FBI Magazine (2)

Content
10 Most Influential
Humanitarian Friends
Of Africa
Keith L. Kirkwood...............6
06
Editorial
Life is too short
to be wasted!
PUBLISHER
Dr. Babalola Omoniyi
EDITOR
Chantel Lulta
MANAGING EDITOR
Dr. Eno Praise
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
Karima Rhanem
Annemjin Perrin................14
HEAD OF CREATIVES
Micheal Ewesor
Queen Nadia Harihiri........24
Ms. Sania A Ansari.............32
Alhaji Dr. Ahmed
Vandapuije..........................39
Jare Ijalana:
Moment with the
Most Beautiful
Child In The World............47
Tourism:
Top Tourist
Attractions In
Zimbabwe...........................50
Vanessa Caixeiro:
The entertainer with
a heart of Gold...................54
Gloria C. Chinwe:
Merchant of Hope.............58
Coronavirus:
11 Urgent Things
You Must Know
About Covid 19
To Survive..........................64
24
50
14
47
Sometimes in life, you make
good choices and sometimes
not as good. Sometimes you
have to step out of your comfort
zones; you have to break the rules
because most rules are made by people
with no authority, people who want
to control and limit you from reaching
your true potential. Ignore them,
break their rules, and wave at them as
you soar past them to greatness.
This edition is all about those who
broke existing norms to set new pace.
They did not see light at the end of
their tunnels, so they consider it an
opportunity to create an opening for
themselves. They set new rules, their
rules and guess what, it’s working well
for them!
Every hour you are not going after
your passion, making your dreams a
reality or defining your purpose is an
hour you can’t get back. Is what you’re
doing right now, this day, this moment
getting you closer to where you want
to be? If not, re-adjust your focus. It’s
your future. Go get it!
I understand that at some point in
the various journeys we embark on
in our lives to creating a new path, we
get to a part where we feel like giving
up. Sometimes we give up before we
even start and other times we give up
just before we are about to make that
huge break-through that we have been
putting so much efforts to achieve. Regardless
of the past that hunt you, the
mistakes that might have injured your
confidence; press the reset button and
forge ahead. We all face obstacles; how
you deal with those obstacles defines
who you are and determines how
successful you will be. Confront your
fears, face them, challenge them and
dance with them till you overcome
them.
Think outside the box and be somebody
no one thought you could be.
Time is an equal opportunity employer.
Each human being has exactly the
same number of hours and minutes
every day. Rich people can’t buy more
hours.
Scientists can’t invent new minutes.
And you can’t save time to spend it on
another day. Even so, time is amazingly
fair and forgiving. No matter how
much time you’ve wasted in the past,
you may still have an entire tomorrow
to redeem it. So, my message for you
today is: Learn the rules carefully so
you can break properly.
Life Is Short,
Break The Rules!!!
Dr. Babalola Omoniyi
Publisher
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Adebayo Ezekiel Ogunjobi
HEAD OF PARTNERSHIP
& ADVERT
Ms. Sandrine Aby
HEAD OF MARKETING
Idong Ben
SOUTH AFRICAN
CORRESPONDENT
Malti da f Mashasha
EAST AFRICA
CORRESPONDENT
Seleman Kitenge
WEST AFRICA
CORRESPONDENT
Joachim Cupid
NORTH AFRICA
Mwakahesya Joyce
CENTRAL AFRICA
Allassane Dia
For Business in Africa Magazine is
published and printed by the Pan
African Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Development Centre
(PALEDEC)
West African: 9 Ajesa Street off
Aminu Kano Crescent, Banex,
Wuse II, Abuja
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+1(643)301-1986;
www.paledec.org
info@paledec.org

FBI Magazine | 6 | 7
FBI Magazine
10 MOST INFLUENTIAL HUMANITARIAN
FRIENDS OF AFRICA
Keith L.
Kirkwood
Safety Council Ambassador representing
The United States. A two-time
World MMA champion, a successful
entrepreneur who served on the Budget
Oversight Committee, School Site
Council and Chairman of Social Services
and Education Committee for
LA city, Amb. Keith is also an Inter-
about the various impacts they have
made in Africa including their recent
projects, Soccer for Solar Tournament
for underserved children was organized
in South Africa in partnership
with the United Arab Emirates Embassy
in Pretoria.
Before we talk about the present and
the future, what was it like for you
growing up and how did it influence
who you are today?
I grew up in a very small town, outside
of Boston, about 15 minutes from
Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The town
“Our experience in South Africa was quite amazing. As you
can imagine, we travel to many parts of the world but the
people in S.A, whether at restaurant, hotel or in a village
were so polite and most of all smiling. They have the best
energy I have ever seen. I really fell in love with the people.”
- Keith L. Kirkwood
Keith L. Kirkwood is a Diplomat
and the Chairman
of Gift Global Initiative,
a global non-profit charitable
organization that provides Humanitarian
Aid and Economic Development
in Asia, Africa, South, Central
and North America. After moving to
California, Keith was elected to serve
on the Los Angeles Council and soon
after appointed by the Governor of
California, Governor Jerry Brown,
confirmed by President Obama and
reconfirmed by President Trump of
the United States as a Commissioner
for Selective Services. He also serves
as the Global Goodwill Ambassador
for United States and the Pakistan
national Activist for kids and animals
who has been recognized by Mayor
Garcetti and Assembly Member Richard
Bloom for his work on LA council.
Keith and Manna created GIFT Global
Initiative keeping in mind, their philosophy
that Charitable giving must be
mindful thereby providing a hand-up
in life to the needy as against the regular
temporary hand-out. Under their
joint leadership, GIFT has served 6000
children in the US, Mexico, Africa and
Asia. They have brought and continue
to bring solar energy, clean water and
mobile hospitals to Underserved areas
in these countries. In this interview,
Ambassador Keith Kirkwood spoke
is so small we don’t even have street
signals, only stop signs. The Kennedys
are from the same area and were a
huge part of my growing up environment.
My grandmother always read
me the books and made me watch
documentaries of President Kennedy,
Senator Bobby Kennedy and Senator
Teddy Kennedy. So ever since I was
a little boy, they inspired me to be a
great person, something greater than
myself. I was fortunate that my family
was always very supportive of me and
my big dreams.
You have worked in senior positions
for some of the most powerful organizations
and personalities having
served on the Los Angeles Council,
on the Budget Oversight Committee,
School Site Council, Chairman of
Social Services and Education Committee
for LA city then appointed by
the Governor of California which
was confirmed by the President of
United States as a Commissioner for
Selective Services. How have your
various experiences influenced your
passion for humanity?
This is a great question. It is exactly

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FBI Magazine
how we formed Gift Global Initiative;
as Diplomats traveling to areas that
many times are in rough conditions.
Manna and I would look at each other
and asked why developing countries
always remained developing; why aren’t
they improving to the next level
when hundreds of millions of dollars
fraud and abuse. Instead of cutting a
cheque, we deliver exactly the product/service
that is needed.
Talking about GIFT GLOBAL, of all
the initiatives in the world, why did
you settle with this idea?
When we see families that haven’t had
anything to eat for days or are using
water from a nearby gutter for daily
usage, you wonder what’s wrong with
our world. In the same world where
some people have so much wealth
that they have a gold plated toilet seat
while a daycare centre I just visited in
South Africa uses a bucket as a toilet
for 71 toddlers and the staff. It can be
quite depressing until you realize your
power. We are all incredibly powerful
and we can ALL make a real difference
to the lives of others around us.
You must be mindful of how you do
charitable work. Our philosophy is
providing a hand-up not a handout. If
you want to see real positive change in
poverty statistics, you must empower
people to change their circumstances.
By simple preventive measures such as
Jobs, Education, Medical Aid, we have
been able to lift families out of poverty
by giving them the tools today to
succeed for tomorrow. We serve thousands
of children every year and every
You had recently visited Africa on
some community projects. Tell us
about your experience in Africa.
Our experience in South Africa was
quite amazing. As you can imagine, we
travel to many parts of the world but
the people in S.A, whether at restaurant,
hotel or in a village were so polite
and most of all smiling. They have
the best energy I have ever seen. I really
fell in love with the people. GIFT
Global Initiative hosted their Soccer
for Solar Tournament for underserved
children from Johannesburg, South
reach their full potential. Addressing
one barrier alone is a band aid. Barriers
stack up on one another and feel
insurmountable. There isn’t a better
way to inspire children and create
positive role models than to engage
them in a sport. When doing peacebuilding,
humanitarian or diplomacy
efforts, it is important to have a connection
with the people. To understand
and listen to what they need and
what their goals are. Their laugher
was infectious, their abilities to open
up to us says a lot about the country.
tion is a big part of getting out of a less
desirable living situation. Thus, we put
a lot of efforts in educational development
of the countries we visit. The
ability to speak with the families, teach
them about entrepreneurship and introduce
them to areas of employment
and world leaders who are willing to
share their journeys as well as to invest
in these communities from vocational
training to factories to office administration/sales
opportunities.
You are a forceful champion for hu-
What motivates you to continue to
work toward combating human trafficking
and child abuse.
It is impossible to not keep fighting
when you keep seeing the alarming
increase in these crimes. Right now,
it’s important to make sure that the
governments do a major crack-down
of penalties on both the supplier of
trafficked victims as well as the customers.
It is very important for the
are being pumped into them? So we
said we could do more action, less
talk. This decision formed Gift Global
Initiative, a way to bring aid directly
to the people. Cutting out any waste,
new child we reach out to is our way
of leaving a positive footprint on this
earth.
Africa in partnership with the United
Arab Emirates Embassy in Pretoria.
The event also included physical medical
screenings for all children by our
Clinical Team. At the end of the tournament,
all participants received Solar
Power Lanterns instead of trophies
thereby bringing solar lights to the
families in the settlement. Gift Global
Initiative will be expanding existing
partnership with the UAE to all parts
of the world. The population we serve
faces complex barriers to accessing
ladders of opportunity. Those same
barriers are what keep them off teams,
out of leagues, and unable to access
programs that could support them to
You are deeply passionate about
the need to empower children and
young adults who obviously form
the future of every nation, in what
way are you achieving this in Africa?
Gift Global Initiatives programs in
Africa are here to empower, inspire
and leave the families to new heights
by giving them the tools to succeed in
most of their future dreams. We are
bringing solar power to villages that
have no light/power. How can you
study in the dark? We want to make
sure every home has the ability to see
in the dark and extend their day in
reading, writing and studying. Educa-
man rights and advocate for inclusiveness
of women and young people
all around the globe, how will you
rate the successes of this? Are we
making any progress?
It is going in the right direction from
what I have seen. There are many
ways to keep pushing for equality and
in most cases showing examples of
how everyone can benefit from this,
how the family unit can be empowered
and how the country at large can
be impacted. It is also important for
leaders/celebrities from around the
world to lobby the importance of human
rights.

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FBI Magazine
legal system not to look at this genre
of crimes as pimping but as trafficking.
Reason is in prisons, pimping is
looked upon as being cool and trafficking
is not. It’s a shameful sentencing.
I believe a heavy sentence should
be handed down on everyone involved
and public shamming of this behavior
should be encouraged. We have seen
cases where 5 & 6 years old girls are
in cages and adolescent girls were kept
to be sold off to the highest bidders to
take their virginity. Making trafficking
as shameful with heavy prison sentencing
will be a big help in stopping
people involved in this despicable industry.
What do you believe are the root
causes of human trafficking, not only
in the Africa but also worldwide?
Money!! If there weren’t customers,
there would be no business. Many
drug dealers changed their businesses
to trafficking humans as it is a more
lucrative industry. This is sad as it says
a lot about people. These folks need to
look in the mirror and know they are
not right for doing this; they should
seek help. Many of these customers
have their own kids. They certainly
What other impacts have you made
in Africa and what future plans do
you have?
We have very exciting initiatives in Africa.
Supplying solar power to homes
without any power, Clean Water Iniwill
kill anyone who does to their own
kids, what they are doing to other people’s
children.
How can we help stop the spread human
trafficking in Africa?
See something, say something. Have
the police form additional Human
Trafficking Taskforce. Work with the
United States and other leading countries
in the world to access materials,
trainings and techniques on investigating
and prosecuting these cases.
Are there any trafficking cases that
have stuck with you over the years?
Actually yes! It was one from Manna’s
investigations. Here is how she
described the gory experience “That
night I spent in a dirty dingy brothel
was a game-changer, an eye-opener
for me. I saw children as young as 4
years old, tied to the top of squareshaped
beds, the size of a four-top
dining table, just enough to fit their
tiny bodies over.”
As an experienced and successful
entrepreneur/social investor What
opportunities excite you the most
and what do you consider before investing?
Well now, I’m interested in getting
companies to join us in social cause
programs. By not just donating supplies
like solar power, clean water, purification
tablets and education supplies
but also developing distribution
centers, manufacturing plants etc to
give people the opportunity to work
for a living wage.
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 Africa?
Logistics and Corruption is the major
problem I see. Many times global aid
banks/foundations just write checks
to governments and then time after
time you see the money never getting
to the people that the aid is actually
meant for. It is absolute ridiculing how
the waste fraud and abuse has continued
to happen over and over again.
We are ending this on our end by actually
handling the logistics, by giving
product of what’s needed directly to
the people and not just a blank check.
As you can see on our social media
pages, you will actually see Manna
and I in the village meeting the folks,
distributing the products, taking note
on what is needed next so there is never
any waste of products or funds.

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got into the ring. You had wanted to
start your organization but no bank
will give you a loan then you went
into boxing to raise money to start
your business. Tell us about this experience
and what can an average
youth learn from that?
Yeah, when you want something bad
enough, you just have to kick down as
many options as you can to get it. I
was able to fight in these tough man
contents around Europe. Over the
course of a few competitions I was
able to get enough money to start the
restaurant I was trying to get initially.
FBI Magazine
learning. Now you can get some much
information right on your phone, you
can read, study and teach right there
in the palm of your hands. Your network
is your net-worth. Surround
yourself with winners, people that
have big goals.
What is your advice to people looking
to invest or do business in Africa?
You are also a strong advocate for
animal rights and has a powerful 3
tier animal welfare policy. Tell us
more about this.
Animals rights have been a personal
initiative. In Africa, we work on
programs and do end poaching. In
America the 3 policies are No extra
rent fee for pets. No breed restriction.
tac credits for adopting pets from city/
county shelters.
tiative which kills 99.9% bacteria in
water to make it drinkable, and we do
food aid as well as some fun stuff like
setting up sporting activities/athletics
supplies.
Do you feel African governments are
supportive enough of Non-Profit organizations?
No, I think they should encourage the
private sector to work with accredited
Non Profits.
What are your thoughts about unemployment
especially amongst the
youths in Africa? What is the way
forward?
The numbers are high. What we like to
do is to build their confidence, inspire
them to follow their dreams to create,
encourage them to partner with each
other to become strong as a group.
Many times, we have put in several efforts
to mentor young men and women
who feel stranded on their dreams.
We want to lift them up to be better
than what they currently are by giving
them the support needed to dream
more and launch out to get the dream
achieved.
I read the amazing story of how you
What kind of advice would you give
your 20-year-old self today?
Always keep pushing forward with
your goals.
To the people reading this and probably
thinking that they can’t accomplish
what you have accomplished.
What would you say to them?
Yes, you can. Find people that offer
skills different than what you are
strong at. This will help you excel at
a much faster way. Be interested in
The African people are amazing, hardworking,
polite and respectful. They
have amazing attitudes and they are
receptive to learning. You have to visit
these areas, meet the locals, establish
a relationship with the city that you
want to do business with. Many major
companies are investing in Africa;
I expect big things in the next 10 years
to take Africa to its highest economic
state.

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Extérieur de la France” (Foreign Trade
Advisor for France), she advises the
French Public Services on competitiveness
and directions to take in the
educational sector. She has a track record
of bringing £10m to £15m to a
UK University in sustainable business
on the African continent as Regional
Director.
Annemjin has over 15 years of experience
in the education sector as a
interview, Annemjin Perrin shares her
journey Enjoy her explosive experience
Before we talk about the present and
the future, what was it like for you
growing up and how did it influence
who you are today?
I grew up in the Netherlands with
very open-minded parents and a
lot of funky ideas on the world. My
mom was a travel guide in Asia after
FBI Magazine
who loved the contact of people and I
guess that is one of my strengths. I like
to exchange and understand people,
what makes them tick, independent of
their background.
You have shown tremendous courage
and resilience in your fight against
illiteracy in Africa, what within you
gives you that power?
I would not say that this is about courage
but more about common sense of
ANNEMJIN
PERRIN
“What I found in Africa is something that you
don’t find in the Western world, which is the sense
of belonging. Belonging to a community or family
(in a very extended way) which serves as a social
security network” - Annemijn Perrin – Saeijs
Annemjin Perrin is the
CEO and Founder of The
Digital Skills Foundation
(www.digitalskillsfoundation.org),
an organization that provides
Digital Literacy to all people
through the Digital Skills Passport.
Digital Skills Passport is an End-User
ICT skills training and certification
program. Annemjin is also the
Founder & CEO of IDvelop, a Global
Educational Solution for Africa. Being
active as a “Conseiller du Commerce
business development director, educational
project engineer/manager, a
lobbyist, a teacher and as a lecturer on
the African continent. With a love for
the world, the African continent and
a first-hand experience of the educational,
public and business environment
on this continent, she believes
that the focus of all transformation
should be based on knowledge transfer,
train the trainers and sustainability
for the generations to come. In this
she raised us. She travelled the world
showing people what that part of the
world had to offer. She had people
from all over the world joining the
dinner table just as much as having
Dutch people at the house. My idea
that the world is one’s playground
probably comes from there. There is
so much to discover and we have so
much in common with people that
building relationships is a very natural
thing for me. My father was someone
sharing and trying to make a difference.
I like to see improvement and it
gives me sense of completion when I
can see a positive result. I do not like
to give up easily and I like to make an
impact which could be on a personal
level as well as a business level. Being
a social enterprise brings both worlds
together.
You have lived in Angola and many
African countries and worked in the

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FBI Magazine
education sector for more than a decade
as a business & project development
director as well as a teacher
and lecturer, kindly share your experiences
in these places.
Angola was an eye-opener for me.
Our children were little and we put
them in the local school. We met all
kinds of people during that time.
What I found in Africa is something
that you don’t find in the Western
world, which is the sense of belonging.
Belonging to a community or
family (in a very extended way) which
serves as a social security network. A
Ghanaian explained to me once that
poverty the way we look at it does not
really exist. I recently took my daughter
with me who visited some of the
poorer area and commented that people
did not seem to be unhappy and
share with others what they have. We
confuse poverty like unhappiness,
hunger with bad living conditions
like a lack of waste management, hygiene
etc. Imagine in the US the civil
service employees were not paid and
people could no longer afford housing
or food and were obliged to go to the
community kitchen to get help. That
is real poverty. Africa is an amazing
continent that has the ability to find
solutions to its challenges. There is
creativity, maybe due to the living
circumstances and the lack of good
education. Entrepreneurship is well
developed in various countries. I have
seen amazing projects that have taken
place and I am very happy to have
been able to contribute in one form
or another. The Worldbank put in a
project in the Gambia with the New
Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning
(NJCTL) for teacher development
on Maths and Science which showed
great improvement and provided extra
teachers in these subjects because
of their different approach.
We are currently working on a National
Knowledge Portal, a more holistic
solution for entities or even governments
to address the content and
learning space and not just digital
literacy. For this we have teamed up
with other partners. The great thing is
that we have managed to get all parties
around the table to discuss the projects
from all kinds of ministries. It is
refreshing to see that this transversal
way of working starts to become more
normal.
Why is the idea of Digital Skills
Foundation necessary at this point
in the history of Africa?
One of the biggest challenges in Africa
is the lack of a well-educated and
skilled workforce. Teachers desperately
need competency development and
people require skills that are needed
to develop the local economic solutions.
Digital literacy is a fundamental
right just like numeracy and literacy.
If one wants to progress and function
in today’s world and not stay behind,
one needs to understand the digital
environment. It allows economic inclusion
and access to lifelong learning.
It develops the skills to move toward
e-governments allowing data driven
transparent governing and so on. So
digital literacy is a basic need for all
to continue to grow into today’s world.
In your quest to helping people
around the globe to learn new digital
skills and to thrive and prosper
in an increasingly connected world,
you organized the Digital Passport
Skills, how would you rate your
achievement so far?
Let me explain the course so you get
a better understanding of the delivery
mechanism. The Digital Skills
Passport is about a 100-hrs course
that one can take online and offline
(which addresses the connectivity
challenges in certain areas) but more
importantly each person can learn at
their own pace. Many people, with no
exposure to the digital environment,
take around 160 hrs to do the course,
which means they repeat certain areas
that they found more difficult. This
you can do in a digital environment,
not in a classroom as people will need
to keep up with the speed to avoid to
fall behind. Imagine when you have
to study just one aspect of technology
for a whole day; for example taking a
course that offers 6 hours of spreadsheet
training aday for several days,
the learners are just set up for failure
and are turned off technology, which
is really not what you want. The ultimate
goal for DSF is to provide a scalable
method that is affordable for each
group of users. In this case people
work from their office, from school or
home and work through the program.
It avoids absenteeism from the office,
stipends, travel costs but more importantly
it reduces the loss of productivity.
I think we are starting to have a real
impact as we have looked in alternative
ways at delivery as well as costing.
An example is in Sub Saharan Africa,
27000 teachers and 5000 Principals
have passed the course and were certified.
We look at the overall projects,
bring in partners where necessary and
show the impact it has. Did you know
that from research done in the NL,
they concluded that we lose more than
2hours a week in productivity due to
the lack of digital skills? If you do the
calculations, that is a minimum of 3
weeks salary that is lost per person
each year. Imagine this at a country
level. And these numbers are based on
the western world capabilities. I think
we are just trying to assist in opening
up the world to all, because today all
is played at a global and digital level.
SDG 4 calls for Quality Education
for all, what role should governments
and partners such as you play
to support Africa in achieving set
targets?
Governments put in place the overall
learning framework for the country
and decide on what is required for
the youth but also what skills need
to be developed for the economic
development of the country. More
governments are starting to focus on
vocational training which is the key to
the development of the countries. So
certain things will depend on the industries
that countries are developing.
Governments often do not have the
bandwidth nor the capabilities to do
the upscaling by them self. We see that
content development done by government
is slower than just buying content
that already exists and has shown
its quality. This is where partners like
us come in. Moreover, I very strongly
believe in partnerships and knowledge
transfer which is what I have
been doing for many years. It is common
knowledge that the continent
lacks the skills to directly take over,
however with your vibrant young people
and the will to turn Africa around,

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FBI Magazine
a knowledge transfer is the only way
to make the projects sustainable. Look
at countries like Ghana with 2019 the
year of return, Rwanda is booming
with its industrial development, Kenya
is investing heavily into education,
and agriculture is being developed on
larger scale. There are so many examples
that give reason for optimism.
This knowledge transfer usually takes
a couple of years, but it is the only way
to make this work and hand over the
ownership to the countries. We have
the possibility to provide a scalable
solution but more importantly set up
a trainer the trainers program where
the knowledge stays in the countries.
It is the knowledge transfer that makes
it a success.
A recent report shows that in total,
more than 50 million children remain
out-of-school in Sub Saharan
Africa, Where is Africa getting this
wrong?
First of all, the lack of political-will
to concentrate on a long term plan.
Education is a long-term investment.
Politics is a short-term job. It takes a
real vision and courage to tackle that
area, especially because the users are
the voters. The easy thing to do is to
give technology. Technology is a very
visible tool and a way to improve the
access to information and knowledge
but it is by no means a solution to
the educational issues for any country.
When one looks at the European
countries where we do have access to
technology, I cannot say that it has
allowed us to improve the quality of
education. More of the opposite. The
key to good quality education and the
implementation of useful technology
is teacher’s training and access to the
right content. This, however, is less
visible to voters and therefore lacks
budget allocation. On top of that connectivity
stays a real challenge. The
cost of data remains very high and
even if the operators do some work,
it is government’s job to provide this
solution to all. However, these projects
are extremely costly in most cases
especially for the OPEX. Even though
everyone states that Africa is connected
and they have mobile phones, it
does not allow for quality education
as such because of the speed of the
connectivity. The connectivity issue
needs to be resolved. Edunet is such
a solution that has proven itself in
Zimbabwe for example which is viable,
not too costly and allows schools
to be all connected. Projects like these
are allowed to lessen the digital divide
which otherwise will create even more
inequality in the world.
In addition to the challenges faced in
accessing education, the World Development
Report ( WDR ) warns of
a learning crisis in global education;
after several years of schooling, millions
of children are unable to read,
write, and solve basic math problems.
For instance, in low-income
countries, less than 5 percent of students
in late primary school score
above the minimum proficiency level
for reading. This figure lies at 14
percent for mathematics. In sub-Saharan
Africa, less than 7 percent of
students in late primary school are
proficient in reading, against 14 percent
in mathematics, What practical
steps can African countries take to
improve their education learning
process?
Reading and writing is a continuous
improvement cycle. When you learn
how to read and write, it creates neurological
highways in your head and
the more you practice, the easier it
gets. We no longer read a lot, we watch
things to learn, for which you do not
have to make an effort. Reading is a
real effort for the brain especially at
the start which requires energy. For
example, South Sudan addresses that
issue by providing the students with
a meal a day. You cannot learn on an
empty stomach. Learning takes energy.
The former Minister of Education
of Liberia (2017) made a real impact
by involving the private sector into the
delivery of education in their schools
through the “Partnership Schools
for Liberia”. The Private sector works
differently and the results so far have
been very promising. The government
cleaned up the payroll by taking out
the ghost teachers, and therefore recovered
budget that could be allocated
to teacher training. It wasn’t without
hurdles, but with a long term vision
in mind the government addressed
the baseline before moving further. A
courageous discussion. As far as subjects
in general go, we are all still in
a system with exams and tests. Take
Mathematics as an example: you fail

FBI Magazine | 20 | 21
FBI Magazine
your test in fractions because you did
not understand it. This does not mean
you re-sit the test. No, it only means
that we have validated that you did not
get it. In the meantime, the class will
move onto percentages… This creates
real gaps in knowledge whereby the
students have great difficulty to catch
up or simply fail. This is a global issue
and not an African issue by all means.
Last but not least, we go through the
4th industrial revolution that requires
different skills than in the 3rd revolution.
We require people with analytical
skills that can communicate, work
in teams, can resolve problems and
have social skills as well as empathy.
Change is always complicated and
making this shift when we have been
concentrating for so long on technological
skills will take some time especially
as we still do not know what jobs
we will have in 20 years. This is not reassuring
for parents when they send
the kids to school and more importantly
chose a study path as they do
not know what is lying ahead. Change
is a complicated but also an exciting
period with lots of opportunities.
Rwanda is booming with its industrial
development, Kenya is
investing heavily into education,
and agriculture is being developed
on larger scale.
Online Education is often criticized
as an inferior form of education
providing an isolated learning experience
at best, some others simultaneously
consider it as a promising
means to increase access to education
in developing countries. In your
opinion, what role does technology
play in enhancing education?
Online education allows scalability
and access to information/education
for all. It gives the developing countries
the possibility to leapfrog if they provide
the right training. As I explained
earlier, technology is a tool. It allows
to skip a certain step but we have to
be careful to ensure that everyone is
on board. You cannot expect a teacher
to use the latest technology in a classroom,
when she has not received any
training on how to work on the tool.
So teacher’s training and implementation
of technology go hand in hand.
An extra to the online learning is the
creation of a new industry: the publishing
business evolves from books
to ebooks which is a cost reduction
but not an easy one to obtain as the
school book lobby has a lot of power.
A maintenance channel for devices or
even the setup of manufacturing or assembly
lines are a way to increase job
creation as well as sustainability.
There can be no denying the explosive
growth of mobile phones across
Africa over the past decade -- something
which is not expected to slow
down any time soon. To what extent
might these sorts of devices be relevant
to discussions related to education?
Will you consider this as a distraction
to educational growth?
The twenty-first century has seen the
emergence of knowledge societies and
digital economies around the world.
Underpinning these changes have increased
sophistication of computers,
the growth of mobile devices, cheaper
(not cheap enough though) and more
widely available internet access. In
2018, 70 Million people used internet
which was a 20% growth compared to
2017 (Hootsuite2018). This number
keeps on growing. The digital revolution
has changed the way almost half
the world lives and works, learns and
socializes. This includes education
and how people interact. We have
gone from the belief that the introduction
of MOOCS into the world would
make universities obsolete. Instead
we realize that the MOOC is a supplement
to the educational system. People
need to interact and socialize. This
is the strength of the human being
which cannot be replaced of computers.
It also depends on what you mean
by distraction: digital tools are an addition
onto the system not a replacement
of teachers and when well used,
they can allow people to learn better
and have access to information and
actively participate in their lifelong
learning. Instead of a distraction I
think it is an opportunity that we need
to grab with caution and therefore it
is essential that people in general are
digital literate.
There are cultural norms that prevent
girls going to school in some
communities. What is your view on
this?
I am in favour of the same treatment
for boys and girls, so that is an easy
view. I also realize that in certain societies,
this still proves complicated
due to living conditions and cultural
constraints. It takes time for parents
and societies to change attitudes but
by changing school times for children,
providing meals and having the
Governments to put in place, systems
whereby girls can go to school without
changing everything at once seems to
help. By making it obligatory for girls
to go to school, government also as-

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FBI Magazine
sists in the cycle. The advocacy done
around this subject through the UN-
ESCO and other organizations have
been making serious impacts. Though
we are not there yet, we are making
progress.
Do you feel African governments are
supportive enough of social enterprises
like yours who are positively
contributing to the country’s education
and technology sector?
We have been very well received by
governments at all levels. But I think
this is because we provide a service
and we work in partnership. The one
thing that Africa requires is partnerships
with knowledge transfers which
allow governments to gain control In
this case over their data as well over
the content etc being provided to their
citizens.
How do you think Africa can better
integrate itself into the global economy?
I think the key to the African continent
is its independence and to get
out of the Aid Syndrome. Africa has
a huge potential which is not exploited
properly. Its biggest challenge is
the skill gap that prevents Africa from
playing in the global setting. Africa
requires investment to evolve, it
also means that it needs to create an
environment for the investors to feel
safe to come in. Devaluation of currencies,
unstable leadership and corruption
are still on a high list of the
concerns of anyone working in Africa.
However, that investment can be
loans or actually through the private
sector. However, access to finance is
one topic, misuse and therefore reallocation
of funds is another one. A
good example is the way Zambia is
making their government digital and
paperless through their Smart Zambia
E-government but also concentrating
on e-health etc. It is impressive what
can be done if you stick to the plan.
Access to finance is often cited as a
constraint for African business. As an
investment expert/advisor, what advice
will you give to startups
There are a lot of financing options
out there even though the area is difficult
to grasp. As a continent, Africa
has many entrepreneurs that are able
to assist the younger generations to
set up businesses. I see this practice
happening in many countries. Countries
like Nigeria and Kenya are thriving
in the startup area and finance is
available. However, it is getting more
difficult to get aid money to just help.
And as previously said, in many of
the countries, we do not need aid but
partnerships, which means that the
international focus will start to work
towards investment instead of loans/
grants into companies. Personally I
think this is for the better and allows a
more balanced partnership.
As the Vice President of Training
and Youth on the board of the Committee
Auvergne Rhone Alpes CCE,
what are your thoughts about unemployment
especially amongst the
youths and women in Africa? What
is the way forward?
Women are the heart of the family and
the building block of the society on
the continent. They are also the ones
that have limited rights, opportunity
and education. Digital literacy allows
them to gain skills for inclusion to
get to the job market and be flexible
in their schedules. It gives them also
access to learning online and gaining
other skills. HP for example focus a
lot on entrepreneurship with their free
learning platform. Some great courses
are available there. Other than this,
the only way forward is to invest in
vocational training centres to develop
local capacity allowing to fill the
jobs required to develop the industry
for the countries. People all over the
world only want one thing: provide
a home, food, decent healthcare for
their families and this does not change
if you live in Europe, Asia or Africa.
So the key is to align jobs with the required
competencies.
What kind of advice would you give
your 20-year-old self today?
Go out into the world. Get your skills
up to speed, look at people’s issues and
be creative at finding a solution that
allows all parties to get into a win-win
situation. Be a partner and always remember
that smiling is universal and
your smile gets you a smile in return.
To the people reading this and probably
thinking that they can’t accomplish
what you have accomplished.
What would you say to them?
Be interested in people, in the environment
around you and have empathy.
Understand that “success” is about
holding on and believing in what you
do. So failing is part of the process and
getting back in the saddle to move forward
is part of the learning curve. It is
called life and I have found that you
learn so much more from your mistakes
than your success.
What is your advice to people looking
to invest or do business in Africa?
Get the right partner. I am very lucky
to have partners in the countries that
I work that I can count on. This is
invaluable for different reasons: understanding
the culture, for the network
but also for the situation on the
ground. Start by getting a feel for the
environment and spend some time
there.

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FBI Magazine
HER ROYAL MAJESTY
QUEEN NADIA
HARIHIRI
“Africa must favor productions “made in Africa”. she
has nothing to envy from other continents. We often
made her believe that she was poor and that she could
not get out of it if we did not continue to nourish her
in every sense of the word. The reality is that it is others
who could die if she stopped feeding them. Let’s
put things in their place! - HER ROYAL MAJESTY
QUEEN NADIA HARIHIRI”
Before we talk about the present and
the future, what was it like for you
growing up and how did it influence
who you are today?
When I was young, I thought I would
live in the best places of the world with
a family that loved me and supported
me onto success, but I was not aware
of what I was going to become or even
do. I knew I have the soul of a warrior
with passion. In my youth, I shared
what I had and loved defending the
weak. This loving spirit was in me. I
did not know it would ever become
my daily struggle thereafter. It’s true
that my heart would tear and very often
with tears in my eyes when I saw
people sleeping in the street, some of
them dead of cold and hunger, even in
a rich country like France. Whenever
the media showed us hunger in the
world, despair, misery and suffering,
“My God” I told myself “what do I do,
how do I help all these children to grow
normally or to free these families from
this nightmare?” What is the interest
of being born in a world only to die of
hunger? Is there a God and why does
He not react? In-spite of all these, I
saw a little bit of hop from some international
NGOs fighting to bring some
hope in the lives of less privileged people
in this world. I prayed often and
knew deeply in my soul that I have
a “special destiny” to bring joy, light
and love to the world, but I was still
lacking the ability to understand how
it will happen. I also needed to figure
out the strength to take action. The
more I developed the love for others,
the more my inaction became unbearable.
It was even impossible for me
to continue watching the media with
continuous updates on disasters, wars
or the death of some children!!! (that
pained my heart more). These series
of discomfort gave me the strength to
get actively involved in philanthropy.
This decision became my daily hustle,
fighting to make life easier for people
and contributing to world peace became
my mission.
You serve on the Board of some of
the most influential institutions in
the world like the ADN, the First
Lady’s club and others. Kindly share
how your experiences at these organizations
have influenced your pas-
sion for humanity?
Passion, especially passion for humanity
cannot be taught or transmitted,
nor can it come from the influence
of this or that thing. It is innate
(i.e. in-grown in human soul), either
you have it or you don’t have it. It was
not my membership in these organizations
that influenced my passion for
humanity but rather my passion for
humanity gave me the opportunity
to serve as a Board Member in these
powerful institutions – Public and
private organizations. In my case, I
will not speak of passion but of Pure
Love for Humanity that contributes to
the development of the total person.
Remember that passion sometimes is
ephemeral, true love remains eternal.
You had recently visited Africa on
some community projects in the

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educational sector where over 3000
people welcomed you. Tell us about
this occasion and your experience in
Africa.
I have answered this questions with
tears in my eyes many times. I am still
moved by the warm welcome from my
loving children in Africa, especially
my caring brothers, sisters, fathers and
mothers in Côte d’Ivoire that demonstrated
their support and understanding
in support of my NGO’s projects in
their communities. Collectively, they
gave me so much love that I thought
I was in paradise. I still remember
the joy and the numerous eyes full of
light and hope --- an enduring moment
that I will never forget. I don’t
even have words to describe my grati-
Ghana. The leadership of RCST University
(Chancellor, HRM King Dr.
Edmund Silva Jr. and Founder and
Dean Dr. Jeremiah Agboola), are also
planning to build RCST Campuses in
the Territories of our partner-nations
to provide quality higher education
programs to the youths and learners
in order to empower their career and
develop skills for sustainable growth
(RCST online: www.rcsedu.ch). Education
should be accorded as special
Human Right Status – for instance,
primary and secondary education
(schooling) should be made accessible
to children - the provision of good edtude
and my infinite love to all. While
in Ivory Coast, I went to the town of
Abobo to offer them the construction
of a Sporting Playground and 2 school
canteens. This special action was
linked to an award ceremony-event
which rewarded the best students.
This program was developed by Prix
Sport & Etudes under the leadership
of Mr. Abdoulaye Diabaté, a man like
no one I have met on earth. I am going
back there very soon to finish the
work started.
You are deeply passionate about
the need to empower children and
young adults who obviously form
the future of every nation, in what
way are you achieving this in Africa?
Children and young adults are indeed
the heritage of a Nation. It is important
to empower them and introduce
them to education which is essential
for the emancipation and freedom of
everyone because everything starts
with education. Education is not only
about developing scientific, technological
and physical knowledge. It is
the essence of the moral values that
International) is working in partnership
with a Swiss-Based University
(RCST Rockfield College of Sciences
and Technology, Switzerland – www.
rcsedu.ch) to support the provision
and development of Quality Higher
Education institutions with Quality
Teaching Curriculum for our partner-nations
in Africa e.g. Cote D’Ivoire,
Morocco, Senegal, Estwatini and
ucation should be made compulsory
in every Nation and supported by its
national government and NGOs that
are interested in education
FBI Magazine
Yang. Women are the basis of all of
humanity’s creation, she brings balance,
order and discipline. Education
begins with her, she allows and promotes
the continuity of the life of people
(humanity) on earth. And young
people are the sacred fruits and the
rebirth of humanity. Because women
and young people are so precious to
continuing the existence of life, their
lives should be protected from continuous
threats, injustices and cruelty
in the world. This is why we need to
protect them more. What would become
of our world without the women
and the youth? Human trafficking,
ill-treatment of children, in whatever
form of exploitation: be it prostitution,
forced labor, slavery, physical or
moral manipulation, trafficking in organs,
rape, must be denounced. Each
of us bears the brunt of this responsibility
and must protect the weakest.
Life and freedom are given to us
by divine right. We must respect one
another and destroy what is harmful
to harmony and peace in this world.
Do you understand the importance of
education now? To educate and open
consciousness in order to free it from
the absurdity and the whims of the
ego which believes that everything is
subordinate to it. I remain optimistic
and I believe in the light that is in each
of us. I believe in the love and goodness
buried in each human being even
if sometimes he gets lost in barbaric
brings peace and prosperity to a country.
It transmits the culture of personal
development and consciousness from
one generation to another. The education
of yesteryears can no longer work
today. Mentalities have evolved and
instructing or educating by promoting
religion can bring an imbalance
and sometimes lead to wars of religion
and disrespect for the beliefs of others.
The solution would be to build good
educational institutions e.g. Free primary
schools with free instructional
learning materials to relieve families
financially and permanently abolish
child labor. Presently my NGO (ADN
You are a forceful champion for human
rights and advocate for inclusiveness
of women and young people
all around the globe, what motivates
you to continue to work toward combating
human trafficking and child
abuse.
Indeed, I am also part of the International
Human Rights Commission
(IHRC) as an Ambassador-at-large.
My big fight started with the protection
of women and children. Every
woman is very important to the world
but unfortunately most countries do
not realise this. A Nation which has
no respect for the woman or completely
discredits the woman is like a
body with only one leg. Its evolution
or its prosperity is Impossible. Sooner
or later this Nation will collapse.
The Ying is only balanced with the

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actions. This is really what motivates
my fight. I believe in the evolution of
men. Is it not said that the body is the
“temple of God” so let us honor God
by respecting his temple.
As an experienced and successful
entrepreneur/social investor What
opportunities excite you the most
and what do you consider before investing?
The opportunities that interest me
most are those that bring meaningful
and peaceful change to society and improve
the living conditions of human
beings by protecting the environment
that we may live a better life and enjoy
better atmosphere while respecting
the fauna and flora. Each investment
must be a useful investment in order
to create a major social, economic and
environmental impact.
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 Africa?
Africa is in perpetual movement.
Sometimes stable or evolving and
sometimes unbalanced. Some even
FBI Magazine
What are your thoughts about unemployment
especially amongst the
youths in Africa? What is the way
forward?
It is difficult to hide the galloping unemployment
in Africa, 70% are unemployed
in certain regions. To solve
the problem of unemployment we
have to deal with the problem at its
source. Unemployment comes from
the dysfunction of the system, whether
educational, political, economic,
financial, social, intellectual or even
personal. To revitalize young people
in order to get them out of unemployment
completely, I think we need to
help them accept change. They need
to know that poverty is not ‘fatality’.
We need to assist them to restore their
self-confidence and train them in a
profession in which they could flourish.
Create training centers that would
bring them up to standard. Some will
become artists, sportsmen, others will
enjoy themselves better in agriculture,
science etc. Let them become the
best expression of themselves. Bring
out their passion and give creativity
a chance. The real change starts first
inside you. They need to destroy un-
said “en chute libre”. Some countries
are still described as dangerous. For
people to see the investment in Africa’s
ecosystem with an optimistic eye,
it is necessary to reform attitudes, to
bring a new perspective on education
as a whole, not just economic and financial
education. The desire to invest
comes when the country is at peace
and the people are in harmony - investors
are looking for security in every
opportunity - both human and natural
resources. I see Africa as a child
who learns to walk, sometimes he falls
and then straightens up. For sure, one
day, this Child will become the Man.
It is also true that many are very afraid
to invest in Africa, because they only
see their interest and their return on
investment. Those who inject their
capital into an existing company or
into any economic activity do not very
often respect Africa’s independence
rights in general. They very often want
to impose their superiority on them
because of their money. To these set of
investors, I will say, “You are so poor
that you only have the money.”
Give us a sense of the business and
socio-economic difficulties you have
encountered in Africa
The business and socio-economic difficulties
do not necessarily come from
Africa but from what is imposed on
Africa. For commercial activities to
thrive and have an impact on the country’s
economy, I think that we must
review the banking system and get
out of the monetary slavery imposed
by the financial system and payment
method. Africa must favor productions
“made in Africa”. she has nothing
to envy from other continents. We
often made her believe that she was
poor and that she could not get out of
it if we did not continue to nourish her
in every sense of the word. The reality
is that it is others who could die if she
stopped feeding them. Let’s put things
in their place!
Do you feel African governments are
supportive enough of Non-Profit organizations?
The only thing I can say is that if
governments and NGOs communicate
more often together, the changes
would be “rapides et marquants” -
UNITY IN STRENGTH

FBI Magazine | 30 | 31
employment by inner creativity first in
order to liberate the action of creation.
Congratulations on your recent appointment
as Co-Chair of the World
Business Leaders Council? How
does this make you feel?
First of all, I would like to thank and
appreciate the Founders, Board and
Management of WBLC for choosing
me to be The Chairperson of the
World Business Leaders Council for
the year 2020. I was surprised to be selected,
and highly appreciate the honor
given to me to chair 2020 WBLC
Conference. I’m well pleased for this
appointment, especially since the
WBLC 2020 conference will be hosted
in my country (France). I hope to live
up to my appointment and offer my
utmost best.
One of the major flagship for the
WBLC is the World Business Leaders’
Summit scheduled to hold in Paris
this year, what should Business Leaders
look forward to by attending the
summit.
First, I want to say that Paris is a magnificent
city. Those who will visit Paris
for the first time will surely fall in
love not only with the architecture but
also enduring business and humbling
environment of Paris Metropolis. Regarding
the summit, most business
leaders at the international level participate
in exchanging strategic ideas
and seek cooperation and partnership
to grow their individual businesses,
bringing their know-how to bear with
others and test a new technology and
/ or a new product. Other business
leaders will attend the conference just
to listen and gather new mentoring
skills in business relationships, accumulate
further experience and knowledge
in their specific business areas,
find international customers and
create a link “ inter-enterprises”. This
year 2020 WBLC Conference will go
beyond territories, where inventors,
creators of new technologies, startups,
leaders of multinationals and
hosts of others will be in attendance.
We look forward to having our invited
guest to attend and actively participate
in the forum so as to be able to mentor
others in the sphere of operating
techniques and sustainability of their
ventures. A revolution in the world
of work where business is associated
with “social progress”. “Joindre l’utile
à l’agréable”
What kind of advice would you give
your 20-year-old self today?
I would say to this stubborn 20-yearold
girl I was :”take it easy, you must
mature because you are still lacking in
understanding. Keep watching around
you. Get to know yourself and don’t be
afraid of what tomorrow will look like.
The divine plan is Perfect, and Life is a
perpetual experience.”
To the people reading this and probably
thinking that they can’t accomplish
what you have accomplished.
What would you say to them?
To all these people, I would tell them
to believe in themselves, and that the
word “impossible” only exists if you
FBI Magazine
give it the power to exist. You remain
the master of your destiny. When Will
and Faith come together and form
unity, then nothing has the power
to prevent them from realizing their
goals.
What is your advice to people looking
to invest or do business in Africa
I will tell them: “ It is you who is right,
now is the time to invest because tomorrow
will be too late. Africa is in
the midst of restoration; it is gradually
rising and is undoubtedly the place
that is most profitable in the world.”
Some investors have even understood
this for a long time.

FBI Magazine | 32 | 33
FBI Magazine
HER EXCELLENCY,
MS. SANIA A
ANSARI
H.E. Ms Sania A. Ansari
belongs to a very
noble, honourable
& prominent family
from Medina, Saudi Arabia. Ansari
tribe is 1400 years old which played
a significant role in Islam and is
mentioned in the Holy Quran as
well. Ansar originates from Ansari
(supporters), the Medinan people
who helped the Islamic Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) in his migration
from Mecca to Medina. They
were, in fact, the first initial tribes
in Arabia to accept Islam. Prophet
Muhammad’s (PBUH) grand Parents
also belong to Ansar tribe.
H.E Ms. Sania, who has just collaborated
with the UN habitat to
launch SDGs City project in 190
countries and 900 cities in the next
10 years, also serves as the CEO
open and sustain lines of communication
with political, business,
and finance leaders who are capable
of influencing their success in
this market. She also assists them
in building and enhancing a network
of relationships in the market.
The Group’s strategic business
units specialize in Technology,
Impactful investments, Minerals,
Food, Oil & Gas, Defense, Capital
Investment & Advisory, Business
Consultancy & Management, Infrastructure,
Trading, Renewable
Energy, Real Estate, Hospitality,
Finance, Media and Entertainment
etc. Ansari Group’s clientele also
includes various governments.
In addition to her role as chairperson
for the Ansari Group Ltd, H.E
Ms. Sania serves as a consultant for
the Private Royal offices in United
forts with a number of non-profit
organizations, especially those focused
on women, youth, minorities
and refugees. H.E Ms. Sania
She is a Member of Who’s Who
Hall of Fame for Business Consultancy
in Pakistan. She was listed
as one of The Top 100 People in
Finance by the US based Top 100
People Magazine and recently got
listed as one of the Most Influential
and Most powerful women in
Private offices and foundation. The
FBI Africa crew had a chat with her
on her plans for Africa. Enjoy!
“I look at Africa as a very fruitful continent which holds a
lot of treasures in it such as gold and diamonds. A wise businessman/Women
would easily recognize the resources Africa
has to offer.” –H.E Ms. Sania A. Ansari
and chairperson of the Ansari
Group Ltd, incorporated in Canada
& UAE as a holding company
and a global boutique consulting
firm that provides clients with
superior strategy for business expansion
& globalization, business
consulting and venture capital services.
As Chairperson of Ansari
Group Ltd, H.E. Ms Sania Ansari
works with the partners in UAE to
Arab Emirates (UAE) and she has
worked directly with the Royal
families for almost four years, providing
economic and political insights
into business developments
and trends regarding countries of
interest.
Through her Foundation, the Ansari
Foundation, Her Excellency is
also involved in humanitarian ef-
is the Chairperson for the United
Refugee Green Council of Canada
(URGC), Peace and Human Rights’
Ambassador- at-Large for the International
Human Rights Organization
and Goodwill Ambassador
for Youth and Women Empowerment
for the International Human
Rights Commission amongst other
notable organizations.
Before we talk about the present
and the future, what was it like
for you growing up and how did
it influence who you are today?
I have had an amazing childhood. I
was the favourite child of my mother.
Infact everyone in the family
loved me a lot because of my bubbly
and talkative personality. I was
very famous in school as well. In
Grade one, they painted my picture
with another kid on the school billboard.
This made me a celebrity in
the school. I was friends with and
loved by the whole class and teachers
throughout my school life. I was
very intelligent, clever and friendly.
I always stood out from the other
kids. Childhood was the best time
for me. Now when I think about
the certain incidents and stories
from Grade one, from Grade 6 or

FBI Magazine | 34 | 35
grade 11, it all makes sense now. I
was born to be a leader. I was born
to be an entrepreneur. I always had
followers, people always loved me
wherever I went.
You have worked for some of the
most powerful Royal families
in the Middle East, kindly share
your experiences in these places.
Working with the Royal family was
a very special time for me. It shaped
me and my career into a successful
entrepreneur. It took me some
time to learn the business model,
to learn the family office culture
and to learn the UAE market.
Working with the Royal family had
a lot of advantages and privileges; it
opened a lot of doors for me. I also
had a lot of failure but failures are
necessary for the learning process
and success. There’s only a few females
working in the family office
space, Alhamdulillah I am blessed
to be one of the well respected and
well established business leader in
the UAE and globally.
As an Economic and political advisor
to some of the most powerful
families in the Middle East,
where do your best business ideas
come from?
Well at this stage in my career,
I don’t hunt for opportunities. I
have very heavy incoming traffic
in terms of new projects and investment
opportunities globally.
Frankly speaking, I choose from
whatever is being served on the
table. Secondly, I travel a lot for
business. For instance, I travel to
4-5 countries a month; Attending
conferences, conducting meetings
with governmental officials
and business tycoons to seek new
opportunities and to develop new
partnerships.
You run a global consulting and
investment firm called Ansari
FBI Magazine
Group, as an investor/Investment
Broker, what opportunities excite
you the most and what do you
consider before investing?
I receive hundreds of business proposals
on a daily basis. I review and
choose my clients very carefully
because for me, these partnerships
are lifelong. Our personal and professional
values must align in order
to do business.
Give us a sense of the business
difficulties you have encountered
in Africa (if you have ever done
business in Africa)
I haven’t done any business in Africa.
Although during my visit to
Ghana for the first time in September
2019 to attend the Child summit
and to receive my honours, I
have met with a lot of political and
business leaders to find the possible
synergies to collaborate and
to access the risk factor in term of
business practices.
What other impacts have you
made in Africa and what future
plans do you have?
I haven’t made any investments or
conducted business in Africa but
I am currently collaborating with
African government and local
businesses. I have initiated conversations
about the potential synergies.
Do you feel African governments
are supportive enough of local
entrepreneurs and African businesses?
I don’t know about the local entrepreneurs
but I personally know a
lot of African political leaders who
are very supportive of the foreign
investments and actively promoting
investments in Africa on the
international markets.
What are your thoughts about unemployment
especially amongst

FBI Magazine | 36 | 37
FBI Magazine
simple; if I don’t feel safe in a country
or if the economy is not stable,
I will be hesitant to invest. Safety
comes first. Only a few high-risk
investors are willing to take such
risks. African leaders and business
communities should also attend
conferences globally and arrange
business delegations to increase
the awareness about Africa and to
increase the network to enhance
the economic relations between
the respective governments and
global business communities.
What kind of advice would you
give your 20-year-old self today?
To be honest I would not want to
change anything about me. I’m
proud of the woman I am today.
My life journey shaped me into the
bright shining diamond and I love
it.
To the people reading this and
probably thinking that they can’t
accomplish what you have accomplished.
What would you say
to them?
What is your advice to people
looking to invest or do business
in Africa?
I haven’t invested in Africa yet.
Although after my visit to Ghana
in September, I have initiated the
possible investment conversations
with various African countries.
People should increase their risk
threshold before investing in Africa
or in any developing country
or region. These economies have
the highest ROI: the higher the
risk, the better the return. I look at
the youths in Africa? What is the
way forward?
Governments should provide the
employment opportunities for the
youth in Africa by initiating new
projects. The other factor can be
foreign investments which can
trigger the employment rate to increase
among youth.
How do you think Africa can better
integrate itself into the global
economy?
African Governments should control
the crime rate in order to attract
foreign investments. It’s very
You have received several global
honors such as top 100 people in
finance, the Who’s Who Hall of
Fame for Business Consultancy
in Pakistan and recently one of
the most influential women in the
Royal Private offices and foundations,
how do these recognitions
make you feel?
Alhamdulillah I’m thankful to Almighty
Allah for these honours
and blessings. I have received 9
awards in the past 12 months.
There are more awards in the pipeline
for the next year. My awards
were presented from the different
continents which covers the entire
world. Also, I have declined a lot of
awards and recognitions in the past
few months. Receiving an award
is a good feeling and appreciation
for my work. I feel more confident,
credible and centered. It has helped
me in my business practice as well.
But for some odd reason, I don’t
feel proud of myself, I rather feel
humble about it. I don’t like to talk
about my achievements with my
family and friends. They get updates
from my social media only.
For my family and friends, I’m the
same person as I was 10 years ago
but more matured and polished.
Access to finance is often cited as a
constraint for African business. As
an investment organization, what
advice will you give to startups
I agree with you. Access to finance
can be difficult for the startups, regardless
of the country. But the financing
can be easy for the promising
innovating technologies and
new projects.
I would say anything and everything
is possible as long as you are
ambitious, passion driven and willing
to work hard for it. Nothing is
easy in this world, you will fail a
couple of times before you land on
your dream project. Consistence
and persistence will lead you to
success.
Africa as a very fruitful continent
which holds a lot of treasures in it
such as gold and diamonds. A wise
businessman/Women would easily
recognize the resources Africa has
to offer.

FBI Magazine | 38 | 39
FBI Magazine
40 minutes with the
new Baba Adinni
and Balogun of
Yorubas in Ghana
ALHAJI DR.
AHMED
VANDAPUIJE
…when the cap fits!
Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Vanderpuije
is the founder
and CEO of Dalpha
Holdings Ltd, a heavy
equipment consulting and supplier
firm. With over 35 years of
extensive experience in the industry,
Dr. Ahmed has collaborated
with numerous government
agencies within the West African
region. His most recent is his
collaboration with the Nigerian
government and the Chinese contractor
Norinco, supplying heavy
equipment to aid Nigeria’s continued
fight against domestic and
international insurgencies.
Recently, the the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the
Ojaja II was accompanied by dignitaries
from Nigeria and Ghana
to honor Alhaji Dr. Ahmed with
the prestigious Balogun and Baba
Adini of the Yorubas in Ghana
while his wife, Alhaja Mrs. Risikat
received the ‘Iyalode’ Chieftaincy
Title which signifies the “Queens
of ladies.
In this exclusive chat with the
couple, the FBI Africa team, led
by Engr. Adebayo Ogunjobi takes
you through their past, present
and future plans
Before we talk about the present

FBI Magazine | 40 | 41
FBI Magazine
and the future, what was it like
for you growing up and how did
it influence who you are today?
There was a particular Latin saying
, that a school master of mine
drummed into me when I was
quite young. The saying was ‘Tempus
fugit’ - which means - ‘time
flies.’ Another version of it is ‘carpe
diem’ - which means ‘seize the day’.
Thus I realised very early in my
youth that, time does not wait for
anybody. Consequently, one has to
do his utmost best each day in the
pursuit of his goals. That way, time
itself becomes your ally and not
your enemy. Seizing the day, seizing
the opportunities that came my
way was what influenced my personal
development and I am grateful
to my school master for that.
You were recently Honored with
Two Titles as the “Balogun and
Baba Adini of the Yorubas in
Ghana, what is the significance of
these chieftain Titles and the responsibilities
that come with it?
Yes, with humility, I must say that
my brothers, the yorubas have
shown me immense honour with
the conferment of the titles Balogun
and Baba Adini. Balogun
means warrior. In this instance,
figuratively speaking, a warrior is
a brave and upright soldier who
leads the fight for good causes for
his community.
con, one of the shining lights of
the Islamic faith and scholarship.
Again with humility - I believe that
this is a mandate I can execute with
religious integrity. I was fortunate
to have some internationally recognised
and acclaimed Islamic
scholars as my mentors at various
stages in my life. For example, the
late, illustrious Sheik Ali Hassan
Cisse, the worldwide leader of the
Tigyania Muslims was a very close
friend and mentor of mine who
guided me in my intensive studies
of the Islamic faith. The National
Chief Imam of Ghana is also a
mentor and father-figure to me.
And I embrace the fact that with
the award of such distinguished
honour come concomitant responsibilities
of enhancing the fortunes
of the community. Thus, it behooves
me to do all I can to lead
the fight for the noble causes of the
wider community that honoured
me with the titles. That is indeed
one such sacred responsibility
which is undoubtedly multi-faceted.
Baba Adini means learned
Islamic scholar. He serves as a bealess
I don’t believe it is material to
juxtapose and compare what the
various titles holders did or didn’t
do. The important thing is for one
to excel with respect to the responsibilities
that present with the acquisition
of such a noble religious
title. And as I said previously, I will
always strive to be a beacon of Islamic
faith and scholarship and to
lead by example within this sphere
of affairs.
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?
Africa is still a very fertile territory
for sound investment that could
potentially generate considerable
job creation and responsible profits.
For example, look at the amazing
penetration of Mobile Telephone
in Africa over a relatively
very short period. However, many
African countries have created
business environments that serve
as disincentives to investment.
Prohibitive ports and customs duties,
extremely high cost of finance,
The last time we heard of a Baba
Adinni of Yoruba Land with all
the glamours that came with it
was during the Alhaji MKO Abiola
time, which makes it seem that
for somebody to be considered
for that religious title, he must be
a man of great repute. What are
you going to do differently from
those who had held this position
in the past?
It is certainly gratifying to note that
the title Baba Adini is conferred on
people of great repute. Nonetheprohibitive
taxation, political interference
- but to name a few - all
tend to scare investors away. You
don’t have to sell your country to
create an enabling environment for
foreign investors. It does not have
to be a zero sum game where only
one side gains and everyone else
loses. But what many people don’t
realise is that foreign investors
firstly look at local investors before
they decide to enter a particular
market to invest. Consequently,
it is absolutely imperative that an
enabling environment is first generated
for local business to thrive
in order to attract Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) as well.
What are your thoughts about unemployment
especially amongst
the youths in Africa? What is the
way forward?
It is no exaggeration to say unemployment
is the single biggest
problem confronting Africa today
and its youth are at the sharp end
of this crisis. Levels of unemployment
on an unprecedented scale
amongst the youth seriously militates
against economic growth and
overall development. The youth
by far constitute the largest segment
of the population in Africa.
Consequently, people not working
means no money in their pockets.
No money means no purchases.
No purchases also means that
business people lose and the whole
economy loses as well. There also,
is the extremely negative societal
consequences in which people become
desperate due to destitution
and resort to all kinds of criminal
and damaging practises in order to
survive. In Africa - the government
is the biggest player in the economy.
Consequently, it becomes their
sacred responsibility to create economic
environments and growth
that will in turn foster employment
generation. If the economy

FBI Magazine | 42 | 43
FBI Magazine
is thriving and business is thriving
unemployment will no longer be
a bane in the lives of people. And
in truth, you don’t have to re-invent
the wheel when it comes to
creating the right environment for
economies to thrive. Technological
innovation already exists. That allows
us to do some leapfrogging.
Look at a miracle growth economy
like South Korea. They didn’t re-invent
the wheel. They did some piggybacking
on existing technology
and later went on to develop their
own. The negative implications of
persistent high levels of unemployment
are too many, and too severe
for me to list. Simplistic as it may
sound the way forward is for governments
to generate integrated
economies that will enable businesses
to thrive and generate employment.
It’s a truism.
lises the majority of African countries.
The world economy is still
controlled by the powerful Western
countries with us having very
little say. As mainly producers of
critical primary products we can’t
allow ourselves to be forever condemned
as international “hewers
of wood and drawers of water”. Africa
is resource-rich. For example,
with 60% of the world’s uncultivated
land, agriculture in Africa is potentially
vastly lucrative. Africa is
currently home to over15% of the
world’s oil reserves, 40% of gold,
80 to 90% of chrome and platinum
metal groups. We have vast quantities
of commodities and strategic
minerals that the world is greatly
in need of and yet we remain poorer
than anywhere else on the globe.
There is no magic wand to wave
that will allow Africa to better integrate
into the world economy in
a fashion that will prove beneficial
to us. There is no silver bullet. But
again we don’t have to re-invent
the wheel here. What did OPEC
do when they realised they had a
commodity that the world could
not thrive without? They came
together and got more favourable
terms for their commodity. As a
group they are now a world power.
Africa has to come together to seek
better terms in the Global partnerships
and markets that exist. Need
I say more?
Putting your life into perspective,
when you sense fear or discouragement,
how do you generate
confidence?
In order to achieve anything of
substance, fear is not an emotion
How do you think Africa can better
integrate itself into the global
economy?
Africa till date, has not benefited
unduly from Globalisation. The
world still operates on the socalled
international comparative
advantage system which marginathat
is very useful. Irrational fear
leads to paralysis whereas what is
needed is positive conviction and
action. What sustains me and gives
me the confidence to succeed is the
courage of my convictions. A conviction
that can be shaken is not
a conviction. We must always be
steadfast in our beliefs. That way -
we will always forge ahead.
Access to finance is often cited as
a constraint for African business.
As an investment advisor, what
advice will you give to start-ups
Anybody or any group of people
who band together to form startups
are people we must admire.
This is because they have courageously
taken the initiative to enter
the world of business to generate
incomes and employment. However,
in spite of their courageous
efforts I am forced to agree that in
many parts of Africa , access to financing
for businesses has proven
to be a constraint. Most African
governments enter the local money
markets themselves to borrow
vast sums - thus crowding out
business people in need of finance.
With very little left to go around -
the cost of financing then become
exorbitantly and prohibitively high
! One possible advice I could give is
for start-ups to come together and
form financial cooperative groups
that will petition officialdom to
create funding initiatives and set
aside development funds to assist
them. Some countries already have
these but it must be expanded and
extended for the betterment of entire
economies in Africa. As I said
earlier creating an enabling environment
for local business serves
as a magnet for foreign direct investment
as well.
To the people reading this and
probably thinking that they can’t
accomplish what you have accomplished.
What would you say
to them?
We all have different talents. Furthermore,
we are all presented
with different opportunities in
life. There is no one uniform path
to success. Jeff Bezos at Amazon
made his multi-billion-dollar fortune
through dynamic online trading.
Bill Gates made his through
revolutionary computer software
programming. My own success is
also based on the fact that I am very
good at what I do. Consequently,
if we seize the opportunities that
are presented to us and persist in
realising the goals we have set for
ourselves - then much can be accomplished
by many. That’s what I
would say.
What kind of advice would you
give your 20-year-old self today?
Since I have done quite well as a
business person and overall human
being, I would re-advice my
20-year-old self to always have the
courage of my convictions and be
steadfast in my beliefs. I would
also re-advice myself to be magnanimous
and always care for my
fellow compatriots. I should firmly
remind myself that “Tempus fugit’
and that it is always good to “carpe
diem”!
Thank you

FBI Magazine | 44 | 45
AN INTERVIEW WITH
MRS RISI VANDERPUIJE
FBI Magazine
ever, if you teach the person how
to fish - you would have fed them
for life. I will work with my fellow
sisters in the community to realise
their potential through embarking
on ventures that will enable them
raise their living standards for
themselves and their families.
Congratulations on your new status
as Iyalode of Yoruba land in
Ghana. Can we know more about
who you were before this appointment?
I have always been a devoted wife
and a loving Mother. I have also
been a business person. My family
has always come first. I believe
family is an institution blessed by
Allah and is therefore something
we must all work hard to preserve.
Being a wife and a mother and being
the glue that holds the family
unit together is an immense responsibility
that can never be taken
for granted. And I am proud to say
that as a person, I have carried out
this responsibility with love, wisdom
and courage.
From History, we know that ‘Iyalode’
is a Chieftaincy Title which
signifies the “Queens of ladies”
and is bestowed on the most
prominent and distinguished
lady from the town, in what way
will you use this position to advance
the standard living of Yoruba
women in Ghana?
I am very honoured to have received
this title. For me to receive
this title means that I must have
done some very good things in my
life. More importantly it means
that the Yoruba community in
Ghana has recognised these good
deeds and that is a gratifying feeling.
The best way for me to help
improve the living standards of
the women of the community is to
work among them and help them
realise their rights and responsibilities
within society. There is a
simple saying; If you give a hungry
person some fish - you would
have helped satisfy their hunger
but only for that moment. How-
You have been married to your
husband for more than 2 decades.
Marriages nowadays barely last
half a decade, what advise will
you give to newly wedded couple
and those that are yet to be married.
Though we are made in the image
of Allah - He did not make us perfect.
Only Allah is perfect. If we are
imperfect - then there are bound to
be challenges in life and the same
goes with Marriage. And kindly
permit me to state that my marriage
has been for almost 3 decades
and not 2 decades. And I am very
proud of this. My advice to couples
who wish to marry is for them
to understand this basic principle
that we are all imperfect. It is only
by understanding this that you
come to realise that marriage is a
partnership. And what do partners
generally do in life? The answer
is that they join forces to make
things work. They work together
to make things endure. They work
to understand that being together
means they must at times compromise.
They work to help each other
overcome the problems they are
bound to face and learn from them
in the spirit of this partnership.
They work together to preserve the
joy and good things in their marriage.
Marriage is hard work and
as with most things in this world -
hard work usually pays off.
There has been a lot of clamour
for the participation of women
in politics, what is your view on
this?

FBI Magazine | 46 | 47
FBI Magazine
JARE IJALANA
MOMENT WITH THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL CHILD IN THE WORLD
Everything in life must have some
balance. Currently, politics is completely
dominated by men. To have
more women in politics helps to
create this balance. You see, politics
is not only for men because
democracy is for everyone. Some
issues in politics are specifically
gender related or deal with issues
that specifically affect women. ‎In
situations like that there is nothing
wrong with more women in politics
speaking to issues that are gender
based and which affect them
directly. In Ghana for example
there are more women than men
according to all recent population
counts. Would you then not agree
that as the majority, women should
be encouraged to have more participation
in politics? More women
in politics is not a bad thing. It is a
good thing. It is democratic.
The United Nations has declared
2020 as the year of Action for
women. This places more value
on Women empowerment which
is pivotal to the success of every
economy, what are your plans on
this?
My plans for this are simple: I will
always continue to support the increasing
empowerment of women
to the best of my abilities. It makes
sense. Women in Africa work hard
It is only by
understanding
this that you
come to realise
that marriage is
a partnership.
to feed their families. They work
so hard to support their families
and keep them together. Women
are at the centre of all communities.
Shouldn’t we therefore empower
them so they become better
at what they do? Working hard to
feed and support the family is all
economics. If they could do this
better - would it not benefit the
overall economy? In truth, the empowerment
of women is long overdue.
Let me leave you with a saying
from a prominent Ghanaian Patriot
who lived about a century ago.
His name was Dr. Kwegyrie Aggrey
and he said that: ‘If you educate a
woman, you educate a nation’. In
our current situation I will not be
wrong in saying that if you ‘empower
a woman - you empower a
nation’.
Thank you

FBI Magazine | 48 | 49
FBI Magazine
be the best in everything I do.
What are your future goals?
I want to keep modelling for a long
time, but I also want to be a doctor
because I will like to see fewer people
falling sick in Africa.
in themselves, people will believe
whatever they have to offer. I’ll also
like to tell parents to please let their
children explore their interests because
without that support their
children might not be encouraged
to explore their creative sides.
How has growing up been for
you?
Good! I grew up with my parents
and two sisters who I like to spend
time with. I am in Basic 3, and I
like schooling because in school I
get to see my friends and learn new
things from my teachers. When I
am not in school, I like to model,
act, and learn how to dance ballet,
or just spend time around my
friends and family. So far, modelling
has brought me in contact
with influential people and given
me much exposure to the world.
You put the Black African child
on the world map when you were
named the Most Beautiful Girl in
the World; how did the journey to
stardom start?
In 2018, I followed Jomi [my sister]
to Mofe Bamuyiwa’s photo studio
known as BMB, because Mofe
had requested to take a picture of
Jomi. It was not the first time we
were posing for pictures since people
had been commenting about
how my sisters and I make excellent
models. When we got to the
studio and I was asked if I could
be photographed, I said yes and I
liked the picture. It was later that I
heard that many people loved the
pictures. Shortly after that, the picture
got international recognition
and since then, I have worked with
different brands. I really enjoy doing
what I do.
As an award-winning model, can
you share with us the lessons you
learnt from modelling that you
could later apply to life off the
runway?
I like to do runway and even when
I don’t have an event, I catwalk
around the house because I just
love strutting. What I like more
about modelling is how it has
taught me to be confident in myself
because I have observed that
you cannot inspire people without
confidence. In the course of my
modelling career, I meet with a lot
of people and being confident has
helped me relate well with them.
What motivates you?
I would say I don’t like to fail. It
doesn’t matter if it’s at school or on
the runway or even posing in front
of the camera, I don’t like coming
last. When anybody is doing something
and I see that I can do it, I
like to do it better because I want to
With all these activities that you
are involved in, how do you balance
all these with school work?
When it comes to balance, my parents
ensure that modelling does
not affect my schooling. We even
have a strict no-weekday work
rule, except for really important
projects. My parents don’t like to
compromise with our education
so we can dedicate our attention to
our academic pursuits during the
week.
There are a lot of talented youngsters
out there and most of them
haven’t gotten the opportunity
you got. What advice will you like
to give to them?
I will like to tell youngsters to be
true to themselves and to be confident.
When anyone is confident
One of the major challenges that
children are confronted with is
child abuse, what can be done to
curb this? Are you doing anything
on that?
Child abuse can be very damaging
to the mental health of children, so
I advocate against it through my
work as a goodwill ambassador
for the Peaceful Mind Foundation.
There I help people understand the
adverse effect of child abuse and
how it disturbs a child’s mental
wellbeing.
What advice do you have for African
children?
I will like to advice African children
not to be afraid to dream big
because their dreams can come
true.

FBI Magazine | 50 | 51
TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN ZIMBABWE
water on the planet, and one of
the Seven Natural Wonders of the
World. In peak flood season (February
to May), the spray thrown
bwean side, a path winds its way
along the edge of the gorge. Viewpoints
offer breathtaking panoramas
of the plummeting water and
the rainbows that hang suspended
above the chasm. The sound is
deafening and the spray soaks to
the skin - but the spectacle is one
that can never be forgotten.
Lake Kariba
Northeast of Victoria Falls, the
Zambezi River feeds into Lake
Kariba, another superlative body of
water located on the Zambian bor-
FBI Magazine
viewing. Perhaps the most rewarding
wildlife area is Matusadona
National Park, located on Kariba’s
southern shore.
Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools National Park is located
in the far north of the country,
and is renowned as one of the most
pristine nature areas in Zimbabwe.
It is recognized as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site for its incredible
concentrations of wildlife, including
elephant, buffalo, leopard
and cheetah. Mana Pools is also
Hwange National Park
Located to the west of the country
on the border with Botswana,
Hwange National Park is the oldest
and largest of Zimbabwe’s game reserves.
It covers a vast expanse of
around 5,655 square miles/14,650
square kilometers and provides
a refuge for over 100 species of
mammal - including the Big Five.
It is most famous for its elephants
— in fact, the Hwange elephant
population is thought to be one of
the largest in the world. The park
is also home to some of Africa’s
rarest safari animals, including the
African wild dog, the brown hyena
and the critically endangered black
rhino. Birdlife is abundant here,
with over 400 species recorded
within the park. Accommodation
in Hwange National Park ranges
from luxury lodges located in their
own private concessions, to rus-
up by the plunging water can be
seen from 30 miles/48 kilometers
away. This magnificent spectacle
gives the falls its indigenous name
— Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “The Smoke
That Thunders”. On the Zimbatic
camps that offer the chance to
spend a night under canvas in the
heart of the African bush.
Victoria Falls
In Zimbabwe’s far west corner, the
Zambezi River marks the border
with Zambia. At Victoria Falls, it
plunges off a precipice measuring
354 feet/108 meters in height and
5,604 feet/1,708 meters in width.
This is the largest sheet of falling
der. Created after the construction
of the Kariba Dam in 1959, Lake
Kariba is the world’s largest manmade
lake in terms of volume. It
stretches for over 140 miles/220
kilometers in length, and measures
25 miles/40 kilometers across at
its widest point. There are several
lodges located along the lake
shores, but the traditional way to
explore is on a houseboat. Kariba
is renowned as one of the best places
in the world to catch tiger fish, a
ferocious freshwater species prized
by sport fishermen for its strength
and tenacity. The lake’s islands also
offer ample opportunities for game
a haven for water-based wildlife,
with large populations of hippo
and Nile crocodile. They live in
the four pools that give the park
its name, each one created by the
Zambezi River before it altered
its course to flow northward. The
largest of these is approximately
3.7 miles/6 kilometers long and
provides a valuable source of water
even in the height of the dry season.
The abundance of water makes
this park a prime spot for birders,
too. It’s also the best destination in
the country for walking safaris and
self-sufficient camping trips.
Bulawayo

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If you find yourself craving urban
culture, pay a visit to Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe’s second-largest city
(after the capital, Harare). Founded
in the mid 19th-century by
Ndebele king Lobhengula, the city
came under the rule of the British
South Africa Company during the
Matebele War. As a result, much of
the city’s present-day architecture
dates back to the colonial era, and
walking through the wide, jacaranda-lined
streets feels a lot like step-
ping back in time. Top attractions
in Bulawayo include the Natural
History Museum, home of taxidermied
safari animals and rarities including
a dodo egg and a prehistoric
coelacanth fish. It is possible to
encounter living African animals at
Chipangali Widlife Orphanage, located
a short drive southeast of the
city. Medieval replica Nesbitt Castle
adds to Bulawayo’s atmosphere
of eccentric history and doubles as
a boutique hotel.
Great Zimbabwe National Monument
A four-hour drive south of Harare
or east of Bulawayo will take you
to the Great Zimbabwe National
Monument, another UNESCO
World Heritage Site. The site protects
the remains of Great Zimbabwe,
the capital of the historic
Kingdom of Zimbabwe and the
most important stone ruins south
of the Sahara. Built between the
11th and 15th centuries, the ruins
cover a vast area and include a hilltop
acropolis that would once have
housed kings and chiefs.
The surrounding valley is littered
with the ruins of more humble
dwellings, all of which were built
using granite blocks cut so perfectly
that no mortar was needed
to hold them together. Artifacts
including Arab coins from the East
African coast and porcelain from
China have been discovered here,
suggesting that Great Zimbabwe
was once a wealthy and powerful
center of trade.

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FBI Magazine
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.
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 well-known 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

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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 desirable to have benefactors
who can help the realization of
projects related to this foundation.”
She said.
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.
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

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my home country (Nigeria), which
is facing a lot of health change due
to its underdevelopment.
The Marchant of Hope
Gloria C. Chibuike
Founder Chinwe Chibuike Foundation
Gloria C. Chibuike is the president
and Founder of the Chinwe
Chibuike Foundation, an international
non-profit organization that
has been involved in a lot of charity
and philanthropic activities to
the benefit of a lot of people. The
weight of their work has been felt
mostly in Nigeria where they provide
health consultancy, medical
aids and treatments free of charge.
As the president of C.C.F, Gloria
has steered her organization to provide
huge medical relief to the people
of Abia State and other states
in Nigeria through a collaborative
effort with the government. The
range of her free medical services
covered the local governments and
rurality as she offered eye clinical
services, malaria orientation and
other medical services which are
innumerable.
Gloria’s passion for philanthropy
and charity drove her into the medical
field. As an experienced nurse,
she has made the health sector
her haven both professionally and
when it concerns philanthropy. She
is also a U.N delegate and hopes to
use her educational background as
a Plant and Biotechnology degree
holder to support the protection of
our ecosystem. She hopes to do her
part in making the world a better
place. In this interview, the merchant
of hope bares her thoughts
on various health advocacies and
challenges in Africa.
What was it like for you growing
up and how did it influence who
you are today?
Growing up was without my father.
I was brought up under the guardian
and tutorship of my mother.
This gave me a clear and different
understanding of life from a young
age making me into the woman I
am today.
You have shown tremendous courage
and resilience in your fight
against education and health related
issues in Africa, especially your
home country, Nigeria, what within
you gives you that power?
Losing my father to liver cirrhosis
at an early age gave me a strong
sense of determination, courage
and resilience to fight against
health related issues whilst educating
people on the importance of
health maintenance especially in
In your quest to ensure availability
of healthcare and education facilities
in disadvantaged communities,
you established the CCF,
how would you rate your achievement
so far?
Chinwe Chibuike Foundation (
CCF) was established to bring
hope to the people especially in the
rural areas and we have recorded a
lot of success so far mostly in remote
regions. Regardless of our
achievements, we are not relenting
as there’s still more work to be
done.
SDG 3 calls for the promotion of
healthy living and the well-being
of all. What role should governments
and partners such as CCF
play to support Africa in achieving
set targets?
The government should endeavour
to create good health facilities
which should be accessible to all,
provide free medical care to benefit
the society, create and enforce laws
that will protect the people from
industries that produce harmful
substances or materials that pollute
the environment which today,
is a big threat to human life.
The Chinwe Chibuike Foundation
(CCF) will continue to use its platform
(social media, outreaches,
seminars) to enlighten the masses
on the importance of health care.
Also, CCF hopes to strengthen its
partnerships with the government
in Nigeria and other neighbouring
countries to reach out to people
who can’t afford a healthy lifestyle
or take care of their medical bills.
As we all know, ‘Health is Wealth ‘’.

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What role will CCF play in mobilizing
resources for poor countries/
communities that cannot afford
huge budgetary allocations to the
health sector?
We are increasing our efforts in
providing medical supplies food
items to support and encourage
these communities. We are also
mapping out strategies to include
communities in other countries in
Africa. Plans are currently on to
establish health clinics and facilities.
We will do our best and hope
others join us by supporting these
3months. They should also abstain
from unprotected sex, make use of
protection (condoms) as we anticipate
positive progress in years to
come.
Of the 20 countries with the highand
unavailability of antenatal and
postnatal clinics which are meant
to reduce maternal mortality rate
and neonatal death mostly around
rural area.
What do you think are the most
pressing issues for women in Africa?
And what are the primary actions
to take in response to those
issues?
The pressing issues facing women
are gender inequality, sexual harassment/abuse.
Women should
be educated on ways to approach
these issues; learn to confide in
someone; report any case of abuse
est maternal mortality rates worldwide,
19 are in Africa, which also
has the highest neonatal death rate
in the world. Where is Africa getting
it wrong?
Neonatal death is caused by infecto
enable better readiness against
future epidemics. On the other
hand, foundations like ours should
continue to create awareness to
keep the minds of people alert to
the signs and symptoms associated
with these diseases.
Medical tourism is hugely common
among African Leaders; what
practical steps can African countries
take to improve their national
health systems?
Government should endeavour
to build standard hospitals, make
tions, pneumonia and sepsis. The
inability for patients to comply
with health related instructions
also contributes to these deaths.
Also inadequate information on
sex education, family planning,
initiatives.
HIV/AIDS and malaria continue
to be key health issues in Africa,
which has 11% of the world’s
population but is home to 60% of
the people with HIV/AIDS. In the
coming years, what would progress
look like?
CCF is currently sensitizing the
people on malaria and HIV/AIDS.
We should bear in mind that eradicating
this menace takes a gradual
process, hence; all hands should
be on deck. Individuals should endevour
to get tested at least every
to the appropriate authorities and
get medical examination to ensure
no illness has been contacted. The
government should provide adequate
security to prevent repetition
of these cases.
The World is peddled with so many
life threatening viruses like the
ChoronaVirus, HIV, Zika, Ebola
etc, how can African countries be
better prepared against future epidemics?
Government should invest in research
and boost our laboratory
medical facilities and equipment
available. They should also invest
in the training of medical practitioners
to develop their skills/
knowledge in their profession.
Finally, proper management of
these medical facilities/equipment
should be initiated to ensure good
maintenance policy.
In your own view, what’s the biggest
challenge for health care delivery
in Africa?
The challenges in health care delivery
in Africa are: lack of access
to information, lack of patient ed-

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ucation and compliance, poor accommodation
for patient’s needs,
difficulty finding the right resources,
slow adoption to medical technology
and inadequate budgetary
allocation.
Do you feel African governments
are supportive enough of NGOs
like yours who are positively contributing
to the country’s health
sector?
Government is supportive in its
little ways but they can be more
supportive and involved as these
NGOs’ influence lives, health and
other sectors of the economy positively.
What are your thoughts about unemployment
especially amongst
the youths and women in Africa?
What is the way forward?
In as much as we expect the government
to create and provide employment
for the youths and women,
we should also be prepared to
support through education, skill
and knowledge acquisition. We,
as individuals should be creative
and develop ourselves through
our craftsmanship while the government
creates an enabling environment
that will allow businesses
especially startups to thrive. Access
to grants as a source of encouragement
and empowerment to these
youth and women should also be
looked into
What kind of advice would you
give your 20-year-old self today?
Q14 i would tell myself, never ever
give up no matter what life throws
at me, and to always keep my eyes
on the price, and to never see anything
or anyone as a hindrance or
competition to reaching your goal.
To the people reading this and
probably thinking that they can’t
accomplish what you have accomplished.
What would you say to
them?
I believe all humans are unique in
their own ways and it is very important
to explore it. The problem
with most of the youths today is
LOW SELF ESTEEM. We look
down on ourselves lot entertaining
thoughts that we can’t do something.
I believe the moment we
start believing in ourselves and
challenging our inner potentials,
the easier it is to build up our
self-confidence. We should learn to
see every “NO” that was said to us
as strength to keep trying instead
of giving up and living in self-pity.
What is your advice to people
looking to invest or do business in
Africa?
Africa is a continent that is blessed
with a whole lot of resources and
I would definitely advise people to
invest in any way they can.

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1. What is COVID-19 and what
are the symptoms?
Coronaviruses are a large family
of viruses that can cause respiratory
illnesses, like the common cold
and pneumonia. COVID-19 is the
disease caused by a novel coronavirus,
SARS-CoV-2. Most people
infected with the novel coronavirus
have mild to moderate cold
and flu-like symptoms. But some
people, usually those with other
medical complications, may develop
more severe symptoms, including
pneumonia . The respiratory
symptoms of COVID-19 – including
fever, cough or shortness of
breath/difficulty in breathing – appear
an average of 5-6 days after
exposure, but may appear in as few
as two days or as long as 14 days after
exposure, according to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
2. What’s the difference between a
cold, a flu and COVID-19?
11 Urgent Things
You Must Know
About Covid 19
To Survive
rus. All three can lead to pneumonia
if complicated by other health
issues or underlying conditions.
The cold is generally more mild
than the flu or COVID-19, with
the most common symptom being
a runny or stuffy nose. The average
adult gets two to three colds a year
and recovers in about a week to 10
days.
The flu and COVID-19 cause
many of the same symptoms, such
as a fever, coughing or headache.
The flu takes about a week to two
weeks to recover from, while the
WHO believes the recovery period
for COVID-19 is approximately
two weeks for mild cases and three
to six weeks for those with severe
or critical cases. The cold, flu and
COVID-19 are all spread the same
way, from close person-to-person
interaction, though the cold
and COVID-19 can also spread
through liquid droplets or particles
when a person coughs or sneezes.
3. How does the new coronavirus
spread?
COVID-19 appears to spread like
other respiratory viruses from person
to person. The principal mode
of transmission occurs mainly via
All three are respiratory illnesses
but each is caused by a different
virus. The cold is caused by the
rhinovirus, the flu is caused by the
influenza virus, and COVID-19 is
caused by the novel 2019 coronavirespiratory
droplets that travel up
to 6 feet in the air after an infected
person coughs or sneezes. These
droplets can be inhaled by people
who are nearby or be moved to the
eyes, nose or mouth by contaminated
hands. Close contact with an
infectious person – such as shaking
hands or touching a doorknob,
tabletop or other surfaces touched
by an infectious person, and then
touching your nose, eyes or mouth
– can also transmit the virus.
4. How long can the COVID-19
virus survive on surfaces?
Viruses in the coronavirus family
generally don’t survive very long
on surfaces as they are sensitive to
the environment, according to the
B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control
also found that similar coronaviruses
can last up to nine days on
inanimate surfaces at room temperature
but that they are quickly
rendered inactive with common
disinfectants. On surfaces like
copper and steel, similar coronaviruses
last about two hours. What
that means is, your fear of catching
COVID-19 after touching a
package shipped from a country
where the virus has been spreading
is likely unfounded. During the
delivery process, the conditions
a package would typically pass
through would include a number
of temperature changes, which
makes it very difficult for the virus
to survive.
5. What can I do to protect myself?
It is understandable to feel uncertain
or anxious during a public
health crisis, and we need to
remember to avoid making assumptions
about others’ perceived
symptoms or any characteristics
of identity. Currently, there is no
vaccine to prevent the novel coronavirus
infection. The best way to
prevent infection is to take precautionary
steps.
Here are recommendations to take
everyday preventive actions to help
prevent the spread of respiratory
viruses:
• Avoid crowded places and
close contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose
and mouth.
• Wash your hands often with
soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Clean and disinfect frequently
touched objects and surfaces,
like keyboards, phones, remote
controls and door handles, and
thoroughly wash glasses and
utensils.
• Cover your mouth and nose
with a tissue when you cough
or sneeze — or use the crook
of your arm — and throw the
tissue in the trash. Then wash

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your hands with soap and water.
• Stay home when you’re sick.
• Get a flu shot.
• Don’t travel to places with
widespread or sustained community
transmission of the
coronavirus. Reliable travel information
can be found on the
CDC’s travel advisory page
• Practice healthy habits: Get
plenty of sleep, be physically
active, manage your stress,
drink plenty of fluids and eat
nutritious food.
6. Should I be concerned about
travelling right now? What precautions
can I take if I plan to
travel soon?
As of March 13, 2020, it is advisable
that you “postpone or cancel
all non-essential travel outside of
where you are.” If you are travelling,
be sure to wash your hands or
use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
if soap and water aren’t available.
When eating and drinking, stay
away from raw or undercooked
food and meat and avoid high-risk
areas such as farms, live animal
markets and areas where animals
may be slaughtered.
7. What should I do if I’m feeling
sick?
If you’re mildly ill, we encourage
you to stay home and contact your
health care provider by phone for
guidance about managing your illness.
If you have severe symptoms,
such as difficulty in breathing, seek
care immediately. If you’re an older
patient with underlying medical
conditions or are immunocompromised,
please contact your physician
early in the course of even
mild illness.
8. Someone in my family has
symptoms. What should the rest
of us do?
If someone in your family is showing
symptoms, it’s best if everyone
sharing the home or close quarters
with the symptomatic individual is
monitored for COVID-19 symptoms
to be sure the virus has not
already spread. If only one person
in the home is infected, then the
other individuals should stay elsewhere
if possible, particularly if
they have weak immune systems
or other health conditions. Those
who have no other options and
who must stay in the same home
should ensure the infected individual
stays and sleeps in a room with
good airflow that is away from others.
The infected individual should
use a separate bathroom and wear
a face mask if in the same room as
others. Face-to-face contact should
be avoided, while food and other
things can be dropped off outside
the infected person’s room.
9. What should I do if I think I
have COVID-19?
If you are feeling ill or have recently
travelled and feel ill, you should
contact a healthcare provider to see
about being tested for COVID-19.
If you plan to visit a doctor’s office,
a walk-in clinic, an emergency
room or any public health facility,
call ahead so healthcare providers
can prepare for your visit to
prevent possible spread to other
patients. If you have additional
questions, you can call your local
health authorities to speak with a
registered nurse. They’ll walk you
through a few questions to determine
the extent of your symptoms
and whether they match those of
COVID-19 before you are tested.
10. How do I self-isolate or quarantine
if I have COVID-19?
What’s the difference between
isolation and quarantine?
Isolation is for individuals confirmed
to be ill. Quarantine is for
individuals who may have been exposed
to someone who is sick and
aren’t sure if they’ll start experiencing
symptoms sometime soon. To
self-isolate if sick or to quarantine,
just stay home. Do not receive visitors,
don’t go to school or work,
don’t visit public areas including
places of worship, stores, shopping
malls and restaurants. Reschedule
any appointments you may have.
If you need to leave your home for
medical care, do not take public
transit, taxis or ride-hailing. If you
need groceries or have other needs,
use a delivery or pickup service instead
of going out yourself but be
sure to avoid face-to-face contact.
(Face-to-face contact is defined as
being within one to two metres of
another person.)
11. What can I do if I have more
concerns?
If you have questions about an upcoming
appointment, please call
you provider’s office.
You can also find more information
about COVID-19 from these
websites: CDC / Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (updated
daily with advice for public)
World Health Organization