Italy: First Black Minister in Italy

Cecile Kyenge

Cecile Kyenge, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been appointed as a minister for integration by new Italian government. She is elected from the centre-left Democratic party (PD).

The appointment of first ever black minister was met with opposition from the rightwing Northern League as its secretary Matteo Salvini, described the 48-year-old Kyenge as "the symbol of a hypocritical, do-gooder left that would like to abolish the crime of illegal immigration and only thinks about immigrants' rights and not their duties". He said the League was ready to mount "total opposition" to her in parliament.

The AC Milan and Italy's national team striker, Mario Balotelli, described her appointment as "a further, big step towards a more civilised and responsible Italian society".

Kyenge said her top priorities would be changing Italy's citizenship laws, which are based on descent rather than place of birth.

"Anyone who is born and grows up in Italy is an Italian," she told Repubblica TV.

MyWord

Mr Matteo Salvini and his Northern League are crying foul; history has been written. The appointment will go a long way in redeeming the image of black woman in particular and black race in general as prostitutes in Italy and beyond.

Black woman in diaspora has great potentials other than prostitution. They are capable of engaging in politics, business and other ventures if given the opportunity to do so.

But its unfortunately so that in this part of the world except in United Kingdom, black graduates hardly have career opportunities due to racial stereotypes and prejudice.

Its a shame that even in this century people are still being judged by their colour rather than ability. The appointment of Kyenge has given me hope that there is future for black race in European society. There might be light at the end of the tunnel after all.

Racism is evil that does no one good. It leaves an indelible mark on the psyche of the perpetrators and their victims. In other words none escapes unscathed.

Those who feel that colour determines ones intelligence and capability should change such mind-set. We all deserve equal opportunities.

Mr Matteo Salvini and his so-called Northern League can cry blood for all I care. Something unthinkable has taken place and it's just the beginning.

I pray we don't have to wait till Armageddon to have a black minister here in Germany. Amen.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti to be Honoured in London

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

A concert in honour of Afrobeat legend,  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will hold in London next month. The concert is being organised by Knitting Factory Records and a London based concert promoters, AGMP.

 A number of artists who knew and worked with Fela are expected to participate in the event, including Ginger Baker (famed drummer and Fela collaborator), Tony Allen (previously Fela's drummer) and Dele Sosimi (previously Fela's keyboardist).

In addition to his associates a younger generation artistes influenced by the Afrobeat king will perform at the concert. Artistes like Keziah Jones, Shingai Shoniwa (of The Noisettes),TY, Blak Twang, Afrikan Boy, BREIS,Terri Walker, KOF and Bumi Thomas among others. The young musicians will offer their interpretations of Fela songs

Mayor of Enfield Borough U.K Decries the Level of Women’s Participation in Nigeria Politics.

 

Mayor Kate Anolue

The Mayor of Enfield Borough in the United Kingdom is a Nigerian, Kate Anolue. In an interview with Sunday Punch she expressed her dissatisfaction with the level of women’s participation in Nigeria politics.

“I am disappointed at the level of women's participation in Nigerian politics. Nigerian women have a lot to contribute to the development of the nation, but unfortunately, their presence is not felt. It's sad at the way they allow their potentials to waste away.”

She attributed the poor representation of women in the political landscape of Africa’s most populous nation to the inequality between the male and female.

“Politics in Nigeria favours men. It's quite different from what holds in the United Kingdom. There, politics is hinged on merit. Here in Nigeria, there is no equality between the male and female. I believe everyone should be given an equal footing. 

We went to the same school and do possess the same certificates. Nigerian women need to speak out and put in their best to make a change. They shouldn't allow themselves to be pulled down.”

Nevertheless she advised Nigerian women not to give up the struggle. And urged them to learn time management. And for those who are interested in politics she told them to go for it.

“I will advise them to go for it and put in their best. Women are the wealth of the economy. I will also add that the thought of making fast money should be far from them. I believe people move on in the UK because they do a lot of voluntary works for the society which do not involve money.”

Adding,

“No matter how bad or bleak the state a Nigerian woman finds herself, she should not give up. Learning to manage time is essential. If you lack this potential, you are not likely to accomplish all your aims. Again, education is a must for every female.”

 

Baltimore, Maryland US: A Prisoner Impregnates 4 Prison Officers

Tavon White

Tavon White, a prison inmate at the Baltimore City Detention Centre was accused of impregnating four female officials of the prison where he is serving term.

The four corrections officers were identified as Jennifer Owens, Katera Stevenson, Chania Brooks and Tiffany Linder.

Federal prosecutors revealed that 13 female correctional officers, seven inmates and five others were accused of plotting to smuggle drugs, cellphones and other contraband into the Baltimore jail and other corrections facilities.

White was the leader of the jail gang, Black Guerilla Family was said to have become so confident that he bragged, “You understand me? This is my jail. I am dead serious; I make every final call in this jail."

The gang ring ran the scheme from inside the detention centres and both the gang members and corrections officers totalling 25 have been indicted for conspiracy, drug possession and distribution as well as money laundering.

Cbsnews.com,reported that two of the women impregnated by White were found to have tattooed his name on their bodies. White was said to have used expensive gifts, like cars and jewellery as a lure to attract the women.

U.S. Attorney, Rod Rosenstein, was quoted as saying; "the 25 defendants participated in running the activities of the Black Guerilla Family - a prison and street gang - from behind bars in Baltimore City.”

Tunisia Recovers Looted Wealth by Ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

 

Mr Zine El Abidine Ben Al

Tunisia has recovered about $28.8m (£18.7m) of looted assets held abroad by ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family.

The state news agency TAP said a cheque in that amount had been handed to President Moncef Marzouki by Ali bin Fetais al-Marri, appointed by the UN to head efforts to recover money from leaders overthrown in Arab uprisings.

TAP said the money returned to Tunisia had been in a Lebanese bank account belonging to Laila Trabelsi, the wife of Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia with his family on 14 January 2011 after popular protests ended his 23-year rule.

Local media say billions of dollars acquired corruptly by Ben Ali remain unaccounted for.

Atlanta School Superintendent and Teachers charged with Cheating

 

Beverly Hall, the former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, and 35 other educators have been indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in a cheating scandal that involved large, unexplained test score gains in some Atlanta schools back in 2011. 

CNN reported that Hall resigned from her position in 2011, but continues to deny any role in the cheating scandal. 

 

Hall was accused of placing unreasonable goals on educators and "protected and rewarded those who achieved targets by cheating."

It also alleges she fired principals who failed to achieve goals and "ignored suspicious" test score gains throughout the school system, for at least four years, between 2005 and 2009, test answers were altered, fabricated and falsely certified, the indictment said.

Man Jailed 45 Years for Stealing a Governor's Phone

Rauf Aregbesola governor of Osun State Nigeria

 For stealing a N50,000 Sony Ericsson phone belonging to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, a 31-year-old Kelvin Ighodalo has been sentenced to 45-year imprisonment by an Osogbo High Court.

Ighodalo stole the phone from the pocket of Aregbesola on November 27, 2010, when the governor was being inaugurated at Government Technical College, Osogbo.

Justice Oyejide Falola, who heard the case, found Ighodalo guilty on six counts, which included conspiracy, stealing and fraud. 

 He was sentenced to 10-year imprisonment for the first three counts and five years for each of the last three which included impersonation, obtaining property by falsehood and collusion.

Falola, who ruled that Ighodalo deserved the jail term, held that the convict used the phone to obtain N500, 000 from the Owa of Ilesa, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, while he obtained N200, 000 from Mr Shengen Rahman, an associate of the governor.

The jail term, which Falola pronounced will run concurrently, means that Ighodalo will spend the next 10 years behind bars.

Assistant principal state counsel, Mr Biodun Badiora, told the court that the convict had served six-year imprisonment in Ikoyi prison custody in connection with a murder case in 2005.

Counsel to Ighodalo, Mr. Ameachi Ngwu, prayed the court to commit him to community service, stressing that the convict should not be incarcerated but rather be placed where people could see him as a convict.

Source: Punch

Madonna leaves Malawi after visits to schools

 

US performer Madonna, centre, tours the Mphandura orpahange near Lilongwe, Malawi, Friday April 5, 2013. Madonna, is spending her fourth day in the southern African country from where she adopted two children David Banda, right and Mercy James, left. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

Madonna has left Malawi after visiting the projects she has helped support through her Raising Malawi charity.

The pop diva and her four children arrived in the southern African country Monday and left Saturday. Madonna visited the 10 school blocks that her charity has helped build or renovate in collaboration with BuildOn.

The singer also visited a hospital's pediatric ward and several orphanages, including the Home of Hope, where she adopted David Banda in 2006. She also adopted Mercy James from Malawi in 2009.

Madonna initially planned to build a $15 million 500-bed Raising Malawi Academy for girls, before changing plans to help fund several community schools, which led to some controversy in Malawi. 
She also closed the Malawi office of Raising Malawi and fired staff for misappropriating funds.


Source:Associated Press

Deputy Governor, Hon Tayo Ekundayo is dead

Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adunni Olayinka

 learnt last night from a family source that Mrs. Olayinka died of cancer.
The deceased became the deputy to Governor John Kayode Fayemi on October 16, 2010. She came to the Government House from the banking sector, where she was also a champion of women’s rights.

The state government last night announced the death of the deputy governor.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Hon. Tayo Ekundayo, said, “with sadness but with gratitude to God, we announce the passing of the state Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, aged 52,

The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmilayo Aduni Olayinka, aged 52 is dead.
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY learntlast night from a family source that Mrs. Olayinka died of cancer.
The deceased became the deputy to Governor John Kayode Fayemi on October 16, 2010. She came to the Government House from the banking sector, where she was also a champion of women’s rights.
The state government last night announced the death of the deputy governor.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Hon. Tayo Ekundayo, said, “with sadness but with gratitude to God, we announce the passing of the state Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, aged 52, after a tough but courageous battle with cancer. She died on Saturday (yesterday) evening.

“Mrs Olayinka, an accomplished banker and corporate sector player worked in the financial industry for 21 years before heeding the call of service in her home state of Ekiti when she was selected to serve on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship ticket in 2007.
She demonstrated exemplary courage and dedicated service to Ekiti people both during the struggle to retrieve the stolen mandate and in her position as deputy governor.

“She is survived by her husband and children as well as aged parents and siblings,” Ekundayo said.

after a tough but courageous battle with cancer. She died on Saturday (yesterday) evening.

“Mrs Olayinka, an accomplished banker and corporate sector player worked in the financial industry for 21 years before heeding the call of service in her home state of Ekiti when she was selected to serve on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship ticket in 2007.

She demonstrated exemplary courage and dedicated service to Ekiti people both during the struggle to retrieve the stolen mandate and in her position as deputy governor.
“She is survived by her husband and children as well as aged parents and siblings,” Ekundayo said.

Born in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on June 20, 1960, she attended Holy Trinity Grammar School, Ibadan in Oyo State where she obtained her first school leaving certificate with distinction and proceeded to Olivet Baptist High School, also Oyo State, where she obtained her Higher School Certificate (HSC).
Mrs. Olayinka had a Masters Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration [Marketing] from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States in 1981 and 1983 respectively. She was a three-time winner of the Dean’s Honour roll.

Source: LEADERSHIP SUNDAY

Halle Berry Pregnant at 46

Halle Berry and her fiance Olivier Martinez are expecting a baby boy, her representative said on Friday.

This will be the Oscar winner's first child with Olivier Martinez and her second child.

The actress is in her third month.