Author: Fishe

In a significant move, the Angolan government has officially inaugurated the Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN), marking a milestone in the country’s aviation infrastructure. Costing over $3 billion, the airport is strategically positioned 40 km east of central Luanda, aiming to gradually replace the Quatro de Fevereiro Airport (LAD), and emerge as Angola’s primary hub for both passenger and cargo services. Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, the Minister of Transport, revealed that the government’s substantial investment will be recuperated through the concession of airport management, development of an airport city, and engagement of the private sector to optimize the new…

Elon Musk’s Neuralink is searching for a volunteer to participate in the first clinical trial of its brain implant chip, following its’ approval early in the year. The announcement for volunteers has seen thousands of humans lined up to participate in the six-year trial, which begins next year. “Neuralink has received an outpouring of interest from thousands of prospective patients,” as posited by Ashlee Vance, one of Elon Musk’s biographers, as reported by Bloomberg. To participate, an ideal candidate has to be an adult below the age of 40, who has all four limbs paralyzed. The trial involves a surgical…

A senior USAID official praised the Feed the Future Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS), program during a close-out event in Nairobi this week.   Dina Esposito, Deputy Coordinator for Feed the Future, highlighted how the $200 million initiative transformed lives for over 300,000 Kenyans through strengthened agricultural markets. Esposito cited farmers who significantly boosted yields and incomes with help accessing quality inputs like seeds and fertilizers. She also noted how KCDMS empowered women and youth through private sector partnerships.  Earlier today, I had the opportunity to visit exhibition booths from partners who received support from the Kenya Crops and…

The Ota based Owu son was the number one citizen back then, when on that Sunday evening, a bomb exploded in a military barracks in Ikeja, causing series of multiple explosions to follow thereafter, putting Nigerians resident in Ikeja, Lagos State in panic and several lives lost. It’s unveiled itself on January 27, 2022, now over 21 years ago. The explosion was heard and felt 30 miles away, depending on where you’re, and the tremors collapsed homes and broke windows as far as 10 miles away. The Red Cross claims that at least 1,000 bodies were recovered and a number…

The 20th U.S.-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA Forum), wrapped up  in Johannesburg as led by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. She co-hosted with South Africa’s Minister of Trade Ebrahim Patel. The annual forum brought together senior U.S. and African government officials, business leaders, labor and civil society groups to discuss trade ties and the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which expires in 2025. Throughout the forum, Ambassador Tai held bilateral meetings and emphasized the Biden administration’s commitment to a timely AGOA reauthorization. She discussed worker-centered trade policies for resilient, inclusive growth. The U.S. delegation…

Nigeria’s foreign trade data for June 2023 reveals a total trade value of N12.74 trillion, with significant findings from the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), exclusively disclosed by Tribune Online. Export destinations for Nigeria in 2022 saw the Netherlands, the United States of America, and Indonesia emerging as top markets. Total exports from Nigeria amounted to N7.02 trillion, while imports reached N5.73 trillion. Specifically, the Netherlands led the list of export destinations with N788.85 billion (11.24% of total exports), followed by the United States of America with N718.63 billion, Indonesia with N550.18 billion, France…

Ajala had the world in his pockets and the world bowed at his guts. From the physical boundaries of nations to the piercing demarcations of racism. Ajala tore through them all. Originally birthed to Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala in Ghana, an African Muslim father with four wives, Ajala grew up in a large family. He was one of the 25 children to his father. In his own words in his legendary book, An African Abroad, he said: ‘I was born in Ghana, of Nigerian parents, and brought up in Nigeria, where I had my schooling at the Baptist Academy, Lagos,…

Prince Idubor, popularly know as Arhuanran, would have been the Oba (King), of Benin as at the time the great kingdom was flourishing but was cheated of his birthright which legend said was given to his younger brother, Esigie, who was born on the same day he was. Oba Ozolua, also called Ozolua n’Ibaromi (Ozolua the Conqueror), was an important Oba (king), in the history of Benin Kingdom. He reigned between 1483 and 1514. One of Oba Ozolua’s wife, Queen Ohonmi, gave birth to a baby boy named Idubor who was fondly called Arhuanran. Arhuanran did not cry immediately after…

The United States has welcomed the arrival of a 20-truck convoy carrying essential humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza.  This marks the first major humanitarian delivery since the horrific terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on Israel on October 7th. The U.S. expresses gratitude to its partners in Egypt and Israel, as well as the United Nations, for their role in facilitating the secure passage of these much-needed supplies through the Rafah border crossing. The arrival of this humanitarian convoy signifies a collective effort by the international community to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The region has…

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has seen a reduction in its number of judges, now totaling 10, as Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad has retired from service.  The retirement of Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad will be commemorated with a valedictory court session scheduled for Friday, October 27 at 10:00 am in the main courtroom of the Supreme Court. The special court session will be presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who will pay tribute to Justice Musa Dattijo, along with other key figures in the nation’s justice sector. Justice Musa Dattijo is a native of…

At the Concordia Annual Summit on September 19, the 2023 P3 Impact Award was presented to The HealthTech Hub Africa (HTHA). This award, celebrating a decade of collaboration between the State Department’s Office of Global Partnerships, Concordia, and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, recognizes HTHA as a standout initiative. HTHA operates as a pan-African health technology accelerator, fostering partnerships between governments and startups to drive data and technology-enabled innovations aimed at strengthening African healthcare systems. This collaborative effort involves key players such as The Novartis Foundation, The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS,…

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR), Assistant Secretary Geoffrey R. Pyatt and the Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), Chief Counsel Stephen Gardner have jointly announced the release of the “Methane Abatement for Oil and Gas: Handbook for Policymakers.” This handbook, sponsored by ENR and developed by CLDP, aims to provide guidance to legislators, ministries, regulators, and national oil company officials on adopting and enforcing legal measures to rapidly reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a short lifespan, and reducing methane emissions is crucial…