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Nigeria: Flood cuts links to Pres. Jonathan’s hometown, over 2mn uprooted

October 17, 2012 Nigeria Environment Minister Hadiza Mailafia

Over two million Nigerians have been affected by floods in a number of states in the West African nation after major rivers burst their banks in recent weeks, according to figures released by State officials.

 In Kogi State, over 600,000 persons have been displaced, according to the state government.

 

Sierra Leone CSOs Discuss Nat’l Poverty Reduction Strategy

October 16, 2012 The National Flag of Sierra Leone

Civil society working groups Monday held a consultative meeting to discuss the process of developing the third generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP3) for Sierra Leone.

The document, dubbed the Agenda for Prosperity by the Ernest Bai Koroma government, is a road map for national development.

Nigerian journalist says legal victory for colleagues worldwide

October 16, 2012 Nigerian journalist Desmond Utomwen

A Nigerian journalist who won an historic legal battle against the National Police and a local commercial bank has said the outcome was ‘a victory’ for Nigerian journalists and his colleagues worldwide.

The country’s High Court awarded journalist Desmond Utomwen 100 million Naira (aboutUS$637,000) in special damages after he was brutalized by policemen and staff of Guarantee Trust Bank, while covering a peaceful protest outside the bank's offices in the capital, Abuja.

Senegal women consult on nationality right for their children

October 16, 2012 Female lawyer Fatou Kine Camara

After successfully achieving a gender parity law in parliament, Senegalese women are holding consultations on drafting a bill that will confer their nationality on the children they bear for non-Senegalese spouses.

Currently, only Senegalese men enjoy the right to pass their nationality on to their children by non-Senegalese women.


 

‘Empower women for disaster risk reduction,’ Forum says

October 15, 2012 Flood victims in a camp

Women and girls are a visible force of resilience in disaster risk reduction, according to a regional task force on disaster risk reduction in West and Central Africa.

The task force, a regional humanitarian and development group, has been meeting in observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction convened in Dakar, the Senegalese capital.

S. Leone: Teachers get awards for role in girls’ education

October 15, 2012 Girls at a school in Sierra Leone

Several school teachers have received recognition for their role in the promotion girls’ education in the West African state.

The honorees, including a female teacher of 38 years service in the classroom, received cash prizes of two million Leones (about US$500) and certificates of recognition from a local NGO.

The awards, the first of its kind in Sierra Leone, formed part of celebrations marking the first International Day of the Girl, which focused on the need for quality education for girls.

Since Sierra Leone’s civil war ended over one decade ago, the country has been striving to improve girls’ education by encouraging parents to send their girl child to school.

As our Freetown correspondent Mohamed Konneh reports, the latest award program for teachers was organized by Youth Advocacy Network, with support from Plan International Sierra Leone.

 

Cote d’Ivoire: UN probes mass graves claims

October 12, 2012 UNOCI Bos Albert Gerard Koenders

The UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) has begun excavation in Duékoué, in the west of the country, where some human remains have been found in a well.

Sources say this was prompted by claims that mass graves exist in various parts of Cote d’Ivoire in the aftermath of the post-election violence in 2011.

Experts discuss future of regional currency regimes in Africa

October 12, 2012 A CFA banknote used in West Africa

A three-day international meeting of African countries and the Franc zone is underway here in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, to discuss regional single currency regimes on the continent.

 

Ex- President Mogae nudges ‘strong’ citizens’ role in Ghana polls

October 12, 2012 Ex-Pres Festus Mogae of Botswana

Former President Festus Mogae of Botswana has cautioned Ghananians against the dangers of leaving the December presidential and parliamentary elections in the hands of politicians.

The former President therefore called for ‘strong citizens’ participation’ in the ongoing electoral process in the West African nation.

Mobile phones for 5mn Nigerian women farmers in 2013

October 11, 2012 Nigerian Pres. Goodluck Jonathan

Five million women farmers in Nigeria will get mobile phones in 2013 to enable them access information on agriculture and marketing through a new ICT scheme.

President Goodluck Jonathan announced this on Wednesday in his budget speech delivered during a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja, the Federal capital.