AFRICA

Nigeria opens e-passport offices in Italy, Spain, three others

Nigeria has commenced the opening of enhanced e-passport facilities at select Nigerian Embassies in Europe. Unveiling the facilities in Rome, Italy, on Monday, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the new passport processing centres are part of efforts “to streamline passport processing and acquisition for Nigerians residing in the diaspora.” The minister, who was represented at the event …

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German president apologizes for colonial crimes in Tanzania

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has asked for forgiveness for the crimes committed by the military during Germany’s colonial rule of Tanzania. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday sought forgiveness for crimes committed during the country’s colonial rule in Tanzania. “I would like to ask for forgiveness for what Germans did to your ancestors here,” Steinmeier said during a visit to …

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German Chancellor Scholz visits Nigeria, Ghana

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is visiting Africa for three days; first Nigeria, then Ghana. Scholz arrives Abuja on Sunday for a two-day working visit to Africa’s most populous country. While in Nigeria, the German leader will hold meetings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, according to his itinerary published by the German Embassy …

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Marcus Garvey’s son visits Nigeria in symbolic act of return

Dr Julius Garvey, son of the legendary Jamaican-born Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey, attended this year’s Badagry Door of Return Festival, which took place from 19 to 21 October. The annual event, which holds in the town of Badagry, remembers the slave trade that led to the forcible migration of millions of Africans and seeks to reconnect the Black diaspora with …

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Tribute to Nigeria’s Diaspora Amazon

Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa/Photo: NIDCOM The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, recently clocked 61. Rosemary Moribirin pays tribute to a woman who through her work has significantly raised the profile of Nigerians living in the diaspora in their homeland ——- In the grand tapestry of life, we gather to celebrate a luminous figure in Nigeria’s …

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Tinubu: Nigeria goes for its rightful place on global stage

Mohammed Idris* writes on the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who assumed office on 29 May, to reposition Nigeria on the global stage as he seeks international partners in his efforts to revamp his country’s economy. He says the country’s citizens “stand on the threshold of a Nigeria that is a true global giant”. Having hit the ground running …

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German Chancellor to visit Nigeria

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Nigeria in October to further strengthen economic ties between both nations, Nigerian presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, has announced. Ngelale explained that the visit was agreed on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in New Delhi, India, where President Bola Tinubu and the German leader met. “Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. …

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EU Observers’s report on Zimbabwe’s elections

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in for a second five-year term on Monday, a week after securing an absolute majority in the country’s presidential election. Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP, a member of the European Union observer team that witnessed the controversial polls, reports—— General elections were held throughout Zimbabwe on 23 and 24 August 2023 to elect the president, …

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Nigerians’ long wait for passport to end — new minister

Nigeria’s new Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticized the delays experienced by Nigerians to obtain their passports. According to him, Nigerians should not be made to wait endlessly before getting their passports. He has therefore directed the acting Comptroller General of the Immigration, Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, to ensure the reasons for the delays were addressed. Tunji-Ojo said this on …

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Nigeria to establish university-based diaspora research centre

Nigeria to establish a research centre on diaspora issues in its quest to more actively engage its citizens living outside their homeland The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N1billion for the establishment of a diaspora research centre at the University of Ibadan (UI). Sonny Echono, TETFund executive secretary, in a statement signed by Abdulmumin Oniyangi, said the centre …

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How DRC is preparing for general elections by MEP Herzberger Fofana

During a recent trip to the DRC, on the invitation of His Greatness Dominique Khonde Mpolo, Universal Minister for Peace of Nations and Continents (CULPAC), members of the European Parliament’s Development Committee also had a meeting with Denis Kadima, President of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), in Kinshasa. Dr Pierrette Herzberger Fofana, German member of the European Parliament representing …

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Nigeria: Military ready to absorb returning doctors from diaspora

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured Nigerian doctors abroad willing to return to the country that the Nigerian Army is ready to absorb them into its military hospitals. Lagbaja gave the assurance while receiving Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and other members of the top management team of the Commission at …

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ECOWAS grapples with Niger coup amid division

Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea declare support for Niger coup as the regional ECOWAS puts pressure on the military rulers of the country to return power to the democratically elected leadership In a dangerous turn of events, military-ruled Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea have declared their support for the coup in Niger. President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on 26 July in …

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Nigeria: Why the economic crisis is big opportunity (Opinion)

Although the impact of the removal of subsidy and abrogation of the multiple exchange rate regime has been harsh, they offer Nigeria a big opportunity to fundamentally change its economic course, argues Femi Awoniyi, Editor/Publisher of The African Courier ————— Nigerians are hurting, now is time to take the bull by the horn! For eight-long years, economists and international financial …

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Nigeria: Appoint citizens living abroad into government — Alistair Soyode

A former chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), Dr Alistair Soyode, has called for the appointment of qualified Nigerians living abroad into government positions in their home country. Speaking during a live panel discussion on the Nigerian private broadcaster AIT on Friday, Soyode said the diaspora with their knowledge, networks and experiences would add value to governance in …

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Congolese youth ready for peace by Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana

Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament representing Germany on the platform of the Green Party, was recently in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo to speak to young people. She writes about her impressions of young Congolese and her views on how they can take charge of their homeland’s destiny—- By Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, …

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Nigeria: President promises diaspora-friendly government

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday assured Nigerians in the diaspora that his administration would give special priority to diaspora engagement in its Renewed Hope agenda. Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at the opening of the 17th National Diaspora Day (NDD) event in Abuja, the president said that his administration would be a diaspora-friendly government and …

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Nigeria to Celebrate Diaspora Day in Abuja

Nigerians from across the globe will converge on their country’s capital Abuja on 25-26 July for this year’s Nigerian Diaspora Day (NDD). The annual event brings together Nigerians resident abroad and representatives of the federal and state governments and their agencies as well as of the organised private sector to discuss areas of partnership in national development. The theme for …

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