When Nigeria is mentioned, one of the first things that comes to mind is the notorious oil sector. Once the Nigerian oil sector is mentioned, the oil-producing- and until recently, restive Niger-Delta region comes to mind. Once the Niger-Delta region is mentioned, the Nigerian federal government’s Amnesty Programme initiated in 2009 to quench the fire … Continue reading »
Morton Jerven’s “Poor Numbers” and Improving Statistical Capacity in African Countries
I don’t know about you but in the recent past, I had thought the debates in international development in this century had become rather stale. We had moved from Africa the “Hopeless Continent“, “Africa’s Growth Tragedy“, the continent of the “Bottom Billion” and the Trade vs. “Dead Aid” debate, to “Africa is Rising”, Africa “the … Continue reading »
Women, Innovation, Enterprise Network Inaugural Syposium in Africa
The Women, Innovation, Enterprise (WIE) Network is holding its first ever African symposium in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5th to 7th May 2013. It is set to feature headline speakers such as President Joyce Banda, Graca Machel, Patricia Amira, Saran Kaba Jones, Swaady Martin-Leke and Toyin Saraki. The inaugural WIE Africa is organised in … Continue reading »
Oxford University Pan-African Conference ~ 4th May 2013
One of the events I am affiliated with, which has kept me “busy” lately: The annual Oxford University Pan-African Conference (OUPAC), is the flagship event of the Oxford University Africa Society (OUAS). This year’s OUPAC is scheduled for the 4th of May 2013, with the theme: “Towards a 21st Century African Renaissance: Sowing the Seeds … Continue reading »
Picturing the BRICS Development Bank
A picture is worth a thousand words they say. The photo below is culled from a New York Times article on the recent BRICS Summit in March, and discussions about establishing a BRICS Development Bank, to challenge the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The article basically highlights how difficult it would be for … Continue reading »
Scholarships, Funding & Development Opportunities No. 7
YOUNG WOMEN: LEARN TO LEAD! ORGANISATION: WOMEN IN THE WORLD FOUNDATION Sign Up For the July 29 Next Generation Leadership Program July 29, 2013 ∙ Hyde Park, NY Eligibility: Be smart, between 18 to 25 years of age with lots of passion to do great things. On July 29, the Women in the World Foundation … Continue reading »
Fuelling Poverty: a Film on the (Mis)Management of Nigeria’s Oil Wealth
I met Ishaya Bako during my last trip to Nigeria, on 13th January 2013 to be precise, at a lunch appointment with a friend in Wuse, Abuja. When I got to the Salamander Café by late afternoon, my friend was already there with Ishaya and three other people eating and chatting. I joined them, ordered … Continue reading »
Boko Haram Rejects Amnesty Offer: Now What?
“Mr Shekau said his group had done no wrong and so an amnesty would not be applicable to them. It was the Nigerian government that was committing atrocities against Muslims, he said. “Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should … Continue reading »
Literary Icon Chinua Achebe Dies
The literary icon Chinua Achebe passed away, after a brief illness, in Boston USA. His seminal book “Things Fall Apart” published in 1958 propelled him to international fame and acclaim and is described as a “classic of world literature”. It has been translated into over 50 languages and it is a book I had read … Continue reading »
APC: The Game Changer?
“This is a new dawn for our generation. This is unusual. It is gratifying that they are here to see and share with us,” the middle aged man remarked with tears of joy when he saw the nine state governors trekking through the volatile Monday Market in Boko Haram hotspot, Maiduguri, shaking hands with fish … Continue reading »
