The Voice magazine

ISSN:2588-8807

ISSN:1571-3466

Motto: Actuated towards Africa’s advancement

Volume 21. NO. 188. October 2019

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First complete African magazine published in The Netherlands since August 1999

Air Peace Boss,

Allen Onyema:

A man with a big heart for humanity

Abiy wins Nobel prize for Peace

The Voice magazine celebrates

20 years Anniversary on 23rd Nov. 2019 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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Contents GET MORE ADVERTISING VALUE

FROM THE VOICE MAGAZINE

The Voice Magazine Volume 21. No 188 October 2019 Edition

We saw it coming Congrats PM Abiy Ahmed

Get fast results by advertising with us.

Call us today on +31684999548 or +31648519292 E-mail: info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Page 5 – Appreciation to Equatorial Guinea Page 10- Editorial: Xenophobia: South Africa calls out leaders of ‘degraded’ Page 12 - Remarks by Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency, Dr. William Samoei Ruto of Kenya.

Page 13 -Abiy wins Nobel prize for Peace Pages 14 & 15 - Remarks by His Excellency, High Commissioner Bernado Constantino Lidimba of The Republic of Mozambique on behalf of the First lady of Mozambique.

Page 16 - African First Ladies launch “Hands off our Girls” Campaign Page 17 - Uganda’s Solomon Serwanjja wins BBC World News Komla Dumor award Pages 18 & 19 - Every great move forward in life begins with a leap of faith says Musician Slimhussle.

Pages 20-24 - Feedback from the award 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya Page 25 - Join us in celebrating some African countries independence anniversary Page 26 - Rwanda welcomes first group of African refugees from Libya Page 27 – Poultry farming better than paid employment –EkunayoOluwa Pages 28 & 29 - Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe gets his final wish: No hero’s burial for him Pages 32 & 33 - Air Peace Boss, Allen Onyema: A man with a big heart for humanity Page 34 - Governor Sanwo-Olu hosts Dutch Envoy, Says Lagos is Open for Investment Page 35 – Social Entrepreneur Lydia Tett Olet Wins recognition Pages 36-39 - President Yoweri Museveni officially opened the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference Pages 40 – 48 - The first Voice Achievers Award in Nairobi, Kenya (Photos) Pages 58 & 59 - Uganda Airlines relaunches nearly 20 years after it vanished Pages 60-63 - The Voice Kenya business summit & networking was a huge success.

Pages 64 & 65 - Tribute to Late Robert Mugabe Pages 66 & 67 - Women Empowerment conference will take place in Dubai from 23rd and 24th October 2019 Pages 68 & 70- Sports stories

Mr. Elias Obanyi Makori, Group Sports Editor of Nation Group of Media in Kenya was an awardee but call of duty kept him away from the award ceremony. Early the following morning, he was in my hotel to receive his prestigious award. A man dedicated to his work and service to his employers.

Congratulations Mr. Elias Makori

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Appreciation to Equatorial Guinea

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met recently with the Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the Netherlands and designated to the European Union and other European countries including Turkey and now United Kingdom, Ambassador Carmelo Nvono Nca. We discussed on the various progressive happenings in his country and the effort of his President, His Excellency, President Teodero Obiang Nguema to maintain peace and development of the African continent.

We also exchanged ideas on common interest on how to continue to maintain the African

story which we have to tell ourselves.

We share notes of the successful holding of the First African The Voice Achievers Award 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. He was very appreciative of our modest effort to continue to promote Africa. We also spoke on the future of having the Voice Achievers Award in his country, a subject we have discussed since 2015 and we look forward to 2020. You also need to start getting ready so when the call comes, you are ready. The Voice and its team are moving to another level after 20 years.

You will hear more about it soon.

Thank you Your Excellency for being a good listening ear. Happy Independence Day celebration to you and your people.

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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) 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 188

October 2019 www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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Editorial: Xenophobia: South Africa calls out leaders of ‘degraded’ African countries

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e at the Voice News magazine condemn in totality all forms of discriminations, attacks of persons and properties as witnessed in recent months in South Africa, no one has the right to kill any other person by virtue of your country of origin and place of residence.

South Africa has played host to all people since the turn of political change of power to a majority government under the ANC with the election of Late Nelson Mandela. Although it is not the first time such incidents had been recorded but this time around, it seem well coordinated and intended to send a clear message to these other African countries who are finding South Africa as a new greener pasture instead of the deadly attempt to get to Europe to beware that South Africa is faced with its own challenges and the government is not addressing them in the proper way by engaging the issues of unemployment and deprivation of large majority of the population. The political class is getting more corrupt at the expense of the population. The attacks undermined the bigger problem of a striving economy like that of South Africa but not catering for the majority of his black and poor population despite enjoying over twenty years of black rule after the fall of apartheid in South Africa. Who do we blame for this ugly and unacceptable development? The ANC government led from Late Dr. Nelson Mandela to the current President, Cyril Ramaphosa. He has been reluctant to address these problem until the people took the laws into their hands.

A twit to the problem is raised by South Africa’s minister in charge of International Relations, Naledi Pandor who called on leaders across the continent to take collective responsibility for the recent xenophobic attacks. Her argument is simply the question of why are people leaving their own countries if like is better there? ‘‘The condition of our continent must change, and we must send a clear message to our leaders that we expect this change not just in South Africa but in all the countries on the African continent,’‘ Pandor said. ‘‘No leader should be allowed to get away with allowing degradation and expecting someone else to provide a response to their countrymen and women.’‘ One of the reason the European Union is also shutting down all their borders to African immigrants; Africa should address the problem of why people are leaving. As a kid, in the early 70s and 80s, Africans travel abroad to study and return Pastor Elvis Iruh back immediately after their Editor-in-Chief studies to their country of origin to start work there. Nobody wanted to live in a foreign country; United Kingdom will

testify to how many Nigerians did returned home despite opportunities to work in the UK. The reverse is the case now; they do not only want to study abroad but to permanently settle in those countries.

We do not see the possibility stopping people from traveling to other countries particularly in Africa, we still have a large number of Nigerian students studying in South Africa; as far as you have a growing and progressive economic, it would attract foreigners; in many cases they are cheaper for the labour market to hire. The same is for Nigeria, there are many foreigners living and working in Nigeria. In the 80s, Nigeria expel Ghanaians from the country but that still did not stop the movement of people and now Nigerians are the ones being expel from Ghana. The dispute had been resolved as it is nearly impossible to stop movement of people.

Therefore we are using this medium to appeal to governments of South Africa and Nigeria to find an amicable solution and stop these attacks on each other citizens as we are need each other in Africa. If we do this to one another, what type of reception do we expect from the European and Arab nations?

Libya has been very hostile to other Africans in the past years after civil war broke out in that country. Many seem to have forgotten other African nationals stranded in that country.

Recently Rwanda offered refuge for some of them to return back to Rwanda where they are offered opportunity to live and work as far as they would be love abiding citizens.

It is a well development that South Africa has officially apologized to the Nigerian government through a special envoy sent to meet President Buhari to apologize over the recent xenophobic attacks. The special envoy, Jeff Radebe told president Muhammadu Buhari that the attacks on foreigners do not represent South Africa’s “value system, nor those of the larger number of South Africans”. Radebe regretted the loss of life during the attacks in which 8 South Africans and 2 Zimbabweans were killed, adding that his country is committed to peace and integration of the continent.

We would like to caution here on the reports on the social media which also flame up the anger; some of the images posted as attacks on Nigerians or other Africans in Johannesburg where incidents from unrelated crimes and many for that reason concluded that many Nigerians were killed in the attacks. No Nigerian was killed but their businesses and properties were touched. With world condemnation of this recent attacks, it would be a warning to South Africa or any other country for that matter that this would not be tolerated in any form or shape.

God bless Africa

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SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR

Remarks by Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, EGH, EBS. Deputy President, The Republic of Kenya

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astor Elvis Iruh and the entire the Voice Achievers fraternity, distinguished awardees present here this evening and those who are not here, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. (Public responded). When I was asked to participate in this event, my office and staff wanted to know the background of this Voice Achievers Awards but when I saw that a Pastor was the main person behind the award and when I look at the list of the awardees, I was persuaded that this event deserves my attendance.

I want to say congratulations to all the awardees and I want to confirm these awardees I know are truly heroes’, heroines that deserve the awards they are given tonight.

Let me just say two things, Elvis and your team, thank you very much for believing in Africa. (Applaud). You have not only taken out time to look out for Africans who are distinguished in what they do but you have also brought this event to Africa. (Applause). Thank you very much. We have shortage of good news in Africa and always, it is rare to find a person or organization that believes that there is something good in this continent. Thank you Elvis for being one of the few who believes in the greatness of this continent. The main prejudice and mischief stories about this continent, a continent ravaged by diseases, a continent ravaged by poverty, theft, corruption and many negative issues around this continent but it is pleasantly surprising that in the midst of all that we have men and women in this continent who deserve to be recognized. Thank you Elvis for identifying some of them.

Congratulations to our spiritual fathers, congratulations our business people, congratulations to you Angel, you are wonderful. I know Kevin Mulei for example, who was in my office few days ago, I had an appointment with him because he is an outstanding young Kenyan. He deserves the award he has received tonight and many others, PLO Lumumba, Hon. Ababu, my honorable Member of Parliament from Eldoret, Dr. Swarup among many others. On behalf of myself and the government of Kenya, to all the awardees our very big congratulations and I would remind you the words of the Bible, Galatians 6:10 which says do not be tired of doing good. Now that you have been identified to be outstanding, continue to do the good you have been doing. Thank you very much and God bless you.

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Waiting for others to hold a meeting

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister wins 2019 Nobel Peace prize

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he Nobel Peace Prize comes to Africa for the second year running as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, His Excellency Abiy Ahmed wins the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Few months ago, he made the cover of the Voice news magazine (NO 175, August 2018 edition). Just a year later, he has been named as the winner of the most prestigious peace award in the world.

“Peace does not arise from the actions of one party alone. When Prime Minister Abiy reached out his hand, President Afwerki grasped it, and helped to formalize the peace process between the two countries. The Norwegian Nobel committee hopes the peace agreement will help to bring about positive change for the entire populations of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In Ethiopia, even if much work remains, Abiy Ahmed has initiated important reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future in the country. He spent his first 100 days as Prime Minister lifting the country’s state of emergency, granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinuing media censorship, legalizing outlawed opposition groups, dismissing military and civilian leaders who were suspected of corruption, and significantly increasing the influence of women in Ethiopian political and community life. He has also pledged to strengthen democracy by holding free and fair elections.

In the wake of the peace process with Eritrea, Prime Minister Abiy has engaged in other peace and reconciliation processes in East and Northeast Africa. In September 2018, he and his government contributed actively to the normalization of diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Djibouti after many years of political hostility. Additionally, Abiy Ahmed has sought to mediate between Kenya and Somalia in their protracted conflict over rights to a disputed marine area. There is now hope for a resolution to this conflict. In Sudan, the military regime and the opposition have returned to the negotiating table. On the 17th of August, they released a joint draft of a new constitution intended to secure a peaceful transition to civil rule in the country. Prime Minister Abiy played a key role in the process that led to the agreement.

Ethiopia is a country of many different languages and peoples. Lately, old ethnic rivalries have flared up. According to international observers, up to three million Ethiopians may be internally displaced. That is in addition to the million or so refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries. As Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has sought to promote reconciliation, solidarity and social justice.

However, many challenges remain unresolved. Ethnic strife continues to escalate, and we have seen troubling examples of this in recent months. No doubt some people will think this year’s prize is being awarded too early. The Norwegian Nobel committee believes it is now that Abiy Ahmed’s efforts deserve recognition and need encouragement.

The Norwegian Nobel committee hopes that the Nobel Peace Prize will strengthen Prime Minister Abiy in his important work for peace and reconciliation. Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country and has East Africa’s largest economy. A peaceful, stable and successful Ethiopia will have many positive side-effects, and will help to strengthen fraternity among nations and peoples in the region. With the provisions of Alfred Nobel’s will firmly in mind, the Norwegian Nobel committee sees Abiy Ahmed as the person who in the preceding year has done the most to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019” Nobel Committee.

Congratulations to Prime Minister Abiy, the people of Ethiopia and Africa in general. It is a recognition that our cover story agreed with – Africa has a new progressive leader n Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia.

Remarks by His Excellency, High Commissioner Bernado Constantino Lidimba of The Republic of Mozambique on the occasion of reception of the ‘African Heroine Award 2019’, representing Her Excellency, Dr. Isaura Nyusi, First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique

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is Excellency, Honorable William Ruto, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya His Excellency, Honorable Raila Odinga Honorable Pastor Ambassador Elvis Iruh Distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen I come in the name of Her Excellency, Dr. Isaura Ferrao Nyusi, First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique to thank the Voice magazine and the Achievers Award for the honorable distinction we have just received. Special thanks goes to Pastor Ambassador Elvis Iruh for his effort to make this event a reality.

I would also like to thank and congratulate the Government and people of Kenya for hosting the 2019 awards Gala in this beautiful city of Nairobi.

Nairobi is a legendary city of talents that has been known to the continually projected at the global level. We know that it is for the first time this kind of event takes place in Africa, and Nairobi is the first city to host it.

We also want to congratulate all those present here, to receive awards in this context.

My task is simple, Dr. Isaura Nyusi has mandated me to convey to you that she receives this award with much humility and affection, because it symbolizes recognition of

the Mozambican people’s engagement in actions aimed at achieving demographic dividends and reducing vulnerability indices by empowering human capital. We are aware that this is still one of the great challenges facing our country.

On the other hand, we want to consolidate the peace process so that the creativity and participation of Mozambicans in governance lead to the development of the country.

Today, as we receive this dedication, we feel more and more encouraged in what we do in the day to day in fulfilling our national agenda for the promotion of sustainable development.

To conclude, one again on behalf of Her Excellency, First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique to thank this great gesture of the Voice Achievers Award for the honor that was given to us.

Muito Obrigado a todos Thank you all Asante Sana, Mungu Akubariki

Excellency, Honorable William Ruto, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya presents the award to Her Excellency, Dr. Isaura Ferrao Nyusi, First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique represented by the Mozambique High Commissioner to Kenya 14

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Her Excellency, Dr. Isaura Ferrao Nyusi, First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique dedicates her award to the people of her country

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African First Ladies launch “Hands off our Girls” Campaign

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irst Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio convened a High Level Meeting on Advancing Campaign on the Reduction of Early Marriage and Rape in Africa on the Margins of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly. The event held at the Roosevelt Hotel, New York.

Those who spoke at the event include Prof.

Akinwumi Adesina of African Development Bank, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus of World Health Organization, Dereje Wordofa of UN Population Fund and Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone.

At the end of the event, the African First ladies launched a campaign “Hands off our girls” and issued a communique containing demands including the rights of women and girls to be equal partners in development, to be seen and heard, to economic empowerment, to universal health care and the right to justice.

“We want the right to live freely from all forms of gender-based violence including early marriage and rape, we stand together to say Hands off our girls” the document revealed.

It would be remembered that last year, First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Buhari launched the “Leave our daughters alone” campaign on the aftermath of frequent abductions, rape and violence against women. The event, which held at the National Center for Women Development, Abuja, reverberated around the country and led to a national workshop on gender-based violence.

She was represented at the New York event

by Dr. Hajo Sani, Senior Special Assistant to the President as well as other officials.

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Uganda’s Solomon Serwanjja wins BBC World News Komla Dumor award

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gandan investigative reporter and news anchor Solomon Serwanjja has won the 2019 BBC World News Komla Dumor Award.

Serwanjja is a presenter at Uganda’s NBS TV, where he hosts one of the channel’s prime-time shows. He has also produced award-winning reports, including one for BBC’s Africa Eye programme about the illegal sale of prescription drugs.

The award was created to honour late Komla Dumor, a presenter for BBC World News, who died suddenly at the age of 41 in 2014. Dumor was the face of BCC in Africa despite he lived and work in London.

Solomon Serwanjja is the fifth winner of the award, following in the footsteps of Waihiga Mwaura, Amina Yuguda, Didi Akinyelure and fellow Ugandan Nancy Kacungira.

As part of the prize, he will spend three months at the BBC office in London and travel back to the continent to report on a story there.

He is a well-known journalist and his passion for investigative journalism highlighted his desire to make positive change in his native Uganda. Although it has brought him into trouble a few times already with the police in his native country

of Uganda and detained also.

“Komla brought so much to the African narrative - his perspective was a breath of fresh air, as he believed Africa was rising and that the world needed to see the continent from a different angle,” said Serwanjja.

“His reports always struck a chord with me, and I feel the same passion for our continent that he demonstrated. I want to continue his legacy by telling stories that cast a spotlight not only on the critical challenges we face in Africa, but also the progress and successes that have been made.”

Serwanjja impressed judges with not only with his eloquence and passion for telling African stories, but also with his commitment and bravery in uncovering what’s in the public interest.

Jamie Angus, director of BBC World Service Group, said: “To recognise and empower some of Africa’s leading talent in journalism, in honour of Komla, is really important to us.

“Komla’s reporting made a huge impact with audiences all over the world, and we’re excited to have Solomon at the BBC, to harness Komla’s commitment to telling African stories.”

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Every great move forward in life begins with a leap of faith and sometimes the only transportation is a leap of faith says Musician Slimhussle.

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his young man story will interest you as you read his interview. He was born in Nigeria, he lived part of his life in Ghana and now resident of South Africa where he is pursuing his musical career and other business activities. Despite all the challenges many Africans are faced in South Africa, he is finding a place for himself to do what he passionately belief God has called him to do. He goes by the stage name ‘Slimhussle’. He is a star to watch out for in the next few years as he is working up the ladder through hard work.

He granted this interview with our Editor-in-Chief, Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh after all the reports of attacks and killings in South Africa.

Enjoy his interview please TV: Let us get to know you.

A bit about yourself and your background?

SlimHussle: I’m an inspired, Selfmotivated, creative, humble, driven, goal oriented and a free spirited independent Artist/rapper. I was born into a Christian home, raised by a single mother who did her very best to raise me right. Being raised by a strong single mother made me who I am today, and I will forever be grateful.

Growing up as a child, things were pretty tight. Only money could have relieved the pressure on my mother’s shoulder at the time. Although she had two jobs but it didn’t seem add up, there is no stress quite like financial insecurity. My strong, single mother taught me that while money doesn’t buy happiness, but it does matter. And remembering that truth has propelled me to work very hard and make certain I could provide for my family independently. I truly appreciate every single parent out there doing their very best to provide nurturance and sustenance for their kids.

TV: Where do you come from in Africa?

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SlimHussle: I’m originally from the Southern part of Nigeria, Delta State precisely in Nigeria.

TV: You presently live in South Africa and how long have you lived in this country and how did you immigrate to this country?

SlimHussle: Yes I’m currently living in the city of Johannesburg South Africa. Previously I lived in Ghana but it wasn’t an ideal place for me to promote my music properly to the level and height that I plan to reach. There is no proper motivation and platforms for artist who does the kind of music I make, I believe to succeed in whatever you do, where you are based plays a vital role to that so I left because I felt stuck there.

Leaving Ghana was a BIG step towards realizing my dreams and I’m glad I took that step, every great move forward in life begins with a leap of faith and sometimes the only transportation is a leap of faith.

TV: What do you do for a living as I see from your profile, you are a young man of many parts – a musician and aspiring writer?

SlimHussle: Yes I do a lot, music & writing are some of the things that I’m tremendously passionate about. I have learned to be both an Artist & an Entrepreneur.

TV: How have you coped living outside of your motherland in terms of challenges faced by Nigerians in particular in South Africa?

SlimHussle: I have lived and survived in worse places. I don’t think there is any place in this world that I cannot live and survive as long as there are people living there. I believe in God and I believe he directs my every steps, so as long as God is with me, I’m not afraid of whatever lies ahead of me.

TV: What is your impression of Africans development using your country of origin as a yardstick?

SlimHussle: Truthfully not so much has changed out there. It has been quite a long time since I left my home country and returning back home I realized that there has not been so much developments and improvements, in terms of health care, the educational system, security, the government and the economy.

There’s a lot that needs to be done and I think they really should focus on the root of the major African problems which comes down to bad and poor leadership.

TV: Are you still in contact with your country of origin in Africa and if yes, what contribution do you make towards its advancement?

SlimHussle: Honestly I really do not pay much attention to the things going on there. I only keep in touch with my family down there and that’s just about it.

TV: Many African countries are still rated poor and underdeveloped! What can we do differently to change the narratives?

SlimHussle: I think the leaders of Africa has to do better to initiate real change in the African countries, 70% of African countries are rated poor and 90% are rated underdeveloped if I’m not mistaken, and this is very sad because Africa produces about 30% of the world’s income. Africa is super blessed, like I said it all comes down to bad and poor leadership.

TV: Are you a story teller or a writer, you often send to us very inspirational quotes, what type of things do you like to write about?

SlimHussle: I believe that the highest of human act is to inspire, so I’m trying to live my life to be an inspiration to other people. I want someone to look at me and say because

of you I didn’t give up. I’m a writer that tell stories because I believe that my story can inspires others. I write more of inspirational stuffs. I’m in the process of launching my first book. It’s a non-fictional (self-help) book titled “The other side of fear” It enlightens about fear and how fear can hold you back if you let it. Fear is a powerful force that can keep you stuck, unable to achieve your meaningful dreams & worthwhile goals. Too many people are living in a self-made prison of their own fears. Although fear can be a tool that we can implement to make better decisions but you don’t have to let fear deprive you of the life you deserve.

This book will inspire you to turn your fears into actions, action is the only thing that can cure fear, if you don’t take actions and push forward you will never transcend your fears. You overcome fear by gradually practicing the things that you have been afraid of doing. And every great move forward in life begins with a leap of faith, you must take a bold step into the unknown. Life begins at the end of our comfort zones, understand that the only thing you need to conquer are your own fears, because the fears you fail to face becomes your life. My Music is available in all digital streaming platforms worldwide, I have a new video out, you can find the link on my social media pages. You can find me on Instagram (slimdking) on Facebook is (SlimHussle) and on twitter (DakingSlim) www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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Feedback from the award 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya The Certificate of “Distinguished Career Award” meant so much to me Dear Pastor Elvis and the Voice of Award Committee,

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” meant so much to me, especially coming after my 44 years of my accomplished service as a Judge both at national and international level. May I also thank you for honoring my daughter Connie Aluoch, a distinguished fashion stylist per excellence! My husband, Dr. Joseph Aluoch, and the entire family are very grateful to you for honoring me and Connie at the same function.

You gave me the impetus and the spirit to continue working hard in my new role as a Mediator, and assist parties to resolve their disputes without resorting to the court process, so as to maintain their relationships.

Kenya is such a beautiful country that I hope you will take some time to enjoy the goodies that it offers.

Have a great time in Kenya and take some time off to enjoy our country.

Lady Justice Aluoch.

Nairobi, Kenya

I am humbly grateful for the recognition I was amazed to have been called by His Excellency the Ambassador Esipisu Manoah of Kenya in UK to appreciate and acknowledge the award I received in Kenya. (Diaspora Woman of the year Award). I am supper humbled really humbled and once more thank you to everyone who saw me worthy of this award. To my friend Emma Atess Tieni Teema who was with me in Kenya and also the Embassy, God supper bless you, not forgetting Maureen Aluoch-Garrett, Becky Nyagweth Fisher, Saro Kate for their support. Ndubuisi Elvis Iruh, Abeka Salmin Abdallah and the entire team and the organizers of The Voice Achievers Award congratulations once more and thank you.

IT CAN ONLY BE GOD. Lydia Tett Olet

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The ceremony was great! It was amazing! I thank God who saved me in the Genocide Dear Pastor Elvis, I thank you so much for confirming my name on the list of awardees. It was a surprise to me and a comfort which showed me that our labor of love is not in vain here on Earth and in Heaven. The ceremony was great! It was amazing! I thank God who saved me in the Genocide. I thank Anne Marie who connected me to you! May God bless you! We are now a family , yes, I will continue to communicate with you in our activities of serving to the communities and sharing our experiences!

Greetings from my son Dieudonne who was with me!

Franche collaboration!

Beata Mukarubuga Kigali, Rwanda

Many thanks, Pastor Elvis for the Looking forward to many more future recognition. We do appreciate you. engagements with the Voice.

The events were great with some lessons learnt which I believe will prayerfully make 2020 even better. Dr and I are working hard to be among the few that will match on the stage next year to receive an award. Let’s make it happen.

We shall continue to offer our love and support to the Voice to see it scale even to greater heights. As you grow and shine we also grow.

God richly bless you as you continue to serve Him. Dr Jones and Beatrice Lukose Dr Beatrice Lukose.

Founder of the iMotivat Ltd Kenya.

Pioneers in Mobile App Solutions.

Website: https://www.imotivat.com/

Hello Amb. Elvis, On behalf of the Makueni Governor, H.E Kivutha Kibwana, I am in receipt of your appreciation note to the Governor. The note will be definitely be passed through to the Governor.

Much thank you to you, and the Voice team upon bestowing an award to us through our dear Governor, please note that we don’t take it for granted. We appreciate. Looking forward to many more future engagements with the Voice.

Edward Mwendwa, Governor Press Service - Makueni County.

Kenya www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

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I remain open to any future collaboration between your publication and my office Dear Pastor Iruh It was an honor and a delight to be conferred with The Voice Award in recognition of my service to the community; thank you. I remain open to any future collaboration between your publication and my office.

Kind Regards HON. ESTHER M. PASSARIS, OGW. Member of Parliament, National Assembly Woman Representative, Nairobi County Member: Health Committee Member: Special Funds Account Committee Nairobi, Kenya *************************************************

Rt Hon Odinga has received his award

Dear Pastor Elvis, It was my pleasure to be associated with you and the Voice achievers award event. I handed the award to the Rt Hon Odinga at his offices last month. May God bless you abundantly.

Regards Ambassador Dr. Josephine Ojiambo Nairobi, Kenya ************************************************* Dear Elvis, It was my pleasure.

And yes l will happily join you in the next awards and possibly play a bigger role in the future. God bless you and keep you till we meet again.

James Ndungu Mureu Nairobi, Kenya

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We are grateful to God for the far he has brought Angel This is to take this opportunity on behalf of Angel Wanjiru the recipient of 2019 award for against all odds to say a big thank-you for all that you did As a family we are grateful to God for the far he has brought Angel indeed she has gone against all odds to be around Angel desires to sing and motivate the World i pray that this shall be accomplished too Anyway you can connect her to the World will be highly appreciated.

Ahsante sana !!!!!

Regards Annah Njambi

Congratulations for organizing a great event through the Voice Achiever’s Awards Dear Pastor Elvis, Congratulations for organizing a great event through the Voice Achiever’s Awards was. It must have taken a huge effort putting it together but, no doubt, it was well worth it. I’ve received messages from around the world and there’s already an intense discussion on Uganda’s social media that was aroused by the event. Our pro-democracy and freedom activists are especially

Dear Pastor Elvis,

Greetings and thank you so much for a wonderful event and initiative to honor Africans.

It was such a pleasure to be part of it and to receive the award. The recognition has inspired me to do more, serve more and be of value wherever I go. Our continent is blessed with many resources and I glad to be in a space where I get to empower and impact the greatest resource that Africa has; the youth. Yes please feel free to engage me in future.

I look forward to work with you in promoting Africa. God bless you and the Voice Achievers fraternity and multiply you according to His riches in glory!

Best regards Sarah Munyi Life Coach/ Pan African Youth Mentor Blue Diamond Consultants

excited and energized by the award.

I am, therefore, very grateful for your kind consideration to present the award to me. I’ll be glad to help in whatever way possible to promote your vision and expand its impact into the future. Thanks once again and may God bless you more.

Ps: I’ll be glad to get some pictures (and clips) from the event. We didn’t have a photographer.

Dr. Kizza Besigye Kampala, Uganda

I will avail myself for the 2020 The Voice Achievers Awards

Dear Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh, I hope this finds you well. I am forever grateful to ‘The Voice Achievers Award’ Committee 2019, The Editorial Board, Management and entire staff of The Voice publication for the chance to be a master of ceremony at the honorable awards event held in Nairobi, Kenya.

It is indeed a respectable and remarkable journey your team has embarked on.

It will be an honor to be part of the The Voice Publication on various capacities in future engagements especially outside Kenya.

Count on my support to this end God willing, I will avail myself for the 2020 The Voice Achievers Awards. I look forward to greater cooperation with you in future.

Regards, Sharon Shaila Chamwoma.

Nairobi, Kenya.

When Africa is one

The Voice Achievers Awards was liiit. At this one place politicians, Clergy and Africa Voices of reason were one. I never for even a minute differentiated the speech from men of God and that of politicians.. Thus is the Africa I desire.

This is the Africa I want to see and live in.

Coverage by Kollywood Horizons

Dear Pastor Elvis, I am really grateful for the nomination and the award. We feel well recognized and the platform has given our efforts more fuel to keep impacting the society. The business has also benefited with increased confidence from the customers we serve.

God bless you.

Best Regards, Reuben Kimani CEO II Username Investment Limited

Dear Sir It was a pleasure and a real humbling experience to have been nominated in your powerful platform, experience l will never forget. Am so glad that l had to share the experience with my Embassy who were very positive and happy to receive me at the Embassy.

Am very glad to have been one of the Award receivers, thank you so much for the hard work and God bless you dearly Kind regards Lydia Tett Olet London, United Kingdom

Words of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to Nigerians “I just met with Mr. Allen Onyema the CEO of #AirPeace. “We owe him gratitude for flying Nigerians stranded in South Africa back home at no cost. “His (Onyema’s) benevolence will not be forgotten. “Join me in thanking him.”

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Join us in celebrating some African countries independence anniversaries

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n the 17th century AD, European countries scrambled for and partitioned Africa. This continued until around 1905, by which time all the lands and resources of the continent of Africa had been completely divided and colonized by European countries. The only country that couldn’t be colonized due to strong resistance by the indigenes was Ethiopia, and Liberia which was a place for freed slaves from the Americas.

Therefore the struggle for independence started after the World War II. This led to the independence of the Union of South Africa in 1931 through negotiations with the British Empire and Libya in 1951 from Italy; followed by others in the late 1950s. The road to African independence was very hard and tortuous often through bloody fights, revolts and assassinations. For example; Britain unilaterally granted “The Kingdom of Egypt” independence on Feb. 22nd 1922 after a series of revolts, but continued to interfere in government.

More violent revolts led to the signing of the Anglo-Egyptian treaty in 1936 and a coupe detat tagged Egyptian Revolution in 1952 finally culminated in the Egyptian Republic declaration of June 18th; 1953. The peak year for independence came in 1960 when about 17 countries gained independence.

These independence days are now celebrated as national day holidays in most countries of Africa. In this month of October 2019, these following African countries are celebrating their independence from colonial rules 1.

Federal Republic of Nigeria – 1st October 1960 from Britain 2.

Guinea Republic – 2nd October 1958 from France 3.

Republic of Lesotho – 4th October 1966 from Britain 4.

Republic of Uganda – 9th October 1962 from Britain 5.

Republic of Equatorial Guinea – 12th October 1968 from Spain 6.

Republic of Zambia – 24th October 1964 from Britain.

We wish these countries and its people happy and prosperous independence celebration as they forge ahead towards the future of their various countries.

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Rwanda welcomes first group of African refugees from Libya

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group of 66 African refugees and asylum-seekers arrived in Kigali late Thursday, the UN said, the first of what could be thousands relocated from Libya under a new programme.

Earlier this month, Rwanda signed a deal with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR agreeing to take in African refugees and asylum-seekers stranded in Libya.

The Rwandan government has said it is prepared to accommodate as many as 30,000 evacuees, although the plan is for the programme to unfold in batches of 500 to prevent the country of 12 million from feeling overwhelmed.

“Just landed!” the United Nations refugee agency wrote on its Twitter account as a first group of unaccompanied minors, single mothers and families landed in the Rwandan capital.

The youngest passenger was a two-month old girl born to Somali parents in Libya.

A UN official told AFP Wednesday that a subsequent flight carrying 125 people was planned for “between 1012 October”.

They will be housed in a transit centre in Rwanda before being resettled elsewhere unless they agree to return to their home countries.

In the chaos that followed the fall and killing of former dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a 2011 uprising, Libya became a key transit point for sub-Saharan African migrants seeking to embark on dangerous journeys to Europe.

The UN says some 42,000 refugees are currently in

Libya.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame first offered to take in Africans stuck in Libya back in November 2017, the same month a CNN report showed what appeared to be a slave market there.

The issue took on new urgency in July when more than 40 people were killed in an air strike on a migrant detention centre in the Libyan town of Tajoura.

The UN has been criticised for its handling of a transit mechanism for evacuees from Libya established in 2017 on the other side of the continent, in Niger.

The facilities there have struggled with overcrowding and the slow pace of resettlement.

But UN and Rwandan officials say they have learned from Niger’s experience.

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Poultry farming better than paid employment –Ekunayo-Oluwa

n this interview with ANNA OKON, Adeniyan EkunayoOluwa, 25, talks about her work and life as a mass communicatorturned poultry farmer.

My name is Adeniyan Tolulope Ekunayo-Oluwa. I’m from Ondo State, Akure South to be precise. I was born on the 23rd of March, 1994. I am an entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, saxophonist and music minister. I am the Chief Executive Officer of Ful-egg Domain Farm, Akure, and Tolex Chips. I am also the president of Female Instrumentalist Team, Light Bearer.

I had my first degree at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, where I studied mass communication. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree in theatre and media art at Federal University of Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State.

I specialized in public relations and advertising. As PR specialist, we manage and protect our client’s or company reputation. We conduct press conferences, write news and publication, send them to media houses to broadcast. We influence opinion and behaviour.

I had my first experience at the Nigerian Television Authority, Ibadan, as one of their marketing staff in 2014. I also worked with Hero Magazine International as public relations staff and assistant news editor in 2018, among other engagements.

I did a brief research on the economy of Nigeria and how it has been eaten up by graduate mentality of studying and getting job immediately after school.

I didn’t want to join the masses depending on government for food.

So, I decided to venture into poultry farming in 2017. I started with laying birds to give me eggs which I then sold to end users.

To an extent, it is far better. I resigned from two to three companies due to the fact that they weren’t faithful with my salary. As a business person, you’re in charge of the profit, your time and the ability to structure your business the way you wish. I think it is better

than working as a communicator.

I started snacks business this year after I resigned from a company in Akure. I decided to venture into that to keep me busy and also to try something new from what others have been doing. I produce coco chips, potato chips, spicy chin-chin, popcorn and others.

I often do the marketing myself using the experience I had as a mass communicator.

For now, I can’t present a sincere answer to that because the confectionery business is not up to a year unlike my poultry farm that is more than two years.

The risk of running a poultry business is high. If a farmer is not careful with his/her birds, they can perish in a day.

They are open to diseases easily unlike every other animal. Secondly, farmers with thousands of birds tend to destroy market value for farmers like us with a few hundred birds.

An average price of a crate of egg is N800 but they can sell for N600/N700 anytime they observe their eggs are about to get spoilt. Big farmers snatch away customers with cheaper prices.

My greatest desire is to enlarge my farm as soon as possible, have thousands of different birds, animals like goats, pigs, dogs, fish and others. I want to have a processed cold room where people from far and near will come, place orders for any type of meat they want to buy. This project will cost me millions of naira to execute.

I developed the spirit of entrepreneurship as far back as 2002. I tried my best to turn my 1kobo to 2kobo back then in primary school.

Even when I got to secondary school, I started making money by stitching my friends’ slippers and sandals in the hostel.

I prepared doughnut for our classes during holiday lessons.

I want our government to start building the spirit of entrepreneurship right from the junior classes in secondary school.

My advice is that they should keep trying to get job at the same time, they should swallow their pride and get something doing. They should go online and learn something that will put food on their table.

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Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe gets his final wish: No hero’s burial for him

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imbabwe’s heroes have traditionally been buried at Harare’s National Heroes Acre. But after much wrangling between the government and Robert Mugabe’s family, the former leader was buried at his rural home according to his last wishes before he died last month.

Since Zimbabwe’s longtime leader, Robert Mugabe, died in a hospital in Singapore after treatment for cancer at 95. The country waited for his return anxiously but his return became controversial as his life as President. But after a life at the top of southern Africa’s political scene, the former president’s final wishes have left a lingering controversy which many say reflects the complicated political legacy of Late Robert Mugabe.

As an independence hero, Zimbabwe’s first prime minister and later, president, Mugabe should have been buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare. The socialist era monument with its larger-than-life gold statues of Zimbabwe’s war veterans and a relief of Mugabe himself is located in the center of the capital, and was built on the order of Mugabe’s government with the help of North Korean architects in the early 1980s. Several national heroes, including Mugabe’s first wife, Sally, are buried here. The gravestone next to hers was reserved for Mugabe himself but this did not happen according to the wishes of his current wife and the rest of his family.

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After his ousting as the country’s leader in 2017, Mugabe changed his mind. He no longer wanted to be buried alongside his fellow veterans, but insisted his remains be interred at his rural home in the village of Kutama, 90 kilometers (55 miles) to the west of Harare. After much back-and-forth between the Mugabe family and the government, the former leader’s wishes have been granted. His casket bearing Zimbabwe’s green, yellow, red and black flag was put into the ground in Kutama on Saturday 28th 2019 after a ceremony attended by his family and hundreds of supporters. No senior government officials were among the audience.

“This man lives forever,” declared the priest. “Our hearts are bleeding because we have lost our father. This is a man who made use of the gifts he was given by God. This man was an asset, he was not a liability.”

On his corpse arriving in Harare, the new President and his former ally had planned to give him a state funeral befitting his position and status but Mugabe’s wife stood against it to uphold the wish of her late husband. Zimbabwe’s government had planned to bury Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre in Harare The whole drama has left a bitter taste in the mouth of Zimbabweans, who are already divided about Mugabe’s legacy. “It shows that Robert Mugabe was a selfish person,” said Mlondolozi Ndlovu of Zimbabwe’s Amnesty International chapter. “He thought about himself and his family. Whatever he did was never for the people of Zimbabwe.”

Others, like lawmaker Temba Mliswa and a member of ZANU-PF, Mugabe’s former political party said that in their eyes, Mugabe will remain a national hero no matter his shortcomings. “He’s a man who really did a lot for us,” Mliswa told the press. “We revere him despite some of the challenges that happened in the end. People have an understanding why they happened and lessons must be learnt.”

A spokesperson for the family even had conciliatory words for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s official send-off for Mugabe: “If you listen to the president, he pitched him at the right level. The legacy has really been put together again.”

In Kutama, his rural home, Mugabe remains as popular as ever.

“We would run to his gate each time when we would hear sirens of his motorcade. He would give us candies and biscuits,” a young woman remembered.

Abel Matarirano, a local teacher, also remembered Mugabe, who started his career as a teacher. “He would encourage us to acquire education,” he said. “As a teacher, he himself was a legend in education. He used to employ a lot of young people at his homestead. All the roads that you see around,

After the official state funeral, attended by a number of African heads of state last month, Mliswa said it was right for Saturday’s burial was a private family affair.

During the public dispute over Mugabe’s final resting place, his family has remained confident that the former leader’s image will be restored. “In death, whatever was destroyed has been rebuilt,” Leo Mugabe, the former’s president’s nephew stated shortly after the state funeral.

he would employ young people to repair them.”

In addition to his family and supporters, rural authorities had also called for Mugabe’s remains to be buried at his birthplace. Privilege Musvanhiri said Mugabe belonged to a lineage of chiefs and therefore deserved a chief’s burial.

Such traditional burial rites are, however, generally carried out in secret, away from the eyes of the public.

While their former leader is laid to rest, ordinary Zimbabweans are still feeling the strain of the country’s difficult political past and present. In recent weeks, the country has experienced doctors’ strikes, as well as a suspected kidnapping of the doctor’s union leader. Harare is also facing an acute water shortage, due to aging pipes and infrastructure.

United Nations human rights envoy Clement Nyaletsossi Voule said Zimbabweans were growing increasingly frustrated over the failed economic upturn many had anticipated after Mugabe’s ousting. “I have perceived from my different meetings around the country that there is a serious deterioration of the political, economic and social environment since August 2018, resulting in fear, frustration and anxiety among a large number of Zimbabweans,” he told the Reuters news agency.

At the same time, the International Monetary Fund has urged Zimbabwe to intensify its commitment to economic and political change.

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Air Peace Boss, Allen Onyema: The man who has changed the face of hospitality in Nigeria

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ir Peace who deserves National recognition for his humanity love to save Nigerians stranded in South Africa As was widely reported, wave after wave of xenophobic attacks had affected many Nigerians living in SA, as well as other African nationals, and calls for decisive action to quell the attacks had grown louder.

The Nigerian government had intervened with diplomatic moves sending an envoy to South Africa, recalling its ambassador to South Africa, and even boycotting last month’s World Economic Forum on Africa held in Cape Town, South Africa But perhaps the most decisive action of all was taken by the Air Peace boss, Chief Allen Onyema who went out of his way to offer free air transport to all Nigerians who desire to return home from South Africa at no cost on them.

It was quite an audacious offer from a man who, until that point, was mostly flying under the radar. And of course, he was lauded by all and sundry for his generosity and he has been recommended for a National Award recognition by the Federal Government of Nigeria. A call which is well deserved in a country where there are more rich individuals yet none gave such an offer.

With Mr. Onyema’s offer to airlift troubled Nigerians for free, over 600 Nigerians have returned home through Air Peace despite efforts by the South African government to stop the evacuation from their country. The first batch of returnees where around 187 persons who boarded an Air Peace B777 aircraft with registration number 5N-BWI from Oliver Thambo International Airport, Johannesburg, and touched down at the Cargo Wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Emotional scenes greeted their arrivals as the passengers sang Nigeria national anthem and praised the owner of the airline, Mr. Allen Onyema. He was seen hugging the passengers as they embark from the plane and he shed tears to see his fellow country men and women manhandled and mistreated by South Africans.

Onyema told newsmen that the airline spent over 300 Million naira (USD 830,000) to airlift the affected Nigerians, and the gesture was his company’s way of showing support to the Federal 32

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Government.

Air Peace also embarked on the second trip to bring back over 600 Nigerians and their families from South Africa.

After all of these kind gestures, Nigerians and people around the world are beginning to ask questions: Who is this man and where has he been that not much was talked about him before now.

The Air Peace boss, Mr. Allen Onyema by his nature is a quite easy going person but his actions has taken philanthropy to another new level and nothing is too much to say thank you to him and his management.

Even his staff, including the flight crew donated their allowances to support the returnees to Nigeria, a gesture worthy of emulation by all.

Who Is Allen Onyema?

Allen Ifechukwu Onyema is the Chairman of Air Peace Airlines.

He is also a lawyer by training, businessman and conflict resolution expert.

He is a native of Mbosi, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, South East region of Nigeria.

Onyema is the first of nine children born to “parents who were strict on discipline.” He was born in Benin City in 1964, present Edo State of Nigeria.

Early Life Allen Onyema grew up in the old Bendel State, often shuttling between Benin and Warri which resulted in him attending so many primary schools. For his secondary education, he attended a number of schools as well including St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Azia, Urhobo College, Effurun, and the prestigious Government College, Ughelli.

When college years were over, he helped himself to a law degree from the prestigious University of Ibadan. Onyema secured his law degree in 1988, and he was called to the bar the following year.

How The Journey Really Began?

After Law School, family ties initially positioned him for a default career in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, one that was served to him on a platter but the pursuit of personal dreams meant that he would leave the relative safety and comfort of his home in Warri in 1990 for the uncertainties that lay in wait Lagos.

“I left for Lagos in 1990 in search of jobs. No money on me.

I was squatting in Oshodi. I couldn’t afford taxis or buses; I was going to Lagos Island by rail. Going back to Oshodi, I would trek from Marina to Iddo to join the overcrowded trains. I wanted to practice my profession as a lawyer,” revealed Onyema.

The young lawyer scoured Lagos for two months in search of a job before he landed one with the late Chief Vincent Amobi Nwizugbo who gave him the opportunity to work in his chambers in Martins Street, Lagos Island. He was placed on a monthly salary of 500 naira. (USD 1.38 as of today).

But he soon got his big breakthrough. The young Onyema took on a case that had a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and three other high-profile lawyers on the other side. It was a case even his own firm had advised him to drop. But the unrelenting young man wouldn’t budge. And in the end, he won the case.

From that moment, things took a dramatic turn for the better.

Within two years, he was in charge of the firm and by that time, he had honed quite a good reputation in the real estate sector as well. Eventually, he left the firm to pursue several other successful ventures, mostly in real estate. And in 2007, Air Peace became one of his many undertakings, albeit, a rather lofty one.

How Far Has Allen Onyema And Air Peace Come?

Allen Onyema walked taller than his height on April 3, 2019, in Mauritius, when he signed a deal for 30 brand new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft with an order for the initial supply of 10 aircrafts. It was a huge investment worth over 2 billion dollars.

The aircraft is a 124-seater jet in dual-class and 146-seater in a single-class configuration. By purchasing these airplanes, Allen Onyema’s Air Peace achieved an unprecedented feat; one that rocked Nigeria’s aviation sector.

That would suggest how far the Nigerian multimillionaire has come with his aviation venture.

“I am over the moon with the prospects of the massive

employment opportunities that would be generated by the 30 aircraft when they all finally come in. This particular order

will create over 10,000 job opportunities in our country.

We shall take a lot of Nigerians out of the streets and out of poverty.”

Those were Onyema’s words when Saturday Vanguard asked about what the achievement meant to him.

Just a year prior, Air Peace had ordered ten brand new Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Together with the most recent purchase, it’s an indication of the size of Onyema’s ambition and his big plans for the airline.

Currently, Air Peace boasts a fleet of no less than 27 aircrafts.

The Nigerian airline lands in up to 15 airports within and outside Nigeria, and it is also known to operate in at least 6 other African countries, including up to 18 cities across Africa.

What Is Allen Onyema’s Net Worth?

With seizable holdings in real estate and aviation, Allen Onyema is easily a vastly wealthy man. But because he likes to keep a low-profile, apparently, there are no reliable public records of the actual size of his fortune.

However, some extrapolation on account of the sheer size of his investments and the fact that there are no known external investors in his ventures could easily place his fortune above 100 Billion naira (276 Million dollars). In any case, it is quite certain that he is a billionaire at least, in the local currency.

And he does have a heart of gold too for his people as well.

Nigerians await what the Federal Government will do to recognize him for he truly deserves one.

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Governor Sanwo-Olu hosts Dutch Envoy, Says Lagos is Open for Investment

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agos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, hosted the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Jan Van Weijen, where he said the state is open to foreign investment from Dutch country.

“The Netherlands is a beautiful country that has preserved its legacy in innovative governance over the decades. It is not out of place for Lagos, as a big city in Nigeria and African, to learn from the Amsterdam examples, given common realities we share. Nature has endowed both cities, but these endowments must not be a burden. This is why we must take the opportunity to discuss cooperation and partnership.

“We will be working with your team. We will be planning further engagement to ensure that our partnership is mutually beneficial and rewarding to both countries and our citizens. We are open for business and open to have a conversation around Lagos development and to make it a great and a megacity than what it is today,” Sanwo-Olu said.

In his remarks, Weijen pointed out that the visit was to officially inform the governor of the upcoming visit of the Netherlands Prime Minister”

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Social Entrepreneur Lydia Tett Olet Wins recognition

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n a bid to recognize and celebrate Kenyans engaged in various philanthropic activities, High Commissioner, Manoah Esipisu, congratulated Ms. Lydia Tett Olet who won the 2019 Diaspora Woman of the Year Award during the Voice Achievers Awards held in Kenya.

The Voice Achievers Award was established in the Netherlands as a project of The Voice magazine to recognize Africans and friends of Africa of outstanding achievement on a yearly basis. Since 2012, the award has taken a global outlook

recognizing people outside of the Netherlands.

Ms. Olet is also the Chief Organizer of the annual event, Kenyans and Friends in the Park which brings together Kenyans living in the United Kingdom to network.

Amb. Esipisu hailed Ms. Olet for her work promoting the affairs of young people as well as ensuring that Kenyans remained connected to their roots while living in the UK. Amb Esipisu also expressed support for the Kenya and Friends in the Park event, but said organizers needed a radical approach to the event, to make it more sustainable and to avail opportunities for knowledge sharing on trade and development.

Ms. Olet visited the High Commission accompanied by her business associate Ms. Emma Atess.

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President Yoweri Museveni officially opened the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

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n the behalf of the people of Uganda, I welcome you, the members of the CPA, again, to Uganda. You are most welcome. I say that I welcome you to Uganda, again, because I was very much here when you were here last, 52 years ago. I was not in the meetings themselves. I was, however, 23 years old that time, a first year student in the University of Dares-salaam and already a very active student leader, leading the University Students African Revolutionary Front (USARF).

The meeting must have taken place during the short holiday because I remember I was in Uganda and not in Dar-es-Salaam.

I normally, tell my young Party/Movement comrades that what they call history, I call current Affairs. Hence, while for many of you the meeting that took place here 52 years ago is history, for me it is current affairs.

I would like to recognize the support of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, the Queen of United Kingdom, who is the patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC).

Let me appreciate the CPA Chairperson, Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka and the CPA Secretary-General Mr. Akbar Khan. I thank you all for the invitation to speak to you today.

The host Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has been doing alot in our country and through the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association networks over the years. These efforts must be the reason we are hosting the CPC in Kampala today. I congratulate her, the Members of Parliament and the Uganda Secretariat of the CPA for successfully organizing this conference and appreciate their hard work.

The newspapers in Uganda have been reminding us that the two controversial issues of that time were: the regime of Ian Smith in Rhodesia and the United Kingdom (UK) joining the European Union (EU) and abandoning the Commonwealth special economic arrangements.

Since that time, the issue of Rhodesia was unilaterally resolved

by Africa through the war of liberation executed by Zanu and

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Zapu, supported by Africa and the socialist countries. It is good that the British government, under Margaret Thatcher, came in, last minute, to facilitate the transition with Lord Soames and those other arrangements.

The issue of the UK membership in the EU is, of course, back in the news, with Brexit. The people of the UK, through internal processes, have the capacity to direct the destiny of that country.

When I met Her Majesty, the Queen in 1987, I told her that the Commonwealth was an Association of great potential. With a population of 2.4billion people, it is the only international organization that I attend and I do not have to put up with the inconvenience of translation with ear appliances.

We can communicate directly through the use of the English language. This is a phenomenon of great potential if it is properly used. We could cooperate in security, investments, culture and governance. Can we revive the preferential trade arrangements? Here in Africa, we are now committed to the CFTA, to COMESA and EAC. What preferential commercial arrangement could Africa have with the UK, with France or with Portugal? Of course, we have some arrangements with the EU that includes France. Maybe we could have arrangements with the UK, even when they are out of the EU, as well as with the other Commonwealth countries such as India, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, etc.; but as the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) ─ the whole of Africa, not portions of it.

However, unfortunately, much of this potential is clouded by ideological disorientation, bigotry, ego-centrism and myopia.

Alot of time and energy is spent on the enterprise of some groups trying to control the destiny of other people. This is wrong and unnecessary. History is our good teacher on this.

Man has been here for the last 41/2 million years, ever since we evolved as wise primates known as homo sapien sapien, from the earlier species. Right from the beginning, the problems facing man were two: oppression of man by nature and oppression of man by fellow men. Oppression of man by nature involved: floods, drought, disease, landslides, wild beasts, darkness, cold, etc., etc. Oppression of man by man involved: slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism, fascism, etc. In a recent speech in Japan, I pointed out that for much of the human history, man could not ably tame nature on account of the limited knowledge by man as far as the scientific laws were concerned. Gradually, however, man invented fire around 1.5 million years ago; started domesticating crops around 10,000BC; started domesticating livestock around the same time; and invented iron tools, around 1200BC.

Nevertheless, even with those advances, man continued to rely on human muscle and the muscle of beasts. Human muscle involved the use of the hand-hoe, blacksmithing, carpentry, claywork (okunogoora, kubuumba), etc.; and beast muscle involved the use of donkeys, camels, horses, etc.

This use of human and beast muscle meant low quantities of production and low speeds in terms of activity. However, in the year 1438, Johannes Gutenburg invented the Printing Press.

In the year 1698, Thomas Savery invented the steam engine for pumping water and in the year 1823, George Stevenson converted the steam engine to the task of pulling railway engines.

This constituted the First Industrial Revolution. Since that time, portions of humanity have been through the second and the third Industrial Revolutions. On account of some historical events, mainly precipitated by the internal weaknesses of Africa and also on account of external greed during the period when some portions of humanity were being emancipated from the reliance on human and beast muscle power, Africa was in the throes of the slave trade, colonialism and neo-colonialism. Therefore, Africa, largely, missed out. Nevertheless, by a combination of factors, Africa, along with other colonized peoples in India, Indonesia, Indo-China, Pakistan, etc., shook off the shackles of colonialism and regained their freedom, the last being South Africa in 1994.

Now that colonialism has been defeated, our advice to friends is that ego-centrism, greed and bigotry should be banished so that we use the enhanced scientific knowledge of man to cause the universal wellbeing of the whole of humanity without exception.

Unfortunately, greed continues to obstruct the mutually beneficial interaction within the different portions of the human race and to block the optimum use of scientific knowledge for the universal benefit of man as a whole. Artificial conflicts, propelled by greed or ignorance, always cause avoidable losses and waste time.

This greed and ignorance, obscure the facts and impede human co-operation.

The other night, on the 24th of September, at the reception of the Chinese, I pointed out that Karl Marx, in 1848, pointed out that up to that time, in the 41/2 million years of human existence here on earth, man had gone through 4 social systems: the primitive communalism system (some of it still being practiced by some forest dwelling groups in Africa and the Amazon); the slave state (like ancient Rome); feudalism; and capitalism. Of the four social systems witnessed by man up to that time, the only rational ones were the primitive communal system and the capitalist system. The slave system and the feudal systems were restrictive, exploitative and irrational.

Capitalism, by emphasizing the minimization of costs in order to maximize profits, brought rationalization into the production process. Also by rewarding initiatives, it unleashed the productivity of society. In recent times, you have seen how people like Bill gates of Microsoft and Zuckerberg of Facebook, through introducing new technologies, have both built up alot of wealth but also empowered society more. This has been the story of capitalism in the last 300 years in some parts of the Globe ─ innovation, specialization and exchange. By 1929, however, an irrationality had already been detected in capitalism.

Maximization of profits meant minimization of costs, which, at that time, included minimization of wages. Low wages meant also low purchasing power. Low purchasing power, meant low demand for the products of capitalism. The capitalist efficiency in the production of goods and services had to be balanced with the commensurate purchasing power; otherwise, the system would collapse.

That is how some economists like Maynard Keynes came up with the socialist idea of the Welfare State, where the State would give free money to the citizens to enable them to buy the products of the capitalist factories.

Continued on Page 38

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 That is how some economists like Maynard Keynes came up with the socialist idea of the Welfare State, where the State would give free money to the citizens to enable them to buy the products of the capitalist factories.

By that hybridization, the challenge to capitalism of the disequilibrium between the productive capacity of the capitalism and the aggregate demand of the market, was transcended.

Countries like China have further pushed forward the strategy of market socialism. As a consequence of this hybridization, the world has seen greater prosperity than in 1929 when capitalism faced the challenge of the disequilibrium between production and consumption.

I am quoting this example so as to advise the members of the commonwealth using one of our proverbs: It says “Oyorora zoona, tomanya erahigye.” The translation is: “When the dog puppies are young, you should feed all of them equally because you do not know which puppy will become a better hunter when the puppies are old”. It is wiser for the World leaders to respect the internal systems of each country and influence others by example. It says in the Book of Mathew: Chapter 5 verses 15-16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”. If our practices are correct, they will thrive and spread. If they are wrong, they will collapse. It is not necessary to generate crisis on account of differences in ideology. Let there be peaceful competition among different ideas.

The right one will emerge. When Karl Marx wrote his communist manifesto in 1848, there was not a single socialist country in the world. However, he pointed out that “socialism” was in “womb of capitalism”. In 1917, a Socialist – Communist Revolution took place in the Soviet Union. In 1949, in China. In 1959, in Cuba. In the 1930s and, thereafter, the capitalist societies of Western Europe borrowed the socialist tools of the welfare State, where free money was given by the State to lubricate the wheels of capitalism by bolstering the purchasing power of society.

As members of the Commonwealth, we all share the principles of democracy according to the principles of the Harare Declaration on Democracy of October, 1991. Nevertheless, the forms of democracy are also different although the substance must be the same: one person, one vote, by secret ballot at regular intervals. Those are the principles of the Commonwealth. How, then, should the Common- wealth members deal with the other countries that are not members of the commonwealth and who may have different social and political systems ─ Communist, Islamicist, etc.? My advice is what I have already said above.

“Let our light so shine before men, that they see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven”.

We should not create crises in attempts to coerce those people that have different ideas to be like us. The Berlin Wall Blockade of June, 1948 - May, 1949, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, the Hungarian uprising of 1956 and its crushing by the Soviet forces, the Czechoslovak uprising of 1968 and its crushing by the Soviet forces, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan of 1979 and the counter-intervention by the 38

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Western countries by supporting the Mujahideen, the proxy wars in Angola, etc., etc., led to alot of wastage of resources and life.

Many of them ended with unintended consequences. Yet, we have seen bad systems collapsing by their own dynamics, without external pressure. The collapse of the Shah of Iran, the collapse of the Emperor of Ethiopia, the collapse of the communist system of Eastern Europe, etc., were not caused by wars from outside, but by internal weaknesses. When capitalism was challenging feudalism, one of the European leaders, Metternich, tried to use war, if I remember right; but ended up bringing ruin to Austria ─ Hungary.

On the other hand, we can see today that China is still a communist country with a governance system different from the one we use in the commonwealth countries. The countries of the world by working peacefully with China, our social and political system being different notwithstanding, have done alot of good to China and to the World. I have quoted these historical examples because I have noticed absence of serious scrutiny of historical phenomena and learning for them. Recently, I met a British lady in South Africa and she said that she was heading an OECD Think Tank. I joked with her by asking: “How can we have no thinking with so many Think Tanks in the World?”

I invited her to come to Uganda and see whether we can jointly attempt to think. We had the commonwealth Think Tank in London, the Smart Partnership hub, led by Dr. Michaela Smith.

It did not get enough support from the commonwealth. Uganda struggled to support the hub alone. I have not got the latest on that effort.

In conclusion, therefore, my view is that the commonwealth countries, in substance, are democratic countries, albeit with variations in form; and this is a great achievement.

Secondly, the commonwealth countries could use their numbers to mutually promote investments, work together on security, work on cultural exchanges and also examine the options on trade without disturbing the CFTA arrangements in Africa. Thirdly, peacefully work with all countries of the World irrespective of their internal social-systems for mutual advantage and on the basis of respecting the sovereignty of each country. Fourthly, promote the spread of the benefits of scientific innovation because, like in all ages, the advances in science and technology, have always been the primers of change in society for good or for evil; but this time insisting that those advances are only for good and never for evil. Fifthly, the protection of the environment must remain, not only a core point of our commitment but also a basis of our agreed point of action. The oppression of man by nature can be solved by the use of science throughout the whole round. The oppression of man by man is always better resolved by the affected communities, in some extreme situations supported by appropriate external solidarity. This is what we did with apartheid and colonialism.

I thank you. It is now my honour to open the Conference and to wish you fruitful deliberations.

26th September, 2019 - Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo

DSS can do better than this: A reminder of the old days in the hands of the military.

A day to Nigeria’s independence celebration, Omoyele Sowore was brought to court to answer charges to treason felony brought against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Charges that he denies and he continues through his lawyers to challenge the legality of his continued detention in DSS custody. As expected his supporters were on hand to cheer him on as the court ruled that he should be remanded in custody, a decision that led to his outburst and subsequent use of words like ‘Nigeria is a lawless country and continue his slogan, ‘revolution now’. The manner of handling the matter in the very view of the whole world suggests a total disregard for human civic rights to freedom of speech and it brings back the sad memories of detention and treatment in the hands of security operatives under the military regime in the 80s and 90s. For God’s sake this is democracy – our security operatives need to show more maturity in handing matters of this nature. I just wonder what type of treatment he would receive from these same officers behind the scene and off camera view.

I am not a fan or supporter of Sowore but as a concerned Nigerian and one who has gone through similar ordeal in the 90s, journalists, human right crusaders and any other person

for that matter should not be treated like a common criminal, even under our laws, you are assumed honest until proven guilty. He should be treated humane, he being carried out of the court room was a show of shame on the part of the security officers. After all he is not found guilty yet to assume he is a criminal deserved to be treated as such.

These are all allegations, if government is serious and they have their proves, let them use the machinery of the law to pursue their case and on time, why do you have to delay someone for months without trial on the basis of gathering evidence so what ground are you detaining the person if you do not have your evidence ready at hand?

He should be granted bail and allow freedom to prepare his defense – this is not fair treatment. Their actions is making Sowore more popular and begin to enjoy the sympathy of those who did not belief in his course in the first place.

Our DSS should act better than this and within the powers of the law. And it is even happening on the eve of our Independence Day celebration.

Ambassador Pastor Elvis Iruh A journalist and Publisher of The Voice News magazine

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The first Voice Achievers Award in Nairobi, Kenya

August 15th & 16th 2019 went down as historical with the event taking place in Africa.

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Faces of great personalities at the Voice Achievers Award 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya

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Awardees proudly receive their awards for 2019. Photos courtesy of Jimmie Nicks

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

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Awardees proudly receive their awards for 2019. Photos courtesy of Jimmie Nicks

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

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

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Jeffangs Beauty

This is a one-stop shopping center for all your hair and body products.

We have sections for all beauty and body care products for men and women at Jeffangs Beauty Supply & Salon in Rotterdam We offer you the latest hair and skin products with fantastic prices.......

You are Welcome always & happy New Year

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Supply & Salon

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We have many more products for you to select from....

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E-mail: jeffang2002@yahoo.com jeffangs@jeffangs.com Tel: +31(0)10-4776062 Mob: +31614471508

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PureCare Sal

Looking for a classic place for your Hair do (For a Woman or a Man)?

Look no further than PURECARE Salon in Almere Buiten We offer the latest hair and skin products and our services are world class.

YOU ARE WELCOME & HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018 !!!!

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lon & Shop Wimper extensions stylist • Mary Kay Consultant • Skin and hair analysis with digital microscope • For appointments Only: 0686495901 •

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Uganda Airlines relaunches nearly 20 years after it vanished.

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ganda Airlines relaunches nearly 20 years after it vanished After a delay to flights that lasted nearly 20 years, Uganda Airlines has once again taken to the skies above Africa, restoring its status as the country’s national carrier.

Commercial services resumed last month with a flight from Entebbe to Nairobi in neighboring Kenya that the airline hoped will usher in a profitable new era for the formerly debt-ridden brand. Uganda Airlines said its fleet of twinengine Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet airliners will soon connect to destinations including DaresSalaam in Tanzania, Mogadishu in Somalia and Juba in SouthSudan. More farther flung places will follow, says Jennifer Bamuturaki, the airline’s director of marketing and public affairs.

Services to Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, South Africa, and Rwanda

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were added from last month. The airline was initially scheduled to resume operations in July but had to gain certification to prove its crews can fly safely to any part of the world.

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The Voice Kenya business summit & networking was a huge success in Kenya 15th August 2019, the Voice Achievers Award event kicked off with a business summit which was well attended by business interests in Kenya and joined by an international audience of viewers around the world with over 5000 viewers on the night. The Kenya Voice Achievers Business and Networking summit was held at Westwood hotel in Nairobi. Among the guest speakers were Pastor Elvis Iruh, Publisher of the Voice Magazine, Hon. Dr. Swarup R. Mishra, MP Kesses Constituency, George Wachiuri, CEO Optiven

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Group, Marion van der Voort of Stichting Pamoja Kenya, Sarah Karingi of Global Network Investment, Dr. Maxwel Okoth, Founder, Director, & CEO of Ruai Family Hospital, Beatrice van der Velde of Mundorf Limited, representative of Kenya Chamber of Commerce, Mr. James Mureu, Chairman, Human Resources and Finance committee in the office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice and many others. The event was anchored by Mr. Thomas Kwaka (Big Ted). The theme was reinventing Africa’s future through participation. The round table discussions included inspiring diaspora connections and how to successfully do business in Kenya, Business branding and future relationship of doing business with the diaspora. Hon. Dr. Swarup Mishra confirmed that a ministerial section, dealing specifically with the diaspora will be introduced “Overseas Citizens of Kenya” a positive outlook of optimism which will enable the diaspora have a voice in parliament. The business program was interactive as the guests took questions form the audience and the social media participants.

Photos from the business summit/networking

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More photos from the business networking.....

Tribute to Late Robert Mugabe

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ven in death, Robert Mugabe is having it his own way The body of Robert Mugabe was finally buried in his home town, following a final twist in a row over the former Zimbabwean leader’s resting place. Mugabe died last month aged 95 and a funeral was held in the capital Harare.

The government had resisted his family’s wish for him to

be buried in his home region of Zvimba, deciding that he should lay in Heroes Acre - a national monument and burial

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ground befitting is position as former President and leader of the nation.

In a statement by Information Minister Nick Mangwana said the change was in line with policy “to respect the wishes of families of deceased heroes”. Mugabe died in Singapore while receiving treatment for cancer, and his body was flown back to Zimbabwe.

In the wake of his death, the family publicly complained that they had not been consulted about arrangements for the state funeral.

In a statement, they accused the government of coercion, and said plans to bury Mugabe at the monument were “contrary to Mugabe’s wishes”.

The statement said that one of his final requests was for his wife, Grace Mugabe, to never leave Mr Mugabe’s coffin during the funeral and up until the point when he was buried.

His family is said to be bitter over his being ousted by his former ally, President Mnangagwa, two years ago - a resentment that may have contributed to the clash over his burial place. President Mnangagwa had pushed for it to be Heroes Acre.

Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader, was Zimbabwe’s first leader after the country became independent in 1980.

During his early years, he was praised for broadening access to health and education for the black majority. But his later rule was marked by economic ruin and the violent repression of his political opponents. He held on to power for almost four decades before being overthrown in the 2017 coup and replaced by President Mnangagwa. A move that was never accepted by his wife and the family of course; although the government has played down on the dispute between Mugabe’s wife and the current President.

The current President says Mugabe deserves a fitting send off for a man whose achievements as an African liberation hero and founding father of Zimbabwe will be forever remain his legacy. President Emmerson Mnangagwa praised the man he betrayed and overthrew in a coup two years ago as “our revolutionary icon, statesman, leader, wartime commander, and former president.”

He went on to pay tribute to Grace Mugabe, the late former president’s widow and his political arch rival, who sat silently throughout the ceremony.

Serving and former presidents from Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, paid tribute to him as one of the last of a generation of pan African leaders and icons of the liberation struggle against colonialism.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasago of Equatorial Guinea opened the tributes to Mugabe as a “true African icon in the liberation of the continent from colonialism.”

Jerry Rawlings, the former president of Ghana, said “he consistently demonstrated his steadfast commitment to our vision of the Africa we want.”

The Chinese and Russian governments sent their ambassadors to read out tributes to Mugabe’s family and the nation. The loudest reception from the crowd was for President Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, who was booed throughout his speech until he issued an unreserved apology for the recent spate of attacks on migrant workers in South Africa, where thousands of Zimbabweans have moved to seek work.

At that point, the crowd switched to cheering. It was a rare moment of modern statesmanship in a day devoted to the past. After a 21 gun salute from the Zimbabwean army’s howitzers and a fly past by six aircraft, the ceremony was over.

“When he left office, bread was at two dollars a loaf.

Transport was affordable, food was affordable. Right now we are all suffering,” said Fadzai Mutasa, a 42 year old from Harare who attended the funeral. She rejected the suggestion that she was attending as a kind of protest

against president Mnangagwa, saying she had come only to pay tribute to Mugabe’s “good works.”

But she then added: “Mugabe would understand when the people were suffering. The current leadership must hear the challenges facing the people - like he did.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Itai Chikwenga, 30, who said she credited Mr Mugabe for improving womens’ rights, then said: “Bread is now 10 dollars. Robert Mugabe would have said “enough is enough, make it one dollar. And it would have been one dollar.”

The extended Mugabe family and their neighbours have spent the past weeks putting up marquees and arranging seating and catering for thousands.

Mugabe, who lavished spending on the local Catholic school where he studied as a child, is well respected here. But unease and confusion are following Mugabe literally to the grave. Hate or love him, Mugabe has left a mark on the history books of Africa.

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The Voice magazine takes presence in United Arab Emirate at the Women empowerment conference.

A major Women Empowerment conference will take place in Dubai from 23rd and 24th October 2019 and the Voice magazine for the first time took its place among global publications promoting women empowerment and involvement internationally at a global press briefing to announce the event. All of these was made possible by the appointment of Her Excellency, Ambassador Laila Rahhal El Atfani as Vice President for the Voice magazine covering the Arab nations including North Africa in 2017 and ever since she had continued to put the Voice news magazine on the Arab global platform in every major event she is invited as a guest or speaker.

During the Women empowerment Press conference broadcasted around the world, the Voice news magazine was presented before the audience, she spoke of the Voice magazine in her interview which would be published on our website (www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com) Our representative, Ambassador Laila was on the panel of powerful speakers who shared ideas and thoughts on celebrating women in technology, finance and law. It is a revolutionary approach to how best to engage women in

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Leadership around the world. According to her this is the gathering of brains and the best press conference she has been far of because of the interest it generated across people of all races and colours.

The panel had Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen CEO of Novo Cinemas, Rebecca Hall, CISI Founder of WIL MENA, Eman Al Suwaidi, a Social Entrepreneur at EMS Excellence Motivational Services, Ambassador Laila Rahhal El Atfani, Founder of Business Gate, Vice President of the Voice Magazine, Nicole Rodrigues Founder of Diva Group and lastly the CEO of Step Up Dubai.

A special appreciation to Novo Cinemas for being the title partner and the 26 media channels who covered the press conference including the Voice news magazine based in The Netherlands. More report will follow after the event. The conference is for both men and women to provide practical and effective takeaways through various key note speakers, workhops, round table discussions, talk shows and many more ecents. See photo impression of the press conference.

Courtesy of Ambassador Laila Rahhal El Atfani.

Photos from the Women empowerment international press conference

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Caster Semenya is finally getting her gold medal from the 2011 World Championships

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aster Semenya is finally getting her gold medal from the 2011 World Championships after Russian Maria Savinova was stripped of the title for doping.

But Semenya won’t attend a medal reallocation ceremony at the world championships in Doha, Qatar, South Africa’s track federation said.

Semenya was barred from defending her latest 800m world title in Doha because she has refused to follow new IAAF rules requiring her to medically reduce her natural testosterone level to be allowed to compete in certain races, including her favorite event.

Instead, Athletics South Africa will receive the medal from the world track body on Semenya’s behalf in Doha and decide on an appropriate event to hand the medal to Semenya in South Africa, it said.

The medal reallocation is happening after the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2017 upheld Savinova’s doping ban, nullifying her results from 2010 to 2013. She was also stripped of her 2012 Olympic 800m

title. That title has also gone to Semenya, who finished second in that race, too.

Semenya, who has two Olympic and three world 800m titles, has, since July, not been allowed to compete at top-level

track meets in distances from 400m to one mile because she refused to take hormone-suppressing medication in line with rules introduced by the IAAF last year.

Semenya challenged the rules twice in court. She lost at the Court of Arbitration for Sport this year, and her second legal appeal is still being considered by the Swiss supreme court.

If she fails in court a second time, Semenya may also be unable to defend her Olympic title next year in Tokyo.

Semenya announced last month she was joining a South African soccer club and will play for it in 2020 but later denied that meant she was retiring from athletics.

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ast month, the Ethiopian distant runner, Kenenisa Bekele came so close but yet missed the mark of breaking the world Berlin Marathon record.

He missed out on the world record by just two seconds as he completed a remarkable comeback to win the Berlin Marathon at the age of 37 year old. The Ethiopian led his fellow country runners to sweep all the three medals at the podium as he crossed the line in 2 hours, 1 minute, 41 seconds, claiming the first prize of 40,000 euros but missing out on an additional bonus of 50,000 euros if he had broken the world record. The world record remains with Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge who set the world record last year at the same course. He would have to try again next year but age is not on his side anymore.

Bekele wins Berlin Marathon but failed to break world record.

South Africa’s fastest woman Carina Horn fails doping test

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he International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)’s Athletics Integrity Unit has confirmed the provisional suspension of sprinter Carina Horn of South Africa.

According to the unit, there was a presence of a prohibited substance, Ibutamoren and LGD-4033, in her system.

Ibutamoren has muscle-building properties and is available over the counter and used by those wishing to increase their growth hormone levels.

LGD-4033, which is prohibited under class S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents on the WADA Prohibited List, is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).

According to the usada.org, it is currently being investigated as a pharmaceutical treatment for muscle wasting and weakness associated with aging. It has also not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use in humans.

Upon announcing her suspension, the unit caution that some of their cases, including that of Horn, remained under investigation, while others were the subject of a notice of charge and so would also appear on the list of Pending First Instance cases.

In doping cases, a provisional suspension is mandatory under the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules following an adverse analytical finding for any non-specified substance on the Prohibited List.

Athletics South Africa have told the press they would not be commenting on a provisional suspension.

In 2018, Horn made history as she became the first South African woman to run under 11 seconds in the 100m sprint, as she registered a time of 10.98 in Doha.

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African athletics shine in Doha, Qatar

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he Athletics World championship in Doha is not over at press time but already African athletics are shining and more medals would be won. The pictures captured here tell the story of how winning means to African athletics.

World record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya produced a remorseless solo effort to win the women’s 3000m steeplechase. Chepkoech banished her disappointment from the last World Championships in London, where she mistakenly ran off the course and missed the water jump while leading on the first lap and had to double back, and then fell on the second lap, before eventually finishing fourth. There were no hitches this time as she won in a championship record of 8:57.84, having led by 50 metres at the bell.

In similar fashion, Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris ended Mo Farah reign. He won the gold medal and his fellow countryman, Selemon Barega took the Silver media in the f Ethiopia Men’s 5000 metres final during day four of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on September 30, 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

Then came the new sensation on the mid-distance running, Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda blazed through to earn her country, Uganda gold medal. The celebration shows how this gold medal meant to her and her country. Her fellow competitors from Uganda even though they missed out of the medals, joined her to celebrate in Doha, Qatar.

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