"Gambia Will Become Richest Country On Earth By 2015" - Yahya Jammeh

Are You Serious?...."Gambia Will Become Richest Country On Earth By 2015"

During Gambia's recent 50th Independence Day celebration, the Gambia president, Yahya Jammeh said that by 2015 (this year), Gambia will become the richest country on earth.  Did he err (stumble in his remarks) or was he serious? 

Watch this SaharaTV - YouTube video by Adeola Fayehun and LOL .....



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The Republic of the Gambia

The Gambia officially the Republic of the Gambia and often called simply Gambia is an enclaved country in West Africa mostly surrounded by Senegal with a short strip of its coastline bordered by the Atlantic Ocean at its western end. It is the smallest country on mainland Africa.

The World Bank pegs Gambian GDP for 2011 at US$898M; the International Monetary Fund puts it at US$977M for 2011. From 2006 to 2012, the Gambian economy grew annually at a pace of 5–6% of GDP. Agriculture accounts for roughly 30% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs about 70% of the labour force. Within agriculture, peanut production accounts for 6.9% of GDP, other crops 8.3%, livestock 5.3%, fishing 1.8%, and forestry 0.5%. Industry accounts for approximately 8% of GDP and services approximately 58%. The limited amount of manufacturing is primarily agricultural-based (e.g., peanut processing, bakeries, a brewery, and a tannery). Other manufacturing activities include soap, soft drinks, and clothing….Follow the link below and learn/read more about Gambia

The Republic of Gambia

An American Missionary Has Been Kidnapped In Nigeria's Kogi State

American Citizen Kidnapped In Kogi State of Nigeria

February 24, 2015
By Tom Okure, Ph.D

An American citizen (possibly a missionary on a mission) has been kidnapped in Kogi state of Nigeria. The volatile situation in the country caused by the extreme militant group called Boko Haram (Meaning…"Western education is forbidden") in the northern part of Nigeria appears to be extending its reach beyond the north.  The kidnappers are alleged to be demanding a large ransom for the kidnapped American. 

Kogi state is located in the central part of Nigeria. The state is commonly referred to as the Confluence State, because of the convergence of Nigeria’s two major rivers, “River Niger and River Benue” at the state’s capital Lokoja, which was Nigeria’s first administrative capital.

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Did You Know That … it was in Lokoja, Nigeria’s Kogi State that the name Nigeria, was first concocted by one Flora Shaw, who was the fiancée of Baron Lord Lugard, the then British colonial administrator in Nigeria, while she was staring at the magnificent confluence of River Niger and River Benue  that  stretched before her eyes in the later part of the  19th century....Now You Know !!

Nigerian Naira selling officially at 210 Naira to a Dollar on February 16, 2015 marking a new record low for the Naira

The United States Dollar/Nigerian Naira rallied to 210  on February 16, 2015 marking a new record low for the Naira

The Nigerian Naira on Monday February 16, 2015 further depreciated to a new low against the US Dollar by 2 Naira selling officially at 210 Naira to a Dollar in the BDC and by 4 Naira selling at 213 Naira to the dollar in the black market.

The Nigerian Naira has depreciated more than 20 percent against the US Dollar since November 2014 when the currency devaluation by Africa's largest economy started. The economy continues to face inflation acceleration and experts say Nigeria’s central bank may raise the main rate to 13.25% from 13% in its March 2015 review.

Political uncertainty increased recently after the government announced the postponement of a previously scheduled Presidential elections this February to March 28, 2015. The official reason given for the postponement was to allow the security agencies enough time to contend the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging some parts of Northern Nigeria.

Read more:

Nigeria Vanguard: Naira Hits New Low in Black Market

International Business Times

Rwanda’s Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village $23.7 Million Solar Energy Project

Rwanda Lunches a $23.7 Million Solar Energy Project in Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village

Photo Credit:  Clean Technica.

Rwanda’s Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village is the site of a just completed and officially lunched $23.7 million solar energy project.

The project was formally brought online on February 5th at a ceremony officiated by the country’s infrastructure Minister Hon. James Musoni. Also in attendance among other dignitaries, was the US Government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation Chief of Staff John Morton....Read more Rwanda Launches East Africa's First Utility Large Scale Solar Energy Project/

The United States is Deeply Dsappointed on the Postponement of Elections in Nigeria

The United States is deeply disappointed by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election, which had been scheduled for February 14. Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process ...Read more,,, 

Postponement of Elections in Nigeria

Dr. Jega of INEC indicated that the Presidential Election would now take place on March 28 while the Governorship election would take place on April 11.

Corporal Punishment in Schools and in Families

Corporal Punishment in Schools and Families

ICMS, Inc.,  Read  and Learn Series
By Tom Okure, Ph.D

Date: February 8, 2015

Corporal punishment has its historical antecedents in schools and in families. It is often administered on a child or student as a formal kind of punishment for disobedience, misbehavior and acts of insubordination by the child or school students. It takes many different forms but usually involves striking the offending child or student with a device dedicated for such an event including a paddle, cane, whip, wooden yardstick or belt.

The punishment is administered either across the buttocks or hands in a predetermined manner and a given number of times. Many parents in many cultures administer corporal punishment using their open hands, by slapping, spanking or smacking their children for misbehaving in a specific part of the body.

Watch, Learn and Join the Conversation:

Most countries in Europe and many states in the United States prohibit administering corporal punishment on students and children. Opponents argue that any form of corporal punishment on children constitutes a form of physical abuse. Many European countries starting with Sweden in 1979

outlawed the use of corporal punishment. Sweden in 1979 added a provision to its Parenthood and Guardianship Code emphatically stating that “Children are entitled to care, security and a good upbringing.

Nevertheless, corporal punishment is still widely accepted as a legitimate form of punishment for students and children in many parts of Africa and Asia.  According to supporters of corporal punishment in school, it delivers an instant response to a child or student’s insubordination and the student though feeling embarrassed before his/her peers gets back immediately to class to continue learning instead of facing a long period of suspension from school. Those who oppose corporal punishment say it generally produces long term harmful effects on the individual, by promoting violence and adversely impacts on the child’s learning process and violates their rights. What's your take on this issue?

All rights reserved by Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc (ICMS, Inc). The information included in this publication may not be used, reproduced, transmitted, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written permission of ICMS, Inc. 

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Read and Learn more …

·         http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nra-official-paddling-children-prevents-shooting-article-1.2107249

·          http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmarshallcrotty/2014/09/21/should-corporal-punishment-be-allowed-in-schools/

Nigeria Announces the Postponement of the Scheduled February 14, 2015 Presidential Elections

BREAKING NEWS

Nigeria Announces the Postponement of the Scheduled February 14, 2015 Presidential Elections

Commentary

by Tom Okure, PH.D

Date: February 7, 2015

The Nigerian government this Saturday, February 7, 2015 announced the postponement of the

INEC State Offices

scheduled February 14 presidential elections. The announcement comes amidst an increase in violence by a 5-year old Islamic insurgency called Boko Haram, a militant jihadist group that has seized about 30 villages and towns in the last year in northern Nigeria and is alleged by international security agencies to be able to go “toe-to-toe” with the Nigerian army.

The supporters of the two major political parties in Nigeria PDP and APC have been threatening violence should their candidate loose the presidential elections.  Political polling of the electorate and expert analysis of the campaigning status of the two major parties suggest a very close race. The PDP led government of President Jonathan has been in power since the end of military dictatorship in 1999. It will be recalled that about 800 people died as a consequence of rioting in the Muslim north soon after the current APC presidential candidate Buhari, a Muslim and former military dictator himself, lost his bid for the presidency in the 2011 elections to Jonathan, a Christian from the south.

The PDP party in Nigeria has been successful in wining every presidential election since the end of military rule. It has made significant strides in infrastructural development in many sectors of the economy but has been unable to contain the Boko Haram insurgency; and a seemingly growing and

INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega

out of control high level corruption among government officials.  Nigeria like many other oil dependent economies is also witnessing a rapid slowdown in growth as a result of falling world oil prices and a failure in foresight by Nigerian policy makers to build up sufficient foreign reserves to sustain the economy until world oil prices rebounds.

The United States and its western allies have voiced concern over the inability of Nigeria’s military to stop the insurgency in the Muslim north but have insisted that the elections should proceed on schedule. John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State while visiting Nigeria recently remarked that "one of the best ways to fight back against Boko Haram" was by holding a credible and peaceful election on time.

Other Relevant links

A postponement also will give electoral officials more time to deliver some 30 million voter cards. The commission had said the non-delivery of cards to nearly half of the 68.8 million registered voters was not a good reason to delay the vote….Read more

http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-postponing-feb-14-vote-amid-boko-haram-100041293.html

Civil society leaders, organized in support of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, otherwise called the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, reacted sharply blasting the security chiefs accusing them of fomenting a surreptitious coup against democracy. Read more….

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/176432-breaking-21-inec-resident-commissioners-reject-postponement-elections.html

INEC PRESS STATEMENT

On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, was invited to brief the National Council of States (NCS) on the preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections. He made a presentation titled “Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report.’ The National Security Adviser (NSA) and Armed Services Chiefs also briefed the Council on the current security situation….Read more http://www.inecnigeria.org/?inecnews=inec-press-statement-2

How The Council Of State Rejected President Jonathan’s Proposal To Postpone General Elections | Sahara Reporters

Nigeria’s National Council of State emphatically rejected a proposal by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to postpone the 2015 general elections. 

Under the Nigerian constitution, the Council advises executive branch, and is chaired by the President. Other members are the Vice-President, who is the Deputy Chairman; all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; all former Chief Justices; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; all State Governors; and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Read more.....

How The Council Of State Rejected President Jonathan’s Proposal To Postpone General Elections | Sahara Reporters