Maverick repairing Nigeria’s image

Repairing a country’s image can be a difficult task especially if that country is Nigeria. Known more for its social ills like grand corruption and embezzlement as well as civil strife Nigeria has very often been the poster-child for what is bad about Africa and what can happen if greed were allowed to thrive. This bad image has been branded in the hearts and minds of many around the world over the years through accounts of colossal moral, social and economic disasters seen and heard through the media and through personal accounts. Nigeria definitely needs an image boost and one man has made this his steadfast aim. His methodology and style may be questionable in the eyes of those who are more conservative but there is no doubt that Nduka Obaigbena, the eccentric Nigerian media mogul, is showing the country in a much better light. Described by the New York Times as “part Bono part P. Diddy”, Nduka has used his considerable wealth and fame to highlight what is good about Nigeria –awarding those on the frontline against the scourge of corruption and poverty (with a lot of fanfare I might add!) and winning over the rich, the famous and the influential into a positive mindset about the country. His big parties and celebrity lobbying may not be conventional ways of cleaning the image of a nation but he in his own unique way is undoubtedly changing perceptions. Whether this will translate to greater investment in Nigeria remains to be seen though.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/business/worldbusiness/10nigeria.html?ref=africa

Côte d'Ivoire: Ivorian Leader Out to Clean Country's Cocoa Sector

Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is the world’s largest producer of Cocoa accounting for 37.4 per cent of the total 3.5 million tones (1.3 million tones) harvested in the world according to 2007 estimates, far ahead of second place Ghana which produces 720 thousand tones. This despite the fact that it has been going through civil turmoil for the past six years. The cocoa sector has, however, been fraught with corruption and mismanagement since President, Laurent Gbagbo, undertook a restructuring of the cocoa sector when he came to power. The media have been reporting over and over again the scandalous manner in which the country's cocoa money was misappropriated by those Gbagbo put in charge of developing and managing this crop which is the pillar upon which the country's economy is built. But instead of waiting for the media storm to pass, as many of his counterparts might have done, Gbagbo, has undertaken the arrest of some of those he himself put in office in a move that shocked Ivory Coast. This clean up of the major sector is unprecedented, at least in Gbagbo’s reign, and should earn him high praise in the International Community.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200807090133.html

Modern Sports Complex for Entebbe, Uganda

In previous articles on this blog it has been highlighted that building of sports infrastructure can be pivotal in aiding the whole round development of communities. Investment in sports infrastructure is an aspect that has all too often been left out or deemphasized by countries aiming to climb out of a state of underdevelopment and poverty but as the previous articles pointed out, sports can do much for just such countries, and it should be a key aspect of their development plans. Local and international investment in this sector should be encouraged. This thinking seems to have caught on in Uganda; the World Sports Alliance (WSAU) and the NGO New Hope for Africa are to construct a modern sports complex in Entebbe, Uganda, to help groom future stars. This is only Uganda’s third Modern Sports facility and is envisioned to be a centre for youth development and community transformation. It will provide avenues to keep children off the streets and groom them into great leaders for tomorrow, on top of providing accommodation for over 250 orphans, from a New Hope for Africa orphanage.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200807090053.html

Congo-Kinshasa: Progress in Pacifying Ituri

Between 1999 and 2003 Ituri, in the Northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), became the theatre of a particularly bloody sideshow of DRC's wider civil war. Inter-ethnic and inter-rebel conflict there was rife leaving many displaced, killed and many children recruited as soldiers. With the wider DRC civil war largely over, pacifying the region was a task that still had to be done with rebel groups and militias still armed and suspicions between tribal groups still present. It has been an arduous task. Much has been achieved over recent years but, analysts and officials involved point out, the region is not yet out of the woods. UN agencies and other bodies have been overseeing a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme there which has been successful in demobilizing some 25,000 combatants and 10,000 children. Thousands of weapons have been collected. Programmes have been set up to help former fighters revert to civilian life. Hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians have returned to their homes. The reintegration process has been the most difficult phase to accomplish but there are a lot of good people on the ground trying to see to its success.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200807080792.html?viewall=1

Kenyan Woman wins Landmark HIV ruling

In a landmark ruling a 45 year old, HIV-positive woman has been awarded $35000 in damages for unfair dismissal by her employer. The 45-year-old waitress, whose identity has been withheld, also sued her doctor for revealing her HIV status without her consent. The High Court ruled that it was unlawful to end employment on the grounds of a person's HIV status. The woman's former employer, Home Park Caterers, said the company had not requested a medical test, and was not aware of her status when she was sacked. But the former waitress told the court that her letter of termination said she had been sacked on medical grounds, and for being unable to perform her duties. Her HIV status had apparently been revealed by her doctor to her employers, in breach of doctor-patient confidentiality, upon which she was sacked. Many HIV positive Kenyans are afraid to admit their status because of the discrimination they could face. About 2.5 million out of 32 million Kenyans are currently living with HIV/Aids. This is the first such ruling handed down by the Kenya High Court.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7499496.stm

Japan Economic Cooperation with Rwanda

Following up on deliberations at the TICAD IV Summit between African and Japanese leaders Japan made commitments to Rwanda at the fifth Rwanda-Japan annual policy dialogue which took place on Monday at the Rwanda Foreign Ministry offices. In line with the requests made by the Rwanda, including those by the President himself, Japan will be implementing programmes in education and training in science and technology, agriculture and community development, as well as improvement of public transport. The rehabilitation of Rusumo Bridge, solar and energy hydro-electricity, and agricultural projects were presented by Rwanda for assistance consideration. It also requested that Japan reconsider its position on the Kibungo-Ramiro road project due to its future importance in connecting Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. At TICAD IV President Paul Kagame had called for partnership between Japan and Africa in infrastructure and energy development, human resource development, science and technology, trade and investment and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda had committed to double Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) to Africa by 2012.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200807090480.html

Zimbabwe: MDC and Government Talking

In what could prove another fruitful development for peace in Africa it is reported that the De Jure ruling party in Zimbabwe, ZANU-PF, and the two factions of the opposition party, MDC, have met in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a positive step in ending the political impasse that has existed since Robert Mugabe of ZANU PF went on to contest and win last month’s Presidential elections unopposed after the MDC had withdrawn its candidate citing an environment unfavourable for free and fair elections. UN, EU and US sanctions and embargoes seemed to be on the horizon for the Mugabe Government because of what appeared to be clear electoral malpractice sponsored by Mugabe regime to secure him another term in office. MDC had previously refused to negotiate with the Mugabe government, rejecting his presidency and calls by African leaders to form a unity government with him, but now seem to be warming towards a unity government arrangement or at least dialog. This development could stay the International Community’s hand and augur well for the people of Zimbabwe who would suffer the most from a sanctioning of their state and an atmosphere of social and political tension which is even now reigning over their country.

Some might object to the Opposition even giving the Mugabe government an ear but I think few would disagree that under the circumstances dialog may be the quickest way out of a looming period of greater suffering for the people of Zimbabwe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7500017.stm

Uganda: Kony Keeps Hopes for Peace Alive

In what could be termed as a concrete step towards peace, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony has ordered his negotiation team to start peace talks with the Ugandan government that could fast track the signing of a peace deal by July 13 or 14. Ferrying this message was reinstated LRA chief peace delegate Dr. David Nyekorach Matsanga. In a statement issued in Nairobi, Wednesday, Dr. Matsanga said "General Kony has instructed me to reassure the world…that he will work towards the peace negotiations," adding that the “LRA this time around is determined to prove its critics wrong by signing the Peace Agreement and wait for the implementation stages to begin in Uganda." This is a welcome sign in a peace process that seemed all but doomed when Kony chose not to sign the Peace Agreement in April. We had stated in a recent blog entry that this peace cause was very much worth fighting for with millions of lives at stake and we hope that the two parties in the conflict would go the extra mile in securing it.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200807100037.html

Uganda: Endeavour for peace in the North must continue

Here at New Growth we strive to bring to light positive steps being made and being planned to be made in this world to push forward the agenda to bring a very holistic kind of prosperity to every corner of the globe. We highlighted the Uganda peace process to end a 22 year old insurgency in the North of the country in April. Sadly, the process was cut short just as it was coming to a very advanced stage when Northern rebel leader Joseph Kony refused to sign a peace agreement that would begin a process of demobilization of his troops citing lingering queries and doubts about the whole peace deal. The Ugandan Government responded to this move with exasperation -refusing to engage with Kony on anything outside the set out peace process. The stage appeared set for the resumption of hostilities. But it needn’t go down that direction. There are those who think that return to the peace table is possible and positive; the relief agency World Vision posts a Press release in allafrica.com (which is worth a look by anyone concerned about Uganda!) in which it pushes for the case of non-abandonment of the dialog and endeavour for peace. Their argument is very much worth looking into, especially with the peace process having gone so far, and the destiny of millions in Uganda might depend on how much action is taken on their recommendations. Please read!

http://allafrica.com/stories/200807030034.html