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Maazi Chukwuma Eze is the National Co-ordinator of Ndi Igbo Germany (NIG). Ndi Igbo means Igbo people, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. The businessman, who is the proprietor of EZE Motors and EZE Shipping Service in Hanover, talks about the Nigerian economy, the performance of the one-year old Buhari administration, Igbo self-determination agitations and the situation …

Youth Think Tank Report provides insights into youth employment trends in East Africa East African youth are seeking a greater voice in their future, according to new youth-led research released today by The MasterCard Foundation Youth Think Tank. At a launch organized by Restless Development in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, the 15 members of the Youth Think Tank revealed …

British-Nigerian politician Festus Akinbusoye on why he’ll be voting for Britain to remain in Europe, when the country goes to the polls on 23 June. The only thing more irresponsible than keeping quiet about the likelihood of negative economic impacts of a Brexit is to pretend there won’t be any real impact at all. It is quite disingenuous of some …

The film describes the fight for democracy and socio-economic justice in the tiny sub-Saharan country through the eyes of Bheki Dlamini, a young activist

An increasing number of apprenticeships in Germany, one of the cornerstones in on-the-job training, remain unfilled, the country’s federation of chambers of commerce said on 14 June, adding that refugees were not yet making up for the shortfall. “The situation on the traineeship market is becoming increasingly acute,” the head of the DIHK federation, Eric Schweitzer, told a news conference. …

There should be no place for racism in any civilised society. To fight it should be everybody’s duty, but parents in particular should be bound to take more responsibility for their children’s education, since they naturally play a crucial role in their social development. Adapting to this challenge, parents of children of African origin in Berlin, organised in an association …

Despite Africa having 65 per cent of the unused arable land in the world, the continent cannot feed itself. According to the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, Africa imports food worth US$35 billion annually, when the continent should have been a next exporter of food. Dr Adesina, who was speaking at the 7th Africa Agriculture Science …

How former Nigeria’s national trainer, who suddenly died on 8 June, defeated prejudice against African coaches in Africa Tragedy struck African football in the early hours of 8 June when Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former coach of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, suddenly died at 54 in Benin City. The former international football player and coach had lost his wife …

Famous German humanitarian Rupert Neudeck, who died on 31 May 2016 at 77, points out what he considers the major impediments to African development in his book The strength of Africans and he explains why Western development agencies cannot be helpful to a continent that is so rich in natural resources. In his book Die Kraft Afrikas – Warum der …

Literally translated, Boa Vista, the easternmost island of Cape Verde, means “beautiful view” and it lives up to its name, surprising visitors with stunning views. But there is so much more to Boa Vista than spectacular landscapes and observation points, as our Associate publisher Bugs Steffen discovered when he went to explore.  I was asked how I came up with …

The Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (Initiative of Black People in Germany or ISD Bund e.V.) marked the 30th anniversary of its founding early this year. The ISD is the first and the most important group formed by the African diaspora in this country since 1945 for the promotion of its interests. Although Blacks have not attained the level of …

Since 1992, the University for Development Studies in Ghana institution has been helping the rural poor of northern Ghana. Its range of projects is remarkable: from setting up and running agribusinesses to recycling plastics, from building dams to spreading literacy, from preserving water resources to educating parents about the value of keeping their children in school. Our contributing editor Tom …

South Africa’s Public Protector, who famously took on President Jacob Zuma over the use of taxpayers’ money to upgrade his home, has been awarded the prestigious prize for her commitment to fighting corruption. Some have called her a woman of steel. Others say she is the voice of the voiceless. As the public protector, Thuli Madonsela has worked tirelessly to …

African women from across Europe will gather in the western German city of Düsseldorf on 18 June. Organised by African Women in Europe (AWE) Network under the theme Leadership & Integration for Change, the one-day event will feature discussions on issues affecting African women, their career development and the opportunities for professional advancement. Among the speakers billed to speak at …

Humanitas Afrika launched a creative initiative last year to promote positive Africa in the Czech Republic. Around Africa in a Month is a platform of constructive dialogue to discuss serious issues that showcase the various contributions that the African Diaspora communities are making to the development of Africa and Europe. In this first interview in a series, Martha Ronke Ayorinde …

One hundred groups meet in Berlin, call for change in the discussion of migration issues They take our jobs. They put pressure on our social services. They bring war, diseases and uncivilised social practices. They degrade our culture and threaten our societies. Everything was better before they arrived… These are just a few of the myths about migrants and refugees …

Noo Saro-Wiwa’s exhilarating offering is travel book, social commentary, history and a projection into Nigeria’s future all rolled into one, writes Michael Nnaji.  Unlike most writers who spend a few weeks or days in a particular country of interest before embarking on an opinionated take in the form of a travel book, Noo Saro-Wiwa’s Looking for Transwonderland – Travels in …

The restoration of democracy with regular elections in the 1990s held the promise of resolving the explosive issue of power succession blamed for the conflicts that devilled post-independent Africa. After independence in the 1960s, most of the ruling parties abolished multiparty democracy and instituted one-party states. The argument for the change was the promotion of stability, as the acrimonious contest …

Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, was awarded with the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany at the residence of the German Ambassador in Pretoria on 22 April. On behalf of the German President, Ambassador Walter Lindner presented the Order to Ms Pandor in front of over 100 high-level guests. The minister has …

Düsseldorf, April 2016 – Ortel Mobile connects people in different countries. To mark its ten-year anniversary, the telecommunications company is now offering a 10-gigabyte Internet flat rate in its range of products. Nowadays, mobile data is more important than ever for staying in contact with loved ones – whether viewing a video from friends or family on Facebook while you’re …