new urgency to the issues that have plagued our industry for decades. I’ve written at length about the need to reform our fiscal policies and regulatory structures. This includes better deal-making, retooling ineffective regulations, and putting an end to corruption, human rights abuses, and resource nationalism. And in the post-pandemic environment, it’s even more critical that we adjust our deal structuring to account for the higher perceived risk of doing business in Africa. Signs of Recovery There’s still time for African governments to take the lead www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

and reshape our future. The 2022 Outlook highlights some positive indicators for the period ahead. But the window of opportunity is small, and we must take advantage of every upward trend. 2021 saw crude prices begin to recover and stabilize well above the historic lows of 2020. Several major projects have been sanctioned, including the Eni-operated Cuica field in Angola, the Total Energies-operated Tilenga project onshore Uganda, the Chevron-operated Sanha lean gas development, and the CNOOC-operated Kingfisher South project. That activity helped maintain African capital expenditures at an estimated USD33 billion, slightly above the year-end 2020 estimates. Rig demand, another growth indicator, is expected to rebound significantly beginning in 2022 as higher oil price expectation helps to revive exploration activity and drilling programs for projects currently in development get underway. Based on the oil price outlook presented in the report, the combined potential of these new projects and further exploration activity will help propel demand back toward pre-pandemic levels. Gas-to-power remains a huge and still growing area of opportunity. Gas supply and demand are forecast to recover after the sharp 2020 decline, and LNG demand is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 5%. All these point to the start of a new cycle of recovery and growth. That said, however, the pandemic caused unprecedented market turmoil, and its impact on our industry will have far-reaching effects for years to come. We have a long recovery ahead and a host of issues to contend with. A New Set of Challenges The AEC report estimates that COVID-19 will have cost Africa nearly USD150 billion in explorations and development expenditure between 2020 and 2025. Clearly, the need for action is urgent. One of the biggest challenges facing our industry is the decline in capital spending. Capital expenditure was already trending downward as we entered 2020. Even before the pandemic, new project activity was slowing because of general cost compression and the difficulty of getting new projects sanctioned. With COVID deferring investment decisions on many projects, capital expenditure is expected to remain low through 2025. Upstream exploration also took a big hit. 2020-2021 discoveries were the lowest in a decade. The upstream outlook for 2022 is more encouraging, with 13 new high-

impact wells anticipated. But with crude prices not expected to rebound until 2023, projects will continue to be deferred or deemed commercially unviable, limiting our growth potential. The majors’ upstream investments are expected to decline 2022-2025 by about USD34 billion compared to yearend 2020 estimates. It’s Time to Push Harder While the AEC report forecasts some modest improvement for 2022, the message is clear: African governments must move swiftly to ensure that the arc of our energy transition bends in the right direction. With access to electricity at only 56% of the African continent and at less than 40% in more than a dozen countries — our top priority remains achieving universal access to energy. This is the foundation of economic empowerment for all Africans and our larger mission. Specifically, as NOCs and IOCs struggle to regain their post-pandemic footing, we need to prioritize oil and gas development by optimizing the conditions for investment and partnership. We can’t fall victim to the foot-dragging and red tape that has hindered our progress in the past. We must continue our drive for amended policies, restructured regulatory frameworks, and investor initiatives that improve the conditions for doing business in Africa. What’s Our Game Plan? Let’s look at the actions African governments can and should take to protect our oil and gas industry. For one thing, we should be making better use of technology. We’re living in the most technologically advanced era in human history, but the African oil and gas industry has failed to utilize digital solutions effectively. We should be using 21st century solutions to solve 21st century problems. A good place to start our digital transformation is with licensing rounds. After a 2019 uptick in licensing activity, several rounds in 2020-2021 were delayed or canceled altogether in the wake of the pandemic. I’ve advocated for revamping licensing rounds for some time now, and the need for reform is even more pressing in the post-pandemic environment. The glacial pace of our bureaucratic, paper-laden process continues to hold us back. We can generate more exploration faster with a more streamlined system, but that demands the ability to process data much more quickly. Yes, technology requires an investment. Most worthwhile ventures do. But if that investment rewards us with more exploration and development, it’s well worth making. We’re already late to the party, and our failure to adopt digital solutions has hurt our progress. We can’t afford to wait any longer. We should also make sure we’re doing everything we can to ensure contingent investment. The AEC report projects capital spending to stay relatively flat in 2022–2023, with any 20242025 growth expected to come from contingent expenditure. Rig demand is one growth indicator, as I’ve said, and it’s often tied to contingent resources and, as a result, sensitive to investment decisions expected in the next few years. In Angola alone, for example, about 45% of rig demand is related to contingent resources. Regulatory authorities should expedite projects to provide longer-term visibility on future

production volumes so we can realize that revenue, which the AEC estimates at up to $40 billion. Reducing project break evens is another important way we can sustain and generate development. In the wake of COVID, many operators delayed projects with high breakeven crude prices. When oil prices crashed to below $35 per barrel, it had a drastic impact on economic forecasts since many projects were planned assuming a price of $55-$60 per barrel. Subsea tiebacks are one of the best ways to achieve more competitive project break evens. Connecting new discoveries to existing production centers is an obvious development solution. The AEC reports that subsea tiebacks will be the largest category of investment through 2025. We should prioritize the use of subsea tiebacks to reduce break evens and protect more revenue. Gas-to-power continues to be a huge and growing opportunity for Africa. The 2022 Outlook reports that LNG will dominate our industry well into 2025. But we have to do a better job of incentivizing that activity. As the majors continue to shift away from crude oil and toward monetizing gas, we need to incentivize gas projects as proactively as we do oil exploration and production. Specifically, this means revising our PSCs to provide more favorable terms to investors. Most African countries currently have oil-based regulations or production contacts that don’t also include provisions for gas. Clear regulations are essential for us to achieve widespread distribution of natural gas and construction of gas-to-power facilities. None of this is optional. All the measures I’ve outlined are crucial to minimize our losses and optimize the conditions for growth as we move into 2022. It’s not a question of if, but of how quickly we can put these reforms in place. The Future is now, and It’s Up to Us Africa’s future depends on sustaining the longevity of our oil and gas industry. As we emerge from the pandemic, the need for action is even more urgent. African governments must take strategic, decisive, and immediate steps to protect and reform our industry. It’s our responsibility to ensure that our energy transition benefits Africa and our people, and the time to act is now.

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Tessy Ojo receives CBE Award from HRH The Duke of Cambridge at Windsor Castle

essy Ojo CBE, a Nigerian by birth and British citizen who has been working as Director of late Princess Diana Award was recently recognized for her distinguished work for humanity by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. She received the honour at a colourful ceremony organized with other distinguished Britons. Short Brief Tessy Ojo, CBE is the Chief Executive of the Diana Award - a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief in the power that young people have to change the world, with the right support. The charity’s mission is to foster and develop positive change in the lives of young people. The charity benefits from the support of The Royal Highnesses, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as the UK Prime Minister as a Patron. With over twenty years in third sector leadership and indepth knowledge of working with young people and across The British establishments, Tessy Ojo CBE has played a founding role in the building and sustainability of the charity, including a 360 degree turnaround of the charity’s business operations in 2011, which led to it’s growth and expansion. Tessy is a passionate humanitarian and campaigner who has gained international reputation for work around social equity and social justice for young people. At the heart of her work is the belief that with the right support and investment, young people are the best instigators for achieving real, sustainable change in their lives, their communities and the lives of their peers. In January 2019, Tessy became the very first British National to be honoured with The Prestigious Martin Luther King Award in Atlanta, at an event marking the 90th Birthday of Martin Luther King. As well as being a conference speaker, Tessy is a member of the BBC’s Appeals Advisory Committee and seats on a number of high profile Executive Boards such as The Royal Taskforce on Cyberbullying, UK Council For Child Internet Safety, Comic Relief and more. She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and has been recognised for her contribution to the sector through a number of Awards. Tessy has a first degree in Biochemistry, an MBA and a postgraduate diploma in Counselling. She is married and has two children who are both at University. She is a Social Change Advocate, Philanthropist, Brand Ambassador, a wonderful Wife and Mother and a dear sister in the Nwadike family. Mr. Barry Lowenhoff, a graphic designer has this to say about Tessy Ojo. “I’ve known Tessy for a number of years now - all whilst she’s been with The Diana Award. She’s a superb manager and director of operations. She always takes great care to listen to all opinions, weighs up them up from the small to the bigger picture, then acts incisively. Apart from anything else - she’s just a lovely person to work for”. Tessy Ojo, CBE expressed her gratefulness to everyone that has played a part in her Civil Society journey all of these in the past 21 years of her life. Not too long ago, she celebrated her 50th birthday. Congratulations to you, Mrs. Tessy Ojo, CBE. 44

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FW de Klerk: South Africa’s last apartheid president dies at 85 FW de Klerk, the former president of South Africa and the last white person to lead the country, has died. The 85-year-old had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. He came to power in 1989 under apartheid, a system of legalised racism, but later became a key figure in the transition to democracy. He ordered Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, leading to historic polls where the anti-apartheid leader became the first black president. De Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela for helping to negotiate an end to apartheid. But his legacy divides opinion in South Africa. Following his death, the FW de Klerk Foundation released a video recording - dubbed his “final message” - in which he talks about apartheid. “Let me today, in the last message repeat: I, without qualification, apologies for the pain and the hurt, and the indignity, and the damage, to black, brown and Indians in South Africa,” he says. The foundation said De Klerk had died peacefully at his home following his struggle against mesothelioma - a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said De Klerk’s death “should inspire all of us to reflect on the birth of our democracy”. After working for more than a decade as a lawyer, De Klerk won a parliamentary seat for the National Party, which had introduced the system of apartheid in 1948. He served in several ministerial posts before taking over as the head of the party in February 1989, and months later becoming president. 46

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De Klerk had been a firm believer in apartheid, but after coming to power he publicly called for a non-racist South Africa. In a famous speech to parliament in 1990, he announced

that he was removing the ban on parties that included Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) and said he was ordering Mandela’s release from prison after 27 years. His actions helped bring an end to apartheid-era South Africa, and he became one of the country’s two deputy presidents after the multi-party elections in 1994 that saw Mandela become president. De Klerk retired from politics in 1997, saying: “I am convinced it is in the best interest of the party and the country.” Although the relationship between De Klerk and Mandela was often punctuated by bitter disagreements, the new president described the man he succeeded as someone of great integrity. In a statement, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said De Klerk would “forever be linked to Nelson Mandela in the annals of South African history”. “De Klerk’s legacy is a big one. It is also an uneven one, something South Africans are called to reckon with in this moment,”

it added. Many have blamed De Klerk for violence committed against black South Africans and anti-apartheid activists during his time in power. Last year, he became embroiled in a row in which he was accused of playing down the seriousness of apartheid, after saying he was “not fully agreeing” with a presenter who asked him to confirm that it was a crime against humanity. De Klerk later apologized for “quibbling” over the matter. Human rights lawyer Howard Varney described him as an “apologist for apartheid”, while the Fort Calata Foundation which campaigns for justice for people killed by the former white-minority regime called him an “apartheid criminal”. In the video message released following his death, De Klerk said he had on many occasions “apologized for the pain and the indignity that apartheid has brought to persons of colour in South Africa”. In his message, President Ramaphosa praised De Klerk for the “vital role” he played in South Africa’s transition to democracy, despite “severe pressure to the contrary from many in his political constituency”.

South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said De Klerk’s contribution to the country’s transition to democracy could not be overstated. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said De Klerk would be remembered for his “steely courage and realism in doing what was manifestly right”.

The reactions here in South Africa echo the divisions that have stalked FW de Klerk for decades. Some see him as a decent man, a rare politician who took the unusual step of negotiating a path - for himself and for his party - out of power, and in doing so, helped to steer the country away from the racial civil war that many feared would engulf South Africa in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But others, including Nelson Mandela, were more guarded, seeing de Klerk as a political opportunist, a conservative Afrikaaner, who realized that with the Cold War over and international sanctions biting, he had no alternative but to negotiate with the black majority. In recent years, a younger generation of South Africans - some encouraged by populist politicians - have sought to question the compromises that accompanied South Africa’s transition to democracy, and have argued that De Klerk and other apartheid leaders should be The former white president FW de Klerk was cremated in a private ceremony last month according to his wishes his foundation stated. “It was a private ceremony for family members and it was not open to the media for coverage. De Klerk came to power in 1989 under apartheid, a system of legalized racism, but later became a key figure in the transition to democracy. In 1993, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former president Nelson Mandela for helping to negotiate an end to apartheid. His legacy however divides opinion in South Africa.

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We demand national plan of action for blacks in The Netherlands

his is one of the reasons that my organization ‘ the National Monument of the Dutch Slavery Past (LPS) since 2010 encouraged the Dutch Cabinet, Government and the Parliament, according to the Human Rights-, The CERD- and European Union Conventions integrate in Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution ‘ethnicity and nationality’ and to realize national action plans according to the DDPA and the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. The Netherlands is one of the UN and EU Nation States that after 20 years refused to implement the DDPA while in no way the DDPA (Durban Declaration and the Program of Action 2001) shows that it proclaims any forms of multiple racism. It is a shocking development that even Biden and Harris (USA) and the Swedish government for instance trapped in the never ending boobytrap. We are praying that the new Dutch Government and Parliament will realize the expected results so that we can make a real start to dismantle these kinds of institutional form of Afri/Afrofobia. Until now we do not have any hope that the new national coordinator on antiracism in the Netherlands will be successful to bring any change. The DDPA is not a core of

his business do that it represents the beginning of a false start. As long the DDPA is a denial component in perspective of the antiracism policy racism as especially Afrofobia will continue to be part of international systemic racism in the country. Truth had the inherent power to produce the promised effects. African people became since the date that the Netherlands were in Africa a part of the Netherlands. They are in the Netherlands because the Netherlands were in Africa. The civilians in the Netherlands are a proof of the Colonial past and policy of the Netherlands. Let us not forget. Dr. Barryl A. Biekman She was a Civil Society keynote speaker on September 22 during the 20 years commemoration of the DDPA.

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Olu Jacobs has Dementia, Joke Silva Opens Up

ollywood actress, Joke Silva, has revealed that her husband, and Veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, is living with dementia. Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. In a recent interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Silva said her husband had been living in this state for some years. “He is dealing with issues and it is been going on for a couple of years. It is known as dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). “It is a degenerative disease that affects the brain and it is almost like a Parkinson type of disease, it affects the brain and affects the person. “First time I’m saying this publicly… that is what we have been dealing with but the thing is, it is hard on him because he doesn’t understand what is going on and it is hard on us family members as well. “We have gone through some times and situations recently that I wish I had the old you here so I don’t battle these times on my own but we are grateful for the moment of clarity. I miss the times we work together.” The actress also spoke about her being adopted,

disclosing how she found out about this when she was just 10 years old. She said, “It’s something like where one is just getting to share it in the public. It is something that I found out when I was much younger. Mine was a secret adoption. It was not something that my parents discussed. “My mum’s elder sister wanted me to travel with her to Kenya and my mother was not around. She asked if I knew where my passport was and I was like yes yes yes. I know where mum keeps all the important documents. “Then I go to the important suitcase that has all the important documents, where I found my passport but also found my adoption certificate. It was like ‘I beg your pardon’. I was 10-11 at the time. It was a bit shattering. “It was tough. You know how you’re very sensitive as a child. There was just something in it letting you know they would have discussed it with you if it was something they wanted to discuss. “But I got to a point when I was able to discuss it, myself and my mum. What was interesting is that she found it easier to discuss it with my older son than she did with me. My mum wasn’t comfortable discussing it.”

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More than Radio .....

Text & Photos by Nicera Wanjiru and Cynrthis Omondi

ictor Juma established Bush Radio community station in Kajiado town centre to deliver solutions to local problems. It is the only licenced radio station in Kenya entirely in the hands of young people. Everyone told Juma it was ‘impossible’ – but he proved them all wrong. This is his story. Twenty-five year old Victor Juma is waiting on the third floor of the left wing of one of Kajiado’s tallest buildings on old Namanga Street. He is naturally cheerful: it’s a warm welcome at Bus Radio. If a first name says anything, his is definitely appropriate: it is a question of victory: against all the odds he succeeded in setting up a radio station. So far it is the only radio station in Kajiado County to be run by young people. It is growing rapidly and collaborating with the international Trac FM on broadcasting discussions about the regional water problem, among other issues, and coming up with answers as well. ‘I’m blessed with common sense,’ he says when asked about his background, ‘and fell for journalism at an early age. At my high school – Kakamega, which is famous for football and rugby – I collected all sorts of news items and presented them at meetings. While the others were outside having fun, I started writing about what was going on.’ He couldn’t go straight to university as the money wasn’t there – he was brought up by a single mother and life wasn’t easy. He took jobs on building sites to make ends meet and to put something aside for later, to pay for college, all the time keeping his dream alive. ‘In 2020, Ghetto Radio in Nairobi was looking for reporters. I took a shot at it and was lucky, although I didn’t have the qualifications, but thanks to my school reporting I was given a job. First I had a basic training and then everything went swimmingly.’ For a year Juma reported on current affairs under the watchful eye of the news editor. He stayed another year and after receiving a grant from a benefactor who saw promise in him, he left Ghetto Radio to study journalism at Multimedia University. After he graduated, Ghetto Radio again offered him a job, but this time he declined. The best thing to do, he thought, would be to start his own radio station, inspired by the section of the Kenyan constitution which, since 2010, transfers power and resources to grassroots communities. His radio station was going to be a voice for rural people in his County and create opportunities for young people, something that everyone around him said was ‘impossible’. ‘I discussed my idea with various people,’ he says now, ‘but 50

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the response was always negative. Some people asked where I thought I was going to get “the millions” from… It was difficult, but deep down I knew it could be done.’ He got a group of friends together, each with a different expertise, and together they drew up a proposal to present to the Chandaria Foundation. They made several presentations and passionate pitches on the design of a community radio station that would focus on the difficulties of the marginalised rural areas – and the foundation gave them a cheque for half a million shillings, or just under four hundred thousand euros. The amount was a godsend as it covered the cost of the licence and frequency, and in 2017 they were ready to go: they broadcast live from Kajiado. And the County matters most, is always top of the list for reporting The founding mission was ‘to bring people together’, to

reach people at the grassroots, as the constitution intended. Before, people in Kajiado had to make do with the Nairobi stations, which reported on national affairs. In this Masai community that had an alienating effect as the broadcasts were never about local life, about the things that were going on here. Moreover, the news was distorted and not free of misconceptions, because the journalists were reporting from the outside. Although there were two station that broadcast in the local Maa language, neither was based in the County and so they could not zoom in on local issues. The arrival of

the radio station was therefore greeted with enthusiasm and people regularly called to ask if it was really true that they would be broadcasting from Kajiado. Victor Juma’s prime motivation was to be of service and his programmes reflect that aim: Jukwaa la Kazi (‘platform for work’) is about issues surrounding unemployment and Maji ni Uhai (‘water is life’) is about everything to do with water – a major issue here. And the County matters most, is always top of the list for reporting, no matter what else is happening in the world. Bus Radio is not all about water and unemployment, though, it also discusses female genital mutilation, early marriage, government and public participation meetings on the County budget, presentations of petitions, and monitoring public projects. This is done by the ‘budget champions’, trained in these matters by the Watershed programme, for the Neighbours Initiative Alliance (NIA) and the Centre for Social Planning and Administrative Development (CESPAD) – funded by Simavi for NIA and by the Kenya office of Wetlands International for CESPAD. Dutch NGO Simavi

tries to improve the daily lives of women and girls in ten African and Asian countries and does that within the WASH sector, specifically geared to climate and social justice, human rights, gender equality and the ‘shift the power’ process. In turn, the champions train other people in the community to watch out for certain things when the local government presents plans and to make diplomatic inquiries without opposing the state (in the person of the County governor, legislators and civil servants). Bus Radio even made civil servants an offer of broadcasting an in memoriam message for free when a loved one dies. As the saying goes, the hand that gives shall receive – and the station won over the local government as listeners. The station gained recognition as a representative of all the voices and opinions in the community. Sometimes the local government even asks Bus Radio about trends, based on listeners’ input. Bus Radio’s advocacy attracted the attention of the NIA, which brought the station to the attention of Simavi, which in turn runs a project called Wotazella on raising awareness of water issues. Armed with the relevant data, the project brought rights holders into contact with the government in a bid to come to sustainable solutions. Trac FM, another implementing partner of Wotazella, made sure Bus Radio had the capacity it needed to collect the data and carry out the survey, which not only delivered the required information, but also a ranking. The survey took place Continued on Page 52 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Continued from Page 51

in Kenya, Uganda and Nepal and consisted of four leading questions: ‘What is the biggest challenge when fetching water for household use?’ The answer given by 62% of respondents

County administration to the media and citizens’ groups, to deal with the water problem. But the station is much more than this: Victor Juma is starting to become a mini remedy for youth unemployment.

was ‘the distance to the water source.’ ‘Who should have priority access to water?’ According to 40% of respondents, the main priority for the government should be protecting water resources in rural areas such as Kajiado County. ‘Why couldn’t you take part in the planning process for water and sanitation facilities in Kajiado?’ The most common response, given by 44% of respondents, was ‘not informed on time’. ‘What should the government’s priority be for water issues in rural Kajiado?’ While 6% said wildlife, 69% said ‘the household’ should be first to receive water. Bus Radio presented these results to its listeners and to civil servants and advised the former to use the results to lobby the latter. An unintended consequence of the project is that it encouraged the population to take an active part in the County meetings, where the people shared solutions to tackle the local water shortage. This paid off immediately as it led to the drilling of more wells. Another outcome was cooperation between different sectors, from NGOs and the

The radio station has provided work for eleven people, who are paid monthly, and more than seventy students have done their work placements there, with most then finding jobs with the big media concerns. It surprises many trainees that he is the owner, as they still have the idea that the boss should be older, in fact much older. And that in turn inspires Victor to motivate the trainees to do their utmost to deliver quality work. He also offers a platform where they can not only learn and show what they can do, but also communicate their strengths to the team; it works both ways. Juma regularly hears from the governor, who is keen to get information about what the listeners have to say, with reports and all, and that puts Juma in a position to influence policy. To a certain extent Bus Radio has not only given a boost to public participation in the governance of the region, but has also influenced the atmosphere in which County policy is made and implemented. Involving young people is rare anywhere in the world, but Juma has succeeded in doing that on key issues – such as the

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local budget process. The finger-pointing between citizens and government you see elsewhere has been avoided here: one side does not blame the other when a problem arises because both sides work together, consult, participate. Policy is shared. When it became clear that the budget allocated to water was too small, the local population – mostly young people – came up with helpful alternatives for things like repairing pipes. It resulted in a winwin situation. The Bus Radio motto is ‘Sauti ya Kajiado’, the voice of the County – legitimising the representative role it has adopted. And the listeners unreservedly identify with the items and surveys aired by the station, which go to the heart of their experience and culture. However, for a topic like genital mutilation the situation on the ground is always taken as the starting point so the community feels it is being taken seriously and actively participates. Bus Radio also advocates gender equality by highlighting issues that directly affect women and girls in the patriarchal society. The station’s personnel policy also makes no gender distinctions; only quality counts. For example, the head of the news department is Faith and she presents in both

Swahili and the Masai language. The station represents and reflects the whole community. Juma leads a team that believes in values and ethics, that prefers to let ordinary people speak rather than politicians – and more than that, the programmes encourage people to step up and hold the local administration and civil servants to account. Yes, it is more than radio. The station also broadcasts

information that motivates young people to change. With national elections coming up and the political campaigns underway, the young journalists of Bus Radio are determined to properly inform the young people of Kajiado County and protect them from being exploited by politicians, from being misled into stirring up chaos and ending up in jail. The station has also set up the first public forum between young people and the police. It is very informal and relaxed and has led to major changes for some of them, who have started their own businesses or have become volunteers in the community. ‘It’s high time,’ says Juma, ‘that young people starting thinking about creating jobs. We have been waiting for so long, but the media veterans do not seem to be retiring any time soon. I feel a desire to see young people generating their own work, which is what made me start this radio station. ‘Make the impossible possible and set a good example for other young people. Many people visit us here and they are always impressed that I’m not an employee, but the owner and manager. They often even insist I show them the papers to prove it. ‘Young people do have the capabilities, I sincerely believe that, and if we create more jobs we’ll help to combat the youth unemployment crisis. If I hadn’t started this radio station, where would these eleven people have worked?’ Bus Radio plans to expand its coverage and to venture into television. The station is celebrating its fourth anniversary and in five years hopes to reach twenty-two countries (with many cattle farming communities). This article was published in the youth special of Dutch magazine Vice Versa. Text & Photos by Nicera Wanjiru and Cynrthis Omondi

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4 Kenyan police convicted of 2012 manslaughter of British aristocrat

enya’s High Court last month finally jailed four policemen found guilty of the manslaughter of Alexander Monson, the son of a British aristocrat who was found dead in a police cell in the beach town of Diani in 2012 in Kenya. Judge Eric Ogola issued the verdicts in the coastal city of Mombasa at the end of a high-profile case that has shone a spotlight on police brutality in the East African country. “This should send a strong message to the Kenyan police force to have respect for human life,” the victim’s mother, Hilary Monson, told the court, fighting back tears. The four policemen are Naftali Chege, Charles Wangombe Munyiri, Baraka Buluma and John Pamba. They all hung their heads after the verdict was announced, while one cried quietly. Chege was sentenced to 15 years in jail, five of which were suspended. Munyiri was sentenced to 12 years, six of which were suspended. Buluma was given nine years, five of which were suspended, and Pamba was sentenced to 12 years, six of them suspended. “I just feel like after waiting for 10 years, the sentence given to the accused persons isn’t enough for a mother who lost her child in such a brutal manner,” Monson’s mother told journalists after the sentencing. Monson, 28, was found dead after being arrested for what police said was smoking cannabis during a night out in Diani, near Mombasa on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. “The drugs were planted on the deceased after his death as a cover-up,” said Ogola, adding that Monson was in perfect health before his arrival at the station and that he was “brutally

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tortured” while there. “I am satisfied that the death of the deceased was caused through unlawful omission on the part of the accused persons for failing to seek medical care for the deceased in good time,” Ogola said. Monson was the son of Nicholas, the 12th Baron Monson, and heir to a family estate in Lincolnshire in eastern England. The elder Monson was also in the courtroom and nodded slowly as the verdicts were announced. “I think the verdict could have been stronger, but I know obviously the suspects will face some punishment in jail,” he said. Two reports by government pathologists, seen by the media at the time, concluded that Monson had died after suffering a traumatic blow to the head. An inquest found there had been attempts to cover up the incident and threats against witnesses. Kenyan police face frequent accusations of brutality and extrajudicial killings from civilians and rights groups, but officers are rarely charged and almost never convicted. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority was established in 2011 to investigate police misconduct and has received millions of dollars in foreign funding. Kenyans have filed thousands of complaints against police since its creation, but the organization has only secured 13 convictions against officers. Reporting by Joseph Akwiri Writing by Ayenat Mersie, Editing by William Maclean and Nick Macfie/Mark Heinrich

President Buhari hails US for sale of Military Hardware President Buhari hails US for sale of Military Hardware President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed appreciation to the United States for allowing Nigeria to procure military hardware to fight terrorism in the country and the training given to the Nigerian military. Receiving the visiting US Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, in Abuja on recently, Buhari said that the military hardware was helpful in stabilizing the situation in the Northeast, and “we’ve made a lot of progress since 2015”. “We are doing a lot on security, and the people involved appreciate our efforts,” he said. On the development of democratic ethos, the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, quoted the President Buhari as saying that Nigeria has adopted the American model, “hook, line, and sinker, with its term limits. Those who have attempted to breach it were disappointed, if not disgraced. You are even lucky if you have two terms. Others try hard and don’t get it. The American model has been accepted by Nigerians as the best.” Speaking on security issues in Nigeria and her neighbours, President Buhari noted that they have been living with the impact of climate change for a while, which has seen Lake Chad shrunk drastically from its original size, and affected the livelihood of about 30 million people in the Lake Chad Basin countries.

“That is why the youths defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean to attempt to migrate to Europe. Inter-basin water transfer is needed to keep the youths at home, and they can resume their lives of farming, fishing, and animal husbandry,” Buhari added. On the judicial report of the #EndSars protest, Buhari said that the Federal Government would allow the system to exhaust itself, and will, therefore, wait for pronouncements from state governments that set up panels to probe police brutality in the country. “So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels. “We at the Federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. Federal Government has to wait for the reaction of the states,” he said. On the recent removal of Nigeria from the watchlist of countries violating religious freedom, which Blinken said was “based on facts,” Buhari expressed the country’s appreciation, noting that there was freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith. He also said education was a priority in the country, “because when you educate a people, there are certain levels they will not fall below.” In his remarks, Mr Blinken appreciated the contributions of President Buhari to the protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland. According to Blinken, America and Nigeria have diverse challenges, but a common denominator is security, and hoped for better partnerships, “so that the bad guys won’t get the good guys”. He described the report of the EndSARS probe panel as “democracy in action,” stressing that America equally had its own police brutality, and hoping that necessary reforms would be made. www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Kenyan teen girls invent Covid breath halyzers that will enhance rapid testing

f you have travelled to a foreign country in the course of this pandemic, then you will agree with me how expensive, tiring and time consuming it has become to get a visa due to the numerous tests one must undertake.

who selflessly sacrificed their lives to attend to the Covid patients. The current testing methods we have require physical contact which is very risky. That is why we thought of coming up with an alternative way of testing patients, without having to get into contact with them, thus minimizing the risk. Our project can help even those shying away from the test to get tested,” said Marietta. Her real passion is in journalism, which she hopes to realize one day, but out of curiosity she chose to try out the science and innovation competition. She mentioned that this was her very first time participating in this competition. “We encourage our students to use the knowledge and skills we impart to them in class to find sustainable solutions to problems being faced globally,” Mr. Boniface Keya, a Biology and Chemistry teacher in the school told me. He expressed his excitement at how Marietta and Swabrina were able to think outside the box and through his guidance, managed to come up with the award winning testing kit. The Invention

For the ones who have been tested at least once, you know how irritating the nasal swab is. Imagine having a more comfortable and cheaper method of testing without having the swabs in your nostrils and throat. Well great news, two young Kenyan girls invented a machine that only needs your breath to test for the virus, with instant results relayed straight to your phone. I met up with Marietta Halima (16 years) and Swabrina Chepkemoi (17 years) at their school, St. Thomas Girls Secondary school, based in Kilifi town, Kilifi County in the Coastal part of Kenya. These two form 2 students who believe they’re change makers, developed a machine known as Rapid Covix Breathalyzer. It can test up to fifty people in a day and managed to scoop the top position in the nationwide 2021 Young Scientists Kenya National Science and Technology Exhibition, becoming the first female students to attain such a fete in the competition’s history. At the moment, many African countries are still experiencing logistical challenges when it comes to mass testing, with a country like Ethiopia being forced to send samples to other counties for testing. A majority of African countries are importing the Covid-19 testing kits from the United States or China, which is very costly. Wouldn’t it be a relief if we had a solution from Africa, which would be less costly and more effective? The Inspiration “It was devastating seeing the number of Covid-19 cases rising by the day. We lost very good doctors and nurses 56

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“The world is so dynamic. We will only be at par with the developed countries when we embrace science and technology,” argued Mr. Keya, a talk that he is already having with the girls of St. Thomas School. Through his guidance, Marietta and Swabrina began by coming up with

a fluorescent microscope using a glass light which will be used in detecting viruses or any other respiratory infections, the main focus being on solving the Covid-19 challenge. One step led to another and after some modifications, they eventually ended up with the breathalyzer. According to Mr. Keya, this was a borrowed concept from what they had learnt in class about microbiology and microscopy.

“When you take a look at this contraption, its first impression might leave you wondering whether it can actually serve its set purpose due to its size. As small as it appears, it is capable of solving very big problems,” Swabrina told me. She has been passionate about science from a very tender age and loves everything to do with wires. Unlike Marietta, this was not her first invention. She has participated several times in science and innovation competitions and remembers an innovation they entered in the agricultural sector in 2020. It was about hydroponic smart farming, a method of growing plants that does not require soil. Swabrina admits that it was not a smooth ride. They experienced various challenges, one being balancing between their classes and working on the project. They also experienced financial strains since there are materials that were not available in their school. They’re very grateful to their school principal who supported and helped them to purchase whatever they needed to ensure the project became a success. They also worked hand in hand with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Kilifi Centre in their research processes. How It Works “It is a friendly and affordable technique of testing and detecting respiratory infections which gives instant results. We have a fluorescent microscope that is used to detect bacteria and viruses, all one has to do is breathe on top of the glass led. We have a gas sensor that will detect whether the breath has metabolites like ammonia, methane or nitrogen oxide. There is a micro-control that will process the input and the output will be relayed via a buzzer that produces a sound upon detection of any of the metabolic

gasses. It also contains a red LED light which equally confirms that a harmful gas has been detected. At first, we were using a smartphone to capture the image of the bacteria but after doing our modification, we decided to put together the fluorescent microscope and the breathalyzer. The casing of the breathalyzer is not handmade. We had to design it then send it to Nairobi for 3D printing since it isn’t available in our school,” the girls explained as they demonstrated it to me. The Science Competition St. Thomas Girls Secondary School has participated in the Young Scientists Kenya competition for several years but it never occurred to any of the teachers that their girls would come to scoop the best position in the competition one day. This year, they had a total of six projects with four managing top honors. “We never expected to win. It is still hard for me to believe that we are the champions of the 2021 YSK competition, it is still so surreal!” Swabrina confessed with mixed reactions of excitement. The two girls scooped many awards as the overall winners, including a scholarship to Strathmore University in Nairobi once they clear their secondary school education. Other awards included smartphones and cash prizes. “I feel so humbled by their win since they are the first female students to win this competition since its inception,” Mr. Keya pointed out full of pride. Their win was a motivation to many students in their school as many streamed to join the Science club. “This is just the beginning, we now feel encouraged to come up with even better problem-solving innovations,” they confirmed with enthusiasm.

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Future Plans The two brilliant innovators hope that their project will be adopted and developed to become better not only by the Kenyan Government but across the globe. This is because the device can be used in both the medical field and in schools as a learning and testing kit. “I believe that what a man can do a woman can do even better,” emphasized Marietta. This is a mantra that guides her on her day to day activities with her project partner echoing the same sentiments. “Women have power and I believe they can do whatever they set their mind to, it all narrows down to their mindset and attitude. Do not wait for opportunities to follow you, chase them to ensure you dreams come true,” concluded Swabrina. Vice Versa Global is a platform spearheaded by young African journalists who are keen on telling the African story from the youth’s point of view by creating socially conscious content through vlogs, columns, video, articles and discussions in order to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/viceversaglobal/ https://twitter.com/globalviceversa https://viceversaonline.nl/vice-versa-global/

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Nigerian Christians under persecution Help us please....... It is a well known fact that Nigerian Christians are under severe persecution particularly in the Northern part of the country. They continued to be attacked, properties destroyed, thousands of people dead, many more displaced, farm lands destroyed, children left homeless, orphans and desolate in a nation of plenty of resources. A government unable to protect his people. We have received a request from an organization helping these persecuted Christians to get some type or relief. They are calling on us on the Diaspora to support and help through our kind donations. The organization is coordinating assistances, see the flyers published below for details of how you can support their efforts. We approve the flyers so you can send support directly or contact them for clarification or more information. God bless you all. TV Management https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg52LK6cJlw&feature=youtu.be

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Exoneration, not a Pardon for Ken SaroWiwa and 8 Other Ogonis murdered in 1995

n the 22nd of October 2021, a selected group of Ogoni leaders attended a parley at State House with President Muhammadu Buhari, among other

issues, the President stated that the ‘federal government will consider the request for the grant of pardon to finally close the Ogoni saga’. The President made this commitment to ‘consider’ a pardon immediately after he declared that “the unfortunate incidents of the early 1990s leading to the loss of lives of distinguished sons of Ogoni land and the collateral judicial processes are indelible in our memories’. Based on the above, it is important to note that no civil society organization in Nigeria has asked for a presidential ‘pardon’ for Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and 60

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John Kpuine, who were unjustly murdered by the Sani Abacha dictatorship. The 9 were denied the opportunity to appeal their sentence and were hurriedly executed amidst tremendous international pressure including sanctions against Nigeria. What we have consistently demanded is an admission that the quasi-judicial process which resulted in the conviction of the Ogoni 9 was a mockery of justice orchestrated by the military government with the active collaboration of Shell to quell community demands for resource and ecological justice. What we continue to demand is the complete exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8. It is also important to note that the President’s suggestion of granting a ‘pardon’ is tantamount to saying that the 9 were guilty and rightly executed. We deem the proposal to ‘consider’ a pardon for Ken Saro-Wiwa and his comrades insensitive and offensive to their memory and that of other victims of environmental injustice. We also consider it a denial of the need to bring closure to the thousands of Ogonis who were victims of government driven repression characterized by murders, rape, torture and forced exile. The President also used the opportunity of the parley to state that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd (NPDC) had been granted license to re-open and operate OML11. It is pertinent to recollect that in 1993, Shell was forced to abandon its OML 11 operations located in Ogoni and pull out of the area. This was the direct outcome of passionate but peaceful campaigns by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) led by Ken Saro-Wiwa. MOSOP had called the attention of the world to the poverty, neglect and environmental destruction which decades of oil exploitation had bequeathed on the

Ogoni people. MOSOP had also demanded fairer benefits to the Ogoni people from oil wealth, as well as remediation and compensation for the ecological damage caused by the reckless activities of oil companies. These have still not been addressed. In 2007, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) carried out a scientific assessment of the impact of oil pollution on parts of the Ogoni environment, the report of UNEP indicated massive soil and water contamination in Ogoni land, which has significantly compromised sources of livelihood and was slowly poisoning the inhabitants. So alarmed was UNEP about the findings that it recommended that inhabitants of the area immediately stop using water from all their traditional sources, while the government was to immediately commence a clean up exercise which could take up to thirty years. It was only about 3 years ago, that the government began actual clean up with a new agency

called HYPREP. It is therefore shocking that while the clean up is ongoing, the government is prioritizing the restarts of oil extraction in the same area being cleaned up, with all its polluting impacts. We also know for a fact that the level of soil and

water contamination in other parts of the oil producing areas of the country are similar to Ogoni or worse. The ecological disaster in Ogoni land provides a cue for the government to take actions towards the clean up of the entire Niger Delta. It is important to reiterate that proposing an unnecessary ‘pardon’ for the Ogoni nine, seemingly in exchange for support to reopen OML 11, is in bad faith and capable to breeding conflict. If the President is interested in reversing the injustice which the murder of the Ogoni 9 represents, the appropriate action is to exonerate the Ogoni martyrs and apologize to the Ogoni people. We also advice the President to institute strategies for a region wide clean up of decades of environmental pollution which has stolen the people’s livelihood and poisoned them. This statement is signed and endorsed by; 1. Nnimmo Bassey Health of Mother Earth Foundation 2. Ken Henshaw We the People 3. Celestine AkpoBari Peoples’ Advancement Centre 4. Chima Williams Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria 5. Abiodun Baiyewu Global Rights 6. Umo Isua Peace Point Development Foundation 7. Philip Jakpor Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa 8. Iyingi Irimagha Gender and Development Action 9. Olumide Idowu International Climate Change Development Initiative 10. Tijah Bolton Policy Alert 11. Rev. Williams Probel Ogoni Peoples Assembly By HOMEF www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

The 25 year old Samburu youngster giving back to his community

gainst all odds, Erisen Lengerded (25) has managed to become a role model himself. Having grown up in a community that considered education unnecessary and with no one to look up to, he now brings his knowledge back home - and things are visibly changing there. We arrive in Samburu County through rough, dusty roads and a rolling countryside. We then proceed towards Maralal to meet Erisen Lengerded. This is northern Kenya, located north of the equator, where the land is mostly dry and barren. The Samburu people are semi-nomadic cattle herders, who through time have relied almost entirely on their herds. With more cattle available than there

is grazing land, there have been persistent clashes with the neighboring Pokot people. This is due to both communities’ migration routine in search of good land. In 2010, things escalated and cattle theft has been the order of the day ever since. Education is not a priority here, mainly because parents prefer to take their children with them whenever they migrate with their cattle in search of pasture. According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, three-quarters of people in Samburu are illiterate - and 63 per cent of children over the age of three do not attend school. Erisen Lengerded, born in Samburu and raised by illiterate parents, felt a desire to change the community. Although there was no one to guide him through his education, he struggled 62

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with it. He managed to get through primary school though on many days he’d be absent. He continued on his path at a secondary school for boys called Solai, in Nakuru County. Here his ambition was firmly anchored. “My fellow pupils there were from all parts of the country,” he says. “It was a culture shock but I learnt a lot from them, especially during the visiting days. Their parents would come with full shopping bags, while my parents - far away in the village - did not even know what a visiting day was. I envied them. I never got to experience it, but I wished it for my own children, one day.” Creating Cultural Empathy A fire ignited in him from the experience of seeking knowledge far from home. He marveled at how developed the big city was, and wondered why this was not the case in his old surroundings. He wanted to do something for his own people! “After I left school, I was motivated to stop the conflict. My family and I were particularly affected by it since we were forced to leave Samburu for Laikipia. I thought about how our communities could learn to live together in harmony. Our region is still backward and with little development, so conflict over the limited available resources is bound to flare up sooner or later; almost every family lives off livestock. I mulled over how a Samburu could live alongside a Pokot or Turkana, comfortably. How could such a thing be arranged? I proposed the concept of an Annual Cultural Exhibition of Laikipia to the County Council. It would be held in a huge *manyatta (a traditional Samburu house, ed.) with exhibitions from different tribes. This would enable us to learn more about each other and to live harmoniously.” His idea was implemented albeit without his consent and without even informing him, presumably because he was

‘just a youngster’, he reckons. And yet it felt good that it actually came about, even if it was somewhat different from his original vision. Laikipia County still organizes a cultural exhibition every year. Youth in Action Training He managed to earn himself a university degree from Moi University in Eldoret, in Planning and Project Management, and is one of a handful of graduates from Samburu. “I had no desire to work under anyone,” he says, “Not commercially or in government, I wanted nothing but to work for my community. I wanted to give something back, in my own way. About the ‘how and what’ I just had no idea, not until I underwent the ‘Youth in Action’ training.” He was fortunate enough to undergo a three-month advocacy

programme in 2019. Youth in Action had been formed two years earlier under the auspices of Amref Flying Doctors by a group of young innovators. It was set up to address challenges defined by young people themselves. It provides tailored training, mentoring and coalition building assistance. Thanks to these efforts, African youth have gained an opportunity to alter national and regional policies, address the difficulties and then reach their full potential. Lengerded is proof of it. “After the training,” he says, “I understood more about partnerships, collaborations, policy development and the budget process. That is how the journey of my own community-based organization began.” He believes that young people should be trained before they are given a budget. This will not only capitalize on their full potential, but will also exponentially increase their impact. His Empower Pastoralist Organization of Kenya (EPOK) is strategically designed to educate and assist the pastoralist communities with sustainable development projects. It aims to raise the living standards towards a more favorable environment with minimal scarcity and better facilities.

‘The training became a clear road map. I now pick out potential partners more easily, mobilize resources and present plans to investors, all of which contribute to my growth. Young people have an amazing energy that only needs to be activated through capacity building to positively impact society,” he says. Youth Advocacy and Public Participation His love for public participation has earned him appearances on local radio stations, such as Radio Mchungaji. This allows him to educate the Samburu people on how best to engage with the government and hold its leaders accountable on issues of development. He takes every opportunity given to preach the gospel of public participation. He was very persistent in his efforts to reach out to Professor Patrick Lumumba, the well-known Kenyan lawyer, writer and panAfricanist. He firmly believed that the professor was the most ideal person to help him answer the tough questions he usually gets at public forums. “I knew he was the right man to help me, but it was not easy getting a hold of him. I relentlessly searched on the internet and finally managed to find his CV with his contact details. I saved the number and luckily it was on WhatsApp. After months of countless blue ticked messages, I finally received a response. My stubborn tenacity actually paid off,” he says with a sarcastic laugh. Lengerded arranged for sixty youths from Samburu County to join countless others from across the continent for a Zoom training on - of course - public participation. It took five days and Prof. Lumumba did it for free. He noticed the impact he was having when he saw how dedicated everyone was. Without reimbursement of expenses, many spent their last shillings on mobile data to follow the training to its conclusion. They learned, from insights about social accountability that if young people do not participate in the development process, the chances of political manipulation increase - and that is how it often happens. It was an eye-opener, an impetus to move beyond tribal tendencies and drive the African agenda with innovation and inventiveness. He has built up a network of county officials and involves them in many matters, which often leads many to mistakenly believe that he is a County Council staffer. If an ordinary, average Kenyan wants to make an appointment with a governor, it is virtually impossible, but for Erisen Lengerded, it is no big deal. It took him no more than one phone call, and a few seconds later he had arranged a short interview for us with the Deputy Governor at his office. He introduced us to Julius Leseeto, the Deputy Governor Continued on Page 60 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Continued from Page 59 for Samburu County, who during the interview showed his admiration for Lengerded. “Erisen is a role model,” he says. “He contributes to the development of Samburu County by sacrificing his time and resources to make a difference in his community. He demonstrates great leadership qualities by leading the people by example.” The Desert Rose Together with Lengerded we set off for Baawa, a village in North Samburu, 25 kilometers from Maralal. The extraordinary sight of different types of cattle, camels, zebras and goats takes our breath away, with scattered *manyattas visible from a far as we approach a village. We are warmly welcomed by women who traditionally weave rope. The conversation immediately turns to our host. “Erisen is always at the forefront when it comes to women and youth programmes,” says one of them, Ellie Modester. “He guided us through the start-ups and fundraising and now we are independent. Our community was very rigid, afraid to change our ways and embrace alternative methods of economic activities and livelihood. But because of him we slowly started vegetable gardens and small businesses that

earn us a little income. On the radio he speaks in the local dialect, ensuring that most people here understand it and get to learn, even those in remote places.” Women are the backbone of a community and when they flourish, the whole community flourishes, a saying that Modester fully embraces. She is a happy beneficiary of Lengerded’s advocacy work, and calls him ‘a blooming rose in the desert.’ According to her, having a young person from their own community, speaking their own language and showing them the way out of poverty is such a blessing. Their own son! “Many children,” she says, “Can go to school now that women see and use him as a role model. By now we all wish to have our children educated and taking charge, it feels good. It is not easy to find a young graduate who returns to give back to their community. Most of them would rather choose an office job in the city. Something has really changed here since these women found an alternative way to make ends meet. They can take care of themselves and feed their children when the cattle fail. 64

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It is a growth they owe to this young man, Erisen Lengerded.” Silango Youth Group We get back on the road again head to West Samburu to a village called Silango. It is a ride of fits and starts, over impossibly narrow and rocky roads, and it is a miracle that we arrive, though with a flat tyre. We meet 4 young women and 3 young men who came together to form a youth group. The youth group consists of eleven members though three young men had left the village with their cattle in search of greener pastures while one female had prior engagements elsewhere. They named their group Silango, after their village. The land here is vast and dry, as far as you can see, beyond the horizon, with no bushes or shrubs just withered grass. Surprisingly, the Silango group owns a fenced nine-hectare piece of land where they have their project. Five hectares are cultivated, the remaining four are for the sheep and goats. They are an illiterate but sharp people and, with the help of an interpreter, it is easy to have a conversation. “We met Erisen at a cultural event,” one of them says, “Where he encouraged the youth to use state funds for positive action by starting a youth group and initiating a meaningful project. Afterwards we spoke to him and asked for some clarification. He was very helpful and helped us register the group and seek for funds.” Luckily they succeeded. They began by buying five sheep and through trade they now have forty three. They took a bigger risk in 2020 and tried cultivation on a dry land with unpredictable weather patterns. They planted maize on a five acre land and alas! They received very good produce that has lasted them for a year. “We were so happy when our maize did well,” says another, “Which motivated us to continue. This year we tried something different, because the maize stock is still there. We chose beans, but as you can see, the lack of rain has dried them out.” It’s true, and it’s heartbreaking: so much time and effort put in and nothing left. “If you come again,” they say as we part, “Will you bring us some seeds?” As we say goodbye to Lengerded, we ask him what he thinks about the youth, their future and how the narrative can change. “Our development is still a long way off and progress is only possible through true, sincere relations between policy makers and the community. It is the young generation that can change the world - all they need is resources and guidance. Now we are just workers for the older generation, and by definition the young do not yet have the experience that employers are asking for in vacancies. Young people should not be judged on experience, but on their ability and potential. We need to bridge the gap between experienced and inexperienced by giving young people a chance to prove themselves. If we stop treating them like juniors, it will be a better world.”

Madagascar: 1.3 million Face Severe Hunger

he international community must step up support to Madagascar, where more than one million people in the south are facing severe hunger, top UN aid official there said last Thursday in a renewed appeal for solidarity and funding. The impacts of the most acute drought in over 40 years, combined with sandstorms and pests, have made it nearly impossible for people in the Grand Sud to grow their own food for at least three years now. “The world cannot look away. People in Madagascar need our support now, and into the future,” said Issa Sanogo, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country. Funding needed now The World Food Programme (WFP) recently warned that the situation in southern Madagascar could become the first-ever famine caused by climate change. The UN and partners are seeking $231 million to cover operations through May 2022. Although nearly $120 million has been received so far, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said more funding is urgently needed to provide food, water, health

services and life-saving nutrition treatment in the months ahead. Mr. Sanogo recently visited the Grand Sud where he saw “the human face of the global climate crisis.” Eating cactus and locusts The drought has left more than 1.3 million people facing severe hunger, including some 30,000 people who are facing life-threatening famine-like conditions. “Women, children and families are eating cactus or locusts to survive this drought and more than half a million children are acutely malnourished,” he said. “This is happening in a country and a region that has contributed the least to climate change.” The crisis has forced families to take their children out of school so they can help with tasks such as finding food and water. Gender-based violence and child abuse have risen, and people have been displaced from rural areas to urban centres in search of sustenance and services. Prevent catastrophe, promote resilience “I have met families that told me they had to sell all of their personal belongings, right up to their pots and pans, to buy small amounts of food that will not keep them going for long,” said Mr. Sanogo. “It is imperative that the world acts now to help these families.” Humanitarian organizations have significantly expanded their operations in Madagascar this year, reaching over 900,000 people with life-saving assistance, in tandem with Government efforts. However, with the peak of the lean season, which runs from January to April, fast approaching, Mr. Sanogo underlined the critical need to scale up response now. “I call on the international community to show solidarity with the communities in the Grand Sud, who are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, and to put forward the funding that is needed to both prevent a humanitarian catastrophe today, and enable people to become more resilient tomorrow.”

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Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha (1953 – 2021) By Acho Orabuchi, Ph.D. Death has once again dealt a jeering, but devastating blow to the Nigerian community in the United States, particularly the Igbo community in the Houston area. Thus, leaving us despairingly wondering how could it be that Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha left us untimely to be with the Lord? Undeniably, people are still sedated with the shock of the shattering news about Okey’s death which they, including myself, received with a great sorrow and disbelief. Okey just left us! Indeed, Nigerian community has lost a philanthropist with impeccable leadership, who had a knack for helping people both here and in Nigeria. The untimely death of Okey Mbadugha, a devout Christian, an unassuming and punctilious family man, has once again robbed Nigeria of a great moral leader, whose unpretentious nature, as well as his munificent characteristic had tamed those who came to know him. His towering personality, emblematic of his antecedents, always exuded the spirit of peace. I seldom write tributes when people pass away, but failure to eulogize Okey Mbadugha of Umuezeala, Ogberuru in Orlu L.G.A., Imo State, Nigeria, whose maternal home was my kindred, would be a dereliction of responsibility and an abject disservice to the Ogberuru community in the United States, particularly the Igbo community in the Houston metropolitan area. Therefore, it is my onus to share with my readers the pedigree of the Okey I knew. Perhaps, I’m more compelled to write this tribute out of admiration for Okey’s rare character as evinced by his magnanimity. Still, it was with a heavy heart that I lifted my heart and fingers to begin to organize my thoughts and compose this piece on the man and his life. Okey died on September 16, 2021 of natural causes. Elder Humphrey Maduagha, who was at the hospital when Okey took his last breath, broke the news to me as I was in the classroom. I paid a condolence visit to the bereaved immediate family in Houston shortly after. In an emotionally laden voice with red eyes indicating the effects of many days of weeping, Dr. (Mrs.) Loretta Mbadugha began to narrate the character and persona of her husband, as well as the vacuum his death has created in the family. She extolled her husband’s commitment to God, love for his family and his generosity toward mankind. With a trembling voice, and choking with words, Loretta managed to utter these words before she was overwhelmed with emotions. “Okechukwu lived a good life; he was very funny and cracked jokes a lot. He was loving and took care of the family,” she said. “My husband was a man of the people, who was endowed with peace, wisdom, and knowledge,” she narrated. She said, “My husband stated that he had a good life and had no regrets.” “Okey said that he would marry me all over again,” she shared with pride. She jokingly said to him, “I don’t think I’ll marry you again in our next life.” “My husband made sure his kids were okay; he focused on 66

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ensuring that each of his children gets an adequate education,” Loretta shared. Again, with a vacillating voice and reflecting

on their marriage, Dr. (Mrs.) Mbadugha proudly said, “Marrying Okey was the best thing ever that happened in my life and we were blessed with three children.” Okey was involved in a lot of humanitarian activities and he gave generously to charity and supported many families in Nigeria. He encouraged his wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Loretta Mbadugha to put some widows in Nigeria on a salary. “We were planning to increase the number of widows to put on a salary,” Loretta said disappointedly. In collaboration with his senior brother, Elder Humphrey Mbadugha, Late Okey Mbadugha built houses for the widows in his community. Before he could see those houses, I videoed them and sent to him while I was in Nigeria. They also built a road that stretched for about two miles. Although Okey was never scurried to do things, he was definitely a stickler for minuscule details. A characteristic I could confirm by the way he meticulously carried his building project in the village. We were talking often about our plans. He was organized and he planned things to minute details before executing any project. Because of his penchant for

details and careful planning resulting in successful ventures, many people were drawn to him. Okey, as devout Christian, touched many lives in positive ways not only by personal examples, but also through his active participation in numerous civic activities. While alive, Okey worked assiduously behind the scene to find unity in Ogberuru. He thought of disintegration of Ogberuru as a noxious phenomenon. Thus, many people came to admire Late Mbadugha for his unwavering honest character and his unremitting commitment to fairness was unparalleled and sometimes appeared threatening to some in our community who seemed to be burdened and chained by the vagaries of the present. Okey Mbadugha was an affluent individual, especially in spirit, who never allowed earthly riches to swell his head. He was one of the very few Nigerians who never wore their worth on their sleeves. Okey felt that he was blessed, and God was using him as a veritable instrument for uplifting others—a privilege he relished until his death. Okey was enterprising and generous to the Nigerian community here and at home. He gave with humility and never expected anything in return, unlike those individuals who gave for aggrandizement as they resided in a deep valley of absurdity. Regardless of people’s idiosyncrasies, Chris, as some people called him, was receptive to all individuals. He used his resources to uplift humanity and never thought of using them to undermine anyone. One could rightfully attest, without fear of contradiction, that Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha was humble, affable, and amiable. Most importantly, he was an honest man, who had a knack for helping others. He never wasted his time on unimportant things. Okey was a simple man, who never

obfuscated his feelings or positions. He was inspiring, caring, compassionate, and peace-loving individual. Even in death,

Okey continued to preach peace. Okey appeared in my dream on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 primarily calling for peace. During his brief 68 years of life, Okey served humanity. Okey’s soothing and refulgent mien diminishes his intimidating and towering personality. People could relate to him more easily despite his exuberant demeanor. I could attest to that because I lived in his flat in Ikeja, Lagos when I was working with UBA Ikeja Branch shortly before I left the country. Okey was very generous and could relate with people from various backgrounds. Though the quiet lion is gone, but his legacies which he etched so deeply on the commitment to community service anchored with strings of honesty and unabashed genuineness will forever echo loudly in various communities in Nigerian. More importantly, the greatest tribute we can pay to Okey will be for us to ensure that the life Okechukwu Chris Mbadugha epitomized, the ideals he profusely professed, lives on in Nigeria. As we join his wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Loretta Mbadugha and children, Kristine Ogechi, Kyle Kelechi, and Dutchess Kelsey Mbadugha to mourn his untimely departure and celebrate his good life, may we never forget to reflect on our own lives for a better self-eulogy. Adieu, dear Okey. Adieu!

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The post- election violence survivor creating Tuberculosis awareness in Makueni County

survivor of the 2007-08 Kenya’s post-election violence, Ann witnessed first hand how lack of access to proper medication led to the death of many during that period. She turned that traumatic experience into her passion; helping out the sick and vulnerable in the society. Vice Versa Global speaks to the community health worker who is also a TB Champion. Text and pictures: Nicera Wanjiru It’s a chilly morning as I ready myself for the journey to Emali Model Health Centre in Makueni County, located in Emali town, along the busy Mombasa highway. Due to the ongoing construction of the Nairobi Expressway, traffic has been a nightmare on the busy highway. Since we had agreed with my driver on the meeting point where he would pick me, I opt for a bodaboda ride to escape the traffic snarl up. After the pleasantries, we embark on our 3 hour journey via road towards Makueni County. On our arrival I can’t help but admire the town which appears to be developing at a very high rate, if the booming businesses in the town are anything to go by. I’m here to meet with Ann, the TB champion and community health volunteer. About Ann “My name is Ann, a single mother of three, one boy and two girls. I’m also a community health volunteer and a TB champion. I was born in Molo, Nakuru County, but after the 2007/2008 post-election clashes we were forced to return to Makueni County. I love community work though I have my own business on the side where I sell locally made soap. During the post-election violence I saw many people suffer, with the ones suffering from chronic illnesses dying since there was no one to help them. Even though I was still a young girl by then, I was shaken by the ordeal and I couldn’t help but wonder what if it was me, or my loved one. During this time, my inner voice kept on nudging me to do something about it, but I couldn’t,” she tells me. My Life after Settling Here “It wasn’t encouraging at all,” she says. “Life was very difficult. The trauma of seeing people die from the clashes and ailments still haunted my memories. Aside from that we had also lost everything in Molo and my studies had been disrupted. Starting afresh was neither easy nor fun. Remember I had other siblings as well who also needed to 68

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go back to school. Another challenge I was facing was the language barrier since I had to start learning the Kamba Language. I was used to speaking English and Swahili only but I was now in the village and I had to adapt. To try and escape the intolerable plight that my life had now become, I got married immediately after finishing college and bore three kids thereafter. Sadly though, my marriage never worked and I ended up becoming a single parent,” she admits. “After the separation with my husband, I became very frustrated. I couldn’t comprehend why all this was happening to me. The clashes which resulted in my family losing everything, my struggles and now becoming a single mum. At one point I even became suicidal. Luckily I found solace in women groups and gradually started interacting with the community. Though my heart was torn into pieces, there were still shreds of hope left. The compulsion of becoming a volunteer was still in me. Later I would start attending the chief’s baraza and this is where my breakthrough came from,” she divulges. Becoming a Community Heath Volunteer “The chief’s baraza is a meeting held by a chief, the president’s representative at the grassroots level. I loved attending them since such spaces usually made me feel better. One day there was a big announcement that significantly changed the trajectory of my life,” Ann tells me with a big smile. “Emali Centre was to be upgraded to become a model health centre and when completed they were going to need community health volunteers (people who help health providers in the health facilities at the community level). Their scope of work involves identifying the sick, giving health talk at the village level, referring patients, accompanying the sick person to the

hospital if need be, and keeping the records.” “This was what I had desired for so long. I wanted to help my community, especially those with chronic ailments. I was among the lucky ones who were selected by the community. After selection we were trained on health indicators with the help of CHEW (Community Health Extensional Workers) and nurses. Afterward, we were assigned the duty of going back to our villages and working on those health indicators in our community. Reports were to be submitted on a monthly basis.

During this period I was also selected on other health indicators that were supported by non-governmental organizations which included PS Kenya, who were supporting family planning practice. The other organization was supporting tuberculosis awareness and I was selected in these two indicators. We were trained to do tuberculosis contact tracing,” she says. My Experience with TB Patients “Initially, there were three of us who were selected to undergo the tuberculosis training. Shockingly, after the training period which included a few visits to TB patients, I was the only one left! Apparently, due to the nature of the disease which is highly infectious and the state of the patients we had visited, the other two feared for their lives!” she tells me. “Though I didn’t know how to handle it at the time, I never gave up. I didn’t want to see anyone else suffer to the point of dying over something that could be aided. I used to give them words of encouragement and made sure they took their drugs to gain strength to attend hospital visits. For those who for one reason or another were unable to get to the health facility, I would take the medicine to them. It wasn’t as easy as it sounds,” she acknowledges.

“I was selected to the network of TB champions through STOP TB Organization and the National Tuberculosis Program after they noticed my determination in contact tracing, treatment interruption and drug delivery. There are 150 TB champions in Kenya and I am one of them. These are the ones who are recognized since their work is officially monitored. It’s my hope and prayer that we will have more TB champions in this country.” Since she has a home visit to a patient, she requests us to join her. I notice she has a big carrier bag and my curiosity is piqued as to what might be inside. She tells me that it’s very precious to her and as she opens it to test her patient, I get to see why. In it she carries all the testing kits needed in the field. I am both amused and impressed by her diligence. The bag also has a small empty plastic bottle which she uses as dustbin. Ann’s Message and Achievement “As a TB champion, I was able to join hands with other TB champions both in this country and outside. This wouldn’t have been possible if I was not a community health worker. We counsel and give each other morale because of the nature of our work. Many people fear TB Patients, oblivious to the fact that the condition is curable. Some patients are also in denial and I’m glad to be in a position to save their lives and when eventually they get completely healed, they’re always very grateful. Some aren’t even from this community. I became a champion through CHV and now we have a Kenyan network. I’m not yet an official but I am hopeful that I will be one day. I am happy because now, in our community, no lives are being lost to Tuberculosis,” she proudly affirms. “The relevant government agencies should team up and conduct extensive research, map out all TB patients, and also come up with a medication that can be used for only a few months. The biggest complaint that the patients have is that the current six month dosage period is too long. The government also needs to look for funding from other organizations to make sure patients don’t miss out on the drugs,” Ann informs me as she winds up.

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Ajax signs Gibson Yah

ibson Yah, the son of the Amsterdam socialite, Skimmy Yah has finally signed a six months professional football contract with The Netherlands most famous football club, Ajax Amsterdam. The defender-cum-midfielder signed an agreement that will be retroactive from July 1, 2021 and will run until June 30, 2022. The agreement includes an option for another season extension. The eighteen-yearold Yah would have signed a contract long before now but he has been struggling with an injury since August. Gibson Yah was born on September 27, 2003 in Amsterdam. He has been playing in Ajax’s youth academy since 2014. He is currently part of the selection of Young Ajax, for which he has played eleven times so

“Yes, you have to think realistically. I am now injured and hope that I can be back on the field as soon as possible. Then I can show that I belong to Ajax. If all goes well, I will train with the group again in three weeks I want to get fit again first.” To come back as strong as possible after the winter break, Yah is looking for a lot of contact with his physiotherapists. “I give everything, every day. I’m texting a lot with my physiotherapists to ask what I should do or what could be done better.” Goals and ambitions If he is fit again after the winter break, he mainly wants to make minutes again with the promises. “I want to become a reliable player there. A player on which the trainer can build.” Congratulations to young Yah and looking forward to seeing him play in the senior team soonest.

far. After his injury, the Young Ajax player wants to become a permanent fixture in John Heitinga’s team. “I want to become a reliable player there. A player on which the trainer can build on.” According to the report reaching us at The Voice News Sports, Skimmy Yah family is counting their blessings. It’s a beautiful day for Gibson Yah. “This is the most beautiful club in the Netherlands.” The eighteen-year-old player of Young Ajax was injured in August of this year in the home match against Excelsior. According to the midfielder, that is also one of the reasons that he initially signed until June 30, 2022.

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Canelo To Offer Ilunga Makabu’s Mandatory Thabiso Mchuni A Step Aside Deal

anelo Alvarez’s trainer & manager Eddy Reynoso says they’re going to offer Thabiso Mchunu a step aside so they can set up a fight with WBC cruiser weight champion Ilunga Makabu for next May. Reynoso plans on trying to work a deal with Mchunu to get him to step aside. If he chooses not to, Canelo will move in another direction. Reynoso isn’t saying what Canelo’s backup plans will be, but he mentioned wanting to negotiate a trilogy fight with Gennadiy Golovkin for Mexico if the Kazakh wins his December 29th fight against Ryota Murata. Most boxing fans would agree that they’d much prefer to see Canelo face Golovkin (411-1, 36 KOs) in a third fight than watching him beat an obscure cruiserweight champion like Makabu. Fans have been pushing for Canelo to fight a trilogy match with Golovkin since 2018, but he’s chosen to capture titles at 168 and 175 against less popular opposition mostly from Europe. Reynoso revealed that he wants to have Canelo fight in the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and Dubai. “Right now, we’re in talks with the manager of the champion

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[Ilunga Makabu]. He has a date in February where he has a mandatory defense [against Thabiso Mchunu],” said Canelo’s trainer & manager Eddy Reynoso to Matchroom

Boxing. “We’re going to see if we can have a negotiation to have a step aside, and then fight in May. That’s what we’re planning. We barely started negotiating that. “We barely started suggesting that to the WBC. If we can negotiate that, we’ll move ahead, and if not, there are other options as well,” said Reynoso. We’ll see if Reynoso and Canelo are able to get Mchunu to step aside, but if they fail, that might work in their favor because boxing fans would prefer not to watch another Alvarez face a weak champion like Makabu. It would be fine if this were a break for Canelo from fighting high-caliber opposition like David Benavidez, Artur Beterbiev, Joe Smith Jr, Demetrius Andrade, Golovkin, and Jermall Charlo. But what Canelo has been doing for the last three years is facing opposition similar to Makabu in terms of talent, and he’s had an easy time becoming the undisputed champion at 168 and winning a world title at 175 against an old champion in Sergey Kovalev. “That’s one of the projects that we have, to fight in the UK and fight in Japan, fight in China and fight in Dubai,” said Reynoso on different countries Canelo could eventually fight in. “That’s what we want to do next in the career of Saul, which is to fight around the world.” By Dan Ambrose

Canelo Bowl set for January 29 as Makabu-Mchunu collide; winner gets Alvarez

he world’s greatest boxing promoter, Don King, will return to his home state of Ohio on January 29, 2022 as he presents a world championship fight pitting WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Junior Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) and the number one challenger, WBC silver champion Thabiso Mchunu (235, 13 KOs) at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. In addition to Makabus-Mchunu, a special 10-round heavyweight sensational attraction will pit undefeated Jonathan Guidry (18-0-2, 10 KOs) against Alonzo Butler (34-3-2, 25 KOs).

King, who represents Makabu, came to an agreement with Mchunu’s representatives on the 12-round world championship fight, and the winner will advance to fight Mexico’s great champion Canelo Alvarez in the month of May 2022. Alvarez will be at the ringside to see who his next opponent would be. “This is going to be one action-packed WBC world championship fight with a very big fight on the horizon for the winner,” said King. “They are both warriors and this war for the recognition of the homeless will start the New Year in grand style, recognizing the homeless, and helping others.”