Nightlife

Category: AFRICA

  • Graduate Mentorship Coaching Programme,4th Cohort Gets Set

    Graduate Mentorship Coaching Programme,4th Cohort Gets Set

    …….As 40 Africans from 15 African Countries Enrolled!!!

    Story: Mohammed Abu

    The Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP), which is facilitated by the Interconnections for Making Africa Great Empowered and Sustainable (IMAGES) Initiative, has enrolled 40 Africans from 15 countries into the mentorship and coaching programme for the 4th cohort, according to a Press Release issued in Ibadan, on Tuesday.

    “Interested organizations working on agriculture and food systems in Africa may contact us for mutually-rewarding partnership to develop the capacity of the mentees”, said, Dr Olawale Olayide the President of IMAGES while also adding, “Please join us to congratulate the mentees, and wish them a successful Fellowship Year”.

    The mentees, the Release said, are in three categories namely, Master, Doctoral and Post-doctoral, representing the five economic regions and countries of the continent.

    For the North Africa region, the release added, the beneficiary country is, Algeria, for Central Africa region, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo, for Western Africa region, Benin, Ghana, Niger and Nigeria and while for Southern Africa region, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe were the beneficiary countries.

    The AGMCP Fellowship Year runs from January to December. The 40 mentees will be assigned to renowned mentors, and will conduct research and capacity development training on the Sustainable African Food Systems.

  • New Year Message 2023 by the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr Wavel Ramkalawan

    New Year Message 2023 by the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr Wavel Ramkalawan

    31 December 2022 |

    Seychellois sisters and brothers,

    Like the song says ‘a year ends and another begins.’ The year 2022 has already passed into history. Each of us will note certain dates with joy, pain, sadness, a feeling of accomplishment as well as missed opportunity. 2022 is a book already written and 2023 offers us this new page on which to write another year of our personal story, the story of our country and the story of the world.

    Allow me in the first place to use that very important little word, but which sometimes comes out of the mouths of humans with great difficulty – thank you.

    I wish first and above all to thank Almighty God for protecting our nation and our country.
    I say thank you to all who have taken our country to heart and given all their energy to make it progress. I say thank you to the public sector which has served our people with devotion and the private sector, which has created wealth for our nation and people to enjoy.  Thank you to all Seychellois and foreign workers who have permitted our country to continue on its march to prosperity. To everyone in voluntary and community organisations working hard to raise the standards of morality, spiritual and mental strength, the Seychellois nation expresses its gratitude and extends all of its encouragement for you to continue doing so.

    Thanks also go to all the youth who have done well in their studies and brought pride to themselves as well as their parents and to their teachers. To our athletes and sportspersons who have hoisted our flag to its highest and brought joy amongst our people, I say thank you.

    Thanks also go to our retirees who have contributed towards bringing us to where we stand today, and who continue to reflect and encourage us who are younger along this life’s journey.

    My special thoughts at this time also go to all of our families who have gone through misfortune and who are still walking with eyes filled with the tears of separation. I say to you ‘Courage and strength in each step you take. We will walk in solidarity with you and give you our shoulders to lean on in your difficult moments.’

    Brothers and sisters, my wish is that this new year will bring new and positive energy, fresh inspiration and new strength for us to advance even further ahead. It is we, each individual, who will write on each and every page of this new year, from 1 January to 31 December. The majority of things will be in our hands, but there will also be also chapters which will be written for us, and outside of our control.  And so, I ask that we do as well as is possible with all that is within our control. Let us not only think of ourselves, but move away from that spirit of self-centeredness and at all times, think of others and do that little thing which you should.

    I invite all Seychellois and all workers to reflect on that little extra something which I can do to bring relief to a brother, a sister, and make a compatriot progress. Often it is not big things that brings us frustration but the little things. The student who lacks one point to pass and the person who misses a bus by one minute is frustrated. And so it is the little things which we need to do in order to improve our own personal lives and the lives of our people.

    I invite you to make a resolution that we will give importance to doing little things. A long journey starts with a small step, the construction of a large building commences with a first brick, writing starts off with a small letter ‘A’ and counting commences with a little number ‘0’ (zero). Attach ourselves to those little things and we will accomplish major transformation where we are.
    If we make those little gestures, like saying ‘good morning’, our community will be more fraternal, a small ‘thank you’ raises morale, a little smile makes friendship grow, a little help to one who is weak brings relief, and a moment taken to listen to someone can save a life. Reflect also that somehing negative, however tiny, can also destroy lives, just like a matchstick can spark a major fire, a tiny lie cause a major argument.

    For our civil servants, working in government, I invite you to reflect on those small things which during 2022 made people frustrated :  that little call that you did not make, the letter you did not reply to, that piece of paper you kept in your drawer, the offensive tone you replied to a client with, that postponing to tomorrow what you could do today,  that little word you did not say to someone to help them. Let us change this and let us bring our people out of pointless frustration and know joy on their faces.

    What I have said applies for all workers of course, whether you are in the public or private sector. Deliver a good service in all that you do. And perhaps, – why not ? – whilst you are doing your work, put yourself in the place of the client you are serving.   Would you be happy with the tone that you replied to him with ? Would you be happy with the language used in that letter you wrote ? If you would not be happy, don’t make another unhappy.  Serve others as you would be happy to be served.

    I have no doubt that we can do this for our country. That, in 2023, each one of us can do better and render the best service to our people and in doing this, raise our country to the highest.  I ask that each one of us reflect deeply on those two little remarks that I have made.  Let us stop making our neighbour live in anger and frustration. Why should I throw my waste out in public and dirty my country ? Do I need to blast my music out loud to the detriment of my neighbour ?  Why do I need to sell poisonous drugs to Seychellois children ?  Why do I need to be akward and make others angry ?  Please, let us change those poor mindsets and truly live as brothers and sisters in this blessed land, Seychelles.

    Yes, like Ton Joe sings for us, ‘Seychelles is our blessed country.’ And so I invite all of us to become more patriotic. Let us love our country even more. Consider her like our mother, forever grateful that when we strengthen our country and put ourselves at her service, she returns so much more to us. The higher we raise country, the more we, Seychellois, as a nation, will rise. Encourage each other, show more love for your community, adhere to the law and walk in solidarity with each other. Take a brother’s, a sister’s misfortune as our own misfortune and this will allow us to have and live in more love.  Take care of your neighbour and he will take care of you too.

    I dedicate once again all of my strength in lifting our beautiful country Seychelles. I give all of my energy to work for all of Seychelles’ children and to make us progress as far as is possible. Let us continue to along this route together for the love of our beautiful country, Seychelles.

    Let our God shower our beautiful country with his blessings and his love. We are one people, one nation who is living in the world’s most beautiful country. May God bless you and your family.

    Happy New Year 2023.

    Thank you

     

     

  • Independents Energy Companies are Raring to Go in Africa in 2023 with Sustainable Energy Development (By NJ Ayuk)

    Independents Energy Companies are Raring to Go in Africa in 2023 with Sustainable Energy Development (By NJ Ayuk)

     

    OPINION PIECE
    They’re bringing private capital, experience, and know-how to the continent
    JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 26, 2022/ — By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber

    In late 2019, Africa Oil Corp. President and CEO Keith Hill told Petroleum Economist that, given Africa’s unproven oil and gas basins, the continent was probably “the greatest frontier,” with outstanding opportunities for exploration, production, and development companies, including independents.

    Three years later, Hill remains bullish about Africa, and Canada-headquartered Africa Oil Corp. is driving oil and gas exploration here. The company is part of a growing trend we’re seeing: independent oil and gas companies that recognize the tremendous promise of our underexplored continent and are finding ways to thrive here — and make a positive impact.

    I’m extremely optimistic about independents like Africa Oil Corp and BW Energy, which are building on their successful track records in exploration and production, and Perenco, which is building Africa’s natural gas industry. I’m encouraged by the efforts of Trident Energy, which is finding ways to bolster production in mature fields, and by Eco Atlantic, which has been convincing investors not to turn their backs on our continent. Companies like these are exactly what Africa needs. They’re bringing private capital, experience, and know-how to the continent. They are accelerating resource monetization and maximization for the good of Africa. And, honestly, I can’t wait to see what they do in 2023.

    Putting Natural Gas to Work for Africa

    As David Christianson so eloquently put it in a recent blog for Trade Law Centre (tralac), a South Africa-based think tank, “Africa’s gas future is floating offshore.” Floating liquified natural gas (FLNG) units are an ideal way to capitalize on Africa’s abundant natural gas resources. They can be deployed rapidly and more affordably than onshore LNG trains, creating a practical pathway to gas monetization. London-headquartered independent, Perenco, which has operated in Cameroon for nearly 30 years, is capitalizing on these opportunities.

    Not only did Perenco establish an FLNG plant in Cameroon, it made history there. The Hilli Episeyo FLNG, which began commercial operations in March 2018, is the world’s second-ever FLNG plant to enter operation and the first in the world to operate from a converted LNG tanker. The plant, moored off the coast of Kribi, is the property of Norwegian Golar. Not only does the project have global significance, but it also involves local entities. Perenco partnered with Cameroon’s Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (National Hydrocarbons Company) to launch the project. The Hilli Episeyo is designed to produce 2.4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of LNG and has 125,000 cubic meters of storage capacity. Natural gas for the plant is sourced from Perenco’s Sanaga and Ebome gas fields.

    What’s more, Perenco is growing its upstream activity in the continent. Earlier this year, it signed a deal with oil and gas company New Age Ltd. to buy its stake and take over the operatorship of the Etinde gas field, which is in shallow water in the Rio del Rey Basin offshore Cameroon. In July, Perenco acquired Anglo-Swiss multinational Glencore’s entities in North Africa, The acquisition includes PetroChad Mangara, which operates the Mangara, Badila, and Krim oilfields in Chad’s Doba Basin. And in November, the company announced it had discovered oil in the Tchibeli North East pre-salt Vandji exploration prospect offshore Congo, describing it as a potential “play opener.”

    Each of these activities and successes represents potential for greater energy security, economic growth, and based on Perenco’s track record, more good jobs for Africans.

    Perenco is a strong example of an independent that has successfully developed strategies for Africa’s unique challenges, needs, and opportunities. And, it’s not alone.

    Breathing New Life Into Maturing Fields

    Look at British independent Trident Energy, which is introducing a new era of operational efficiency and production improvements in Equatorial Guinea.

    Trident’s business strategy calls for acquiring mid-life producing assets around the globe, particularly oil and gas fields lacking attention and investment, re-developing them, increasing production, and unlocking reserves. In Africa, where we’re seeing production declines occur in legacy assets throughout the continent, this approach is tremendously valuable.

    In Equatorial Guinea, Trident is the operator of Block G, which includes the producing Ceiba and Okume Complex fields — made up of six oil fields in the Gulf of Guinea, in shallow and deep water in the Rio Muni basin –  with a 40.375% working interest. The company also holds a 40% stake in Block S, W & EG-21.

    In May of this year, the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea and Trident’s joint venture partners for Block G, Kosmos Energy, Panoro Energy, and GEPetrol, agreed to extend the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for the block through 2040, giving Trident more time to unlock the block’s full potential.

    Trident has earned the respect of both the government and the companies it works with. Trident credits those strong working relationships with the company’s commitment to be an active, visible member of the communities where it operates.

    Foreign project leaders and their families relocate in-country, as the company fulfils its role as a major contributor to the local economy and community. Most importantly building local capacity and improving local content has been a key strategy for the company’s leadership.

    Trident also is known for offering local residents high-quality jobs and respectful treatment; for creating empowering skill development, healthcare, and education programs in host communities; and for implementing best practices to protect the environment.

    Trident Energy’s upgrades at Okume Field, which have been underway this year, call for converting 15 gas lift wells to electrical submersible pumps (ESPs), which are more affordable to operate and maintain.

    To prepare for the conversion, the company has been working on a $57 million upgrade at Okume’s central processing facilities. Trident Energy’s team in Equatorial Guinea has managed every aspect of the project including supply chain, logistics, and coordination. Approximately 55% of the services (in-value) were provided by local contractors; 32% of services were provided by regional contractors; and only 13% were provided by international contractors.

    Projects that boost production in declining assets, like the Okume upgrades, are extremely important for both Equatorial Guinea and the continent at large. We hope more companies follow Trident’s lead.

    Setting the Stage for Success

    The African Energy Chamber also has been impressed with Norwegian independent BW Energy, which has been very strategic in its approach to gas exploration and production in Namibia.

    BW, which also has a strong presence in Gabon, targets proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs and minimizes risk with phased developments. By operating in sites with existing production facilities, the company reduces time to first oil and keeps cash flow in check, the company website explains.

    In 2017, the company acquired a 56% stake in the Kudu gas field in the northern Orange sub-basin, approximately 130 kilometers off the southwest coast of Namibia. Several years later, BW increased its interest in the gas project to 95%.

    The Kudu field is believed to hold at least 1.3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas, but the site has remained undeveloped since ChevronTexaco first discovered gas there in 1974. The field has had a long string of operators, but as Pan-African research agency Hawilti put it, factors ranging from the inability to agree on a gas price to delays in getting governmental support projects have kept the project in limbo. The site’s isolated location, and lack of infrastructure to transport gas, have not helped matters.

    But, with BW in the driver’s seat, I believe that chapter is now closed. As announced during African Energy Week in Cape Town, BW is pursuing a revised development plan for Kudu that includes using a repurposed semisubmersible drilling rig as a floating production unit (FPU), which will allow it to move gas onshore for domestic energy generation. BW purchased the rig it needs for this effort earlier this year.

    BW’s efforts could have far-reaching effects on day-to-day life in Namibia. Currently, the country relies on electricity imports to meet its domestic needs. BW’s work at Kudu will help provide the gas Namibia means to reliably deliver electricity to its people, drive industrial growth, create jobs, and position Namibia as a regional energy hub.
    Overcoming Hurdles, Modeling Determination
    Another independent modeling what can be achieved in Africa is Toronto-headquartered Eco Atlantic. It has been overcoming the challenges of raising capital in an era when companies are being pressured not to begin new oil and gas projects on our continent.

    In April, Eco Atlantic raised approximately $25.5 million to cover drilling expenses on the Gazania-1 well, on Block 2B offshore South Africa, although the company announced that its evaluation well did not show evidence of commercial hydrocarbons. That’s not stopping the company from moving forward in Africa. Along with its partners, Africa Energy Corp, Panoro 2B Limited (a subsidiary of Panoro Energy ASA), and Crown Energy AB, Eco Atlantic is planning additional exploration drilling, including a two-well campaign on Block 3B/4B offshore South Africa, set to begin in 2023, and at least one well on the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana.

    “While it is naturally disappointing not having made a commercial discovery, the Gazania-1 well was only the first of four wells we have planned for the next 18-24 months across our wider portfolio,” Eco Atlantic co-founder and CEO Gil Holzman said.

    Tenacity is a required trait for all companies in this industry. Eco Atlantic’s ongoing commitment to exploring South Africa’s offshore basins is commendable.

    As recently as Dec. 19, the company announced its subsidiary, Azinam Limited, had acquired another 6.25% participating interest in Block 3B/4B offshore South Africa. Eco Atlantic also received regulatory approval for the acquisition. Now Eco Atlantic will hold an increased participating interest of 26.25% in Block 3B/4B, with Africa Oil Corp., the block’s operator, and Cape Town-based upstream company, Ricocure.

    Big Finds, Big Ambitions
    As for Africa Oil Corp., one of its strengths is the respect it has earned in the sector and among government leaders. The company has been involved in such major finds as the 2022 Venus light oil discovery made with Total Energies offshore Namibia (through subsidiary Impact Oil & Gas Limited).

    Since then, the company has kept its focus on continued exploration operations. It has producing and development assets in deep-water offshore Nigeria, development assets in Kenya, and a portfolio of exploration assets in Guyana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and the Senegal Guinea Bissau Joint Development Zone (AGC).

    The companies’ successes in East Africa are particularly exciting. Exploration in Kenya within the last decade has opened two new basins that extend into southern Somalia. Keith recently told Energy, Oil & Gas magazine that the basins cover an area the size of the North Sea.

    And in Puntland, the company is confident that it found an oilfield through drilling on the Shabeel well.

    Hill said he remembers when most companies believed opportunities in East Africa were limited.

    “At most oil and gas conferences today the universal opinion is that East Africa now represents one of the hottest oil and gas exploration areas anywhere in the world,” he said. “Africa Oil Corp’s forward thinking approach meant that it was able to get in and secure all the acreage it wanted before this region really took off. What that means is that today you are looking at an organization that boasts the best onshore acreage position of any company now present in East Africa.”

    Well done.

    Earlier this year, I said Africa will not achieve the energy future it wants, including making energy poverty history, without the presence of independents. Today, that truth is clearer than ever. Yes, majors and national oil companies still have an important part to play in Africa’s energy industry, but the independent companies at work here are giving us every reason to be optimistic about Africa’s future.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).

    SOURCE
    African Energy Week (AEW)

     

     

  • Africa’s free trade area offers promise for cities – but only if there’s investment

    Africa’s free trade area offers promise for cities – but only if there’s investment

    Published: July 25, 2022 3.57pm SAST

    The African Continental Free Trade Area came into operation on 1 January 2021. This is a considerable achievement. The free trade area is now the world’s single largest market for goods and services, when measured by number of countries, after the World Trade Organisation. It is also the largest in terms of geographic area and population size.

    If implemented as foreseen by the agreement, the free trade area will unlock significant growth for the African continent. The World Bank has estimated that by 2035, trade between African countries could expand by 81%, boosting output by US$450 billion, raising wages by 10%, particularly benefiting women, and lifting 30 million people out of extreme poverty.

    These expectations, based on research into the links between trade and economic growth, have generated excitement and political impetus around getting the free trade area working.

    Less well understood, however, is the fact that for the agreement to fulfil its promises, the continent’s cities are key. They are hubs for production and consumption, and will become significantly more so. But their current set-up, lacking the necessary infrastructure and services, means most of Africa’s cities are not yet ready to benefit from and support the free trade area. This will require substantially greater investments in the continent’s cities.

    This link between urbanisation and trade is analysed in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s recently launched publication, Cities: Gateways for Africa‘s Regional Economic Integration.

    What cities bring to the party

    The importance of cities in unlocking the benefits of the free trade area is premised on three well established advantages of the economic density that cities can provide.

    Firstly, firms, which are the primary vehicles for producing goods for export, prefer to be in cities. There, they are closer to a larger pool of labour and to each other. This proximity enables them to specialise but still have access to inputs for their production processes from other firms. They can also learn from each other, which spurs innovation.

    Secondly, cities are the physical locations from which most trade takes place. Cities provide the main transport links, including road junctions, ports and airports.

    Think of the Port of Mombasa, which serves not only Kenya, but also Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It is also difficult to think of a major city that is not served by an airport.

    Cities also provide their own internal markets. Rapid urbanisation, with an estimated 900 million people set to enter African cities in the next 30 years, creates a large upcoming consumer pool. This is the third advantage of density.

    Particularly in the African context, it is not only the number of consumers that will make the difference. As evidence shows, when people move to cities, their diets change as well. For example, there is a greater demand for goods with higher value addition, such as refined grains and processed foods. This is an opportunity for Africa’s farmers to gain, too, as this value addition will fetch a higher price.

    Not yet fit for purpose

    Substantial investments in infrastructure are needed for cities to be able to unlock the benefits of the free trade area.

    Most notable is the paucity of paved roads. Currently only an estimated 800,000km out of 2.8 million km of the continent’s roads are paved. This statistic is critical because an estimated 80%-90% of African trade takes place by road. This raises the costs of African trade. For example, while it costs about US$2,000 to ship a container from China to the port in Beira, Mozambique, it costs more than double that amount, namely US$5000, to move it 500km further inland to Malawi.

    This lack of infrastructure is a hindrance in cities too. In particular, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa report, the cities that should drive the largest portion of trade and reap relatively larger benefits from the free trade agreement’s provisions are small to medium size ones, especially those located close to borders.

    These are also the cities that have had comparatively less investment to date. Without basic infrastructure, they will not attract firms – the drivers of production, value addition and export.

    Whatever happens in implementing the free trade area, rapid urbanisation will continue across Africa. Consumption preferences of the continent’s population will shift. If African firms can’t meet these demands, imports from other regions of the world will do so.

    Under this scenario, other countries will disproportionately gain from Africa’s new urban consumer population.

    Investing in cities

    The current political support for the free trade agreement is significant, with all but one African country having signed the deal and 43 countries already having ratified it. Harnessing the combined effect of trade and urbanisation could positively transform the African continent’s economy.

    This will require not only the signing of policies but their implementation.

    To date, only Egypt, Ghana and South Africa have readjusted their national regimes to implement the customs rules under the agreement. Well-managed urbanisation is still not a primary policy focus in many countries. The result is that populations are settling in cities quicker than planning and investments are happening. Rather than benefiting from well-managed density, major African cities are characterised by the proliferation of slums and congestion. On top of this, substandard infrastructure is deterring large firms.

    Each of these challenges has its own host of policy reforms, programmes and actions that need to be taken. But to unleash the combined benefits of trade and urbanisation, it will be important to build on the political momentum that the free trade agreement has set in motion. This will ensure that national legislation is centred on the agreement’s impacts on cities, and on the needs of cities.

    Similarly, in planning for urbanisation, particularly intermediary and border towns, investments should focus on unleashing their comparative advantages in relation to the free trade agreement.

    Credit(“The Conversation”)

     

  • “Minnesota 2027 Expo bid gets Strong Support”-Basil Ajuo

    “Minnesota 2027 Expo bid gets Strong Support”-Basil Ajuo

    Recent efforts made in Washington by the Minnesota Africa’s Alliance(MAU) board members and leaders to garner support for Minnesota’s bid to host World Expo 2027, has yielded positive results.

    This was disclosed in a official statement  by Basil Ajuo, President and CEO of MAU who stated, “In our conversations with Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors, and other high-ranking officials we found strong support for Minnesota’s bid. A number of these supporters are now lobbying other countries on our behalf.”

    “Our lobby week began with a briefing for African Diaspora and Consular Corp leaders from Chicago, with a focus on ensuring Expo 2027 benefits the entire Midwest region. In Washington, we’ve met with leaders from Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Liberia, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Zambia, Guinea, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Chad, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal, Angola, Malawi, and the United Arab Emirates.

    “Our goal is an Africa-wide consensus in support of Expo Minnesota’s bid to create a powerful engine for economic advancement for both the African Diaspora living in Minnesota and for the continent.”

    “MAU has been lobbying government and business leaders during UN sessions in New York, in Paris during the General Assembly gatherings of the Expo coordination body, and in national capitals including Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Kenya where MAU has organized “Expo and Trade Promotion” delegations.

    “Until now, we have primarily been meeting with senior government officials in Paris, New York, Chicago, Minnesota, and in their embassies in Washington DC. Having nearly all African Heads of State in the United States at the same time has been an unprecedented opportunity to make our case for Expo 2027” Mr. Ajuo disclosed.

    The US Africa Summit, he intimated, has inspired African Diaspora leaders to become more united than ever before,” adding, “and we will build on this profound legacy by listening, learning and building new partnerships that would benefit the continent.”

    MAU Mr. Ajuo pledged, will continue leading trade delegations to African countries to promote our vision of and commitment to two-way trade and investment between the US and Africa. We see the enormous opportunities that an Expo will create for small, medium, and large firms in Africa and in the United States.

     

  • About rising Global Warming and Carbon Emission Cuts

    About rising Global Warming and Carbon Emission Cuts

    “Seychelles is Already Net Zero” Says President Ramkalawan

    …. As U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit ends in Washington DC

    By: Mohammed Abu

    African Small Island Developing State of Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan has recently disclosed that his country is already net zero and even cleaning up the emissions of the world while also taking note of the efforts of others to achieve same in 2030, 2040, 2050 or 2060.

    President Ramkalawan noted that despite its size, Seychelles is not only talking about saving the planet but rather playing an active role through the application of concrete actions of increasing the percentage of its territory dedicated to conservation and protection, implementing quotas for exploiting marine resources and the relentless commitment to cleaning up the atmosphere to ensure the survival of not only its islands and the world.

    “Unfortunately when we talk of Africa we sometimes forget about the islands, we talk of the Congo Bassin, the Green Belt and others and we forget that the oceanic states and islands play an important role. When we are talk of trees, the Sea grass Meadows removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than trees. For example, right now Seychelles and Mauritius are jointly managing the ‘Saya de Malha bank where the Sea grass Meadow is larger than Switzerland. Seychelles is also already protecting 32% of its Ocean, which is equivalent to a size larger than Zimbabwe. As part of our commitment, as of 2023, small Seychelles will be protecting 100% of its Mangroves and also the Sea grass Meadows”, President Ramkalawan intimated.

    President Wavel Ramkalawan made these disclosures during the thematic session held at the Washington Convention Centre as part of the recently held U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit under the banner themed “Building Our Green Future Together.

    ” The segment focused on three main overarching themes; Conservation, Climate Adaptation, and a Just Energy Transition where members of the various high-level panel exchanged views.

    Moderated by Haydé FitzPatrick, from Voice of America, the thematic session was officially launched by the US Secretary of State, T. H Anthony Blinken who delivered the welcoming remarks followed by remarks by the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E Felix Tshisekedi and the Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, T.H Gregory Meeks.

    During his intervention on Conservation, the highlight of President Wavel Ramkalawan’s Statement stressed on the significant efforts undertaken by Seychelles as an African Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in order to maximize conservation of both its land mass and oceanic territories whilst also promoting the country’s economic growth.

    The session explored ways that the governments and peoples of the United States and African nations are partnering to address conservation, climate adaptation, and the just energy transition based on shared priorities. The discussion identified ways to better integrate natural resource planning and infrastructure development, including clean energy. These areas included 1) conservation based on forests and wildlife and protecting Africa’s waters – ending Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing; 2) climate adaptation and 3) the clean energy transition.

    On President Ramkalawan’s panel of discussion on the Conservation theme also included the Administrator of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), T.H Samantha Power, and the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Wildlife Federation (AWF) Kaddu Sebunya.

    Other African Heads of State who also addressed the floor on other proposed themes on the agenda included Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria.

     

  • Securing Minnesota’s bid for Hosting World Expo 2027

    MAU intensity’s Campaign  as U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit hold

    Mohammed Abu

    The Minnesota Africans United (AU) delegation representing Diaspora Community groups from all 54 nations of Africa is in Washington for the entire week of activities related to the on-going U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit.

    The move is intended to garner support for Minnesota as the host city for the World Expo 2027 event. The targeted audience are, African Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, Cabinet Members and other officials from the 49 African nations taking part in President Biden’s U.S. Africa Leaders’ Summit.

    As of mid-week, meetings had taken place with leaders from Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Liberia, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Zambia, Guinea, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Malawi, Mali, and the United Arab Emirates.

    These were contained in a Press Release issued by MAU in Minneapolis on Thursday.

    MAU leaders and supporters, the release further said, are bringing a powerful message of support for Expo 2027 to national leaders from every region in Africa,

    “We are working towards an Africa-wide consensus of support for Minnesota’s bid to host an international exposition under the theme of “Healthy People, Healthy Planet.

    “We are making the case that by supporting Minnesota’s bid they can help create a powerful engine for advancing two-way trade and investment that can benefit both the Diaspora living in Minnesota and the people living on the continent of Africa.” Intimated Basil Ajuo, MAU’s President & Chief Executive Officer,

    “Until now, we have primarily been meeting with senior African government officials in their embassies in Paris, in New York, and in national capitals. Having nearly all the Heads of State or their designated representative in Washington all at the same time has been an incredible opportunity to make the case for Expo 2027.

    “We have built up a great deal of support for our bid and now we’re concentrating on turning that strong support into a continent-wide consensus for everyone to support Minnesota ’Ajuo disclosed adding, ‘This week, coming on the heels of a very successful lobbying blitz of African Ambassadors in Paris last month, gives the Minnesota’s bid the boost needed to propel us in the final six-months of this exciting campaign.”

    Minnesota Africans United

    Minnesota Africans United (MAU) is a coalition and statewide organization for all African immigrants’ communities in Minnesota. MAU supports Minnesota’s African Immigrant community with representation from 55 African countries. We act as a connection for the network of African immigrants in Minnesota, and for local African immigrant community organizations, and small businesses.

    Website https://www.mnafricansunited.org/

    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MNAfricansUnited/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/MNAfricans

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mnafricansunited/

     

     

  • African Economic Conference 2022 urges development community to “walk the talk” on innovative solutions to fight climate change

    African Economic Conference 2022 urges development community to “walk the talk” on innovative solutions to fight climate change

    Participants asserted that achieving net zero emissions—the crux of the three-day conference—can be accomplished if all stakeholders are robustly engaged
    BALACLAVA, Mauritius, December 12, 2022/ — The 17th African Economic Conference ended on Sunday with a charge to the development community and governments to take decisive actions to address climate change.

    The African Development Bank, United Nations Economic Community for Africa, and United Nations Development Programme, the conference hosts, called on participants to walk the talk by producing concrete solutions for climate-smart development on the continent.

    Participants asserted that achieving net zero emissions—the crux of the three-day conference—can be accomplished if all stakeholders are robustly engaged, including providing the right environment for public-private partnerships.

    “Africa is the region that is most vulnerable in the face of climate change,” said Mauritius’ Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Renganaden Padayachy. The scourge of climate change poses a threat to lives, he cautioned.

    “And if we limit climate change, we will change lives,” he said at the closing of the three-day conference, which had an in-person attendance of over 350 delegates, with thousands more participating online. AEC 2022 provided a timely forum to discuss innovative solutions to support climate-smart development in Africa.

    African Development Bank Acting Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, Prof. Kevin Urama, stressed that Africa’s future will come from the innovation of young Africans.

    Speaking directly to Africa’s youth, Urama said: “Your innovation, your knowledge, your power, use that so that we can do climate-smart development on the continent.” He noted that the conference produced rich lessons, including challenges, solutions, and what the private sector and government can do to leverage available skills and technology.

    In a speech on her behalf, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, called for accelerated action.

    “We must be particularly mindful of the economic, societal, environmental, political, and security costs of green transitions. We must fully understand the trade-offs and opportunity costs on communities and families and avoid pathways that undermine development prospects and deepen inequalities,” Eziakonwa said.

    She observed that climate finance is urgent and urged African governments to resolve the uncertainty around it. “Reaching net zero emissions must also mean reaching zero poverty,” Eziakonwa reiterated.

    Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Hanan Morsy, observed that addressing climate change should not be a choice but an imperative for Africa to achieve climate-smart development.

    “As such, what we have developed and discussed here regarding climate-smart development is not just an event. This is a process,” she said and urged African countries to heed the analyses and recommendations presented at the conference.

    The conference, held in Balaclava, Mauritius, brought together policymakers, climate experts, representatives of the private sector, academics and youth to develop an action plan to guide Africa as it navigates the threat of climate change.

    AEC2022 was jointly organized by the African Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with the government of Mauritius. This year’s conference had the theme Supporting Climate-smart Development in Africa.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
  • African Development Bank Group President appoints Senegal’s former Minister Amadou Hott as Special Envoy for the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa

    African Development Bank Group President appoints Senegal’s former Minister Amadou Hott as Special Envoy for the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa

    The Alliance will mobilize up to $500 million needed for a robust pipeline of bankable, greener projects
    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, December 13, 2022/ — African Development Bank Group (http://www.AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has appointed Senegal’s former minister Amadou Hott, as his Special Envoy and global champion for the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA).

    The African Development Bank, Africa Union and Africa50 launched the Alliance during COP27 last November with global partners: the African Union Development Agency, the African Sovereign Investors Forum, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the French Development Agency, the Rockefeller Foundation, the US Trade and Development Agency, the Global Center on Adaptation and the Private Infrastructure Development Group.

    The Alliance will accelerate Africa’s transition to Net Zero by mobilizing, at scale and speed, investments needed to bridge the infrastructure gap for the continent’s low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

    The Alliance will mobilize up to $500 million needed for a robust pipeline of bankable, greener projects. This is projected to generate up to $10 billion in investment opportunities from a combination of co-investments, co-financing, risk mitigation and blended finance.

    Mr. Hott brings a wealth of experience in resource mobilization, public-private-partnerships, sustainable energy and infrastructure finance, and investment banking. He has strong relationships with African policymakers, development partners, strategic and institutional investors to mobilize significant capital for green infrastructure project development and financing in Africa.

    Mr. Hott was until last September, Senegal’s minister for Economy, Planning and Cooperation. During his tenure, the country implemented landmark economic reforms, including the Economic and Social Resilience Plan and the reform of public-private partnerships.

    Before joining government, Mr. Hott was African Development Bank Group’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Green Growth and Climate Change. During his tenure, the Bank Group significantly increased investments in renewable energy. In 2017, he helped the Bank Group allocate 100% of its power generation investments in renewable energies. Prior to joining the Bank Group, Mr. Hott served in structured finance, sovereign wealth fund management, and the development of integrated energy solutions in various major markets including New York, London, Dubai, and Lagos.

    Amadou Hott holds an Associate degree in Applied Mathematics from Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg, France, a bachelor’s degree in Economics, and a master’s degree in Financial Markets and Banking Management from Sorbonne University, Paris. In 2012, the World Economic Forum nominated him as a Young Global Leader.

    Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Hott said: “I am honored to champion this great initiative under President Adesina’s visionary and impactful leadership. The Alliance will support Africa’s transition to Net Zero emissions. We need to frontload investments in infrastructure for Africa to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and to develop the continent. I look forward to working with all regional and global stakeholders and partners to succeed in this new challenge.”

    Dr. Adesina said: “I am delighted to have former Minister Amadou Hott as my Special Envoy to globally champion the Alliance and help mobilize significant resources and stakeholders for more green investments in Africa. He has a strong track record of mobilizing resources and multi-stakeholder engagement for key initiatives, particularly in green infrastructure.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Contact:
    Chawki Chahed
    Communication and External Relations Department
    media@afdb.org

     

     

     

     

  • Saving the Amboseli Lion in Kenya from near Extinction

    Saving the Amboseli Lion in Kenya from near Extinction

    Maasai Olympics, et al, to the rescue

    ……As Six-fold increase in Lion Population established !!!

    By: Mohammed Abu

    Monitoring by Lion Guardians, a Conservation NGO  has established that, there is a six-fold increase in the Amboseli lion population between 2004 and 2020, making it the fastest growing lion population on community-owned land in Africa, an astonishing turnaround following near extinction at the turn of the century.

    The reduction in lion killing isn’t only due to the Maasai Olympics factor alone, but also, as the result of other programs by, Big Life and others including Lion Guardians, the Born Free Foundation, including building predator-proof livestock pens, paying compensation to herders whose livestock is killed by predators to deter retaliation, and increasing the financial benefits mostly from tourism that Maasai families receive from continuing to protect wildlife on their land

    Research found 87% of warriors aware of the Maasai Olympics reported the event made them less interested in killing a lion and 91% said it made them more interested in lion conservation.

    These were contained in a Press Release issued in Kimana, Kenya recently following the end of the 5th Biennial Maasai Olympics designed to update the initiation practices of the Maasai Warriors as a substitute to the age-long traditional practice of killing lions to prove their prestige and to protect their livestock.

    Thousands of spectators in traditional red cloaks and beaded jewellery the release disclosed, gathered to watch 160 young Maasai – 120 men and 40 women – compete in a series of events including spear and club throwing, standing Maasai high jump, and sprints.

    Maasai elders and Big Life Foundation, a community conservation organization operating in the Amboseli landscape of southern Kenya, came up with the idea as a way to remove lion killing from the Maasai warrior culture, historically one of the key threats to lions in Amboseli.

    The Maasai Olympics,it intimated, replicates traditional warrior skills in place of the initiation practice of hunting lions as a mark of manhood, strength, and prestige. Globally, lions have lost 94% of their range since the start of the 20th century. Today there are estimated to be 23,000 lions left: fewer than elephants, rhinos, or gorillas.

    The initiative, it said, is now in its 10th year and was held at Kimana Sanctuary, a Maasai-owned wildlife reserve 200km (125 miles) south of the capital, Nairobi.

    Benson Leyian, CEO of Big Life Foundation, said: “Lions and the Maasai have lived in an uneasy balance for generations. Many of our elders would have talked with pride of killing problem lions or to prove their strength. But with more livestock and more people, there was a risk that this culture would have wiped out lions in this landscape, which we could not let happen”..

    The Maasai Olympics is about provoking discussion among the warrior generation, who are the future leaders in this ecosystem, that lion-killing is no longer culturally acceptable, and that conserving our environment is how to ensure a sustainable future for these warriors and their families. The Maasai Olympics was an idea from the elders that we helped bring to life and, with other predator protection programmes, it has been extremely successful.”

    Beginning in August 2022, the four competing warrior villages of Eselenkei, Kuku, Mbirikani, and Rombo have engaged in local and regional competitions, culminating in today’s event. Coming in the midst of a ferocious drought driven by a series of failed rainy seasons, the global effects of the war in Ukraine that has spiked food costs, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was a rare chance for people to celebrate.

    Mbirikani village were overall winners, and were presented with a prize bull and trophies. Team captain Nickson Kupere said: “It’s been a very good day and we’re very excited that so many of our team won, and that overall we were the winners. We Maasai have been living with wildlife for such a long time but we often saw them as a threat. This competition has changed that, we see wildlife now like we see our cows, and it needs to be protected because it brings us benefits like tourists who come to spend their money here. We’re able to put our children through school.”

    Joseph Lekato who successfully defended his title as javelin/spear throwing champion, said: “The Maasai Olympics has really helped change the way that warriors and all people here think about wildlife” adding,. “You won’t find anyone now in all Amboseliland who wants to kill a lion.”

    The release while acknowledging the Maasai Olympic sponsors,National Geographic, the Disney Conservation Fund, Chester Zoo, Play for Nature, and Zoo Basel also thanked the project coordinator, Samuel Kaanki, and the volunteer teachers, sports officials, and coaches whose tireless work contributed to  make  the  project a success..

    Media Contacts

    For interviews or any other questions, contact Mike Pflanz, Big Life Foundation’s Media Advisor, at media@biglife.org.

    About

    Big Life Foundation:

    Straddling southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, The Big Life Foundation works to protect over 1.6 million acres in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem. Using innovative conservation strategies that can serve as models elsewhere and collaborating closely with local communities, partner NGOs, national parks, and government agencies, Big Life seeks to protect and sustain East Africa’s wildlife and natural habitats, including one of the world’s best-known elephant populations.