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A continent in mourning: Kofi Annan (1938-2018)

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A Tribute to Annan by AfDB

As the world bids farewell to global statesman and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, the African Development Bank joins a continent in mourning in paying tribute to this extraordinary son of Africa.

The Bank celebrates the towering memory of this great Ghanaian and his service to Africa and the world.

Kofi Annan

The passing of Kofi Annan is a colossal loss not only for Africa and humanity, but, in particular, for the African Development Bank. He was a cherished partner of the Bank throughout his years as the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006 and up to the time of his death.

Mr. Annan joined the United Nations in 1962, just two years before the founding of the African Development Bank. Whether as the world’s top diplomat or as head of the Kofi Annan Foundation which he established after his U.N. service, his ideals and commitment to the cause of a better Africa complemented and helped push the agenda of the Bank.

He was a constant advocate for human rights, the rule of law, the Millennium Development Goals and Africa. He sought to bring the U.N. closer to the global public by forging ties with civil society, the private sector and other partners.

Mr. Annan held a special place for the Bank and was instrumental in several major initiatives.

He was a staunch advocate of the Bank’s ‘New Deal on Energy for Africa’, a partnership-driven effort, which aims to achieve universal access to energy in Africa by 2025 and was appointed its “Champion”.

In 2016, Mr. Annan co-chaired the Special Panel on Accelerating the Implementation of the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, launched by Bank President Akinwumi Adesina. Mr. Annan also joined President Adesina as a founding member of the Bank’s African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative, tasked with fighting malnutrition across the continent with the support of the highest-levels of government.

He spearheaded several initiatives on Africa, including his chairmanship of the Africa Progress Panel and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

In April 2001, in Abuja, Nigeria, at a summit of African leaders, Mr. Annan made the first explicit public call for a new funding mechanism, proposing the creation of The Global Fund, to be dedicated to the battle against HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. He made the first contribution to the Global Fund in 2001.

According to Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, “Mr. Annan’s passion, commitment and dedication to bettering the lives of people in Africa, and the world will not be forgotten. He was an outstanding champion of development and has left a lasting footprint through his actions and words.”

Mr. Annan passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday 18 August in Berne, Switzerland. His wife Nane, three children and grandchildren survive him.

Mr. Kofi Annan will be buried on Thursday, 13 September in Ghana in a ceremony attended by government officials, world leaders, family members and Bank representatives.

The Bank will observe a minute of silence in his honour at 10 am on Thursday.

May God bless Kofi Annan’s memory and comfort his family and friends.

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IPOB Declares May 30th As Sit-at-home Day Across The Southern East States To Honour Biafran Fallen Heroes

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The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared May 30, 2024, as a sit-at-home day across the South-East to celebrate Biafran soldiers.

The pro-Biafran group said that day is set aside annually to celebrate the men and women who died in the Biafran war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.

This was made known in a press statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, adding that every Biafran in the South-East is expected to sit at home and reflect on the war.

He cautioned South-East residents to avoid loitering about on this day, adding that those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29.

The IPOB statement also directed that all the residents of “Biafra Land” are to stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm on May 30, 2024.

He also called on christians and traditionalists to pray to Chukwu okike abiama for the fallen heroes, And also for the independence of Biafra from Nigeria.

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Anambra State Government Arrests Man For Marrying Off His Underage Daughter

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The Anambra State Government has arrested one Uzochukwu Okoli, for marrying off his underaged daughter.

Okoli was apprehended after his daughter reported to the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the alleged ill-treatment being meted out to her by her father and the man he forced her to marry.

The daughter, Chioma Okoli, who is currently 16 years old, said after the death of her mother, her father took her and her sister out of Edo state and brought them to Anambra.

She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-plus-year-old man at the age of 14 but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu Nweke as husband.

Chioma who was in the company of her sister, explained that life with Chinedu has been a living hell because he allegedly beats her and sometimes pees in her mouth.

She said this act made her run away with their 9-month-old baby. Her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, on the other hand, claimed her daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said she is 20 years old.

After he was handcuffed, Mr Okoli threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison. He also urged Chioma and her sister to pray he dies in prison because he would make life more miserable for them.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, has instructed that the case be charged to court so that the girl can get justice.

Both Mr Okoli and Chinedu Nweke were arrested and will be arraigned in court.

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Nigerians Seek Woman Who Spoke Out Eloquently Against Fuel Scarcity In Viral 1994 TV Clip

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April 30th 1994, 30 Years Ago, And Till Today Nothing Has Really Changed.

Netizens have gone in search of a beautiful and well-spoken woman who spoke out against fuel scarcity 30 Years Ago.

A user on X.com, Jackie, who identifies as #JWEZEE had shared the video yesterday with the caption, “On this day April 30 1994, same day same time, only difference 30years ago.

“Nigerians in long fuel queues lamenting, 30years later they are still lamenting. And In another 30years will still lament, why? Because patterns don’t lie.”

In the video, which has since gone viral, Nigerians were seen queuing to purchase fuel and lamenting their predicament as citizens waiting in long queues with their gallons to buy fuel.

The woman passionately addressed the unfairness of soldiers skipping queues to resell fuel, highlighting a longstanding problem.

She said in part, “You have the soldiers that come, they buy petrol, they put it in jerry cans they sell it right in front of these people, it’s ridiculous.

“They get the fuel themselves, why do they have to come here, they don’t join the queue, they just buy and they sell right in front of people, it’s ridiculous. Something has to happen.”

The 30-year-old video which recently surfaced coincides with the current fuel price hike across the country.

Here is the viral video from 30 years back.

Currently, the country is facing fuel scarcity and price hike, with fuel being sold at N900 per litre in some states. This has affected the price of goods in the nation.

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