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Tag: Africans
6 things we learnt from Tariq’s Twitter Spaces conversation about immigration
Immigration is an age-long conversation. Humanity has been on the move and will continue to be. Some people move in search of work or economic opportunities, for academic tourism, to…
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BET Awards: Fans react as Burna Boy achieves new milestone
It's interesting to note that the name Burna Boy, has been around for close to a decade now. His first album LIFE, was released in 2013, and his mix-tapes had…
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What we gathered from the rivalry between Africans and Black Americans on Twitter
Solidarity seems to be a hard concept to grasp, especially when you have geographical, ethnic and institutional boundaries preventing you from truly understanding the plight of people from different demography.…
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5 Things that Should Matter Today: The feud between Africans and African Americans is a pointless exercise
The discord between Africans and African Americans was resurrected recently, when a Hispanic woman posted a picture of herself in braids on Twitter and thought of herself as ''beautiful.'' Sure,…
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[The Sexuality Blog] Denmark’s new racist policy wants to curb migration, by stopping Africans from ‘breeding’
I honest to goodness wish this headline was clickbait. But sadly, it is not. Last week, Ulla Tornaes the Minister for Development Co-operation of Scandinavian country of Denmark (which is…
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Opinion: Public Notice! We are Africans, we do not plagiarise
by Abayomi G. Omotayo It is no news that the newly sworn in Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo ‘borrowed’ a few words from Presidents Clinton and Obama while giving…
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#Impact365: This NGO plans to send 1,000 children back to school – here’s how
Africa Education Aid for Development Network (AFEADEN) is a non-governmental organization that is providing education for underpriviledged and displaced children in Africa. The organisation is spread across several African countries.…
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@TundeLeye: This is why Nigerians are jobless
by Tunde Leye One of the critical things we clamour for when foreign contractors win contracts or foreign countries provide aid or funding for infrastructure projects is that they do…
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Tunde Leye: As Africans, our outcomes need to be better ( Y! FrontPage
by Tunde Leye All across Africa. We need better, cheaper outcomes. In Africa, when we face a problem, what the government announces as solutions is how much they are earmarking…
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These are 14 of our favourite ladies on International Women’s Day (PHOTOS)
by 'Jola Sotubo Today March 8th is International Women's Day and it is another opportunity to celebrate women all around the world. African women are known to be resilient, strong…
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Ogaga Ifowodo: Are homosexuals human beings?
by Ogaga Ifowodo But the question is inescapable: are homosexuals human beings? If the answer is yes, then they must be accorded their human rights and dignity. Sexual relations among…
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Opinion: World Toilet Day – Say no to open defecation and yes to toilets
by Jide Niyi-Leigh Every other student paid rapt attention as the biology teacher explained the process of reproduction It was a class we all looked forward to, but something felt wrong, within…
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LOL! This is why Nigerians don’t pick up their phones (WATCH)
by Akan Ido You know how you receive a call with your favourite song blasting on your phone and you do the shakes leaving the call hanging? You finally locate…
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DISTURBING VIDEO: This is how several emigrants die in the Sahara in a desperate search for greener pastures (Viewer Discretion)
by Oge Okonkwo This is a touching You Tube video showing African men, majorly Nigerians who have died while trying to travel abroad through illegal routes on foot in a…
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We’re not just consumers: Empowering our generation of innovative Africans
By Jennifer Ehidiamen In spite of the current lack and challenges on African soil, there are many remarkable innovations on the record. Another example is the recent launch of a…
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Kathleen Ndongmo: Going AWOL – Africans in the Diaspora (YNaija FrontPage)
There are so many things about leaving home for “greener” pastures that turn out to be much less glamorous than advertised. “And the Olympic gold…
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Motunrayo Bello: Hearkening to the hushed voice of the mentally ill (30 Days, 30 Voices)
During my literature review on the issues of mental health--before I proceeded with the interviews--I found the statistics and circumstances alarming. Literature suggests that more African and African-Caribbean adults in…
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Report: More Africans than ever before get AIDS drugs
by Chi Ibe At the end of last year, 6.2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were taking antiretroviral treatment, an increase of 1.1 million over 2010. This is s record…
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#bbcafricadebate: The way to Africa’s progress
by Adebowale Adekunbi
Today, the eyes of the world keenly observe this continent characterized by progress at snail's pace: the irony of a land of bountiful human and natural resources and potentials. This paradox of stupendous wealth and abject poverty is a major concern to planet earth. Volatility of governments and ethnic conflicts are the justified worries of investors. Local entrepreneurs face the challenge of bridging budding enterprise and basic infrastructure. The first solution is building solid, basic infrastructure to improve the quality of life and business. Here is where governments need to get it right. Basic infrastructure for the people comes first, not a wild-goose chase for hi-tech projects.Africans do have noble dreams about the future although they are blighted today. Their faith, crave and desire for prosperity is undeniable. The people better understand that power belongs to them and elected officials should be anxious more than ever, to deliver.
Corruption, the main canker, is delicately side-stepped and gently confronted. However, its effects come out loud and undeniable. If this continent would grow, all corrupt ravens must be jailed for the ravaging the collective wealth of millions of people. Freedom from corruption would be the defining point for Africa’s exponential progress. Also, job creation is currently a more pressing need than tertiary education. Unemployment which generates discontent is at sky-high points, staring prosperity in the face and making her quiver. It is the reason for the exodus of many Africans to the West and is the cause of feverish insecurity of the employed about their jobs.
We hope to one day become a continent of globally powerful nations. Impressively, telecommunication has succeeded in Africa in the last decade. Nigeria, which barely had access to mobile phone technology before the new millennium, now has the highest number of internet subscribers and is second only to South Africa in mobile phone subscription on the continent as reported in 2007 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This proves that electric power generation can succeed in Africa if countries like Nigeria have recorded tremendous success in telecommunication in a decade.1 The ICT report of the ITU in 2009 stated that developing countries are just 10 years behind Sweden in the penetration of mobile phones which is truly remarkable. 2
In 2011, the Commitment to Development Index (CDI) which measures ‘development-friendliness’ and scores wealthy countries on helping poorer countries ranked the United Kingdom twelfth but with the highest rating in investment in developing countries at an index of 6.4, at par with Norway and Germany alone. The CDI classed Sweden and Norway first and second respectively whose averages are influenced by the large value of foreign aid given in quantity and quality. Albeit, for true progress, the currencies of foreign aid need to be exchanged for investment, for these countries to have stronger stakes in her development.3
For Africa to live her dream, the basics of nation-building have to be given priority in African countries: water, transportation, electricity and employment to begin with.
The wealth of unique cultures and endowments of nature on the tropical continent has been a source of pride to Africans and the shame of poverty, conflict and endemic corruption discolours the continent in the eyes of the world.
Africans do have noble dreams about the future, although they are blighted today. Their faith, craving and desire for prosperity is undeniable. The people better understand that power belongs to them and elected officials should be anxious more than ever, to deliver.
Notes
1. Africa, ICT indicators (ITU, 2007)
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/at_glance/af_ictindicators_2007.html
2. The world in 2009: ICT Facts and Figures (ITU, 2009)
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/backgrounders/general/pdf/3.pdf
3. CDI index (Centre for Global Development, 2011)
http://www.cgdev.org/doc/CDI%202011/Index%20technical%20paper%202011.pdf
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YMonitor
- Beyond the Power Struggle: Why a Strong Opposition Party is Crucial for Nigeria’s Democracy
- The Importance of Impartial Reporting in Nigeria’s Democracy
- Understanding the Role of Election Tribunals in Nigeria’s Electoral Process
- The Importance of Active Citizenship Beyond the Voting Booth
- How Ethnic Baiting is Undermining Nigeria’s National Security and Democracy
YMonitor
- Beyond the Power Struggle: Why a Strong Opposition Party is Crucial for Nigeria’s Democracy
- The Importance of Impartial Reporting in Nigeria’s Democracy
- Understanding the Role of Election Tribunals in Nigeria’s Electoral Process
- The Importance of Active Citizenship Beyond the Voting Booth
- How Ethnic Baiting is Undermining Nigeria’s National Security and Democracy