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www.thevoicenewsmagazine.comISSN:1571-3466www.thevoicenewsmagazine.comwww.thenigerianvoice.com First complete African magazine published in The Netherlands since August 1999www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com ISSN:2588-8807 Motto: Actuated towards Africa’s advancement Volume 22. NO. 221 September 2022 African Woman of the year 2022 Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs Fatima Bio First Lady, Republic of Sierra Leone Dr.

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Henry D. Oduenyi (Nigeria Office)

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 Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh, Jonathan Mgbejume, Sandra Iruh-Monsels, and Henry Oduenyi READ THE VOICE ON LINE www.thevoicenewsmagazine.comAT (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 StichtingAddress: Paddi Europa Inz Voice Jeroen Boschplantsoen 82 1318 HH Almere, The Netherlands Land Line: +3136-8801341 Tel.: +31

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Joy Onoilu (JEBITV) (Belgium) Amb.Middlejebitv2003@gmail.comEastVice-PresidentLailaELAftaniRahhalCORRESPONDENTSABROAD

(0)6-48519292 Mobile: +31 (0)6-84999548 www.elvisiruh.comwww.thevoiceachieversaward.comwww.thevoicenewsmagazine.comWebsites:info@thevoicenewsmagazine.comE-mail: (For the Publisher book) OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Voice magazine is published in the Netherlands by Stichting Paddi Europa and it is published online since 2016 around the world. It is registered at the Chamber of Commerce Amsterdam. The Voice aim to serve as a vital link among African readers in the Diaspora and we provide objective information and organizes opinion exchange among African people both in the continent and abroad. Thus it strives to foster and enhance complete understanding of developing countries problems and bring information to help address those issues. You can support this project now with as much as one euro a month to help keep publishing our digital copy for you. TV MANAGEMENT Volume 22 Get fast results by advertising with us. Call us on +31684999548 or +31648519292 E-mail: info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Send all your articles for publication.... NO 221 September 2022 KINDLY SUPPORT THE VOICE MAGAZINE Since you’re here... Support the Voice magazine so we can stay publishing for your reading pleasure. Give a DONATION from one time, one-month, each month, quarterly, half a year or a year. It is your choice... Make such payment to: Stichting Paddi Europa Iban NO: (SwiftNL29SNSB0908374372code:SNSBNL2A) For payment from Abroad. Bank: SNS Bank. Address: Utrecht, The Netherlands TV Management Thank you for your support......

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adversity: Emmanuel Banda’s story Page 47 - Liz Truss now new Britain Prime Minister Pages 48 - 50 - Turning Waste to Wealth Pages 52 & 53- Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele: Celebrating The Allround “African Man Of The Year” Pages 54& 55- Segun Odegbami@ 70: Creative and Mathematical Page 56 - Channels TV Star, Anne Nwaghodoh Honoured in The Gambia Pages 58 -61 - Sex for water, the new avenue for corruption in the WASH sector. Pages 64-66 - Suriname-Ghana relations is walking a roadmap to success, says Graand-Galon Pages 68-70 – The Voice Achievers Award (Photos)

Pages 6 & 7 - Editorial - Kenya’s Supreme Court Upholds

5 September edition 2022 - Volume 22. No 221Contents

Note: Your information is not going to be compromised or used for any other purpose than for documentation and records purpose if you are to be reached. Kindly register yourself, spouse, children or any other family member resident with you even if they are undocumented in the country. The link to follow is below or visits the Nigerian Embassy website at www.nigerianembassythehague.nlSigned: Nigerian Ambassador to The Netherlands Her Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Mrs. Eniola Ajayi The Hague, The Netherlands 18-21 22-25 ARTICLES 64-6738-41

Presidential Election Results Pages 14-16 - African Woman of the Year 2022, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone Pages - How nurses recruited from Zimbabwe are being caught in UK ‘bonded labour’ schemes Pages 28 & 29 - Sanyang Police station commissioned in The Gambia Pages 30 & 31- The Voice Achievers Award 2022 in The Gambia (Photos) Pages 32 & 33- Many activities of Hon. Mamma Kandeh Pages 34 & 35 - A sharing by MindBeautySphere, Caroline Omondi (Meet people where they are) Pages 44 & 45 - Soaring above

On behalf of the Nigerian Embassy in The Hague, this is a general public announcement and appeal to all Nigerians resident in the Netherlands either as Students or full time residents with Dutch Nationality or any other nationality but you have proof of being a Nigerian. We kindly advise you to register your current location address and contact details through the Nigerian Embassy for your safety and accountability purposes in case of an emergency of evacuation or exchange of information. The Russian /Ukraine conflict is a learning curve for us all. We live in a time of uncertainty around the world.

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Presidential Election Results In a sweeping rejection of claims that the Aug. 9 vote had been rigged, the court confirmed Vice President William Ruto as the country’s fifth president. The Supreme Court of Kenya on Monday upheld the election of William Ruto as president, ending an acrimonious courtroom battle over disputed results from the Aug. 9 election and confirming Mr. Ruto as the fifth president of a country often seen as a beacon of democratic strength in Africa. In a lengthy judgment that rejected accusations by Mr. Ruto’s rival, Raila Odinga, that the vote had been rigged, Chief Justice Martha Koome swept aside claims of stuffed ballots, hacked computers and falsified results that she variously described as “sensationalism,” “hot air” and “a wild-goose chase that yielded nothing of Thevalue.”unanimous verdict means that Mr. Ruto, the charismatic and populist vice president who pitched his campaign at Kenya’s “hustlers,” or young strivers, could be inaugurated as early as Sept. 13. Supporters flooded the streets in celebration across the Rift Valley, Mr. Ruto’s main stronghold, after the verdict was announced. A jubilant and smiling Mr. Ruto addressed supporters at his mansion in Karen, outside Nairobi, where he lauded the court, extended a conciliatory hand to his rivals and promised to bring the country together after a bruising, if largely peaceful, election. “We are not enemies,” he said. “Let us unite to make Kenya a nation that everyone will be proud to call home.” The court’s decision was yet another stinging defeat for Mr. Odinga, 77, a political veteran making his fifth bid for the presidency, having lost the first four. Despite a strong lead in opinion polls before the vote, he lost it by a narrow margin: The court confirmed that Mr. Ruto won 50.5 percent of the ballots to Mr. Odinga’s 48.9 percent, a difference of about 233,000 votes.

Kenya’s Supreme Court Upholds

The trial collapsed in 2016 after key witnesses withdrew testimony and the Kenyan government stopped cooperating with the court. But the international court declined to formally acquit Mr. Ruto, then Kenya’s vice president.

In a statement, Mr. Odinga said that while he respected the court’s verdict, he “vehemently” disagreed with the decision, finding it “incredible that the judges found against us on all nine grounds,” a reference to the main points of contention in the case.

Equally remarkable is Mr. Ruto’s rise to the top following accusations that he once committed crimes against humanity. A decade ago, he was facing trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on charges of orchestrating communal violence after the 2007 election, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths.

At hearings last week, Mr. Odinga’s lawyers argued that Wafula Chebukati, the chairman of Kenya’s election commission, had conspired with foreign agents who hacked into the commission’s computer system and swung the vote in favor of Mr. Ruto.

The court pulled few punches in systematically demolishing those Inclaims.ajudgment that took nearly 90 minutes to read out, Chief Justice Koome, flanked by six other justices, said they had found “no credible evidence” that the electoral computer system was interfered with. She dismissed claims by four of the country’s seven election commissioners, who dramatically disowned the result minutes before it was announced, that the vote was fatally flawed “Are we to nullify an election on the basis of a last-minute boardroom rupture?” she said. “This we cannot Anddo.” she offered scathing criticism of lurid rigging accusations that she said were based on forgeries and hearsay, warning lawyers against introducing sworn statements that were demonstrably based on “falsehoods” — a likely line in the sand for future legal challenges to election results in Kenya. In Mr. Ruto’s home village, Kamagut, about 200 miles north of Nairobi, Esther Cherobon joined in the scenes of exultation. “I am very excited that someone who knows me by name, who never wore a shoe to school, has become president,” she said in a phone interview. It was “a miracle” that Mr. Ruto, whose campaign made much of his humble background and early years selling chicken on the roadside, had won, she added.

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Kenya’s past three elections were marred by violence and lengthy court disputes. This one was largely peaceful, but in recent weeks it became increasingly contentious. There were chaotic scenes as the results were declared on Aug. 16, and the often-sensational rigging accusations that followed in court, amplified by partisan news outlets, risked undermining voter confidence in the democratic system. When it became clear the result was going against Mr. Odinga, his top election official denounced the vote-tallying center as a “crime scene,” and then rampaged through it with other supporters, clashing with security officials.

Breaking a conspicuous silence since the vote last month, Mr. Kenyatta delivered a brief speech on Monday evening that was laced with criticism of the Supreme Court and its decision. The president committed to a smooth transition of power but declined to name or congratulate his successor.

Mr. Ruto’s candidacy was also rife with contradictions. A wealthy businessman, he cast himself as an underdog and largely ignored that he has been in power as vice president under Mr. Kenyatta since 2013. But his appeal to the millions of young Kenyans who, like his younger self, were striving to make ends meet, struck a new chord in a country where politics is often dominated by ethnic Evenloyalties.so, many young Kenyans were turned off by both candidates. Turnout fell to 65 percent of the country’s 22.1 million registered voters from 80 percent in 2017.

The economic powerhouse of East Africa, Kenya is a key Western ally in the fight against terrorism, a burgeoning technology hub and a stable democracy in a region dominated by autocrats and conflicts. Although some schools in the capital, Nairobi, had closed for the day, worries of a backlash from Mr. Odinga’s supporters failed to materialize. In Kisumu, a major Odinga stronghold in western Kenya, traffic flowed and businesses reopened within minutes of the verdict

While some residents said they were shocked by the decision, many shrugged and said they would abide by it. “Life has to go on,” Maurice Ogange, a motorcycle taxi driver, said by phone. That reaction stoked hopes that this Kenyan election could yet prove an example to the region.

The court also heard disturbing testimony that senior police, defense and security officials had tried to pressure Mr. Chebukati into denying victory to Mr. Ruto, suggesting a dangerous rift in major state institutions. Despite his painful defeat, Mr. Odinga’s legacy as a champion of democracy remains undiminished. For decades the dogged outsider of Kenya’s politics, he served years in prison under the authoritarian leader Daniel arap Moi, who in 1982 accused him of fomenting an attempted coup.

Split into rival factions, the election commission saw its reputation badly hit. While the verdict largely vindicated its chairman, Mr. Chebukati, the court suggested that he had overstepped his mandate in delivering a final result without the backing of his own commissioners.

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This time, however, victory seemed within reach thanks to a political pact that Mr. Odinga sealed with Mr. Kenyatta in 2018. But that deal, known as the “handshake,” dismally failed to deliver the votes Mr. Odinga needed to win.

Pastor Amb. Elvis Editor-in-ChiefIruh

The Kenyan Supreme Court decision on Monday, delivered to a courtroom packed with lawyers dressed in flowing black gowns and some in horsehair wigs, came less than a month after a fierce electoral battle that was closely followed across Africa and beyond.

It was not lost on anyone that the four rebel electoral commissioners were appointed last year by Kenya’s departing president, Uhuru Kenyatta — Mr. Ruto’s political nemesis and Mr. Odinga’s ally. But the Supreme Court’s evenhanded treatment of the sensitive case over the past two weeks underscored the growing independence of Kenya’s senior judiciary and, more broadly, strengthened the country’s confidence in its own Havinginstitutions.narrowed the case to nine key questions, including whether Mr. Ruto had attained over 50 percent of the vote, the justices spent three sleepless nights before reaching a unanimous decision, the deputy chief justice, Philomena Mwilu, said in brief remarks on Monday.

“Now, you allow us to go home and sleep,” she said before the hearing adjourned. Other key institutions, however, emerged from the election damaged or discredited.

Pastor Roel & Ida Van Rooij Senior Pastor 4Pillars Community Church Almere

Strategic Communications Division Office of The First Lady

The First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, expressed gratitude to the organizers, saying, “This is the time to register the Hand of Our Girls campaign internationally, and this will inspire me even more.” “When it comes to rape, early marriage, and teenage pregnancy, among other issues affecting women and girls, I will continue to be the voice of the voiceless.” She expressed her joy and humility at being one of the First Ladies to receive this prestigious award.

First Lady Of Sierra Leone Bags Prestigious African Woman Of The Year 2022 Award

An internationally recognized Pan-African News magazine known as Voice based in the Netherlands, has awarded the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, as the African Woman of the Year 2022. The prestigious award has been officially presented to the awardee by the High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Banjul, Madam Lucretia Marian Shereef, who described Mrs. Bio as a brave and intelligent servant leader, who continues to positively impact many with her humanitarian and official work. “Mrs. Bio has distinguished herself with strategic interventions in gender advocacy, philanthropy, and child welfare campaigns even before she became First Lady,” she pointed out. Three other First Ladies have previously received this award.

The award is in honour of Dr. Bio’s tireless efforts and tenacity in championing critical issues such as rape, early marriage, and teenage pregnancy, among others.

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was open to the ideas I had to help scale the brand to what it is today, I was hired on the spot.”

Thembi Mawema from Zimbabwe is currently Director at The Shade Room, which has become one of the most influential urban Instagram platforms in the world. She started there 6 years ago and has started doing interviews to discuss her career trajectory. She has appeared on The Nick Cannon Show, Allhiphop, Marie Claire and is often seen on the red carpet as a host for Shade Room where she’s interviewed everyone from Saweetie and Queen Latifah to Diddy and Cardi B. She’s also currently the host of The Shade Room’s new show Drip Codez. Born and raised in the Southern African country of Zimbabwe, Thembi Mawema is only 28 years old and already a major powerhouse behind The Shade Room (TSR), one of the most influential Instagram platforms in the world. Not only that, the recognizable executive is funny, fashionable, smart, and making major moves on her own in Hollywood. After coming to the states in 2008 she attended Chico State University in the Northern Sacramento Valley and graduated with a degree in Communications. The African beauty began her media career at KCSC Radio as a Promotions Coordinator then quickly moved on to become an awardwinning Radio Talk Show Host. In Fall of 2015 Mawema became a social media brand ambassador for the wellknown website XONecole, the online destination of influencer Necole Kane. Mawema moved to Los Angeles in 2016 and had a chance run in with Angelica Nwandu, CEO of TSR during an event hosted by the young entrepreneur and burgeoning actress/director Issa Rae. Mawema made quite the impression because following the event she says, “I actually received an offer from both Angie to join TSR, and Issa’s team to be a part of a project she was working on at the time, “The Peak.” Mawema ultimately chose TSR as her and Nwandu hit it off immediately and the rest is Instagram history. “Angie

By Sasha Brookner Thembi Mawema is making major moves as Director at The Shade Room

Over the course of the last 6 years, she has climbed the ladder Creative Content Director to Managing Editor to her newfound position as Director for The Shade Room. In this position, Mawema oversees all content placed on their social media platforms, including Instagram which boasts almost 27 million followers, or as she likes to call them “Roommates”. Mawema says, “I think about the Roommates before posting anything. It’s kind of

Roommates: They all let us know what they want.” Mawema works directly under Angie and says, “I love that the number one company in this space is founded and led by a woman--a black woman-an African woman. Whew!” Whether she’s factchecking stories, running analytics, or tuning into the latest dramatic viral episodes, Mawema has a keen eye for what the Roommates want and need to know. Working behind the scenes she can be credited with breaking some of the largest stories on the internet. In addition to her role as Director, she has stepped out in front of the camera working as a host for The Shade Room where she can be seen on numerous red carpet events such as the VMAs, Billboard Awards, Grammy Awards, and the BET awards. She has landed memorable interviews with everyone from Saweetie and Queen Latifah, to Cardi B and Diddy, with her signature white braids and Gele’ head wraps becoming a staple at most major events. During the pandemic, Mawema could be seen on The Nick Cannon Show where she was sought out to appear as a celebrity commentator in a segment titled “Shading with the Stars,” and another called “Shoot Your Shot.”

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like The Shade Room is for the Roommates by the

There is a Zimbabwean proverb “A ripened fruit does not cling to the vine” and Mawema has indeed heeded that and spread her wings. Outside of her work with The Shade Room, she is widely known for her fashion tips and lifestyle YouTube channel. With fashion partnerships ranging from Shein to beverage partnerships with Simi Wines, she has been spotlighted on Fashion Bomb Daily, Marie Claire and All Things Ankara. Mawema says she’s living her best life right now and is excited to be considered a cultural leader. Follow her on Instagram at @thembitv

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BOOK REVIEW Pastor Elvis Iruh’s new book is out……

About the Author ELVIS IRUH is a native of Delta State, Nigeria. He attended numerous schools in Nigeria, including the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos, Nigeria, before continuing his studies in Europe and earning a degree in theology from Victory Education & Training Institute. He worked for several media organizations in Nigeria as well and has been the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Voice news magazine since August 1999. He is serving as an associate pastor at Victory Outreach Almere, The Netherlands. The book can be used for educational purposes as well as educating your children on the subject of marriage. He is also available to speak on related topics covered in the book at any organized event or church activities. He is open for collaborative efforts to strengthen marriage institutions worldwide. It is a mission he has dedicated himself to helping the younger generation to talk and address the challenges they face in building good and solid relationships which could end up in marriage. You can purchase the book in Holland via his website: www.elvisiruh.com or through his publishers’: www.authorhouse.com/ Elvis Iruh or on www.amazon.co.uk via this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/link: image_1?smid=AHRB2OK2Q2YCL&psc=1aw/d/1665580844/ref=ox_sc_act_ You can contact him directly through any of his social media handle for your questions or comments, he would look into it and respond would be sent to you accordingly. Email: info@elvisiruh.com or elvisiruh@gmail.com COPY NOW....

Author: Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh About the book Whether you’re preparing for marriage or want to enjoy a deeper union with your spouse, this guide will help you enjoy a relationship built on solid Christian values.

YOUR

Title: “Getting to know you” - A book on marital steps with information about marriage

Getting to know you written by Pastor Elvis Iruh Pastor Felix Asare wrote

Pastor Elvis Iruh is a licensed minister with Victory Outreach International. His book highlights simple principles that are often taken for granted. Learn how to: • get to really know a love interest before deciding to marry; • avoid mistakes that lead to divorce; • appreciate the sanctity of marriage; • forgive your partner when they make mistakes. Before you think of getting married, you should take the necessary steps to really get to know your partner. Your past should not contain any surprises - and your values must be aligned. This revealing book is filled with practical exercises that partners can carry out with each other as well as guidance for pastors and church leaders who may need help in advising couples. This guide will help couples enjoy marriage that is built to last. *****

the foreword

First Lady, Madam Fatima Maada Bio is motivated by PanAfricanist ideals. She is a strong believer in women empowerment as key to sustainable development. In December 2018, she pursued her passion for women empowerment as First Lady by staging a peaceful protest against gender based violence. It was a historic march as First Ladies from different African Countries came together in unity in a protest march on the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Since that march, her very powerful campaigned themed “Hands Off Our Girls” has taking a global shape and being talked about around the Bornworld.into the Madingo tribal circle in the Gambia, she knew who her husband would be at age of 10. She narrowly escaped Child marriage and started philanthropic work at a very tender age of 16. She relocated to London where she pursued her passion for charity work. Her personal story is her main motivation and she has traveled the world providing support to vulnerable children, especially in Africa.

Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com14 African Woman of the Year 2022

First Lady, Mrs. Dr. Fatima Bio has Bachelors of Art degree in Performing Art from the Roehampton Institute of London and in Journalism from the University of Arts, London College of Communication.

Worthy of note about Sierra Leone’s illustrious first lady is the niche she has garnered for herself through hard work over the years in the entertainment industry as an actress, scriptwriter, executive producer and a multi award winning face of Nollywood industry. Among her barrage of prominent features in cinema is the ‘Mirror Boy’.

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In line with the UN sustainable development goals, the Hands off our Girls session in New York focused on “ Advancing campaign on the reduction of Early Marriage and Rape in Africa for the promotion of human capital development”. Statements were delivered by important global personalities such as Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation; Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, President of African Development Bank, Mr. Dereje Wordofa –

*Miss Africa in 2000 * “Best Supporting Actress” for the movie Mirror Boy in 2011

UNFPA Deputy Executive Director; Mr Ziad Dalloul, Founder of Africell; Her Excellency Mrs Clar M. Weah, First Lady of the Republic of Liberia and Her Excellency

Continued on Page 16

“Best Actress Award” from the Black Ethnics, Fashion and *FilmIn September 2013, Mrs. Fatima Jabbe-Bio was voted the best female The effective “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign ultimately led to the President, H. E. Rtd Brig. Julius Maada Bio’s declaration of a National Emergency on Rape and Sexual Violence in Sierra Leone on the 7th Feb 2019, and subsequent revision of the sexual offences act in September Internationally,2019.

First Lady Maada Bio has received several awards *including;Honoured with the Warrior Award at the International Women of Power Luncheon in California, U.S.A. for her bravery and outstanding contribution towards women and girls in Sierra Leone.

the First Lady has taken #HandsOffOurGirls to Canada; during the “Women Deliver Conference, The BBC London and The Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. Very recently, President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, launched #HandsOffOurGirls campaign at a High Level meeting on the margin of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on the 25th of September 20019 at St. Regis New York.

* Honoured as one of the most influential people of African descent under 40 in New York, United States.

Her prowess and strategy was noticed by the nation during the 2018 elections in Sierra Leone where she took a pro-active role. She was able to broker peace easily amongst warring parties. Her down-toearth communication skills were not only due to her formal education, but also her affinity with the grassroots. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London in 2018, the Queen of England was excited to meet with Africa’s newest first Lady. The Queen was impressed with her tenacity in helping to change the perception of the role of women in Inpolitics.linewith her husband’s vision, First Lady Bio believes education is key. Her philanthropic character is inborn and she is a fantastic role model that leads by example. Her greatest strength is her ability to achieve any goal she sets.

Mrs Emine Erdogan, First Lady of Turkey. H. E. Madam Jeannette Kagame, the First Lady of Rwanda, read the declaration by First Ladies in Africa supporting the campaign. Other First Ladies in attendance were Mali, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Niger, Chad, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the height of the COVID pandemic, First Lady launched the National food basket programme to supply free bags of rice, oil, salt and other food items to every district in the Thecountry.Free sanitary pad for school going girls’ initiative was launched December 2019 to support the Free Quality Education initiative of the Government. The sanitary pads programme saw a huge reduction in girls skipping school. Sensitisation campaign on menstrual sanitation was an integral part of the Free Sanitary Pad campaign. First Lady went further by providing solar powered boreholes to provide water all year round in hard to reach communities. Based on these and other practical deliverables, on Thursday 27 May 2021,The African Union formally recognised Her Excellency as champion for sanitation and hygiene. Presently the Government of Sierra Leone will be one of the few countries in the world to offer free sanitary pads to schoolgirls. In line with her dedication to educating and protecting our children especially our girls, in September 2021, First Lady Bio was honoured by the United Nations as the new champion of the United Nations Education Plus Besideprogram.her battery of laurels, First Lady Fatima Bio won the Gathering of African Best (GAB) Awards for her exceptional contribution to promoting a positive image of Africans around the world.

Some say it is divine, but peoples close to her say it is pure, undiluted hard work, while others insist it is a combination of both divine intervention and hard work.

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Congratulations to Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Continued on Page 15

Presently First Lady Bio is building a hospital, a Centre of Excellence and an administrative block at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown. She is determined to make the Military Hospital established in 1934, one of the best in Africa in terms of delivery.

Just last month, on 20th August 2022, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio received the prestigious The Voice Achievers award as African Woman of the year 2022. An honour bestowed on her for her tenacity to see all forms of abuses on the girl child stopped and eradicated in Africa and globally.

Being the text of a Keynote Address delivered by Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele, Executive Director (Networks), Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHCO) during the 2022 International Voice Achievers Award holding at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Banjul, The Gambia from the 18th to 20th August 2022

Protocols…IntroductionItisadelight for me to be here today to stand in the presence of an excellent array of distinguished personalities from all over Africa and beyond. I am aware that this is the 12th award ceremony where distinguished men and women of African descent will be honoured, I am also aware that this year’s awards ceremony is the second time the event will be hosted in Africa having hosted the first 9 consecutive awards in the Netherlands. One can still vividly recall that the 10th awards ceremony was hosted by the Deputy President of Kenya, His Excellency William Ruto who has been declared as the In-coming President. This was the first time that the ceremony will be hosted in sub–Saharan Africa. I therefore want to seize this opportunity to appreciate the efforts of the First Lady of the Gambia, HE Madam Fatoumata Bah Barrow who was honored as the ‘Africa Woman of the Year 2021’ in Dubai. Some may recall that during her acceptance speech, she invited African Voice to the Gambia for the hosting of the 2022 Awards ceremony in Banjul, Today, thanks to Her Excellency, we are all gathered in this beautiful hall for today’s epochmaking ceremony. It is particularly significant that His Excellency President Adama Barrow, President of the Gambia will be receiving the Voice Achievers’ Icon of Democracy Award. I also salute and congratulate Dr Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone for winning the African Woman of the Year 2022 award. I equally felicitate warmly with all other distinguished awardees here Apartpresent.from my selection as the African Man of the Year 2022, I have also been saddled with the arduous task of delivering of this keynote lecture on: Building a Developed, Valued and Respected Africa: A Clarion Call for ParticipationCollectiveby Africans for An African-Led Solution. It is a task that I accept with all humility. Permit me to reiterate the fact that one of the primary aim of bringing the conference to Banjul this year is to beam the spotlight on The Gambia with a view to harnessing its huge potentials and that of the entire African Continent. The organisers, I understand, are interested in celebrating our common African heritage and exploring ways to advance the good of Africa. A Broad Overview of the Concept of Development Since the end of World War II, the concept

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“Building a Developed, Valued, and Respected Africa

Now: A Clarion Call for a Collective Participation by Africans for African-Led Solution”

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com 19 of development has been a major thematic focus of social science scholarship. Several theories have been developed to explain its trajectory across the world. These theories have been embraced and continue to be attractive to several African leaders and policymakers that are interested in modelling their development plans along the recommendations of the development experts of the West. Notable development theorists such as W.W. Rostow, Gunnar Myrdal, W. Arthur Lewis, Paul A. Baran, among others, have examined the issue of development and underdevelopment from diverse perspectives. While Rostow identifies five stages every society must go through to attain the “lofty height,” Myrdal’s argument underscores the centrality of nationalism to the attainment of development. To Lewis, the natural resources and the behavioural pattern in a society serve as critical factors in determining the level of development, but Baran adopts a Marxist approach to explain the exploitation of the colonial territories by the European powers, and how postindependence development has continued to be hampered by the policies of the Western capitalist powers.

Continued on Page 20

The divergence of opinions on how countries in the West attained development reinforces the popular saying that there are many routes that can lead to the marketplace.

The renowned Austrian economist and economic historian, Joseph Schumpeter, in his analysis of economic development sounded a note of warning to his audience about the limitation of his model. He wrote that his analytical paradigmatic framework on development is premised upon the experience of the capitalist countries of Europe and North America and that such a framework lacks universal applicability since it would require significant modifications if it was to be used in other climes. In other words, the historical context in which the social and economic conditions evolved necessarily play key roles in the strategies to be adopted on development issues. In the case of sub-Saharan Africa and her longtime quest for development the importance of home-grown strategies cannot be overstated. Colonialism under which her social, political and economic systems were structured was primarily targeted at serving the interest of metropolitan BeforeEurope. proceeding with this address, I am of the view that it is pertinent to have an understanding of what really constitutes development and especially what it connotes for contemporary African countries. In a nutshell, development means a positive change or improvement in a hitherto existing state of affairs. It also connotes the process of coming into existence or of creating something new or more advanced. It is a post-World War II concept which was synonymous with industrialization in the early years.

But the concept subsequently assumed a wider meaning that goes beyond just ordinary change in the society to become an all-encompassing change that affects every facet of the society and makes life easier than what it used to be. Development, according to Lieshout (et. al 2010), is a deliberate acceleration of modernization. It is the modernization of every aspect of a country’s social system namely; economy, government, political system, and so on. Myrdal defines development as upward movement of the entire social system which includes both the economic and noneconomic factors. Wilbert Moore (1960) conceives of development as the opposite of the traditional notion of progress but the rise of rational Byspirit.implication, development cannot be fortuitous, it does not just happen by chance; rather it is a result of deliberate effort by a people who desire a life better than what they have been living. Also, the idea of development transcends just an aspect of the society but the entire society, which, in the case of Africa, go beyond a productive economy. For instance, a productive economy may guarantee an inflow of capital but this is just a means to achieving a goal. As noted by Ragnar Nurkse, capital is a necessary but not a sufficient condition of progress. Society does not progress on a mere accumulation of capital as the situation of African economies has shown; rather, it must be deployed as a tool linked with an advanced technology to raise the standard

A report of the World Bank in 1980 stated that sub-Saharan Africa “has the most disturbing outlook” of any region in the Third World. In spite of this gloomy picture, the point here is that Africa has the capacity to overcome its social, political and economic problem, and beyond the capacity to improve upon their lackluster condition, African countries can also achieve the seemingly elusive development with right strategies that take into consideration the peculiar nature of the continent and its diverse populace. To occupy her rightful position in the comity of nations and earn the Engr. Ifeoluwa addressing the summit in Banjul, The Gambia

Continued from Page 19

Much as efforts geared towards development in post-independent African states were not lacking in the past, the failure to materialize and advance the cause of Africa in the final analysis are indications of certain militating factors that need to be adequately understood and be guarded against in designing new strategies.

Even though colonialism ended in Africa some decades ago, one of the major legacies of the colonial rule is the skewed allocation of role to colonies in the global division of labour. Sub-Saharan African countries have found it difficult to fix the anomalies built into the global economic structure handed down to them at independence, and the difficulty is similar to what one encounters in an attempt at building an impressive super-structure on a crooked foundation. In other words, it is a classic example of building something on nothing. The realization of the structural weakness of

African economies found expression in the Lagos Plan of Action which showed that overdependence on the export of primary products, agricultural and minerals, made the economies highly vulnerable to the vagaries of the international market.

Thus, one may be tempted to ask further why development has remained an elusive chimera in much of sub-Saharan Africa despite years of efforts, either individually or collectively. One can easily recall the prominence of President Nkrumah as one of the earliest advocates of industrialization and economic independence for African countries as a remedy for the anticipated problem of the flag independence granted by the departing colonial powers. The Arusha Declaration in Tanzania under Nyerere’s socialist system; the Monrovia Declaration adopted by OAU which later served as the template for the Lagos Plan of Action in 1980, and the Structural Adjustment Programmes of the 1980s and 1990s are few examples that point to the fact that African countries have always desired a better situation since independence.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com20 of living of the populace. Several scholars and analysts and policy makers have lamented the fact that countless number of African youths have been risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe every year. It is obvious that the hope that comparatively better living condition awaits them in the Western World has continued to fuel the resolve of many African migrants to embark on this perilous journey. At the heart of this attraction is the issue of development. (Falola and Afolabi, 2007:382).

respect of others Africa requires a home-grown solution to her many crises that have plagued many parts of the continent since independence. It is very important in a discourse of this nature to highlight the view of Gunnar Myrdal a Swedish economist and 1973 Nobel Prize Winner who made major contributions to development economics as well as social and economic policy. As the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe his scholarly contributions became increasingly critical of mainstream neoclassical economics. This led him to adopt what has been described as the institutionalist or state interventionist approach to economic development. Myrdal’s approach emphasized the role of values and advocated for an interdependence between economic and non-economic factors in development. He equally examined the problem of inequality among nations, and explained increasing global inequality between rich and poor nations leading to a high level of development in rich countries and the siphoning of capital from poor countries.

in the world development has its own history. For most countries in Africa, the very idea of ‘colonial development’ which purportedly aimed at developing the colonies laid a foundation for the selectivity that defined development in its early years and into the post-independence years. Colonial development from the 1930s onwards basically sought to enhance the earning capacity of the state by promoting few areas of interest in the economy while other sectors suffered neglect (Austen, 1987). This narrow view of development continued to reflect in the writings of development theorists who in their definitions equated development with industrialization (Rapley, 2007). However, Cooper (2010) challenges this narrow notion of development and describes it as a mere “rhetoric of European-directed progress” to capture wide-ranging issues that affect the human race generally.

Myrdal’s analysis of economic problems caused him to question the ability of the market to produce equitable growth and development. This view, and his concern for economic and social justice, made him a strong advocate of interventionist government policies and planning. In the 1950s and 1960s, he wrote copiously on international economics, the problems of underdevelopment, and value biases in Western economic thought. He argues that the ‘crucial factor is not the amount of foreign aid or the kind of economic system used but the social discipline of the masses.’ For him, what is required is a re-orientation of the masses and their active involvement in nation building. Other strategies include; patriotism, population control, transparency and drastic reduction in institutional and systemic corruption. His conclusion is that without these strategies, lasting development is likely to be impossible. Given the salient submissions by Myrdal, this distinguished audience will agree with me that his views appear relevant in proffering home grown solutions to the African LikeSelectedcondition.CaseStudieseveryotherthing

The birth of independent Africa into the Cold War era substantially influenced the ideological orientations of African countries and this reflected in the paths taken in the course of their developmental history. In independent Tanzania led by the late Julius Nyerere from 1964 to 1985, the socialist development model was embraced, and it found its best expression in the Arusha Declaration of 1967. The projection and expectation that Tanzania would experience appreciable progress did not materialize as the President himself confessed ten years later that the achievement of Tanzania’s goal was not even in sight.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Nyerere had to admit that he was a “poor

Toprophet”becontinued next edition in October 2022

It is noteworthy that different countries in Africa have experimented with series of development strategies in the past and these produced varying degrees of success and failure. A survey of those past efforts will be undertaken here with a view to determining whether African countries need to follow already known path or chart a new course for themselves in their quest for sustainable development.

Zimbabwe is in economic crisis and thousands of trained care professionals are seeking employment abroad.

“Exploitation does not start on arrival [in the UK],” said Hillary Musarurwa, a Zimbabwe-born social scientist in England. “It starts during the application process [in OneZimbabwe].”routeto the UK is by completing a Red Cross care worker certification programme. “It’s like cow barns, Red Cross academies are filled to seams with UK-hopeful carework trainees. It’s ex-teachers and geologists desperate to retrain for UK care work,” said Joseph Zuze, a trainee nurse at Mutare Hospital, who plans to emigrate to the UK when he graduates.

Zimbabwean care workers are being tricked into coming to the UK by unscrupulous middlemen who withhold up to half their wages and force them to live in squalor.

NHS series: Care workers, lured from South East Africa to start their careers in the United Kingdom are being scammed and exploited by middlemen

“When you are working for an agency [in the UK], they pay you 50 per cent of your total salary,” said Jim Moyo, who moved to the UK from Harare in November 2018 to work in a care home in Margate. “You are getting paid £14 per hour, but then these guys will pay you £7.” He added that, once tax was deducted, he was left with just £4 per hour for “rent, food and all sorts of expenses”.

‘Huge web of corruption’ The Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) is highly coveted, which has led to it being exploited by middlemen, according to locals.

While Zimbabwe’s nurses have found work in Britain for years, hiring care workers is a new phenomenon, and experts told the Telegraph that a lucrative ecosystem of manipulation has been built around it.

However agencies often run by Zimbabweans in the UK and unregulated are exploiting them, a Telegraph investigation has found.

Zimbabwe-born nurse working for the NHS in North London added that she knew someone in the UK “charging £7,000”. This clearly contradicts British law, according to Taffi Nyawanza, head of immigration at Mezzle Law in Birmingham who is well-known in Zimbabwe’s UK diaspora community.

By Ray Maria

The scam, which plays on the acute shortages of nursing and care staff across Britain’s hospitals and care homes, has echoes of the debt bondage schemes recently revealed to be impacting Indonesian farmers.

Mr. Zuze said his wife had been scammed by “agents” who charged $380 to put her on the training wait list, despite the official Red Cross certification costing just $300. These agents are not in any way employed, endorsed or contracted by Red Cross Zimbabwe and there is no evidence Red Cross Zimbabwe is aware of them. Closed WhatsApp groups, seen by the Telegraph, show that so-called agents then ask care workers to pay up to £5,000 if they want to be linked with UK-based care agencies.

“[The agency] tells you: ‘I paid for your accommodation, flights, visa, [I’m] your sponsor’. It’s like a hideous loan,” said Mr. Moyo.

“This has created another huge web of corruption; care agencies in the UK, run by Zimbabwe nationals, [are] gifting the COS to their relatives and friends first and anyone else [faces] hefty fees that reach £4,000,” said Mr. AnotherZuze.

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How nurses recruited from Zimbabwe are being caught in UK ‘bonded labour’ schemes

But extreme poverty is stalking Zimbabwe, and nurses –who are paid just $79 a month and expected to juggle a high patient load – are seeking a better life. Inflation has Continued on Page 24

Yet the recruitment drive has drained Zimbabwe so badly that Bulawayo municipality, in the southwest, recently complained that 13 nurses out of its skeleton staff have moved to the UK since January.

“We understand repayment clauses may be used by some organisations to recoup upfront costs if internationally recruited staff do not meet the terms of their contract,” a spokesperson said.

“That the UK should have [to] do special deals with other countries to support its own NHS workforce is in itself a marker of how workforce planning for the NHS has failed,” Sir Andrew told the Telegraph. “That we are taking from a country that has substantially lower numbers of healthcare workers than many countries have is something we should have serious reservations about.”

NHS England has also been accused of “emptying” Zimbabwe of health workers – although the country is not on the red list, experts have warned of a “critical shortage” of staff.

This month, the DHSC signed a deal with Nepal for 100 nurses to work at Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, under a pilot scheme that could pave the way for thousands more Nelapese nurses to come to Britain. But the ethics of the move are “debatable at best”, according to Sir Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, as Nepal is on an international recruitment red list – operated by the World Health Organization (WHO) – to prevent developed countries from actively recruiting from regions with a lack of health workers or an undeveloped health system.

“The vast majority of care workers are employed by private sector providers who ultimately set their pay, terms and conditions independent of central government. However, we would be concerned if repayment costs were disproportionate or punitive”. Experts said the schemes have taken advantage of chronic staffing issues across the UK’s social and health care systems – the NHS alone is currently trying to fill 40,000 nursing positions – which has triggered a surge in international recruitment.

In 2020, the UK issued 1,059 skilled visas to Zimbabweans, a figure which jumped to 5,549 in 2022, placing the southern African country among the UK’s top five skilled visa grantees.

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“UK law is clear. A recruitment agency cannot charge a fee for ‘placing’ an employee. The person who ‘assigns’ or prepares and allocates the [COS] must not be related to the prospective employee. [If] this is the case, the relationship must be fully disclosed to the Home Office,” he said. However regulation of these agencies is weak, and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) suggested that although it is unacceptable that some overseas-based agencies are charging fees to place candidates with jobs in Britain – their hands are tied because the actors are not under UK jurisdiction.

That’s despite a vast difference in the number of health professionals per population. In 2018, there were 1.9 nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zimbabwe, compared to the UK’s 8.2 nurses and midwives per 1,000.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com shot to 479 per cent this year alone, according to Steve Hanke, director of the Troubled Currencies project at the Cato Institute.

However, many find themselves no better off when they reach the UK – a situation experts say is now too large to Rumoursignore. of agencies overcharging workers exploded publicly on Twitter in June, with leaked care-worker pay slips purportedly showing salaries of £2,255 drained by their employers under guises of administrative fees until just £604 was left.

“This is slavery happening in front of our eyes. I strongly believe we are going to have a court case very soon. Most of these employers owe people more money than they can ever pay,” he said.

‘Slavery happening in front of our eyes’ Though UK law allows employers to dock wages for “reasonable costs”, any employee must not be left with an income that is below the UK national living wage of £9.50 an hour, Mr Nyawanza said.

Continued on Page 23

Mr. Moyo, who left the UK after a matter of months due to the conditions, said he was not alone in seeing his wages cut dramatically, or living in cramped conditions. While in Britain, he was forced to pay £70 a week to share a house with eight others.

“I met with guys who told me, ‘I have been [in the UK] since 1999 and don’t have papers, so I do care work, I work for an agency and [I’m] left with 300 pounds. You just do what they ask you to do’,” Mr Moyo said, referring to colleagues he met in Margate. He added that some workers were so impoverished that they slept in the clients’ homes.

These workers are also subject to zero-hours contracts, which means an employer does not guarantee the individual any hours of work, according to Tich Dauramanzi, a Zimbabwe-born engineer who ran a legitimate care staffing agency in Stoke-on-Trent until 2017.

“I’ll never return to the UK as a care worker,” he told the Telegraph, describing the schemes as a form of modern slavery. But the experiences of those who were undocumented were even worse, he added.

The DHSC told the Telegraph that it takes reports of illegal employment practices seriously, and that the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority prosecutes lawbreakers, though it’s not the DHSC’s responsibility to penalise

Though Unseen runs a help fund for victims to report anonymously, the reality is that “people feel they have no options but to continue working,” Ms Currell said. “[It’s] very difficult [to] get info from individuals because there are no easy routes to get support. It’s quite tragic.”

a lot of young [Zimbabweans]. For some, this is the first time they have been employed. Most of them are gripped by the fear factor. They’re told ‘here’s your only chance to come to the UK,’” he said.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com agencies. The Home office has cracked down on similar practices in some Asian and East European recruitment companies in the past, with some success. But Zimbabwe-owned care agencies have a clever tactic up their sleeve, according to Mr

Meanwhile the UK’s strict immigration regime has also exacerbated exploitation, according to Justine Currell director at the anti-slavery charity, Unseen.

“TheyDauramanzi.arerecruiting

The hostile environment policy was introduced in 2012 by then-Home Secretary Theresa May, with the intention of making life in the UK difficult for those who cannot show the right paperwork. Such policies prevent people from accessing housing, healthcare, education, work, bank accounts, and benefits.

“The Hostile Environment is creating an ability for people to be [living] in exploitation, to be kept in exploitation, and to not to want to come to authorities for fear of repercussions,” Ms Currell said.

Sanyang Police station Commissioned in The Gambia

Earlier in 2021 Dr. Abubakary Jawara was invited by the community of Sanyang village to come and see the destruction made by some disgruntled youths of the village and requested for the reconstruction of the police station. Upon having a site visit of the burnt station and having held discussions with the community leaders and people, Dr. Abubakary Jawara promised to donate 2.8 million Dalasi for the reconstruction of the entire police station. Last month, after his international recognition by the Voice Achievers Award, he officially donated the completed complex to the community. Sanyang Police Station was officially handed over to the authorities with fun fare and celebration from the whole community. Dr. Jawara was present to hand over the new built police station to the authorities. The Vice President was represented by high power delegation and members of the Gambia Police force were also present in numbers. Find pictures of the coverage of the event as carried by Abubakary Jawara platform.

The Voice Achievers Award 2022 in The Gambia (Photos)

Photos contributed by Princess Nwanne Campo

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Many activities of Hon. Mamma Kandeh

Hon Mamma Kandeh donated cements and courgettes sheets to help rebuild some houses, which collapsed due to the heavy rains. And also the maternity homes where women come to deliver and yet nothing is happening because the women come there two times a week for nursing and sometimes delivering.

Hon Mamma Kandeh said this is his little effort to improve the

The Voice news magazine visit to the Gambia afforded the publication the opportunity to interact with some of the awardees and see first hand what they are doing. Hon. Mamma Kandeh was a presidential candidate in the last presidential elections, which took place on 5th December 2021; he came 3rd behind veteran opposition leader, Mr. Darboe. With elections over, he has continued his activities to remain relevant with his people. As part of his activities was a visit he made to various hospitals and clinics in the Gambia to console and show moral and financial support to the sick. The country is faced with shortage of adequate medical resources but despite that he believes that the country should invest more in the health sector for the ordinary citizens. According to him, he does this from time to time to visit the patients in all the hospitals and clinics in the Gambia. “I pray for them and give them an envelope to them to buy drugs. I meet more than 1000 patients nationwide”. In the same vein, Hon Mamma Kandeh donated 200 bags of rice to the victims in the village and he gave money about 30,000 Gambian Dalasi to the students whose books were washed away by the flood so they can buys new books. In addition, Hon Mamma Kandeh rented an essa veto to help clear the drainage system in the capital city which was not clear for over 30 years. According to him, he said, “we are cleaning this raining place for almost 4 days and after that I gave them 200 bags of cement to lift the drainage within the city so that the waters are not flowing on the streets. You can see works are going on. He also called on his party militants to do a cleaning to the whole city.

The honourable Kandeh is also involved in water projects through which he gives needy Gambians access to clean and drinkable water as you can see videos I gave to needy Gambians, as you can see in some videos, the women are singing and dancing

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com 33 health sector and by encouraging the community to build their own infrastructures

The****honorable disclosed to our Editor that one of the clinic was blown away by the wind and he came to give some assistance because it’s about 34000 people coming to this clinic, it was a difficult period for them because were move to a primary school.

Like most, I value and need meaningful relations in my life. Also, I am very much aware that it takes two to tango. Any interaction is composed of two players: the other and oneself. Though it is of value not to assume or judge others, not beforehand, maybe not even in the process of interaction, it is equally important to know yourself. What attracts you in this significant other? What and how much of yourself are you giving? What are your implicit expectations of what the friendship, the romantic relationship may bring? Since, these contribute to the outcome: its quality and possible disappointments. What does your friendship mean to the other?

A sharing by MindBeautySphere, Caroline Omondi Meet people where they are

In my experience, what makes relationships work is, beyond the necessary magical ‘click’, beyond the law of attraction, that two conditions are met. The first one is respect for where the other is in her or his life. The second is, how true are you to yourself, your values, and your needs?

How to make friendships and relationships work?

The first condition, I like to summarize as ‘meet others where they are’. Approach and interact with people as and where they are in their lives. Without assuming anything about them that they have not been sharing with you voluntarily. Refrain from labelling them with what you read in their life, position, or status. Approach people with kindness and genuine interest. Listen more than talk. In essence, this is the understanding of ‘other love’ as the absence of judgement. The second, equally important condition, I call ‘meet yourself where you are’. This requires listening to yourself, with kindness and as much clarity, and honesty as you can bring yourself to. Know who you are. Acknowledge your pain and fears, not to succumb to them, but to smile at them, forgivingly as a mum would do. Find peace, and tranquility, and reconnect with the light and heart inside you. This I like to refer to as ‘self-love’. Don’t expect that any relationship you seek completes you, or fixes emotional holes in your mental make-up. Neither give in to emotional needs of others where you feel dis-comfort in doing so. Connect with people to add, to complement value. Enhancing the quality of both your and their lives, in doing so. If you feel dis-ease in meeting any of the two mentioned conditions, take a step back, pause, and reflect upon your feelings. What causes dis-comfort? Sometimes people are not clear about why they engage with others, what

The incentive here is a positive one. What drives me is the will to engage, maintain and invest in people that cultivate qualities that I embrace, knowing that my happiness and wellbeing matters to them. This is the exact opposite of fear, insecurity, negative assumptions, or the need to bolster my personal or public image. The leads here are self- love, other-love, and me being mindful that time is scarce. For this reason, I enjoy sharing my life, my space, with people that embody qualities that resonate with what I believe in and hold dear. These are the mutual beneficial, constructive friendships I wish all of us to embrace, cherish and contribute to.

Police make first arrest in connection with Amsterdam explosions

Amsterdam police arrested a suspect on Friday evening who they believe is involved in several of the explosions that have rocked the city in recent weeks. They did not share any identifying information about the Thesuspect.arrestresulted from an investigation by special teams that were created after over 10 explosions shook the city within five weeks. The explosions have taken place at homes, cafes and ATMs across different neighborhoods. The series of explosions forced two catering businesses, Cafe In The City and The Harbor Club, to temporarily close. According to the police, the investigation into the explosions is continuing and there may be more arrests in the future. The suspect is currently in restricted custody

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com their (implicit) needs are, and sometimes you end up given too much to people that have proven no longer to be worthy or appreciative of what you keep on pouring into them. This goes as much for friendship, partnership, as in the case of romantic love. Going on investing in such relationships is harmful to the self. It seriously affects your mental wellbeing. This is what Steve Harvey so eloquently described as: ‘loyalty has an expiration date’. Hence, know and acknowledge what you need, want and what you bring (in) to relationships. This is what I understand as maintaining healthy relations. Respectful, care for others and oneself. Other-love and self-love best find a balance, for sure over time. Realize that every relationship involves an exchange of some sort. Not economically per se, but nevertheless some exchange is always going on. Some hopes are invested, such as passing a good time, experiencing mutual trust, fair sharing, or equally contributing to common goals. And on the receiving end possible returns such as enjoyment, attention, pleasure, happiness, care, burden sharing, generosity, growth.

From where I stand now, I have learned to be care-full of what and with whom I share what is of value to me.

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The whole journey started last year when we invited the First Lady of the Gambia, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow to Dubai as one of our 2021 awardees. She granted me an audience at her hotel apartment in the presence of Deputy Permanent secretary,

Why President Adama Barrow was not presented with “Icon of Democracy award” at the award ceremony in The Gambia. Written by Amb. Elvis Iruh

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Weeks after the event, the organisers have continued to receive phone calls and text messages on why the President’s name was dropped at the last minute of the commencement of the event because Gambians and friends of The Gambia had come to celebrate the accomplishments of His Excellency but were disappointed that all other political leaders were invited except the President of the Republic and there was no government representation.

The 12th edition of The Voice Achievers Award was successfully held on August 20, 2022, at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Banjul, The Gambia. Nominated Gambians and Diaspora awardees were recognized for their contribution to the advancement of The Gambia and Africa in general. The absence of the President of the Republic of the Gambia, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow who had earlier been advertised and promoted on social media to receive the “Icon of Democracy Award” in the Gambia raised a dust of curiosity. The organizers faced barrage of inquiries as to why the President was not present or represented. The organizers were further interrogated by curious folks on the absence and representation of the First lady whom we claimed invited us to The Gambi unlike her Sierra Leonean counterpart, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Fatima Madaa Bio who sent a high powered delegation led by Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the Gambia and senior officials of the mission.

The publisher and Chief organizer of the event, Pastor Ambassador Elvis Iruh has released this statement to clarify the ambiguity therein.

Full text of his statement below: It is shocking to me and my team to hear that anyone would think that we did not contact the Gambia government or made efforts to contact His Excellency before arrangements to organize and hold our event in the Gambia.

The Gambia in mid-February 2022, during the Independence Day celebration. I wrote a letter requesting an audience with Her Excellency and one Halima Tambadou Jawara signed the letter that Her Excellency has approved an audience with me at her office. I was accompanied on that visit by Mr. Modika Bah, my Gambia counterpart. Present at the meeting were Her Excellency, Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, Madam Halima Jawara, myself and Mr. Modika Bah. The First Lady recalled and explained our conversation to Halima and reaffirmed that she invited us to come to the Gambia. There and then, I briefed them on our plans, including dates, which was 18th to 20th August 2022. Her Excellency expressed the fears of rain during that period of the year and that it may be a challenge to host such a huge event but I assured her that my guests were not afraid of the rain and also it happens to be holiday season for many of them who intend to attend the event from the Diaspora. Therefore, it would be a difficult option to adjust the date. So we left the meeting with the tentative dates. Her Excellency assured us that Madam Halima would work with us to actualize our mission to the Gambia.

On her part, Madam Jawara exchanged cards with me and promised to send me a message before I leave the Gambia on possible participants, particularly the Gambia Chamber of Commerce. I sent her a WhatsApp message as soon as we left the presence of Her Excellency; she never replied and from that moment on, nothing worked out. Madam Halima would not take calls to brief her on the progress challengesor we faced. She would not reply her emails or call. I was beginning to get worried. When I sent her the quotation from the venue, as part of the agreement that we had was to update her on the developments or progress of the planning. She called my office in The Netherlands to probe why I have included the price quotation of the venue on the letter of request to Her Excellency. She insisted that I remove anything financial on the letter before she could present it to the First Lady as she has informed us that they are not having any financial commitment to the project.

I inclined to our instruction, and immediately removed the financial aspect of the letter and sent it back to her. She never responded back till this day.

In early June, precisely 2nd June, I made another visit to The Gambia. I spend one full month of June in The Gambia to further sort out the logistic of hosting this event. Madam Halima refused to cooperate with us. We held meeting twice with her and she had suggested that we postpone the event from August to a much later date in the year because Her Excellency would be on vacation then and traveling to the Continued on Page 40

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com 39 Anne Jobe. Our discussion focused on the possibility of hosting the event in the Gambia. She assured me that if her husband is re-elected in December 2021 elections, it would not be a problem to have this event in the Gambia. I assured her that her husband would win the re-election which eventually came to pass. I also presented to her a letter of her husband her nomination as ‘Icon of Democracy in Africa’, his choice was made articularly on how he handled the first election which brought him into power through mails we received from Gambians both home and abroad. She suggested that I send a letter to her office for a follow up on our discussion. In fact I had both letters in my bag, one for the nomination of the President and the second, a request to host the Achievers Award in the Gambia. Both letters were handed to the First Lady and she gave them to Anna Jobe, the Deputy Permanent Secretary who was on the trip with her. Our conversation ended with a promise from my end to visit the Gambia to further discuss the possibilities. I received a reply on October 21, 2021 requesting for more clarification on what is expected of them as host nation. I replied and explained what we expect from them but there was never a reply to that letter until I came in February I2022.visited

Pastor Elvis Iruh with Her Excellency in her office after our meeting in February 2022

On my return back to The Netherlands in July 2022, mid- July, she called me with a very a harsh, rude and almost threatening voice. She concluded that since I refused to change the dates, Her Excellency is withdrawing her support for the program. I should remove her name from the flyers and also remove the name of the President from the award list. In her words, those in authorities close to the President are not aware of our event or letters as I claimed. I have letters signed by Mr. Lamin Kanyi contradicting her Itclaim.was obvious that Madam Halima Jawara was carrying out her threat to stop the First family from participating at this event which was meant to celebrate her and her foundation meant for the ordinary people of the Gambia and promote the Gambia to the Diaspora audience being represented at the event. On my part, I convinced my friends to come to the Gambia to collaborate with the First Lady foundation to bring additional medical care to the ordinary people of the Gambia; Madam Halima Jawara nearly used her power to stop all of that effort if not for my persistency to break all protocols to get the attention of the foundation staff. It was on her directives and orders that we dropped the name of His Excellency, President Adama Barrow from the award list and continued our preparations. In her words, “She said she wasn’t sure if my claim that the First Lady invited us to the Gambia is true and that I should stop patronizing the name of Her Excellency and the President to promote my event”. I wish the First Lady would be magnanimous to clear the air on her statement for that is indicting of her personality and office.

I cannot ascertain yet the role Madam Jawara played in nearly stopping this event taking place in the Gambia. I requested that she should advise Her Excellency to be represented since she was traveling to the United States of America; she turned down the suggestion on the grounds that if she would not be present, I should drop her name completely from our program. Yet Her Excellency traveled to Dubai in 2021 with 3 serving Ministers. So whys was it so difficult to delegate senior officials of the government to represent her?

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com40 United States to attend a fund raising for her foundation.

I came with flyers where we had mentioned that Her Excellency would be the Guest of Honour because she agreed to that in February; Madam Halima Jawara did not object to the flyers, I even left copies in her office.

We demand explanations why the Gambia Chamber of Madam Halima Jawara stopped the President’s award

I tried to convince Madam Halima Jawara that we are also bringing in funds through the participants and opportunities that may arise with close to 150 guests already registered to come with us to the Gambia. Madam Halima insisted that except we change the date, the First Lady would not be available to attend and she would not participate. I then said it was okay that she could delegate someone to represent her. Madam Halima Jawara stood her ground that the First Lady would not participate in the event being held in the Gambia.

Continued from Page 39

initially discussed with Her Excellency. She did not see how this type of event could be beneficiary to the Gambia and that is most unfortunate for a senior Government official of her caliber, releasing that we brought these guests at a low season of tourism in the Gambia. Undoubtedly, there was no ulterior motive attached. My goal was to ensure that the event benefits The Gambia, the smiling coast ThankAfrica.ofyou

Only two ministries acknowledged our letter – the ministry of Gender and social Welfare whose Minister I had met in Dubai the previous year and the Minister of Health whom I met personally during my visit to the Gambia.

Long live the Republic of the Gambia Long live President Adama Barrow Long live The Voice Achievers Award

I want Gambians to know I have not in any way disrespected the office of the President or the First Lady for that matter rather our intention was to celebrate him to high heavens but madam Halima Tambadou Jawara used her position to frustrate and aborted it.

Rather than being asked questions, Madam Tambadou Jawara should tell Gambians why she did not want her President to be recognized and celebrated in his homeland?

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Until then, we keep our peace and wait for the outcome of the government’s investigations into this matter. I would present you with copies of all our correspondence with the government on this matter and the few responses we received. We succeeded in bringing 75 Diasporas to The Gambia who spent over 150,000 dollars in cash through our hosting of the event in the country, hotel accommodation, feeding, and visits to places of interest, and purchases of souvenir items from The Gambia took bulk of the money. This number could have been thrice what we had planned if Madam Halima Jawara has facilitated this event as we

Pastor Ambassador Elvis Iruh Publisher, Founder and Editor-in-Chief

all for your attention.

On a final note, the award is still available for Mr. President, we have not revoked his nomination to be recognized this year yet, we would do that when we receive an official letter stating that he rejected his nomination and the award for 2022.

I also want to make it clear that all letters addressed to the President was sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and through them it is copied or presented to the President office where Mr. Lamin Kanyi has responded to our mails at least twice. Therefore the perception that we did not inform any government institution of our program is untrue. I personally went from ministry to ministry to deliver the Inletters.fact, I brought another letter for the nomination of the President which Mr. Lamin Kanyi received from us to deliver to the appropriate authorities.

The Voice News magazine Organizer: The Voice Achievers award 4th September 2022

Commerce who had earlier agreed to be part of the event after our meetings with them, suddenly pulled out Icompletely.circulated our letter of intent to all the ministries in the Gambia, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unfortunately when the Sierra Leone officials called to inquiry about our event, they were informed that they were not aware of the awards in the Gambia and for that reason, Her Excellency, First Lady of Sierra Leone was advised not to travel.

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Nigerian Born Dutch Politician/Businessman, Jeffrey Ekhator Celebrated In Banjul, Republic Of The Gambia

ANigerian born Dutch Politician and businessman, Mr.Jeffrey Ekhator, was over the weekend celebrated in The Gambia. The Edo born Dutch politician came into political limelight in March 2022 when he contested for a seat in the Rotterdam Municipal election. Though it was his first political outing, he performed exceedingly well at the election under the platform of. BIJ1 political party in Rotterdam. The Nigerian diaspora who has for over two decades projected a positive image of his homeland through impeccable business activities in The Netherlands was recognized among other prominent sons, daughters and friends of Africa in the smiling coast of Mr.Africa.Jeffrey Ekhator received the prestigious ‘The Voice Achievers’ award: ‘African Business Excellence Award 2022’. The award is a testament of his doggedness, resilience, tenacity, and bullheadedness in pursuit of excellence in his business activities. An Entrepreneur and the founder/ President of Jeffang’s Global Trading, Jeffery Ekhator is also the founder of D-Afrique Catering Services, Rotterdam - The Netherlands. Recall that the 48-year-old Ekhator relocated to The Netherlands about 23 years ago. While settled in the country, he researched on the critical needs of the African Community in Rotterdam. His research prioritized three areas of lack in the community: African food supermarket and catering services, African entertainment arena and African cosmetics and wellbeing. In his acceptance speech at the award ceremony, Mr. Ekhator narrated his humble journey to success. The audience in the fully packed Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, venue of the auspicious event appreciated him with a standing ovation. He shared the podium with other prominent African awardees, including Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio (First Lady of the Sierra Leone), Mr. Faith Mba (President of Faith’s Automotive Group, USA), Engr. Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele (Executive Director (Networks), ‘Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHCO), Dr. Abubakary Jawara (Executive Chairman, GACH Group, The Gambia), Anne Nwaghodoh (Channels TV host/producer) and many other distinguished Africans. The event attracted extensive media coverage from both local and international media including the National Television of The Gambia, BBC and Al Jazeera News WeNetwork.congratulate this noble son of Africa for yet another accolade in his bag of honour.

The award ceremony began with a “ Business Summit“ on August 18, 2023, at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center Banjul, where Gambian businessmen and interests interfaced with African diaspora businesses, organizations and investors. The height of the celebration was on August 20, 2022 when the award was conferred on Mr Mba in a deluxe ambience gala night ceremony. Mr Faith Mba is the first Nigerian in the United States of America to own a Toyota and Ford franchises. His accomplishments have been attributed to sheer hard work, tenacity, determination, focus, resilience and above all, his uprightness in business conduct.

The Netherlands based group and publishers of the first complete Pan-African magazine in Central Europe “The Voice Magazine (www.thevoicenewsmagazine. com) nominated Mr Faith Mba as the winner of “Entrepreneurship Excellence Award”

Nigerian Born US Franchisee Of Toyota And Ford Automobile Brands Honoured In The Gambia.

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ANigerian-USA based businessman and the founder/ President of FAMBA Automative, Inc., a franchisee of Toyota and Ford automobiles in Vermont, USA was recently honoured in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia. Earlier in the year, the automotive industry entrepreneur won the prestigious Toyota President’s award for remarkably distinguishing his Toyota Franchise outlet in innovative activities. According a Statement from Toyota, the “President’s Award for Customer First, honors dealers who continue to go above and beyond at each customer touch point” It further stated that the award “represent the pinnacle of our Dealer Recognition Program and honor distinction in the areas of sales, customer satisfaction and retention.”. Reverberating a similar recognition in Banjul, the distinguished, astute and unassuming businessman, was again celebrated in an award ceremony.

The Voice Achievers’ award is an annual international event in recognition of distinguished Africans and friends of Africa, who have through their professional careers and services positively impacted on human lives.

Written by Ritah Atuhaire

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It is not always doom and gloom whenever people, especially Africans, travel to the Middle East in search of new job opportunities. There are a few exceptional cases, like that of Emmanuel from Zimbabwe whose humble upbringing and background were more than enough motivation for him to relocate to Dubai and try his opinion, Emmanuel —a Zimbabwean staying in Dubai —is the best definition of ‘a humble beginning, a glorious end.’ “Even the poor used to call us poor,” he says. Their family used to live in a small room with leaking roofs. Poverty meant that on most days they had no food to eat since they neither had a garden to grow food nor money. They would labor in other people’s gardens in return for sustenance, though this wasn’t always assured. Along with his siblings, three sisters, they never studied beyond the primary level. But Emmanuel never gave up. He had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge so he would often sneak into high school classes to satisfy this desire. Whenever he would be busted by the teachers, he’d move to a new school which meant that he never wrote exams or got involved in most school activities since he was not a legitimately registered student. Yet it never stopped him from helping his classmates with their assignments. This made him very popular with his schoolmates so they always covered for him, with others lending him their school uniforms to enable him blend in with his peers. Fortunately for him, most schools have more than one hundred students in a class at a time, so blending in wasn’t hard. All he had to do was keep a low profile; no answering questions in class even if you know the answer, no participating in music clubs—despite the fact that he is extremely talented in that field —and in case of any bullying incident, he couldn’t be involved or report it. Being an extrovert meant that keeping quiet was his biggest challenge. Eventually, all the schools within his proximity got wind of his antics before he completed secondary school, resulting in him getting banned from their Hispremises.mother’s demise His parents really wanted to send him to school but they couldn’t afford even the cheapest school

Inluck.my

Soaring above adversity: Emmanuel Banda’s story

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com 45 around. Besides, their foremost priority was putting food on the table and treating his mother who had a liver condition. Sadly, because of malnutrition, her condition worsened and she eventually passed away. “If it weren’t for famine, my mother would still be alive,” he says. He was utterly surprised when at her funeral people brought a lot of food and money to facilitate the burial. He believes that if these rich relatives had come out and offered their help before her demise, maybe she would have survived. At sixteen, due to his talent in playing musical instruments and singing, Emmanuel moved to a well-off pastor’s home since the church needed him ‘in good shape.’ The pastor’s children would go to school while he stayed at home doing house chores and writing songs for the church. Despite the obvious setbacks, Emmanuel still harbored dreams of being a successful business man and his family’s breakthrough. He spent four years at the pastor’s place, hoping the rich man would offer to send him back to school, but it never materialized. All he got was a green jeans and a white shirt, plus learning to drive which he taught himself every time he would wash the family cars. When he brought up the issue of compensation for all the services he had provided them, he was labeled toxic and got kicked out of the house. Yet he had preferred being taken to school over monetary reimbursement. Starting anew He resorted to using his talent by playing musical instruments and singing in churches to earn some money. His father had also got a job, so the two became the family’s breadwinners. Just as things were starting to look up for him, he got a girl pregnant. This meant that he had to get out of his comfort zone and hustle even harder since he now bore more responsibilities. As he was contemplating his next move, he ran into an old school friend (one of the boys he would help with their class assignment) who told him about the possibility of travelling to Dubai and earning more. Vanbless, the friend, lent him the money he used to travel, and he was to repay when he gets a job. A friend that became the brother Emmanuel never had. Coming to Dubai was a great transition in Emmanuel’s life. In the first three months, as is the norm for most of us, the biggest hustle was searching for a job, though he exuded confidence that he would get one. Two days before his visa was to expire, there was still no sign of him getting a job. That is when doubt started creeping in and he began sensing defeat, but deep down he knew going back to Zimbabwe was not an option. Being a staunch Christian, he knelt down and poured his heart out to God to enable him realize his dream. His story makes me believe that God is real and He listens because right after his prayer, he received a phone call, inviting him for a job interview. When he went, he made sure he left the room having convinced the manager he was fit for the job. He joined the company as a bartender since, just like me, he was only knowledgeable in the art of coffee making. He had no clue about alcohol, but was ready and eager to learn and become a professional mixologist. Read more of Emmanuel’s journey in Dubai in chapter two of the story.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com46 Nigerian Christians under persecution HELP US PLEASE.......

Truss spent the summer campaigning against Rishi Sunak, the U.K.’s former finance minister who was her rival for the Conservative leadership. The contest was decided by the votes of almost 142,000 party members. Truss secured more than 81,000 of those votes, the lowest proportion of any leader in recent history.

Truss replaces Boris Johnson, who was laid low by a succession of scandals that crescendoed in the first half of this year. After losing support of not only the majority of his fellow Conservative legislators, but also many of his own ministers, he was forced to resign.

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At the announcement, the party’s co-chairman, Andrew Stevenson, said the long, drawn-out contest this summer — involving the two “fantastic” candidates fielding hundreds of questions from tens of thousands of members — showed that the party remained “in good voice and good strength.” He also drew a long round of applause when he thanked Johnson, who “rose to the challenge and delivered,” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently the conflict in Ukraine. Truss also thanked Johnson, describing him as a friend who was “admired from Kyiv to Carlisle.” Before announcing the result, Sir Graham Brady, who oversees the committee of Conservative legislators responsible for selecting a new leader, said the ballot had been “free and fair,” thanked the party members and all candidates, and said both Truss and Sunak were “outstanding” and had run “excellent campaigns.”

The result follows a nationwide vote by the party’s grassroots members that lasted several weeks this summer.

Earlier in the leadership contest, Truss did not command as much support among fellow Conservative legislators as her opponent Sunak. And even though Sunak has promised to support a new government even if he is not leader, political analysts have said it will be difficult for Truss to unify her divided Conservatives, who still enjoy a sizable majority in the country’s parliament — thanks, ironically, to Johnson’s huge success as a campaigner during the last national elections.

Britain’s Conservative Party has announced its new leader is Liz Truss, who has served as foreign minister for the past 12 months. She will be formally appointed as the next prime minister by Queen Elizabeth, likely on Tuesday afternoon.

“We will deliver, we will deliver, and we will deliver,” Truss said, echoing a key campaign theme. “And we will deliver a great victory for the Conservative Party in 2024” — when the next national elections are slated to be held.

Truss will become the country’s fourth leader in a politically turbulent six-year period. It marks only the third time in history that a woman will assume power in 10 Downing Street, but the third time in recent years that a change of prime minister has occurred without a national general election.

Liz Truss is the U.K.’s next prime minister e of cross border pollution in Uganda

Johnson has continued to serve as a caretaker leader for the past few months, and he is expected to meet with the monarch in Scotland on Tuesday to tender his official Asresignation.newleader, Truss will likely make a statement outside 10 Downing Street later Tuesday. She will immediately face responsibility for a rapidly escalating energy crisis in Britain, with both consumers and companies facing record high gas and electricity costs thanks to the war in Ukraine, and the corresponding rise in inflation threatening to tip the country into a major recession. Truss, who had already been dubbed “PM in waiting” by one British newspaper, said in an interview with the BBC this weekend that she will formulate proposals to combat this economic challenge within days, and is aiming to “act immediately.”

“I will deliver a bold plan to cut taxes and grow our economy,” Truss said in her victory speech, adding that she will also take on challenges from high energy bills to the National Health Service.

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Turning Waste to Wealth; One man’s trash is another man’s treasure is a phrase that Erick Lovoga and his friends took to heart. They managed to form a consortium that offers a multi-thronged attack on climate change, unemployment, high cost of living and environmental cleanup. At Kariobangi Community Kitchen, people not only cook their meals together, they also get a chance to share ideas. Kariobangi is a settlement eleven kilometers East of Nairobi’s City Centre. It is home to the famous Light Industries, where entrepreneurs own and run several cottage industries. Most of its youth have ventured into diverse income generating activities, evidenced by the large number of soccer players, performing artists and acrobats who have represented the country at national and international platforms. Erick Lovoga, together with his team, represent this demographic. They have been operating Kariobangi Community Kitchen which recycles waste to fuel. About Erick Born in Sabatia in the former Western Province of Kenya, 36 year old Erick doesn’t remember much about his early childhood. “My mother and aunts tell me I was a very active and curious child. One of my aunts never misses a chance to tease me, by reminding me that I was plump and short back then. To help me shade off some of the weight, my mother would take me with her to fetch water from the community watering point, which was approximately three kilometers away,” he says. He doesn’t have much recollection of his early childhood, though he recalls moving from one school to another as they frequently relocated, till he found himself in Kariobangi Environment and Waste Waste management is an income generating venture that youth in Nairobi have engaged in since the defunct Nairobi City Council allowed community based organizations to assist in cleaning and managing waste at the community level. In the year 2000, organized and registered youth selfhelp groups from Kariobangi were allowed to collect waste from households at a fee. Through their representatives, they entered into a binding agreement with households and plot owners on how much, when and how the fee would be collected. It’s these funds that they used to purchase liner bags, litter bins, and other protective gears that they

Written by Nicera Kimani

Turning Waste to Wealth

Continued on Page 50

The Post-Election Violence “During and after the 2007-2008 post-election violence, waste management was one of the initiatives that was negatively affected. Kariobangi was one of the hotspots where youths were actively used to destabilize the community. Operatives from the opposing sides mobilized youths to defend their party and business interests that were being targeted during the chaos. As the chaos persisted our group, just like many others, was affected. Some members had a hard time accessing certain households because of their ethnicity. This meant that group members couldn’t make money, a scenario that led to a lot of them being idle.

“To mitigate this, we called an emergency meeting of all groups that were dealing in waste collection and environment management in the area. After deliberating on all possible ways to resolve the challenge we were facing, and which was having a negative impact on not only our members but the entire community as well, we resolved to form an alliance. This move was beneficial to our course because it allowed our operations to continue regardless of our tribes.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com 49 use in the course of their operations. Waste collection is a lucrative venture that favors the bigger and well equipped enterprises that get county tenders and which operate in the leafy suburbs. Most youth groups are still ill equipped, hence they never get to win such tenders.

In 2006, Erick and a few of his friends decided to form and register a youth group that would take advantage of the available opportunities in waste management. This was necessitated by the frequent arrests of youths by the police, who accused them of being idle and loitering with intent to commit crime. “We were able to register a self-help group comprising of membership from both genders,” he says. The group, with support from the local administration, managed to organize community cleanup activities. They managed to create a good network within the locale, collecting the waste at a modest monthly fee of one hundred shillings per household.

“In 2009 during reconciliation efforts led by the government and non-government organizations, our efforts to merge the groups was highlighted as one of the ways a section of the community had employed to build and foster peace amongst warring communities. Formation of the alliance gave us a voice and negotiating power. In September of the same year, we formalized the registration of Kariobangi Waste Management Alliance (KWMA) as a consortium of waste management groups operating in the area,” he says.

In 2013, KWMA gained more visibility for their involvement in environmental activities. They managed to partner with the Africa Conference on Volunteer Action for Peace and Development (ACVAPAD), a consortium of some of the biggest corporates in “TheKenya.goal of the partnership was to support environment conservation, youth empowerment and employment efforts that KWMA and World Vision were involved in. It is during this time that Dr. Manu Chandaria, who was the patron of the consortium, challenged us to come up with innovative ideas of managing solid waste that was becoming an eyesore not only in our area, but across the city.

embarking on setting it up, a lot of time and resources were invested to put in place a proper method of handling all the waste materials required to power the Jiko without negatively impacting the environment. All waste used at the kitchen is carefully sorted and dried before being used. The Jiko uses pure waste, with its chimney designed in a way that makes it impossible for it to emit harmful or toxic matter to the environment. It can cook up to six different types of meals once it is fitted with six pallets.

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In the course of their work Erick and his team started promoting recycling from the household level by giving three polythene bags, for plastics, biodegradable and nonbiodegradable waste respectively. If they found you had sorted your waste correctly, you would be charged less than the usual amount.

“In 2010 KWMA was a beneficiary of the Community Driven Development Project that was being implemented by the Global Peace Foundation, which itself was very instrumental in organizing initiatives to foster peace and harmony in Kariobangi. It was through this project that we managed to stay intact as a team through their capacity building meetings, for peace was very important at that particular period. Our revenues from waste management also improved,” he says.

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“The consortium that supported the Kariobangi project has been able to set up similar ones in Mathare, Kibra, Kawangware, Roysambu, and Dagoretti. As people who pride themselves in managing waste and conserving the environment, we support all efforts that advocate for the promotion and protection of our environment, for the current and future generation. If you invest in the environment today, you will get high and unmatched rewards in the future,” he concludes. What you call waste in your house is someone else’s wealth in form of fuel therefore, keep it nicely.

“I was tasked with the responsibility of drafting the concept, presenting and defending it in front of a panel of established and successful corporate CEOs in the country. Our plan was successful and we were able to get a 3.9 million-shilling funding for our idea. The Kitchen was to use pure waste for cooking. The team would collect waste from the households, bring it to the site, and dry it in direct sunlight. Sorting would then be done to separate the toxic and explosive waste from the ones that can be safely “Beforeburned.

“The Community Jiko idea and design requires a big space to set up. The objective is for the community members, regardless of their tribe or creed, to be able to meet at a central place, cook and share ideas. We believe, and it is evident, that this has helped reduce the amount of solid waste in the community. Households have been able to save on the money they would have spent on fuel, as well as reduced intergeneration and tribal strife. The Community Jiko concept and project has been replicated in other regions and communities after its success here.

“The Community Kitchen idea was informed by the fact that most of the households in Kariobangi had complained of life being unbearable as fuel had become too expensive. Many had resorted to using charcoal and firewood, which reverses the efforts made by environmentalists in conserving our forests and combating activities that contribute to climate change. We wanted to provide our community with cheap and readily available cooking energy, as well as provide a centre where community members could meet, engage, and share ideas, thus fostering peace and cohesion within our diversity. The idea received support and funding from the KCB Foundation, Safaricom Foundation, Chandaria Foundation and World Vision, after it was subjected to a business plan writing and presentation competition.

Birth of Community Jiko

IfeOluwa Olusola Oyedele is the Executive Director, (Networks) Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) and a member of Nigeria’s ruling political party, All Progressives Party (APC). Born over sixty years ago in Igodan-Lisa, Okitipupa in Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria, the young Ifeoluwa grew up under the guidance of his father - a school inspector and his mother, a school teacher. His high intelligence quotient (IQ) may have been spotted by his parents who supported his academic ambition with all their resources and they were not disappointed. His academic prowess earned him a career as a ‘certified engineer’. His exploits in his career catapulted him to higher heights and the rest of the story of his growth is domiciled with history. On August 20, 2022, Engr. IfeOluwa Olusola Oyedele was celebrated in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia as ‘ African Man Of The Year, 2022” in a sumptuous, luxuriant and lush gala evening synonymous with the ‘Voice Achievers’ Award’ feast. It all began when a Netherlands based international Pan-African Organization and Publishers of the first complete African magazine in the Central Europe, ‘ The Voice Magazine’ called for nominations across Africa and the diaspora for a deserving African who will be crowned as the African man of the year in their annual award ceremony. The award sets to uncover Africans and friends of Africa whose extraordinary work, public admiration, accomplishments and those who go above and beyond the call of duty in their service to humanity. It is an award for that individual who when seen through human optical-instrument or prism is found to be consistently impeccable. The arduous and critical task of receiving and screening nominations from across Africa and the diaspora by the Voice Achievers’ award screening committee was concluded in the month of June, 2022. The President of the organization, Amb. Elvis Iruh announced the nominees in a widely circulated press release. ( https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/ award-2022.htmlnews/309470/the-gambia-voice-business-summit-and-).Theawardsarepresentedinvarious categories. Engr. IfeOluwa Olusola Oyedele won the nomination for his category as: “The Voice Achiever’ African Man Of The Year, 2022”. As soon as the news of his nomination became public, many individuals, organizations, colleagues and fellow politicians took various media platforms to congratulate him because the coveted and revered award distinguishes itself from many others. It is strictly meritorious. The President and Commader- in-Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated him in a press release: https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/ news/310960/president-buhari-hails-engineer-ifeoluwarecipients of the same category includes: 2012 – Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion (CON) of Nigeria, 2014 – His Excellency, Peter Obi of Nigeria, 2015- Pascal Bida Koyagbele of Central Engr. Celebrating The Allround “African Man Of The Year”

Written by Nigerian Voice.com

Justina Mutale

Engr.

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Someolusola-oyedele-for.htmlofthepreviousdistinguished

IfeOluwa Oyedele:

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Africa Republic, 2019 – Professor PLO Lumumba of Kenya, 2017 – Ambassador Emad Tariq Al Janabi of Egypt, 2021 – Lord Rami Ranger from Egypt and others. Engr Oyedele who is a registered Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a fellow of the Risk Management Society of Nigeria is guided by the maxim of hard work, more hard work and much more hard work while being fair, reasonable and responsible in affairs with others. He has demonstrated humility, kindness, determination, trustworthiness, devotion, sacrifice and loyalty in his pursuit of life. His liberal mind revolves around the Latin quote: “Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu”’ meaning that ‘It is how well you live that matters. In his acceptance speech at the ceremony held at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Banjul, The Gambia, the ‘African Man Of the year, 2022, expressed his gratitude to Africans in Motherland and in diaspora who nominated him for the award. He also thanked his fellow awardees - the President of The Gambia, the First Lady of Sierra Leone and over forty other recipients. Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele had on the previous day, delivered a keynote address in the same venue as part of the ceremonies that cheered in the gala night. In the address, he submitted that African-led solution is the answer to building a developed, valued, and respected Africa. The twenty three page document was described by Mr Henry Oduenyi, the publisher of The Nigerian Voice as an authentic manual for African leaders and Thepolicymakers.President of the award organization, Amb. Elvis Iruh commended the recipient and counseled him to keep up with his efforts to positively impact on humanity.

Creative and Mathematical

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Chief Patrick Olusegun Odegbami at 70

On this day, August 27, exactly 70 years ago in 1952, a star was born into the family of late Pa Jacob Adebola and Madam Bintu Odegbami; the former, a retired Nigerian Railway worker, and the latter, a successful and very popular trader. They both hailed from Wasinmi Community in Ogun State and long settled in Jos, Plateau State where they lived into their advanced years. That little star is Nigeria’s sports icon, serial entrepreneur, master storyteller, great writer, broadcaster, educationist, author, actor, publisher and sports administrator per excellence, Chief Patrick Olusegun Odegbami. One of the most popular Nigerians of his generation, Big Seg came into everything desirable quite early in life…fame, money, travels, cars, houses and the good life. By a stroke of divine luck, he had successfully managed the highs and lows and is in good health (in the company of his loving wife and children) and can happily look back and thank God.

Segun Odegbami@ 70:

Nigeria owes this man a deserved acknowledgement and celebration on a day like this given his contributions to national development via his three areas of passion—sports, education and youth development/entrepreneurship. Though he came into prominence in the late 60s through football, starring as a member of the all-conquering Western State Academicals, then onto NTC FC, WNTV/WNBS FC, Housing of Ibadan FC; it was when he joined the popular Shooting Stars of Ibadan from 1970 to 1984 that he shot into true stardom and attracted national attention; earning an instant call up to the senior national team as

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com 55 a 22-year-old in 1974. He however did not play for the national team until 1976, making his debut against Sierra Leone and going on to establish himself as the poster boy of the team until October 30, 1981, when he made his last appearance in a 2-1 home loss to Algeria. To be sure, he was still at his football best but had to consider early retirement owing to a recurring knee injury that defied huge investments in treatment at home and abroad; halting his glittering career and leaving him to pursue even more expository, technical and creative endeavours within and outside sports, which had kept his name and image not only relevant but soaring till date. Big Seg’s ability to switch, interplay and multi-task in different extreme roles, requiring completely unrelated skillsets, to my mind, has been his defining strength over the years. At different times since leaving active football, he has been a newspaper columnist, writer, publisher, television producer, sports school proprietor, actor, track and field athlete manager, football administrator, national team manager and much more… making a success of all. It is on record that this great man conceptualised and created Nigeria’s first wholly private sports show on television, Saturday Sports Special, in the early 90s. A man of many novelties, Big Seg did not only give Nigerian sports fans quality entertainment on this show but also delivered an unforgettable legacy by his ingenuity in featuring two little but very sharp boys, Wole Opatola and Shina Okeleji, then in their early teens, as co-presenters. To his eternal credit, the two youngsters are now very accomplished sports journalists holding their own in the industry. Wole runs a successful sports publishing and radio/TV production business in Benin while Shina is a leading producer at BBC World Service. Though he has extended his creative abilities into other areas outside sports, especially education and entrepreneurship in the last 30 years, Big Seg, however, kept digging further and deeper into more creative endeavours in sport. In 2003, he founded Nigeria’s first multi-sports secondary school, Segun Odegbami International College & Sports Academy in Wasinmi, Ogun State. Indeed, Odegbami could be rightly described as “creatively restless.” He possesses an uncommon capacity for thinking up one brilliant idea after the other. Those close to him will confirm how boundlessly creative he is.

Big Seg has had his good and bad experiences, especially in Sports Administration but he is unfazed about it. At different times in the last 25 years, he aspired to be President of the Nigeria Football Federation. He also toyed with the idea of a joint World Cup hosting involving four West African countries—Togo, Republic of Benin and Ghana—led by Nigeria. Just as he also at a time took a shot at the FIFA Often,Presidency.henever seeks your concurrence or endorsement no matter how close. He just to puts you in the know and have you understand his motivations, objectives and convictions. This year alone, he has launched many innovative and audacious projects, including the highly successful Conversations initiative; which is leveraging on his interesting relationship with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs; an idea that seeks to position Sport in its right place as a tool of international relations and diplomacy. His latest baby, Eagle 7 Sports Radio, is also on full throttle, blasting quality programs through the airwaves from its Panseke, Abeokuta base to the entire South-West and neighbouring cities.

Chief Patrick Olusegun Odegbami as a young footballer for Nigeria in the 80s

‘African

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Arenowned

Channels TV

Anne Nwagbodoh has shared the same podium with many distinguished Africans, organizations, institutions and friends of Africa. We congratulate the ‘Goldfish’ and wish her greater heights. Star, With Media Excellence’ Award In Banjul, The Gambia

Nigerian television broadcaster, News anchor, host of Channels television’s flagship programme ‘Kaleidoscope’, and cohost/producer of diversity of programmes in Nigeria’s premium television station was honoured in Banjul, The Republic of The Gambia.

The Voice African Achievers’ award is a pan-African international award organized by The Voice News Magazine based in The Netherlands. The event is the twelth episode of the award ceremony and twenty third anniversary of the Magazine. The awardees are nominated through a rigorous and competitive process.

Anne Nwaghodoh Honoured

Anne Nwagbodoh, a graduate of Mass Communication began her journey into the media world as a radio broadcaster where she left a big impact. In 2014, she made a carrier switch to television broadcast industry. Her intellectual prowess has endeared her to her numerous audience and fans. A down-to-earth broadcaster, Ann has injected a cocktail of glamour and sophistication into her carrier while embroidered with graceful humility and high level of broadcast ethics. A glamorous and beautiful young lady, she is uniquely talented in her occupational environment which makes her a model of the girl-child. Her exploits and dedication in television broadcast industry was yesterday, in the capital city of Banjul, The Gambia given an international recognition with her nomination and award investiture ceremony as African Media Excellence Award of the year 2022.

The award is in recognition of exceptional impact and contributions of the winners to the African society. The late President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, former Sierra Leonean President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, First lady of Republic of The Gambia, Dr. Mrs. Fatoumatta BahBarrow, Mr. Peter Obi (Nigeria’s Labour Party Presidential Candidate), Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga and many other distinguished sons, daughters and friends of Africa have been recognized.

Sex for water, the new avenue for corruption in the WASH sector.

There have also been cases of some not having money to purchase it, even after queuing for long hours, which is also another challenge. Whoever pays the piper, plays the tune and in this case whoever controls the resource, calls the shots. Women have been made to trade sex for water, a survival tactic they had to employ so they can acquire this precious Mwaura and Nicera Kimani

resource.Textby:Eunice

‘This exposes them to all sorts of vulnerabilities, especially sexual and gender based violence. In some instances, they go home empty handed after finding the wells have dried up. It is such roles that have given rise to another avenue for corruption, but this time, money is not the currency of Shebribe.’brings out a clearer perspective of the daily struggle which women and girls go through, describing an occasion where she had to line up for three hours at a water point in one of the urban informal settlements in Nairobi Kenya. She wanted to analyse how long, on average, women and girls take to access water. Even though she was there by 5 am, she still found a long queue of women with jerry cans waiting for their turn. Some might have walked for miles to get there; others were young girls who probably got late to school because that water is needed at home.

The fight for gender equality in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector in Africa cannot be mentioned without the name of Sareen Malik coming up. She is effectively the most prominent WASH advocate on the African continent who has greatly helped in shifting the power dynamics that existed. In an exclusive interview with Vice Versa Global, Sareen opens the lid on an emerging phenomenon that is stripping women and girls of their Sareendignity. Malik sits as the Executive Director of the African Civil Society Network on Water (ANEW), an umbrella organization of water and sanitation NGOs in over fifty African countries. With over fifteen years of expertise in water governance and reorganizing WASH NGOs, she has contributed immensely to the sector. Her focus is on assisting NGOs to meaningfully engage in the water and anti-corruption sectors, and mobilizing voices around the call to action that good water governance is critical to improved sector performance. We meet her at the Ikigai, a beautifully designed co-working space in a commercial building at the heart of Nairobi,we settle in one of the several office spaces available. It is a serene place to evaluate the current state of affairs with a woman whose contribution to the WASH sector has raised the alarm on the need for essential reforms that leave no one behind. ‘We are not there yet in terms of right to water, sanitation and hygiene. There is still a lot of work to do, now more than ever, because of the effects of climate change,’ she asserts. She follows this with an analysis of what is currently happening, especially in the Global South. ‘Water is a daily struggle for women and girls coming from low-income background communities. We are still in a deeply gendered society where the onus of roles is attributed to women. In a majority of households, women have been designated as the main water providers. On average they have to walk approximately four miles a day, just to fetch water for their daily needs.

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‘In the Horn of Africa, camels have been dying because of lack of water, demonstrating how severe the situation is. The search for water has seen a mass exodus towards urban centres, putting even more pressure on the existing systems, which subsequently leads to a rise in the level of conflicts at the existing water points.

‘The average person needs one hundred litres of water a day. We are seeing people trying to make do with just twenty litres a day, or even less, due to the cost. This has had an adverse effect on their dignity, so obviously climate change coming in is only going to make things worse.’

Using a targeted approach, for example, it is easier to engage women in their group circles when they come together for economic empowerment.

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‘A couple of months ago, we managed to get women community members from Mali, in the middle of the Water Week, to come and speak about their challenges. Their accounts dominated the entire session but we were more than happy to have their voices being heard at that level. They informed us that as a result of the shrinking water spots due to climate change, their lives had become more difficult. They are now more exposed to assault and other forms of violence in their quest to find water. There is also an effect on their health since carrying a jerry can for hours on end is bound to have serious implications.

What do you see happening in relation to water and sanitation in different areas?

‘The WASH sector holds very strong gender dynamics. Six years ago in Kibera and Mukuru informal settlements, we found that women were trading sex for water because the burden of fetching water is on them. We then conducted a study that was geared towards making sure that we put this issue out there,’ she says. Sextortion or sexploitation is not a new phenomenon in the WASH sector in Kenya. It is a price women and girls pay to access their fundamental basic rights like fetching water, using public latrine, or accessing menstrual hygiene Forsupplies.girls, appropriate WASH facilities are an important part in ensuring their safety and health. The facilities have both a push and pull factor towards their education. They struggle to attend school if they do not have access to safe and hygienic facilities, and within close proximity. This is essential in managing their menstrual hygiene. Some have been exposed to sexual and gender based violence, resulting in them dropping out of ‘Weschool.are trying to do the work at the community level. The WASH sector is putting up a safe space, which will have counsellors and doctors, where victims and survivors will get treatment and counselling after such occurrences. But it is complicated especially when the laws are not in place. Our policies are not yet responsive since women are still being assaulted and asked for sex because they can’t afford water,’ she says. She hopes that a recent meeting with the Kenya Law Reform Commission, in the Attorney General’s office, will bear fruit and an amendment bill to the Sexual Offence Act to include sextortion will be Herformulated.experiences with the climate crisis in Africa and how it has affected WASH? ‘Water scarcity, caused by climate change, has led to its increased demand. Water sources, including boreholes and springs, are drying up. The result is an inequitable access, which deprives homes of the opportunity to collect the water required for regular hygiene. This has serious health outcomes, with menstrual hygiene management for women becoming an issue.

Why is it important to tap into indigenous knowledge and Insolutions?herexperience, she insists that it is very important for organisations to understand the socialisation of women from the different countries, or else they will not have an impact, which is what gender mainstreaming is about.

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‘We have managed to explicitly include women, girls, and people with disabilities; though it required policy trade-off and compromises. It is a huge milestone when big political and continental entities open the space for civil society organisations, because the latter represent voices while governments represent people. We have been working hard to ensure that governments open that space for civil society to come in and table the issues.

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‘Having them give you their time can be very difficult as they are responsible for most household duties. Most of the meetings we had happened during the weekends. They also can’t be too long as this will be telling them to drop everything to come and sit. During some of the pre-conferences we held, I noticed that some women never spoke, only the men did. So what we would do was to have a meeting with the women first. Unless this is understood, then all the efforts put in will not yield any fruits.

‘There also needs to be more investments to build the resilience of communities and countries. There

‘A woman centred approach is the rights based approach.

‘Societies where women are not protected are the ones that are not advancing. One of the initiatives we have been pushing for, is for women to be at the point of sale since they are rarely the water vendors. Evidence based reports show that water points that are managed by women have few cases of violence and SGBV. So, we encourage them to get involved or be given more chances to be water vendors.

It is a huge shift in terms of policies and the way systems are currently built. It places women at the centre of how systems and facilities are built and designed to respond to certain segments of society like girls, children and people with disabilities.

‘It is also the same thing in terms of the setup. Most of them are built through the lenses of a man. A woman would have probably designed it differently. We are trying to advocate for that and are doing so at all levels, from the planning to design, and encouraging more girls to take up the study and get involved in the sector.

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On the ground, we are seeing more women coming in.’ What are your demands to countries that cause the climate crisis and, for example, what should be done by a country like Netherlands?the ‘For the first time during the Water Withoutfacilities.lackduegocommunitypeoplethetalkthewomantoweconferenceWeekwereablehaveafromgrassrootsaboutsituationinherthroughtotheofWASHany filters, she talked of the daily realities they have to go voices‘Morethrough.Southernneed to be amplified. I believe that they are the ones who should sit at the Northern tables in order to really bring the experience home in terms of what is happening; a depiction of how people are suffering and which mitigation efforts are being employed. We are seeing a bit of that shift, with their voices gaining traction in terms of having them speak in the latter’s floors and forums, regardless of whether they are in cabinet or parliament, with support from their global partners.

Sareen Malik believes that there is hope; if more documentations around WASH are done, and if stakeholders continue to work with vulnerable groups to secure their land rights. ‘My agenda is to see no jerry cans on the streets because without them, we will have empowered more women.’ Planting of trees is also key. She urges more women to get into the climate change agenda for they are the worst affected. ‘Southern voices needs to be amplified. We need to collect and mine the information that will raise their voicesct in Kenyan

‘Water is the only Sustainable Development Goal that cuts across all the SDGs, since we need it to achieve all of them. Sadly, the sector is underfunded and is never prioritized by the Kenyan Government. However, global leaders are doing their best through Climate Financing Agenda to make sure governments from the Global South get sufficient funding in the climate sector, which also involves the WASH.

Wells and rivers are drying up due to high temperatures occasioned by climate change, and the little water available is slowly getting contaminated. This means that women are going to suffer even more.’

61 is a disempowerment and disenfranchisement that is taking place within communities, whose cause needs to be known. Beyond both the climate and water and sanitation sector, we need to provide the adequate support to build resilience, so that communities can be empowered to tackle these issues head-on.

‘Piped water is a luxury in many interior parts of the South, so they have to rely on rivers and drying wells. Sadly, the situation is bound to remain this way. In Kenya for instance, rehabilitation of the water sector costs over three hundred million dollars annually, yet the sector receives less than two hundred million dollars.

‘They should be able to sit at the table when decisions are being made and ask the tough questions. However, even the language used is not inclusive enough. It comes off as only reserved for a select few when everything is shrouded in heavy and complicated terms. We need to simplify things so everyone can understand and be Issensitized.’thereenough budget for the WASH sector?

Emotional intelligence in a leader’s toolbox. Unlocking influence. Over the years, we have seen how leaders across the globe, be it, politicians, business leaders among others react to issues, or respond to questions and we marvel if they are the same people we idolize.

Components of emotional intelligence

1 Self-Awareness. Self-awareness is the first step of emotional intelligence. With self-awareness, you always know how you feel and understand the impact of your emotions and actions on people around you. Self-aware leaders have a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses, which ultimately calls for them to behave with humility. With self-awareness, you learn the art of slowing down when under strong emotion. You then take time to examine why and decide how to react.

For some politicians, how they react to diverse opinions, say a lot about their emotional intelligence level. In Ghana, a former district chief executive got sacked simply because he could not control his temper when challenged publicly. I am sure you have some examples on how the fame can be disgraced or ridiculed if they had mastered the act of emotional Emotionalintelligence.intelligence is the ability to comprehend and manage your emotions, as well as perceive and influence the emotions of people surrounding you. In the workplace, experts call the soft skill emotional intelligence quotient EQ. Emotional intelligence unleashes your potential for leadership traits such as empathy, decision making, selfawareness, and effective communication. For the success of an organization, managers must know the value of emotional intelligence. It is the quality that helps you to successfully coach teams, manage stress, deliver feedback, and collaborate with colleagues.

2 ThisSelf-controlisallabout staying in control. Leaders with selfcontrol rarely verbally attack teammates, make emotional or rushed decisions, compromise their values, or stereotype Aspeople.anelement of emotional intelligence, self-control covers a leader’s commitment to personal accountability and flexibility. Through self-control, a leader masters the art of staying calm in challenging situations. You hold yourself accountable for anything that goes wrong, and the ultimate result is respect from fellow team players.

EQ is a key facet for developing your career. The technical skills that helped you secure your initial promotion will probably not guarantee you the next. It is the emotional element in you that is considered when you are aspiring for a leadership role. This encompasses the ability to be flexible to adapt and suit to a new environment and guide your thinking toward a more valuable outcome.

3 Communication and setting the tone.

Emotional intelligence in a leader’s toolbox.

For, leaders, emotional leadership is imperative for success. For instance, who is more likely to succeed; a leader who shouts at his team when under stress or the one who calmly assesses the situation while staying in control?

Written by Emmanuel Addo

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Now, let us look at how you can equip yourself and become emotionally intelligent. Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist in the fore line of popularizing emotional intelligence put forward some key elements to it.

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As a leader, you are obliged to lead with purpose and clarity and set the tone for your team or organization. The baseline is having a clear and accurate comprehension of the communication environment you operate in. As General Colin Powell said your communication as a leader sets the tone for the entire team under you. There is a ripple effect from every action, word, deed or facial expression you make. A leader should communicate with a positive mindset, and authenticity and respond instead of reacting. Remember that if you react by blowing a gasket and lashing out at someone under your leadership, moving forward, the shadows of the outburst will always cloud your Therelationship.21stcentury leader need emotional intelligence in their toolbox to succeed. Aspiring leaders need this key ingredient in their Emmanueltoolbox.Addo is the founder and president of the Young African Leaders Summit (YALS); a platform for crosscountry idea sharing and assimilation, with the goal of bridging the identity gap that is commonly perceived to exist amongst Africa’s Emma.addo@yglnetwork.comwww.emmanueladdo.orgyouth.

TV: Kindly assess the current state of bilateral relations between Suriname and Ghana?

We are the leaders of todaySuriname-Ghana relations is walking a roadmap to success, says Graand-Galon

Ambassador Graand-Galon: The two countries have good bilateral relations, especially since Suriname has opened an embassy in Ghana. Both countries have signed a roadmap of the cooperation. Suriname and Ghana are walking a roadmap to success in their bilateral relation, based on a shared history, including the transatlantic slave trade when Africans were shipped out of Ghana to Suriname; and, similar economic topography. Both countries could also mutually benefit by sharing quality experience in the area of their challenges with illegal gold mining, Suriname’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ghana Mrs. Fidelia Graand-Galon tells MARTIN-LUTHER C. KING in this interview in Accra. She hopes to see both countries establish direct air links between them soon.

TV:Excerpts:Many Ghanaians do not know much about Suriname. Kindly enlighten us about Suriname and its people?Ambassador Graand-Galon: Suriname is a country of multi ethnic people with descendants from Africa, Asia and Europe. Immigrants of our neighboring countries, such as Brazil, Guyana and French Guyana are populating Suriname as well. The official language is Dutch and the lingua franca is Sranantongo, which is an Afro-Surinamese language understood by all Surinamese regardless of the ethnic Surinamegroup. has about 24 languages with a population of a little over half a million. The people of Suriname are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Afro, native and other religion. Indian descendants are the largest ethnic group. There are also Java Indonesians, Chinese and Koreans, but not too Surinamemany. is in the South American continent but its northern border is the Atlantic Ocean, which also makes it a Caribbean nation. The transatlantic slave trade has forced Africans to Suriname. Due to marronage during slavery we have the formation of six AfroSurinamese tribes (Maroons) along six rivers across the Suriname hinterland. This caused Afro descendants to have 7 languages, with the national language being one of them.

Ambassador Graand-Galon of Suriname to Ghana

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Suriname and Ghana can also have a student exchange program of university students in the field of science, technology and engineering to better empower there youth in this field. Suriname is ready to learn from Ghana’s experience in the mining sector. The minister of energy of Ghana was invited to Suriname and gave a great presentation on how the two countries can work together in oil and gas.

TV: In which other countries in Africa does Suriname also have Ambassadorembassies?Graand-Galon:

TV: Which other economic sectors is Suriname looking for cooperation on?

Ambassador Graand-Galon: Suriname is looking for cooperation in the fisheries sector; it participated a few months ago in ACP/EU fisheries conference in Ghana. Suriname is also interested in agricultural cooperation with Ghana, since both countries have similar climate and Bothfoodstuff.countries also have great tourist attractions that they can capitalize on.

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Graand-Galon: Suriname-Ghana relations have been in existence for 3 years now.

TV: And how long ago was the Suriname Embassy established in Ghana? Ambassador Graand-Galon: The Suriname Embassy was established in 2019.

Suriname does not have any embassies in any other African countries, apart from TV:Ghana.Why is Ghana very important to Suriname? Ambassador Graand-Galon: Ghana is important to Suriname because of the transatlantic slave trade where Africans were shipped out of Ghana to Suriname. Ghana is also important to Suriname because it can assist Suriname in oil and gas technology since Suriname also has both natural resources. Both countries also have the same challenges in gold mining, which is the illegal small gold mining and contamination of the environment. Both Suriname and Ghana have a lot of similarities, like south-south cooperation with Asia and other Africa Caribbean and Pacific Nations (ACP).

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Ambassador Graand-Galon: Ghana and Suriname can exchange human capital using the human resource of both countries. Both countries can also collaborate in sharing ideas on lessons learned in each country with regards to the mining of natural resources. They can exchange scientific studies in the mining sector, using lessons learned from each country so they can get more end products from the raw materials they have.

TV: Suriname is rich in bauxite, gold and petroleum. How can Suriname collaborate with Ghana to harness these resources?

TV: How long has Suriname-Ghana relations been in Ambassadorexistence?

I also want Suriname to become more aware of the social and economic mutual benefits of Africa. I wish to let people know where Suriname is located as soon as they hear the name on TV.

TV: What do you intend to be your major accomplishments during your tour of duty as Ambassador here?

TV: At the Ghana Trade Policy Enlightenment Summit for Foreigners, GaTPES, event you called for closer relations between Suriname and Ghana, as well as other African countries, especially in the area of music, culture and tourism. What kind of relationship do you have in mind, specifically? And, what are you doing to make that a A:reality?Asan Ambassador, I look forward to creating collaboration between Surinamese musicians and Ghanaian musicians. I intend to engage with Ghanaians, go to the different regions and exchange ideas on how both countries can share their culture with each other.

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I intend to make use of any platform that can give me the opportunity to exchange information between the two Icountries.amlooking forward to being able to organize food fairs, artistic cultural activities where Surinamese artists can come to Ghana and perform in schools and on TV.

I look forward to having documentaries of Suriname presented to schools and communities too.

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I would also like to have the Embassy hosting a Mango festival in close collaboration with Caricom Ghana community where Mango will be showcased in different forms and uses.

I also intend visiting universities and having presentations about Suriname.

TV: You were a distinguished participant at the recent Ghana Trade Policy Enlightenment Summit for Foreigners, GaTPES, in Accra. What do you think of the summit? How can future editions of the summit benefit Suriname Ambassadormore?Graand-Galon:

I would also want to have functions on special days and organize Ghana-Suriname engagements, workshops, exhibitions, etc.

TV: There is a physical distance of over 6000 kilometers between Accra and Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. Are there plans by Suriname Airways to commence flights to Accra? Ambassador Graand-Galon: Suriname is looking forward to a direct flight between the two countries and there have been discussions with the Minister of Transport and Tourism on the possibility of having the national airline of Suriname flying between the two countries, as it is only 6 hours. Since Paramaribo is considerably a hub of South America, the direct flight could be very important and beneficial to both countries and the South American continent as flying will be shorter.

I also wish to have programs on television to inform people about the similarities between the two countries when it comes to culture, as the African descendants, especially the Maroons kept some of the cultures their ancestors used to practice; like naming ceremonies, six tribal communities with paramount chiefs and chiefs in the hinterland of Suriname.

I make sure I take the opportunity to talk to guests about Suriname anytime I am invited to functions; my pangi (which is a symbol of Suriname) is always on my shoulder as a special symbol of my country.

Ambassador Graand-Galon: During my tour of duty, I intend to regularly inform Ghanaians about Suriname, its people, its history and also let the people know the strong connection between the two countries because of the slave trade.

The summit was phenomenal and very important to me as an Ambassador, as it gave me an understanding of the rules and guidelines in doing business in Ghana. Since it had a broad spectrum of speakers from various sectors of the governing bodies, like a representative from AfCFTA, representative from Ghana Revenue Authority, representative from Lands Commission, representative from the Registrar General’s Office, etc., it was a great platform to get information from the various bodies and this information was shared with my relevant Ministry back in Suriname.

A: My major achievement so far is knowing your company and having the opportunity to participate in your Ghana Trade Enlightenment Forum for IForeigners.havealso been to the Volta Region where I met with the Regional Minister and got the opportunity to get people interested in Suriname google and learn more about Suriname. I will only be satisfied when I see the direct flight between Suriname, Ghana and the other African countries. Being interviewed by you and having the opportunity to speak about my country Suriname is a great achievement for me too as there will be more people hearing and reading about Suriname.

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Ambassador Graand-Galon: I would like to thank Africa for allowing us to work together to make the world a better place, in using natural and human resources to make life better for everyone. Using our talents and skills to effectively communicate, educate and empower each other and those who need it most. Let’s work together and give peace a chance. Thank you!

Ambassador Graand-Galon: I was born in the east of Suriname, Moengo, which is a bauxite town; and, I am a member of one of the Maroon tribes; we have 6 tribes. I belong to the Okanisi tribe, which is close to French Guyana. I served as Ambassador first in Trinidad and Tobago and then now in Ghana. I worked as a lecturer at the University of Suriname at the pre-University level and worked as a senior policy advisor to the Ministry of Planning and Development (which does not exist anymore). I am now working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I am the founder of the Maroon Women’s Network, which serves as a networking platform for development; working on awareness for social and economic benefits of the tribal communities’ sustainable development nationally and Iinternationally.amalsothe founder of Maroon Women Chamber of Cooperation and also involved in ‘Every Girl Wins’ International Institute that was started in the United States and are starting to work here in Ghana to empower girls with their talents, regardless of their ages. I was a senior political advisor of the Ministry of Natural Resources in the implementation of Free Prior Informed Consent in tribal communities.

TV: Your final words, Your Excellency?

It is my aim to inform people of the rich natural resources of Suriname and let them know that Suriname is also a football nation since some players in the Netherlands national team are of Suriname descent.

Ambassador Graand-Galon: This means I am formally representing the Head of State of Suriname, who is the President; and, I have all the power and authority to represent the Government of TV:Suriname.What would you say are your major achievements so far?

TV: Your official title is ‘Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary’. How does that work? Kindly explain what this means practically.

TV: Your Excellency, kindly tell us about yourself?

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Photos contributed by Princess Nwanne Campo

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70 The Voice Achievers Award 2022