The Voice magazine by The Voice magazine

ISSN:2588-8807

ISSN:1571-3466

Motto: Actuated towards Africa’s advancement

Volume 21. NO. 207 July 2021

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First complete African magazine published in The Netherlands since August 1999

Meet H.E. Dr. h.c. Raphael Nagel:

“Distinguished Philanthropist and Investor”

Kaunda EXITS

Nigeria Envoys resume duties in foreign missions

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Contents

The Voice Magazine Volume 21. No 207 July 2021 Edition

62-63

20-22

34-36 ARTICLES

Pages 6 & 7 - Business Profile: All Round Shipping Amsterdam, The Netherlands Pages 8 & 9 – Feedbacks – Pages for your letters to the Editor Pages 10 & 11 - Editorial: Kenneth David Kaunda: The last frontline leader bows out in Zambia Pages 12 – 17 - Nigeria Ambassador presents letter of credence in The Netherlands, Greece and Belgium. Full coverage in this edition of The Voice magazine. Page 23 - Malawi abolishes death penalty: what it means for southern Africa Page 25 – Column: The journey so far ….. Pages 30 & 31 - The self-taught inventor making waves in Sierra Leone Pages 40 & 41 - Meet the Sisters Making Revolutionary Chocolate in Ghana Page 45 - Don’t come to Amsterdam: nuisance visitors told to go elsewhere Page 49 - Zozibini’s recaps her reign as Miss Universe Pages 52 & 53 - Producing honey in Tanzania: CEO outlines the journey of Swahili Honey Page 54 & 55 - Isaac Izoya: Cultural ambassador receives Safety Ambassador Award Pages 56-58 - Meet East Africa’s Youth Parliament Page 59 – Tribute to a friend: A fallen Hero -Late Brigadier General Olatunji .L. Olayinka Page 60 - Advertorial: August 2021 Trade Mission Pages 64 & 65 - The Gunners are keen on the Cameroon international goalkeeper - Court shortens Onana suspension Pages 66 & 67 – Other Sports stories - Danjuma: Bournemouth star considering Nigeria switch from the Netherlands - The Chess boy from the slum of Lagos, Nigeria Pages 68 & 69 - ‘The answer was always the same: NO’

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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

BUREAU CHIEFS Femi Ikutiyinu (London) afpaprint2000@yahoo.com

READ THE VOICE ON LINE AT www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com Our Affiliate partner: www.thenigerianvoice.com

Middle East Vice- President Amb. Laila EL Aftani Rahhall

Registration NO: (Kvk. Nr. 34.110.928) TAX (BTW) NO: NL806215809B01 ISSN: 1571-3466 (For Print edition) ISSN: 2588-8807 (For Digital edition) For payments, use these bank details: Stichting Paddi Europa SNS Bank Account No: NL29SNSB0908374372 Swift Code: SNSBNL2A

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

CORRESPONDENTS ABROAD Barrister Eze Eluchie (Nigeria) paddingr@yahoo.com Kehinde Aig-Imoru (Nigeria) aigimoru@yahoo.com Contributors Rev. Tammy Abusi (Nigeria) tamabusi@gmail.com Elizabeth Kameo (France) Eva Nakato (Uganda) Jimmie Nicks (Kenya) Eubaldus Enahoro (Nigeria) enabadus2000@yahoo.com

Titus Seruga serugatitus@gmail.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 p ublished 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 c ountries 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 207 July 2021

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Business Profile: All Round Shipping Amsterdam, The Netherlands If you talk about shipping to any part of Africa from The Netherlands, one name readily comes to mind –: All Round Shipping BV A company noted for their expertise and efficiency in shipping to Africa. They started nearly three decades ago but it has grown in size, shape and advancement adjusting to all the constant changes in doing business in Africa particularly in West Africa – Nigeria & Ghana as case studies. All Round Shipping is a Dutch-owned company with more than two decades of solid experience in shipping cargo to countries all over the world, in particular to West Africa. Over the past years, the company headed by Mildred Kleinbussink has grown into a network of offices and experience, making the company a leader in ship6

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Mildred Kleinbussink Managing Director All Round Shipping Amsterdam

ping, with offices in Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. “We specialise in shipping cars, vans, trucks, containers and farm machinery to ports all over the world”. All Round Shipping is a big family. And like all big families, we work together to see to it that the needs of our customers are met. In today’s world of rapid communication and automation, most people prefer to talk to a person than a computerised voice. Personal contact and confidence in the people with whom you deal with is paramount in business. All Round Shipping is all about the personal touch. We get your goods there, on time, and at competitive prices. At All Round Shipping, we care. Shipping to other destinations Shipping to other destinations. Please contact us by phone or e-mail for your shipments to all other destinations. Phone: 0031 20-6907037 Fax: 0031 20-6990315 E-mails: info@allroundshipping.nl mildred@allroundshipping.nl eunice@allroundshipping.nl christine@allroundshipping.nl john@allroundshipping.nl

Shipping to Africa: All Round Shipping is especially proud of its shipping knowledge and first-hand experience in shipping from Europe to Africa. Our staff has experience in shipping and handling of the clearing in Africa, speaks variety of African languages making it easier for clients to communicate in their native language. Therefore we understand the client’s needs better. Requirements before shipping Before shipping your vehicles, certain requirements need to be arranged. We make sure that these requirements are met before shipping your goods: We give you advice on the best option according to your situation. Transport within Holland to the port is included in the price, with exception of trucks. For any transport outside Holland, please contact us for possible options. Handling of Custom documents and formalities. We also arrange the name transfer for the vehicles and export

declaration (RDW: vrijwaringsbewijs, uitvoeringsverklaring) Personal Advice Our team is always ready to give you a personal advice that fits your shipping situation from beginning to the end. Feel free to contact our office in Diemen, close to Amsterdam, for suitable advice. Our Strengths Safe shipping. We follow the shipping from the beginning to the end destination. Involvement. We are completely involved in the whole shipment process of your goods. Reliable partners. We ship with the most reliable shipping companies in the world. We speak your language. We are able to communicate in most languages our customers speak (English, French, German and also some African languages). One-stop shop. We arrange everything about your shipping. No need to look anywhere else. The best suitable option. We always consider the most suitable solution for your shipment. Verrijn Stuartweg 95 1112 AW Diemen, The Netherlands Phone : 00-31-20-6907037 Fax : 00-31-20-6990315 Whatsapp: 00-31-629456539 – (FOR MESSAGES ONLY) All Round Shipping BV: A tested name in the business of shipment to Africa.

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FEEDBACK

Tributes to Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, first & former President of Zambia

Dear Editor, With the passing of Kenneth Kaunda, Africans in particular are busy singing his praises to high heavens. I don’t have anything against the great tributes. He was well deserved but my concern is this, leaders will not learn anything from KK. They have no vision for Africa and are consumed with accumulation of wealth and ways to protect mostly their ill-gotten riches and at the expense of the people they govern. The great leader lived a simple, decent and honest life that should be the vocal point of his legacy. May his soul rest in peace and God help African leaders to learn one or two things from his life. Thank you. Helena Kithinji

Dear Editor, Permit me space to express my condolences to the family of KK and the nation of Zambia. Unfortunately, the media will be filled with KK eulogies. Let me start with the least expected: Ever heard of KK being evacuated to a hospital abroad? Man used the hospitals he built & lived for 97 yrs. On a continent where leaders go to take walks abroad, this is admirable. #RIPKennethKaunda By Felix Mwenge

NEXT EDITION - AUGUST 2021

Exclusive interview with Ambassador Obinna Onowu Nigerian Ambassador to The Kingdom of Belgium, His Excellency has officially resume duties at the Nigerian mission house. He sat down with our Media partner, Joy Onoilu (JebiLove TV) for this exclusive interview for your reading please. Join us next month to read his plans for Nigerians and host country in Belgium and environs. TV 8 Management www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

My heartfelt condolences to the family of President Kenneth Kaunda and the people of Zambia. His commitment to Africa’s liberation will never be forgotten. His leadership on the continent and legacy of Pan-Africanism will live on for generations to come. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda

Dear Editor, I salute today a key African liberation visionary, a stalwart on whose shoulders we all stand. A model of what one nation can do to benefit all. You fought great. Your legacy is our call of duty! On behalf of the New Africa, RIP Our KK, Father Africa. One Africa, One people! #RIPKK By Nelson Chamisa Harare, Zimbabwe

Dear Editor, Former President Kenneth Kaunda is not a man you meet every day on the street so it is a privilege to have met him once and he left an everlasting impression on me. My condolences to the Kaunda family and Zambian nation on the passing of Dr Kenneth Kaunda. He was a source of great wisdom, kind to all he met and the epitome of what leadership should be. The profound imprint that he made would live with our society for many generations to come. Rest in peace dear KK. Coach Pitso Mosimane South Africa

Message from President Edgar Chagwa Lungu of Zambia on the passing of KK Kaunda Dear KK, I learnt of your passing this afternoon with great sadness. You have gone at a time we least expected but we are comforted that you are now with Our Father, God Almighty in heaven. On behalf of the entire nation and on my own behalf I pray that the entire Kaunda family is comforted as we mourn our First President and true African icon. May the soul of Dr Kenneth David Kaunda Rest in Eternal Peace. The country of Zambia has declared a 21 day of national mourning in remembrance of the father of the modern nation of Zambia.

Dare Anako joins The Voice magazine as Media Consultant Mr. Dare Anako. A thorough bred journalist with excellent career in Journalism has accepted the offer as a Media Consultant and willing to share his vast experiences with our readers. His Journalism career involves working in some of the top media houses in Nigeria. He is the former Editor of Amanda and Blizz magazines. A former pioneer News Editor, Razor newspaper where he crossed was with the Publisher of The Voice magazine presently, he was also Business correspondent for Daily Times of Nigeria. A former group News Editor of the Herald newspaper Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Production Editor for National Daily newspaper and the former publisher of News three newspaper. He is a graduate of BBC training school. Kindly help us to welcome Mr. Anako to the Voice magazine team and we pray his contributions would be felt globally. Welcome sir.

4Pillars Community Church Almere is based on the fundamental scripture from the book of Acts 2:42. Our vision? Connecting people, families, communities Teaching and leaving them with a legacy for the future with a message of hope and security for eternity through the infallible word of God You can visit us every day of the week, as there is a Resident Pastor available to you. We would like to welcome you to one of our services in the week. Prayer evening on Monday, Studies on Wednesday and Youth Service on Friday. Then Family Service on Sundays from 10am prompt. You are more than welcome Our strength is in our diversity and love for God, through Jesus Christ. Signed: Pastor Roel & Ida van Rooij Senior Pastors 4Pillars Community Church Almere Barbeelstraat 12, 1317 PZ Almere The Netherlands. Telephone: +31646890203; Telephone: 036-7505571 E-mail: voalmere@gmail.com Website: www.4pcca.nl

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Editorial

Kenneth David Kaunda: The last frontline leader bows out in Zambia

irst published in The Voice magazine in 136th edition of the magazine to celebrate the recognition of President Kenneth David Kaunda of Zambia as Icon of Africa in 2012 during the Voice Achievers Award held on 16th November 2012 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Excerpts Born on 28th April 1924, Lubwa Mission, in Chinsali District, Zambia, then Northern Rhodesia. Married Betty Banda, 1946, with whom he has had Seven Sons and Two Daughters and one adopted son. In 1986, Dr Kaunda and family, in the spirit of trying to remove stigma and the wall of silence, announced that one son, Masuzyo, had died from HIV/AIDS causes. For formal education, Dr Kaunda went to Lubwa Training School, in Chinsali, and Munali Secondary School, in Lusaka. He later attended training locally and abroad. Dr Kaunda was a School Teacher at Lubwa, in 1943 - later on becoming Headmaster from 1944 to 1947. From 1947, he was more involved in political and social issues: • 1947, Secretary of Chinsali Young men’s Farming Association. • 1950, Founder and Secretary of Lubwa Branch of the African National Congress (ANC) political party representing African interests in Northern Rhodesia. • 1951. District Organiser of ANC. • 1952, Provincial Organiser of ANC. • 1953, Secretary General of ANC, at national level • 1954, Jan-Feb, imprisoned for possession of prohibited literature • 1958, formation of Zambia African National Congress, ZANC, later known as UNIP • 1959, May, to Jan 1960, imprisoned for political offences • 1960, (to 1992), President of the United National Independence Party, UNIP. (And later, after leaving state presidency, 1995 to 2000) • 1962-1964, Minister of Local Government and Social Welfare of Northern Rhodesia • 1964, Jan to October. Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia • 1964, October – October 1991, First President of the Republic of Zambia. (Re-elected in 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988). Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. International Movements: • 1963. President of Pan-African freedom Movement for East, Central, and Southern Africa, PAFMESCA • 1970/1971 Session, Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, and also Chair in 1987/1988. • 19701973, Chair of the Non Aligned Movement group of nations.

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• 1979, Chair of the Commonwealth Summit and Group of Nations • 1980s, after retirement of Dr Julius Nyerere: Chairperson of the Frontline States against racism and apartheid in Southern Africa • Chairperson of SADC, Southern Africa Development Community group of nations • Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh Chairperson of COMESA (then Editor-in-Chief PTA, Preferential Trade Area of

Eastern and Southern Africa) Awards: 1. Academic Institutions, Honorary Doctorates, 1963-2003: - Fordham, Dubin, Windsor(Canada), Sussex, York, Chile, Humboldt State University, California, Kentucky State University etc 2. Other Awards: - Order of the Collar of the Nile; Knight of the Collar of the Order of Pius XII; Order of the Queen of Sheba; Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding; Quade Zam Human Rights Institute Prize (Pakistan); Order of the Grand Companion of the Eagle of Zambia, First Division, January 2003; Oliver Tambo Award (South Africa); Universal Peace Award (World Association for Non-Governmental Organisations), Order of the Great Zimbabwe Award 3. Appointed first Balfour African President in Residence, at African Presidential Archives and Research Centre, APARC, Boston University (2003). 4. Dr Kaunda is patron of many organisations and causes,

local and international • Own Organisations: - Founder: Kenneth Kaunda Peace Foundation, 1992 - Founder and Chairperson: Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, 2000 Basic Needs Besides his work on peace, Dr Kaunda is respected for Zambia’s post-independent achievements in basic need access. Many people were reached with basic facilities and services – including education, health, shelter, energy, transportation, food and farming, and other basic needs. • Peace Efforts: Dr Kaunda put in a lot in the quest for peaceful transition to non-racial societies in Zambia, Africa, and other parts of the world. A believer in the significance of each person being “created in God’s image,” he has called for improved relationship amongst people from various backgrounds. He has been strongly committed to using various fora and platforms; Dr Kaunda was a leading campaigner against institutional racism in Africa. He keenly used the Frontline States Movement, SADC, the OAU, Commonwealth nations grouping, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations, together with various organisations and groups, to contribute to the quest for Peace. He was involved in mediating and negotiating transitions and agreements, including the Lusaka Agreement that led to the independence of Mozambique. He was involved in the transition to independence of Zimbabwe and Namibia. Dr Kaunda helped negotiate the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, which led to South Africa’s first open and free elections and transition to popular rule in 1994. Dr Kaunda has supported inter-state and intrastate resolution of conflict. In 1967, he helped to negotiate a resolution of the border dispute involving Kenya and Somalia. • HIV/AIDS: Dr Kaunda has been a keen crusader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In December 1986, believing in the removal of the “Wall of Silence,” and “Stigma,” he and his family announced the death of son Masuzyo Kaunda from HIV/ AIDS causes. Dr Kaunda, in 2002, has also went for an HIV/AIDS test, as part of breaking stigma and the wall of silence. He says even if he had been found HIV positive, he could have used the status to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Dr Kaunda’s work on HIV/AIDS continues to inspire many people to take up new activities or strengthen old ones in dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He Chairs the Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, and supports many local and international organizations during his life time. He has left a lasting legacy for future generations to emulate. May hissoul rest in peace.

Our message to Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, recipient of Icon of Africa Award in 2012. Dear Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, His Excellency, former President of Zambia On behalf of The Voice Magazine Management and the Voice Achievers Award committee, first and foremost, we would like to express sincere gratitude to His Excellency, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda for accepting to receive the honour of ICON OF AFRICA AWARD, a choice the Award Committee carefully made befitting his long time contribution to peace, democracy and advancement of Africa. The Voice Magazine Management is also aware of the present circumstances on the loss of H.E Dr. Kaunda’s dear wife and Mother of the Republic of Zambia, Mama Betty Kaunda, (May Her Soul Rest in Eternal Peace), and that His Excellency indeed needs more time to rest and be strengthened. The Voice Magazine kindly sends deepest condolences to His Excellency and his family. In this regard, the Voice Magazine warmly accepts that H.E Dr Kaunda’s honour be received on His behalf by Zambia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and the European Union (EU), Her Excellency Mrs Grace M. Mutale Kabwe. She delivered the hand written letter of acceptance from His Excellency, a moving letter that we have kept to this day. Thanks very much. Pastor Elvis Iruh for The Voice magazine Note: H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Grace M. Mutale Kabwe of Zambia received the “Icon of Africa” Award on behalf of Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, First President of the Republic of Zambia at The Voice Achievers Award 2012. (Unfortunately also late as we recently gathered, she passed away in August of 2020, may her soul rest in peace)

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Nigeria Ambassador to The Netherlands presents letters of credence to King William Alexander in The Hague Full coverage in this edition of The Voice magazine. Her Excellency, Dr. Eniola Ajayi was greatly honoured to be received by the King of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, King William Alexander at the Royal Palace in The Hague. She presented her letter of credence to His Majesty Willem Alexander on June 2nd, 2021 at the Noordeinde Palace, The Hague. She trusts God to help her represent our country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the best of her ability. She was accompanied to the event by her spouse, H.E Dr. Adegboyega Oke, a senior counsellor from the Embassy of Nigeria at The Hague, Mr Olufemi Olonijolu and the king’s Chamberlain. Photos by Jeroen van der Meade

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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

Congratulations to Ambassador Opunimi Akinkugbe as Greece’s Nigeria Envoy President Katerina Sakellaropoulou received Nigerian Ambassador to Greece, Her Excellency, Opunimi Akinkugbe on 15th June 2021 for the presentation of her Letters of Credence at the Presidential Mansion of the Hellenic Republic. In line with the protocols of the Hellenic Republic, the Head of Chancery of the Nigerian Embassy, Athens, Mrs Mary Ozonwanji, accompanied her. It is of note that the Greece President is the first female President of the Hellenic Republic. And she also has the honour of being the first female Ambassador of Nigeria to the Hellenic Republic.

Following the presentation of her Letters of Credence, she is officially Nigerian Ambassador to Greece. A task she accepts with deepest sense of humility, responsibility and pride. She has continued to receive congratulatory messages from former colleagues in the banking sector and well-wishers via the social media platforms. She has settled down to work in Athens, Greece. Congratulations to Ambassador Opunimi Akinkugbe

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Ambassador Onowu presents Letters of Credence to Belgium King

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igeria’s new Ambassador to Belgium, Ambassador Obinna Chiedu Onowu, on Tuesday 22nd June 2021 presented his Letters of Credence to the Belgian monarch, King Philippe I, at the Royal Palace in Brussels, the country’s capital city to commence his mission as Nigeria’s 17th Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium. Ambassador Onowu is now formally accredited as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the kingdom of Belgium, the European Union and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In a statement released by Mrs. Olamide Adediran, Counsellor at the Nigerian Embassy in Brussels, the ceremony opens new opportunity to continue promotion of already existing cordial relationship between the host nation, Belgium and Nigeria. The newly appointed Ambassador highlighted the need for collaboration, especially in the areas of trade and investment, capacity building, Education, health and Information Technology in a bid to deepen economic ties between both nations. The Voice magazine learnt there is already a plan visit to Nigeria by high level business delegation later in the year to Abuja for further business engagements. Ambassador Onowu, who also holds concurrent accreditation to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union informed King Philippe I on the need for both countries to facilitate high level visits between Government officials and the great people of Belgium. He affirmed that the Nigeria Government was particularly

elated to receive the trade delegation that will visit Nigeria in the fourth quarter of 2021 and expressed optimism that the visit will further promote cooperation with Belgium. The Embassy of Nigeria in Belgium was established in 1961. Presently, there are approximately 3,500 Nigerian citizens in Belgium out of which about 350 of them are students and the Embassy is in close contacts with Nigerians and encouraging Nigerians to take advantage of their presence to interact with the mission on all their needs concerning dealing with Nigeria Since its establishment, the Embassy has had 16 Ambassadors and Ambassador Obinna Onowu is the 17th Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium. Ambassador Obinna Onowu is highly experienced in international relations as he has served in the Nigerian Embassy in The Netherlands before his appointment as Ambassador to Belgium. It would be recalled that he arrived in Brussels on 26th April 2021 to commence his tour of duty and he has finally settle in for work. On all matters relating to relationship with the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Buhari, you can reach His Excellency, Ambassador Obinna Onowu. Next month, we promise to bring you an exclusive interview with His Excellency, Ambassador Obinna Chiedu Onowu. By Joy Onoilu (Jebilove) Brussels, Belgium

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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.

For The Netherlands Account Name: Stichting Paddi Europa IBAN: NL29SNSB0908374372 SWIFT CODE: SNSBNL2A (For payment from abroad) Bank: SNS BANK Address: Utrecht, The Netherlands Thank you. TV Management www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

PLO Lumumba Interview. Part 2:

A society that doesn’t pay regard to its youth is a society adrift’ On the second part of our two part interview with Prof. PLO Lumumba, he gets to talk to us about how best we can cash in on Africa’s young demographic as a dividend and how she can realize transformative leadership. He also has a message for the youth on how they can overcome the cultural barriers and tells us if he feels if there is still hope for Africa’s young demographic. The youth have on many occasions been referred to as the custodians of the future and the leaders of tomorrow. However, not many young people in this generation fully apprehend the weight of the challenge they’ve been charged with. What’s the role of the youth as far as the pan-African movement is concerned? According to PLO Lumumba, the youth bulge can be a source of great prosperity or great insecurity. Africa as we all know has the youngest population, but a staggering majority of this population are unemployed. She has the responsibility to seize the unique opportunity of having a growing young population. They are her biggest asset to tackle the many challenges ahead. This has raised concerns on the erratic nature of such a high economically disenfranchised population that is more often perceived as threatening. How can this young population be deployed to serve as dividend and not a danger as is feared? In order for prosperity to be realized, Lumumba believes the young African population must be taken care of and creatively deployed through clear education, a freedom to explore the labor market throughout the African continent and a self-starting sense amongst the youth.

TV: How can we cash in on the demographic dividend? PLO Lumumba: “The only way in which we can create opportunities for young people in Africa is for them to have an opportunity to move across the continent and to deploy their knowledge continentally. I was speaking in South Africa several months ago and I told them not to allow this thing called xenophobia to define how they relate to fellow Africans. As long as they are the economic magnet we will go there. And it is in their best interest to make their country open, they need labor. The pan-African agenda is what is going to deal with the issue of unemployment.” “If we don’t take care of it, it can be a source of insecurity but if we do it can be a source of great prosperity. That is why one of the things that must be deliberately done at very early levels is policy clarity. At the level of education how are we dealing with these young men and women and what kind of information are we offering them? Are we giving them enough skills to be important to the market? The principle challenge with our education system and it is transverse in many African countries is that we are stuck in the kind of education that gives them a paper qualification and prepares them for employment. I don’t think that is the future. The future is about innovation.” “The beauty of Africa is that in almost every sector there are opportunities. We have a deficit of fish and we are importing fish from China. Supposed you deploy your young people in aquaculture, suppose we stopped importing agricultural goods. You go to Israel they’ve got technology in dry land agriculture. We are importing juice and paste from Israel to make juices in this country. Nigeria is one of the leading champagne drinkers in the world. Nigerians dress very well but most of their clothes are made in the Netherlands, in Belgium. Supposed we revived agriculture, textile and technology?”

“That tells you that you can make youth in a positive way by involving them in the economic arena and I was very happy to listen to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the head of the African Development Bank saying that agriculture is going to liberate our young people and put them on the pedestal of economic activities. When you do that then they are a dividend but if you don’t then there are people operating on the continent of Africa who do not want Africa to be stable. So in short, the young African population must be taken care of. They must be creatively deployed through clear education policies which are going to inform the economies because if we don’t, what we think is a dividend can actually be a grave danger and it is urgent business. If we don’t do it now, 10 years from now what I see happening in Bangui in C.A.R and in Chad we will have spread to other countries.” TV: How can Africa realize transformative leadership by the youth? PLO Lumumba: “The history of the world and history of all civilization is the history of learning from the mistake you make. The countries that we now talk about as being successful if you look at their history they are trouble history. I thought that post-colonial Africa should not take as much time as the others took because we have had the advantage of seeing the mistakes we made and we can now very quickly move in a different direction. And leadership is at the very heart of it and how you discipline people. There are a number of people and civilizations that I can talk about that we are familiar with. Japanese don’t make much noise, but are disciplined. South Korea, and that tells you about

that leadership. In the same territory we have north we have south, one is prosperous one is not, the same people.” “In Africa we have Rwanda, discipline. Tanzania you see discipline, Botswana discipline. Discipline is at the very heart of it. And when younger people are very impressionable, when they see a leadership that is in the right direction they will move to that right direction. So my view is that we must deal with the mind. Young people must read and you are in a good space because this is the era of knowledge at the time where it’s not much of a burden, you can get information. Young people must always remember that being youth is not a permanent state. It’s a stage in your life. So this is the time we must have the zeal of the missionary and the conviction of the crusader and it is the young people who change societies. If you look at the history of any society, in Europe in the 1960s, during a time when France was changing it was young French people. The civil rights movement in 1963, people like Luther King, all young Americans, Soweto in South Africa, all people in their twenties. And it’s not about tokenism, it’s about having a clear agenda.” “Go to Rwanda and you see the average age of people in positions of responsibility. They are being given responsibility and there are older people watching them and you can see. Today I can go to Rwanda and get a company registered in two hours which means if I want to do business I go there because of the turnover. When I want to move it from Rwanda I can move it and that is a political decision that has been made and is being implemented.” Continued on Page 22 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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TV: Is there still hope for the youth? PLO Lumumba: “Of course there is hope. The youth just have to follow the right directions and make demands. When they make demands and they make them consistently, then the political class will have no choice but to listen and implement.” TV: How do the youth overcome the cultural barriers? PLO Lumumba: “Quite a number of societies believe young people are to be seen and not heard, and you find a lot of that in western Africa and in the old chiefdoms. It’s not just the youth but women, but I think that is changing. People are now beginning to realize that knowledge especially if deployed carefully can be respected. There are cultural barriers

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and it’s not going to be easy to change but I think it’s beginning to change. That change can also be brought about by the young people themselves. If they conduct themselves responsibly then there is sense in which they will get their pride of place and they will be listened to. But in many places where young people have had opportunities to serve they have not given credit to themselves and have disappointed. I think the old men are now capable of saying we told you they would never achieve anything. We see even the young politicians in Kenya they will say we told you. You see how they are behaving.” As the youth of Africa, it is clear that we still have a long way to go in achieving and embracing the true essence of pan-Africanism as was envisioned. Still, we also deserve credit for we have done better at connecting with each other continentally than the previous generation ever had. As an afro-optimist, I strongly believe that we are on the right course and even if we don’t achieve it now, we have to make sure the next generation has a much easier task than we had. Like Prof. Lumumba said, we have to start thinking inter generationally, not in 5 year cycles. Make your contribution now and let the others make their own contribution. It takes a droplet to make an ocean and it takes one tree to make a forest. Be a good droplet. Be a good tree.

Malawi abolishes death penalty: what it means for Southern Africa

he Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal abolished the death penalty in the country, the most notable decision against capital punishment since the South African Constitutional Court found the penalty unconstitutional in 1995. The Malawian decision is significant because Malawi’s constitution specifically provides for the death penalty (in Article 16), unlike the unqualified right to life in the South African constitution. The Malawian decision ended years of confusion over the status of the remaining 37 prisoners on death row. Nearly 15 years ago, the Malawi High Court abolished the mandatory death penalty for murder. It had found that an automatic death sentence did not sufficiently individualize sentencing and, therefore, was cruel and degrading punishment. But, the ruling was not clearly retroactive. Many defendants were still appealing their mandatory death sentences or had them commuted to life imprisonment without ever having a sentencing hearing. This “grey area” led to the latest court challenge brought by Charles Khoviwa, a death row inmate and client of Reprieve, a legal action non-profit organisation, and the Malawi Legal Aid Bureau, that resulted in the abolishment. Malawi’s constitution Although the Khoviwa decision was particular to Malawi’s progressive constitution, the case has implications for other Southern African countries, most of which kept the death penalty on the books but do not use it in practice. Malawi’s constitution came out of a public consultative process, initiated after a one-party dictatorship that ended in 1994. As a result, this newer constitution has some progressive elements. They include that Malawi must consider international law obligations and may look to foreign case law in deciding constitutional disputes. Because Malawi’s constitution is a living document that evolves, the Supreme Court of Appeal considered the global decline of capital punishment. In the Khoviwa case, the court considered Article 16 of the Malawian constitution. The court explained that the wording of this provision created two separate rights: the right to life and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life. This is clear in the text: Every person has the right to life and no person shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life. But, the wording of the second sentence of Article 16 was unusual compared to other Commonwealth and African constitutions. This said, in the relevant part: the execution of the

death sentence shall not be regarded as arbitrary deprivation of his or her right to life. The second sentence only stated that the death penalty could not be an arbitrary deprivation of life; it did not state that the death penalty could not violate the right to life (the other right contained in Article 16) or the right to be free from cruel and degrading punishment at Article 19. This gave the court an opening to find the death penalty unconstitutional even though Article 16 specifically provided for the death penalty. Of course, the constitutions of South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia have an unqualified right to life with no provision for the death penalty, which is why these countries are abolitionists. The Lesotho and Tanzania constitutions also have unqualified right to life provisions with no exclusion for the death penalty. However, the senior courts in these countries have not yet found the death penalty to violate the right to life. Kenya and Zimbabwe have more complex constitutional “right to life” provisions. Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution provides for the death penalty in an extremely narrow class of cases - adult men between the ages of 21 and 70 and only for the crime of aggravated murder. In terms of Article 26 of Kenya’s constitution, [one] shall not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorized by this Constitution or other written law”. But the constitution provides no authorization except for abortion. The Malawi court’s decision in Khoviwa could be especially useful in future human rights litigation in countries without clear constitutional support for the death penalty. This is so for two reasons. First, the Malawian Supreme Court of Appeal validated the emerging global consensus that the death penalty violates the right to life, even where the constitution specifically authorizes it. Second, and even more importantly, the Malawian court used a more progressive interpretive method: if two interpretations of a constitutional provision are possible, the interpretation that expands human rights protections is preferred over an interpretation that restricts or limits human rights. This is a roadmap for future challenges to the death penalty in other southern African countries. www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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Column: The COLUMN

Journey So Far…

In the early 1980s, the southern part of Uganda was hit by a ‘strange’ phenomenon. Being at the border of Uganda and Tanzania, it was believed that a group of Ugandans had ‘misbehaved’ having crossed to the Tanzanian side. A ‘jjini’ (bad omen, supernatural powers) was sent to the Ugandans and their respective communities in retaliation. Months later, hundreds of people were dying under unclear circumstances. However, the deceased presented similar symptoms; rapid weight loss shortly before their death. Hence, the locals named this new disease ‘silimu’, a phrase coined from the English word ‘Slim’ due to the small appearance of the patients. Crossing over to the western part of the world, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had on 5th June 1981 officially reported the first five cases of what later became known as ‘Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, (AIDS)’ among some gay men. This report heralded the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Coincidentally, it was the same scourge that had hit the southern part of Uganda. Nonetheless, even after the government intervention, the locals continuously associated this ‘strange’ illness with witchcraft or even bad luck on the side of the victims. Consequently, many families started abandoning their own relatives and migrated to other neighbourhoods once one of them started showing signs or symptoms of ‘silimu’. This was done to avoid transferring the bad luck to the rest of the family members. This was the origin of stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Uganda. Nearly 40 years later, the stigma still exits. It is both internal and external. External stigma manifests in the negative attitude and belief towards people living with HIV, labelling them as socially unacceptable, making judgments upon those who get infected because of their perceived ‘wrong’ life choices, making moral judgments about those trying to prevent HIV transmission, to mention but a few. Internal stigma is characterised by loss of hope, selfcondemnation and suicidal thoughts especially among those patients who have just been tested positive. Discrimination involves treating people living with HIV differently than those without HIV, the behaviours that result from those attitudes or beliefs like distancing oneself from people living with HIV, health care providers refusing to treat them, not having casual contacts with them and referring to them as HIV Positives or HIVers, to mention but a few. My twin sister and I were born with HIV to a HIV Positive mother who had apparently contracted the virus through blood transfusion. As a young woman born and living with HIV, I have had my fair

By Eva Nakato

share of stigma and discrimination. The more people found out about my status, the more they stigmatised and discriminated against me. About 3 years ago, a job opportunity came up and I attempted take it on. However, a friend of mine who was already working in the organisation immediately disclosed my status to the team leader. The team leader suggested that I don’t take on the job since some of his employees had seen me on TV before from where I had disclosed my status and that they were going to make my life uncomfortable. Consequently, I painfully abandoned the opportunity despite my dire need for a job then! As teenagers, a neighbour once told her sons to stop being around my twin sister and I because she suspected us to be HIV positive. When the boys asked their mother how she got to know about our status, she simply stated that she had always seen my twin sister and I travelling to town on some specific days of the month and that it was obvious to her that we were heading to the hospital to pick our ARVs! Also, whenever I would have misunderstandings with friends they would use it as an opportunity to use demeaning remarks like ‘…after all you’re HIV positive, what can you do?’ Some of my boyfriends also considered me the ‘desperate one’ and hence they hardly valued my inputs in some of the relationships. Over time, I have developed a thick skin and I have been able to overcome the stigma and discrimination due to my HIV status. Some of the People Living with HIV are yet to undergo this transformation as well. As we continue to do what we do, we should note that the attitudes and behaviours that discriminate and stigmatise people living with HIV is extremely dangerous. I believe we can continue talking about HIV openly especially in rural areas to help normalise the subject and help correct misconceptions about it. This will also help people learn more about the dangers of HIV stigma and discrimination. As a parent, I plan on teaching my son how to treat and live around people living with HIV. I know for sure that one day he will come across interviews of me sharing my story and I would like to prepare him on how to deal and respond to what people will say. Despite all the stigma and discrimination, I have lived a very normal life. I have studied, graduated and now have a healthy HIV negative son thanks to the effective prevention interventions like Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), among others. In this journey, I have learned to respect and treat people the way I would want to be treated.

Eva Nakato is a Ugandan based writer and she wants to read from you so write her through info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

His Excellency, Dr. Dr. h.c. Raphael Nagel: “Distinguished Philanthropist and Investor”

r. Raphael Manuel Nagel is a renowned Investor, a Lobbyist, Philanthropist and Senior Advisor to Royal Families. He has been doing business in Dubai since 2001, where he heads a private equity firm. In 2020, he founded the Abrahamic Business Circle, an inclusive business group that includes members from all religious organizations and creeds from around the world.

His philanthropist mission has always lead his way in business, as he believes everyone deserves an opportunity to be educated in order to have a better world. Dr. Nagel has been awarded as “Distinguished Philanthropist 2021” from the Embassy of Senegal, “Outstanding Contribution to Economic Diplomacy in the Middle East” from the Global European University, and “Excellence in Civil Society by the Grenada Ambassador among others. Amongst other relevant activities his engaged with includes being an active member of the Scientific Committee of the Chair in Security at the Andorra’s Universitat Europea. 26

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Additionally, he is the co-founder of a Spanish investment bank specialized on cross-border transactions and debt restructuring. The Abrahamic Business Circle, was inspired by the Abrahamic Family House, a beacon of mutual understanding, harmonious coexistence and peace among people of faith and goodwill. The Circle is a business organization composed of high-profile level individuals from around the world sharing the same vision and dreams in fostering economic diplomacy through business and trade throughout the world. Most recently he was recognized again by the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan, the newest and still growing country in Africa. The award was presented to him by Ambassador Deng Deng Nhial- Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to the UAE. In his response, Dr. Raphael Nagel thank the embassy for honoring the work he has continuously does to improvement the life of majority of the people globally. “My sincere gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It is indeed a great privilege for me to receive this humble Award “2021 Excellence in Philanthropy” presented by the country’s Ambassador on behalf of the government of South Sudan. Thank you for believing in me, it motivates me more in helping the youth with their education. He also gave a Special thanks to PhD Studies Accredited Degree Experts program for granting full Academic Scholarships to deserving students from this country. Positions he has held includes the Chairman of the board of the Abrahamic Business circle based in Dubai where he is spearheading the further cooperation through tolerance and business relationships by exemplifying tolerance, prosperity, and peace, the Abrahamic Accords inspired the creation of the Abrahamic Business Circle. The Circle, like the UAE and Israel, realizes the importance of tolerance and prosperity as indispensable prerequisites for achieving a lasting peace. The Circle is determined to expand on these

values by incorporating high profile individuals from all over the world. He is also a Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the SJM group, under the leadership of HH Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Juma Al Maktoum. HH Sheikh Juma bin Maktoum Al Maktoum is an accomplished businessman from the UAE with extensive interests in the Real Estate, Construction, Pharmaceutical, Natural Resources, Maritime and other related sectors to name a few. Dr. Nagel is the Global Union’s Ambassador for GUs Global Women & Youth Assn. Equal & Peace Affairs in the United Arab Emirates. He is General Manager at Tactical Management responsible for Foreign Direct Investment. Tactical Management is an

independent, award winning private equity firm based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Their investments derive from close relationships on the ground with local understanding and global insights in discreet acquisition, bespoke restructuring and dynamic wealth creation as major outcomes of their investments. Finally he is also an Advisor and Industry Leader for California Metropolitan University In united States of America where he also holds a doctorate from the same university. He holds doctorate degree in Engineering and Management of the Natural Environment from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain; another doctorate in Business Administration from California Metropolitan University and doctorate of philosophy (PHD) from Paris College of International Education (PCIED), France He is a member of Rotary International, a life member of Capital Club Dubai and a member of the Jewish Agency for Israel among many other international bodies he is involved Mr. Mitch Lowe, an advisory board member of Abrahamic Business circle has this to say about Dr. Nagel: “Dr. Nagel is a smart, thoughtful, and charismatic leader who embodies a man who cares about friends and family before himself. I have been the beneficiary of his advice and incite that i will always value”. Rena Krakowski-Riger write this about His Excellency, Dr. Magel on her Linkedin page H.E. Dr. Nagel has created a business entity which is based on the premise of peace through prosperity. As chairman of The Abrahamic Business Circle he is nurturing global businesses which will thrive.

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The self-taught inventor making waves in Sierra Leone

mmanuel Alie Mansaray recently became a social media sensation in the West African country of Sierra Leone. This is after his invention of a solar-powered engine car was spotted on the streets of Freetown. His innovative solar car hit the headlines not only in his home country, but also internationally, leaving many people amazed by his outstanding creativity. So, who exactly is this

Emmanuel proudly display his work young man and what is the force behind his passion for inventions? Emmanuel Alie Mansaray, a 24 year old Sierra Leonean turned his vision to reality by making a solarpowered car made from trash and scraps that left many in awe. What you may not know is that this is not his first invention. He began his eco-friendly inventions from a very young age. He describes himself as a selftaught engineer, a creative thinker and a renewable energy expert. His inventions are focused on offering solutions to curb the growing rate of pollution in Sierra Leone. It has been rated as the 17th most vulnerable country in the world, when it comes to air pollution. According to him, there is a high risk of contracting incommunicable and respiratory diseases like lung cancer and asthma among others. These are health complications that are often derived from inhaling hazardous fumes emitted by vehicles using fossil fuel. Born different “At the age of twelve was when I realized I had a special gift, a talent, and that I was born different. Growing up I was more interested in what was hidden in the trash than anything else. I would collect durable 30

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items that had been disposed like milk tins, bottles and used batteries. With these I would try building things like cars, contrary to what many children my age did. I tried matching my mates’ talents like singing, dancing and many others but I was very terrible at them. I guess no one person can possess a variety of talents, you can only be really good at one thing,” he said with a giggle. Indeed he is different; he sees trash as treasure since that is where his raw materials come from, and every need is an opportunity for him to offer a solution through critical thinking. “In the community where I reside in, it is very difficult for people to access information. Growing up I realized that we were always lagging behind in knowing what was happening across the country. Even the common radio was hard to come by around here, leave alone a television, and so these people knew very little of what was going on elsewhere. This was the genesis of my creativity as I yearned to come up with my own radio transmitter,” he recalls. Without attending any training whatsoever, and at that tender age, Emmanuel embarked on a mission to come up with his own radio station. “We had a lot of trash littered around, so I would collect what I felt would be useful to me like used batteries and cables. I would bring them home, wash the washables then store them well. Through trial and error I was able to come up with a complete circuit and eventually I had my very own radio station,” he told me. He became the talk of the village after his successful innovation. To his surprise and joy, his radio station was used to sensitize the people in his community about the spread of the Ebola disease which was ravaging Sierra Leone by then. This was a mission accomplished for him. Fuel Free Generator It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. For him lack of electricity and seeing how students, him included, suffered was saddening and prompted him to act. It was especially worse when they had to work on assignments or study at home after school. “I tried to offer a solution after a comprehensive research. I was in high school at the time, and had come up with a couple of concepts from the little physics knowledge I had. Electricity is one of the greatest problems in Sierra Leone, especially in the rural villages. Lack of access to electricity in households has also contributed to teenage pregnancies and early marriages. This is because some girls get lured easily by boys whose households have electricity, a luxury that many wish to enjoy,” he disappointedly admits. Believe it or

not, Emmanuel managed to invent a fuel-free generator. According to him, the generator is meant to be of economic benefit and a blessing to inhabitants in rural and remote communities where poverty is rampant and largely felt. “This generator does not produce smoke or noise. Its main power source is a button and not a crank, because it does not use fuel. With an internal cooling system when powered on, it constantly and efficiently supplies Alternating Current (A/C) as can be desired for days, weeks or even months. The in-built generator is made up of a mixture of waste electrical components, including two rectified diodes, two transformers, two transmitters, two circuit boards, two earths and two switches. It has a life span of six years if the precaution is adhered to by the user,” he asserted, confirmation that indeed he is a renewable energy expert. At the moment, he is in the process of upgrading it. Solar Tricycle For Emmanuel, every problem has a solution, a concept that he has taken to heart by offering one to each problem he comes across. If only political leaders would emulate him! “I quickly noticed the hustle that the disabled people were going through whenever I visited the town, being discriminated especially when it came to boarding the public vehicles. Some of these people come from really far and seeing the frustrations written all over their faces, I desired to help. This pushed me to research even further so as to come up with a solution,” he says. The result of his research was a single-seater solar tricycle. The solar tricycle covers about 50 kilometers per hour. This, he points out, can be of immense importance and benefit to persons with disabilities, considering their challenge of movement and the acute shortage of transportation in Sierra Leone. This solar tricycle does not require peddling, it moves just by the press of a button. He is however disappointed that some people spread negative information and make a mockery of his creativity instead of encouraging and empowering his dreams. Challenges Experienced All these series of inventions, including his latest, the solar power car, have not been a walk in the park. It took a lot of resilience and hard work since none was realized within a year. It would take two to three years of nothing but hard work and perseverance. There isn’t a single project that he started and abandoned midway, once he commences

he would struggle with it to the very end. “You may have talent and the ability to solve problems, but there is no support. There is an absence of raw materials needed to realize my dreams, no equipped facility for inventors like me and often, I have lacked moral and financial support,” he laments. He is in a tertiary institution now as a third year student though surprisingly, isn’t pursuing a course related to engineering where his passion lies. “I am currently studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology at the University of Sierra Leone. However, my wish is to get a scholarship and study a course that will enhance my talent in invention and innovation. I have received fake promises which often hurt and disappoint me because no tangible help has ever come my way since I began to hit the headlines. You will be shocked to learn that I have fee arrears of almost two years. It’s a really tough journey. I wish I could get international recognition or maybe donations to help me come up with a workshop and source for better materials,” he says. Indeed this is very disheartening. Emmanuel hails from a poor family background and is in dire need of financial support for his projects. He says his dream is to make his contribution in developing Sierra Leone, as well as achieve a successful career in his field of passion. His aim is to address the seventh goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which advocates for affordable and clean energy for all. His message to the youth of Africa is that they should know they are the future of today, and not tomorrow, and it is their mandate to contribute towards the development of the continent. In a world where climate change has become a global crisis, young people like Emmanuel are truly a blessing and one of a kind. Courtesy of Vice Versa Global which 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 blogs, columns, video, articles and discussions in order to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change around the world. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/viceversaglobal/ https://twitter.com/globalviceversa Story by Cynthia Omondi Pictures courtesy of Emmanuel Alie Mansaray

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The power of a positive story How you tell a story can build or destroy the world. Eunice Mwaura, coordinator of Vice Versa Global talks about the power of a positive narrative, three months after the establishment of this platform. Through it, great untold stories have been brought to the fore. Positive remarkable stories that have invoked social change.

month ago I visited Rusinga Island, one of the many fishermen islands that lie east of the largest fresh water lake, Lake Victoria. I can vividly recall the beauty over the horizon of the lake when the sun goes down. A deeply lighted expanse that would be easily mistaken for city lights. Yet, it’s just another fishing night for the fishermen who use lanterns to attract fish to their nets. The vast majority of the community here still prefers fishing as their main economic activity. However, with a growing population and overfishing, it is no longer as viable nor sustainable as before. From the bay, you would be forgiven for thinking that’s it’s just another fisherman island. Be that as it may, when you drive deeper into the island, what captures your eye is the green banana farms spread all over. This is in a community that has believed, for years, that agriculture cannot thrive there and fishing is the only economic activity they can engage in. Over the years over reliance on fishing has sparked a series of social upheavals. The one that most identify the island with is Jaboya (The term refers to a phenomenon where female fish traders have no choice but to extend sexual favours to fishermen so that they can secure their supply of fish). Women have borne the brunt of this practice for they lack the resources. None of them is a boat owner, nor has the expertise to venture into the lake from dusk to dawn for fish. Therefore, they have to rely on the fishermen. This narrative is what has been prominently and sensationally published in the mainstream media about the island. Such negative spotlight has deprived the power of a positive narrative by a society striving to diversify their economy against perceived odds. With women being the greatest beneficiaries, such diversification would consequently scale down, if not completely eradicated, the vice that is Jaboya. Suchlike negatively angled narratives only give us one story. A Journalistic Platform by the Youth 34

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It has been three months since the inception of Vice Versa Global, a journalistic platform spearheaded by young African journalists so as to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change. We hope we shall play an instrumental role in influencing behaviour, changing mind-sets and spurring action. Our mantra, journalism for social change, has been at the core in our endeavour to bring you the best stories as well as invoke social change. We believe in the power of a positive narrative, best told from a youthful lens. A story like that of the young innovator from Sierra Leone,

Emmanuel Alie Mansray by Cynthia Omondi. Emmanuel has immensely contributed to bridging gaps within his home country by coming up with inclusive and climate friendly inventions. His solar powered car and other ecofriendly inventions have garnered him admiration from scores of people around the globe. Unfortunately he couldn’t pursue a career of his passion, in engineering, due to a lack of school fees. Thanks to a feature on Vice Versa Global, a reader came forward and funded his education. Now he can better address the seventh SDG of the UN which advocates for affordable

and clean energy for all. We have more young local journalists working for Vice Versa Global, bringing you inspiring stories. To mention but a few; Our Ugandan correspondent, Eva Nakato. Aside from being a columnist, she also runs an inspirational blog called Up Close with Eva Nakato on Vice Versa Global. On this platform she provides an in-depth interaction with the leading game changers. They range from

business and community leaders, to peer influencers and all top shots around the globe. In one of the episodes she features a beauty queen, Miss World Africa Quinn Abenakyo. She sensitizes women and girls from less privileged areas on matters sexual and reproductive health. Be sure to check it out and to also subscribe and watch the other amazing stories she has done. Truly inspiring. Nicera Wanjiru is our informal communities’ correspondent. Currently, she resides and works in one of the largest informal settlements in the world. Hence, she not only understands, but also represents and vocalizes on scalable initiatives by people within her community committed to realize sustainable change. She strongly advocates and writes about a need for climate action in informal settlements, end to gender based violence, innovation and technology, to mention but a few. Apart from writing stories and coordinating Vice Versa Global, I have my own YouTube channel, Youth Canvas, an affiliate of Vice

Versa Global. Through video documentation on this channel, I feature scalable initiatives by the youth, to influence fellow youth to take on the wheel of leadership. Like Rahmina Paulette, the 15 year old environmentalist saving Lake Victoria from getting suffocated by recycling the hyacinth and making eco-friendly products. As always, don’t forget to subscribe to it and share as much as possible. A Fresh Perspective Our stories confirm that the youth are conscious about contemporary critical issues in the world. Time and again, they have been the lot in the frontline to challenge and offer solutions. The phrase “the youth are the leaders of tomorrow” no longer holds water. It’s a phrase that has further alienated them from making a contributory injection to some of the issues that plague our continent and the rest of the world. We seek to develop a deeper understanding for our audience and the rest of world on their insights and thoughts on critical topics, and offer a fresh way of looking at things. It is time for more young people to be invited to the table, for they are the resources that we have to invest in. We should also optimise on them, their diverse ideas and innovative minds and skills. Through this we can cohesively integrate their ideas and the older generations’ experiences to achieve the change we want to see.

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The nature of telling stories has greatly evolved over the years. A majority of those who hold the tool of telling stories have subscribed to a culture of playing judge and jury. This is what we seek to challenge and hopefully earn the positive story its right of place. We have enriched the negative with so much power it overshadows the positive. Aside from all the negative stories splattered on the cover pages of our newspapers every morning, there lies a collection of

untold stories of phenomenal people. Individuals within our society catalysing change and moulding a habitable and sustainable society for this generation and the next. As Vice Versa Global, we have chosen to take the standpoint of a positive narrative. This doesn’t mean that we are oblivious of the numerous issues still abound globally. Far from it. We are well aware that the monster that is FGM is yet to be slayed. GBV cases have shot up tremendously in the last year and human rights abuse cases are still on the rise. At Vice Versa Global, we are recognizant of the fact that there are people out there who are trying to bring about justice and social change. These are the individuals that we choose to shine the spotlight on by highlighting their achievements and telling their stories. A standpoint from which we hope to build and transform our society one story at a time. The past three months have allowed us to harness the power of telling a constructive 36

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narrative through support from our readers across the globe. It has created opportunities and amassed recognition for some who have been featured on our platform. Vice Versa Global is the beginning of the end of the culture of telling one sided negative narratives. Narratives that have uprooted and stifled the power that can be harnessed through a positive story. We have not been walking alone and we are calling out for more of you to join the bandwagon. Together let’s build our society, one kind act and one story at a time. You can empower us to tell it better through your support. Your readership and subscription to the links pinned below and sharing our work with your web of connection shall be our building block in our mission that is “Journalism for social change.” Story by Eunice Mwaura. She is co-founder and coordinator of Vice Versa Global. She works and resides in Nairobi. Courtesy of Vice Versa Global which 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 blogs, columns, video, articles and discussions in order to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change around the world. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/viceversaglobal/ https://twitter.com/globalviceversa

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Nigerian Christians under persecuation Help us please....... It is a well known fact that Nigerian Christians are under severe perecuation 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 receieved 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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Meet the Sisters Making Revolutionary Chocolate in Ghana

riscilla and Kimberly Addison are using beanto-bar chocolate to celebrate the heritage of their ancestral home and shift the conversation around a controversial crop. “African art and culture are at the forefront of what we do,” says Priscilla Addison. “We want Ghana to be known for its chocolate, not just its cocoa beans.” Along with her younger sister Kimberly, she founded ‘57 Chocolate in 2016, when they relocated to the capital city of Accra to be closer to their parents. “Craft chocolate like ours gives you an experience rather than just something sweet to munch on,” says Kimberly, who left her tempering room still wearing a hairnet to join our overseas video call. “And we’re trying to alter the narrative. There’s been lots of stigma against ‘Made in Africa’ products. We want to change people’s perceptions and prove that high quality can come out of the continent.” Starting a bean-to-bar chocolate business in Ghana wasn’t the sisters’ original career trajectory. Kimberly, 31, studied French and international relations with a concentration in social justice at Boston College; Priscilla, 33, majored in French and international development, with a focus on food security, at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Both were interested in non-profit sectors addressing women’s education, human trafficking, value chains, and agriculture. But then a visit to one of Switzerland’s largest chocolate factories inspired their venture into confectionery. “Work brought me to Geneva, where our parents were living

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at the time,” says Kimberly. “And my dad talked to us about entrepreneurship, and the potentials of going back to our native country.” “I remember telling him, okay, when you officially retire, we’ll move back to Ghana with you. About two weeks before leaving, a group of friends from church invited me on a chocolate factory tour. Part of the exhibition was a display showing where beans were sourced— Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire—and that was the aha! moment.” Once they returned to their homeland, the sisters started small. Really small. Roasting raw cacao with a standard kitchen oven in their Accra home. (Craft chocolatiers use the term “cacao” for the unfermented pod and beans, and “cocoa” after the fruit has been processed.) “At the time, we were using a hairdryer for winnowing,” says Kimberly, referring to the process of removing the outer chaff from the cacao. “Rolling pins for crushing beans. We had our tabletop grinder, and needed a bowl and a spatula for tempering. When it comes to chocolate making it’s kind of like an orchestra: Not one piece of equipment is the most important, because they all do their part.” Priscilla chimes in. “And electricity! We were getting up at three in the morning to use the machines because, initially, when we moved to Ghana, the lights would go off quite frequently.” Early in the 19th century, Portuguese colonists introduced cacao, a tropical fruit from the Americas, as a cash crop on the island of São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea, a transit point for ships engaged in the Atlantic slave trade. But it was a Ghanaian agriculturalist named Tetteh Quarshie who is credited with bringing the pods to mainland West Africa around 1876. The export of cacao from the Gold Coast began by 1893; today, Ghana and neighboring Côte d’Ivoire produce nearly two-thirds of the global cocoa bean supply, in an industry worth more than $100 billion in annual sales. Most of this crop is dedicated to commodity chocolate:

candy bars produced by multinational corporations like Hershey and Mars. While the cacao being raised on small-plot farms in equatorial Ghana usually winds up on supermarket shelves in Europe and North America, many of these growers had never tasted a chocolate bar themselves. That is, until Kimberly and Priscilla Addison came back. “Straight from the bat, we went to farmers,” says Kimberly. “Obviously, we hadn’t lived in Ghana for some time, so we explored in the field, and that’s how we started sourcing.” Priscilla adds, “When Kim and I visit the farms now, we always bring bars of chocolate so that our business partners know what their cocoa is being used for.” The cacao grown for ’57 Chocolate is interplant with plantain and coconut trees on two small family farms, each less than three acres, in the Eastern and Western regions. (Hints of coconut are decidedly present when a chunk of the sisters’ dark chocolate melts on your tongue.) The beans are sun-dried and fermented before arriving in Accra. Additional drying takes place at the ’57 Chocolate facility, which now employs 10 people in a larger production space, where the Addisons currently produce about 1,000 bars per week. Kimberly’s favorite is the dark

chocolate bar with sea salt; Priscilla’s go-to is milk chocolate with almonds and sea salt, or sometimes the moringa-flavored white chocolate with toasted coconut. They also make bite-size pieces stamped with Adinkra symbols, visual representations of philosophical ideas at the core of life in Ghana. Duafe, a wooden comb, stands for femininity and beauty. Denkyem, the crocodile, represents cleverness. Aya, a fern, means independence; the ’57 in the company’s name refers to the year Ghana became a republic, breaking away from British colonial rule. The Addisons are also in the process of developing their own farm to build a stronger supply chain for

Pan-African chocolate. Knowing where your food comes from is a vital part of educated consumption, especially when it comes to chocolate. A forcedlabor suit currently awaiting an opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court alleges two major American food conglomerates— Nestlé USA and Cargill—knowingly aided and abetted human rights violations for profit in the West African cocoa supply chain. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs estimates that up to 1.56 million children may be engaged in hazardous work on cacao farms in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire alone. Some experts believe helping farmers out of poverty is a key part of the solution, and last year the two West African governments established a benchmark premium for cacao futures, intended to increase prices to enable growers to send their children to school rather than work in the fields. Big Chocolate doesn’t like the price hike, but which mass market or artisan candy bar makers want to be accused of child

enslavement or other exploitative practices? Accountability is a core value for the Addisons, along with other bean-to-bar makers practicing sustainable farming and direct trade ethics in Africa. Some include Beyond Good in Uganda and Madagascar, and MonChoco Artisan Chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire. Kokoa Kamili collaborates with 2,000 smallhold farmers in the Kilombero Valley of Tanzania’s Morogoro Region to supply raw organic cacao to international bar makers like Original Beans. “When we first arrived, there were a lot of European chocolates in stores here,” says Priscilla. “A lot of people thought those were superior. We want to revive our country’s consciousness of taking natural resources and transforming them into finished products. So that’s exactly what we’re doing with the cacao bean, and we wanted to inspire the youth to continue to do the same.” One of their most compelling Adinkra chocolates is stamped with the Sankofa bird, its beak arched towards its tail feathers. This imagery is closely associated with the proverb: “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi.” (It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.) Or, for the Addison sisters, returning home to grow the future they envision. By Shane Mitchell

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Tribute to Late Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda: the last giant of African nationalism Kenneth Kaunda, the former president of Zambia, who has died in hospital in the capital, Lusaka, at the age of 97, was the last of the giants of 20th century African nationalism. He was also one of the few to depart with his reputation still intact. But perhaps more than any of his contemporaries, the standing of the man who ruled over Zambia for 27 years is clouded with ambiguity.

he charismatic president who won accolades for bowing out peacefully after losing an election was also the authoritarian who introduced a one-party state. The pioneer of “African socialism” was the man who cut a supply-side deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The nationalist leader known for personal probity planned to give huge tracts of farmland to an Indian guru. The revolutionary who gave sanctuary to liberation movements was also a friend of US presidents. He exuded an image of the benign monarch, a much-loved father to his people, known for his endearing quirks – safari suits, waving white handkerchiefs, ballroom dancing, singing his own songs while cycling, and crying in public. And yet there was also a hard edge to the politics and persona of the man, whose powerful personality helped make Zambia a major player in Africa and the world for three decades. The early years Kenneth David Kaunda was born in Chinsali, Northern Zambia, on October 24 1924. Like so many of his generation of African liberation leaders, he came from a family of the mission-educated middle class. He was the baby among eight children. His father was a Presbyterian missionary-teacher and his mother was the first qualified African woman teacher in the country. He followed his parents’ profession, first in Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia), where he became a head teacher before his 21st birthday. He also taught in then Tanganyika (Tanzania), where he became a lifelong admirer of future president Julius Nyerere, whose “Ujamaa” brand of African socialism he tried to follow. Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda Former President of Zambia passing on at 97 years of age. May His Soul rest in Peace. 42

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After returning home, Kaunda campaigned against the British plan for a federation of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which would increase the powers of white settlers. He took up politics full-time, learning the ropes through working for the liberal Legislative Council member Sir Stewart Gore-Browne. Soon after, as secretary general of the Northern Rhodesian African National Con-

gress, he was jailed for two months with hard labour for distributing “subversive literature”. After his release, he clashed with his organisation’s president, Harry Nkumbula, who took a more conciliatory approach to colonial rule. Kaunda led the breakaway Zambian African National Congress, which was promptly banned. He was jailed for nine months, further boosting his status. A new movement, the United National Independence Party (UNIP)), chose Kaunda as its leader after his release. He travelled to America and met Martin Luther King. Inspired by King and Mahatma Gandhi, he launched the “Cha-chacha” civil disobedience campaign.

ca’s hard-line prime minister BJ Vorster in mediating a failed bid for an internal settlement in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1975. He attempted the same in South West Africa (Namibia), which was then administered by South Africa. But President PW Botha, who succeeded Vorster after his death, showed no interest. Kaunda helped lead the Non-Aligned Movement, which brought together states that did not align with either the Soviets or the Americans during the Cold War. He broke bread with anyone who showed an interest in Zambia, including Romania’s Nicolai Ceausescu and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, while also cultivating successive American presidents (having more success with Jimmy Carter than Ronald Reagan). He invited China to help build the Tazara Railway and bought Continued on Page 48

In 1962, encouraged by Kaunda’s moves to pacify the white settlers, the British acceded to selfrule, followed by full independence two years later. He emerged as the first Zambian president after UNIP won the election. The challenges of independence One challenge for the newly independent Zambia related to the colonial education system. There were no universities and fewer than half a percent of pupils had completed primary school. Kaunda introduced a policy of free books and low fees. In 1966 he became the first chancellor of the new University of Zambia. Several other universities and tertiary education facilities followed. Long after he was ousted as president, Kaunda continued to be warmly received in African capitals because of his role in allowing liberation movements to have bases in Lusaka. This came at considerable economic cost to his country, which also endured military raids from the South Africans and Rhodesians. At the same time, he joined apartheid South Afriwww.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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16 MIG-21 fighter jets from the Soviet Union in 1980. African humanism Kaunda’s economic policy was framed by his belief in what he called “African humanism” but also by necessity. He inherited an economy under foreign control and moved to remedy this. For example, the mines owned by the British South African Company (founded by Cecil John Rhodes) were acquired as a result of colonial conquest in 1890. Kaunda’s threats to nationalise without compensation prompted major concessions from BSAC.

house arrest after alleging a coup attempt; then declared him stateless when he planned to run in the 1996 election (on the grounds that his father was born in Malawi), which he successfully challenged in court. He survived an assassination attempt in 1997, getting grazed by a bullet. One of his sons, Wezi, was shot dead outside their home in 1999. The 1986 AIDS death of another son, Masuzgo, inspired him to campaign around HIV issues far earlier than most,

He promoted a planned economy, leading to “development plans” that involved the state’s Industrial Development Corporation acquiring 51% equity in major foreign-owned companies. The policy was undermined by the 1973 spike in the oil price and fall in the price of copper, which made up 95% of Zambia’s exports. The consequent balance of payments crisis led to Zambia having the world’s second highest debt relative to GDP, prompting IMF intervention. Kaunda at first resisted but by 1989 was forced to bow to its demands. Parastatals were partially privatised, spending was slashed, food subsidies ended, prices rocketed and Kaunda’s support plummeted. Like many anti-colonial leaders, he’d come to view multi-party democracy as a western concept that fomented conflict and tribalism. This view was encouraged by the 1964 uprising of the Lumpa religious sect. He banned all parties other than UNIP in 1968 and Zambia officially became a one-party state four years later. His government became increasingly autocratic and intolerant of dissent, centred on his personality cult. But Kaunda will go down in history as a relatively benign autocrat who avoided the levels of repression and corruption of so many other one-party rulers. Julius Nyerere, who retired in 1985, tried to persuade his friend to follow suit, but Kaunda pressed on. After surviving a coup attempt in 1990 and following food riots, he reluctantly acceded to the demand for a multi-party election in 1991. His popularity could not survive the chaos prompted by price rises and was not helped by the revelation that he’d planned to grant more than a quarter of Zambia’s land to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (who promised to create a “heaven on earth”). The trade union leader Frederick Chiluba won in a landslide victory in 1991. The last years Kaunda won kudos abroad for what was considered to be his gracious response to electoral defeat, but the new government was less magnanimous. It placed him under 44

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and he stepped this up over the next two decades. After Chiluba’s departure, he returned to favour and became a roving ambassador for Zambia. He reduced his public role following the 2012 death of his wife of 66 years, Betty. Kaunda was always closely supported by his wife, Betty (nee Banda), whom he married in 1946. She died in 2012. They had nine children, one of whom, a son, Wezi, was shot dead in 1999 in what appeared to be a random carjacking, but the Kaunda family believed to be a political assassination. Another died of HIV/Aids in 1987; in retirement, Kaunda worked for organisations combating the spread of the illness. Kaunda will be remembered as a giant of 20th century African nationalism – a leader who, at great cost, gave refuge to revolutionary movements, a relatively benign autocrat who reluctantly introduced democracy to his country and an international diplomat who punched well above his weight in world affairs. Kenneth David Kaunda, politician, born 28 April 1924; died 17 June 2021

Don’t come to Amsterdam: Nuisance visitors told to go elsewhere

olidaymakers who want to get drunk and high and sleep in their cars are not welcome in Amsterdam, according to a stiff warning from the city council. The Netherlands, which is currently reporting around 1,800 new coronavirus infections a day, is expected to go ‘green’ for international travel during the summer. But, unlike Venice, it is sending out a strong message that it no longer wants to return to the nuisance levels of nine million overnight tourists in 2019. Amsterdam city council last month issued a news release saying it welcomes the recent relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, but does not want a return to the troublesome, low-rent tourism which residents complained of last summer. ‘We do not want to go back to what we saw before the pandemic, where massive crowds in the Red Light District and the city’s entertainment areas caused a nuisance to residents,’ the city announced. ‘Visitors who respect Amsterdam and the people of Amsterdam have always been welcome and will, of course, remain so. Visitors who treat our residents and heritage with disrespect are not welcome. The message we have for them is: don’t come to Amsterdam.’ Fines in a release in both Dutch and English, the city warned that it will be putting together a ‘sleeper team’ of enforcement officers who will monitor cars for people illegally sleeping there and levy on-the-spot fines. If possible, these foreign cars may be clamped ‘earlier’ if they have not paid for parking. There will be more crowd patrols in busy areas, particularly on weekend evenings, streets may be closed to vehicles, and the waterways will be policed for ‘noise pollution and sailing speed’. Holiday rentals, which are already limited to 30 days per year, will be monitored more intensely and the city council is also investigating banning laughing gas in some parts of the Red Light District. Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema may, as last summer, restricted the sale of alcohol at weekends. Halsema told the press that she too noticed increasing numbers of cars with foreign license plates last summer, and said although the city cannot turn people away, it wants to encourage cultural rather than nuisance tourists. ‘We live in the centre and I see for

myself the huge increase in foreign number plates right now,’ she reportedly said. ‘The average Amsterdammer is ambivalent about crowds: it’s a nuisance if it’s really too busy but at the same time we enjoy what the city has to offer, which is why we live here. This summer, we will see both sides of this.’ Disrespect Longerterm, the city is also investigating limiting access to coffee shops to Dutch residents, something that the mayor supports, and moving the Red Light District to an erotic centre in another area – although concerns have been raised about whether there is enough policing to control street dealing. The new tourist approach will use a team of 78 enforcement officers plus another 24 at the weekends, but Halsema said that they will not divert district policing from other areas. ‘We will do what we can with the people we have,’ she told the press. Rob Hofland, a city councillor for D66, said that more tourists will be on the way this summer. ‘It’s only a matter of time before we turn green for travellers and people all over the world will find us again en masse,’ he said. ‘We have a great cultural offer and many places in the city that are worth visiting. ‘[But] the message to visitors who treat our residents and our heritage with disrespect is: don’t come. If it is your intention to see the most beautiful city in the world this summer, come to Amsterdam. If your intention is to booze and misbehave, dressed like a penis, look elsewhere!’ Manners Amsterdam & partners, the economic and visitor promotion agency, is starting a campaign to promote ‘desired behaviour’ in anticipation of the city centre reopening. ‘This means that businesses can finally welcome clients again and make money, cultural institutions can allow visitors to enjoy their offering and residents can meet each other in person again,’ according to a spokeswoman. ‘But we do not want nuisance from poor behaviour (like noise, peeing in public, street drunkenness) and so we are starting an activation campaign targeting the kind of behaviour we do want.’ The campaign, expected to kick off this month will include physical and online information, ‘nudges’ and increased policing to increase awareness and good manners.

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This is the type of politician

that Kenya needs

any people usually go into politics for the money and the power. Next year there will be elections in Kenya and our hope is that a new breed of politicians will emerge, those who will work for the benefit of the electorate. One of them might possibly be Saadia Rao. Thanks to her selfless acts, people have been encouraging her to stand for an elective seat. This is because they believe that she can make a positive difference. She talked to Vice Versa Global’s Cynthia Omondi. In Mtondia Kilifi County, I met up with Saadia Rao Ali, the forty five year old mother of four. She is

Somali but having been born and raised in Kilifi, she is more of a Mijikenda than a Somali. Her fluency in the Giriama language amazed me and the kind of love that people accord her in this area is out of this world. She is fondly referred to as ‘mathee’ (slang for mother), since she has become one to many of them. “She has helped so many people around here, and I don’t mean just the financial help. She gives us pieces of advice and guides us to take the right path of life especially as the youth,” Salim, one of the motorbike taxi drivers we met in Mtondia town center told me. So, how did she find herself in the political setting and what is the motivation behind her great value for humanity? Dropping Out of School Saadia was among the lucky few whose parents valued education. She was taken to school at a time when girls were being discriminated against and denied the right to education in this region. She successfully cleared 46

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her primary education and joined Kilifi Township for her secondary education. Sadly while in form two, at sixteen years by then, she became pregnant. This is where the rain started beating her. “I was lured so easily. Up to date, I still don’t believe that chips and body lotion cost me my dream of becoming a journalist. Life was tough back then and when this man offered me body lotion, I felt like I was on top of the world. He would buy me chips and within no time I was carrying his child. Can you imagine? Chips and body lotion!” She said as she burst into laughter. As funny as it sounds, this is how most girls get lured. She uses her personal experience to enlighten young girls not to fall prey to such traps. Teen pregnancy has become so rampant lately and as a victim, she understands the repercussions and believes that her experience will be a lesson to many. She witnessed the man responsible for her pregnancy walk down the aisle with another woman while she was expectant. “He openly disowned the pregnancy despite him being known by my parents and there was nothing I could do. I was very hurt and confused but I thank God I had a very supportive mother. I carried my pregnancy to term and gave birth to a baby boy. Two to three months later, we realized that my baby was both deaf and dumb. He was a special child due to this disability and to be honest, it left me distressed. All the same, I slowly embraced this fact and I developed a strong attachment to him that I refused to go back to school. I felt that he needed a special care that only I could offer. This brought conflict between my father and me. As a result, the worst happened. I was chased away from home!” She narrated sorrowfully. The Turbulent Times Luckily, she found refuge in a Good Samaritan’s home, the mother to a former schoolmate of hers. She was crushed by guilt and a feeling of overwhelming responsibility at a very tender age. “I did not believe the kindness of that woman. She accepted me with open arms and this act of kindness is still engraved in my heart to date,” she remarked. She points out how her life was rife with difficult moments as she struggled to make ends meet.

Not only did she suffer as a single mother, but also as a married woman. Marital conflicts became the order of the day from the very first man she met. Coming from a family of staunch Muslims, Saadia ‘committed the crime’ of falling in love with a non-Muslim. According to her religion this is taboo, and so it led to the rift between her and her father widening even more. “I tried making peace with my father. However, after he learnt about the man that I was seeing, he went as far as casting a spell on me. He swore to never give me his blessings until the time that I would get a married to a Muslim man,” she said.

I mingle with people of all kinds and I don’t know how to say no to a genuine request of need. My assistance has been extended even to the courts of law. Once in a while I would be called upon to interpret for some Somali convicts. They were often charged here at that time and my ‘expertise’ would be employed. I have also done the same for the Giriamas and that’s probably why they’ve taken me in as one of their own. It’s not that I have money, but the little I have I’ve always learnt to share,” she affirms.

Peace is the way out of inequity and violence. It is a golden ticket to enter a new, brighter future for humankind. Peace is what Saadia needed and as she tried to find it, especially with her father, she unknowingly jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. Out of desperation to get married to a Muslim, she ended up with a criminal for a husband. As a result, she had to persevere years of domestic violence. “I really suffered in silence since I am one person who does not like sharing my problems with others. This man was a real criminal yet I didn’t know. We were blessed with three children together. As the bread winner most of the time, this meant I had to struggle more since I now had more mouths to feed. When the suffering became unbearable I opted out and took all the children with me. I’m thankful that God sent me a white man who liked my firstborn son, in part due to his special nature, and offered to help me. I came to learn later on that the father of my three children had been convicted of murder. What if I was still married to him?” she asked rhetorically.

“I have helped countless number of people but the one that stands out for me was when I helped my house help to get treatment. She was suffering from fibroids and as a result, for years she had a swollen belly which people believed was as a result of being bewitched. She had suffered for close to thirteen years with no hope of getting cured. I took her to the hospital, catered for all the bills, and nursed her in my house for three months until she was able to stand on her own feet. It was viewed as an unbelievable act of generosity and it quickly became the talk of this community. My popularity soared from that simple act and that is how they began suggesting that I should consider vying for a political seat. According to the people around here, if I could do this from my own pocket then I could definitely do more if I had a government’s machinery behind me,” she explained excitedly.

Saadia managed to stabilize her affairs after the support she received from the white man who simply adored her firstborn son. Several years later and she has become so successful that she owns her own home. The chronology of the sufferings that she went through and how total strangers came to her rescue and changed the narrative of her life made her view life differently. She never wishes to see anyone suffer the way she suffered. “I have grown to accommodate anyone and everyone.

Political Pressure

At first, these were just empty talk but as time went by, Saadia felt the pressure mounting beyond her expectations. “I had never imagined myself as a political leader. Yet many people aired their views on how I could help transform lives. When asked about my thoughts I would go silent since I was embarrassed to admit that I was a school dropout and therefore I couldn’t run for any elective post,” she told me. Saadia resolved to seek guidance from a few of her friends after opening up to them. “Everyone around seemed to believe in me. They advised me to go back to school and clear my secondary education and get Continued on Page 48 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education after seeing the great potentials I had,” she said. In a year where we have witnessed many women rise to power, Saadia must have gotten enough motivation. She bowed to pressure and enrolled as an adult learner. She sat for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education this year and scored a D-. She is proud of this great achievement since it took sleepless nights for her to make the tough decision of going back to school. She is now looking forward to joining a computer college in order to gain computer skills. Political Aspiration It is now clear that Saadia is a political aspirant; however she does not have any coalition just yet. She decided to heed the call from her supporters who have given her so much confidence. But the question is, will they vote for her when the time comes? She doesn’t have the financial muscle to offer handouts or bribes; all she has is the trust from the people who have pushed her so much to venture into something she never imagined herself doing. As we keep wondering whether real leaders are born or made, Saadia was undoubtedly made. From bodaboda riders, to widows, shopkeepers and even local brew dens, ‘mathee’ is well known. We walked around Mtondia town Centre and it was so evident. “Saadia is God sent; she guided me

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to come up with a women group for the widows around this area. She has been supportive since the inception of the group and I’m proud to say that we are making progressive steps. We have started with small scale chicken farming and we hope to make it bigger someday as we strive to better our lives,” Umi, one of her advisory beneficiaries told me as she took us through their projects. A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. We hope that Saadia’s good deeds will remain significant even after politics; nonetheless, we wish her the best in her political journey. We also hope that someday, citizens will learn to elect leaders based on their characters and not handouts. Courtesy of Vice Versa Global which 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 blogs, columns, video, articles and discussions in order to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change around the world. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/viceversaglobal/ https://twitter.com/globalviceversa Story by Cynthia Omondi

Zozibini’s recaps her reign as Miss Universe

‘I’m

proud knowing that I did my best to make a difference, cementing for others to follow in the future,’ says Zozibini Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi looked back on her long reign as she took her final walk during the 69th Miss Universe pageant in Florida, USA last month (May 16th 2021 in the USA). “From the moment I won, I knew my reign would be different. But I never imagined it would be during a global pandemic,” Zozibini said in her final speech. Zozibini had the longest reign among all Miss Universe titleholders, having held the crown for 17 months. She was crowned by the Philippines’ Catriona Gray on December 8, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Even if most of her in-person activities were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic, Zozibini said she was still able to utilize her platform for her advocacies. “However, I had the opportunity to touch twice as many lives because the world went virtual. I lent my voice to combating race and gender inequality. It was important to amplify the ‘Black Lives Matter’ message and have conversations to help end systemic racism and support survivors of abuse,”

she said. The 27-year-old beauty queen also dedicated her win to her ancestors. “My Miss Universe win is my ancestors’ wildest dream. We are now in a world where a Black African girl from a country that is only 27 years into its democracy can represent them on the global stage,” Zozibini said. “I want to honor them for fighting for my freedom so that I could be where I am today. Thank you to my family and South Africa,” she continued. “I’m proud knowing that I did my best to make a difference, cementing for others to follow in the future,” Zozibini concluded in her final speech. Prior to her final walk, other Miss Universe titleholders left a message for Zozibini. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray said: “You created such a movement and allowed so many young girls to feel seen and represented.” “Although I may not know what the future holds for you, I know that it will always be wonderful and just know that I will be here cheering you on,” Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Tebow told Zozibini. Zozibini passed the Miss Universe crown on to Mexico’s Andrea Meza. ****_____________________________________ “I think you can tell from my face the overwhelming emotion that came over me as I walked on that stage a final time as a reigning Miss Universe. I am reminded everyday that my journey wasn’t just mine alone. With that said, I want to thank you all. Thank you for welcoming me into your hearts and walking side by side with me on this very important chapter of my life. Once again .May every child who witnessed this moment believe in the absolute power of their dreams”. Mandibambe Ngazo Zozibini

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Producing honey in Tanzania: CEO outlines the journey of Swahili Honey

hen Tanzanian businessman Joseph Kadendula, CEO and co-founder of Central Park Bees and its retail brand Swahili Honey, decided to set up an apiary, he had no knowledge of bees. What he did have was an innate passion for entrepreneurship and was fascinated with farming; for the rest, he trained himself using Google and YouTube. “I’ve been an entrepreneur since 2005. I originally sold mobile phones that I would purchase in bulk, adding a margin for resale. This helped me to gather some capital that I used for farming, which was always my main interest,” says Kadendula.

“The beehive supplier provided some training and that’s where I learnt the basics of beekeeping. I spent a lot of time doing research online and watching YouTube videos to see what others were doing.” In 2014, he started selling honey in the local market. It wasn’t long before Kadendula made better profits than he’d ever made with crop production. He approached his brother, Christopher Kadendula, and a friend, Charles Kazaula, and Central Park Bees was founded in 2015. Demand-driven expansion

After obtaining his Bachelor of Commerce Degree in International Business at the University of Dodoma, he began farming in earnest with onions, tomatoes, capsicum and cucumber in an area outside the capital Dodoma. It was the existence of too many middlemen that eventually led him to question the viability of this business venture.

Central Park Bees has been adding equipment gradually for the processing of honey, always being guided by market demand. “Honey processing equipment is incredibly expensive. We didn’t have the capital to buy all of them at once. We are still using that first machine I bought back in 2013,” notes Kadendula. “We let demand drive our expansion. We do not want to invest a lot in capacity, only to spend more on marketing to find the market for the product.”

“There were so many people between the production of the crops and the client. There was very little direct access for the farmer to the market and I felt like I had no control,” he remembers. While on a trip to China to procure farming equipment in 2013, Kadendula saw the prominence of honey in this market. Back home in Tanzania, most local honey was sold on the side of the road as a way to earn a little extra income.

From day one, however, they realized the company would not be able to meet the demand from its own apiary. The plan was to establish a network of farmers to form part of the supply chain. “We gave ourselves two years to get that network in place. At the same time, we focused on establishing the brand, designing the packaging, finding the clients and setting up our distribution model,” explains Kadendula.

Kadendula wondered if honey could be commercialized and, without any honey production in place, bought his first processing machine. Next came the search for commercial beehives. Having no luck in Tanzania, Kadendula imported his first hives from neighbouring Kenya.

The company imported beehives from Kenya only once. The second time around, Kadendula secured a supplier in China at a far better price. And within those first two years, Central Park Bees brought the hive production inhouse. The company would empower the smallholder farmers with training, granting them equipment loans

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and giving them access to quality hives. They followed up with these farmers on the management of the bees and proper harvesting techniques and is first in line as the buyer of the raw product. In Europe and the US, establishing a beehive has input costs such as procuring a queen or purchasing a swarm. Not so in Tanzania. “Generally, in most parts of Africa, you merely put the hive and beeswax in place and the bees will come,” says Kadendula. This makes beekeeping a viable option for smallholder farmers. Local and international customers By the end of 2016, Central Park Bees had a network of 200 farmers producing honey. Its certifications and registration for local sales were in place. By the following July, it entered the market officially

from the increasing importance placed by consumers on the traceability of a product. We love to tell the story of where our honey comes from and of our farmers. We share the full experience from hive to table.” Maintaining consistent quality is at the top of Central Park Bees’ priority list. Working with so many smallholder farmers can be a challenge but Kadendula believes they have the correct processes in place. The support it provides to the farmers also assists in addressing another challenge: maintaining the loyalty of the supplier farmers. “Of course, we have competitors that try and poach our farmers. We need to remain ahead of them; build those trusting relationships so they are not tempted to trade with other companies.” Diversification for growth

with Swahili Honey and today works with around 1,300 farmers. It has been able to focus on its core business of honey processing and sold the hive production workshop to another entrepreneur who runs it independently. Last year, it shifted 270 tonnes of Swahili Honey, largely exports to other African countries and the Middle East but also to the local market. The product can be found throughout Tanzania and Central Park Bees uses third-party logistics companies and five main distributors to ensure its products reach the shelves of not only supermarkets but also smaller independent shops. “It was just too expensive to cover the distribution as well as the collection of payments ourselves. It was just not feasible.” The company hopes to expand its export reach but is waiting to finalise its Fairtrade and organic certifications. These credentials are becoming increasingly important to the consumer. Kadendula adds, “We are already benefiting

Initially, the founders used their own capital to bootstrap the business. Over time, it has looked towards international investors, competing in start-up pitch competitions instead of local funding options such as bank loans. “Still today, it is difficult to get a loan from the banks. We had to rely on external investors; one from the US and one from Italy. They have also provided us with some subsequent soft loans when we require it for working capital,” he reveals. This year, the company is launching its first additional product: a peanut butter and honey mix. Next will be energy bars that combine Swahili Honey with peanuts, cashews and sesame seeds. “Honey is just one part of it. We are now looking at the bigger picture. The machines are in place to start production,” says Kadendula. “We are working hard to improve sales to attract more investors so that we can expand even further.”

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Isaac Izoya: Cultural ambassador recieves Safety Ambassador Award

erman based Actor/Producer and showbiz guru, Isaac Izoya – Cultural Ambassador, the founder of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V and the curator of Nollywood Film Festival Germany NFFG - a viable platform designed for Nollywood (Nigerian/African) film makers to showcase their movies to Europeans and Nollywood fans in the Diaspora and Nollywood Europe Golden Awards NEGA, designed to honour Nollywood stakeholders, stars, comedians, musicians (both in Africa and in the Diaspora) which has also been expanded to recognize the artistic bias of outstanding politicians, philanthropists and business men and women both in Africa and beyond but whose actions in the area of culture and tourism sector, have directly or indirectly impacted upon Africans and other continent outside the scope of Africa countries and the Nigeria film industry in particular, thereby shaping what it has grown to become today was honoured in Lagos, Nigeria with a prestigious - Safe At School Initiative Safety Ambassador Award on Sunday, 13th June, 2021. Emphasizing the reasons behind the event, the organizers (SAFE AT SCHOOL INITIATIVE AWARDS that was held at Presken Hotel & Events Center Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria) said, in a society where people mostly think about receiving, ours is to change the narrative. ‘Safe at School’ is about giving back to the Society- Engr. Emmanuel Chimuanya Amah & Engr. (Mrs) Mimi N. Benjamin In a bid to ensure safety in the society and correct the errors that have been there by default, the idea of Safe at School Initiative was born. This was the words of the leader/founder and a director ‘Safe at Schools Initiative’, a non-governmental Organization whose aim was to ‘catch them young’ before it’s too late as far as safety measures is concerned. The event which saw the creme’ de la creme’ in both the society at large and entertainment industry with notable names like Emeka Rising Ibeh who is the Chairman Actors Guild of Nigeria Lagos chapter, his campaign DGN Mr. Paul Julius Obomokhai and his colleague and Treasurer of the Guild Mr. Julius Omijie receive awards, also have in attendance another colossus in Ambassador Cornell Udofia who is the convener CMC Africa Award of Excellence since 2015, one of the Nollywood veterans and an amiable personality beautiful Cynthia Agholor who happens to be one of the people that made sure the event was a success was of course handy and other AGN executive members including the Chief Whip all were present to grace the occasion. The Prestigious Award was anchored by Nollywood’s best and former chairman AGN, Sir Victor Osuagwu who is also known as ‘man na mumu’ while AGN’s chairman emeritus Don Pedro 54

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Agambi though arrived later due to other engagements was on hand to receive his award. Other giants that received the awards are Bishop Dr. Joseph Ighalo, Books publishing enigmas like Amb. Anyiam Chinonso Stanley and Edozie Angus Okafor, Chief Joseph Odobeatu OJEZ, Guinness award winning journalist Effiong Nyong, and Amb. Isaac Izoya, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany based and the quintessential Dr. Queen Blessing Itua,USA. A renowned philanthropist who has carved a niche for himself in all facets, the founder of Tony Onyeagwu foundation Engr. Tony Onyeagwu, was also present to grace the occasion and receive his award of which he in every inch deserved and of course the gentle giant RT. Hon. Yakubu O. Musa a benevolent and kindhearted personality. In a brief chat with Amb Isaac Izoya, who was conspicuously absent at the event but was represented by Nollywood Idol and former Miss Lagos, Cynthia Agholor to pick up the award, Engr. Mrs Mimi N. Benjamin, Director, TSA/GBV Safe At School Initiative wrote: “I trust you are Good and great. Yesterday 13th June, 2021 you were officially inducted into the league of Safety Ambassadors in Nigeria. We appreciate your acceptance as regards to the Award and we will also like to collaborate with you in the area of Honouring some Nigerians in Diaspora that have done excellently well in making sure they contribute to the success of safety of lives and property of others, since that is what SAFE AT SCHOOL INITIATIVE Represent. As a Safety Ambassador “A call to support children safety initiative and youth empowerment should be your call Value, hence we urge you to continue with the very good works that have sky rocketed you to your present status. It on this Special note we Once again Congratulate you on this great feet. We Celebrate You our SAFETY HERO” In response, Amb Isaac Izoya wrote: “Words will not sufficiently express my sincere appreciation of being ushered into the platform of Heroes and Safety Ambassadors League. Thank you so much. I really appreciate the honour, knowing fully well that we have such honest organization in our beloved country that keep records of Nigerians in Diaspora that are doing everything humanly possible to put Nigeria in good shape. I promise to be your organization mouth piece in the Diaspora and a good Ambassador to be proud of”. The organization – has been using Nollywood in particular and entertainment in general as a medium to unearth the hidden artistic talents and promote Nigeria (African) cultural heritage on road shows across Europe before upgrading to NFFG and NEGA events in Frankfurt since 2014: We have taken over 70 top stars of both Ghana and Nigeria.

COLUMN

A-List of Nollywood, comedians and Hip Hop stars exposing them across Europe believing that the exposure of artistes is veritable vehicle for influencing humanity, culture and the people’s mentality. Some of the artistes who have benefited on such tours, NFFG and MEGA Awards include prominent Nollywood icons; Patience Ozokwor a.k.a Mama G, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Jackis Appiah, Mercy Johnson, Nadia Buari, Emeka Ike, Benedict Johnson, Charles Inojie,, Ngozi Ezeonu, Francis Duru, Empress Njamah, Nkeiruka Sylvanus, Jim Iyke, Desmond Elliot, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme a.k.a Aki and PawPaw, John Okafor (a.k.a. Mr Ibu), Victor Osuagwu (a.k.a. One Dollar), Francis Duru, Bishop Okon, Cynthia Agholor etc, etc. STAND-UP COMEDIANS; Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basket Mouth, Julius Agwu, Francis Agoda a.k.a I Go Dye, Ogbolosingha, Sheddi Baba, Maleke, Gordon, Gandoki, (Kenneth Oviahon R.I.P) etc, etc MUSICIANS; Timaya, Kiss Daniel, 2Face/2Baba, Don VS, Olu Maintain aka Yahoozee, NigaRaw, J. Martins, Kingsley Elikpo aka Zeez, Bernard Ohenhen, BigBen, Deacon/Mr/s Palmer Omoruyi, MacoRas and Maleke to mention only but a few. A record that remained unbroken by any African entertainer in EU Nations till date etc, etc. LIST OF (SOME) PAST RECIPIENTS OF NOLLYWOOD EUROPE GOLDEN AWARDS - NEGA; NOLLYWOOD STARS: (ACTOR/PRODUCERS/ DIRECTORS), PATIENCE OZOKWO (aka Mama G) RAMSEY NOUAH, EMEKA IKE, MONALISA CHINDA COSSY OJIAKO, BISHOP IMAN OKON, EBIGIESON QUEEN BLESSING, AGHOLOR CYNTHIA, JACKIE APPIAH (Ghana Actress), NADIA BUARI – Ghana Actress CHARLES INOJIE (Actor/Director), LANCELOT ODUWA (Producer/Director), OSUAGWU VICTOR IFEANYICHUKWU (aka One Dollar), OSITA IHEME (Pawpaw), OKAFOR ZIK ZULU (2012 Association of Movie Producers - President), EMELONYE OBI, (Producer/ Director; United Kingdom), OGUNJIOFOR OKECHUKWU POLYCARP (Produce of Nollywood 1st movie), DOUBLE A ENTERTAINMENT (HOLLAND), WERNER DOROTHEE Berlin, ADEDEJI OLAMIDE GBENGA Gandoki – Standup Comedian), TONY MOFE – (Gandoki – Standup Comedian) DOUBLE A ENTERTAINMENT (Holland), QUEEN BLESSING O. ITUA – (Hollywood Star, Author and Chief of Staff to Senator D. James, USA) POLITICAL & DIPLOMATIC FIGURES; HIS EXCELLENCY, AMBASSADOR ABDUL BIN RIMDAP retd London, UK, HIS EXCELLENCY, AMBASSADOR. JOHN CHIKA EJINAKA. Frankfurt, Germany & New York USA, HIS EXCELLENCY, AMB HABIB BABA HABU New York, HER EXCELLENCY, SENATOR DONZELLA JAMES, (Democratic senator representing Metropolitan Atlanta’s 35th District of Georgia), SIR MIKE MBAMA OKIRO IGP rtd, CFR, NPM, mni.Chairman, MRS CHARITY OBUAH – Humanitarian/ Orphanages Foundation MR .UMEJURU ISAAC – Peace Advocate, CHIEF ONYEMA

ANTONY AJIDUAH - London UK, CHIMEZIE EBI – Youth Empowerment BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR! DR. DONALD PETERSON “CEO Richfield Group - Abuja DR. PAULYN JANSEN (CEO AYF, Bonn, Germany), DR. VICTOR NJINMAH OTUNBA (Group Chairman at Njinmah Foundation, Germany), BENJAMIN JAMES (Hoffenheim Jr Team Bundesliga Football Coach - Germany), STEVE OLU (CEO - Vigiscope EK GmbH, Germany), ALHAJI MONSURU ADELEKAN – Excellence in Humanitarian Services, ROSALYN DRESSMAN (President African Union Tide, Dortmund, Germany) MUSICIANS: INNOCENT IDIBIA (aka 2Face/2Baba), KISS DANIEL – Musician, DON VS – Musician - Italy EHIMARE FESTUS EROMOSELE. G-Worldwide Label Dirtor, LOUIZA WILLIAMS – Kiss daniel manager, LOVE ITOYA – Musician, Greece, OMOROGBE EFE – 2Baba Manager JOURNALISTS; IWENJORA FREDRICK OBIORA: (Vanguard Newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria), SHIABU HUSSEINI: (Guardian Newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria), EMEDOLIBE NGOZI ERASMUS: - (Mirror Newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria), AKANDE OLUSEGUN VICTOR: (The Nation Newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria), NWAGBARA CHARLES NWAKERENDU: (High Society Magazine. Lagos, Nigeria), FEMI AWONIYI: The African Courier magazine, Germany, ELVIS IRUH (The Voice - TV Magazine Holland) , CYPRIAN JASSON: Nollywood Radio/TV France etc. DAIRO ABIDEMI EMMANUEL (Channels TV. Lagos, Nigeria) SOME NOTABLE BOOKS BY SCHOLARS ON ISAAC IZOYA CULTURAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS - COURTESY OF NOLLYWOOD Nollywood: The Creation of Nigerian Film Genres Author: Jonathan Haynes USA Behind The Scene - Inside European Production Culture (Exporting Nollywood - A. Jedlowski. Paris, France) Author. A. Jedlowski, Edited by Petr Szczepanik and Patrick Vonderau Nollywood in the Diaspora: An exploratory study on transnational aesthetics Author. Sophie Samyn Master Kunstwetenschappen, Universiteit Gent, Belgium Female Narratives in Nollywood Melodramas By Elizabeth Johnson, Donald Culverson Global Nollywood: The Transnational Dimensions of an African Video By Matthias Krings Nollywood; The Billion Dollars Money Zone By Cyprian Jasson Amb Mr. Izoya´s untiring contributions to Nollywood Film industry as well and the propagation of African cultural heritage via Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V he founded is well documented. His contribution has been acknowledged by a number of awards of excellence he has received since 2003. Congratulations to our new Safety Hero, Amb Isaac Izoya, for your well deserved - Safety Ambassador Award. “The Show Must Go On!”

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Meet East Africa’s Youth Parliament

ast Africa Youth are a young, energetic and curious group of people. If we as East Africa invested in harnessing their potential, then the region would attain most, if not all, of its development goals. However, they are faced with numerous challenges. Is the East Africa Youth Parliament the savior? Sitting with a President is not something that happens every so often, it’s a rare privilege. But, imagine that you are having a conversation with someone and at the end, they inform you that he is the President! In my quest to get to understand the East Africa Youth Parliament, I made several phone calls asking for references and luckily I got one. What followed was a phone call with the receiver reluctant to talk to me. Instead, he wanted to refer me to someone else. I stood my ground and insisted he was the right person and thankfully due to my persistence, he agreed. We love titles but for this man Kisangau, the President of East Africa Youth Parliament, he rarely mentions his title. “My name is Jeremiah Kisangau,” he starts off, without including his title. “I’m a Kenyan, born in 1981 and the current President of the East Africa Youth Parliament. Moreover, I’m a business man in the construction industry, a human resource consultant and a politician.” About The East Africa Youth Parliament “The East Africa Youth Parliament was founded in 2009 and comprises of six countries namely, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. South Sudan is the youngest having joined two years ago,” he said. “We also have D.R. Congo and Somali which are still under review. Our Parliament is rotational. For instance, at the moment, Kenya is the host country and this is for duration of 5 years.” “It has a leadership structure comprising of the president, secretary general, speaker, organizing secretary and treasurer. New officials are voted in during the general assembly that happens after every five years when vacancies are announced. When you are a member you can vie for any position. The positions must 56

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be distributed among all the countries with the host country having more elected officials. In one sitting we have 24 officials distributed among the member states with the host country having six seats. We normally have three sittings per year. During the general assembly we are usually over 2000 youths from across the member states.”

“Our operations are not different from the normal parliament. We have debates, we vote and come up with resolutions. Our main objective is to debate and advocate for East African youth related issues and to also groom young people into leadership. We have also been amplifying the voices of young people and promoting networking avenues. We are intergovernmental, in that it is not run fully by one government. Our funding is drawn from membership organization and governments through partnerships,” he remarked. Membership “The East Africa Youth Assembly is all inclusive and membership is solely dependent on the category you want to join. We have different requirements for the different categories. Case in point, when I joined I paid $20, which is for the ordinary members who are between the ages of 18-35 years. The associate membership for the ages of 18 to 40 pay $25. We have affiliate membership which is for organizations and they pay $50. We also have honorary members who pay $150. These are people who are passionate about young people and help to push their agenda and since they don’t follow under the ordinary or associate member category, we admit them as such. Lastly, we have the corporate members

who are partners and supporters of East Africa Youth Parliament and they pay $5000. All members remit the same amount annually and this is the money that enables us to run our affairs. By the way are you a member of the East Africa Assembly? If not you must apply after this interview,” he asked me in a sober tone. Motivation to Join the East Africa Parliament “I thought I could lead and I also saw the challenge of young people in East Africa. I believed that if I became a leader

and joined efforts with other East African Youth Leaders, then we would be able to solve a lot of problems,” he told me. “My dear sister, this was the only platform to unite the youth of East Africa and it is something I was longing for.” “As a leader, I couldn’t voice my opinion from outside. 75% of the population of all member states comprises of young people. When the young people are not represented, our voice cannot be heard. The older generation cannot understand what we want. For instance, Rwanda and Burundi are French speaking countries and it was difficult for Kenyans to go and work there. But as of now they are teaching English in their schools and Kenyans are training them. Our neighbors Tanzania as well mostly speak Swahili and I saw the need to unite the curriculum. For instance, when you study law in Rwanda and Burundi you are able to practice it in Kenya. All these factors motivated me.” Lessons Learnt and Achievements “Learning the different cultures within East Africa, mentorship programs and exposure within the East Africa region, the East Africa Youth Assembly is admitted under the Inter Parliamentary Union, an association of all of the world’s parliaments with its headquarters in Geneva. Even Kenya is a member of that body and we have been attending their conferences since 2016. Being exposed to the world of leadership through sitting with people from different generations and tapping wisdom directly from them has been

my greatest achievement. I have learnt the need to increase more engagement of young people in our countries. We also need to reach out to our young people at the grass root level by helping and supporting them with the issues affecting them.” As he winds up, he reminds me that learning is a process. Issues Affecting Youth in East Africa “Language barrier. Like I mentioned earlier, Rwanda and Burundi are primarily French speaking countries. Therefore, when they come to Kenya or vice versa there is a communication barrier and this makes it difficult for them to work in other countries and us as well. For now, we have young people teaching English in Rwanda but they still have a long way to go.” “Unemployment is affecting a large number of youths in East Africa. Kenya is leading with around 80% of its youth with no jobs. Our innovation and industrialization field is very small. That’s why we have been engaging our governments and subsequently even parents to change their mind set. If their child is not admitted to the university, they shouldn’t regard them as failures. We have so many degree graduates in Kenya but no employment. The young also need to change their mind set. For instance getting a plumber here is difficult, even a welder. Another example I’ll give you is Nigeria. Lots of people there have degrees with nearly 50% of them having Masters, but the issue of unemployment is also a menace over there. That’s why you find them all over looking for jobs. We must think innovation, we can’t all go for degrees. Where I come from, we have huge tracts of land yet we all want to go to the cities for white collar jobs. Another issue is insecurity. There is a feeling that young people are not secured enough in East Africa. There are movement restrictions which also affect trade, an issue that was witnessed last year between Kenya and Tanzania.” The president finished by saying they are hopeful things will get better. Achievements at East Africa Youth Assembly “We have been able to push for harmonization of the curriculum though the Inter-University council since we want to harmonize the degrees within the East Africa Universities. On employment, the youth of member states are now able to work anywhere within East Africa. We advocate for the issues affecting the youths in East Africa but there are still challenges where you find young people being harassed. When you have the East Africa card you stand a bigger chance of being accepted. The East Africa Youth Assembly was started by three countries but has now grown to six. That is an achievement and it shows we are headed in the right direction.” The Role of the Elderly

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“Old is Gold, and that’s why in every system there must be an elderly person to pass wisdom to younger generation. Intergeneration empowerment is very prudent in East Africa. The need to pass the leadership baton to the young generation and of course with guidance from the old generation. They should also recognize and acknowledge that the are important stake holders in the East Africa Community.” “Young people need to understand that youthfulness is not permanent. They need to amplify their voices on issues related to them, on policy issues in the region and to be as one. They need to be innovative and to understand the job market. Instead of looking for jobs and knocking on office doors, they can start creating jobs. Parting Shot

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East African Governments should work to match the skills of the young people with the opportunities available within the region, which we have plenty. From raw minerals, to wildlife and even the huge youthful population. Courtesy of Vice Versa Global which 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 blogs, columns, video, articles and discussions in order to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change around the world. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/viceversaglobal/ https://twitter.com/globalviceversa By Nicera Wanjiru

TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND: A fallen Hero. Late Brigadier General Olatunji .L. OLAYNKA He was born on the 13th June, 1970; to the family of Late

work and introduced you to my publisher, Pastor Elvis Iruh and subsequently you became friends as well. I can’t share the exciting magazine with you any longer as you look forward to seeing a copy each month. You are being remembered for various reasons, your cheerfulness, hospitality, and you are always available to render succours to those in need. You were an epitome of love, a man despite your military calling showed compassion to everyone that comes across you. You will be missed for your readiness always to serve your fatherland and you displayed your high level security experiences to help our country. I want it on record that you are one of those instrumental into the developmental negotiations on the Security challenges of Nigeria and you continued until death. May God Allah grant your repose soul an Aljanah and give your wife, children and the rest of the families, friends and associates the everlasting fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

High Chief & Mrs Lateef Olayinka-Onikoro (the then Onikoro of Agboyi & Former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs & Boundary Matters in Lagos State, Nigeria. It was a rude shock when I received the phone call that you have passed away on Friday 21st May 2021. Of course, first reaction was unbelief. I was together with you in February to celebrate your mom’s 75th birthday. We looked forward to your next promotion due for December this year when you would have become a full Major General in Nigerian Army you have served so meritoriously. I have served the nation most of your life in the North and we were hoping that with your promotion, you may finally have the chance to serve in the South West as G.O.C. either in Lagos or Ibadan. Wishes and wishes but all came to nothing as I received the sad news that my amiable friend is gone to great beyond. A friendship of 21 years ended without a parting word, I am pained to my bones. Late Brigadier General Olatunji L. Olayinka, the then Acting Provost Marshall of Nigerian Army died in entourage with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in a plane crash in Kaduna on their way to Abuja for an official assignment, nine other officers perished in the crash. This is very personal to me; I have known him earlier before we met in The Netherlands during his Military Course in 2001 and our relationship got stronger and bigger afterwards. I am yet to fully understand your untimely death leaving behind a family and friends who loved you so much and appreciate your friendship. I remember how you look forward to receive your copy of The Voice magazine published in The Netherlands where I

Continue to rest in Perfect Peace till we meet to part no more. Adieu my friend!! Survived by Aged Mother, Wife and Children. Fondly remembered by: Olatunji Matthew ODAGI Lagos, Nigeria.

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Advertorial: August 2021 Trade Mission to Nigeria

wenty-six Nigerian states recorded zero foreign investment in the whole of 2020, figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics show. The total value of capital inflow for the year fell to $9.7 billion, from $24 billion in 2019, representing a decline of 59.7 per cent. It was the lowest in at least four years. This drastic decline in foreign capital inflows could be attributed to Nigeria’s poor economic performance accentuated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic within the period. Noteworthy is the fact that foreign loans hold the major source of foreign investment inflows and this traction is projected to increase as other forms of investments decrease. However, Brexit presents a unique opportunity to turn this gloomy picture around as both the European Union and the United Kingdom seek to strategically court Africa as investors of choice. With the pathway to dialogue and trade negotiations open, Nigerian businesses and the government can begin to utilize this opportunity with beneficial outcomes to the economy and average standard of living. Following these antecedents, Cater&Merger presents the FIRST POST-BREXIT TRADE MISSION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM in August 2021 to explore: • Collaboration for international venture partnerships between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. • Funding for emerging ventures in Agriculture, ICT, Education, Health, Environment and Renewable Energy for Nigerian businesses. • Partnerships across sectors after round table discussions with British Business Networks, including but not limited to, the British African Business Alliance, Opportunity Peterborough, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Management and Leadership UK and the Across Atlantic Development – accredited project partners with the European Union.

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• An opportunity for access to exclusive state and business resources of the cities of London, Manchester and Peterborough. • International intervention programs from the United Kingdom following meetings from the Mayor of Peterborough, the Member of Parliament representing Peterborough and the Worshipful Mayor of Brent. Hereby, presenting a unique pathway to ensuring continuous prosperity for all Nigerians and our communities. If you’re an interested party ▪ a private business seeking partnership or venture funding ▪ a public service seeking expert collaboration and assistance on community impact Kindly get in touch with us on our official email at info@ caterandmergerconsult.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Our appreciation to Fatou Bensouda Finally, Fatou Bensouda has ended her tenure as the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. She was host by several institutions to wish her farewell and good tending for the rest of her future endeavors. In this picture is Fatou Bensouda and Ambassador Mirjam Blaak Sow of Uganda at the farewell dinner at French Ambassador residence in The Hague. Also on behalf of The Voice magazine, we wish to thank you for your service to humanity. History would be fair on you. You did your best in the circumstances as the job demanded of you.

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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on schedule More information for you

he countdown to the Tokyo Olympics is on after officials confirmed the Games will “100%” be happening this summer from July 23rd through to August 2021. The news comes as a welcome boost to athletes and broadcasters after the Covid pandemic led to the initial postponement of Tokyo 2020 last year. Yet the majority of the Japanese public are not so keen for the country to be hosting the Olympic Games, according to a recent survey by newspaper Nikkei. The eagerly-anticipated Tokyo Olympics will officially run between July 24 and August 8 in 2021. All the dates has been carefully worked out, taking into account the popularity of different events, the rules and regulations of various International Federations, the global TV audience, and the well-being of the athletes. The Tokyo 2020 schedule will not kick off with the Opening Ceremony as usual. The first 2 days will include the preliminary matches of football as well as softball, one of the new sports to be introduced to the Olympics. The opening ceremony will take place on July 23. The closing ceremony will be on the final day of the Olympics (August 8). There is an incredible amount of sporting competitions to look forward to at various Olympic venues. The athletics events start on July 30 at the new Tokyo Stadium and every single session will feature finals and medal ceremonies. The Olympics typically draw together more than 11,000 athletes and 25,000 journalists from more than 200 countries, so plenty of protocols will need to be in place to ensure a healthy and safe Summer Games. The Games will be scaled back a bit, but they’ll still feature a full

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slate of sports, nations and athletes. There will be guidelines in place to encourage social distancing, restrict movement and limit face-to-face interaction, and some of the pageantry will be toned down. Athletes will be allowed to stay at the Olympic Village only for the duration of their competition, and they’ll be subject to regular coronavirus testing and temperature checks throughout their stay in Japan. They also will be barred from using public transportation or visiting any public places that aren’t approved by Olympic officials. What’s the schedule for the Olympics? The first medals will be handed out July 24, followed by more than two weeks of dizzying action. Swimming and gymnastics likely will take center stage in the opening week. Swimming competition runs July 24-Aug. 1, and gymnastics is July 25-Aug. 3. Track and field events begin July 30 and conclude with the men’s marathon Aug. 8, the final day of the Olympics. Many Olympic tournaments run nearly the duration of the Games, including basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, water polo, soccer and beach volleyball, and don’t award medals until the final days. What are the venues? More than half of the 43 Olympic venues predate Tokyo being awarded the Summer Games, which means organizers have been able to focus on renovations more than new construction. Tokyo’s National Stadium was the centerpiece of the 1964 Games and has undergone a complete overhaul for this summer. The 68,000seat stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as track and field and the women’s gold medal soccer game. Initial designs for the stadium were scrapped in 2015 when costs ballooned to $2 billion and organizers settled on a more modest

renovation. Tokyo’s Metropolitan Gymnasium is also a holdover from the 1964 Games, when it was used for gymnastics and water polo. This time around, the 7,000-seat arena will host table tennis. While the Tokyo Olympics don’t feature centrallylocated venues in “clusters,” like recent Summer Games, most are still consolidated in Tokyo. In all, 28 are located within five miles of the Olympic Village. Just 11 new venues were constructed for the Tokyo Games, including the 15,000-seat Tokyo Aquatics Center, home of the swimming events; the 12,000-seat Ariake Arena, which will host volleyball matches; and the 15,000-seat Oi Hockey Stadium, site of the field hockey tournament. Is Russia competing in Tokyo? Russia won’t formally be competing in Tokyo, but plenty of Russians will be. Still dogged by a lingering doping controversy, the country was issued a four-year ban from international sporting events in 2019, which was reduced last December to two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The punishment still means Russia will have no official presence — no flag, no anthem — at the Tokyo Games. What is the mascot? Miraitowa is a blue-checkered creation intended to represent both old traditions and celebrate new innovations. The cartoon character supposedly resides in the digital realm but has the ability to transport itself to the real world. Its name is a combination of two Japanese words: mirai, meaning “future,” and towa, which means “eternity.” Miraitowa was created by Japanese artist Ryo Taniguchi, emerging from a competition process that began with more than 2,000 mascot designs. What do the medals look like? Each athlete that reaches the podium will be awarded with a unique Olympic prize. The medals in Tokyo are made from recycled cellphones and other electronics. In February 2017, Tokyo 2020 organizers began soliciting donations from the public for their old electronics, and the gold, silver and bronze was extracted and utilized to forge the medals. The Vancouver Winter Games in 2010 similarly utilized recycled electronics in its Olympic medals. While the back of the medal features the Tokyo 2020 logo, in accordance with IOC regulations, the front depicts Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, in front of Panathinaikos Stadium. What are the other sports? In all, the Tokyo Games will feature 33 sports, 50 disciplines and 339 medal events, including (number of events in parenthesis): Artistic gymnastics (14), artistic swimming (2), archery (5), badminton (5), baseball and softball (2), basketball (2), 3-on-3 basketball (2), beach volleyball (2), BMX freestyle (2), BMX racing (2), boxing (13), canoeing (16), cycling (22), diving

(8), equestrian (6), fencing (12), field hockey (2), football (2), golf (2), gymnastics (18), handball (2), judo (15), karate (8), mountain biking (2), pentathlon (2), rhythmic gymnastics (2), road cycling (2) rowing (14), rugby (2), sailing (10), shooting (15), skateboarding (4), sport climbing (2), surfing (2), swimming (37), table tennis (5), taekwondo (8), tennis (5), track and field (48), track cycling (12), trampoline gymnastics (2), triathlon (3), volleyball (2), water polo (2), weightlifting (14) and wrestling (18). What do I need to know about attending the Games? It will be virtually impossible for any non-Japanese person who’s not accredited by Tokyo 2020 organizers to attend these Tokyo Games.They can’t enter with a ticket, and as of June, foreign visitors were still barred from entering the country. Organizers were initially expecting some 10 million visitors. As with most Olympics, attending the Tokyo Games would be a costly affair. Flights and hotels are never cheap to Japan. Some estimates last year suggested Tokyo would be facing a shortage of hotel rooms and tickets — if they exist — would be difficult to come by. Where is the next Olympics? The next four Olympic host sites have been named. Beijing, which staged the 2008 Summer Games, will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, which begin next Feb. 4. The 2024 Summer Games will take place in Paris, followed by the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The Summer Games will return to Los Angeles, home of the 1984 Olympics, in 2028. Olympic organizers have not chosen a host for the 2030 Winter Games, though bids could come from Spain (PyreneesBarcelona), Japan (Sapporo) and the United States (Salt Lake City). The 2030 site won’t be announced until 2023. Olympic officials, meanwhile, have targeted Australia as a preferred host for the 2032 Summer Games.

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Danielle Heavyweight champ? Afteron life-changing ThePerkins: Gunners are still keen the accident she is becoming Tyson Fury of women’s boxing

Cameroon international goalkeeper

he Gunners are keen on the Cameroon international but are yet to table an offer for the 25-year-old Arsenal face competition to sign Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana as rival interests have grown since the verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to reduce his doping ban. Onana had been serving a yearlong suspension following a positive out-of-competition test for Furosemide but after appealing UEFA’s original punishment, the Ajax goalkeeper had his ban reduced to nine months by CAS. That has led to increased interest in the 25-year-old, who will be allowed to leave Ajax this summer before his

contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 season. Arsenal have been monitoring Onana’s situation closely during the past few months having initially been interested in signing him last January. Technical director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta are big admirers of the Cameroon international, but the Gunners have yet to firm up their interest with an official offer. Arsenal have held discussions with Onana’s representatives, but are yet to decide whether they will step up their pursuit of the keeper. The situation is complicated by the uncertainty over Bernd Leno. Arsenal’s current No.1 is open to a move 64

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away but is in no rush to decide his future due to his involvement with Germany at Euro 2020. That could cause an issue because although Onana is keen on a move to Arsenal, he wants to join a club where he would be first choice and that would not be certain should Leno still be around. Rival interest intensifies Arsenal can’t afford to wait too long before deciding whether to push through with a move for Onana. The keeper is now attracting strong interest from around Europe, with Ajax keen on getting a deal done as quickly as possible for a player they would

lose for nothing in 2022. A club who finished in the top eight of the Premier League last season has now made contact Due to the terms of his suspension, Onana has been unable to even train with Ajax since February and has been working on his fitness with a personal trainer on local pitches in Amsterdam. He will be allowed to start competitive training again two months before the end of his ban. He will then be available for selection from November 3 onwards.

Court shortens Onana suspension

he international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has made a ruling appeal in the case of Andre Onana versus the UEFA. The goalkeeper was previously suspended for twelve months by the European football association because of a violation of the doping rules. The CAS has now determined in appeal that the suspension will be reduced to nine months. Socials The suspension shall now end 4 November 2021 and up to that time, it covers all football activities, both national as international. The goalkeeper is allowed to restart his training two months before the end of the suspension which will be on 4 September 2021. Onana has a contract with Ajax that runs until 30 June 2022. During a four-hour online session on 2 June 2021, Onana told his side of the story to three arbitrators of the CAS and was assisted by his lawyers and Ajax. In this session the CAS was asked not to impose a penalty or a considerably shorter penalty than the twelve months that was previously imposed by the UEFA. The position of the UEFA was unchanged. The European football association wanted the CAS to stick to the

twelve months suspension. During an out of competition check on 30 October 2020 the substance Furosemide was found in the urine of the goalkeeper. He was found positive after a doping test because he by accident had taken some pill belonging to his wife when looking for some aspirins. That pill contained the forbidden substance. Edwin van der Sar: “With this ruling of the CAS we have won three months in comparison to the initial suspension. So it was worth it taking this case to the CAS. We stand for a clean sport. By I will say again that we are convinced that Andre has taken this substance by accident and certainly not to perform better.” “This is endorsed by all parties, also by the UEFA as is to be concluded from the cases both by the UEFA and the CAS.” “When we told our story, together with Andre and the lawyers from the CAS, I drove off from The Ajax Academy with a good feeling. I have mixed feelings about today’s verdict because our aim was that he would be back playing games this summer.”

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Bournemouth star considering Nigeria switch from the Netherlands

anjuma: The 24-yearold has expressed his displeasure with the Dutch side failing to recall him to the national team and could renounce his allegiance Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma has revealed he would need to think about his international future with the Netherlands and possibly switch to Nigeria. The forward was born in Lagos to a Dutch father and Nigerian mother and has represented the Dutch U21 side and featured twice for the senior team. The 24-year-old is, however, still eligible to represent the West African giants, given the new FIFA rule that players can change nations if they have played no more than three competitive games before turning 21. Danjuma revealed he could consider the option if he is continued to be snubbed for a recall to the Dutch senior side. “I’ve heard some bits about Nigeria but I can’t say too much

about it though. My mum is Nigerian and my father lived 23 years in Nigeria as well,” Danjuma said, as per Bournemouth Echo. “The culture is still within the family, so it does not disregard the 66

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Nigerian side. It’s a choice I will think about but I need some time, obviously. “I think they are interested but obviously I play for the Dutch national team already, I scored for the national team already, so I’ve made that decision. “With the choice, I would like to represent Holland as well but then again I’m not being called up at the moment. So on the back of that, maybe I need to make some decisions. “I’ve played for Holland at senior level. One cap in the Nations League and one against Belgium but that wasn’t an official match. They have changed the rules so, if you have one cap, you can still change. “It isn’t a decision I can make just in a split second. I need to think about it.” Danjuma has been in fine form for Bournemouth this season, scoring 14

times in 32 games,

including his brace against Coventry City. The winger hopes to help the Cherries, who are fifth on the Championship table, return to the Premier League at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. “To be fair the club is the most important thing for me at the moment,” he continued. “I just want to make sure the club gets back into the Premier League and whatever happens with the national team that’s secondary to me, to be

honest.” Danjuma will hope to help Bournemouth extend their winning streak to six games when they take on Millwall in their next league game on April 21.

The Chess boy from the slum of Lagos, Nigeria

bout a month ago, we discovered a boy with Spastic cerebral palsy being mocked by his peers in the slums of Makoko where we had a chess training program for children without access to education, we brought him into our training center and introduced him to the gift if Chess. Few minutes into learning board arrangement and pawn movements, he outperformed everyone in his class. The Boy’s name is Ferdinard and he is a differently abled child. He didn’t speak any English word and had never been to school before, but he showed a rare understanding of Chess through Pattern recognition. After two intense weeks of chess lessons in the slums of Makoko, we held a tournament to test their understanding of the game and celebrate their excellence. The miracle child with Cerebral palsies Ferdinard Won with a phenomenal performance. A star is born. It didn’t take long to realize that Ferdinard was perhaps a savant when I gave him a complex Knight move geometry to solve few minutes after teaching him the basic movement of the Knight piece. This in itself is an extraordinary feat,even for a genius. He was born to play chess I visited his home and met his family to tell them what a wonder their son was. His father is a poor fisherman and his mother a petty trader. They barely make enough money to feed daily, hence the reason why Fredinard and his three siblings do not go to school. For a child with such incredible gift, it broke my heart to learn that he and his siblings have never had any form of formal education. Yesterday, he was invited to the Lagos state house for a chess match against Governor Sanwo Olu, the game was a deeply strategic one that lasted for more than 30 minutes and ended in a stalemate (Draw). It was a keenly contested duel and the

governor was no pushover. For a boy who only learnt chess in all its complexities for just two weeks, his genius did show through the entire game and the governor was very impressed by his performance. The governor gave him a million naira cash and has placed him and all his siblings on lifelong scholarship support up until their university education. The state government also promised to help relocate them from the slums of Makoko to a state owned apartment in the city to begin a new life. For the little boy with dreamy eyes, this is just the beginning of his journey, and I’m glad I got to be a part of his tale. His gift of chess has made way for him and he got to stand before kings. His life will no doubt never be the same again and I know that someday in the future, he’ll be in a position to pay it forward for other Children like him. With tremendous burdens often come enormous gifts. Ferdinand has found his own gift through chess and there’s no limit to what he can attain with this. The real superheroes live in the hearts of children like Ferdinand fighting big battles. His fight is different but won’t have to fight it alone anymore. Ferdinand’s story has sparked a lot of heartwarming reactions from around the world and it has inspired me to never let my limitations stop me from dreaming and aiming for the stars. He’s a special kid who has brought a lot of joy to our lives and I’ll keep his story somewhere in my heart to always remind myself of who I am and what I can become. It is possible to do great things from a small place. Tunde Onakoya- Convener Chess in slums Africa

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The answer was always the same: ‘NO’ N’golo Kante story......

ante on dealing with rejection as a youngster in the French lower leagues and training as an accountant N’Golo Kante’s path to the very top of the game was trickier than most know, but today he is being considered as the best midfield player in the world and rightfully so too as records would show his consistency. Here, in his own words, he tells his story as a young man in France working his way up, and pursuing other interests in case his football dream was not realised…

Kante: One of the best midfield player in world football today.

about this when I didn’t get in after the trials. I told myself to keep working because maybe next time it would be the right time for me. I felt maybe I just needed the experience and that if I had the opportunity to play at that level for even one year I would reach the same level, but one-day or oneweek trial was not enough for me to do that.

HE JOINED CAEN FROM BOULOGNE IN 2013 In the end, my chance came when I went to Boulogne at 19 and I had the opportunity to play in the second team, in the sixth division in France. My aim was to try and become one of the players who were chosen for the first team at the

“It took time for me to establish myself as a professional footballer. Even when I was 12, 14, 16, I was going to trials to try to get into the academies of professional teams but the answer was always the same. ‘We already have players in the academy like N’Golo, or better, so we don’t need to take him.’ “When I heard them say this, I always tried to be honest with myself. Between the ages of 10 and 19, I was playing district football in a suburb of Paris called Suresnes, and above that there was regional and national levels, so I was aware I was playing at a lower level than the other boys. I knew I was one of the best players at my local team because I was always playing with the older boys, but I thought maybe I wasn’t ready at that time, maybe I needed to improve more. When I went for trials, I was looking at the players around me and, technically, tactically, they were better than the level I was used to playing at. I always tried to think Kante has won all the trophies in world football 68

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end of the season, and to do whatever I could to have a career. At the same time, I had to study because, as we know, many players don’t become professionals. I was quite good at mathematics, so during the orientation for the last part of my schooling the advisor said that maybe it would be good for me to be an accountant. I thought it might be something good to do, so I decided to do an accountancy course after I got my baccalaureate [the French equivalent of an A-Level]. So when I left home to move to Boulogne, my project was to pass my exams and try my best to become a professional footballer. I was just taking it one step at a time, just focused on my football and studying. We were travelling a lot at the weekend and we had training after school, so sometimes it was difficult to find the time to study, to organise myself to do the homework and revise, but I pushed myself to keep up with everything. I wasn’t the best student, but I passed my exam, so I was happy. On the pitch, I had to adapt to the higher level. I was starting to play regularly in the sixth division, I was more confident, feeling good in the team and sometimes scoring goals. When I was 21, I started to hear from my manager and the club that they wanted me to train a bit more with the first team – once a week. Sometimes they asked me to miss school to train with the first team and that was the time when I started to think, ‘Maybe.’ It was a good step for me because I could see the

professionals in training, learn from them, see how they worked. I really thought that I could be one of them if I worked very hard. That was my way into football, not coming through the academy to become a professional at a young age. It was a different path for me, and I’m proud to be here today. YEARS AGO I was always looking at myself and my own path, even when I was seeing other players my age in academies and then becoming professionals. My generation of the national team won the European Under-19 Championship at the time when I was playing for Boulogne’s second team. I was not looking at them and thinking I was behind, I was just thinking I was six divisions from the elite in France, so I just needed to do my job. I left my home to try and make football my profession, to live by doing what I love. I was just looking to take things step by step, not to focus on others, just doing my thing the best way I could. Then, step-by-step, everything happened. I became a professional late and I’ve won many things that I couldn’t have expected, but behind my years as a professional there was a lot of work, a lot of successes and a lot of failures also. They helped me to grow as a player and a person. But I know I have many more years to play and I hope to keep being successful and to keep achieving beautiful things. My motivation is still the same as it was: to do the best I can for the team, always. It’s not my motivation to say I can be this or I can be that. Success in football is something collective and this is always the most important thing to remember. To do your best for your team and win titles with your team-mates is the best thing in football. In summary, N’golo Kante has won all the major medals world football has to offer except to be crowned the best footballer in the world and he is not far from reaching that dream if he continues to perform in this top level of football for club and nation. PRESS TIME New just reaching us is that Chelsea Football club is offering Kante another mouth watering contract despite he still have two years on his contract as there is a global interest for his services at all cost. Knowing Kante, he is a faithful and loyal footballer, he would stay the next few seasons with Chelsea. www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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The Voice magazine

Articles inside

Tribute to a friend: A fallen Hero -Late Brigadier General Olatunji .L. Olayinka

Advertorial: August 2021 Trade Mission Pages 64 & 65 - The Gunners are keen on the Cameroon

Zozibini’s recaps her reign as Miss Universe Pages 52 & 53 - Producing honey in Tanzania: CEO outlines

55 - Isaac Izoya: Cultural ambassador receives

Column: The journey so far Pages 30 & 31 - The self-taught inventor making waves in

Malawi abolishes death penalty: what it means for

Don’t come to Amsterdam: nuisance visitors told to