awoniyi270514

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Herzberger-Fofana on the breakthrough agreement between EU and ACP countries

The European Union has given its final approval to a new post-Cotonou partnership between the EU and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) States. After two years of waiting, this important document has finally been signed. Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Delegation for Relations between the European Union and the ACP countries, writes …

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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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Germany: Project supports African migrants in Berlin

A project to support recent migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers from Africa as well as Africans displaced by the war from Ukraine, has launched in Berlin. Implemented by GAIDI, a non-profit social organisation, YANA Berlin (for You are not alone in Berlin) assists the African migrants by providing them important information that facilitates their integration into society. The project, …

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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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Germany: Nigeria to showcase its rich cultures in Frankfurt

Africa’s most populous nation will display its diverse cultures in Frankfurt on 5 August in the German city of Frankfurt am Main. The 2nd Nigerian-German Cultural Carnival Frankfurt (NGCCF), according to a spokesman of the organisers, promises to be a major event in the financial city. “This year’s will be bigger, merrier as last year’s, with many activities taking place,” …

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Germany: Yemi Alade, Orchestra Baobab, Agoo perform at music festival

The 23rd edition of the African Music Festival takes place from 4 – 6 August 2023 at the Schlossplatz in the south-western German town of Emmendingen. Under the motto “Tribute to Mama Africa”, Afrikaba Kulturkreis e.V. has once again put together an exciting festival programme. The various African-origin musical styles and cultures, including salsa, reggae and Afro world, will be …

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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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Germany: New laws and other changes in August 2023

Like almost every month, August 2023 also brings some important changes for people living in Germany. In addition to new laws, there will be a number of changes will come into force. These include an increase in the minimum wage in the cash-in-transit industry, the introduction of an innovative apprenticeship and the deadline for filing the 2021 tax return. Here …

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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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Cologne Festival showcases enduring spirit of African filmmaking

From 14 to 24 September 2023, the Afrika Film Festival Köln (AFFK) will celebrate its 20th edition with about 85 historical and contemporary films from 20 African countries and the worldwide diaspora. The patron of this year’s festival is the Senegalese director Dyana Gaye, who will give an insight into the TIGRITUDES programme, a film series exploring the challenges and …

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These are the world’s most powerful passports in 2023

The passport of a country determines the freedom of travel enjoyed by its citizens. Singapore’s passport has free access to more destinations – namely 192 (out of 227 in the world) – than any other travel document, according to the 2023 Henley Passport Index, which was released on Tuesday. Free access means visa-free entries and unbureaucratic visa issuance on arrival. …

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Germany discusses partnership with ECOWAS

ABUJA, Nigeria, July 20, 2023/APO Group/ — The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) received a delegation from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on a courtesy visit on the 17th of July 2023 to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation. The areas of collaboration discussed during …

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Flutterwave now enables Nigerian students pay overseas school fees in naira

Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company, has launched Tuition, a new payment product that enables African users to conveniently pay fees to educational institutions within Africa and overseas using their local currencies. The educational institutions available on Tuition include high schools, universities, colleges and some global edutech platforms. Tuition enables students, parents, guardians and sponsors to pay school fees to …

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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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