NAIJAFEED

Friday, April 29, 2011

Video - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shares a story about military intimidation

Managing Director of the World Bank, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala talks about standing up to military officials and cutting the Nigerian defense budget in order to invest in education and the future of Nigeria.

Reauters

Okonjo-Iweala seeks renaissance in science and tech

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for President!

U.S. Says Nigeria's Elections Were Its Best Since 1999

As Nigeria concludes its series of elections, a senior Obama administration official says the voting in legislative, presidential and local government contests was the country's most successful since it returned to multiparty democracy in 1999.

"This reverses a downward democratic trajectory and provides the country a solid foundation for strengthening its electoral procedures and democratic institutions in the years to come," Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson told reporters April 28.

Carson acknowledged that there had been some problems, including allegations of fraud and ballot box snatching, but said he did not believe that "any of the irregularities or technical imperfections undermines the overall outcome of this election and that the elections do reflect the will of a majority of the Nigerian people."

He praised Nigerians for showing the world "their resilience and will to have their voices heard," and said their desire to participate in democratically run elections is shared by many across the African continent.

"It also is an indication, too, that if Nigeria, with its large size and population, can in effect run and manage successful democratic elections, that it is possible for many of the other, smaller states to do as well," he said.

He commended Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission and its chairman, Attahiru Jega, as well as Nigerian security services for addressing the challenges posed by the elections. Carson said they had improved their efforts "with each progressive election."

Carson said the Obama administration deplores the violence that accompanied the elections, particularly following the April 16 presidential vote that was won by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, but said the level of violence has been less than in previous contests.

"I think that there has been a history of violence associated with Nigerian elections in the past. But in this election, we have clearly seen a much more responsible security force, security presence, in and around the electoral sites," Carson said. He added that the United States hopes the 2011 elections will serve as "a baseline for greater improvement in both their technical procedures as well as in their security."

U.S. Department of State

Barack to Obama - You can't afford to fail

Goodluck Jonathan Declared Winner of Presidential Poll

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Music Video - Ikechukwu 'Still Standing'

The new single off Ikechuwu's third album "THE ALLIANCE RECONSTRUCTED" produced by BENNY B TWISTED MINDZ. Directed by Udoka Oyeka.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Voting underway in Nigeria despite violence

Officials are counting the votes cast in Tuesday's election for state governors across Nigeria.

The poll was marred by bomb blasts, shootings and accusations of ballot box snatching - after rioting in the country's north left hundreds dead in the week since Goodluck Jonathan was declared winner of the presidential election.

AlJazeera

Goodluck Jonathan Declared Winner of Presidential Poll

Foreign observers score presidential election high

UNICEF - Malaria Kills 300,000 Every Year

Malaria kills about 300,000 people in Nigeria annually with about 97 per cent of the population at risk of infection while an estimated 800,000 people die every year from malaria, with approximately 90 per cent of these deaths occurring in Africa where malaria accounts for about one in six of all childhood deaths.This was disclosed yesterday in a press statement by the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) to mark this year's World Malaria Day.

The Executive Director of the world body, Anthony Lake, said that though malaria was both preventable and curable, hundreds of thousands of children, primarily in Africa, will perish because of lack of access to ITNs and to life-saving treatment within 24 hours of onset of symptoms and that waiting even six hours for treatment can mean life or death for a sick child.

"This World Malaria Day, and every day, around 2,000 children will die from a mosquito bite," "We have effective measures to combat this deadly disease - and we must use them to save lives. Studies have shown that when a community's children sleep every night under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), overall child mortality can be reduced by up to 20 per cent."

According to the statement, between 2004 and 2010, more than 400 million nets were delivered to malaria-endemic countries, with 290 million delivered since 2008 alone.

He added that these 290 million nets were enough to cover approximately 80 per cent of 'country-stated net need' across Africa which has led to real progress in the reduction of global malaria deaths by 20 per cent between 2000 and 2009,statistics that represent many thousands of individual children's lives.

Lake said, "Fighting malaria not only saves children's lives, but also yields many other health and economic benefits. For example, eliminating malaria eases the burden on over-stretched health centres. Reducing malaria improves the health of pregnant mothers and therefore the health of their babies. Controlling malaria can also reduce deaths due to malnutrition, as those already weakened are more likely to die if they contract the disease."

"We cannot leave some children exposed to malaria and other children safe," Lake said.

"Whether it is insecticide-treated nets, proper diagnosis, or effective treatment, the challenge is to provide protection and care to every single child who is at risk."

Leadership

Video report on the fight against malaria