Development Times Africa

Development

Africa

From Hepatitis Virus Carrier

to Global Crusader

Humberto

Coelho

Neto e Silva

The Man that Stirs, Fights and Wins

Chronicles Of The

Queen Of Gold

Joana Gyan

CEO Global Empire Legacy Ltd

Welcome Madam President!

Larisa Miller

…. leading one of the most

influential business councils

in the world.

HRH Prince

Ebrahim Sanyang

…i am an investor and a

leader, not a manager

ISSN 23118594

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4. $5

Our Children Represent Our

Future, Our Development

Is Dependant On Our

Children, Therefore, We Must

Ensure A Polio Free Country

Dr. Mike Omotosho

Editorial Team

PUBLISHER

Dr. Mike Omotosho

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO

THE PUBLISHER

Victoria Adeayo Olaitan

MANAGING EDITOR

Babalola Omoniyi

EDITOR

Adebayo Ogunjobi

STAFF WRITER

Adebisi Adebiyi

Adoyi Ali

Michael Ugbomah-Onalo

Adebisi Nurudeen Adeshola

ART/CREATIVES

Eno Praise

CORPORATE RELATIONS

Oge Ohadomere

PROOF READER

Emmanuel Couson

PHOTOGRAPHER

Isreal Oseun Dasco

PRODUCTION

Dare Afiwajoye

CIRCULATION

Gabriel Husseini

Development

Times Africa

Has Arrived

4

ADMIN EXECUTIVE

Tonia Godwin

Development Times Africa is

published and printed by

Mike Omotosho Foundation

www.developmenttimesafrica.com

info@developmenttimesafrica.com

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Development Times Africa - January 2019

CONTENT OVERVIEW

STORY ONE

p8

West Arica’s New Currency,

The ECO - Rebrand or

Fresh Start

STORY FIVE

p30

Joanna Gyan

Chronicles Of The Queen Of Gold

STORY NINE

p54

HRH Prince Ebrahim

…I am an investor and a leader

STORY TWO

p13

Humberto Coelho Neto e Silva

From Hepatittis Virus Carrier to

Globl Crusader

STORY SIX

p34

Larisa Miller

...leading one of the

most influential business

councils in the world

STORY TEN

p60

Chief Obafemi Awolowo

STORY THREE

p22

2020 Is Election Season

Across Africa

STORY SEVEN

p40

ALTRUISM

The Meddler’s Home

Responsibility

STORY ELEVEN

p64

Africa My Africa

10 Things to do in Cape Verde

STORY FOUR

p25

Orbis International

STORY EIGHT

p52

Venessa Caixeiro

…the entertainer with a heart of gold

Development Times Africa - January 2019 5

6


Publisher’s Note

How Would You Like To Be

Remembered?

Everyone wants to do something that

resonates throughout history. For

most of us, leaving a legacy when we

die is super important. Life is short,

so making an impact on the world

is our only chance to have lasting

influence or importance.

About a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning

newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name

in the obituary column.

The newspapers had reported the death of the wrong

person by mistake. His first response was shock. Am

I here or there? When he regained his composure, his

second thought was to find out what people had said

about him. The obituary read, “Dynamite King Dies.”

And also “He was the merchant of death.”

This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he

read the words “merchant of death,” he asked himself a

question, “Is this how I am going to be remembered?”

He got in touch with his feelings and decided that this

was not the way he wanted to be remembered. From that

day on, he started working toward peace. His name was

Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great

Nobel Prize.

Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and

redefined his values, we should step back and do the

same as we start a new year.

Thank you for finding time to read the Development in

our Times. Keep a date with the next edition

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Mike Omotosho

Publisher

This may not be as easy as it sounds; the most promising

path to that kind of immortality is via humility, nobility,

self-sacrifice, hard work and constant reminder of this

desire; and this edition was carefully published to do just

that.


In 2020, the region is set to get a long-discussed new

currency: the Eco. Many Africans are pleased -- but there

is a lot of work ahead, say experts who insist a rebrand of

the old Franc CFA will not do the job.

Many Africans cheered and applauded when Ivory Coast’s

President Alassane Ouattara announced last year “that,

in agreement with the other West African Economic and

Monetary Union Heads of State, we have decided to reform

the CFA franc with the following three major changes: First,

the name change of the currency from the CFA franc to the

Eco.”

His speech marked the official end of the French-backed

currency CFA francs for the eight countries belonging to the

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali,

Niger, Senegal and Togo currently use the CFA franc which

has been criticized by many as a French relic from colonial

times. Further, France will stop holding “50 percent of the

reserves in the French Treasury” and will withdraw “French

governance” related to the currency. The Eco’s value will be

pegged to the euro, just like the CFA has been for more than

two decades.

Remnants of French empire

The CFA is used in 14 African countries, split into the West

African CFA and the Central African CFA. However, the

changes will only affect the West African form of the currency.

Periscope

WEST AFRICA’S NEW

CURRENCY, THE ECO -

REBRAND OR FRESH START?

Deutsche Welle (Bonn), ANALYSIS By Silja Fröhlich

Originally, the CFA franc

was introduced by France

in 1945 and at the time

stood for “French Colonies

in Africa.” Nowadays, it

stands for “African Financial

Community in West Africa”

and “Financial Cooperation

in Central Africa.” It is used

by a population of about 150

million.

Students of the Cheikh Anta

Diop University of Dakar in

Senegal were thrilled after

the news hit. They told DW:

“Many countries are fleeing

the CFA Franc, that is why

they do not want to invest

in Africa. With this change

from the CFA franc to the ECO, there will be more jobs for

the youth.” Another student said: “I think these efforts are

reassuring, even if the effect is not as desired by the Senegalese,

but there will be improvement.”

A modest victory

However, not everyone is as optimistic. According to Mor

Gassama, economist and researcher at the Cheikh Anta Diop

University in Dakar, the introduction of the Eco is a victory

to be celebrated with great modesty. He says that there are still

many grey areas in relation to the introduction of the Eco.

“These are just words at the moment because the problem in

Africa, as everyone knows, is not just a problem of money”,

he told DW. “It is first and foremost a problem of the

management of public funds. If a head of state does not respect

his commitments, if the best resources we have are squandered

or not used according to our priorities, whatever the name of

the currency, it will not do much good. The decision is more

political than economic.”

Two separate Ecos?

The Eco is expected to be adopted on the first of July 2020,

but since the concept arose in 2003, the target launch date

for the currency has been postponed several times: in 2005,

2010 and 2014. Countries in the franc bloc and other West

African nations such as Nigeria and Ghana, which have their

8


own currencies, have for decades debated creating their own

currency, the Eco.

This should promote regional trade and investment.

“ECOWAS is ultimately about regional economic integration.

Ultimately, that cannot be achieved without the currency,”

Solomon Jamiru, Deputy Minister of Information of Sierra

Leone, told DW this summer.

‘Worse than the CFA’

However, a July launch of the Eco is not being welcomed

from all sides, Martial Ze Belinga, a Cameroonian economist,

told DW: “In a way, we now have two Ecos. One that the

15 African countries voted for and whose name was already

decided in 2003. And today there is a new Eco which France

and the West African Economic and Monetary Union

(WAEMU) countries have chosen -- independently of the

others. This seems astonishing. One could at least have waited

for them to give their approval.”

In the economist’s view, it does not make sense to promote

West African monetary integration without involving

countries like Ghana or Nigeria. “A country that accounts for

over half of the population in the region cannot be left out.

Periscope

ECOWAS must therefore react very quickly. Otherwise its

own project, the currency unit, will get into difficulties and

it will lose credibility as an organization.” He also hopes that

the Central African franc bloc is thinking further ahead. “My

impression is: they are waiting and watching. It is urgent that

Central Africa works on a plan B to create a perspective for

itself that gives security.”

Senegalese economist Samba Sylla agrees: “The Eco could

be worse than the CFA franc. If you take the criticism of

the CFA franc seriously, you cannot go in the direction of

ECO.” According to him, the CFA is firstly under French

domination and secondly a common currency which does

not work. “So far there is no work that shows that the two

CFA zones are optimal monetary zones. The advantages of

keeping these currencies are lower than the disadvantages.

One replaces a dysfunctional common currency with another,

even less functioning common currency. This does not seem

like a good deal to me.”

Different philosophies about money

Sylla believes it is unrealistic that there will be the Eco for

the whole of West Africa in 2020, due to lacking economic

and political foundations. “That

would require a treaty between the 15

ECOWAS countries, which does not

exist. It would need a statute for a new

central bank, and we would need to

harmonize banking legislation. That

does not exist at present.” Another

problem would be different cultures and

philosophies about currency and money.

“Those are very different, for example

between the Anglophone countries, such

as Nigeria and Ghana, and the others.”

Before joining the currency, countries

are required to meet ten key demands

by the West African Monetary Institute

(WAMI). Those include a budget deficit

of less than 3 percent, an inflation rate

of less than 10 percent, debts worth less

than 70 percent of GDP and budget

deficits of no more than 10 percent of

the previous year’s tax revenue. Nigerian

Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed said

that only Togo was on track to meet all

the financial requirements for the Eco

zone. The International Monetary Fund

welcomed the reform, saying it was “a

key step in the modernization of longstanding

arrangements” between the

WAEMU and France.

Katrin Gänsler, Robert Adé and

Carole Assignon contributed to this

report


10



Cover Stroy

From Hepatitis Virus Carrier

to Global Crusader

Humberto

Coelho

Neto e Silva

The Man that Stirs, Fights and Wins

12


Cover Stroy

Humberto Coelho Neto

e Silva André is a

humanitarian leader in

the global fight against

Hepatitis. And the founder

of the Hepatitis Zero project with aim to

mobilize more than two hundred countries

around the world to the detection,

treatment, vaccination and prevention of

Hepatitis. Silva also serves as the President

of the R.A.G (Rotary Action Group) that is

in formation to fight against Viral Hepatitis.

This project targets the global eradication of

all forms of Viral Hepatitis. In a chat with

the Development Times Africa, Humberto

Coelho Neto e Silva shares his mission and

progress thus far

Apart from being the President of the World Hepatitis,

founder of ABPH the largest hepatitis NGO in Brazil,

founder of The World Wide Fund for Hepatitis amongst

others, who exactly is Humberto Silva What was it like for

you growing up and how did your growing up influenced

your adulthood

I was born in Santo André, a city in the outskirts of São Paulo

(Brazil´s biggest). When I was 8 years old, my father moved

to a poorer, smaller neighbouring town, Maua. And that

gave me quite a unique experience because being the son of a

middle-class lawyer who was used to going to fancy places but

suddenly got transferred to a school which served the chanty

towns. And so, practically, all of my friends were from there.

And many of them were also Afro-Brazilians. That experience

shaped me to a person who gets along well with both the less

privileged as with the wealthiest (I won´t hide that I prefer the

latter, a thousand times more!!!). My childhood was almost

like those who lived in Africa. I played “Capoeira” (the Afro-

Brazilian dance-fight) and were good at most of the samba

instruments -like A-Go-Go, Tamborim, Surdo, and Repinique

(which I still play when I go to the world cups). At that age

I had an Appendicitis crisis and had to undergo a difficult

surgery. I needed blood transfusion during the surgery (back

then it was quite common to have it for any small reason). The

Hepatitis virus already existed, but was not known to science

and not tested when blood was donated. That must have been

the cause of my Hepatitis C infection- 38 years before I finally

found about it. I kept on living with my Afro-friends, at my

beloved, humble school. I grew up a bit, fell in love with the

Soul- Funk movement and became a Soul Music DJ, who

later turned into a sort of leader of the black movement in the

region (and I won several soul-music contests too, dancing

like James Brown and Michael Jackson). This was all to say

that I feel pretty much an African, from the background I had.

And I´m quite proud of it.

Your story is that of a Victim to Victor. Can you share

your transitional experiences from a victim of Hepatitis to

becoming one of the most renowned crusader?

I was going to watch the 2010 World Cup (which was, by

coincidence, in Africa) and as I was the president of a Brazilian

charity that catered for children with cancer and had some


projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, etc, I thought I should go visit

those projects and decided to see a doctor about some vaccines.

He advised me to have a broader check-up, and also to have the

Hepatitis B and C tests. I said: - “Come on, doc, I am doing

a hundred, just gimme the shots and I will be on my way

to watch football”. Well, he convinced

me, I had the tests and the result came

positive for Hep C. I did not feel any

symptom, but the liver study showed

my liver was very damaged by what

was probable a long time (decades)

of attack by the virus. I had a terrible

treatment (the only one available then)

based on Interferon and Ribavirin. I

took a 2-year course of weekly shots in

the belly, which would give me all sorts

of side effects, from shivers, to nauseas,

change of humor, fatigue, anemia, low

platelet counts, which would get me

dragging myself around, as medication

intensified In the meantime, I started

to research and found one of the most

incredible injustices on health policies

in the world. There were almost half

a billion people living with the virus,

but due to the disease being silent, not more than 5 to 10%

of the infected were aware of their condition. And, as 30%

of them would go through the severities of the ailment, they

would only discover about it, when it was already too late

and transplant would be the only way to save their lives. As a

consequence, obviously, the great majority of those in that risk

group would die, from Cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer.

About 80% of these 3 complications come from Hepatitis B

or C. I then decided I was privileged and blessed to have found

by chance as I did that I was carrying a “Silent Killer” inside

me with a chance of having treatment and achieving a Cure.

In the middle of my treatment I thought I could do something

to change that injustice. I already knew a thing or two about

philanthropy and fundraising and I felt I had been chosen. I

made a vow, thus, to devote the rest of my days (as long as my

forces allow me) to work for free, to help the ones who needed.

That´s how I founded the biggest Hepatitis association in

Brazil. When I announced it on an internet group, someone

mocked me and challenged me calling me arrogant and stupid.

I replied by saying, “the action will not only be the biggest in

the country. It shall be the biggest in the world!” Not because

of any arrogance (for it is just the opposite) but because the

whole world is a victim of the omissive injustice of its health

14


need toextend the same rights the

AIDS patients have to the Hep C

sufferers too.

authorities. Soon after I founded the World Hepatitis Fund in

New York and two years later I took the cause to Rotary (this

is a whole curious story, full of “coincidences” too)

From your experience, why is it very important for the public

to know their status and how accessible and affordable are

the treatments for Hepatitis in Africa especially?

The humanity is used to dealing with diseases only when they

are seen, exposed, broken out and causing despair. In the case

of Hepatitis, the authorities know that there is a bunch of

unfortunate people who are carrying the virus and that 30

per cent of them will, eventually succumb. But they do not

take a step ahead and go test the population. They wait for

the sick to come knock at their door and say “I dreamed that I

am sick, so please, medicate me”. The world authorities failed

gravely in not classifying the disease as a peculiar, quite a “sui

generis” one, which tackling would request a different posture

and attitude – which was to go detect it. There is absolutely

no tackling of Hepatitis if there is no testing, no screening of

the population. So this created a vicious circle that is quite

obvious to me, but a real puzzle to many, who say “what is the

use of testing if there is no medicines and treatment available

at the government?” This is, in my opinion, a stupid thought,

because no structure ever comes before the need. We only build

roads because there are cars, we make clothes because there

are people who need to get dressed and we only grow crops

because we need to eat, and so on. If we do not test, we won´t

ever eliminate the disease completely in the world. Thank

God, about recent ago, the world authorities finally drew a

protocol instructing for the screening. But such screenings are

so very timid in most countries of the world. Treatment in

Africa is very, very precarious and are not universally available

like those for HIV/AIDS. We believe that one citizen who

has a deadly disease cannot be more special, protected and

privileged than the other. Caring for the health of its citizens

is each country´s basic duty. In the field of Hepatitis, we

Hepatitis is one of the oldest

and deadliest virus affecting

man with a globally estimated

71 million infected people, but

only 20 percent of them have

been tested and are aware of

their status. Despite this scaring

figures, why is the awareness of

this virus not as viral as other

deadly viruses like HIV/AIDS

and Ebola?

As I mentioned before, authorities

only act when they have pressure

by their society. How can an

invisible threat put pressure on

any of them? The fact that they

know of the dreadfulness of the virus and the killing potential

of it, makes the authorities stance, in my view, then, an

omissive one, and, if I may, that omission reaches an almost

criminal (or at least a sinful) conduct towards humanity – the

humanity they represent and serve, by the way.

You Founded the Hepatitis Zero project, which aims to

mobilize more than 200 countries worldwide for the

detection, treatment, vaccination and prevention of

hepatitis what has been the successes and challenges for this

so far?

An astounding result is seen. We took the cause to Rotary

simply because we researched and found that Rotary is the

only organ that has been able to eradicate a disease in almost

all countries of the world but two. - which was Poliomyelitis.

We follow the footsteps of Polio, getting inspiration from the

actions against it and counting with the impressive “army” of

volunteers Rotary has, under the moto of “service before self”.

With the Rotarians, we have achieved an impressive milestone

of bringing screening to over 50 countries of the world, many

of them which had never had anything similar. In 2019, we

carried out the Hepatitis Zero Week, and performed over

1 million tests for Hep B and C in 50 countries. That has

left a toll of about 7 thousand people diagnosed and we are

implementing National Hepatitis Zero Commissions to work

together with the governments in order to help them achieve

the elimination by 2030,

Roughly 325 million people worldwide live with some form

of viral hepatitis, and the disease causes 1.34 million deaths

per year. As President of Rotary’s Rotarian Action Group

(RAG) for the fight against viral hepatitis which aims to

eradicate all forms of viral hepatitis, would you say there

is any hope in sight to reducing or eradicating these figures

No, there is none in sight. But it does not matter. We will


eliminate the virus, regardless, because of our determination as

Rotarians and our faith. What I mean is that in a document

signed by 194 countries with the World Health Organization,

only 12 of those countries were said to be meeting the yearly set

goals. But we will work with every one of those countries using

Rotary´s sprawling structure, spread in over 200 countries, and

we will make each country see that it is now an obligation to

defeat the Hepatitis viruses.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about living

with the virus?

By the part of the infected, there is not much information about

the different nature of the disease. We can say this because we

have set up 7 free clinics which have seen over 100 thousand

patients and the great majority of those patients does not

understand how a disease can be silent for so long (most think

that the virus is dormant, just like it happens with HIV) when,

in fact what is taking place is the absolute lack of symptoms,

the silence of the disease. One misconception for Hepatitis C

(which has caused many marriage disruptions) is that it is a

sexually transmitted disease, when, in-fact it is not considered

as such. Only when an important blood contact happens, can

the infection occur. So, while Hep C can be transmitted by

sex, it will only occur when blood from one partner meets an

uncovered wound from the other, etc, that is, only very, very

rarely, That is not the case for Hepatitis B, which is very easily

transmitted by sex, apart from blood contact, too.

16


A recent report stated that more than Thirty countries in

the world have no possibility of eliminating hepatitis B

under their current health policies, what is your comment

on this and how can it be managed?

Every country has the possibility of eliminating Hepatitis B

and C and we know how to do it. We will have a plan with

each country to implement policies to reach that status by

2030. In Brazil (which is quite a developed country in terms

of health policies, Rotary is taking over the Hepatitis B and C

screening campaigns, in an agreement with the government.

We plan to implement similar strategy as these in many

countries. We have many alternatives to reach our goal and we

will win, God willing.

Stigmatization is another serious concern on Hepatitis.

What do you think needs to happen to reduce the stigma

around victims of Hepatitis?

I would rather have an increase of stigma around Hepatitis. I

how the liver is. This can be done by a biopsy or a Fibroscan

exam (which is almost an ultrasound, non-invasive and quick

procedure). Support can also be by exercising pressure on the

governments for them to make treatment available, extending

the same rights for universal treatment that the HIV carriers

have all over Africa to Hepatitis victims.

Before you became an advocate for Hepatitis, you were the

founder of the Child Care Fund (FAC) which started in

2001, what was the idea behind the establishment of this

fund and what has been the progress so far?

This association was created to help treat children with cancer.

We have helped thousands of children in about 20 years by

supporting free inns named “child cancer support houses”,

hospitals and by finally opening our own clinic at the heart

of São Paulo with oncologists, hematologists, psychologists,

dentists, etc.

say this because I do not really see stigma. Obviously, there are

people who are afraid of contact with any disease. But, in the

case of Hepatitis, apart from being easy to just clarify that “it

is a disease that is passed only by blood contact”, it does not

carry the terror that Aids used to carry and still has. I think

that the scientists who named the disease have committed a

serious mistake- to name the virus as a variation of the usual

HEPATITIS which people know that is quite light and is

not life-threatening. When we speak of Hepatitis, people

immediately think of THAT Hepatitis, which is HEPATITIS

A. They should have given different names to Hepatitis B, C ,

D, E and G, so those would be known as dreadful and deadly

and governments would have done something to halt them.

But anyhow, it is too late for that now.

How can others show their support to people living with

Virus?

Helping them get access to medication and treatment by any

means. Also Instructing the carriers that the most important

thing to see is the STATE OF THE LIVER. What kills is

the damaged liver, not the simple existence of the virus.

Remember, 70% percent of the carriers will not develop any

consequences, but those 30% will. So it is important to see

Interestingly, you also made some remarkable successes in

football being the person that opened the English football

market to Brazil, having negotiated the first Brazilian

player to participate in the Premier League - how would

you describe the Brazilian football at the moment.

Brazil is an incredible factory for new talents but unfortunately,

they all leave the country to play in Europe. We need to

organize plans to bring the talented players back and hold the

raw material here.

What personally motivates in life?

Helping people. Being nice to people and spreading love. My

obsession is to eradicate Hepatitis in the world. And we´ll see

that happening or, at least giving signs for it in the future, God

willing

Aside your health advocacies and philanthropy, you are

also an entrepreneur, owner of a marketing group, tell us

about Silva, the entrepreneur.

A person who does not check his bank account, does not bother

with making money. Someone who has a privileged visionary

quality that allows him to do well in business regardless of his

distraction and also able to support his family and needs. Silva


Child Cancer and other humanitarian actions;

how do these honors make you feel?

I don´t even remember them. I remembered

about it now, because you put the question. The

honours and recognitions are useful to make

humanity believe you when you present them a

plan, a view and a message. That´s why I accept

and maybe want some more. But, I live by the

thought that we must be useful to people. That

is the only way of being “important”. And if you

need people to become “important”, how can

you show any vanity or arrogance to people?

If you have such vanity, all of the importance

instantly vanishes. And you are left alone, with

your ego. Empty and hollow.

is someone that really does not focus on material gains and

thinks that we all work for one Boss, And that He will be fair

to those who deserve. So, if it is like that, why worry?

Amongst other recognitions, on August 4, 2017, the

municipality of São Paulo granted you the Honorary Title of

Citizen Paulistano for your role in Fighting Viral Hepatitis,

What message would you pass on to others

who are newly diagnosed?

YOU ARE VERY LUCKY!!!!!! Congratulations!!!

You are blessed to have discovered something

before this could one day kill you! The disease is

easily treatable and now you will reach the Cure.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

“Love. With everyone”. And the world, will be made a little

better.

18



20



AFRICA WATCH: 2020 IS

ELECTION SEASON ACROSS

AFRICA

Burning Issues

Voters across the continent will be heading to the

ballot box this coming year to choose their leaders in

presidential, parliamentary and local elections starting

with the Comoros in January and ending with Ghana

in December.

Comorians will be electing a new 33-member national assembly

following presidential elections in 2019 while Ghanaians will select

their parliamentarians and president on 7 December.

In Chad and Mauritius, electoral commissions have yet to decide on

exact dates, but absent unexpected delays, the polls

should go ahead as legally mandated. In Seychelles,

the electoral body will decide in August when the

presidential election will be held later in the year.

Overall, the polls are expected to be peaceful and

free. Yet, for different reasons, some countries like

Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali

and Somalia are ones to watch.

In Ethiopia, elections of members of the House

of People’s Representatives and of regional State

Councils will be held in a new political environment

ushered in by the youthful Prime Minister Abiy

Ahmed’s reforms. Having won the 2019 Nobel

Peace Prize for ending a two-decade conflict with

neighbouring Eritrea, observers will be eager to learn

to what extent Mr Abiy’s changes are taking hold and how much

domestic support he has earned since the award was announced.

Polls in Somalia will be the first in 50 years. Voters will elect the

president and their representatives through direct ballots - the last

universal suffrage polls having been held in 1969. Previous presidential

elections held in 2009, 2012 and 2017 involved a system of

thousands of clan delegates voting for parliamentary representatives,

who in turn elected the president. Election preparations are currently

underway, including the drafting of electoral laws, though security

22


remains a concern throughout the country.

Burning Issues

Guineans are scheduled to choose a new assembly and president

Togolese will go to the polls in

April to cast their ballots for

president with the possibility of

a run-off should no candidate

garner more than 50% of the

votes. The polls will be the first

to be held since presidential term

limits were restored in 2019.

Since Ghana’s transition to multiparty

democracy in 1992, elections

have generally been peaceful, and

their results generally considered

fair. This trend is expected to

continue, amid the government’s

recent claims to have nipped in

the bud attempts at a coup by a

group of civilians, and former and

current military personnel.

In Burkina Faso, Burundi and

Tanzania, voters will be called to

choose their presidents first, then

their national assemblymen and

women later in the year. Burundians will elect a new president, as

the incumbent is retiring.

In Burkina Faso and Mali, recurring violence in some areas, some

of it deadly, is likely to affect the polls. Over the last few months,

terrorist activity has increasingly targeted civilians and security

forces, including peacekeepers in Mali. Given the circumstances

organising nationwide elections will be a challenge.

In Côte d’Ivoire things are not straightforward either. The country

has remained stable since the hotly contested 2010 presidential

poll that helped mark the end of a decade of armed conflict. Now

Ivoirians look towards October polls, but the political coalition has

progressively frayed, and old political fault lines have resurfaced.

come October too. Parliamentary elections were postponed earlier

this year given political tensions over plans to call a referendum on

lifting constitutional term limits. Large demonstrations against the

plan have been witnessed across the country, including in the capital

Conakry. The heightening tension is likely to affect the upcoming

polls.


24


NGO Insights

Orbis

International

Orbis International is

an international nonprofit

non-governmental

organization (NGO)

dedicated to saving sight worldwide.

Its programs focus on the prevention of

blindness and the treatment of blinding

eye diseases in developing countries

through hands-on training, public

health education, advocacy and local

partnerships. Since 1982, Orbis capacitybuilding

programs have enhanced the

skills of 325,000 eye care personnel and

provided medical and optical treatment

to more than 23.3 million people in 92

countries.

Orbis is a registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible

non-profit charity in the

United States. It is rated 4 stars on

Charity Navigator and is a Guidestar

Gold Participant. It is headquartered

in New York, with offices in Toronto,

London, Dublin, Hong Kong, Macau,

Shanghai, Singapore and Cape Town.

Orbis’ programs emphasise skills,

training and self-sufficiency. The

organisation spends approximately a

year planning and coordinating with

partner hospitals and local organisations,

making preliminary visits to observe the

local medical teams. The Flying Eye

Hospital not only provides training, but

also equipment and surgical supplies

to ensure that the local medical teams

are equipped with skills and supplies

long after the flying eye hospital has left

the program site. It ensures that other

patients who are in need of treatment

are able to get the treatment even after

the hospital has departed. Cybersight,

Orbis’ telemedicine program, continues

the training and mentoring relationships

even after the Flying Eye Hospital has

left the program site. Orbis’ intervention

are tailored to local needs; Orbis trains

local doctors in low-tech, low-cost yet

effective methods to correct diseases of

the eyes.

In addition to the Flying Eye Hospital,

Orbis operates hospital-based programs

in several countries and works with

local medical research and health-care

organizations on blindness prevention

and eye disease treatment.

Orbis is a founding partner, along with

the World Health Organization, of

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, “a

worldwide concerted effort designed

to eliminate avoidable blindness by the

year 2020.”

History

Orbis was founded in 1982 with a grant

from the U.S. Agency for International

Development (USAID) and a number

of private donors. The first Flying Eye

Hospital was a Douglas DC-8-21

(N220RB) donated by United Airlines.

In its first two years of operation, the

Orbis DC-8 visited 24 countries and

held programs emphasizing the handson

transfer of surgical skills.

By the late 1980s, as replacement

parts for the aging DC-8 became

more difficult and expensive to obtain,

it became clear that a newer, larger

aircraft was needed. Funded by private

donations, Orbis purchased its current


NGO Insights

DC-10 in 1992. The DC-10 contained

twice the interior space of the original

DC-8. After two years of conversion

and renovation, it was placed in service

in 1994, and the DC-8 was retired and

donated to Datangshan museum near

Beijing. That summer, the new Flying

Eye Hospital took off on its inaugural

mission to Beijing, China.

In 1998, Orbis embarked on a new

path based on the strategy to strengthen

the capacity of local partners in the

developing world to prevent and treat

blindness through full-time, ongoing

in-country programs. These programs

were designed to respond to the needs

of individual ophthalmic communities

and local eye care providers. Orbis

selected the first initial five countries

to work in year round based on need

(magnitude of blindness), opportunity

(local infrastructure and resources), and

safety & stability to operate in-country.

Orbis launched its first permanent

country program in Ethiopia. Country

programs in Bangladesh, China, India

and Vietnam soon followed. In 2010

Orbis established a country program

office in South Africa. Permanent Orbis

offices in these countries, run by local

staff, develop and implement an array

of multi-year projects to improve the

quality and accessibility of eye care to

residents, particularly in rural area and

impoverished urban communities.

In addition to permanent country

26


offices, Orbis also engages in long-term

program work in several countries in

Latin America and the Caribbean as well

is in countries including Nepal, Zambia,

and Burkina Faso.

On April 7, 2008, Orbis announced

it would replace its current DC-10

Flying Eye Hospital with a DC-10

Series 30 freighter. United Airlines,

with the support of FedEx, is donating

the airplane to Orbis. The $2 million

donation is based on the plane’s

estimated value and is being funded

equally by United and FedEx.

On August 8, 2011, FedEx announced

that it would donate one of its DC-10-

30s, retrofitted with the MD-10-30F

upgrade, to Orbis to replace its DC-

10-30F. The new MD-10 will feature

a modular hospital suite, the first time

these units will have been used on an

aircraft.

In 2012, Orbis Celebrated its 30th

Anniversary of Saving Sight Worldwide.

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital

Orbis is well known for its “Flying Eye

Hospital,” an ophthalmic hospital and

teaching facility located on board a MD-

10 aircraft. The Flying Eye Hospital

brings training to doctors and nurses in

developing countries with little access to

professional development and training.

Classrooms, operating theatres and laser

rooms are aboard the plane and the local

medical personnel are able to watch

live surgeries as well as simulations. 3D

filming and broadcast facilities allow

the local ophthalmic professionals to

observe the live surgeries through the

eyes of the surgeon. Surgeries can also be

broadcast to additional classes outside

of the aircraft, be it a local hospital or

halfway across the world. Participants

can ask questions via a two-way audiovisual

system. Volunteer pilots donate

their time and skills to fly the hospital to

the various program sites.

In June 2016, Orbis revealed its thirdgeneration

Flying Eye Hospital. The

hospital is a converted McDonnell

Douglas DC-10 donated by FedEx and

can fly twice as long as its predecessor.

It is similar to a land-based hospital

and is outfitted with safety features

such as a back-up generator and early

alert monitoring systems. The hospital

also has its own water treatment plant

and air conditioning systems. It also

houses a 46-seat classroom, sterilization

room and operating room and uses 3D

technology and live broadcast systems

which allow local participants to observe

surgeries while they are taking place. A

virtual tour of the plane was created as

part of the launch which enables users

to virtually explore all areas of the plane

including the operating room and cargo

hold.

Orbis’s previous DC-10-10, which was

the oldest flying example of its type

by then, has since been donated to the

Pima Air & Space Museum. It arrived

at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in

November 2016 and is currently under

restoration.

Country programs

In addition to the Flying Eye Hospital,

Orbis operates long-term country

programs and collaborates with local

governments and organisations and

push for eye care to be integrated into

national health programs. It has also

worked with local universities and

healthcare institutions and manage

a team of more than 400 medical

volunteers from 29 countries to provide

expert training to their local partners.

In each country, Orbis works with its

local partner institutions to increase

their capacity to provide comprehensive,

affordable and sustainable eye care

services over the long term. The

programs include developing specialized

hospital facilities, eye banks, patient

and health care worker training, and

prevention and treatment programs.

In 2015 alone, more than 30,000


medical professionals were

trained and more than

2 million patients were

examined either on board

Flying Eye Hospital or at its

partner institutions.

Cybersight

Cybersight is a telemedicine

portal that allows eye health

workers in low- and middleincome

countries to consult

with expert mentors in their

field, free of charge. Mentors

give their opinion on

patient cases, share learning

materials, and help local

eye health workers develop

their skills in blindness

treatment and prevention.

Since its launch, more than

10,000 electronic cases have taken

place. This allows for distance learning

and discussion, and ensures that the

local medical teams of the various

program sites are able to benefit from

Orbis’ services even after the Flying Eye

Hospital has left the site.

Cybersight also offers regular live

lectures, a library of educational

material, and allows users to take tests

and receive certificates of achievement.

On September 10th, Orbis announced

a new collaboration with AI company

Visulytix to apply their automated

imaging technology to Cybersight.

Visulytix’s Pegasus AI system will be

used to analyse images of the back of

the eye taken with any standard retina

camera or smartphone. Eye doctors in

low-resource countries will be amongst

the first in the world to have free

access to this service on the Cybersight

platform, helping them detect and

diagnose sight-threatening eye diseases

such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related

macular degeneration and glaucoma, as

well as quickly request a second opinion

from Orbis’s network of medical experts.

28



Swift Switch

Chronicles Of

The Queen Of Gold

Joana Gyan

CEO Global Empire Legacy Ltd

30


Swift Switch


HER BIRTH

The hushed dawn of the 7th May mid-eighties was unsettled

by the cries of labour emanating from Dunkwa community

hospital located along the dusty plains of Dunkwa-offin in

Denkyira central region Ghana. Agnes Nyarko a young beautiful

trader and farmer was 9 months heavy with the seed

of Ambrose Kojo Gyan, a COCOBOD contractor, teacher

and farmer from the Royal family of Juabeng Ashanti region.

Agnes was the fifth wife of Ambrose who due to numerous

long travels had formed an enormous polygamous family.

The ambience of the Dunkwa hospital was inundated with

the motherly wails of Agnes stimulated by contractions. This

will be the second time she will be ejecting life through her

thighs; an event she would partake in three more times, cumulating

in five offspring. Ambrose, a major contributor to

the present state of Agnes wasn’t left out of the physical and

mental turbulence as his body found no rest, pacing haphazardly

in the local hospital. After a labour period that lasted all

night, Agnes’s toil was met with the ultimate reward; the first

cry of Joana Gyan who would later be called as Nana Awoo,

named after a prominent philanthropist in Dunkwa-offin.

EARLY YEARS OF NANA AWOO

Being the 19th child of a former COCOBOD contractor

who had lost all he worked for due to military victimization,

poor financial habits and an oversized nuclear family; Joana

came out without the silver spoon and so the early harsh

realities of life became acquaintances. Christened

after three months in a silent traditional naming

ceremony with the names; Joana Maa-Adjoa Nana

Awoo Gyan, the name Maa-Adjoa originating

from her maternal side while Nana Awoo was given

from her paternal side. The name Nana Awoo

will later take preeminence due to her selfless and

hardworking personality. Soon Joana was enrolled

into her first school; school of life and her first

class being the class of survival.

The Gyan family were constantly on the move

shuttling Dunkwa-offin and Wassa Agona Amenfi.

The latter is where Joana started her formal education

at Wassa Agona Methodist basic school, age

3 years.

At age 5 years, Joana started farming with her

mother while in school. She became known at

that tender age for being very helpful even at her

own expense; carrying goods and heavy loads for

elderly women from the farm to their houses miles

away. It was in this period that Joana will be affectionately

and unanimously called Nana Awoo

by the elderly people in the Dunkwa community.

Born a Taurus with the impulse for leadership,

Joana always wanted to sacrifice her wellbeing,

pleasure and liberty for her family. At age 8

years, Joana took the travail to a new level; she

started illegal mining popularly called “galamsey”.

Oblivious of the health and environmental dangers

posed by her new path, she ironically went

deep into the mud just to survive. There was never

a standstill in time and Joana grew in age and

hence advanced in class. Joana attended Denkyira

Asikuma catholic school (junior secondary). She

advanced to Dunkwa technical secondary school where her

second cycle education was truncated in form two mainly

due to financial lack and the inability of Joana to combine

studies with menial jobs.

THE EXODUS

The pressure eventually took its toll on Joana and in 1999

she left the classroom and headed for Accra in her school

uniform unsupervised. Alone in Accra, she wandered until

eventide. Weary and hungry, she found solace in the uncompleted

action chapel located on the spintex road. After

countless nights at the uncompleted cathedral, she joined

some friends from Wassa Agona Amenfi who had decent accommodation

in Achimota a suburb of Accra.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months, as time flew,

so did Joana’s knowledge and experience of the city increased.

She left Achimota to Legon Westland where she started her

first business; operating a small phone booth popularly called

“space to space”. After a while, she met a customer on the job

who took her to airport residential area where she worked

as a maid. Hungry for success as she was, she became discontented

with exalted life of penury which was becoming

her adornment at airport residential area. Once again Nana

Awoo was on the move, back on the streets where the harsh

realities of life have no sugar coating. She was taken in by

Daavi, a poor woman who had only male children and lived

32


in Ajiringanor which was a construction site. Daavi took

Joana so affectionately that soon it was believed around

Ajiringanor that Joana was Daavi’s only daughter. Through

Daavi she got a job as a labourer in the trasacco estates then

under construction.

It must be noted that even though Joana wasn’t born financially

privileged, her extended family members were people

of noble heritage as Joana herself is from a royal lineage in

the Ashanti region of Ghana. So as she was sojourning the

streets, she was declared missing by her family. Words had

reached her family of her whereabouts. An envoy from the

family reclaimed her from Daavi’s possession to a family

member in Accra which was comfortable financially.

Once again Joana became disgruntled with life in the custody

of an extended family member as she was only used

for house chores, and for the second time in her young life,

she would escape from the guardianship of family never to

return.

THE CRUDE BRIDE

In the first quarter of the year 2010, Tyrone Jarvis a man

from Bristol city (UK) came down to Ghana for business

only to be duped by miscreants. Dismayed and disappointed

he made preparations to return to the UK then by a

twist of fate, he met Joana Gyan through a third party. The

old British business mogul fell in love with the unsophisticated

Nana Awoo and asked her to marry him. She agreed

and the two entered a sanctimonious matrimony which

would transform Joana wholly. Tyrone saw her past toil in the

galamsey fields as an advantage and motivation to delve into

the mining industry legally. Under Joana’s first business “Jay

Golden” they acquired gold sites and with Joana’s knowledge

of the terrain, they explored new and uncharted territories.

FATE’S TWIST

Joana’s life was on cruise control as the couple improved in

almost all spheres of life and it was as if the fallacious phrase

“happy ever after” was fast becoming a reality. Then fate

added another twist to Joana’s titillating story; in the third

quarter of the year 2012 (2nd July), Tyrone Jarvis died of

diabetes. Alone once again and against all the odds for Joana

to hold together whatever vestiges was left of her union with

Tyrone Jarvis. She solicited for funds to uphold her dream of

owning a business empire. She was fighting on all fronts as

she epitomized the phrase “down but not out” Fortune they

say favours the strong and relentless and so it was on the

umpteenth time of knocking on the door of success, the answers

came pouring in. Investors from Europe had fallen in

love with the vision of the simple lady from Juabeng Ashanti

region. They were ready to fund in for the creation of the biggest

solid mineral yet in West Africa, Golden Empire Legacy

LTD (GELL).

As it stands today, Joana Maa-Adjoa Nana Awoo Gyan the

poor unsophisticated girl who ran away from the scourge of

paucity in Dunkwa is now adorned with accolades and professional

titles such as; Artisanal miner (one of the best in the

country), licensed gold miner, licensed gold seller, licensed

gold exporter, estate developer, business class woman, business

executive, talent developer and motivational speaker.

All these achievements are at a youthful age of 34 and she

isn’t resting on her laurels, striving to attain more. Her intelligence,

caring attitude and interesting personality has seen

her dine with the high and mighty, cruise on the corridors of

power and impact lives in dimensions unfathomable


Larisa Miller currently serves as the President of the World

Business Leaders’ Council, a globally renowned one of the

most powerful and influential non-profit, membership-based

business community of global decision-makers and high

profile executives, with the aim of expanding trade and investment

opportunities for members through strategic engagement and

partnerships with relevant stakeholders. Larisa has spent the last

several years working for the Royal Family in Abu Dhabi, United

Arab Emirates as the business development manager, with focus on

sustainable development, as well as the head of their large non-profit

foundation, which focused on women, youth, literacy and education.

As CEO of Phoenix Global, Larisa specializes in working with both

government and industry, introducing businesses and investors to

opportunities for development and expansion into both emerging

and developed markets. Larisa also serves in the capacity of Executive

Vice President of STP Capital Partners, LLC (Skopje Technology Park,

Skopje, North Macedonia), and Chairman and Founder of LTP Capital

Partners, LLC (Lusaka Technology Park, Lusaka, Zambia.

In this exclusive interview with Development Times Africa, we asked

and Madam President answered.

Larisa Miller

President

World Business Leaders Council

34



Congratulations on your recent

appointment as President of the World

Business Leaders Council? How does

this make you feel?

Thank you! It is quite an honor to be

named as President of this significant

Council of global business leaders

during such a significant year. The

U.N. has declared this the Decade

of Action, and 2020 will be the year

that sets the standard and leads the

way toward achieving the targets and

goals set forth in Agenda 2030. The

most measurable impact will come

from the private sector, and as we are

all stakeholders of our global future,

I’m excited and motivated to lead

this Council at such a critical time in

our planetary history. As CEO of a

company, I appreciate the value that

comes from having a shared platform

to network, share knowledge, and

have exposure to strategies, concepts

and solutions being used by businesses

and business leaders around the

world. The WBLC and Summit are

just such platforms, and I am pleased

to have the opportunity to lead an

organization that can benefit business

professionals, from entrepreneur, and

junior level executives to C-Suite.

Throughout your career before this

appointment, you’ve held a variety of

roles in different business functions.

How has this breadth of experience

helped you get to where you are today?

Each job I’ve held in my career, from

my first job with the Department of

Agriculture to my position now as CEO

of Phoenix Global, has contributed to

my vision and business ethos. From

the countries and regions where I’ve

lived – the cultures, the approaches,

the perspectives, my experiences

– professionally and personally,

converge to give me a unique context

from which to approach challenges

or formulate solutions. The ability to

connect unexpected dots, which gives

value to our clients and an advantage

over our competitors; the importance

of being broadminded when looking

at projects and opportunities, and

the danger in short-sighted thinking;

the ability to use my experiences to

formulate unique strategies, creating

value by approaching a plan or

solution through the formation

of unexpected collaborations, or

through unconventional perspectives

– THIS is from the gift of experience

which shapes us, guides us, and makes

us more knowledgeable, qualified,

perceptive, circumspect and wise. It is

these attributes which I apply to my

business, and it will be these attributes

which will guide my leadership as

president of the WBLC.

What do you think were the key

strategic elements that helped grow

professionally that you are willing to

bring onboard as president of WBLC?

The strengths and strategies that I

bring to the table are a culmination

of a career filled with lessons-learned,

challenges, successes, experiences

and travels. As a woman, as a CEO,

and now as president of the World

Business Leaders’ Council, I have the

opportunity to lead an influential and

impactful organization comprised

of some of the most prominent

36


and respected governmental and

business leaders from around the

globe. Professional organizations

who contribute the most value to

the business world are those who

understand the future of business

– a future which includes rapidly

progressing innovations, disruptive

technologies, and the global

responsibility to sustainable business

practices. The diverse leadership

united on the WBLC allows us to come

together to discuss business from

a global perspective, exploring the

impact of innovation, and discussing

solutions which will allow businesses

to grow, thrive, and contribute to our

economic, environmental and social

sustainability in this new decade...the

Decade of Action.

Why do you believe that

continual personal development

and membership in business

organizations, such as the WBLC, is

important for business professionals?

It was once said that life never stops

teaching, so you should never stop

learning. Through the ups and

downs of life, and unexpected shifts

in our paths, the one thing that can

never be taken away from us is our

knowledge. When you continue

to develop yourself – learning new

things, acquiring new skills and

undertaking new experiences and

hobbies, not only do you make

yourself a more visionary, wellrounded

and innovative professional,

either as a business leader or team

member, but you also have a

constantly evolving and widening

perspective which allows you to be

more understanding and reflective

as an individual and responsible

global citizen. If we maintain our

commitment to learning, through

lifelong knowledge-building, we will

continuously refine our character,

dreams and beliefs, allowing us to

excel and succeed.

One of the best ways to continue to

gain knowledge and perspective is

to join professional organizations

which allow us to interact with

our peers and professionals from

many sectors, experience levels, and

industries. Often, these interactions

lead to unexpected opportunities,

mentors, friendships and ideologies,

enhancing our performance as

professionals, and enriching our lives

personally.

There are lots of Business Clubs, what

would you say makes the WBLC

unique?

The WBLC is a unity of global

perspectives - renowned names from

government, business and industry

coming together to share their

knowledge, viewpoints unique to

their geographical familiarities, and

strategize a way-forward, as we work

together to achieve Agenda 2030.

There are many legacy business clubs,

and they are valuable because of

their membership, reputation and

influence, however, the value in the

newer, contemporary and forwardthinking

organizations, such as the

WBLC, is that they are in-tune with

the challenges of today – committed

to charging forward into the future

as a part of the solution, not lost in

the struggle between the way things

used to be done, and the way things

should be done.

One of the major flagship events for

the WBLC is the World Business

Leaders’ Summit scheduled to be

held in Paris this year. What should

business leaders look forward to by

attending the summit.

The World Business Leaders’ Summit

(WOBLS) will be a gathering

of renowned keynote speakers,


governmental officials from around

the world, executives, entrepreneurs,

and investors, coming together to

strategize innovative solutions to our

global business challenges; share,

explore and pursue investment

opportunities; gain strategies which

can be applied to our business

operations; opportunities for market

expansion; and form meaningful

collaborations.

Held in a dynamic location at a

crossroads for business collaboration,

the Summit is a multi-day conference

discussing timely and relevant

business topics, sharing knowledge,

and providing a venue for networking,

which opens the doors for business

development, market expansion

and investment. Additionally, as we

include young business professionals

and entrepreneurs from around the

world, with a priority on those from

developing nations, we expose them

to opportunities to learn from and

gain perspective from the experience

and mentorship of the professional

participants; explore opportunities

for capital investment; build their

professional networks; and participate

in the sharing of knowledge –

something valuable to us all. Visit the

website on www.wblcouncil.com for

membership registration.

What are some of the key initiatives

you would like the Council to put

in place to empower women and

startups?

As this is the United Nations declared

“Century of Women”, and with

2020 leading the way into the

Decade of Action, it is important for

the WBLC to embrace and support

the Sustainable Development Goals,

impacting the goals and prioritizing

Agenda 2030. Specifically, in line

with the SDGs, it is important that

we embrace the value of women,

empower women, encourage gender

balance, promote measures which

will make it easier for women

entrepreneurs to access capital, and

prioritize the placement of women on

executive boards. Global economies

are benefitting from the economic

value creation that women provide.

It is proven that when women work,

economies grow. According to the

OECD, providing educational

opportunities for women and girls

accounted for 50% of the economic

growth in OECD nations. Studies

show that women are the driving force

of many national economies, and in

the USA, the national economy is

increasingly more reliant on the work

of women entrepreneurs. Women play

key roles in all sectors – agriculture,

energy, technology, etc., and it is up

to us as business leaders globally to

embrace the value, perspective and

contribution that women make to the

operation, optimization, efficiency

and profitability of businesses.

Further, with a focus on start-ups,

we recognize that start-ups are

the driving force of employment

around the world. As the nucleus of

breakthrough innovation, start-ups

provide the basis from which new

technologies, strategies and disruptive

business models are formed. It

is our responsibility as business

owners, policy makers, strategists

and investors to mentor, nurture and

support these pioneering spirits to

encourage positive economic growth

and social well-being.

Your business reputation speaks

for itself, and we are very pleased to

welcome you as 2020 president of

WBLC. But business aside, what are

the experiences in your life which have

impacted and shaped you the most?

Business is very important to me. I

love strategizing plans that allow our

clients to revitalize their business

models, gain efficiency, optimize

operations, or step out of their comfort

zones to expand to new markets. But

there have been experiences in my

life which have helped to shape my

perspective, adjust my priorities, and

experiences which have allowed me to

learn that business is more than just

the proverbial bottom line.

In recent years while working in the

UAE doing business development

for a member of the Royal Family in

Abu Dhabi, and heading up here nonprofit

foundation, I found myself in

refugee camps in the Middle East,

and in rural Africa. These experiences

had a profound influence on my

sense of responsibility, humanity and

compassion.

In a refugee camp outside of Mosul,

Iraq, I met a young girl who was

instantly attached to me. She stayed

with me, and hand-in-hand, we

walked together everywhere. After

several hours together with nothing

buy touch and expression as a

common language since she spoke

Arabic and I spoke English, we were

crouched down together taking a

rest. An Arabic speaking friend of

mine asked her what she wanted. She

responded by saying, “I don’t want

anything, I have everything I need.”

Time, attention and affection was

all she needed and wanted. We have

everything we need, and yet we want

more, more, more. Here is a girl with

nothing…mismatched shoes, no coat,

and none of the luxuries that our we

– or our children take for granted,

and she is content with what she has,

needing nothing more.

That day with me, valuing her,

showing her affection and giving her

my attention, meant so much to her,

and yet, it was I who received the

greatest gift. I was reminded that

happiness, kindness and love do not

come from ‘things’, they come from

the time, attention and experiences

that we share with the people who

matter to us.

At a refugee camp in Jordan, there

was a young girl who sang a beautiful

song for us. While she sang, one of

the camp workers had tears rolling

down her cheeks, and I asked her why

38


she cried. She replied that this young

girl…this girl with the voice of an

angel, watched her parents being shot

in front of her in Aleppo. She was left

with no other family, and as a true

orphan, she is now passed from family

to family while living in a Jordanian

refugee camp. At the conclusion of

the song, she had the biggest, sunniest

smile for us.

This girl has no family…no reason to

smile, and yet she smiles. If she can

smile, then I am reminded that there

is no reason that I can’t find a reason

to smile each and every day.

A few days before I went to Liberia,

a trip which was being promoted

on social media for our non-profit

organization, a young man messaged

me via Facebook and asked if I would

be his mother. What do you say to

that? His name was Lincoln, and I

gave him the polite response, “we

are looking forward to visiting your

country.”

When we were in rural Liberia at a large

event, I heard my name being called

from the crowd, and turned to see a

man swimming through the people

to get to me. When he got closer, I

could read on his nametag that his

name was Lincoln. The ‘boy’ named

Lincoln turned out to be a young

man, and Lincoln’s story was so tragic,

yet so very brave and heroic. It turns

out that when Lincoln was an 11-year

old boy his parents were killed by civil

war gorillas while they were walking

home from church. He was left alone

with his 1-year old twin brothers and

two-year old sister. This 11-year old

boy was suddenly left alone to raise

his siblings. He worked on a farm

at night while they slept to be able to

feed them, and when they were old

enough, they all went to school during

the day. He made sure they were cared

for, fed, clothed, educated and loved.

And this responsibility was thrust on

him at 11-years old. Eleven. Think

of our own children at 11-years old.

Would they be capable and mature

enough to able to assume such serious

adult responsibility? They could have

been separated and taken into the care

of different families; however, Lincoln

was determined that his family would

remain intact, and he did all he could

to ensure that they were cared for.

Too often, we make gross

generalizations of people around the

world, and we forget that people are

people regardless of race, ethnicity,

gender, age, culture or religion. We

all experience loss, we all hurt, we

all love, and we all have problems

and struggles that most times aren’t

clearly visible to others. It is how we

embrace problems and how we rise

to challenges during our lowest times

that truly defines us. From the day

that I met Lincoln, wherever I travel

I try to get to know people…hear

their stories, and appreciate that it is

the people who largely go unseen…

the people who have very little reason

to hope and for whom opportunity is

elusive, who have the kindest, most

generous hearts.

Tell us more about yourself, growing

up and work history?

I grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania’s

Amish country. I have beautiful

memories of rolling fields, family

farms, and of course, the aroma of

chocolate which blankets the small

but picturesque town of Hershey.

However, from a young age, I

had an insatiable desire to see the

world. My first career job was with

the Pennsylvania Department of

Agriculture, working for the Deputy

Secretary of Agriculture. He was

a boss who valued my opinions,

trusted my judgement and gave me

the confidence to believe that no one

is bound in potential by a simple job

description. I went on to work for

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, in

his office of public policy. Governor

Ridge was a bipartisan governor,

respecting that no one side is always

“right”, and that an effective, strong

and sustainable government – and

leader - is one who finds a way to

maintain their principles, but who

can compromise in the middle. There

is wisdom in diverse perspective, and

order in compromise.

In the most recent years, prior to joining

Phoenix Global as CEO, I worked

for the Royal Family in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE is one of the most forward

thinking, progressive and tolerant

nations on earth. It is a government

which prioritizes happiness, tolerance

and youth by assigning a specific

cabinet minister to each missive.

The government recognizes that the

citizens are stakeholders of the nation,

and prioritizes gender balance,

opportunities for entrepreneurship,

innovation, and sustainability. It

was an honor to work there, and the

leadership strategy is a model for

other developed nations to follow.

As head of Phoenix Global, a global

consulting and investment company

based in Miami, I have an opportunity

to work with businesses to impact their

operations, profitability, legacy and

success. Phoenix Global is comprised

of a team expert in multiple sectors,

and applying our aggregated years of

experience, we offer our clients the

opportunity to innovate their business

models and strategies; streamline,

optimize or expand their operations;

and empower them to venture to new

levels or growth, explore new markets,

and adopt strategies which will carry

them sustainably into the future.

Further, as an investment company,

we prioritize agriculture, recognizing

that food security is our number one

global crisis; energy; and, technology.

We work extensively with developing

nations in South American and

Africa to create compelling markets

for foreign direct investment,

encourage businesses to expand

to these compelling markets, and

position the nations to be able to

grow through strategic investment

designed to provide employment,

entrepreneurship and economic

growth.

It has been a rewarding career, and

I hope I have many more years

of knowledge and experience to

contribute. I am proud to be selected

as the 2020 president of the World

Business Leaders Council, and as

president, I will be honored to share

my life and business experiences,

knowledge, and vision to benefit the

global business community, and yield

measurable impact Agenda 2030.


Altruism Series

ALTRUISM:

MEMOIRS OF A MEDDLER

By Mike Omotosho

The Meddler’s Home Responsibility

A note to my motherland

The piece of literature in the song “Good

people” by Jack Jackson tells a bit of our

story as a nation in a parable. Let me

begin by saying, even though I will make

reference to it again, that if we didn’t

harvest an altruistic life in our leaders, it

means we never sowed seeds of altruism

in our followers. And as Mike Murdock

declares, “If you don’t like your harvest,

then change your seed”.

In this chapter I would like to speak

about Nigeria and to Nigerians because

I am very passionate about the growth

of this nation.

Altruism and Leadership

There is a relationship between Altruism

and leadership when compared. I

believe they are two sides of the same

We all have a responsibility to create a better country

and it behoves on us to understand the concept of

altruism as a tool for national development

coin and Altruism is an integral part of

leadership; a leader should be altruistic.

If one truly desires to be a leader, then

altruism is indispensable and should

be your guiding life principle, it should

define your time, efforts and resources

Unfortunately, a number of professed

leaders struggle with the definition and

purpose of leadership This is because

their actions and inactions already

distort the meaning of leadership. A few

of them attempt to pay lip service to the

definition that others have provided,

but even while they are talking about

leadership in the ideal sense, their

conscience-account is on red, as a result

of dissonance. Excellent leadership

cannot thrive in the absence of altruism

and it is important that those who seek

leadership positions in a country like

Nigeria should adopt lessons learned

from most parts of the world that have

excelled in electing selfless leaders that

put country above self. The fact is that

leadership has never thrived anywhere

in the world in the absence of altruism.

I wish the larger chunk of Nigerians

will come to this understanding early

enough.

A true leader should serve without

expecting anything in return, for

example If one aspires to be the Governor

of a State in Nigeria, it is expedient that

he/she plan on how best to develop and

implement strategies that improves the

lives of those they plan to govern rather

than focus on the number of cars they

want in their convoy, or the number of

40


houses they intend to buy from security

allocation; that is misplaced priority not

the essence of lleadership.

Suffice it to say therefore, that if we

lack altruistic leaders, it is because we

first have been deficient of altruistic

followers. Conversely, most of our

leaders are not altruistic because they

get the support of a self-driven following

that remains indifferent to excessive

corruption because they share the same

‘Immoral code’ that prevents them from

condemning such acts. These leaders

do not demonstrate empathy, kindness

and self-denying sacrificial living, not

necessarily because they just want to be

mean, but largely because they do not

have the ability to be altruistic; they

failed to develop the capacity to do so.

It is quite sad that most of the young

people I have interacted with in recent

times are of the opinion that the worth

of a man can only be measured in his

wealth and political power, not in what

he gives but in what he gains and how

much he amasses for self. Although

this is heartbreakingly sad, it does

not compare to the ugly truth of their

flagrant reasons for aspiring leadership.

One story that particularly breaks my

heart is the one of an intelligent 18

year old boy who thinks pursuing an

education is a complete waste of time

because his role models are mostly

uneducated men.

If you asked the average Nigerian for

instance,

“…So how do you measure the worth

of a man, in wealth or strength or size?

In how much he gained or how much

he gave…?”

Whatever he says doesn’t really matter.

What matters is the reality of our

experience with his decision-making

processes. If that is anything to go by, he

will answer thus:

“The worth of a man is measured

in WEALTH, STRENGTH OR

SIZE… NOT IN HOW MUCH HE

GIVES, BUT IN HOW MUCH HE

GAINS.” This is the reality that we are

faced with, for which reason, altruism,

which vehemently and directly opposes

the former is quickly thrown out of the

window.

Nigeria is not becoming the weak

giant of Africa, because she lacks

sound development plans and policies

but due to lack of that elixir called

altruism, which inadvertently reflects

in the lack of political will for effective

implementation. Our numerous

Altruism Series

abandoned projects, policy reversals and

almost freewheeling economy can attest

to this. They reveal the hidden costly

truth that men have sold posterity for

pens and bought prosperity with gold –

the leaders who initiated many of these

projects, never had completion and

benefits to their communities on their

in mind.

In the face of the Nigerian situation,

we generally think that the ruling class

is not entirely patriotic. In fact, some

frontline leaders do not love Nigeria as

much as they love their tribes and social

networks. This constitutes a clog in the

wheels of progress. The next chapter of

Nigeria’s development history can only

be opened by pan-Nigerian leaders

with pioneering spirit, who esteem

reason over ethno-religious passion and

temperance over both.

Leadership in Nigeria needs to be

revamped by real leadership styles that

will turn around the economy and the

value system of the people. We are in

desperate need for role-model-leaders

who are altruistic and have undergone

deliberate grooming for leadership skills.

Our polity has previously degenerated

into one infested with leaders that are

drunk with a deadly concoction of gross


greed, hill top selfishness and die hard

power tussle. Leaders who think in line

with men like Robert A. Heinlein, who

said:

“My dear, I used to think I was serving

humanity . . . and I pleasured in

the thought. Then I discovered that

humanity does not want to be served;

on the contrary it resents any attempt

to serve it. So now I do what pleases

myself.”

With reference to the degeneration

of our economy and the state of the

Nation especially at a time like this,

it can be inferred that our leaders

brazenly violated all known codes of

good governance in order to amass huge

wealth for themselves and cronies.

In his book, The trouble with Nigeria,

the acclaimed writer Chinua Achebe

postulated with imperious definiteness

that “The trouble with Nigeria is simply

and squarely a failure of leadership.”

Just before I go any further, please note

that especially within the context of this

work, the definition and implication

of leadership is not necessarily the

titled person occupying a position. The

definition of leadership here is actually

the mindset of the average individual

that consist the nation Nigeria; bearing

in mind that every single Nigerian is a

leader, one way or the other. With this

in mind we can proceed.

It is obvious that for our democracy to

become a driver of pro-people economic

development, selfless leaders who uphold

the principles of self-denial and selfsacrifice,

collective leadership and mass

participation in governance must arise,

in governance, religion and the corporate

world. Such leaders will not only put

others first, they will also promote

national and institutional interest above

self-interest. They will ensure good

governance is real in Nigeria. Nigerians

are yearning for altruistic visionary

leaders with expertise in forging alliances

and building institutional capacity for

effective public service delivery.

Self-conquest and unalloyed love for

Nigeria should be vital preconditions for

leadership. No one is truly qualified to

lead who has not made helping others

her prime purpose in life. True leaders

are helpers. I see us redefining leadership

in Nigeria as the practice of helping

others to transcend limitations and live

their best possible life in a tranquil social

state.

The truth however is that we can all

play a role to end the crisis in Nigeria’s

cockpit. If we administer this medicine

called altruism, aspire to be ethical

pilots in our homes, schools, churches,

mosques, workplaces and political

bodies, Nigeria will no longer be a

metaphor of darkness, but a determiner

of global economic development.

We can all push for a down-top approach

to revitalize Nigeria’s leadership. That

means even as followers, we should

embody the values of great leaders.

Values are contagious and it is the prerequisite

for setting the moral code of a

family, a school, an organisation and the

nation at large. If you and I imbibe the

principles of transformational leadership,

before long, there will be a contagion

of best practices in all spheres of our

national life. Let’s stop cursing agents

of darkness. Let’s start illuminating our

moral environment. Let’s become agents

of noble values transmission. By so

doing, leadership will cease to be an airyfairy

concept to many Nigerians.

Leaders should to do what they are elected

or appointed to do, and that is why I

always refer to the Rotary club model.

As the District Governor of Rotary, I

have gone around, commissioning about

300 projects and visiting over 100 Royal

fathers, Governors, Stakeholders and

leaders of several communities, and of

course I have had my fair share of having

to leave my business, my family and my

comfort zone, just to be on the road. I

have travelled over 25,000km in Nigeria

alone in the last 150 days. Although It

is a lot of fun, but it requires immense

sacrifice and commitment but a leader

must be altruistic if he /she wants to

truly make impact.

When leaders serve selflessly, they will not

seek for another term or tenure especially

if they serve the way they should serve.

Leaders who serve altruistically, without

expecting anything in return- with the

mindset of “I just want to give” will not

want to stay in power/position for the

rest of their lives. I do not have anything

against that style of leadership but that

part of accomplishment and fulfilment

that comes from giving altruistically will

make leaders not want to die in office. A

leader will want to do what can be done

to develop people under them such that

when they leave power there is another

to run with the vision because of their

altruistic nature they give wisdom and

nuture and are not afraid to be outshone

by their protégés.

Personally, this is how I commit to my

leadership roles, I set a vision of what I

want to achieve in 1, 2 or 4 years and put

in a 110%. I am of the opinion that if we

authentically give the best of ourselves as

leaders it would be difficult to hold on to

power endlessly because of burnout. For

me, such time bound service leadership

is an integral part for real leadership. In

such a scenario, people will know the

reason why they are offering to serve,

because for me leadership is actually

following from the front. As a leader

you need to understand what your

people want and sacrifice to be in front.

Ordinarily, if there were a proverbial

bullet coming, a leader should take the

bullet for them; that is what leadership

is about. It is about meeting the needs

of the people you were designed to lead.

42


Established in 2005, Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria)

Ltd has grown to become a recognised name in the

industry with 25,000 square feet of warehousing

facilities and a training centre within the Afprint

Industrial Estate in Lagos.

We partner with numerous multinational organisations

bringing high quality products to Nigeria.

Services Offered:

Importation & Distribution;

Marketing;

HR & Payroll management

Order forecasting & planning;

B.O.P. distribution


Hap-stances

RWANDANS CELEBRATE LAUNCH OF FIRST

‘MADE IN AFRICA’ SMARTPHONES

Rwandans are celebrating the launch of the continent’s

first ‘Made in Africa’ smartphones, that was late

2019 unveiled by Mara Group which operates out

of the East African country.

The Mara X and Mara Z will use

Google’s Android operating system and

cost 175,750 Rwandan francs ($190)

and 120,250 Rwandan francs ($130)

respectively.

They will compete with Samsung,

whose cheapest smartphone costs

50,000 Rwandan francs ($54), and

non-branded phones at 35,000

Rwandan francs ($37). Mara Group

CEO Ashish Thakkar said it was

targeting customers willing to pay

more for quality.

We are actually the first who are doing

manufacturing. We are making the motherboards; we are

making the sub-boards during the entire process.

“This is the first smartphone manufacturer in Africa,” Thakkar

told Reuters after touring the company alongside Rwanda’s

President Paul Kagame.

Companies assemble smartphones in Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria

and South Africa, but import the components, he said.

“We are actually the first who are doing manufacturing. We

are making the motherboards, we are making the sub-boards

during the entire process,” he said. “There are over 1,000 pieces

per phone.”

Thakkar said the plant had cost $24 million and could make

1,200 phones per day.

Targeting Africa trade deal

Mara Group hopes to profit from

the African Continental Free Trade

Agreement, a pact aimed at forming

a 55-nation trade bloc, to boost sales

across Africa, Thakkar said.

The agreement is due to begin trading

in July 2020, aiming to unite 1.3

billion people and create a $3.4 trillion

economic bloc. But it is still in the very

early stages and no timelines have been

agreed for abolishing tariffs.

Kagame said he hoped the phone

would increase Rwanda’s smartphone usage, currently at

around 15%.

“Rwandans are already using smartphones but we want to

enable many more. The introduction of Mara phones will put

smartphones ownership within reach of more Rwandans,”

Kagame said.

Rwanda has set ambitious plans to become a regional

technology hub.

44


Hap-stances

ETHIOPIA JOINS AFRICAN NATIONS WITH

SATELLITES IN SPACE

Towards late December, 2019, Ethiopia launched

its first satellite into space, joining the list of sub-

Saharan African nations striving to develop space

programs to advance their development goals and

encourage scientific innovation.

Before dawn on the day of the launch, senior officials and

citizens gathered at the Entoto Observatory and Research

Centre just north of the capital Addis Ababa to watch a live

broadcast of the satellite’s launch from a space station in China.

“This will be a foundation for our historic journey to

prosperity,” deputy prime minister Demeke Mekonnen said

in a speech at the launch event broadcast on state television.

The satellite was designed by Chinese and Ethiopian

engineers and the Chinese government paid about $6 million

of the more than $7 million manufacturing costs, Solomon

Belay, director general of the Ethiopian Space Science and

Technology Institute, told Reuters.

“Space is food, space is job creation, a tool for technology…

sovereignty, to reduce poverty, everything for Ethiopian to

achieve universal and sustainable development,” he said.

The satellite will be used for weather forecast and crop

monitoring, officials said.

The African Union adopted a policy on African space

development in 2017 and declared that space science and

technology could advance economic progress and natural

resource management on the continent.

Few weeks before Ethiopian launch, Rwanda became the

latest African country to launch a global satellite into space,

signaling the continuation of an ongoing race to space by

African countries.

In 1999, South Africa became the first African nation to

launch a satellite into space, and has retained its position as

the leading space explorer on the continent.

A few days before Rwanda launched the Icyerekezo satellite

that will provide schools in remote communities with internet

connectivity, the EgyptSat-A was also ferried into ordit by a

Russian Soyuz rocket.

African countries need to rank up in terms of education

systems and also build capacity around that to ensure that it

(space exploration) is sustainable.

EgyptSAT-A, a satellite built to replace Egyptsat 2 was jointly

built by Egypt’s National Authority for Remote Sensing

and Space Sciences together with RKK Energiya in Russia,

while Rwanda’s launch was enabled by a partnership with the

United Kingdom’s One Web.

Rwanda’s satellite was the 32nd to be launched by an African

Nation, according to Space in Africa, which tracks the African

Space and Satellite Industry.


Hap-stances

TANZANIA: GOLD, COFFEE AND TEA BOOST

TANZANIA’S EXPORTS VALUE

An increase in the value of gold, coffee

and tea as well as the number of tourist

arrivals has enhanced the value of

Tanzania’s exports by 10.3 per cent

to $9.472 billion in the year ending October

2019, according to Bank of Tanzania Monthly

Economic Review for November.

The value of non-traditional goods exports rose

to $4.189 billion during the period under review,

from $3.048 billion in the corresponding period

in 2018.

The Central Bank said that compared with the

year ending September, all major categories of

non-traditional goods exports recorded growth

except re-exports and fish products.

During the same period, the value of gold, which

accounted for 50.4 per cent of non-traditional goods exports

and 39.3 per cent of all goods exports grew by 48.3 per cent to

$2.087 billion, on account of a rise in volume, partly related

to government measures to strengthen supervision of mining

activities in the country.

The value of manufactured goods exports rose by 41 per cent

to $1.068 billion, driven by iron and steel products, glass and

glassware, manufactured tobacco plus fertilisers. Conversely,

the value of traditional goods exports declined by 40.5 per

cent to $688.7 million in the year ending October 2019, with

all traditional goods exports recording a decline save for coffee

and tea, the review notes.

The increase in export values for coffee and tea was largely

on account of higher volumes following favourable weather

during the crop season.

In the past three years, the price movements of traditional

exports were largely in line with developments in world

commodity market prices, with gold leading at $2.087 billion

in the year ending October 2019, from $1.590 billion in

2017, BoT said.

However, foreign exchange earnings from services, which

accounted for 43.7 per cent of the total value of exports rose

to $4.163 billion in the year ending October this year, from

$3.962 billion in the year ending October 2018. The increase

was mainly driven by a rise in travel receipts, which grew by

6.1 per cent to $2.552 billion, following an increase in tourist

arrivals.

46


Hap-stances

MPOST: KENYANS TO USE MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS

AS POST OFFICE BOXES

Kenyans will now be able to rent out post office boxes

using their mobile phone numbers and consequently

receive letters and parcels through a service provided by

the country’s biggest telecoms operator Safaricom.

The company, which is part-owned by South Africa’s Vodacom,

targets 5 million new users of the service as it ramps up infrastructure

for its fledgling electronic commerce business.

Dubbed MPost, the service will be offered jointly with the Postal

Corporation of Kenya, which will rent out physical post office boxes

to Safaricom customers using their mobile phone numbers, at a

quarter of the going rate for conventional boxes.

Customers who opt to have their parcels delivered to their doors will

have to pay extra, Safaricom said on Friday.

“At the touch of a button, MPost provides anyone in the country with

a virtual post office box and can easily receive parcels and letters,” Joe

Mucheru, the minister for information and communication, said at

the launch of the service.

Safaricom, which also counts Britain’s Vodafone and the Kenyan

government as key shareholders, has evolved into a platform

company, offering mobile financial services via M-Pesa as well other

services.

Its attempt to break into the growing e-commerce business, which is

dominated by companies such as Jumia Technologies, has, however,

been more slow than expected.

Its e-commerce platform, Masoko, which was launched in 2017

needed

further investments and

a potential relaunch, Safaricom said earlier this year,

without elaborating.

“Kenya’s economy is increasingly digitizing, leading to the growth of

online delivery of goods and services,” said Safaricom acting CEO

Michael Joseph during the launch of MPost.

Safaricom’s more than 30 million users will access services from

625 postal outlets across the country, said Post Master General Dan

Kagwe, adding that the postal service was adapting to meet customer

demand in the digital world.

Users will be notified though a short message that their mail has

arrived, allowing them go pick it up from the counter, Safaricom and

the Postal Corporation said.


UGANDA: MOBILE SCHOOL WILL BENEFIT

CHILDREN IN REFUGEE CAMPS

Hap-stances

I

love Uganda and I love Africa. This is what is driving

us to convince our friends and acquaintances to donate

towards making the lives of refugee children in Uganda

better.

African children still face so much adversity. Our efforts to

make a difference in the lives of children in Africa is part of an

ongoing endeavour.

On Monday, we will be donating a mobile school with a full

set of equipment; desks, chairs, blackboards and briefcases to

the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees. We chose

Uganda because of the country’s exemplary role in providing

safe refuge to displaced persons.

This school, which is easily assembled, has transportable

technological structure with an air conditioning system. The

school equipment will be used in a refugee camp to benefit

children.

At the same event, I will also announce the establishment of

a grant of $3,000 (Shs11m) for children and adolescents. The

grant will be awarded to the best ideas to support programmes

for children of African refugees, as well as humanitarian

initiatives aimed at protecting the country’s ecology, in

particular Lake Victoria and Murchison Falls National Park.

We are just teenagers and in our small and humble way, we

strive to make a difference.

Four years ago, I joined an international school in Switzerland;

College Champittet, which, among other things, conducts

large-scale humanitarian and educational activities.

Several times a year, our college organises trips to different

countries, where we build schools for local children, teach

children English,

conduct workshops and

master classes, and play

sports with them.

It is through the school,

two years ago, that

I had an absolutely

unforgettable trip

to Tanzania, which

transformed my mind

completely. Together

with locals, we built a

school not far from the

city of Arusha.

Among the locals

there was a couple of

advanced age and sickly.

My friends and I were

touched so much that

we decided to help them.

We fundraised and

bought them a goat, so

they could earn money

from it to buy food.

Since then, I fell in love with Africa, thanks to a sequence of

events that brought me to the continent. I have decided that

charity, a socially responsible business, and the protection of

human rights are what I would really like to do in the future.

After Tanzania, I announced a fundraising campaign among

my friends and acquaintances for purchasing a mobile school.

We partnered with the Russian-African Foundation for

Science, Cultural and Economic Development that is based

here in Kampala, to organise a charity event in Uganda code

named ‘ Kids4Kids’.

Close

So it is a dream come true that I am visiting Uganda. I am

grateful to my parents who from an early age encouraged us

to do at least one good deed every day. My parents have taken

my sister and I to many countries in worldwide.

In Africa, it is not only warm air, the people are warm as well.

There is a completely different rhythm of life in Africa, time

does not rush at the speed of a jet plane, it flows, and people

have ample time to contemplate.

Africa is one of the few places on the planet where life itself is

valued much more than the quality of life.

I am also grateful to my school for training us to be responsible

citizens and to the United Nations Children’s Fund for offering

me internship opportunity in practical humanitarian work.

Read the original article on Monitor.

48


Hap-stances

RWANDA: NAEB CALLS ON FARMERS TO EMBRACE

AFFORDABLE POST-HARVEST TECHNIQUES

Rwanda Agricultural Export Development Board

(NAEB) has advised small scale local farmers in

horticulture to embrace affordable techniques to

curb post-harvest losses.

The call comes as the 2017 assessment revealed that postharvest

losses in fruit and vegetable farming were estimated at

40 per cent.

The joint assessment was done by the University of Rwanda

(UR), Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and National

Agriculture Exports Development Board (NAEB).

“We advise farmers, especially those that work on a small

scale to embrace available affordable technologies as a way

of reducing apparent post-harvest losses,” Vincent Gasasira,

Cold Chain Specialist in NAEB told The New Times. “Cold

rooms can’t be affordable to everyone because of the high costs

involved, especially the electricity costs.” But, he said, there

are preservation facilities that use solar energy, charcoal cool

rooms and zero energy cool chambers that are efficient and

more affordable.

The zero-energy storage is constructed through basic

technology using bricks, sand and wood. It costs about

Rwf53,100 all expenses inclusive.

Gasasira also said that: “These technologies are being

disseminated to farmers through several campaigns, but

we are still facing challenges of some farmers who want to

always get free things, a mindset that needs to be changed.”

“Packaging containers have to also be prioritised, because

they reduce damages and unfavourable temperature during

transportation.”

A recent study

revealed that among

the practices that

lead to poor handling

include; overloading

during transportation,

using poor containers,

rough handling and

lack of temperature

management

equipment such as

cold rooms.

The average annual

fruit production in

Rwanda is estimated

at 56,900 tonnes,

while vegetables were

estimated at over

317,900 tonnes as of

2018, according to

the National Institute

of Statistics of Rwanda

(NISR).


50



Ace Memoir

Vanessa Caixeiro

…the entertainer with a heart of Gold

Vanessa Caixeiro is an influential entrepreneur, mixed-model, humorist and influencer with diverse

origins from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Portugal. A former clothing designer

and model who later became famous as a photo model in the Netherlands (Amsterdam & Rotterdam)

as well as in Belgium.

In 2012, Vanessa really stood out with her improvised sketches in short videos in which she interpreted a panel

of diverse and varied characters parodying current affairs. Following these experiences, Vanessa was quickly

recognized as one of the most influential people on the web with over 3million followers across her social

media platforms.

Drawing her inspiration and strength from her kids, Eli and Eliana, Vanessa shuttles her professional career

and her maternal obligations quite well even though she has successfully been so discreet about her private

life. Vanessa Caixeiro continues her communication consultancy by creating her own company, the VC

Consulting. Currently, Vanessa is creating her own TV show: The Caixeiro Show. A program that gives voice

to young entrepreneurs, an exchange of experience and a space for confession. A true citizen of the world,

Vanessa is fluent in Portuguese, French, Lingala, Dutch, English and Spanish. In this short chat, Vanessa

talks about these five things.

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The Genesis

Born in April, 1994, Vanessa had always dreamt of being a

star from a very young age. ” I dreamed of being a star, a wellknown

person who will share good words and good humor

with those who go through difficult times and have a broken

heart. I have, for this purpose, been nicknamed “Isaiah 61”

in reference to what the bible says on this verse. I invite you

to read it to better understand it. I started with fashion, I

posed as a model and practiced as a stylist. After that, I got

into humorous videos. I took advantage of my jokes to send

a message of encouragement, in order to motivate and restore

hope. I drew inspiration from my experiences, the ups and

downs that made me the woman I am today” she reminisced.

The Humanitarian

Vanessa has an amazing way of giving back to the society

especially the less privileged in Africa through her Foundation,

Amour Agapè. Amour Agapè is a foundation that has existed

since 2014, it was set up to help those in need. Through this

foundation, she practices humanitarian aid in various countries

she visits. This foundation was created in order to provide

physical, moral and financial support to people who want

to grow in their work or business. Amour Agapè also helps

orphans. Its biggest goal is to build orphanages and schools

in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is subsidized by

part of the money she earns through her work. “However, it is

Ace Memoir

desirable to have benefactors who can help the realization of

projects related to this foundation.” She said.

The Social Media Influencer?

Vanessa is one of the few influencers with a fan base of over

3 million on social media. In response to how a newbie can

attain similar feat, Vanessa has this to say “You have to be

smart, have good guidelines, know why you want to be on

social media, what you want to bring to people and share

with the world. You also need to know how to play with

the buzz, in order to arouse interest in people, keep in mind

that networks are like a double-edged sword, you can either

succeed or destroy yourself. This is why I tell those who want

to get started, either on social networks or in a business, to

have a well-disposed mind first, they have to think a lot and

dare. They must not be afraid of failure. As I am a Christian,

I like to say, seven times the righteous fall seven times he gets

up and much more. There is no success without a fight and an

easy success today” will be a great fall for tomorrow.

The Caixeiro show

Vanessa started the Caixeiro Show in 2019 to showcase people

with interesting and inspiring journeys and actions. Guests on

the show are expected to share testimonials, advice, tips, etc

that can serve as an inspirational lifting to the viewers. “This

concept has nothing to do with humor. It was conceived to

talk about more serious subjects. It’s a true show, of exchange

and sharing.” She says.

Advise to Women

Just get started. Do it. It is better to regret an act than an inaction.

There is no experience doing nothing. Take the time to think

carefully about your project, for the reasons too. Because the

reasons and the aim pursued is the most important. He can

decide our determination. You should also try to focus on one

project. Scattering decreases our efficiency and our chances of

success. Finally, you have to surround yourself well. Choose

people who believe in us and our project.


HRH Prince

Ebrahim Sanyang

…I am an investor and a leader,

not a manager

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HRH Prince Ebrahim is the Chairman of Royal Africa Holdings and over 16 companies

including Fly Africaada (Africaada Airways) a Pan African Airline with operations

agreements for (Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, South Sudan, Congo DRC, Angola, Ghana

and Nigeria), Palm Grove Developments (developer and financiers of Palm Grove City, a

USD$1.7 Billion New city development on a 3000 acres along the Accra-Aflao Highway in Greater Accra

Region; The Palm Grove Plateau a USD$700M new ultra exclusive residential estate development that sits

on a private 500 acres of breathtaking natural views on the Aburi Mountain of Ghana expecting to open its

gates in 2022); and subsidiaries covering commodities, agriculture, infrastructure, financial services etc.

He is a Strategic Development Economist with specialization in major International Development

Projects Financing, Public Sector Enterprises Reforms (Divestitures, Divestment and Privatization);

Public Policy and Management (Public Services and Public Administration). As an African Focus

Investment Banker and Investor, HRH Prince Ebrahim has major expertise on Cross-border Risk, Security,

Settlement, Intelligence Analysis and Emerging Markets Financing. He is globally known as an experienced

International Diplomacy Consultant and a mandated Development Economist and Sovereign

Government Policy Advisor serving numerous Governments, Multi-laterals, Multi-nationals and NGOs.

A member of the “Chatham House” (Royal Institute of International Affairs), an independent

international think-tank in London, Prince Ebrahim also serves as the 8th “Sibi Karang

Mansa” (Crown Custodian) of Royal Realm of Batelling, The Gambia (est 1307), a

traditional Koring Sanyang Royal Dynasty dating back to Kaabu and Mali Empires.

Congratulations on being exonerated by the Janneh

Commission in Gambia from all accusations. How do you

feel having your name and company’s name cleared from

all allegations after 2 years?

Thank you. Well I am not surprised by the exoneration. I had

always argued from the beginning that the allegations by the

Gambia’s Minister of Justice was false, unsubstantiated and

baseless political witch hunt.

What did you learn from that experience?

I learnt that Africa’s sustainable socioeconomic and

development progress cannot be achieve without effective

system change. Corruption and impunity are the root causes

of Africa’s challenges.

Now that you have your name cleared, what next?

Continue with my investments across Africa. I also look

forward to a closer working relations with all Gambians

irrespective of political affiliations as well as the diverse

populace especially the youths to unconditionally contribute

my quota to the socio-economic development of the country

Lots of people haven’t been most optimistic about the

investment ecosystem in Africa. Could you give us a frank

overview of how you see the market and the investment

scene in Africa?

Potential of Africa’s trajectory is positive. However, system

change is necessary. Until corruption and impunity becomes

lesser practice or virtually disappears, challenges will remain.

Countries like Ghana, Botswana etc among few leapfrogging

and creating conducive investment climate.

As an investor, Is there a specific philosophy, a model,

behind your investment decisions?

Free Market, Investors friendly regimes, democratic and

independent legal institutions, stable political climates,

ethicality as well as viability of investments (ROIs) etc are

always at forefront of my investment decisions

Access to finance is often cited as a constraint for African

business. As an investment organization, what advice will

you give to start-ups

First, get numbers right. With viable and sound business

plans, finance is yje least of problem in Africa nowadays.

What are your thoughts about unemployment especially

amongst the youths in Africa? What is the way forward?

Unemployment that is bedevilling us in Africa especially

among youth is heart breaking. It is the biggest curse on our

continent. Government must create enabling environments

and allow private sector investments to thrive across the

threshold. They should not compete. I made a speech at

the British Institute of Directors entitled “How Can We

Transform Africa’s Economy”. This speech entails a lot of

solutions for Africa’s employment challenges.

How do you think Africa can better integrate itself into the

global economy?

Globalisation is already in Africa whether we like it or not.

Its success will leave cumbersome economies, governments

and even organisations in their wake. Governments must do

more. Again, it is advisable to read my speech “How Can We

Transform Africa’s Economy” a lot of answers…


What is your management style and to what do you

attribute your success?

I am an investor and a leader, not a manager. I see opportunities

from afar. indeed, it is the combination of those opportunities,

my leadership style and teamwork/support around me that

makes it all work sustainably.

You run different businesses across different sectors, as well

as your foundation, banking group, airline and investment

groups. Is there a common thread, a common goal?

All investments are Africa focussed, we want to be recognised

as a leading Africa focussed diversified investment holding

company, we getting there. On the other hand, The Prince

Ebrahim Future Africa Foundation (PEFAF) is a “selfsustainable”

Africa Focused Charitable Foundation. PEFAF

compliments the spirit of self-sufficiency and self-reliance by

empowering African youth with the tools, knowledge, skills

and resources needed to excel and make a better/independent

sustainable living; through creating innovative solutions that

develops and delivers long term Economic Sustainability and

build Social Capital.

What has frustrated you the most in terms of achieving your

goal?

Corruption and impunity. Government competing instead of

complementing.

What is a typical day in the life of Prince Ebrahim like?

Split, Prayers, Family, Traditional leadership duties, Social

good (charity) and Investment decisions.

Are there any issues that keep you awake at night other than

jet lag?

God, late night or early morning prayers.

Putting your life into perspective, when you sense fear or

discouragement, how do you generate confidence?

My only fear is to be on the wrong side of God, The Truth.

56


However, when discouraged, faith takes over. God is always

in control

To the people reading this and probably thinking that

they can’t accomplish what you have accomplished. What

would you say to them?

Always do your homework well, everything is possible. Keep

pushing, Be God Fearing, do no man wrong, do good and

remain Prayerful

What is one mistake you have made as an entrepreneur

and what lesson did you take out of this?

Moving or locating the heart of my investment to Gambia

in 2015 was probably a wrong move. The lesson learnt most,

corruption and impunity are root cause of evils in our system.

I lost huge investments and earnings. However, lessons learnt

in good faith and moved on.

What drives you as a humanitarian?

God factor

Tell us the philanthropic works you have been engaged

within and outside Africa

I am a philanthropist and traditional custodian (Sibi Karang

Mansa) by virtue of my given mandate. My predecessors,

parents and forefathers all selflessly served our people. So

bringing about economic development and social well-being

to our people is a natural cause. That is not necessarily just

in Batteling or Kiang per see but throughout Africa. My

philanthropic work is quite wide, in the past 24 years I paid

scholarships to thousands of students. Where I see a need

and it is within my capacity, I will intervene. For example,

recently, I was in Brikama to help address some issues. I am

concerned about the very poor street lighting or virtually no

street lighting, so that will be my next major philanthropic

work across Africa – to ensure that street of Brikama, other

Gambian settlements and deprive communities in Africa are

lit. Why? These settlements are among most densely populated

town yet poor. If you are from deprived communities, you

will understand what I am trying to say. It is not right to allow

the status quo to continue. Accidents and crime happen due

to lack of streets lights, I think these are areas I would want

to do my quota. But it goes beyond that. There are rampant

unemployment, especially among the youth and these are

another areas I am interested to contribute and bring about

sustainable solutions. So my philanthropy is without borders

and immeasurable.

I have noticed your standard apparel is mostly the white

Arab robe and you hardly have your hair open, is this a

fashion style or does it symbolise something important and

different?

The notion that white materials are principally associated to

Arabs is a false narrative. Africans have a equal ownership

to this…look closely to Mali Empire and parts of today’s

Africa, you will understand. The material is the cheapest

you can find, and very comfortable too considering our hot

climate. The dress code is probably the humblest dress you

may come across. The veil is mainly for the sun but also have

significant traditional values inline with my custodianship as

(Sibi Karang Mansa); there are secrets to it. Hence my head

always covered in all my public engagements. Finally, in my

tradition when we die, we get wrapped around same similar

cheap white clothes. Life should be simple as it resonates my

mainly simply choice of white.


You started your first business in real estate as a student in

the UK, kindly share this experience.

I was at the university in Europe, my first year, I observed that

lot of students were paying expensive amounts of money at

university halls of residence. The halls were small and not very

conducive. I looked at the money that was given to me to go

and pay for my yearly rent at the university’s hall of residence.

I wasn’t quite comfortable with this. I went to a bank manager

and I said to him, ‘Look I want to buy a house’. Literally he

was in tears, he was laughing as in how are you going to be

able to pay for this house? You haven’t got anything. So I had

to go back to the drawing board with convincing business and

viable proposal/plan. A deal was agreed where the property was

bought by someone (older trustee) and if I get to a certain age

the house title transferred to me, however on the understanding

that I maintain the monthly payment of that property as per

the submitted business plan. This is how I started making

money. I borrowed money to buy a house and then rent that

house (even turned dining rooms into a bedroom). Students

all over the world became my tenants. My first year was so

impressive that the bank manager called me and said I should

look for another buy to let property. As you know, property

portfolios became bigger and better. From there I never looked

back. In that part of the world, when you have a very good

record with the banks, the sky is the limit for you. In my mid

20s (twenties) my assets portfolios were in UDS$ millions.

What kind of advice would you give your 20-year-old self

today?

Be focus, be discipline, be humble and be prepared to learn,

don’t cut corners.

What is your advice to people looking to invest or do business

in Africa?

Africa is among the fastest growing region in the world. Do

you home work right, you will succeed.

58



Heroes Past

Chief Obafemi Jeremiah

Oyeniyi Awolowo -GCFR

60


Heroes Past

Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo -GCFR,

son of a Yoruba farmer and sawyer who died 10

years after baby Awolowo’s delivery on 6 March

1909 in Ikenne, in present-day Ogun State of

Nigeria, was a Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played

a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement, the First and

Second Republics and the Civil War.

Chief Awolowo was one of the truly self-made men among his

contemporaries in Nigeria. As a young man, Chief Awolowo

attended various schools, including Baptist Boys’ High School

(BBHS), Abeokuta; and then became a teacher in Abeokuta,

after which he qualified as a shorthand typist and an active

journalist, editing publications such as the Nigerian worker,

on top of others as well. Subsequently, he served as a clerk

at the Wesley College Ibadan, as well as a correspondent for

the Nigerian Times. It was after this that he embarked on

various business ventures to help raise funds to travel to the

UK for further studies. Following his education at Wesley

College, Ibadan, in 1927, he enrolled at the University of

London as an External Student and graduated with the degree

of Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.). He went to the UK in

1944 to study law at the University of London and was called

to the Bar by the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple on

19 November 1946. In 1949 Awolowo founded the Nigerian

Tribune, a private Nigerian newspaper, which he used to

spread nationalist consciousness among Nigerians.

Like some of his well-known contemporaries, Chief Awolowo

started his political career as a nationalist in the Nigerian Youth

Movement in which he rose to become Western Provincial

Secretary. He was responsible for much of the progressive

social legislation that has made Nigeria a modern nation.

Awolowo was the first Leader of Government Business and

Minister of Local Government and Finance, and first Premier

of the Western Region under Nigeria’s parliamentary system,

from 1952 to 1959.

As premier, he proved to be and was viewed as a man of vision

and a dynamic administrator. Awolowo was also the country’s

leading social democratic politician. He supported limited

public ownership and limited central planning in government.

He believed that the state should channel Nigeria’s resources

into education and state-led infrastructural development.

Controversially, and at considerable expense, he introduced

free primary education for all and free health care for children

in the Western Region, established the first television service

in Africa in 1959, and the Oduduwa Group, all of which were

financed from the highly lucrative cocoa industry which was

the mainstay of the regional economy.

constitution, which was introduced in the 1954 Lyttleton

Constitution, following primarily the model proposed by the

Western Region delegation led by him.

From 1959 – 1963, Awolowo was the official Leader of

the Opposition in the federal parliament to the Balewa

government. In 1963 he was imprisoned under the accusations

of sedition and was not pardoned by the government until

1966, after which he assumed the role as Minister of Finance

and Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council during

the Nigerian Civil War. He was also thrice a major contender

for his country’s highest office.

In recognition of all these, Awolowo was the first individual in

the modern era to be named Leader of the Yorubas .

5 years after his death, in 1992, the Obafemi Awolowo

Foundation was founded as an independent, non-profit, nonpartisan

organisation committed to furthering the symbiotic

interaction of public policy and relevant scholarship with a

view to promoting the overall development of the Nigerian

nation. The Foundation was launched by the President of

Nigeria at that time, General Ibrahim Babangida, at the Liberty

Stadium, Ibadan. However, his most important bequests

(styled Awoism) are his exemplary integrity, his welfarism,

his contributions to hastening the process of decolonisation

and his consistent and reasoned advocacy of federalism-based

on ethno-linguistic self-determination and uniting politically

strong states-as the best basis for Nigerian unity. Awolowo

died peacefully at his Ikenne home, the Efunyela Hall (so

named after his mother), on 9 May 1987, at the age of 78 and

was laid to rest in Ikenne, amid tributes across political and

ethno-religious divides.

Awolowo was also known as Nigeria’s foremost federalist. In

his Path to Nigerian Freedom (1947) – the first systematic

federalist manifesto by a Nigerian politician – he advocated

federalism as the only basis for equitable national integration

and, as head of the Action Group, he led demands for a federal


Pictures From Free Hepatitis Screening

and Subsidized Vaccination In Nigeria

62



Tourism

QUAD BIKING ON SAND DUNES

Quad biking tours are readily

available across Sal and Boa

Vista. Many will follow a strict

itinerary guiding you from site

to site or beach to beach, while

others tend to stick to the island’s

impressive sand dunes - a truly

remarkable sight. Discover our

top 10 excursions and tours to see

which takes your fancy.

64


Tourism

GO DIVING OR SNORKELLING

There are a number of diving and

snorkeling options for holidaymakers

who want to explore Cape Verde

beneath the waves. One of the best

places to do this is on the island of Sal,

with many opportunities presenting

themselves from Santa Maria Beach.

CHILL ON THE BEACH

Some people will find that relaxing

on the beach is the best thing to do

during their Cape Verde holiday.

There are a number of great coastal

spots to choose from, but among the

finest are Santa Maria Beach on Sal,

Praia de Chaves on Boa Vista and

Santa Monica, also on Boa Vista..

STROLL AROUND SANTA MARIA

Santa Maria, on the island of Sal, is

a colourful and atmospheric place

to wander around for a day or two,

soaking up an authentic flavour of

Cape Verde that would otherwise

desert those who choose to spend

their entire trip on the sand. Discover

some of our favourite beachside

restaurants in Santa Maria.


Tourism

GO KITESURFING

Cape Verde provides a fantastic range

of water sports, but among the most

exciting and rewarding are wind sports.

Between November and March, the

winds can be quite strong on much of

the coastline of Sal and Boa Vista, and

this makes for some superb kitesurfing

conditions. Whether you’re a seasoned

pro or a complete beginner, there is

ample facilities and tuition available to

holidaymakers looking to engage in the

sport. Here are some of the archipelago’s

top water sports.

HIKE TO A VOLCANO

Stick on your hiking boots and grab

your walking poles, the island of

Fogo is superb for those that fancy

getting active. There are a number

of rewarding trails to attempt on the

island, but one of the best has to be

trekking in the Cha das Caldeiras

towards the eerie remains of Pico do

Fogo. If you love outdoor adventures,

find out what else you could enjoy

across the destination here.

SPOT TURTLES

You won’t even need to enter the water

for this one, especially if you visit

Ervatão Beach on Boa Vista between

July and September. This is the third

most important loggerhead turtle

nesting site in the world, where the

turtles come to lay their eggs in the

sand. The best time to see them is at

night, and we offer a number of guided

tours that will allow you to view this

incredible natural phenomenon. Find

out more about Cape Verde’s wildlife

opportunities, including adopting a

loggerhead hatchling.

66


Tourism

GO HORSE RIDING

Heading out for a ride on horseback

is one of the most enjoyable ways

of soaking up the sights and the

atmosphere of the island of Boa

Vista. Holidaymakers will love

travelling along the shoreline

and racing through the surf;

an excursion which is available

every afternoon. To find out more

about horse riding and other

excursions we offer across the

archipelago, visit our excursions

and experiences page.

TRY YOUR HAND AT SOME

FISHING

Another of Cape Verde’s fantastic

water sports opportunities;

fishing is extremely popular

across the archipelago. Many of

the islands offer guided fishing

trips, though those from Sal and

Boa Vista are the most readily

available to tourists. Various types

of fishing are on offer, from rock

fishing and deep sea fishing, to big

game fishing and surf casting. Out

blog post will tell you more about

fishing in Cape Verde.

VISIT SAL’S SALT MINES

The salt mines of Pedra de Lume

seem somewhat abandoned,

but in the 18th century there

were hundreds of people mining

for salt here. The landscapes

left by these old mines are very

photogenic, but one of the real

thrills of a visit comes in soaking

yourself, or floating yourself, in

the salt ponds it has left behind.

Find out more about these salt

flats and other things to do during

a holiday on Sal.


Pictures From Mike Omotosho

Annual Lecture 2019

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