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Africa Illustrious Award Honours Outstanding Africans in Diverse Works of Life

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It was a gathering of some of Africa’s finest yesterday at Radisson Blu in Victoria Island of Lagos, during the Africa Illustrious Award organised by My Media Africa. Different categories of awardees graced the occasion from different African countries. Award categories include; leadership and public service, entertainment, tech invention and innovation, academia, business and entrepreneurship, as well as integrity awards. The event also featured unveiling of the latest edition of My Media Africa magazine.

In leadership and public service category, Dr. Alfred Mutua the Governor of Machakos County in Kenya was recognised and honoured as Africa’s best performing governor for the year 2021, and he was at the venue to receive his award with his entourage, in company of Sen. Ladema, a serving senator in Kenya.

Also in this category are Rt. Hon. Pascal Agbodike, the Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, who was honoured with an award as the Most Outstanding Deputy Speaker in Southeast Nigeria. Hon. Agbidike is also the Chairman of Council of Southeast Deputy Speakers. Still in this category, Hon. Afam Mbanefo Anambra State Commissioner of transport was recognised and awarded the Most Resourceful Commissioner. Both Agbodike and Mbanefo were duly represented.

The high point of the event includes the virtual speech by Prof. Patrick Lumumba, though brief, yet as persuasive as ever. Prof. Lumumba was also represented by

Dr. Amb. Williams Wallace, Ambassador of Antigua to Nigeria, also graced the occasion and delivered the keynote speech on Africa’s development prospects, options, and what Africans must do to seize their own present and future. Dr. Wallace received Prof. Lumumba’s award as Pan-Africanist of all time.

Another high point of the event was the recognition of Joe Blankson, who drowned trying to rescue those that were drowning following their boat’s capsize in Portharcourt, Rivers state last year. The posthumous award given to him was presented with cash of N500,000 Naira. Others in this category include

Rasheed Yekini whose award was also presented with cash of N500,000 Naira. Finally in this category was Samuel Okwaraji, ex Nigerian international, whose posthumous award was equally presented with a cash of N500,000 Naira. Members of their families were around to receive the award and the cash price.

In the business category, Chief Akai Egwuonwu was recognised as the Southeast Businessman of the year and the award was received on his behalf by his representative.

Ousman Touray, a popular young Pan-Africanist from The Gambia was honoured with an award as the young Pan-Africanist of the year and he was at the event to receive his award, which was followed by a beautiful, well-measured speech. Then also, Emmanuel Tuloe from Liberia who became popular for returning the sum of $50, 000 USD he picked, was awarded Young Integrity Icon of the year. Emmanuel was accompanied to the venue by The Gambian diplomatic corps in Nigeria.

Other awardees include; Dr. Adaku Jennifer Agwunobi a very radiant and passionate digital entrepreneur and singer, who received an award as the Digital Entrepreneur of the year. Adaku came in from the UK to receive her award.

Others are Dr. Charles Hackman from Ghana, who was equally present.

In the entertainment category, Shirley Igwe was awarded Nollywood personality of the year. Ameh Ada, Spiff, Stan Eze, and others were also at the event which was anchored by Nollywood veteran actor, Segun Arinze and assisted by OTB of Naija Fm in Lagos.

Some side attractions include a music performance by Prince Angel Nwaebube, and music performance by Dr. Adaku. The Army band was also present to spice up the event with musical interludes.

 

 

 

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Africa

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso agree to create a joint force to fight worsening violence

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BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A joint security force announced by the juntas ruling Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to fight the worsening extremist violence in their Sahel region countries faces a number of challenges that cast doubt on its effectiveness, analysts said Thursday.

Niger’s top military chief, Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou said in a statement after meeting with his counterparts Wednesday that the joint force would be “operational as soon as possible to meet the security challenges in our area.”

The announcement is the latest in a series of actions taken by the three countries to strike a more independent path away from regional and international allies since the region experienced a string of coups — the most recent in Niger in July last year.

They have already formed a security alliance after severing military ties with neighbors and European nations such as France and turning to Russia — already present in parts of the Sahel — for support.

Barmou did not give details about the operation of the force, which he referred to as an “operational concept that will enable us to achieve our defence and security objectives.”

Although the militaries had promised to end the insurgencies in their territories after deposing their respective elected governments, conflict analysts say the violence has instead worsened under their regimes. They all share borders in the conflict-hit Sahel region and their security forces fighting jihadi violence are overstretched.

The effectiveness of their security alliance would depend not just on their resources but on external support, said Bedr Issa, an independent analyst who researches the conflict in the Sahel.

The three regimes are also “very fragile,” James Barnett, a researcher specializing in West Africa at the U.S.-based Hudson Institute, said, raising doubts about their capacity to work together.

“They’ve come to power through coups, they are likely facing a high risk of coups themselves, so it is hard to build a stable security framework when the foundation of each individual regime is shaky,” said Barnett.

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Associated Press writer Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria contributed.

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Mexican Authorities say they saw a huge increase in migrants from Africa and Venezuela in 2023

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Mexican authorities say they saw a huge increase in the number of migrants from Africa and Venezuela entering the country in 2023.

Those migrants generally enter Mexico from Central America, and cross the country in a bid to reach the U.S. border.

Mexico’s Interior Department said year-end figures showed that nine times more migrants from Africa entered Mexico in 2023, with numbers rising from 6,672 in 2022, to 59,834 in 2023.

The report also showed the number of migrants from Venezuela more than doubled last year, rising from 96,197 in 2022 to 222,994 in 2023.

In part, that may reflect more rapid and more numerous movements of migrants through the jungle-clad Darien Gap that connects South America to Panama.

Smugglers are moving migrants more quickly through the dangerous route, which last year was traversed by over half a million migrants. Once in Panama, migrants make their way through Central America to Mexico.

Overall, the number of all irregular migrants found in Mexico in 2023 rose by 77%, going from 441,409 in 2022 to 782,176 last year.

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Nigeria vs South Africa: AFCON prediction, kick-off time, TV, and live stream

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A meeting of two imperious defences will decide the first entrant to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final when South Africa and Nigeria meet on Wednesday.

The Super Eagles have conceded just one goal at this AFCON and dispatched Angola in a tight game to qualify for the semi-finals.

But Bafana Bafana matched their run of four consecutive clean sheets as goalkeeper Ronwen Williams delivered the heroics in their penalty shootout win over Cape Verde.

Only once since their last Cup of Nations title, which came just over a decade ago, have Nigeria reached the last four – and they have lost five of their last six AFCON semi-finals.

South Africa’s wait stretches back even further, with no title since 1996 and this their first run to the last four since 2000.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Nigeria vs South Africa is scheduled for a 5pm GMT kick-off on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

The match will take place at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

Where to watch Nigeria vs South Africa

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC Two, with coverage starting at 4.30pm GMT, as well as Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League.

Live stream: Sky subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app while the game will also be shown for free via the BBC Sport and iPlayer portals.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

What we know

♦ Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen was taken off late on against Angola with an abdominal injury and he did not join the rest of the squad in flying out to Bouake on Monday evening.

A team statement assured that he could yet be released to travel on Tuesday if he passes medical checks.

Hugo Broos has a settled line-up for South Africa, with the defence entirely made up of Mamelodi Sundowns players.

However, after failing to score against Cape Verde he could tinker with the attack.

♦ Both teams have been outstanding defensively throughout the tournament and it feels as though a single goal will prove the difference in this game.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong scored an 89th-minute winner when Nigeria knocked Bafana Bafana out of the 2019 Cup of Nations quarter-finals, which was these two sides’ last meeting.

Nigeria wins: 7

South Africa wins: 2

Draws: 5

Nigeria vs South Africa match odds

Nigeria to qualify: 1/2

South Africa to qualify: 7/1

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