The Voice magazine by The Voice magazine

ISSN:2588-8807

ISSN:1571-3466

Motto: Actuated towards Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advancement

Volume 21. NO. 189. Nov./Dec. 2019

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First complete African magazine published in The Netherlands since August 1999

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Contents GET MORE ADVERTISING VALUE

FROM THE VOICE MAGAZINE Get fast results by advertising with us. Call us today on +31684999548 or +31648519292 E-mail: info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Pages 10 & 11- Editorial: Celebrating 20 years of The Voice magazine: Thank you all for making our dream a reality Pages 12 & 13 - Remarks by Profile of Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Mrs. Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay Pages 14 -& 17 - Panelists for The Voice magazine 20th anniversary discussion...... Page 18 - Besigye in Switzerland for wife Winnie start of work as UNAIDS Executive Director Page 19 - Purposed beyond my scars... INSPIRE THE YOUTH PROJECT Pages 20-22 - Ibe thuizorg: Nigerian woman inspiring story to give health care to the needy and aged. MEET MRS. TINA IBE Pages 24 – 30 - Feedback: Congratulatory messages to The Voice at 20 Pages 32 & 33 - Optiven group launch the inaugural Real Estate mobile app in Kenya Pages 36-39 - A new revolution to promote Nigeria Cultural heritage through Karfricodip Page 40 - Russia building new empire in Africa: ‘The United States should be hugely concerned’ Page 41- Besigye fired with water cannon, arrested day after return from Geneva - Nigeria’s Supreme Court upholds President Buhari’s election win Pages 42 & 43 - Meet Julliet Makhapila: Experienced Community Transformer Pages 44 & 45 - Zimbabwe is getting another ‘new’ currency Pages 46 & 47 - An Oscars ban for a Nigerian film shows the Academy still doesn’t get it on race.... Page 61 - Burkina issues warrant for ex-leader Compaore over Sankara murder Pages 64-65 - Eliud Kipchoge finished a marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds, first man to do so.... Pages 66 & 67- Sports stories: After making Olympic history, Nigeria seeks more bobsled talent Pages 68 & 69 - South Africa’s remarkable Rugby World Cup win over England

The Voice Magazine Volume 21. No 189 Nov./Dec. 2019 Edition

BGHS North America Chapter launched Baptist Girls High School. Agbor (BGHS) North America chapter recently held their reunion and inauguration from 15th to 17th November 2019. The event brought together great women who are all successful in their own endeavors. The reunion took place at Holiday Inn Houston, Westchase, Texas. The reunion is part of effort to continue to contribute to the advancement of their alma mater. These pictures were sent to us for publication by Mrs. Patience Onelife Onyemanke. More stories to follow in subsequent edition.

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The Voice magazine 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. On the Editorial board are Ambassador Elvis Iruh, Jonathan Mgbejume, Sandra Iruh-Monsels, and Henry Oduenyi READ THE VOICE ON LINE AT www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com Our Affiliate partner: www.thenigerianvoice.com 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 OR Stichting Paddi Europa Knab Bank Account No: NL77KNAB0725202238 Swift Code: KNABNL2H

THE VOICE MAGAZINE TEAM Publisher: Stichting Paddi Europa 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@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Project Coordinator Ifeyinwa Ezeagabu i.ezeagabu@thevoicenewsmagazine. com

Rev. Tammy Abusi (Port-Harcourt) t.abusi@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Eubaldus Enahoro enabadus2000@yahoo.com Principal Photo Editor: Handy Tims Azeez Badris fatim_26@hotmail.com PA to Publisher Lilian Akintokun (Mrs) raven_lilian@yahoo.com Graphic Designers David Banjoko Wil Gomersbach (Web Master)

Advert Executive Millicent Nancy Scheibner mnscheibner@outlook.com

Printer: Drukkerij Palteam www.palteam.nl

Project Editor (Nigeria) Pastor Chiedu Harris Ify harrisbok4real@gmail.com

MEDIA CONSULTANT Jonathan Mgbejume Abeka Salmin Abdallah Mildred Kleinbussink Pastor Duncan Spier Engr. Barry Igbeare You can as well contact our Office Address: Stichting Paddi Europa Inz The Voice Jeroen Boschplantsoen 82 1318 HH Almere, The Netherlands

BUREAU CHIEFS Gbenga T. Okunlola (London) teejayok@gmail.com Femi Ikutiyinu (London) afpaprint2000@yahoo.com Middle East Vice- President Amb. Laila EL Aftani Rahhall CORRESPONDENTS ABROAD Barrister Eze Eluchie (Nigeria) paddingr@yahoo.com Kehinde Aig-Imoru (Nigeria) aigimoru@yahoo.com

Land Line: +3136-8801341 Tel.: +31 (0)6-48519292 Mobile: +31 (0)6-84999548 E-mail: info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com www.thevoiceachieversaward.com

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Voice magazine is published in the Netherlands by Stichting Paddi Europa and it is p ublished online from 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. TV

Volume 21

NO 189

Nov./Dec. 2019 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

EDITORIAL

Celebrating 20 years of The Voice magazine: Thank you all for making our dream a reality

ood evening ladies and gentlemen, all protocols observed respectfully and welcome to the Voice magazine 20th anniversary celebration. First and foremost, I will thank the Almighty God who has sustained and kept us over the past 20 years and still keeping us going despite all the odds and challenges which has come our way. August 12th 2019 actually marks the 20th anniversary of the magazine so officially we are ALREADY 20 plus. As you are aware, we went to Kenya to celebrate the first edition of The Voice Achievers Award on an African soil. Kenya played a good host to the event. Today, we celebrate 20 years since the date of the first publication was released and so have we have had 189 editions of the magazine and few supplementary special editions of other subjects concerning human existence. I say happy anniversary to us! All of your present tonight or watching us via social media are part of this unending story and journey which began as a dream that I had when I quit my job as a Foreign correspondent to West Africa magazine in the UK. In 1999, over a year married, expecting our first child, I muted the idea of the magazine, my supportive wife gave a nod, never knew what she was getting herself into. Then came along my best friend and brother, Mr. Edward Ogbee, who has no media training as a pharmacist but threw his whole weight and support behind it. He gave me his computer and sitting room in Amsterdam to use as my office, I spent less nights at his desk with the support of his wife and two daughters. It was truly a great experience. As both of us set out on this journey, other partners and colleagues, many without media experience joined the journey and slowing and steadily we began to make headway within our community and the rest is history as we would say today. Twenty years on, we have moved from hard print copy to an age of digital publication and we are moving on to developing our own app application to cater for your media needs. Personally I had more of a belief than a plan of how this would work out and thank God, it is that belief that is still sustaining us today. Even if I didn’t figure Pastor Elvis Iruh Editor-in-Chief

out how to turn it into a business, make money out of it but I knew it would be beneficial because more people would know who we are and what we are doing. The Voice magazine has gone beyond a small community based magazine first published in Amsterdam. The hard copy edition spread a crossed 33 countries around the world. Through the Voice magazine I have traveled far beyond my imaginations and met who is who within the circle of human race around the world. Right from the start, we made the choice to take a position on the matters concerning Africa- we would be the voice of Africa and Africans. One of my supporters warned me that I will soon run of out of ideas if I do not embrace western style of publication but I stayed put with my African brand and it won gradually into the hearts of the people. Even a former Dutch Prime Minister, Late Wim Kok pleaded with me not to change my style when my money comes and turn it to a Western style magazine, he loved the African flavor with our colours and beautiful faces in the magazine, a mixture of news and pleasure with marriage photos. Then came the advent of advertisers, they became our business development tools – they patronized us and supported us to keep the publication at float, the subscribers, and even the free readers. This shaped our approach to business and gave us the confidence to take a stance. “I always tell my colleagues, don’t be afraid to be yourself. Our Clients wants to see a confident publication, we were not threatened by bigger media and more wellfunded; we were pacesetters even for others to join us in the publication industry as Africans. Twenty years later, that philosophy has consistently served us well. And once we teamed up, nothing was going to stop us. Twice we changed top managed position with my absence from 2005 to 2011, Mr Henry Oduenyi stepped in and he did a marvelous job sustaining the magazine until my second return as Editor-in-Chief. His vision became a full-fledged business that we have sustained and developed. Today we successful run the Nigerianvoice. com in Nigeria serving the global market. I have been privileged to work with brilliant team over the years and some have moved on to other things, but we stayed in contact and continue to share common values for our media outfit – The Voice magazine.

EDITORIAL CONTINUES

Celebrating 20 years of The Voice magazine: Thank you all for making our dream a reality Thanks to their teamwork, today The Voice magazine has an average monthly readership of about 20,000 unique users and is consistently ranked number one in Google Search results for IP news. In 2016, we started our digital edition which has been circulating for free so far but that would soon change with the introduction of our Voice app system. Our advisers are working on it and you will be hearing more about it soon. Tonight, The Voice magazine is celebrating its 20th anniversary in style with the many close friends, colleagues and readers. We are saying thank you to some certain individuals and organizations who has stood out in the past 20 years, some in the very early stay and some much later on. Without a start, there is no finishing therefore we have brought together all of these people tonight to applaud them and wishing them to continue to join us on the race as we begin a new countdown to another 20 years. Finally I would like to pay tribute to our falling colleagues who has went ahead of us, a few names come to mind, Jan Gramberg, Lucky Agho, Victor Ayere Asiboja and Lucky Osahon. These individuals meant much to me and this publication and we remember them in our thoughts and their families. May their souls rest in peace. Amen Let us have a great celebration tonight and let us keep supporting that which is ours- if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell our stories, who will tell it for us. God bless you and enjoy your evening. Pastor Elvis Iruh

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SPECIAL GUEST OF SPEAKER

On the occasion of The Voice magazine 20th ANNIVERSARY Hon. Dr. Mrs. Fatoumata Jahumpa -Ceesay Hon. Dr. Mrs. Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay

Parliamentarian Par Excellence on. Mrs Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay is a delight to behold. Everything around her radiates brilliance and love, understanding and peace. No wonder she has become one of few women in the continent whose contributions extend beyond her immediate environment. Hon. JahumpaCeesay who is popularly called FJC is a trained journalist whose commitment to social responsibility as bedrock of journalistic ethics has snowballed into active service to her fatherland and indeed Africa. Born on 25 October 1957, she attended Method Primary School and Crab Island Junior Secondary School before proceeding to Armitage High School and later Gambia High School where she completed her secondary education in 1977. She obtained a Higher Diploma Certificate in Print Journalism at the Centre for Foreign Journalists in Reaton Virginia, USA in 1996. In 2010 attended the Kofi Annan Institute in Ghana. Also attended local and international training and courses leading to Certificates in Journalism, Public Relations, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Election Observations and Diplomacy. Mrs Jahumpa Ceesayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career began with her employment as an Announcer at Radio Gambia. She later joined The Gambia Airways Limited where she rose to the position of Cargo Supervisor and Corporate Relations Manager. In April 1993, Mrs. Jahumpa Ceesay joined the Daily Observer and the Point newspapers as a freelance journalist. She was a columnist for the Family Focus, Women, Children and Political issues. She thereafter had a stint with Citizen FM radio as News Anchor/Producer, responsible for the presentation of Women programs in 1995. In recognition of her commitment to women and youth

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development, she was appointed by the former President of the republic of the Gambia Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara a Lady Councilor at the Banjul City Council in 1985 and became the first woman Deputy Mayor of the city, Banjul in 1989. In 1997, she was appointed Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the President of the Gambia. She held this post until H.E. President Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alhaji Yahya A J J Jammeh nominated her as a Member of the National Assembly in 2002. 2003-2005, she was elected to the West African Community Parliament ( E C O W A S Parliament) and became the first woman in West Africa to become a Deputy Speaker in the ECOWAS Parliament. Hon Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay was also founder member and Coordinator of the Economic Community of Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) . Was a member Women & Children Rights; Foreign, Defense & Peace committee and as Deputy Speaker headed several missions. Peace, Conflict, Reconciliation; Fact Finding: Elections Observation and Negotiations missions. Participated in various peace, fact finding, Elections Observation and re-conciliation missions in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Benin,Nigeria, Togo, Liberia and MANU River Women Peace Missions, Pakistan, Kenya, Botswana, Lesotho, Uganda, and for the Commonwealth, AU and ECOWAS. Also observer at international elections in Republic of China, Taiwan. From 1997 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2002, appointed by the President, Sheikh Prof. Alhaji Dr Yahya A J J Jammeh Babili Mansa as Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the President and Focal Person for the APRC party (ruling party in power then) on matters relating to the office of the First Lady. 2002 to date - Founder and Executive Chairperson Family Rights Advancement and Protection FRAP (Her NGO for Women & Child Rights).

2012 to date International Consultant on Gender, Governance, Electoral Reforms, Parliamentary, Peace/Conflict and Mediation and Children Affairs. Jan 2002 – Dec 2006 Nominated as a Member of the National Assembly by the then President of The Republic H.E. Sheikh Prof. Alh. Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh (was Chair Women and Children; Public Accounts; Peace Foreign and Defense Committees also member other high ranking committees. 2003 - Resource Person for ECOWAS Gender and Regional Stakeholders Consultative Forum. 2003 – 2015 Member Elections Observer for ECOWAS, AU, OIC and Commonwealth in Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Benin, Senegal, Liberia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, India, Botswana, Lesotho, Kuwait and Taiwan. 2007 – Again Nominated to the National Assembly by the President of the Republic and became SPEAKER from 2007 to 2009. 2006- Elected Executive Council of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (The largest-representing Group of the CPA). 2007-2010Elected Board of Directors Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. 2008 Elected President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa (CPA) thus becoming the first Woman to hold such a high Office in the CPA. She is a member of several national, and regional, Youth political and social Organizations too numerous to mention. However, a few are; Operations Save A Baby Initiative that was headed by the former First Lady of the Republic of the Gambia ,Her Excellency Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh; the African Parliamentary Union (APU), International Parliamentary Union (IPU), Coordinator, First Lady’s Operation Give Blood Save Life, Consultative Board Director, African Youth Development Fund (AYDF), Technical Committee Member, Better Life for the African Rural Woman. She is a member of Voice of Women in Africa, Chairperson Women-Children Commission of the NGO Coalition on NEPAD. She is the second Vice President Lion’s Premiere Club Banjul. She has both local and international awards. These include, the

Insignia of Medal of the National Order of The Republic of The Gambia, awarded to her by President Jammeh in 2000 for her impressive career path, Paul Harris Fellowship, Child Friendly Award by the Observer Youth Column. In 2005, Mrs. Jahumpa Ceesay was awarded the Better Life Programmed for African Rural Woman along with Ellen Sir-leaf Johnson (now President of Liberia) for contributing to development of humankind Again in 2005, she was awarded African Women Leaders Diamond (AWOLDA) (maiden Edition) for eminence contribution to the emancipation of her people from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and injustice for African Women by African Magazine. She received the WAWA/AFAO (maiden edition) by The ECOWAS West African Women Association for Distinguished Service on Women’s Rights and Governance award in 2007. In 2008, she was Awarded Special Honored Medal by the Gambia Armed Forces. Hon. Jahumpa Ceesay was Decorated Commander third Highest National Award (CRG) by H.E. Sheikh Prof Alh Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh in 2008. In 2009, she was awarded the African Women of Influence and Leadership Award – Abuja, Nigeria Distinguished Achievement in Governance by the African Leadership Magazine. Again in 2009, she was awarded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in recognition of Services rendered to The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association as a member of the Executive Committee. May 2012 – Receive The Outstanding Women Leadership by The Voice Magazine in The Netherlands Hon Jahumpa Ceesay is affiliated to and has been a founding member of many children, youth and women organizations both at home and abroad. Among her achievements HON DR. MRS FATOUMATA JAHUMPA CEESAY (FJC) can look back with satisfaction to the time she initiated the First Born Baby of the year scheme in 1990, children in the Media and the African Women Forum. Mrs. Jahumpa-Ceesay is married to Sulayman Masanneh Ceesay (blessed memory), a former Secretary of State for the Interior, the Gambia, with children and grandchildren.

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Panelists for The Voice Magazine 20th Anniversary Discussion Abeka Salmin Abdallah - Moderator Abeka is a video Journalist, who is passionate about documenting and telling the true story that lies behind the scenes. With over 10 years’ experience in Media coverage, Abeka has traveled in Africa and Europe as Video Journalist, Producer, and Editor. His previous work experience includes developing content, producing films and documentaries with different organizations, companies and international media houses, such as ICRC Kenya delegation, Human Right watch, FAO Africa Regional Office. ICIPE, World Vision Tanzania, Oracle Kenya, European Union, CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera, Associated Press and EBS. He is the founder of Moving Mind Europe Communication

Kennedy Eguakhide (a.k.a) King Ken Aide

Christened Kennedy Eguakhide at birth, King Ken Aide as he is also known, is a Nigerian born Irish citizen. Ken had his Primary/Secondary certificates in Nigeria. He also had the following degrees in Nigeria; Bachelor of Arts’, B. A Hons degree in English and Literature from the faculty of Arts, University of Benin and a Bachelor of Education’s degree B.Ed., Educational Administration and Foundation, also from the university of Benin, in 1994. As an undergraduate, Ken worked with Edo Broadcasting Service, EBS; there he served as a regular participant in the biweekly radio programme, ‘Just a Minute’, he quickly earned the nickname, Minute-mania because of his verse knowledge of current affairs and topical issues which qualified him to make his ‘minute’, almost on every given occasion. He would later serve a presenter of the same programme albeit, for only two seasons before proceeding to do his National Youth Service. He would carry out primary assignment as a secondary school teacher, at Baptist High School Obanikoro, where he taught English and Literature. He arrived in the Netherlands in March 1996 and in the summer of 1997, he co-founded Insight Magazine, the first lifestyle/ current affairs and entertainment magazine, published by Africans in the Netherlands. He served as the founding deputy Editor in Chief. When the Voice Magazine began publication, Ken would serve as a columnist and as Associate Editor before migrating to Ireland. In Ireland, he also served as a columnist with Xclusive 14

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Magazine, Dublin and was also a regular contributor and oped writer for local and international newspapers. He is a Screenwriter/Film Producer, a Teacher, Business and Political consultant. He has worked as a freelance journalist and a contributor/ investigative Journalist for multiple media outlets both in Africa and in Ireland. He has also written speeches for politicians and business owners both in Africa and the Rep of Ireland. He is the producer of ‘Echoes of War’ a feature length film produced in the United Kingdom. He is also the writer, producer and director of ‘Not a Freak’ an award-winning short film produced in Ireland. Ken has also written and published some other works - Purity of Friendship, a published novel on Amazon, Kindle edition: ASINB006X283CG … As a businessman, he is the founder of DesignerLane.ie an online fashion outlet for off season designer clothing. He is currently studying for his Master’s Degree in Political Marketing at Rome Business School, Rome, Italy.

Victoria Nkatha Victoria Nkatha is a Kenyan student of Economics and Business Administration at Denmark University. She is a focused and inspirational young lady who has devoted her life to helping other people. She decided to take matters of mental health in the African culture into perspective and help others understand the importance of having a positive mental health. Amongst other issues pertaining this generation and the latter. Influencing Africans starting from Europe and in the world at large. This has helped her gain recognition however the most beautiful thing is the zeal to help make other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives better. She has achieved a lot and many lives touched considering her young age. She is the Founder of Responding To Life and Editor since 2016. The winner of African women in Europe - Youth of the year 2017. The host of the African Women in Europe 10th year summit in 2018. She is also a Co-author of The AWE book volume 1 and among the top 100 most influential Kenyans in 2018/2019 (She was voted number 24)

Anthonia Smith Anthonia Smith is of Nigeria origin, she came to the Netherlands at a tender age, against all odds, she studied and master the Dutch language to properly integrate and gainfully employed in the country which also exposed her to international offers. She is fully settled properly by integrating into the Dutch system and she understands the struggle immigrant children undergo when they arrive in a country like Holland. Presently she is an Enterprise Account Executive based in London, United Kingdom. Anthonia is an international, multi-dimensional life enthusiast. Her experiences from a young age in many different industries ranging from International business to the Oil & Gas, Engineering and recently Events industry was no mean feat and has developed into a coach and advisor across various demographics. Anthonia is an empathy and highly passionate to use her platform to facilitate others in their individual journeys of selfdiscovery, honing in on individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uniqueness and essence. She is a motivational speaker and a star of the now and future to entrust your youths into her potential gifts of impacting others.

Dr. Angela Unufe-Kennedy Dr. Angela Unufe-Kennedy is a British born Nigerian anti-poverty and Antidiscrimination advocate. She is also a humanitarian and a rights campaigner and Nurse. She was born at Kings College hospital, London, the United Kingdom on the 24/08/1976. Raised briefly in Nigeria and subsequently in the South East of London, Angela first studied at the North London University now known as London Metropolitan University, where she graduated with joint honours in Business Operation and Marketing in 1999. She would later bag another degree, a BSc in Nursing Disability from Dublin City University (DCU). Upon her graduation from DCU, she initially founded an NGO called Migrant and Minority Disability Network Ireland (MMDNI) to help Migrants and Refugees in Ireland; but after visiting the European Parliament in Brussels a few times on the invitations of Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and EASPD, the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities, she saw the need to broaden the scope of her NGO, therefore, Migrant and Minority Disability Network Europe (MMDNE) was formed. Angela is natural at helping people and would stop at nothing to help anyone in need. Little wonder then, that she would opt out of a high paying IT job with Hewlett Packard for Bank of Ireland to go back to school, just so she can study Nursing and help people in need, especially those with Disabilities. Career and Charity works Upon graduation in 1999, Angela was faced with the choice of either pursuing a career in athletics or seeking a regular employment; she chose employment instead, and in 1999 she got a job at Dunnhumby, where she was analysing data for companies like Tesco, BMW and other leading companies in the UK. After a few years at Dunnhumby, she joined Telstra as a switch Engineer. Not finding the desired job satisfaction she thought she deserved, she sought a different route, contracting; she became an IT contractor with such firms as JP Morgan, Lloyds Bank, BAA Heathrow, France Telecoms and Warner Bros International Cinemas. In 2007, she migrated with her family to Dublin, Republic of Ireland. She was offered a role as a contractor with Hewlett Packard at their office in Dublin, Ireland. She refused to renew her contract with Hewlett Packard and opted to fill the void in her heart instead; the need to help the underprivileged. So, in 2009 she decided to train as a nurse, she gained

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admission into the Dublin City University where she studied BSC Nursing in Disability, and graduated with honours in 2013. On the strength of her selfless help to Migrants with disabilities in Ireland, DFI pleaded with her to accompany them to Brussels in May 2014 for a meeting of European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD). Angela in her characteristic nature didn’t just accompany DFI to the meeting, she came up with her own pet project known as ‘WeCAM’, We “Count” As Much. The aim of this project We “Count” as Much… was to provide recommendation and set out new changes for people with disability using their wheelchair to gain access to businesses, organisations and supermarkets, and consequently improving the quality of life for people with disability, especially amongst the migrant community living in Ireland and Europe. The project was very well received, and a communique was drawn up for a Europe wide implementation of WeCAM. Since that inaugural visit to Brussels, she has become key member of EASPD. She expanded her area of concentration and decided to rename her NGO, MMDNE (Migrant and Minority Disability Europe) so that it would have a more Europe-wide feel and reach to it. She has since worked in aid of people with disabilities in several countries in the European Union, such as Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Belgium and Malta. She is currently working with a team of Experts from EASPD on the following projects; • Supporting Employment First (APSE) • European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI). • Access to Services for Migrants with Disabilities (AMiD). Angela was one of the proponents of AMiD. The project aims to facilitate the easy assessment and processing of migrants and refugees with disabilities in Europe, mainly at points of entry so that the right kind of help or assistance can be sought and offered early. The project has received full European Parliament backing and in April 2018 with European Partnership from EASPD, CARDET, AER, SOLIDAR Chance B, EDF, ARCI, AEBR, PRAKSIS, DPI Italia, KVPS and NCDP On November 5th 2019 saw the successful launch of the AMiD project conference. It is the beginning of more collaboration with other Key Partners in Europe.

Panelists for The Voice Magazine 20th Anniversary Discussion Patience Nyange Patience Nyange is a communications and media engagement specialist with over 13 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working experience. Currently, she has served as an Assistant Director (Office of the Chairperson) at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights -a constitutionally mandated body keen on safeguarding and promoting human rights in Kenya. She supports the Chairperson in her role and also support the Communications department with a view of ensuring message consistency, impact and positive change within internal and external public. For the last four years, she also served as a Mentor and Board Member at Emerging Leaders Foundation (ELF- www. elfafrica.org ). ELF is an African non-profit organization that provides practical, values-based leadership development and mentorship to promising young Africans so that they can become positive agents of change in their society. Her role here has been critical in ensuring that the vision and mission through which this organisation was founded, remains intact.

Dr.Jones Lukose Ongalo Dr Jones Lukose has a degree in Electrical Engineering, Masters in Organizational Development, and MBA and PhD in Computer Science. He is a keynote speaker, motivational speaker and a co-founder of Stichting Motivat with his wife, Dr. Beatrice Lukose Dr Jones Lukose is an information management specialist with more than 20 years of national and international experience in developing and implementing strategies to achieve operational effectiveness and regulatory compliance by leveraging ICT for humanitarian causes. His industry experience includes engineering, central & local governments, energy & utility sectors, international and judicial organizations in Africa, Europe and the Americas. He is a Christian leader and the current chairman of the Board at the Trinity International Church, in The Netherlands. With his wife, Dr. Beatrice Lukose, they have started a Motivat school to build up marital relationships and amazing results are been experienced.

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Besigye in Switzerland for wife Winnie start of work as UNAIDS Executive Director

eading Uganda Opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye left his home in Uganda to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to be with his wife Winnie Byanyima as she starts work as the executive director of UNAIDS. Madam Byanyima posted a picture of her with Dr. Besigye and their son Anselm having a good family get together in preparation for her new task. It is a complete departure from the daily siege on his home in Kampala and monitoring all his movements around the country when he is allowed to leave his home. “In Geneva, my first day here, @ akizzabesigye & @kizzabesigye1 here to help me to start in my new role at @ unaids Thanks,” the tweet reads. Earlier, on their way to Switzerland, Madam Byanyima had posted a picture showing that her family members had seen them off in Nairobi. “Family, Brother Abraham, Sisters Martha and Francesca, took me out to the latest coolest rooftop in Nairobi to bid me and Kizza farewell. Thank you so much. Will miss you & all my friends in nbo!,” she tweeted Madam Byanyima was appointed the new UNAIDS boss in August, taking over from Michel Sidibé who stepped down in May this year following accusations of”serious mismanagement”. Madam Byanyima had been the executive director of OXFAM, since January 2013. She has held several roles that were affiliated to the governance of the African Union, and has influenced the international agenda at the United Nations through her leadership in many coalitions of civil society organizations. Congratulations to her on her new role in serving humanity.

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PARTNER WITH ME TO SUPPORT CHILDREN

Purposed beyond my scars. INSPIRE THE YOUTH PROJECT

t is with a great sense of delight that I present to the public my latest book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Purposed Beyond my Scars which has inspire the youth project I am introducing in Nigeria. For our Africa mission project, the target is to donate 10 books to 10 best students in 10 different schools in Nigeria totaling 100 books. (We can do more with your support and that of your readers) This is to encourage reading culture in our schools and the story will inspire the children not to allow whatever circumstance to discourage them from their purpose in life.

unless you decide otherwise. This will be recorded on video and sent to you so that you will know where your money is going. We will also let the school know who has donated the books.

We are looking for sponsors to help us make this possible. The books will be given at subsidized price. You can donate how many books you wish to supply to any school of your choice as well. The books will be donated to a school with a clear message of who donated the books

Please, this is a project that means a lot to me and I would be honoured if you would like to partner with me on this project. Purposed beyond my scars is a detailed account of my true life story. A chronicle of my journey, struggles, challenges, doubts, fears, loss, pain and joy truthfully told to inspire, motivate, encourage and impact anyone to whom life may have dealt traumatic blows. Anyone who may be, or may have been discouraged, hurt, wounded, abused, rejected, and abandoned. Anyone with visible and or invisible scars, who is too scared or discouraged to face life with boldness. By Amanda Lazmon For sponsorship/support Account number: BE62 0003 6282 4961

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Ibe thuizorg: Nigerian woman inspiring story to give health care to the needy and aged. MEET MRS. TINA IBE

is amazing to see how an African woman living in the Diaspora, in the Netherlands has stood up to debunk any wrong impression that Africans can’t make it or achieve their dreams and goals. Tina Ibe is of Nigeria origin, lives and married with children in Amsterdam Zuid-Oost running a business of her own called, Ibe thuiszorg (Ibe Health Care giver). It is not a common platform yet that Africans had excel on their own – they most work as care giver through other work agencies or bureau but she has taken a step further to start her own and her reason for doing this is not far-fetched. “ I am thinking outside of the box, Africans are aging here and there is nobody meeting their care needs and other minorities groups therefore after few years of working experience, I thought of starting something to give special care to these vulnerable people in our communities particularly in Amsterdam environs where I live” Asked if her service is accepted by the people? “Yes, I tell myself every day I go out that I am spreading the gospel of good health care for all”. I am a goal getter, I plan ahead, working and taking risks or else nothing will change. Of course she needs the language so she has continued to improve her language skills, learning the language for one year and six months, she seek help from other Africans who helped her to correct her grammar and structures, he mentioned the name of Mr. Kenneth Okolie who was involved in helping to upgrade her language skills. On meeting the requirements to establish a business of this nature, Mrs. Ibe said she has met all the regulatory requirements and her activities are inspected from time to time and she also enjoys the recommendation of the house doctors who recommend her services to would be clients. Right now, it is still in a small stage but she is ambitious to make it as big as her dream carries her. She is willing to give her skills, trainings and service to other African youths who may be interested to learn the skills involved to be a good health care giver. She recommends that every individual should confine in their

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medical doctor on their condition so that they could be given the right and accurate medical advice when they need health care either at home or at a care center. On how expensive the services may be, she says, it is affordable and also covered by the health care insurance. “In Holland, the insurance system is well organized and our services are paid for depending on the service we render and the declaration done through the insurance companies either through direct payment or via the insurance companies”. Being married with children must be very tasking on her but how does she cope. “It is not really easy but I have for now a colleague whom we share the responsibilities, so when she is on duty with the client, I take time off to be with my family and take care of them. I also have a very understandable husband who supports me where possible, we work 24 hours round the clock so it is demanding”. Another thing she does is to assist people who are undocumented to access medical care in Amsterdam areas of the country. How does that work? “Nobody should be deny the right to medical care because of documentation, health is a human right issue and we have fought for that in the Netherlands that if they need medical assistant, they should be given without discrimination or denial on the grounds of being undocumented. I have cases of undocumented people I have assisted to the level of getting medical treatment and operation without having to pay any penny. She appeals to her fellow Africans to take serious their health condition and situation, go for medical checkup, let your situation be diagnosed early and given the right medical advice on what to do, for instance diabetes, you can detect it early and treat properly. Finally she is willing to offer room for internship and training for students who are looking for a place to have those opportunities through her company.

Read this short interview with her: TV: A short introduction of yourself? Tina Ibe: My name is Daberechi Tina Ibe. Am from Imo State in Nigeria by birth And a Dutch citizen. CEO of Ibe thuiszorg Amsterdam. (Ibe home health care) TV: Your educational background? Tina Ibe: I did Netherlands language and after that I took NT2 Nederlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Language exam which helped me to enroll into the Nursing school, which empowered me to be where I am today. TV: You live in the Netherlands! Where and what do you do? Tina Ibe: Like I said before I am a Nigerian who lives and work in Amsterdam. TV: As immigrant starting her own business, how easy or difficult is that? Tina Ibe: I t was really not easy starting my own business as immigrant, but being a goal getter and a motivator and walking side by side with God made it a little bit easier. By giving me the courage and strength to withstand all the storms, I call those storms a red traffic light that prepares one to be stronger and ease some tensions. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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Continued from Page 19 TV: What type of business or service do you render to people? Tina Ibe: Ibe thuiszorg work with the elderly, disabled, mentally ill or terminally ill to provide health care and we do get them through our networks. The services I do render to people are traveling to patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes for the purpose of providing care, we deliver quality care in the convenience of the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. We create care plans to achieve goals based on the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diagnosis. These plans can include preventative, therapeutic, and rehabilitative actions, promoting health and disease prevention, medication administration, injections, intravenous therapy, wound care, educating patients on their current diagnosis, providing emotional support, and providing basic care such as personal hygiene and we also have visiting angels that meets family services needs such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands and companionship. We also record medical history and symptoms; collaborate with team to plan for patient care; advocate for health and wellbeing of patient; monitor patient health and record signs; administer medications and treatments; operate medical equipment; perform diagnostic tests; educate patients about management of illnesses and provide support and advice to patients

TV: Who are your primary targets and how do you intend to reach them? Tina Ibe: Ibe thuiszorg work with the elderly, disabled, mentally ill or terminally ill to provide health care and we do get them through our networks. TV: Is this a common profession that African immigrants can participate or involved in? Tina Ibe: Nursing profession is for everyone that has a heart for care not withstanding your ethnicity or physical appearance. And for you to be a nurse you must be able to have some special qualities such as tolerance, caring, endurance, sympathetic, humble, and respectful and work hard because at the end you are going to deal with humans and not trees and mountains. Nursing is a noble call of humanity.

Mrs Tina Ibe willing to train others on this line of mecial care for for the needy in our society.

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TV: Finally, how can Africans or other people benefit from your services? Tina Ibe: Ibe thuiszorg door is wide open for all clients especially Africans because we give nothing but a quality health care.

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Feedback: Congratulatory messages to The Voice at 20 May I take this early opportunity to thank you most sincerely for honoring me with an Award on the occasion of your event in Kenya. The Certificate of “Distinguished Career Award” Dear Editorial Board! Dear readers of The Voice news magazine! Dear friend Elvis Iruh! The first issue of your magazine, The Voice came to us in Nigeria through a friend who came visiting Amsterdam. It was not the best publication I have seen but I saw a future in your effort and I am happy today that you have stood the test of time to celebrate 20 years. Through this publication with its powerful symbolism on its cover and inside with articles on Africans living in the Diaspora. Today ‘our heart is filled with joy and hope because in that period with much difficulty, you have stood the test of time and I don’t see you quitting soon. In this prestigious magazine an important place has been dedicated to the literature of telling the African stories. We are proud to have our opinions and ideas in this prestigious magazine that is planting values in people. Further success in your way at the service to humanity. Happy 20th anniversary of the Voice magazine! Dr. Laver Mugeza Vienna, Austria

Dear Elvis and other members of the Editorial Board of “The Voice magazine” Every issue of “The Voice magazine” is, for our me and friends, precious: (1) for its articles and documents on history, economics, politics, social facts, etc.; (2) for the correctness of its line of applying simple language and giving the public the chance to express their views in the publication; (3) exposing African businesses to the general publication and circulating outside of the Netherlands. For years I continued to receive the magazine at my base in Canada. I wonder how you cover the cost of postage and other logistics involved. For 20 years, Pastor Elvis and the Editorial Board have constituted, with the thousands of articles they have published, a monument of knowledge shared around the world. Long live The Voice magazine! Antonio Artuso Montreal, Canada.

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Happy 20th anniversary to the Voice magazine team Dear Editor, We take the time to celebrate the Voice magazine and its wonderful team of staff and volunteers who have sustained this magazine in the past 20 years. It is not a joke to sustain a magazine of this nature both in good and bad times; you have used the magazine to tell the African stories. I remember that I have personally benefited from your publication – telling my story which go the attention of the Dutch government when I was oppressed. Long live the 20 years of the Voice magazine! Marcos Senga San Paolo, Brazil.

Congrats to The Voice magazine at 20 To the creative staff of the magazine “The Voice magazine”

The Voice magazine – a publication of great international significance

We congratulate you and the staff of The Voice magazine, on the 20th anniversary of the magazine. We wish you success in your personal and media activities. Publications that give people in this very difficult economic and political crises - truly appropriate and objective information, including past and present events and processes around the world, which should enlighten and educate the community on the planet in order to bring peace, unity, brotherhood and freedom and to avoid the serious consequences that the world is in danger by the dark forces of reaction. A Happy years ahead, we wish you health and success in your personal and media activities. Good wishes: Allali Kigambo Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

To publish a magazine of high standards for 20 years is an achievement in itself. Publishing a magazine without support from the main stream media network is a greater achievement and all of these, you have accomplished with the Voice magazine to make it a world class and significance for two decades is indeed remarkable and a unique feat. On the occasion of its 20th Anniversary we salute the magazine for its achievements so far, wishing it new successes and a well-deserved wider global distribution and influence. Klaus Riis Paris, France.

We do appreciate the Voice magazine. Dear Friends at The Voice, For many years we have had the opportunity to know the magazine “The Voice magazine” and felt that the ideas of the magazine agreed with my personal principles. I supported in distributing the magazine across Italy until I could not cope with the responsibilities because of other demands, that I regret very much but the period of working for the Voice was very memorable. People greeted me whenever I bring the magazine to the shops; they share their love and support. We miss the hard copy of the magazine now. The pages of “The Voice magazine” express the voice of the working class and peoples, it was truly an African reflection in Europe. The important work of Pastor Elvis Iruh in the publication of this magazine is vital for its continuation and development. We express our greetings and wishes for new successes. Kanu Murunjo Nairobi, Kenya

Looking forward to many more future engagements with the Voice. I want to convey to you our warm greetings on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of The Voice magazine. We had the joy to reading an English magazine when everything around us was French. Although we did not had a column on French but still the same, we enjoyed the magazine. Finally, we want to salute your engagement in the media world. Hail the 20th anniversary of “The Voice magazine” With our warmest greetings

Jamidda Kashilingi Copenhagen, Denmark

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20 Years of Great Media Work Dear Pastor Iruh, For twenty years, The Voice magazine played an historical role in publishing historical history of Africa which helps us immensely. TV brought out several articles of interest and even predicts the election of Barak Obama not too long ago. It has also played an active role in uniting the African communities in countries where the magazine was circulated. It became a symbol of our African success stories played also active role in propagating policies, principles for common benefit of the community. On the completion of 20 years I congratulate the Editorial Board in general and you as the publisher, Pastor Elvis Iruh for this splendid work. I express my full solidarity and assure all possible help to TV. By Abdi Qani Banjul, The Gambia *************************************************

Congratulation on the Voice Magazine 20th Anniversary. Dear Editor, I am very happy and glad to hear that your magazine has completed 20 successful years this year and it is indeed a matter of joy. All this is because of everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handwork and co-operation. Without the co-operation of all the staff, reporters and editors seeing this day would have surely been impossible. Your magazine is today one among the top circulating magazines in the country, and the credit for that solely goes to your team. A hearty congratulation to you and your team for making this magazine reach such a great height. Also, we hope the magazine reaches greater heights than this in the future and hope it keeps entertaining passionate readers as it has been doing with each passing day. Thanking You Yours truly Chuks Okonmah Abuja, Nigeria

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Congratulations to The Voice Magazine on Celebrating... 20 years of publishing! Only the best, highest quality content magazines can stand the test of time, and I know that when I advertise with The Voice magazine I am reaching the most relevant and targeted audience for my products and events. Thank you for your wonderful service and for being a source of inspiration, love and peace. Laurel Weber, Home Advertising Buyer, UK.

The Voice Magazine has become popular worldwide I am happy to know that your magazine, the Voice has this year competed 20 successful years. It seemed just like yesterday that you started the magazine and today it has completed so many years of successful publication. Your aim a few years back was to make this magazine a popular one and today it stands popular in all major cities of the country and beyond. It is indeed a matter of joy and success. Congratulations to you and your team for this grand success and may your magazine reach great heights in the years to come. Yours Truly, John Owusu Accra, Ghana

You have helped to bring attention to African plights Dear Editor, I consider it a privilege to send a message of greetings to The Voice magazine on the occasion of completion of 20 years of its publication. The Voice magazine has consistently upheld the cause of democracy, national liberation and development. Through this magazine, activists like us working in remote areas in Africa has been featured, our stories are read worldwide. It has served a great purpose by publishing articles concerning the problems confronted by Africa but at the same time balancing the developmental news of the last decade. I hope the Voice magazine will continue to serve the cause of the communities. Yours, Malal Ndiaye Dakar, Senegal

To the Editorial Board of “The Voice Magazine” Dear friends, Since 20 years “The Voice magazine” plays an important role in our common struggle as Africans in the Netherlands. We know the Voice since a long time and it was always a great help in our work to promote health care

Greetings to “The Voice Magazine” On the occasion of the 20th anniversary (August 2019) of “The Voice magazine’ we wish you every success in continuing publishing of the journal for the future of Africans. We consider “The Voice magazine” an important magazine, because it studies and analyzes the African stories from the angle of Africa, reporting the economic and socio-political situation in Africa and worldwide. It defends, promotes and highlights the developments of African countries. With greetings, Tobius Baguma Rome, Italy

Voice event in Kenya was huge It was such a great honour to be part of the Diaspora team at a recent function of the Voice Achievers Award I Nairobi, Kenya. Thanks to the organizers for giving me a platform as a panelist to share my story & life experience both in the Diaspora & in Kenya. Hard works pays. Never give up on your dreams. The Dream of every child is valid. And congratulations on your 20th anniversary. Betty Mundorf. Germany

and help people living with HIV/Aids in the country. “The Voice” is a voice of the people, their stories against racism and marginalization. We wish you great success in your important work for the future now. Fraternally, Diethard Muller, Stuttgart, Germany.

Congratulations on the Voice Magazine Anniversary I am very happy today to hear the news that your magazine has completed twenty years. I am writing this letter to you to congratulate you on this achievement. We are glad to hear that your magazine has reached this position. I still know the day when you cherished the first time to set up a magazine in front of me. I also remember that day when you started the magazine. It was your lifetime dream. This only could be achieved by your hard work and talent. The credit for all this also goes to your working staff who sometimes worked beyond the expectation of money for the magazine. We are proud of you as you can make impossible to possible. You almost started with nothing and then reached for such a great achievement. I hope your magazine performs even well in the future. Congratulations to you once again. Sincere wishes, Taylor Christian Morovia, Liberia

TV has stood test of time Dear Editor, 20 years in human age is enough to make a person a mature adult. Therefore the role of “The Voice magazine” is however bigger than that. I have started reading it as a youth and it has been a decisive factor in my formation, providing me unique information on Africa based on objective reporting and analysis. Over the past two decades, TV is a journal I grew up with, matured with and I hope to enjoy my old age with. I wish you a happy 20th anniversary of the publication and that over the decades to come, your journal helps the spreading of the idea of Africa’s advancement and brings young and old on to the way of the future. In solidarity, Nemanja Masudi. Kampala, Uganda

Congratulations to The Voice magazine on Its 20th Anniversary

For the past twenty years, the Voice magazine has been at the forefront of giving Africans a voice in the Netherlands and beyond. During that time, it has produced a tremendous body of work each month and organize famous activities like The Voice Achievers Award and conferences which I have participated in. The efforts of the editors, staff, and contributors of the Voice magazine have been invaluable to on-going struggle to uncover the historical truth of the achievements of Africans in the Diaspora, and to reaffirm the original and correct verdict that Africans can do it if they set their minds to doing it. I am certain that the next twenty years will be crowned with the same success that has made it one of the leading African publications in Europe today. Sylvia Makubuya Conakry, Guinea

Greetings on the 20th Anniversary of The Voice magazine Twenty years of The Voice magazine. I say “twenty more!” and heartily salute to all your staff, team members, supporters and sponsors over the years that made The Voice magazine what is — the cutting edge in the journalism profession. Jerimiah Chozen Florida, United States of America To The Voice magazine On the occasion that “The Voice magazine” has existed for 20 years, I personally commend the publisher and his wonderful team that started this initiative and those who have continued with it. The magazine is an important source for information on Africa and its people, over the years I have learnt so much about Africa – their clothes and food in particular through the magazine. I love the pictures when they have events, it is very colourful although I still miss the hard copy of the magazine. Hope in future, they can publish at least every three months a hard copy edition for us to enjoy and keep for the future. I wish you continued successes in your work with the Voice magazine. David Lalani Gothenburg, Sweden.

Greetings on your 20th year of publication. I salute you on the occasion of your 20th year of publication of the Voice magazine. I live in the United States of America and I came across the magazine in the early years and it reminded me of Ebony magazine, how it all started and I am happy that 20 years on, I am still in contact with the publisher. The history that we find there and the information you provide is of tremendous value to the world of communication. I wish you many more years of success and look forward to our continued friendship. With warm regards, Katy Durnell Tampa, FL, United States of America 28

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Join us in celebrating The VOICE Magazine at 20 years Anniversary Celebration. Two Decades in the Service of humanity

Since 1999 and to date, the Voice magazine has proved itself a most valuable resource for information on African matters worldwide. The supplementary edition online now is becoming an essential digital library for anyone interested in knowledge on African matters. You have promoted a great deal of time, talent, commitment and endeavour required to publish a regular magazine of this standard. TV has appeared regularly throughout 20 years due to the indefatigable efforts of the editorial board, and especially those of the Editor-inChief, Pastor Elvis Iruh. For this, I congratulate you and your team that TV will continue to educate and inspire the advancing of African stories for many years to come. Pheona Kato Oslo, Norway

20th Anniversary of The Voice Magazine Elvis Iruh have lovingly nurtured The Voice Magazine into one of the best mind, body and spirit magazine in Europe. Every cover is a work of art, each article and feature intelligently considered. It is always an honor to find a story of interest. A genuine inspiration! Linda Grouit, A journalist based in the UK Dear Editor, It is matter of great pleasure to know that the “Voice magazine” has successfully completed 20 years of existence. Congratulations, to you and your team at this historical moment. Not only in Europe but around the world you have made an impact as well-known journal has its numerous readers. The quality of the publication has continued to get better and thanks to your hard working spirit. Your work-in-progress concerning the publishing of the digital edition of the magazine means you will be around for a longer time. Once again congratulations and we hope “The Voice magazine” will continue carrying the great work it is doing since last 20 years selflessly and honestly. Best Regards, Saad Hamida Shiru Kigali, Rwanda

I want to express my thanks to The Voice Magazine for remaining a constant beacon of conscious living for others, but, also a memorable part of the foundation of all the work that you have done over the last 20 plus years. I loved the many years that I spent as contributor and all those many deadlines. Please receive my blessings for 20 more. Lola Adebisi Lagos, Nigeria

It gives me great pleasure to write this message of solidarity to The Voice magazine management on your 20th anniversary. It is perhaps one of the rare journals that do not shy away from examining what went wrong with Africa without in any way succumbing to the ethics of the profession. I congratulate The Voice magazine for having consistently publishing the true stories of Africans. I have greatly benefited from the research materials and used your magazine for my college project. You helped my English language, as it is simple to understand and follow Long live The Voice magazine In solidarity Dr. Suhail Rahman Dubai, UAE

On the occasion of The Voice magazine’s 20th Anniversary During those days at the asylum center I was introduced to the Voice magazine and how I look forward to it receiving it each month and it kept me from boredom as there was nothing much to do in the camp. I will read reread it the old copy I have received through the center. Most of the time we got the old editions but still it was refreshing to read about happenings or events within the African communities around Europe and in Africa. Now the paper has accomplished 20 years of its continuous and effective publication even during difficult circumstances. On the occasion of your 20th anniversary, Pastor Elvis Iruh congratulates to you and your team and wishing and hoping for the best for future. By Shaukat Ali Chaudhry Rabat, Morocco www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

20 years of great media work & doing business with your magazine

Congratulations to The Voice Magazine

The Voice has always stood out as one of the best magazines, which is why I have been advertising here since the beginning. Also, it’s so great that you always offer so many quality articles and keeping us updated on some events no longer in the news. You are truly professionals. After all these years, I’m still looking forward to every issue and how you capture a flow of creativity. What a blessing to all of your readers. Thank you for you and your team.

On behalf of my family, I would like to offer special greetings on the occasion of your 20th anniversary and appreciation all the contributors to this unique magazine.

Warmly, All Round Shipping Amsterdam, The Netherlands ************************************************ Dear Editor, Besides these congratulations on the 20 years of the Voice magazine, I also salute the Founder and Publisher, Pastor Elvis Iruh; we worked together as journalists in Nigeria before he traveled abroad. I knew him then as my publisher, he had a goal at publishing with a Nigerian businessman but the project did not go well. He was not deterred rather he has pushed on to start this new publication, which he has made a success of it on its own. 20 years is no journey of one day. Long Live the 20th Anniversary of the Voice magazine! With greetings: Mariam Patty Lagos, Nigeria.

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on celebrating 20 years of publication

By Ella Rule London, Great Britain Solidarity message from United Kingdom: It is now 20 years since the Voice magazine began to provide a new and valuable resource to the African media world particularly in UK. Throughout that time the Voice has proved itself to be a unique combination of invaluable reports on the people’s struggles and prospects in Africa. I am happy to be associated with your magazine and to be part of the progress you have accomplished. I know the future is bright and the communication world is taking a new dimension, as you set out for a new adventure, we sincerely hope that the Voice magazine will continue to play its part in the advancement of Africa for many more years to come. Andy Brooks London, Great Britain

The Voice Magazine has become popular worldwide Open a The Voice magazine and you’ll find pages of spiritual articles and people who will encourage and build you up. It’s a trusted venue, time-tested and joyous. I’m proud to be a part of it. Chinwe Ngozi, a writer from Nigeria based in Enugu.

To the Editorial Board of “The Voice magazine” Dear Comrades, On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the publication of “The Voice magazine”, we send you our hearty congratulations and our solidarity and support for the precious work that you and your team has done in the past twenty years or more. I first came across the Voice magazine over a decade ago and you have stood the test of time. We are glad, particularly, with your projects outside of the publishing business and the good work you continue to do in Africa. At the same time, you highlight the relevance of a free press for immigrants in the Diaspora. With our best wishes of success and our organizational greetings. Betty Mujungu Rome, Italy

OPTIVEN GROUP LAUNCH REAL ESTATE MOBILE APP IN KENYA

enya’s leading land developer, Optiven group, last month launched the inaugural Real Estate mobile app in Kenya. The event which was held at the Hotel Fairmont The Norfolk in Nairobi’s CBD gathered hundreds of land owners and real estate enthusiasts including Optiven group clients. The launch was led by the company’s Chief, Mr. George Wachiuri. The app, which has already been availed at play store will allow prospective land owners to access all their investments solutions from the company at the comfort of their hands. User with android phones can download the app available on play store while their IOS counterparts and those using personal computers can visit plots.optiven.co.ke. The mobile app will allow one to view properties on offer (satellite photos, maps, topography and even track the development your projects in real-time from any part of the world), make project selection and proceed to check out. No brokers, no paperwork, no hassle. As a multiple award-winning property development pacesetter in East Africa, Optiven Group has over 20 years’ experience in the real estate market.

Alongside its head office in the capital, the company also has offices in South Africa as well as satellite branches in the US and Europe. The company Executive Director, George Wachiuri on international tour promoting its new brand incentive to making money while developing your property. Some key staff of the company is also on similar trips across Europe, Asia and America to promote the company’s business. The company offers flexible payments for everyone. Where clients are allowed to pay property in installments in up to 24 months through cash, bank financing, Wave, MPESA, PoaPay. Now through the mobile app, Optiven is allowing everyone to partner with them (as an affiliate) and earn a commission between $200 – $500. Registration of affiliate partners is done the app or via the website. For details www.optiven.co.ke 32

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A new revolution to promote Nigeria Cultural heritage through Karfricodip

Meet Rev. Tammy Clarizza leading the charge

ev. Tammy Clarizza Abusi is a dynamic multi-talented lady; who amongst her many skills, loves to build lives and put smiles on the faces of people especially the helpless. She is the CEO of Miss Blossom Beauty Services. A mother of two, Tammy Clarizza continue to inspire many thorough her various projects she organizes. A committed and dedicated Christian with her walk of faith and she is on a new adventure with the KAFRICODIP project. She sat one on one with our Editor-in-Chief, Pastor Elvis Iruh for this exclusive interview for your reading pleasure. Enjoy her chat with Rev. Tammy Clarriza Abusi

KAFRICODIP is born out of the need to showcase and promote the deep resource and experience of the KILALI KREATIVE MINDS COMPANY headed by Ambassador Millicent Jack that spans over 30 years. The generational gap must be bridged to allow those who aspire to tap from her inspiration, wealth of knowledge, and creativity. PROJECT The project has been planned as a 4 days event, lined up with Camp for Models, 2days costume and fabric Fair, Trainings, visitation and branding opportunities, climaxed with a grand finale runway/pageantry,, producing the *QUEEN KILALIKREATIVE*, who will keep the Kilali flag up for the period of her reign. KAFRICODIP is projected to be an annual Event. FUNDS Funding will be achieved by sales of model forms, sponsorship, goodwill and batter partnerships. TIMING Projected to hold from 4th to 7th December 2019. SUMMARY We are hopeful and trust that our voice, efforts and commitment, can add value to the society. Together we can. Rev Tammy Abusi Clarizza (*Producer/AD*) INTERESTED PARTICIPANTS TO CALL: +23348033273224. 36

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TV: A bit about yourself and your background? Tammy Clarizza: My name is Tammy clarizza Abusi. I hail from Rivers state, Bonny Kingdom. I am an ordained clergy and mother of 2, with a passion for the Arts and entertainment. Trained as an Actress with a Distinction from the prestigious University of Port Harcourt. TV: You are a very versatile person from your profile, you started off as a professional actress. So what have you been doing for some years now? Tammy Clarizza: After my breakthrough with CHECKMATE in 1991 which won me the TV PRODUCER OF THE YEAR NIGERIA MEDIA MERIT AWARD, I travelled to the UK for further studies. Somehow, I got married and it intercepted a lot of things .... (Laughing) If you know what I mean. That slowed me down, as I had some issues that eventually got me separated. That’s it. So I went low for a while, and viaed into the Network Marketing industry, that gave me some major milestones too. Trips abroad, brand new cars and some cash....then, I mean. TV: Why are you back to your original calling if I would say? Tammy Clarizza: Entertainment is in me. I just glow doing it. It’s not just a career or passion. It’s a lifestyle. I enjoy it. Yes...I am back, to infuse some debt, and to add colour. I need to leave a legacy for the upstarts. Am back to groom and participate. TV: Nollywood is rated one of the best movie industry in the world now, how does that translate to your work in Nigeria? Tammy Clarizza: You are not wrong. But truth is that, am just plugging in now, so I may be able to translate that in some future interviews.

TV: You have a big project coming up soon in Port-Harcourt Nigeria. Tell us the whole idea behind it? Tammy Clarizza: KAFRICODIP is my brand and it’s a major event coming up from the 4th to the 7th of December, in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The inspiration came when I interacted with the Costume Veteran MILLICENT JACK who has been doing Nollywood epic movie jobs for over 30 years. I visited her costume gallery, and I was astonished at the massive patch of stacked bags dating years. Immediately I knew we need to have a COSTUME FESTIVAL. She must groom the next generation, auction, give grants, and showcase all these. So I started work on this concept. Her brand name is KILALI KREATIVE MINDS and my Company MISS BLOSSOM BEAUTY SERVICES into talent building, concepts, beauty definitions and branding and Producing. Continued on Page 36

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Continued from Page 35 TV: What is Kafricodip? Tammy Clarizza: KAFRICODIP is THE KILALI AFRICAN COSTUME DISPLAY PROJECT. TV: What do you intend to accomplish with this project? Tammy Clarizza: Reestablish my presence in the industry. Create room for upstarts to learn how to interpreted fabrics. To sustain the African depth of richness in crafts, fabrics, costume and creativity. To launch the brand KILALI as a label. TV: On the flyers are crop of stars from the industry? It must cost you a fortune to gather them together. Tammy Clarizza: You can say that. It’s not easy at all. We must treat them like starts that they are. They have paid their dues. We need all the partnership and Sponsorship from all over Africa. TV: What are your expectations from this event? Tammy Clarizza: To start a Reality show that can ultimately benefit the Nations of the world. This is Big. Its called CODISIN. If you are out there, and into entertainment, reach out. Let’s push this brand. TV: Years back the Voice magazine collaborated with your

TV: What motivates you? Tammy Clarizza: The Holy Spirit. TV: What are your future plans and how do you intend to work it out? Tammy Clarizza: My future plans are obvious, and I can only tryst God Almighty to send helpers to push through. I have what people need. So am hopeful for that breakthrough. TV: Apart from this project, what else should we expect from you soon? Tammy Clarizza: So much. Trust me. Am a spring. Watch out. TV: The Voice magazine is celebrating 20 years. What is your impression? Tammy Clarizza: The Voice Magazine is a phenomenal. I celebrate your resilience over the years, and your selfless contribution s to many lives. The Voice continues to be a Voice in the world. Congratulations Sir.

organization to organize Miss Blossom pageant in PortHarcourt. How is the project also going now? Tammy Clarizza: Thank you Voice Magazine. Miss Blossom Beauty pageant will be running its event in 2020 by God’s special grace. TV: What are your aspirations for the future? Tammy Clarizza: To have an Entertainment Academy that will teach godly values, highlighting the fact that God is the source of all pleasure. 38

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TV: Lastly what would be your advice to those reading your interview right now and wants to do similar things as you are doing now? Tammy Clarizza: Keep your focus in place. Never loose faith. Believe in yourself and trust God in all. He alone can make anyone shine. Am willing to partner with anyone who has the drive. Thank you for thus great opportunity to speak here. God bless you Sir

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Russia building new empire in Africa: ‘The United States should be hugely concerned’

“M

oscow’s goals are diametrically opposed to those of Washington. American leadership in Africa matters and the Trump Administration must make every effort to ensure that the U.S. voice is heard on the African continent, challenging the rising presence of both Putin’s Russia and Xi Jinping’s China.” Russia appears, another analyst says, to be making deals while the U.S. sleeps on the job. President Trump has yet to visit the African continent, but Putin has. Russia hosted this past week’s massive jamboree in the resort city of Sochi. The U.S. has only invited a few African leaders for State visits. Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, has already made two major trips to Africa this year. There’s been no corresponding visit recently by a high-level member of the Trump administration. Whilst the U.S. has a respectable $60 billion annual trade figure with Africa, in the past five years Russia has more than doubled its sales here to $20 billion. And it’s rising rapidly. And Russia is Africa’s biggest arms supplier. Moscow pushes Russia’s so-called struggle credentials. Putin this past week said his country has “supported the struggle of the peoples of Africa against colonialism, racism and apartheid.” And Russia doesn’t ask questions about a country’s human right record or governance, whereas the U.S. does when offering deals. Almost 20 of Africa’s 54 U.N.-recognized countries have signed nuclear cooperation deals with Russia. Questions are being asked about whether countries like Ethiopia should be considering paying Russia colossal amounts to build a nuclear power plant, when comparatively rich South Africa nixed a deal with Moscow, because of fears it could collapse the country’s economy. Egypt, despite economic concerns, has contracted Russia’s nuclear company Rosatom to build a 4,800MW nuclear power plant on the Mediterranean coast. Elsewhere, Russia is building a $30 million oil refinery in Uganda. The Kremlin has its eyes on M o z a m b i q u e ’s huge natural gas reserves. Russia has canceled the country’s historical debt with Moscow but has also supplied military hardware, including helicopters, to help curb an Islamist insurgency which also has its eyes on the profits from the gas. Moscow even has its own state-linked bank, the International Agency of Sovereign Development, set up this year, and is busy 40

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with $2.5 billion worth of deals with Niger, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Russia is also involved in a wide level of not-so-public military and political activities. Earlier this month a Russian military cargo plane, an Antonov, believed to be involved in gunrunning, went down in that country killing several Russian “observers.” Some 22 Russians, said to be covertly assisting rebels in Libya, were also recently killed. A Russian citizen is officially a national security adviser to the president of the Central African Republic, and Russian mercenaries are reported to be fighting anti-government rebels in the country. Not much is known though – three journalists who went to investigate have been murdered. Putin has also become embroiled in a feud between Egypt and Ethiopia, who are fighting over a project to dam the Nile river, which the former believes could threaten its water supply. The Kremlin is into soft mind games, too, even trying to get into the heads of children in the Central African Republic, and persuade them that it’s OK if Russians fight the rebels there. To do so, a cartoon with a child’s voice shows the people of the CAR, represented by a lion, being beaten up by rebels, represented -- as in Disney’s “The Lion King” -- as loathsome hyenas. A big bear comes to the rescue, shown on a map coming from Russia, to scare the hyenas off … and everyone lives happily ever after. But when it comes to military deals, the Russians are coldly blatant. And perhaps to show how they can offer support if necessary, just this past week, Moscow sent two strategic nuclear-capable Tupolev T-160 bomber aircraft , the Russian equivalent of the US B1, all the way non-stop to South Africa. Not quietly either – the local media were invited for a press junket to witness these frankly frightening aircraft touching down on African soil for the first time. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa believes Russia is not offering classic foreign aid, but rather “foreign direct investment.” Ramaphosa denied this week that African nations “are being led into a debt trap as they take up loans to fund a number of projects in their countries.” He added it’s now a case of “partnership for mutual benefit, on development, trade and investment cooperation and integration.” The U.S. is believed to be watching the cozying-up of Russia with South Africa. The two countries jointly launched a satellite that watches over the African continent, with military information obtained from it being shared between Moscow and Pretoria. Dr. Stephen Blank, writing for Geopolitical Intelligence Services, said: “Russia is returning to Africa and using all of its instruments of power, including diplomacy, energy investments, and scholarships to Russian universities for African students.”

Besigye fired with water cannon, arrested day after return from Geneva

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was last month arrested following running battles with police. His arrest comes a day after he returned from Geneva where his wife Winnie Byanyima has taken up her new role as the UNAIDS Executive Director. According to Ugandan media, the scuffle began after police

Nigeria’s Supreme Court upholds President Buhari’s election win

ismissal of appeal by opposition leader Atiku Abubakar brings to an end months-long legal battle after February polls. Nigeria’s top court has dismissed an appeal by main opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar to overturn the result of February’s presidential vote in which President Muhammadu Buhari won re-election. “We have examined all the briefs and the exhibits for over two weeks and we agree that there is no merit in this appeal,” Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad said on Wednesday following the Supreme Court’s judgment. “The appeal is dismissed,” he concluded in a decision made unanimously with six court justices. The chief justice did not give reasons for the judgment but announced they would be released at a later date. February election The judgment brought an end to a bitter eight-month legal battle since February’s

blocked members of his Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party from accessing a conference venue. “(They) decided to march in a procession from Mandela National Stadium to their party headquarters in Najanankumbi,” according to press reports Police then intercepted and tried to disperse them when they reached Kireka area in Kira municipality. A confrontation ensued as the melee attracted even more crowds. Police resorted to using tear gas canisters, water cannons and allegedly live bullets. Besigye was not lucky as police blocked his car, using a water canon to force him out. He was reportedly bundled into a police van and he was taken into custody at the Naggalama Police Station. Ugandan police acknowledged receiving notification of the conference from the FDC party but a directive to change venue was allegedly ignored. “Besigye defied police orders and parked his vehicle in the middle of the road, blocking and inconveniencing other road users,” the statement reads. Police added that they are yet to prefer charges as they are still gathering evidence. polls when Buhari, 76, won a second term with 56 percent of the vote. The delayed vote was marked by low turnout and saw violence across the country, with accusations of vote-rigging by both sides. Abubakar, the 72-year-old former vice president of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), came in second with 41 percent, and immediately branded the result a “sham”. Opposition parties lodged a legal challenge against the result, which was rejected by an election tribunal in September. The PDP described the ruling as “provocative, barefaced subversion of justice”, launching an appeal in Nigeria’s Supreme Court. Abubakar said he had been cheated of the chance to lead Africa’s most populous nation after a conspiracy between the electoral commission and Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). European Union and local observers spoke of “serious problems” in the polls, which was hit by violence including 53 deaths. Some reported vote-buying, intimidation and violence towards voters and officials, which have been a problem in previous elections in Nigeria www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Meet Julliet Makhapila: Experienced Community Transformer #Empower, Inspire, Invest, Educate, Connect Knock? Knock! Julliet Makhapila is a woman of many parts and equal to all her tasks. She empowers, inspire, invest, educate and

connect. Her passion is working with the local communities in United Kingdom where she is presently based but across the African continent, her works speak for her. According to her, “I love to help people, coach people and also embrace all kinds of people so as to where they are in their lives. I have a caring, compassionate and loyal attitude. I have seen and lived amongst disadvantaged people and believe this can be changed around through will-power and self-development”. She is determined in her life time, to do her best to help to change people’s lives for the better. Her dreams and prayer

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is that many lives will be transformed through her effort and of others like herself. She has lived in London for many years and believe London is a great city with lots of opportunities for everyone and sets one of the best examples in the whole wide world. It is the center for attracting trade and investment. Therefore she believes that it is important to respect each others’ values and commercial honesty. It is important to openly build stronger diverse and inclusive communities. It is in that spirit of unity and working together she works to facilitate change. She is driven by professional credibility, achieved through excellence in all areas of her role, to attain job satisfaction and make a positive contribution to the success of her community, both in the United Kingdom and also in the rest of the world. She holds a degree in Applied Social Sciences Joint Degree (Bsc) - Health Studies and Social Policy. She is a qualified Trainer, Community Transformer, Change Maker, Philanthropist, Advocate - specialising in mental health and persons with disability, TV / Radio Shows and Social Event Organiser.

Julliet Makhapila works on promoting peace and improving people’s livelihoods, in the UK and in Africa. She is motivated primarily to increase understanding between people and cultures. Julliet grew up in Kenya in her early years. She lives in the United Kingdom and loves both countries dearly. Julliet’s mission statement is ‘Transforming lives’. She is the Founder of many Diaspora forums in UK, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe Diaspora etc. Presently she is also developing forums and diversity in communities in Asia and Caribbean through her links. Her humble inspiration draws people into personal development and her greatest desire in this world is enjoying our planet with love and happiness and bringing a beautiful touch on making this world a better place for humankind. She enjoys helping to improve the livelihood of others and also supporting, with greater compassion, through enabling learning and sharing with one another. She enjoys providing community development and leadership skills combined with mentorship, capacity

building and bringing inclusion and a catalyst into the understanding of embracing differences. She sees herself as a Community Transformer, Change maker, Innovator and Social Impactor. She leads in global training sessions and empowers, mentors and inspires others to take good leadership and help build a better, sustainable world for love. As an International Philanthropist and Social Entrepreneur, she is particularly focused Welfare, Peace, Environment/Improving our Planet, Safeguarding Children, Health and Wellbeing; Inclusion and Promoting Diversity and Education of Young People/ Youths/Graduates; Fashion Stylist, Image Consultant, Personal Shopper; Improving persons with disability, Sports; Mentoring/Capacity Building/Coaching/ Training; Promoting Women Leadership/Gender; Microfinancing; Policy, Governance and Structure; Politics and Civics Education; Agriculture; Humanitarian Causes; Preservation of Buildings and Cultural Heritage Identity; International Development Capacity Building; Human Rights; Volunteering, Locally and Internationally; Promoting International Trade and Tourism. In Love - let’s go for a Walk, the Spirit of Togetherness, the Spirit of Love for one another, the Spirit of Respect, embracing all Citizens and all Nations with Peace, Laughter and Smiles. It is in YOU to make that KNOCK KNOCK smile for one another! By Julliet Makhapila Tel: 07742 384 052 (Outside UK: +447742 384 052) #JNM1000 @JNM1000 #UKAgoals @Wonder_African Julliet Makhapila @JNM1000 Julliet Makhapila JullietMakhapila

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Zimbabwe is getting another ‘new’ currency

he new currency will have denominations with a maximum value of $0.25, says Zimbabwe’s central bank chief. Zimbabwe’s central bank chief, John Mangudya, says he will introduce a new currency but at press time the new currency was yet to be released. The effort is to address biting liquidity

shortages in the economy and regain monetary policy control after years of dollarisation. Mangudya told journalists in the capital that the as-of-yet44

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unnamed currency will have denominations of coins and notes with a maximum value of five Zimbabwe dollars ($0.25). “We are going to be releasing money into circulation. To be precise, within the next two weeks, we will have the new currency,” Mangudya said. He said the new currency would trade along with the bond notes and the coins and would have the same value as these surrogate currencies. Mangudya defended the bank’s decision to have a note worth only five Zimbabwe dollars as the highest denomination in a hyperinflationary environment, saying he wanted uniformity with the denominations that are already in the market. In line with the law, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa must agree to the creation of a new monetary unit. After he assents, the minister of finance will then issue a decree, paving the way for the printing of the currency, Mangudya said. Zimbabwe’s inflation was last measured at 350 percent after Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube ordered the country’s statistical department to stop publishing annual inflation numbers until February of next year. A history of cash shortage Back in 2009, soaring inflation prompted Zimbabwe to ditch its failing sovereign currency in favour of a basket of foreign currencies led by the United States dollar. But “dollarising” the economy hit a major bump in 2015 when greenbacks started vanishing from the formal banking system. In a bid to end the US dollar shortage, Zimbabwe’s central bank introduced bond notes - a form of surrogate currency - that was backed by a $200m bond facility from the Africa Export-Import Bank. But black market speculation quickly eroded the bond note value, triggering a shortage that the central bank tried to offset by creating electronic notes. Then this past February, bond notes - both physical and electronic - were merged into the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) dollar, also known as the Zimdollar. In June, the government moved to defend the Zimdollar against speculators by banning all foreign currencies in local transactions. But the effort has largely failed after the Zimdollar quickly fell prey to black market speculation that sent its value plummeting.

New currency, old problems? “There is a misconception that once you introduce a currency, then inflation is going to increase. We are simply giving people a chance to choose between electronic balances and cash,” said central bank chief Mangudya. Economists are not holding out hope for the new currency. “The only worry about a local currency is excessive money printing by the central bank, which makes multiple currencies dearer options when forced to choose,” Victor Bhoroma, a Harare-based independent economist, told Al Jazeera. “The solution for Zimbabwe does not lie in any new currencies [whether Zimbabwean dollars or foreign currencies].” The solution, according to Bhoroma, is instituting key reforms in governance, reining in expenditures in government, creating supply-side interventions to boost production, engaging in confidence-building, and strengthening institutions - such as the rule of law, property rights and policy consistency. Gift Mugano, an economics professor at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, told the press that the introduction of the currency will accelerate its own value decline. The new currency will have the same value as the bond note and RTGS dollars circulating in the economy. “This is a continuation of a process that started on 24 June when the central bank outlawed the use of the US dollar and introduced a new currency,” Mugano said. “What is important to note is that they did this when economic fundamentals were very weak. The fundamentals have not improved as we speak.”

“The central bank doesn’t have the reserves to back the value of the currency and has only a month’s import cover at best. It’s going to be difficult to maintain the value of the currency.” Mugano says the bond note and the RTGS dollar, the Zimbabwe dollar’s predecessor, have failed to act as a store of value, forcing ordinary Zimbabweans and companies to buy US dollars to preserve value. He sees companies using the new currency to acquire US dollars. “What will happen is very simple: companies will get cash to buy US dollars and then the rate will go higher as more cash chases the few US dollars in the market,” Mugano said. “The pressure on the exchange rate will be higher.” The RTGS dollar and Zimbabwe’s surrogate currency, the bond note, have both struggled to hold value against the US dollar as demand outstrips supply. Once valued at 1:1 with the greenback, the currency is now trading at 1:20 against the US dollar on the black market. “It is obvious the Zimbabwean dollar will not hold any value because of negative fundamentals in the economy which include key among them confidence deficit and high demand for foreign currency to import commodities [current account deficit],” Bhoroma said. “It is also inevitable that the central bank will continue to grow money supply in the economy to fund runaway government expenditure. This will further weaken the local currency.” This year alone, the economy in Zimbabwe is contracting by more than 6.5 percent. SOURCE: By Chris Muronzi for Al Jazeera News

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An Oscars ban for a Nigerian film shows the Academy still doesn’t get it on race

xcluding Lionheart for using English shows Africans are still expected to satisfy American ideas of authenticity The penny about the US’s worldview dropped for me when

I recently interviewed a highly educated, accomplished, politically and racially literate American. I mentioned something about the British empire and he looked at me blankly. “What is that exactly?” he asked.

By Afua Hirsch This isn’t a criticism of individual Americans; many British people themselves don’t know their own imperial history. It’s a feature of what is taught in schools and purveyed in the media, which is myopic. But news about the 2020 Oscars this week did bring that particular exchange back to mind. The Academy was considering a Nigerian movie called Lionheart in its best international feature film category. I watched Lionheart when it came out last year, partly because of the novelty of seeing a movie from Nigeria’s burgeoning Nollywood film industry on Netflix. Directed by and starring the Nollywood titan Genevieve Nnaji, it is a captivating look at family, class, sexism, politics and the texture of life in the Niger delta. It’s both very Nigerian and very relatable for audiences who know nothing about Nigeria. It’s incredible that Nigeria has never had an Oscars submission before, but this is a good choice for its first. Yet Lionheart has just been disqualified because there is too much English in it. In fact, Lionheart does feature the Igbo language, which millions of people in eastern Nigeria speak. But the film reflects the way many Nigerians – as former imperial British subjects – speak in real life. As in most of anglophone west Africa, education, politics and formal economic activity is conducted in English, which people interchange with the dozens – in Nigeria’s case, hundreds – of African languages that they also speak. This is the legacy of empire. And this legacy of empire, even though they were once part of it, is what some American institutions don’t seem able to comprehend.

So the American Academy expects films competing in its “international feature film” category to emphatically not be in English. Its rules are very clear on the matter, stating that “an international film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (defined as over 40 minutes) produced outside the United States of America with a predominantly non-English dialogue track”. But these rules have nonsensical implications. For example, the Algerian film Papicha, which is a favourite in the category, features a good deal of French – the language Algeria inherited from its colonisers. The message seems to be that as long as your imperial power spoke what Americans regard as a “foreign” language – in other words, anything but English – you can speak it and remain authentic. But if you share an imperial past with the US to the extent that English is your nation’s lingua franca as a result, then it is somehow less authentic to speak it. It’s ironic on so many levels. One of the reasons it’s taken African countries so long to build modern film industries is that Britain – while also imposing the use of English – made purposes, and consequently emphasised the importance of censoring anything that might have given Africans a sense of pride in their own history and heritage. Now this same colonial history is being used to shut down Africans’ against-the-odds achievements in doing just that. The takeaway message from the Oscars is that Africans from parts of the continent that were colonised by Britain must perform in an African language – regardless of how they speak naturally – in order to placate American ideas about what authentic African-ness is. It’s a new kind of reverse colonialism that is breathtaking from an awards ceremony that is still supposed to be learning the lessons from #OscarsSoWhite. The American film establishment is clearly struggling to grasp the basic idea that there are Africans who speak English. Viewers get this: Nollywood box office revenues increased by 36% last year. Streaming services get this: Netflix and China’s StarTimes are among those racing to benefit from the incredible talent and energy coming out of African film industries in Nigeria and elsewhere. And international investors get this, like the French pay TV group Canal+ which has just acquired a major Nigerian studio. But the Oscars doesn’t get it. Again. • Afua Hirsch is a Guardian columnist

a concerted effort to suppress them. The British saw the power of cinema as a crucial propaganda tool for their own www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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The Voice Achievers Award 2019 recap........

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Burkina issues warrant for ex-leader Compaore over Sankara murder By Nadoun Coulibaly & Mathieu Bonkougou

urkina Faso has issued an international arrest of warrant for ousted leader Blaise Compaore in connection with the murder of former President Thomas Sankara nearly 30 years ago, judicial sources told the press last month Reuters. The popular leader’s 1987 murder is one of the most infamous assassinations of Africa’s turbulent post-independence period, and Burkina Faso’s interim government has pledged to solve it now and forever so that a closure can be brought to the murder

of the former President. A body believed to be Sankara’s was exhumed earlier this year and an autopsy showed it was riddled with bullets, strengthening assertions that he was executed in the 1987 coup that brought Compaore to power. Compaore himself was driven from power last October by crowds opposing his bid to change the West African country’s constitution and extend his 27-year rule. He fled to neighbouring Ivory Coast, where he is now thought to be based. “I confirm that an international arrest warrant was issued against (ex-) President Blaise Compaore by the investigating judge,” Prosper Farama, a lawyer for Sankara’s family, told international media. He said the charges were murder and

complicity in the assassination, among others. Two other judicial sources who requested anonymity confirmed the warrant, which they said was issued early this month. A Burkina government spokesman was not available for comment. Bruno Kone, Ivory Coast’s government spokesman, said, “The government has not been notified. We have nothing official and no comment to make.” The charges against Compaore mark a major step in the case as interim authorities prepare to hand over power to former prime minister Roch Marc Kabore, winner of a November presidential election. Sankara took power in a coup in 1983 and pursued a philosophy of Marxism and pan-Africanism that led him to be called “Africa’s Che Guevara.” Many African intellectuals view him as a visionary leader.

Another family lawyer said that a team of French investigators had failed to identify DNA from samples of a corpse presumed to be Sankara. The family has two weeks to seek a second expert opinion. At least 10 others have already been charged in connection with his murder. They include General Gilbert Diendere, who led a failed coup in September. Additional reporting by Joe Bavier in Abidjan; Writing by Emma Farge; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Toni Reinhold

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Eliud Kipchoge finished a marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds, first man to do so

ast month, Eliud Kipchoge finished a marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds - an audacious feat that no one had ever accomplished before. Kipchoge is from the Kenyan Rift Valley region.

A day after he made history, Brigid Kosgei destroyed the women’s world record at the Chicago Marathon. She’s also from the Kenyan Rift Valley. And in the New York Marathon last month, a Kenyan rookie

took down her country’s rock star in the women’s race. Joyciline Jepkosgei ruined countrywoman Mary Keitany’s chance at a fifth women’s title in the contest, but the latter

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came in second. And Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor won the men’s race, his second NYC Marathon victory. They’re all from the Rift Valley region. And people are taking note -- marathoners from all over the world go there to train before major races. East Africans especially Kenyans and Ethiopians have dominated marathons for decades, dashing across finish lines as their exhausted competitors barely made it. In the process, they’ve toppled their own records or those of their fellow citizens. Kenyan marathon runners are such a phenomenon that research organizations have done studies on why they dominate long distance races. And experts say it’s mixture of several things. Most of the elite runners are from the same region Most Kenyan elite runners hail from the same ethnic groups known as the Kalenjins and the Nandis. The groups make up just 10% of the nation’s population of 50 million but bring in a majority of the nation’s marathon medals. “Internationally, Kalenjin runners have won close to 73% of all Kenyan gold medals and a similar percentage of silver medals at major international running competitions,” says Vincent O. Onywera, a professor of exercise and sports science at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. They’ve passed on the passion for running across generations, turning the Rift Valley especially the small town of Iten into a mecca for the nation’s elite long distance runners. There, children start running at a young age. A lot of the young people from these areas grow up surrounded by successful runners. Most of them look at running as a way to make money, says coach Bernard Ouma, who trains elite Kenyan runners. “You see your neighbor run and win, it motivates you to run and win,” he says. As a result, their communities have a deep tradition of running excellence built over the years.

They train and live in a high-altitude area. Most of the Kenyan runners who dominate marathons worldwide train and live in the high-altitude of Rift Valley. Iten, one of the towns that produces elite runners, sits nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in Western Kenya. Training at high altitudes contributes to a running dominance that makes running at lower elevation child’s play, Onywera says. “There is a widespread belief in the athletic community that altitude training can enhance sea level athletic performance, with at least three independent studies demonstrating that altitude training increases both sea level maximal oxygen consumption and running performance,” he says. Then there’s diet and constant motivation. Iten has become known internationally as the place where long distance champions are made. So much so, runners from around the world go there to train before major races. Running aficionado and author Adharanand Finn spent a lot of time in the town trying to find out the secret to Kenyan marathon runners. “I had a lifelong fascination with the uninhibited running style of the Kenyans and had always wanted to know the story behind their incredible athletes. I wanted to know what their lives were like. And when I saw there was no book, or at that time no films, on the subject, I decided to go there and write one.” His book, “Running with the Kenyans,” gives more insight into what he found out. And there is no one major secret, he says. “As the famed coach of David Rudisha, Brother Colm O’Connell, says, the only secret is that there’s no secret. It’s not one thing but a perfect storm of elements that come together in Kenya’s Rift Valley region to make the people there so strong at distance running,” Finn says. There’s the location, the way of life, the environment. “For a start, you have the altitude, the tough rural upbringing and the fact that children run around everywhere. Then there is the simple diet, the lack of junk food, and the perfect

running terrain --- rolling hills, dirt roads --- all over the place,” he says. And if that doesn’t lure you in, there’s the proximity to international elite runners to motivate anyone. “Running offers a great chance to make good money, to transform lives, even to transform whole communities,” Finn says. “This is compounded by the hundreds of role models everywhere. Almost every village has someone who has come back from ‘abroad’ with winnings, and these stars are very accessible and open to supporting the younger athletes.” As a result, everyone who can run, aspires to be a runner, he says. “You end up with thousands of people training together, pushing each other, helping each other, inspiring each other. This attracts agents, sponsors, coaches ... and it keeps getting

bigger. With all this impetus, some great athletes are going to emerge out the other end,” he says. “So really, it’s not a simple answer.” Some have wondered whether genes play a role. There’s so much speculation on why Kenyans and Ethiopians keep crushing marathon competitions, the phenomenon has long been a subject of study. Organizations such as the British Journal of Sports Medicine have concluded that it’s unclear whether genes have anything to do with it. “The periodic domination of middle and long distance running by different regions of the world is not a new phenomenon,” it says. “Researchers are yet to confirm a genetic or physiological advantage in being a middle or long distance runner of East African origin, and it is most likely that the reasons for their success are many.” And while many physiological and anatomical factors have been suggested to explain the East African dominance, research has not revealed any definitive advantage, the study says. So the Kenyans will continue to dominate the distance running for more years to come. www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

After making Olympic history, Nigeria seeks more bobsled talent Women’s bobsleigh team made Olympic history as the first Africans to compete. Now, a race is on to popularise the sport in Nigeria as reported by Tolu Olasoji. Lagos, Nigeria - On a warm September morning in Lagos, as more than 30 Nigerian athletes prepared to take part in the country’s maiden bobsled and skeleton tryouts, Seun Adigun was there to encourage them. “Just be an athlete,” she told them, reassuringly. Adigun, born in Chicago to Nigerian parents, is the first African to have competed in both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games. She represented Nigeria on both occasions, in 2012 in London for the women’s 100-metre hurdles and in 2018 in PyeongChang as part of the women’s bobsled team. “It is heart first, passion, dedication and athleticism,” Adigun, 32, told the Al Jazeera crew. “Athleticism [will] come, that can be trained but you can’t coach someone to have passion, you can’t coach them to be dedicated, you can’t coach them to have heart and you can’t coach them to move with integrity or commitment and those are the things we are looking for.” Footballers, sprinters and basketball players all came to try out for the frozen-track sports at the National Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial centre. The aim of the talent-scouting event, which was called The Fastest Pusher, was to recruit more athletes for the 2022

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Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and in turn, popularise the sports in Nigeria. In a few months, the most successful athletes could be training in rather unfamiliar climates. Participant Nafeesat Aliu, a runner and hurdler, admitted to having no experience in either bobsled or skeleton but said she was inspired by Adigun’s pep talk. She emerged as the “fastest pusher”, leaving the stadium with gifts from the sponsors and a chance at a bobsled career. “I have this mindset that if I train, possibly within months I will get better and then be at the medal table,” she said. “[Adigun] summoned the courage to start participating in bobsled and it’s a big win for her, every girl would want to be like her.” Adigun’s story has inspired many in Nigeria. Despite having suffered from tachycardia and other medical conditions as a teenager, she excelled in track and field and later was a central founding member of the three-member Nigerian women bobsled team in 2016, the same year the team came into being, she started a successful crowd funding campaign to source the $75,000 needed for an Olympic bid. Before the 2018 games, Adigun was in Texas and studying to be a chiropractor and completing a master’s degree in fitness and human performance. Her teammates Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omega were also busy with education and work respectively. Between them, they were short of time and had no access to standard facilities and equipment. But with dedication and assistance from donors, they arrived full of hope at the games in South Korea in February last year. Alongside skeleton athlete Simidele Adeagbo, they hoisted Nigeria’s flag for the first time in 84 years after the maiden games were held. While football is Nigeria’s most popular sport, with the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s men’s national team enjoying support nationwide, Adigun believes there is still room for frozen-track sports.

“Honestly, we respect the sports in their various respective lanes but we are not competing with football, we are competing alongside them,” she said. “We are just trying to highlight the other types of talents that are in the country because not everybody is the best football player. The football players that we have now are amazing at what they do, but also they are not bobsledders or skeleton athletes. We are trying to create more opportunities for Nigerians.” Emeka Enyadike, a broadcaster and the director of Digital Sports Africa, believes bobsled and skeleton could become popular. “Through social media, we can get it done, and I think [the Nigerian women bobsled team] achieved a bit of it already with what they did in the last Winter Olympics,” Enyadike told Al Jazeera. “The good thing is that with some of these sports, even if we don’t have the facilities for winter, you can train off track and look for sponsorship. “It can be big in Nigeria.”. On October 1 last year, a new male bobsled team was announced, comprising three Nigerians and one based in Austria. The sport is considered more seriously in the diaspora than in the country. After the recent tryouts, Chisom Mbonu-Ezeoke, the Bobsled & Skeleton Federation of Nigeria spokesperson, told Al Jazeera: “Hopefully once they join the team, then people begin to see that this is not a sport for Nigerians in the diaspora or Nigerians with dual citizenship or American-

Nigerians. “It’s a sport for all Nigerians and we hope that that would get fans aboard ahead of 2022.” Nigeria, a sub-Saharan country that does not have winters, plans to recruit athletes who may have never experienced snow - according to Adigun, this is a challenge.

“We’re dealing with a sub-Saharan temperature and we are going to deal with subzero temperatures, so it’s going to be difficult to retain people when they hit the cold,” she said. The plan is to have them learn the technique first.

Adigun, who lives in the United States, and Netherlandsbased Akwasi Frimpong, a Ghanaian pacesetter in skeleton who came to help out in Nigeria, are unable to keep visiting Nigeria to train new athletes, so a coaching clinic was organised before the tryouts, with trained coaches mostly from track and field events. “We’d also set up seminars and educate [the coaches] on the ground here in Nigeria,” Adigun said. Bobsled and skeleton are expensive sports. A hi-tech sleigh costs about $55,000 and getting team members to train on the ice would be a costly mission. “Sponsorship is very important,” said Koye Sowemimo, managing director of Temple Sports, an African sport management company. “The recent development means more funds would be needed.” While the team made history at the Winter Olympic Games last year as the first Africans to compete in the bobsleigh event, they did not win any medals despite hurtling down ice tunnels at more than 97 kilometres per hour (60 miles per hour). Overall, they were last in the women’s bobsleigh. Jamaica was just behind them, while Germany won. But it is just the beginning. “The hope is not only to continue to increase the awareness of the sport in the country but also in the continent and also let people know,” said Adigun, “that we can do this sport, even in Nigeria.”

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South Africa’s remarkable Rugby World Cup win over England. (3rd world title, 1995, 2017 & 2019)

akazole Mapimpi is being hailed as South Africa’s drought breaker after scoring the Springboks’ first try in a Rugby World Cup final at the third attempt. Remarkably, South Africa had gone 245 minutes without scoring a World Cup final try until Mapimpi touched down in the 66th minute against England in Yokohama. The Springboks beat England 32-12 to retain their proud record of having never lost a Rugby World Cup final following earlier triumphs in 1995 and 2007. They shut out England for the full 80 minutes - for the second time in two Rugby World Cup final meetings - and have now gone 260 minutes without conceding a World Cup final try. South Africa beat the All Blacks 1512 after extra-time in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in a 100-minute epic at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park. Joel Stransky kicked three penalties and slotted two dropped goals to three penalties and a field goal by All Blacks opposite Andrew

Mehrtens. Four penalties to Percy Montgomery and a long-range goal by Francois Steyn gave the Springboks a 15-6 win over England in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in Paris, France.

Steyn - a 20-year-old in 2007 came off the bench in the second half of the Springboks’ victory in Yokohama. Now 32, Steyn joins loosehead prop Os du Randt as the only Springbok with two Rugby World Cup winners medals. England have twice failed to break the Springboks’ defence in World Cup finals. They had to rely on two Jonny Wilkinson penalties for their sole scores in 2007 while skipper Owen Farrell kicked four goals in Yokohama. Mapimpi’s try enabled the Springbok speedster to join Wales wing Josh Adams as the World Cup tournament’s top try-scorer with six touchdowns in six games.

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It capped a remarkable rise for the 29-year-old, who only made his Super Rugby debut two years ago. From a poor township in the rural Eastern Cape, Mapimpi was playing first division rugby for the East London-based Border Bulldogs in the Currie Cup till he got his break with the Southern Kings. “There is nobody in my family who played rugby,” he told World Rugby’s news service on the eve of the final. “I am the first and only one for now.” Springboks assistant-coach Mzwandile Stick told World Rugby that Mapimpi had “a very special story to tell”. “As a youngster, he would walk 10km a day to school. It’s a nice story to tell to youngsters that, irrespective of your background, if you work really hard and your opportunity comes, you need to be ready.” Stick described Mapimpi - who scored 13 tries in his first 12 tests after his 2018 debut - as the most improved player in the Springboks over the past year. Mapimpi was followed across the try-line in Yokohama by fellow wing Cheslin Kolbe, who has been nominated for World Rugby player of the year alongside Springboks

Dutch Olympian jailed after 110 pounds of drugs found in car Madiea Ghafoor has been sentenced to jail for drug charges. Dutch Olympian, Madiea Ghafoor has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail after being found with more than 110 pounds of drugs in her car. The 27-year-old had about 110 pounds of ecstasy and about 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine in her possession when she was stopped at a routine border check in Germany in June 2019. The athlete, who competed in the 4x400m relay at 2016 Rio Olympics, was found guilty of drug smuggling offenses in a court in Kleve, Germany. Ghafoor said she had thought the drugs were doping materials as she desperately sought to improve her career, the court confirmed the press. However, she would not reveal who had supplied her with the substances over fears for her family’s safety. The Dutch Athletics Union said it was “stunned” by the judgments and said the case has been transferred to the

blindside flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit. The President of South Africa was among the joyous fans.

doping authorities. “With the ruling of the German court, the Athletics Union has obtained clarity regarding the question of guilt and rejects the actions of Ghafoor,” read a statement. “The Athletics Union condemns any use or trade in doping or drugs and fully commits itself to the Dutch Doping Law. “We regret the situation that has arisen for Madiea Ghafoor and her family.”