Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has donated N67m worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Sao Tome and Principe, a gesture to assist the African Island nation in its fight against COVID-19.
The Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this on Monday during a briefing in Abuja.
“I am happy to inform you that as ECOWAS champion in the containment of COVID-19 in the West African sub-region, Mr President made a donation of 67 million naira worth of PPEs and medical supplies to the government and people of Sao Tome and Principe,” Boss Mustapha Stated.
The SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, addressing reporters at a PTF briefing in Abuja.
This donation was a response to a request by the government of Sao Tome, seeking aid to help the country effectively manage the coronavirus pandemic which is ravaging the world.
Medical equipment donated include units of test kits, extraction kits, infrared thermometers, and other items of personal protective equipment to treat and test thousands in Sao Tome and Principe.
In a similar vein, the goods that were procured by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), and have been brought into the hub in Abuja will soon be distributed following orders by President Buhari.
Mustapha noted during his remark that starting from Wednesday, August 3, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will play a vital role in the distribution process from Nigeria to other West African countries.
The United States says efforts are now underway to develop plans and options to relocate U.S. Africa Command headquarters and forces from Germany.
This was contained in a statement by the command on Friday, stating that the relocation is in response to President Donald Trump’s direction.
As part of the U.S. European Command Review, the Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, publicly announced plans to make U.S. force adjustments within the European area of operations during a press briefing in Washington D.C., July 29.
The change in force posture is designed to support the National Defense and Security strategies, adapt to changing global strategic environment, and best address global priorities.
However, while it is not certain where the command will move to, the command stated that it will look first at options elsewhere in Europe, but also will consider options in the United States.
“U.S. Africa Command has been told to plan to move. While it will likely take several months to develop options, consider locations, and come to a decision, the command has started the process. We will ensure we continue to support our host nation and African partners and our families and forces throughout,” said U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command.
The command stood up in 2008 to protect and advance U.S. national interests in Africa and develop capable, professional partner nation military forces there and has been headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany since its inception.
“It is important our African partners understand our commitment to them remains strong,” said Townsend. “U.S. Africa Command will continue to work with our African and other partners to address mutual interests.”
Continued cooperation with German partners remains critical to solving complex international challenges.
“We are very grateful to Germany for their partnership and serving as host to Headquarters U.S. Africa Command. International cooperation remains important to addressing mutual security challenges, especially in Africa,” said Townsend.
Potential options will be assessed to ensure appropriate positioning of forces to deal with future challenges.
The Department of Defense remains the lead for overseas force adjustment decisions and the global combatant command review.
“We remain committed to our forces and families,” said Townsend. “We will conduct a deliberate and thorough planning process to ensure our team is prepared for what lies ahead.”
Dean of African Diplomatic Corps in the United States of America (USA), Serge Mombouli, has congratulated the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, praising him for his forthrightness.
The Dean, on behalf of the African Diplomatic Corps, also warmly thanked the Independent Review Panel for its excellent work.
It would be recalled that Adesina was completely exonerated of any wrongdoing by a high level panel of eminent persons led by Her Excellency, Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland.
The panel was established to review the report by the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors of the African Development Bank that had previously reached the same conclusion that Adesina had not engaged in unethical practices or misconduct.
Reacting to the development, Mombouli commended Adesina for his visionary leadership and the outstanding development results attained by the bank under his tenure.
While noting the election of the President of the African Development Bank planned to take place on August 27, Mombouli called for Adesina’s re-election in unison by acclamation.
According to him, “Dr. Adesina is the sole candidate and has received the full endorsement of the African Union.”
The dean also extended his appreciation to the Board of Directors, the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors, and the Bureau of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank for their courage and maturity in establishing an independent and transparent process, which confirmed the excellent governance of the bank.
The African Diplomatic Corps urged USA, the largest non-regional shareholder, and all other shareholders, to continue to strongly support the bank’s President and the African Development Bank Group, going forward, especially at this period of global novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
African Energy Chamber has appointed Managing Director, EnergyInc Advisors and Senior Africa Advisor, IFU Danish Investment Fund, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani; Founder/Chairman, APO Group, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Genesis Energy Group, Akinwole Omoboriowo II; Managing Director, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Walter Peviani; and Operations Director/President of the Executive Board, IFP Training, Rémi Mouchel; into the chamber’s Advisory Board on Energy Transition Committee to assist in developing new African business models and solutions to the global decarbonisation challenge.
Members of the Energy Transition Committee would act in their personal capacity, and form an integral part of the African Energy Chamber’s Advisory Board for 2020 and 2021.
With their decades of experience and expertise in investments, finance, communications and capacity building across all segments of the energy industry, the appointees would be advising the chamber on a range of initiatives to further push for decarbonisation initiatives on the continent, while developing an African message and approach to energy transition.
“The African Energy Chamber strongly believes that the global energy transition debate has remained absent of African voices.
“One cannot discuss energy transition on our continent without taking into account energy poverty and the need to create an inclusive energy industry that creates jobs and procures goods and services locally.
“As a chamber, we believe climate change is an issue as important as energy poverty. Powering up African homes and industries will require a coordinated approach in the development of all energy sources Africa has to offer, including natural gas, wind, solar, hydro or geothermal,” said Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber, Nj Ayuk.
African Energy Chamber is committed to building an energy industry that works for everyone, but remains concerned over the predominance of an international narrative that would be imposed on the continent at the detriment of Africans’ best interests.
As the continent recovers from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the chamber would be working on promoting solutions and opportunities that put a priority on securing affordable and reliable energy to Africans, while creating jobs and supporting local entrepreneurship.
A Togo-based Ecobank Academy has made history to become the first corporate member of the Global Business School Network (GBSN).
GBSN has been building management education capacity in and for the developing world for over 17 years.
The core of the network spans six continents with more than 100 leading business schools from 50 countries, whose leaders, faculty, and students engage in programmes to improve access to quality, locally relevant management and entrepreneurship education.
Since its beginning in 1985, Ecobank Group has been committed to economic and social development across sub-Saharan Africa.
Operating in all regions in sub-Saharan Africa, Ecobank Academy is one of the largest corporate universities in Africa. Each year, Ecobank Academy trains more than 14,000 in 39 countries – 35 in Africa and 4 outside of Africa.
Both organisations have a shared vision for Africa, to have the talent it needs to generate prosperity.
GBSN Chief Executive Officer, Dan LeClair, explained that “the aim is to work together over the long term to build a stronger connection between business and business schools—to develop the talent for Africa to achieve what it wants. The space between education and practice holds the greatest potential for innovative solutions.”
On the partnership, Group Head of Ecobank Academy, Talent and Organisational Development, Simon Rey, said: “It is a privilege to be the first corporate university to join GBSN.
“We believe practical and just-in-time education are crucial to help solve some of the most pressing challenges and, at the same time, unlock tremendous opportunities to advance the social-economic agenda.
“We are looking forward to collaborating with other members and together bring world-class capabilities to create and implement solution-driven programs impacting African SMEs, MSMEs, Public Sector, Development organizations, Youth, and other professionals.”
To mark the start of their formal relationship, GBSN and Ecobank Academy hosted a virtual forum to explore Africa’s changing talent needs. The series commenced with a conversation between Rey and LeClair on July 16.
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday warmly rejoiced with President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, on the clean slate of health of all allegations against him by an anonymous group.
Buhari described the clearance as further validation of Adesina’s competence and integrity to lead the continental financial institution.
Nigerian President congratulated AfDB “Board of Directors, the Ethics Committee and members of staff for their courage, maturity and patience in following through the process of investigations, and acceptance of Report of Panel of High-Level Independent Experts, which reviewed the Report of Ethics Committee of AfDB, and Dr Adesina’s response.”
He commended the eminent personalities, consisting of Mary Robinson, Justice Hassan B. Jallow and Leonard F. McCarthy, who handled the review of the report of the Ethics Committee, and “their professionalism in rejecting support services, and providing a unanimous report.”
Buhari believed “the conclusion of the review should finally draw a curtain on the allegations that created distractions for the entire institution for a period, and serve as impetus for more diligence in handling responsibilities, while fuelling the zeal to deliver on the promises of a greater Africa.”
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, urged AfDB President “to remain steadfast, dedicated and resolute in pursuing his noble goals for the institution, especially with the now expected second term in office, assuring him of the prayers and support of Nigerians.”
In the worst-case scenario, growth in Southern Africa would fall to -6.6 per cent in 2020 before recovering to 2.2 per cent in 2021.
Growth is projected at –4.9 per cent in the baseline case, mainly driven by the deep recession in South Africa, induced by a fall in commodity prices, containment measures, weather-related events, and the structural issues related to public utilities. The region’s growth is projected to be the most affected by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Before COVID-19, Southern Africa’s economy was projected to recover from an estimated 0.7 per cent growth in 2019 to 2.1 per cent in 2020.
As has been the case historically, South Africa, the region’s largest economy, is projected to contribute an average of 60 per cent of regional economic output in 2020.
These are some of the highlights contained in the new Southern Africa Regional Economic Outlook released on Monday by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Released annually since 2003, the African Economic Outlook provides compelling up-to-date evidence and analytics to inform and support African decision makers.
Since 2018, the publication of the African Economic Outlook has been coordinated with the release of five Regional Economic Outlook Reports for Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa.
“This year’s third edition of the Southern Africa Regional Outlook report offers robust options for policy makers at national and sub-regional levels to confront the challenges of sustainable economic development through skills development for the future of the workforce in the post-COVID-19 era,” said the African Development Bank’s Acting Director General for Southern Africa, Josephine Ngure.
The report recommended inclusive, broad-based and pro-poor policies to address inequality and reduce poverty rates, adding that a higher level of preparedness is urgently needed to prevent and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Africa, including additional resources for testing and to reduce the impact on households and the economy.
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, economic growth forecasts declined by seven percentage points from the original projection under the baseline scenario, and 8.7 percentage points under the worst-case scenario.
Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia are seen as more vulnerable to South Africa’s impending contraction in economic growth, while Mozambique’s sales of gas and electricity could be adversely affected.
Liquefied natural gas, Mozambique
In addition, countries that rely on tourism, such as Mauritius, would be adversely affected.
Eureka House is reputed to be one of the largest houses on the island, with 109 doors and windows. The Eureka house was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1986. The museum has areas dedicated to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and Indian house wares and quirky contraptions like a colonial-era shower.
However, the immediate outlook depends on the spread of new cases. South Africa is now the fifth-worst affected country in the world, with close to 400,000 confirmed cases.
The service sector, which accounts for over 50 per cent of the GDP of most of the regional economies, is projected to be negatively impacted by the pandemic, worsened by travel bans, as well as disruption to transport, distribution, hotels and restaurants, entertainment, retail and trade.
Economic diversification, characterized by commodity-driven industrialisation, would help boost the region’s resilience during downturns, the report noted.
The outlook identified poverty and inequality as twin challenges affecting the Southern Africa region and called for policies aimed at making growth inclusive, broad-based and pro-poor if growth is to substantially address both issues.
Compared with other regions in Africa, the region has the highest unemployment levels, averaging 12.5 per cent between 2011 and 2019, followed by North Africa averaging11.8 per cent over the same period.
Unemployment is likely to escalate, especially in hardest-hit sectors such as tourism and hospitality, entertainment, retail and trade and agriculture, where most of the people in the region are employed.
Improving business environment competitiveness in the region is therefore critical.
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is projected to provide medium- and long-term opportunities for markets to spur economic growth. The intra-African market is expected to mitigate some of the negative effects of COVID-19.
The publication identified the provision of, and access to, quality education and skills as the basis of prosperity, dignity and well-being for individuals, and forms the backbone of successful economies.
To achieve economic diversification and structural change towards high-productivity sectors, a better skilled and more adaptable labour force is necessary, the report recommended.
Click here (https://bit.ly/2P6nu6p) to access the full report.
The special Committee set up by governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has cleared Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the bank’s president of any wrong doing.
The committee chaired by former Irish President Mary Robinson sent in its findings yesterday saying “It has considered the President’s submissions”.
Coasting to a 5yr second term
With the conclusions of the Independent Review Panel exonerating the African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, of 16 allegations of ethical misconduct leveled against him by a group of whistleblowers, the road is now clear for the bank’s governors to re-elect him to a second five-year term during the forthcoming annual meetings of the bank scheduled for August 25-27.
The much awaited report by an Independent Review Panel completely exonerated Adesina of any ethical wrongdoings.
The Independent Review Panel was set up by the Bureau of Governors of the Bank, following a complaint by the United States, to review the process by which two previous organs of the bank – the Ethics Committee of the Board, and the Bureau of the Board of Governors – had previously exonerated Adesina.
The distinguished three-member Independent Review Panel include Mary Robinson, who is a former President of Republic of Ireland, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Chairperson of the Elders, a global body of wise persons concerned with the world’s well-being; the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Gambia, Hassan Jallow; and Leonard McCarthy, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, a former Director for the Office of Serious Economic Offenses, and a former Head of the Directorate of Special Operations of South Africa.
The findings and rulings of the Ethics Committee were subsequently upheld by the apex Bureau of the Board of Governors in May, which cleared Adesina of any wrongdoing.
In its latest report, the Independent Review Panel stated that it “concurs with the (Ethics) Committee in its findings in respect of all the allegations against the President (Adesina) and finds that they were properly considered and dismissed by the committee.”
The panel once again vindicated Adesina and stated thus: “It has considered the President’s submissions on their face and finds them consistent with his innocence and to be persuasive.”
In January 2020, 16 allegations of ethical misconduct were leveled against Adesina by a group of whistleblowers. The allegations which were reviewed by the bank’s Ethics Committee of the Board of Directors in March, were described as “frivolous and without merit.”
Scorecard in last five years
Adesina is a highly decorated and distinguished technocrat and globally-respected development economist. He was awarded the prestigious World Food Prize in 2017 and the Sunhak Peace Prize in 2019 for global leadership in agriculture and for good governance.
Since taking over the reigns of the bank in 2015, he has introduced several innovative reforms including a High5 development strategy; a restructuring of the bank including setting up offices in several African nations to get closer to its clients; an Africa Investment Forum that has attracted $79 billion in investment interests into projects in Africa between 2018 and 2019.
He successfully led a historic General Capital Increase campaign that culminated in the bank’s shareholders raising the institution’s capital from $93 billion to $208 billion in October 2019.
In June and July respectively, global credit ratings agencies Standard and Poors and Fitch Ratings both affirmed the ‘AAA’ rating of the bank, with stable outlook.
Under Adesina’s leadership, the African Development Bank launched a $10 billion crisis response facility to boost African nations’ ability to tackle the health and economic effects of COVID-19.
Several governors of the bank speaking off the record, said It’s now time to put recent events in the past; provide the bank’s President with full support; and bolster the bank’s efforts on Africa’s critical development issues.
African Development Bank has approved a sum of $27.4 million in grants to boost the African Union (AU)’s efforts to mobilise continental response to curb the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Speaking after the bank’s approval by its Board of Governors, President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, said: “With this financing package, we are reaffirming our strong commitment to a coordinated African response in the face of COVID-19.
“Most importantly, we are sending a strong signal that collectively, the continent can address the pandemic in Africa, which is straining health systems and causing unprecedented socio-economic impacts on the continent.”
The bulk of the bank’s grant financing for this operation, about $26.03 million, would help to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to respond to public health emergencies across the continent, while the balance of $1.37 million, would be a contribution to the AU COVID-19 Response Fund.
The two grants, from the bank’s concessional window, the African Development Fund, and the Transition Support Facility, would support the implementation of Africa CDC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan through strengthening surveillance at various points of entry (air, sea, and land) in African countries; building sub-regional and national capacity for epidemiological surveillance; and ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment for frontline workers deployed in hotspots and testing materials.
The operation would also facilitate collection of gender-disaggregated data and adequate staffing for Africa CDC’s emergency operations center.
The approval came on the heels of a meeting of the extended Bureau of the AU Conference of Heads of State and Government with Africa’s private sector on April 22, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who is the current chairperson of AU.
Adesina, who attended the meeting, pledged strong support for the AU COVID-19 initiative.
AU Bureau meeting called for contributions to the African Union’s COVID-19 Response Fund established by the AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in March 2020.
At the beginning of February 2020, only two reference laboratories in Senegal and South Africa could run tests for COVID-19 on the continent.
Africa CDC, working with governments, World Health Organisation (WHO), and several development partners and public health institutes, have increased this capacity to 44 countries.
Despite this progress, Africa’s testing capacity remains at less than 600 per one million people compared to 50,000 in Europe.
“Our response today and support to the African Union, is timely and will play a crucial role in helping Africa look inward for solutions to build resilience to this pandemic and future outbreaks,” said bank’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture and Human Development, Wambui Gichuri.
This support would complement various national and sub-regional operations financed by the African Development Bank under its COVID-19 Rapid Response Facility to support African countries contain and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a declaration of formation of a Government of National Unity towards resolving the lingering crisis in Mali.
ECOWAS Heads of State and Government unanimously agreed to the formation of a Government of National Unity in which 50 per cent nominees would come from the government of the day headed by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita; 30 per cent would come from the opposition; while 20 per cent nominees would be made by the civil society organisations (CSOs).
These were some of the highlights reached at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the leaders of the sub-regional body on Monday.
The meeting adopted positions to resolve crisis sparked off by disputed parliamentary elections held in Mali, which had led to widespread riots, arson and killings in the West African country.
It was agreed that given the numerous challenges facing the country, some members of government would be nominated before the National Unity Government is formed. These include: the Ministers in charge of Defense, Justice, Foreign Affairs, National Security and Finance.
The Malian President was equally mandated to ensure the stepping down of the 31 parliamentarians who emerged from the disputed polls, while a by-election would be held as speedily as possible.
Also agreed was that steps should be taken to reconstitute the Constitutional Court in the country as soon as possible, while a commission of enquiry would determine and identify those responsible for the violence that led to deaths and casualties as well as public properties destroyed between July 10 and 12.
Equally resolved was that the government would step up efforts to secure the release of opposition figure, Soumaila Cisse, kidnapped since March, among others.
ECOWAS Commission is to put in place a monitoring committee for the implementation of all the above measures.
This declaration, which is expected to be communicated to relevant organs of African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN), also agreed to support Keita in restoring peace and order to Mali, noting that no anti-constitutional change of government would be accepted anywhere in West Africa.
The virtual Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government was attended by Presidents of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Niger Republic, who is the ECOWAS Chairman.
Equally present was President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
President Muhammadu Buhari at the virtual meeting of ECOWAS leaders. July 27, 2020. Photo: Femi Adesina
In his remarks, President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to government and people of Mali to consider recommendations of ECOWAS Special Envoy, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and his team, in resolving the political crisis, saying a government of national unity would provide inclusivity and ensure peaceful co-existence.
Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, urged Malian political leaders to consider the fragile peace in the country and the likely spiraling effect on the sub-region.
“I wish to place on record, my commendations for the various layers of efforts, and especially, of former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose painstaking engagements as Special Envoy and Mediator, provided clear road-map to contain the crisis in Mali.
“I appeal therefore, to all the Malian stakeholders to consider the proposals for the reform of the Constitutional Court and the established modalities for resolving the continuous 31 seats issue at the National Assembly.
“Equally significant, is the need to address governance challenges, whose manifestations are at the core of restiveness across the country. In order to address these matters holistically, it is important that all Malians embrace the call for a Government of National Unity where inclusivity of participation in the affairs of governing their country will be a responsibility of each and every Malian actor.
“I wish to reiterate the imperative of compromise and concessions for a peaceful resolution of the current crisis which would be acceptable to all parties,” Buhari said.
The President commended the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for convening the Extraordinary Session to discuss the socio-economic, political and security developments in Mali, especially, following the outcome of the Parliamentary elections in the country, last March 2020.
He said: “Excellencies, dear colleagues and brothers, may I recall that last March, Parliamentary elections took place in Mali. Regrettably, results of 31 seats arising from those elections, provoked the spate of unrest and protests that became violent with tragic consequences in July 2020.
“We are still living and contending with the negative fallout from those incidents. Our organisation, the ECOWAS, using its instrumentality of peaceful resolutions of crisis and in the context of our Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, embarked upon a series of efforts to address this crisis, at the levels of Ministerial Committee, Special Envoy and Mediator and to a select-group of Heads of State and Government and now, the Authority of Heads of State and Government, at this Extraordinary Session, today.”
Buhari thanked Development Partners, the European Union, France, AU and the UN, urging them to continue to support efforts for national-regional security and stability of West Africa.
All ECOWAS leaders at the summit appreciated Goodluck Jonathan, who had been appointed Special Envoy and Mediator in the crisis.
Idowu Sowunmi
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