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Obama To Rename Africa Young Leaders Program For Nelson Mandela    | By NEDRA PICKLER WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama criticized gender oppression in Africa that he said is "crippling" development in some countries, speaking out publicly Monday for the first time against female genital mutilation while encouraging young leaders from the continent to empower women. Obama pointed to an inaugural class of young African fellows who are getting six weeks of leadership training in the United States as inspiring examples of what the continent can achieve. He drew cheers as he announced their program is being expanded and renamed after former South African President Nelson Mandela. Obama said the world's security and prosperity depend on "a strong and prosperous and self-reliant Africa" and he repeatedly spoke out on the important role that women must play in Africa's future. "One of the things we want to teach about Africa is how strong the ...

Meet The Nigerian Woman Who Leads Africa’s First Ladies To Obama Africa has always been endowed with talents and personalities who made great impact in the world. From Nelson Madiba Mandela, Aliko Dangote, Johann Rupert, Nicky Oppenheimer to Mike Adenuga and Abdulsamad Rabiu, the list of Africa’s influential persons now includes a woman who has created a new record through her passion in fashion. She is Dr (Mrs) Merit Gordon Obua. Little may have been known before now about this erudite personality who has given all attention to the promotion of African women. She has painstakingly reserved no energy in pursuing her innate ideas and beliefs. Again, she has demonstrated in a convincing manner that African women are not only useful or influential in the kitchen and are not inferior to their world peers. She has further demonstrated that doggedness and extra-ordinary commitment to a cause can, not only open the doors to wealth, but also create fame. Thus, the example of...

Peter Obi resigns as APGA BoT chairman, cites personal reasons By Joe Chukindi on August 15, 2014 Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has tendered his resignation letter as Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Chairman of the Party’s Board of Trustees, BoT. In a resignation letter addressed to the National Secretary of the Party and submitted at the Party’s Abuja office on Friday, quoted Mr. Obi as saying that he was resigning as Leader and BoT Chairman; an appointment he got in January 2014. He was inaugurated by the National Executive Council of the Party. According to Obi, the appointment was yet to be ratified by a Convention of the party as stipulated by the constitution. Former Governor Obi cited family and personal reasons, but did not give further details on why he resigned. He however wished the party well in her future endeavors while reiterating the fact that he remains an ordinary APGA member. Widely acknowledged as the man who...

The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria was founded on 8th May, 2010 by Members to harness the inert potentials of this caliber of leadership in Nigeria. In the forum are men and women of worth who had held the position of Deputy Governor in various states of the federation irrespective of party affiliations.  Drawing strength and legitimacy from section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the forum’s objectives include encouraging highest ethical values in governance; as well as showcasing potentials of its members in advancing Nigeria’s greatest good. As a result, the forum aims to lend support to worthy aspirations of its members into positions or offices of responsibility in the land.                                                                        ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                While still basking on the euphoria of mobilizing her first set of graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Heritage Polytechnic, Ikot Udota, Eket has not relented in her efforts at ensuring her undergraduate have access to the best facilities that enh...

Obong Bassey Albert (OBA) OBA: Building Capacity for Akwa Ibom People By @PromiseEtim25 Capacity building encompasses the ability, will and skills to initiate, plan, manage, undertake, organize, budget, monitor and evaluate human development potentials. Akwa Ibom since creation in 1987 has witnessed various capacity building programs put together by government at all levels with the aim of attracting development to the ci tizenry. It is pivotal for us as a people to consider capacity building from a perspective that directly affects the common man who is with little or no education. In search of credible persons to fill the gap, one man who has over the years developed several models to this respect to drive capacity development across all facets of life is the immediate past commissioner for finance in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Bassey Albert Akpan. Obong Bassey Albert, Barr. Onofiok Duke and Hon. Samuel Effanga An independent opinion poll recently conducted in the state by a ...

Evelyn Ndali Oputu, a success story of breaking through the ‘glass ceiling’ Evelyn Ndali Oputu was the immediate past Nigerian Managing Director/ CEO for the Bank of Industry Limited. A lady of significant financial muscles, humane and forthright, she hails from Delta State. Under her leadership, the volume and quality of BOI’s risk assets improved phenomenally. They grew by 1,591.22 percent in six years to N166 billion by 2011 from N9.8 billion in 2005. While the portfolio at risk reduced to 14percent from 65percent over the same period. The bank’s profit similarly peaked at N2.5 billion in 2010 from N105 million in 2005. BOI’s balance sheet was also strengthened by the creation of many physical assets. The most notable being BOI’s new twelve storey complex in Abuja that was built in eighteen months and its remodelled Lagos office. Under  Oputu’s tenure, BOI saw increased and continued involvement in national development, including the management of 25 initiatives on behal...

Performance: Presidency blasts Fashola for attacking Jonathan Are These Things Brilliant or Stupid?  By Henry Umoru ABUJA—THE Presidency yesterday carpeted Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State for accusing President Goodluck Jonathan’s government of being inactive for three years, saying the governor might have been occupied in his state to know the achievements of the administration. At a briefing in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who admitted that there were some challenges, insisted that the government was giving its best attention to the problems. Okupe was reacting to comments by Governor Fashola during a lecture at the 50th birthday celebration of former Governor Timipre Sylva. Fashola was quoted as saying “this government had been inactive for 3 years and in the fourth year intends to give the electorate kerosene, price and money for the purpose of seeking their votes.” However, according to Okupe, “it h...

My covenant with Akwa Ibom people-Senator Helen Esuene The Senator representing Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate, Her Excellency, Senator Helen Esuene has  declared her  interest to contest  the governorship position of Akwa Ibom State in the 2015 Elections  with a promise to run an open government founded on the  principle of equity,  transparency, accountability, social justice and participatory democracy.  Making her intention known in Abuja and Eket recently,  Senator Esuene, a former Honourable Minister for Environment  said the  philosophy of  her government will be hinged on  the popular dictum of  ‘government of  the people, by the people and for the people’. Sen. Helen Esuene Senator Esuene stated that officials of government at all levels – be it executive or legislature  shall be encouraged  to get inputs regularly  from the people before taking ...