Akon’s Letter On Why You Should Join The Fight To Help Electrify Africa

It’s hard to imagine living without basic electricity, but that’s the reality for nearly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Imagine giving birth or having an operation in a dark hospital with only a flashlight and no other equipment. Want to get a vaccine? It’s tough without refrigeration.

Pretty much everything you and I take for granted cannot function without power — schools, hospitals, factories, farms, and businesses.

Growing up in Dakar, Senegal, I saw first-hand the devastating effects of living without access to energy. That’s why I started “Akon Lighting Africa,” an initiative which has already brought electricity to 200,000 homes across the continent and intends to have one million hooked up by the end of this year.

It’s also why I’m teaming up with The ONE Campaign — Bono’s global anti-poverty organization — to build support for lifesaving legislation on energy in Africa, especially among millennials.

On May 7th, the House will have an extraordinary opportunity to tackle energy poverty when it votes on The Electrify Africa Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Eliot Engel (D-NJ) that would save countless lives and help millions of people lift themselves out of extreme poverty.

The aim of The Electrify Africa Act is to help countries in Africa deliver electricity to 50 million African people for the very first time. And you can make sure it passes by Tweeting your representative.

                                                

The bill will not only save lives — it saves money. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Electrify Africa Act will save US taxpayers $86 million over the next five years because of the way it leverages private investment.

A decade ago, both parties rallied around bold bipartisan plans to tackle the global AIDS epidemic, particularly in Africa. And after years of cooperation, we’ve helped to turn the tide against a killer disease to such an extent that the actual end of AIDS is possible within our lifetimes.

In 2002, only 50,000 Africans were receiving life-saving antiretroviral treatments. Today, more than 7.5 million are being kept alive, many of them flourishing, thanks in large part to America’s commitment to getting safe, effective medications to those in need.

The Electrify Africa Act would be similarly transformative, as modern life is wholly dependent on electricity. In order to ensure that a similar bill is introduced and passed in the Senate, I’m working with ONE on the #PowerProject, a campaign that will roll out with the aim of generating letters to Senators from constituents.

I joined ONE last month at the University of Southern California to launch the #PowerProject Campaign Lab, an innovative incubator where USC students created fresh ideas and new approaches in order to raise public awareness and drive action around energy poverty.

USC students pitched their ideas for viral social media campaigns and received immediate feedback. We had submissions open to all USC students and the best proposal will be part of ONE’s upcoming nationwide campaign, The #Power Project.

Stay tuned over the summer to the #PowerProject to see the students’ incredible ideas put into action.

In the meantime, to learn more and take action in the fight against energy poverty, visit ONE.org/energy.

Akon is an international philanthropist, business mogul, hip hop and R&B recording artist, songwriter and record producer. The Senegalese American has sold 35 million albums worldwide, five Grammy Award nominations, and 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs under his belt. In February 2014, Akon launched a partnership to bring electricity to one million households in Africa by the end of 2014.

You can read more on Akon's #Power Project here

Security May Hamper WEF Summit Attendance In Nigeria

 

The state of security in Nigeria may cast a looming shadow on the attendance of the coming World Economic Forum (WEF) in the nation’s capital, Abuja as some business experts scheduled to attend the forum have expressed in attending the forum.

One of them is Brand South Africa who in a letter signed by its CEO Miller Matola said the “Brand SA team will not be travelling to Abuja due to the inability to secure additional security services for our delegation."

Although Matola says "South Africans travelling to Nigeria can expect to be reasonably safe although they should exercise due caution and vigilance," he pointed out that Brand South Africa’s own delegation "was also not allocated accommodation in any of the WEF-accredited hotels and will therefore not be able to use official WEF transportation."

Another high-level delegate, Fernando de Sousa, the GM of Microsoft Africa Initiatives, cancelled his trip "for security reasons following the bombings in Abuja", Business Day reported.

Nigeria has been under series of violent attacks from Islamic militant group, Boko Haram in the past few weeks following the mass abduction of over 200 school girls in Borno state and two-separate car bombings at the Nyanya Parkm in Abuja which left hundreds of people dead and injured.

This has heightened security concerns even as the United State Department on its website warned that radical Islamists plan to attack one of two Sheraton hotels near Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub.

However, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has assured guests and residents of their safety with thousands of police and army personnel on the streets of the capital, Abuja.

Schools and government offices in the capital will also be closed for security purposes while restrictions are already in place at airports in Abuja and the financial capital, Lagos.

The event, also known as "Africa's Davos" is scheduled to hold between Wednesday to Friday after being a virtual fixture in Cape Town.

With the theme "Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs", Nigeria's government hopes to demonstrate its potential to overseas investors as a place to do business especially with its new-found status as Africa's biggest economy and leading oil producer, whose sustained rates of high economic growth have caught international attention.

The forum hopes that greater co-operation between countries in terms of trade, innovation, investment and strengthened institutions can unlock the continent's potential.

The WEF is expected to have more than a thousand people in attendance including African presidents, top business people, Africa experts as well as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as part of his first tour of Africa since taking office last year.

10 Things You Need To Know About China’s Trade Relations With Africa Today

With the growing presence of Chinese firms in infrastructure projects in Africa, ranging from reservoirs to football stadiums, here are 10 important things you need to note about China and Africa’s five-year intense bilateral trade relations today:

·         Africa is of prime strategic importance for China's economy.

·         An estimated of 1million Chinese are now resident in Africa, up from a few thousand a decade ago.

·         Chinese are the fourth-most-numerous visitors to South Africa.

·         China’s growing presence in Africa has often been referred to as "Chinese neo-colonialism in Africa" (a new form of colonialism)  - but the suspicion is changing.

·         Almost 80 percent of Chinese imports from Africa are mineral products.

·         China is Africa’s top business partner, with trade exceeding $166 billion.

·         Chinese President Xi Jinping first time visit to Africa will see him sign more than 60 agreements in different fields, with special emphasis on new structures in Africa such as roads, railways and electricity or air transport facilities.

·         More than 2,500 Chinese companies are part of projects in the continent with direct investments that at the end of 2013 stood at $25,000 million.

·         China has been Africa's largest trading partner in the last five years, with a turnover that reached $210,000 million last year.

·         China often turns a blind eye to human-rights abuses in Africa (most especially in labour-related issues), but it has not undermined democratic institutions or conventions.

#CHOICE4LIFE Advocates: In Readiness For The Return Of Our Girls (#BringBackOurGirls)

Since Monday, April 14, 2014, more than 200 girls, mostly teenagers, were reportedly abducted by heavily armed men from their school in Chibok, Borno State, North East Nigeria.

The news of this event sent ripples across the nation, and many are yet to recover from the shock of such a catastrophe. While some of the abducted girls have escaped and returned home, the exact whereabouts of the others remain unknown.

Reports regarding this event, are increasingly dominating the media, especially the new media with the launch of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Also, Nigerians, especially women and some parents of the abducted girls have taken to the streets in different states and countries around the world. They all show solidarity through protests pressurising government to swiftly and continuously take necessary actions to ensure the girls are returned home alive.

Apparently, incessant kidnappings have recently being on the increase in Nigeria. Victims suffer untold traumatic physical, psychological and emotional consequences. In this particular case, it is imperative to note that these girls are at high risk of sexual violence. While we earnestly anticipate their quick return in order to stop the continuous abuse they may be going through, it is imperative that we consider our readiness, especially our legal and health systems, to ensure that the victims immediately commence the process of full recovery upon their return.

We recognize the challenges of handling insurgencies such as this, as we unreservedly acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our military, para-military and other security personnel towards ensuring that peace, order, and security of mlives and properties is restored in Nigeria.

We commend all the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians who have toiled over the last couple of weeks, to raise awareness about the kidnapped girls, and who have worked to pressure the government to go the extra mile towards bringing our girls home.

We commiserate with the families and relatives of all the kidnapped girls, assuring them that Nigerians stand as one with them through these trying times.

To this end, we, the#Choice4Life Advocates, a group of young Nigerians from diverse ethno-religious and social background across Nigeria, who use social media to advocate for non-violence and promulgation of relevant policies needed to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights of women; therefore demands that;

The Federal Government and the Borno State Government, through relevant security agencies, intensify and strengthen all current efforts being made towards the quick release of the girls.

Given the fact that our current laws on violence against persons, especially women, is insufficient in ensuring justice for the abducted girls upon their much-anticipated return, we request the National Assembly pass the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill (#VAPPbill) without further delay so as to guarantee a robust legal framework needed to seek justice for the girls. The swift passage of the VAPP Bill will also, among others, boost the confidence of the citizens in the polity as well as serve as a legal protection of citizens against all forms of violence regardless of sex, age, culture, tribe or religion.

A policy on the right of every Nigerian to education should be formulated and included in our National Constitution and/or relevant documents so as to protect and guarantee the right of citizens to education regardless of cultural and religious beliefs. This is expected to take preeminence over any local, cultural, and/or religious policies, which are against right of citizens to education.

The education and empowerment of women should be given the adequate priority and urgent attention it requires.

All necessary structures and actions should be put in place immediately to forestall a repeat of this and similar incident in any part of Nigeria.

We do look forward to the earnest return of all the girls unharmed. It is time to

#BringbackOurGirls Alive!

Signed: Dr LazUde Eze, Mr Francis Anyaegbu, Mrs.Bukky Shonibare, Dr Chijioke Kaduru, Mr. Alkasim Abdulkadir, Pharm. Tolu Ogunlesi, Dr Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, Ms Busolami Tunwase, Mr. AkachukwuOkafor, Mr Kolo Kenneth Kadiri, Ms Oluwabusayo Sotunde, Mr Uche Briggs, Barr. Gabriel Okoro, Mr. Moses Nwokedi (Big Mo), Dr Ugochi Nnaji,

Mr. ‘Fisayo Soyombo, Dr Isa Jiddah Mohammed, Ms Joy Odiete (J’odie), Mr. Ayodele Fanida, Mr. Stephen Oguntoyinbo, Dr Chioma Enyi, Engr. Stanley Azuakola, Mr. Kamil Alebiosu, Mr. Franklin C. Uzor, Dr Patrick Ezie, Mr. David Nnaji, Mr. Jeremiah Agenyi, Mr. Stanley Achonu, Ms Tosin Ajibade, Dr Hamid Adediran, Mazi Moses Idika and Mr. Uche Njoku.

                                            

Note: This Press Statement is issued by #CHOICE4LIFE ADVOCATES, on the missing chibok school girls.