posted
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwEbk8t0pgY When one see selectively picked images of Africa and Africans in the media or right here on E/S remember the same can be inverted for Euro majority nation dominated nations the next time Cassis AkA Parahu or even Rahotep101 with their ubiquitous mud huts,remember these images above.
Posts: 6546 | From: japan | Registered: Feb 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
^Then why the fvck do they receive money from the world bank? LOL!! The video is such a fail. Stop the denial! And most of Africa's infrastructure is owed to Western technology and construction companies. Stop it already! Africa would be **** without the West. The media shows what is indigenous to Africa; Mudhuts are a homegrown technology to Africa. Why front like that aint the reality of that continent?
Posts: 1340 | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
The world Bank is called the world Bank because anyone including non Africans can take money from it although I do not recommend it for obvious reasons,there is no denial that much poverty is in Africa we have all seen it but what of the poverty in Euro dominated lands despite getting raw materials from Africa at the lowest prices possible, if Africans ever decide they are going to charge anything approaching a fair price for their minerals then I suspect you C.T will be on that first plane to Africa anywhere looking for a job.The vid is a win it shows how images can be manipulated into not showing the entire picture .
Posts: 6546 | From: japan | Registered: Feb 2009
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Confirming Truth: ^Then why the fvck do they receive money from the world bank? LOL!! The video is such a fail. Stop the denial! And most of Africa's infrastructure is owed to Western technology and construction companies. Stop it already! Africa would be **** without the West. The media shows what is indigenous to Africa; Mudhuts are a homegrown technology to Africa. Why front like that aint the reality of that continent?
You are a dumb fvck, United States is the biggest receiver of world wide aids! They print a fvcking label called the Dollar and buy gold and skills with it! Now that is getting aids, through sorcery and high witchcraft!
The financial aids received by the state of Israel in one year, is usually more than that received by all the African states combined in two years. Go figure who lives on aids!
Science and technology have no ethnicity, fvcking bytch! It is the common legacy of mankind and we all contributed to it, beginning from the earliest African inventors of fire, to the current Nigerian and African American scientists in NASA. You have been duped! Posts: 7419 | From: North America | Registered: Mar 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
"They print a fvcking label called the Dollar and buy gold and skills with it! Now that is getting aids, through sorcery and high witchcraft!" - profound statement while high on weed LOL!
Posts: 1340 | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Confirming Truth: ^Then why the fvck do they receive money from the world bank? LOL!! The video is such a fail. Stop the denial! And most of Africa's infrastructure is owed to Western technology and construction companies. Stop it already! Africa would be **** without the West. The media shows what is indigenous to Africa; Mudhuts are a homegrown technology to Africa. Why front like that aint the reality of that continent?
Where is the proof in what you claim? You have been shown differently before by other posters, yet your hate blinds you for this.
Anyway. The world bank invests money in some African countries for their own benefits, loans against extreme high intrestst rates. Which leads the invested/ load money right back to these Western nations...In money value and raw materials. Billions!!!
And no, not all infrastructure and buildings are due to Westeren input. Since there are African companies. By your reasoning the entire Arabia would be based on European infrastructure and architecture, because traditionally they had tents. Same goes for some Asian nations.....yet, the keyword is colonization.
Stonemasonry is practiced in the Dogon country, and its architectural forms mix stone, clay, and wood for houses, shrines, and walled enclosures. In Dogon men's lodges (toguna), carved wooden or stone pillars are placed in a regular, square arrangement. The pillars support a bed of tree trunks, on which millet stalks are stacked in crosswise levels.
Built Heritage
Architectural monuments in Africa have long been neglected, not only in the discussions about preservation but also physically. The last few decades however, starting from the sixties and seventies, the architectural treasures of this continent have more and more attracted western architects and researchers. At the Faculty of Architecture at the Delft University of Technology it was especially the Forum movement, with architects such as Aldo van Eyck and Herman Haan, which inspired many students and gave the debate about African Architecture an extra whim.
Nowadays, most of the monumental built environment in Africa has been recognized as such. The importance of the recognition, validation and preservation of cultural heritage knows however many difficulties. Especially in a country like Mali, known for its rich cultural past and present, the diversity of attentions fields (archaeology, anthropology, architecture, music) creates a huge problem in how to make choices, how to create sustainable structures etc. The methods of labelling cultural heritage generate their own dynamics and problems.
The most prestigious label is of course the World Heritage List of UNESCO. The preservation of a World Monument however is not so easy as it seems and one can often wander if this labelling actually provides a sustainable framework for conservation. The impact of this label on the local cultural perspective of the monument often exceeds the original, traditional perception of the building structures as a living part of everyday society.
International conservation rules (for instance Charter of Venice) provide a fairly workable set of operational tools in regard to a conservation project. However, the local building traditions, the traditional way of modifying and using houses and the impact of modern western society often are in conflict with these international standards.
Therefore, restoration and conservation of a modern historic city has to be seen in the framework of the development of the historical structures, the impact of western society and possible future growth. New city developments, electricity, sewerage systems, motorized transports, car parking, plastic pollution; these are just e few of the ingredients of the conflict between modern life and historical city structures. A new approach has to be defined, to reconsider the system of monumental labelling and its instruments to conserve and preserve.
Djenné, a well known UNESCO World Monument, is a city which faces all of these problems. The case of its restoration can be used in the research for new restoration concepts and tools. Satellite cases such as Asmara and Zanzibar can be helpful to redefining international standards.
quote:Originally posted by Confirming Truth: "They print a fvcking label called the Dollar and buy gold and skills with it! Now that is getting aids, through sorcery and high witchcraft!" - profound statement while high on weed LOL!
You clearly lack knowledge on the principles of economy and the political worldstage. Do you have any idea about the history of money and capitalization. Basically it's a game where they decided the rules of the game, even when they cheat, they claim to be right. Then each time change the rules quickly, for their own benefit again, when they see they are loosing.
Even though I have money...etc...I understand it is subjective from a philosophical point of view, really doesn't exist. And metaphysically is a non-existence.
There is a book out there called the Kabbalah of money.
ClickPosts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Brada-Anansi: The world Bank is called the world Bank because anyone including non Africans can take money from it although I do not recommend it for obvious reasons,there is no denial that much poverty is in Africa we have all seen it but what of the poverty in Euro dominated lands despite getting raw materials from Africa at the lowest prices possible, if Africans ever decide they are going to charge anything approaching a fair price for their minerals then I suspect you C.T will be on that first plane to Africa anywhere looking for a job.The vid is a win it shows how images can be manipulated into not showing the entire picture .
The anualgrowth and economical future predictions within the next 30 years is looking very promising for the African continent as a whole. Especially for some African nations. This is of course a terrifying idea for racist western/ white folks international bankers. And may explains why some are trying to recolonize the African continent. Certainly the idea of Asian-African affairs displeases them.
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Confirming Truth: "They print a fvcking label called the Dollar and buy gold and skills with it! Now that is getting aids, through sorcery and high witchcraft!" - profound statement while high on weed LOL!
Meth head
Here is a video of Alan Greenspan former head of the US Federal Reserves where he clearly admits that US just prints worthless labels:
posted
I saw an interview of a Chinese scholar by a Japanese T.V crew sometime ago they were discussing the Chinese economic expansion in the world especially Africa,the Chinese Scholar said point blank, in our history we know who the Indians were,we know who the Arabs were we know who the Africans were but consulting our records the Europeans appeared quite recent,we are just reestablishing our historical connection and partner ship,based on trade and mutual respect.
quote:The anualgrowth and economical future predictions within the next 30 years is looking very promising for the African continent as a whole. Especially for some African nations. This is of course a terrifying idea for racist western/ white folks international bankers. And may explains why some are trying to recolonize the African continent. Certainly the idea of Asian-African affairs displeases them.
quote:Originally posted by Brada-Anansi: I saw an interview of a Chinese scholar by a Japanese T.V crew sometime ago they were discussing the Chinese economic expansion in the world especially Africa,the Chinese Scholar said point blank, in our history we know who the Indians were,we know who the Arabs were we know who the Africans were but consulting our records the Europeans appeared quite recent,we are just reestablishing our historical connection and partner ship,based on trade and mutual respect.
quote:The anualgrowth and economical future predictions within the next 30 years is looking very promising for the African continent as a whole. Especially for some African nations. This is of course a terrifying idea for racist western/ white folks international bankers. And may explains why some are trying to recolonize the African continent. Certainly the idea of Asian-African affairs displeases them.
I am familiar with that interview, I have seen it on YouTube.
Also during the pre-Olympics, I saw an interview of a Chinese hostess who presented African athletes. She said that the phenomenon of African-China wasn't new. And she explained the historical connection. I think it was on CCTV.
Good info on that page btw.
Oddly that "professor" left out this part of the story,...
They always go about slavery when they can't explain the presence of Africans outside of Africa.
Yet, always leave out the part were whites/ Europeans were taken as slaves to Asia.
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Confirming Truth: "They print a fvcking label called the Dollar and buy gold and skills with it! Now that is getting aids, through sorcery and high witchcraft!" - profound statement while high on weed LOL!
Meth head
Here is a video of Alan Greenspan former head of the US Federal Reserves where he clearly admits that US just prints worthless labels:
Just printing more money is equal to corruption. The value of money needs to be equal to gold a state possesses. Which is not, at all. If not, the money loses value. Especially when paper is just printed randomly. lol
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
Africa's Math and Science Stars to Shine at New Centre in Senegal
MBOUR, Senegal, Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Mathematics underpins science, technology and modern society - from cell phones to computers and satellites. On September 6, 2011, the Government of Senegal led by His Excellency President Abdoulaye Wade and international partners will open a new pan-African centre of excellence for Africa's brightest math and science graduates, in a beautiful seaside location in Mbour, 80 km south of Dakar.
AIMS-Senegal is the second centre in the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) network, joining AIMS-South Africa, which has operated in Cape Town since 2003. The plan to expand AIMS across Africa is known as the AIMS-Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI). The goal is to rapidly and cost-effectively expand Africa's scientific and technological capacity by providing advanced training to exceptional African students and enabling them to work effectively for the peaceful prosperity of the continent.
AIMS-NEI grew out of a wish first expressed by AIMS founder Professor Neil Turok, now Director of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, that "the next Einstein be African." That wish has evolved into a plan to create a pan-African network of 15 AIMS centres over the next decade. AIMS-NEI is supported through public and private funding, including a $20 million investment from the Government of Canada, provided through the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The Government of France is also a major partner in AIMS-Senegal, providing land for the current and future AIMS-Senegal facilities through the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD).
The first AIMS centre, in Cape Town, has graduated 360 students from 32 African countries to date, of whom one-third are women. AIMS has become globally recognized as a centre of excellence for postgraduate education and research.
At the September 6 grand opening celebrations, AIMS-Senegal's first 36 students (selected from over 350 applicants to both centres), from 14 countries, will be joined by the President of Senegal and dignitaries from approximately 15 countries to recognize the centre's many supporters and partnering academic institutions. These include the Universities of Cheikh Anta Diop, Gaston Berger, Thies and Ziguinchor in Senegal, the University of Ottawa in Canada, Universities Pierre et Marie Curie and Paris Sud in France, Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany, and the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in China.
"Were it not for AIMS, I think I would have stopped studying. Now I have opportunities I never imagined," says Alexia Nomenjanahary, a Madagascan alumna of AIMS-South Africa, whose work in mathematical biology earned her a scholarship to attend a summer school at the University of Oxford. Alexia will soon join AIMS-Senegal as a teaching assistant to share her talents and help others realize their potential.
Tidiane Ba, Minister of Higher Education and Research of Senegal says, "AIMS-Senegal will enable our most talented students, Senegalese and from across the continent, to receive a fully-funded world-class education here in Senegal. We are proud of AIMS-Senegal and support it strongly."
"The opening of our second centre, AIMS-Senegal, is a major milestone towards our dream of a truly pan-African network of scientific centres where the continent's bright minds can shine," says Neil Turok. "As AIMS expands, thousands of talented Africans will acquire the skills they need to build Africa's future economic, educational and technological self-sufficiency."
"Africa's future lies in developing the minds of its brilliant young people," says Rohinton Medhora, Vice-President of Programs at IDRC. "AIMS is a catalyst for that future and I am delighted to see it expand with the opening of AIMS-Senegal. This groundbreaking initiative complements IDRC's longstanding support of outstanding scholars in developing countries and its tradition of fostering development through innovation, science, and technology."
"AIMS-Senegal symbolizes what IRD aims to implement: excellence in teaching and innovative research in a high-quality environment with engaged national and international partners," says Michel Laurent, President of IRD. "All these conditions must be present to enable the emergence of teachers, researchers and the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow."
About AIMS-NEI The AIMS-Next Einstein Initiative was launched in 2008 to build a critical mass of scientific and technical talent across Africa, capable of driving progress across the continent. AIMS-NEI grew out of the success of the AIMS-South Africa centre. Every year, about 55 talented students from all across Africa graduate from AIMS centres, following a ten-month course, with the vast majority continuing to Masters and PhD degrees. All AIMS students benefit from full scholarships.
About IDRC A key part of Canada's aid program since 1970, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supports research in developing countries to promote inclusive growth and development. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most.
About IRD The Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), led its President Michel Laurent, is a French public research institution with the mission of developing scientific projects focused on the relationship between humans and their environment, especially in tropical regions. IRD's research covers a wide spectrum of topics related to developing countries. In Senegal, IRD's work is carried out at three major sites: the ISRA-IRD joint centre at Dakar-Bel Air, the International UCAD-IRD Campus at Dakar-Hann and at CIREM in Mbour where AIMS-Senegal is also located.
Growing Support for AIMS-NEI To further its ambitious mandate and innovative teaching methods, AIMS-NEI has so far earned support from the Government of Senegal (US$1.4 million for the establishment of AIMS-Senegal plus the donation of a seaside parcel of land), the Government of Ghana (US$1.5 million for the creation of AIMS-Ghana), Google (US$2 million), the Kavelman-Fonn Foundation (US$600,000 for AIMS-Senegal), the Government of France (land for AIMS-Senegal valued at US$1.3 million), and the Government of Canada (US$20.5 million, channelled through Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), to support the growth of the network). AIMS-NEI is also supported by a growing number of North American and European universities and companies through its One-for-Many scholarship program.
____________________________________________ Social welfare gets 60% of Senegal’s 2007 budget
2006-12-29 18:49:24
APA-Dakar (Senegal) A total of 60 percent of the Senegalese 2007 budget is devoted to social welfare especially the construction of basic infrastructure, authorised sources told APA Friday.
The social component will be based on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which was developed at the behest of the World Bank (WB).
Even though the exact amount of the budget (only estimated at about 2,000 billion CFA) was not disclosed, Economy and Finance minister, Abdoulaye Diop, said the educational section will take 40 percent, while 20 percent was slotted to the health component.
The rest of the budget will be spent on road and construction of other infrastructure, urban water, sanitation and to reduce poverty “significantly."
Diop, who was speaking after the budget session held early December, said "it is a budget essentially focussing on social sectors and on meeting the social demand in line with the government’s commitments."
He said the slight cabinet reshuffle on 26 November while the ministry’s budget was still being implemented will have no major impact on the budget.
"Neither the general budget nor revenues, let alone investment and operational spending provided for at the onset will change," Diop said.
He said government will carry out "internal reallocation" in the budget to match the shift of certain directorates to other ministries.
A coalition grouping umbrella trade unions and an international body, Aid Transparency, said the analysis of the budget reveals that "government expenditure is skyrocketing at the expense of productive sectors."
In a report issued early December, the coalition charged that "the establishment of the 2007 budget...fails to resolve the pressing problems facing the people."
Responding to the rising criticism on the government’s heavy spending, Diop announced the setting up of a new spending control agency dubbed : "Medium-term framework for Sector-based Spending (CDSMT) and the Medium-term Framework for Spending (CDMT) 2002-2009.
"It is a coherent set of objectives, programmes and budget allocations per objective, which defines the medium-term framework in which the government can make decisions on distributing employment and financial resources," a high-ranking budget ministry official explained.
posted
Africa considers a continent-wide space agency/Africa: AU's space agency Africa considers a continent-wide space agency Alex Abutu Augustine 20 August 2010 | EN
Africa could soon get its version of NASA Flickr/woodlerwonderworks_1
Africa is a step closer to setting up its own space agency, with the approval of a planned feasibility study by the 53 member states of the African Union earlier this month.
The African Space Agency, as it would be known, would be intended to help ensure the continent becomes an important player in the global space programme.
The agreement was made at the close of the third African Union Conference for Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies meeting in Abuja last week (6 August).
Ministers said that the feasibility study would also draft a common space policy for the continent, taking into account various existing space technology initiatives.
They added that the continent-wide policy would be developed in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
The news follows the first successful launch of a pan-African satellite by the Regional African Satellite Communications Organization earlier this month.
Preparations for the launch began almost twenty years ago, in 1991, but various controversies held it up until 2007, when the satellite was first launched into orbit — only for it to develop technical problems.
The ITU will provide advice to Africa on technical issues involved with setting up the agency, its spokesperson, Sarah Parkes, told SciDev.Net.
Parkes also said that details of the assistance to be provided by the ITU are yet to be defined but stressed that the union would do everything it can to help launch a space agency that would aid development on the continent.
Jonathan Mahlangu, a South Africa-based policy analyst said that the plan by the African Union was long overdue. "Think of the contributions of NASA and ESA to the development of America and Europe," he said. "A well coordinated space agency for Africa will assist in solving most of the challenges before her."
According to Mahlangu the critical mass of experts to kick-start the agency already exists. "All African Union needs to do is to put up a call to her citizens in NASA and Europe to come and contribute with their knowledge."
But others are more cautious. Peter Martinez, coordinator of South Africa's National Working Group on Space Science and Technology, said the idea was premature.
"A number of African countries should first develop their own capabilities and these [countries] could then take the lead in perhaps forming a continental space agency," said Martinez, who also heads the space science and technology division at the South African Astronomical Observatory.
A South Africa-based policy analyst Jonathan Mahlangu, has said that the plan by the African Union to commence a process that would lead to the establishment of a regional space agency in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) aimed at focusing on the development of common space policy for the African continent was long overdue.
"Think of the contributions of NASA and ESA to the development of America and Europe," he said. "A well coordinated space agency for Africa will assist in solving most of the challenges before her."
According to Mahlangu, the critical mass of experts to kick-start the agency already exists. "All African Union needs to do is to put up a call to her citizens in NASA and Europe to come and contribute with their knowledge."
The International Telecommunication Union’s spokesperson, Sarah Parkes, has told SciDev.Net that her outfit would provide advice to Africa on technical issues involved with setting up the agency and that details of the assistance to be provided by ITU are yet to be defined.
Development
Stressing that the union would do everything it can to help launch a space agency that would aid development on the continent.
The project which would be known as the African Space Agency was successfully launched earlier this month. However, preparations for the launch began almost twenty years ago, in 1991, but several controversies held it up until 2007, when the satellite was first launched into orbit - only for it to develop technical problems.
Coordinator of South Africa's National Working Group on Space Science and Technology, Peter Martinez, reacting to Mahlangu statement has caution Leaders to develop their own potentials sensing that the idea was premature.
"A number of African countries should first develop their own capabilities and these [countries] could then take the lead in perhaps forming a continental space agency," said Martinez, who also heads the space science and technology division at the South African Astronomical Observatory.
Earlier in August, Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies in Africa agreed in a statement at the AU conference to work jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to finalise action on the draft convention on cyber legislation and support its implementation in member-states.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan told newsmen during the opening of the conference that the African continent still needs to do a lot to bridge the gap between knowledge and technology if it must achieve rapid and sustained economic, social and human development on the continent.
"Our information and communication technology strategies and policies as well as regulatory frameworks still need to be harmonized to enable us reap the full benefits of this development", he said.
Jonathan urged all delegates from African Union member countries at the conference to channel their focus on development and application of broadband and improvement in internet services to accelerate development in areas of national security, e-governance, tele-medicine, public safety and education.
The conference resolved to integrate the NEPAD e-Africa Commission governance into the governance structure of CITMC and provide support to member states in implementing the e-Post programme in cooperation with stakeholders.
there seem to be alot more places with Space Agencies then i thought,in europe,south africa,north america and asia. africa is trying to catch up now or is catching up.
Pan-Arab Space Agency- sudan most likely we be in this one.-still part of africa
South African National Space Agency 2011 Bill signed by the President. The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is South Africa's government body for the promotion and use of space. It also fosters cooperation in space-related activities and research in space science, seeks to advance scientific engineering through human capital, and supports the creation of an environment conducive to the industrial development of space technologies within the framework of national government..
former Egypt Remote Sensing Center 1971
Egypt National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences 1994
Tunisia (National Remote Sensing Center of Tunisia) CNT 1988
National Space Research and Development Agency Nigeria
1998
Bolivian Space Agency in 2012 a space satellite will be launched to orbit
Mexican Space Agency Founded in July, 2010. Yet in structuring process.
Sri Lanka Aeronautics and Space Agency Immediate goal is to construct and launch two satellites. Sri Lankan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has signed an agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd to get relevant help and resources. 2010
Vietnam Space Commission
Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
Space Research Institute of Saudi Arabia _______________________________________________
kenya get ready too. Dawn of space technology and Africa- spectator or participant? By Bob Bell, 15 October 2007
Africa is slowly joining the space race fifty years after the ’Sputnik I’ was launched in Russia. But Africa’s race to space is not so much an exploration of the solar system as it is a race against poverty, food insecurity, and natural disasters on the continent.
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I, the world’s first artificial satellite marking the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R. space race. Following the launch of the Sputnik II the very next month, the U.S. launched the Explorer I satellite that next year along with the newly created National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The epic space race culminated 12 years later when Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon on July 20, 1969 articulating the famous phrase, "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." With the Soviets never making it to the moon, the U.S. clearly had won the space race.
Fifty years after this historical space race, Africa is finally emerging as a participant in the space technology marathon.
Nigeria has setup the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA), which has developed a 25-year roadmap for the Nigeria Space Programme. South Africa has pledged millions of rands to build its astronomy and space sector, and in July 2006 its cabinet approved the establishment of the South African Space Agency as an institutional vehicle to look at space science and technology.
But Africa’s race to space is not a competitive battle with nations for scientific superiority. It is being used as an essential tool for socio-economic development and improving the quality of life of its peoples.
Space technology development can help cushion the devastating effects of natural disasters and other man-made problems through early warnings before they occur. It has been used in the area of agriculture, telecommunication and water resources development as well and the management of disasters among others. In fact, Nigeria Sat-1 was deployed to manage two recent world disasters, the hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami.
In 2002, Mark Shuttleworth became the first African astronaut to fly in space. Interestingly, Africa’s first astronaut spent his time onboard conducting AIDS experiments in space. Using a process called SPC (Soluble Protein Crystallisation), his experiments used the unique microgravity or weightlessness of space flight to create crystals of the human immune system proteins and understand how to make them more effective against the virus that claims so many African lives.
The Nigeria’s NSRDA is focusing on space technology as much as it is the socioeconomic condition of the taxpayers that fund their projects. The country’s first satellite NigeriaSat-1 was launched into orbit on September 27, 2003. But Nigeria promises that the $13 million USD investment would help the country in its defense and security, crop type, urban growth and development, population, power supplies, pipeline surveillance, minerals mapping and the development of hydro/drainage maps. Additionally, the nation could reap significant foreign exchange from the commercialization of the satellite station.
Perhaps Nigeria is following South Africa’s lead in the commercialization of space technology. South Africa’s first locally-designed and manufactured satellite Sunsat was launched in 1999. This project had led to the export of technology and space products to Korea and Germany.
South Africa’s first government satellite has recently been developed. Though its deployment is currently postponed indefinitely, it will provide images used across a wide array of applications, from agriculture to land use and infrastructure mapping.
Though South Africa and Nigeria are the major players in the space race on the continent, other African countries are exporting their scientists to institutions where space technology is developed. Dr. Assaf Anyamba, a Kenyan and an associate research scientist at the Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center (GEST) at the University of Maryland in the US, was among those who first warned Kenyan officials last fall about the weather conditions that were ripe for an RVF outbreak. The satellite images and this trailblazing Kenyan scientist may claim much of the credit for ensuring that the most recent outbreak of Rift Valley Fever had not been much worse.
And 29-year-old Joshua Manyara Mochache from Kenya is one of the few Africans working in the US as an aerospace engineer consulting for the NASA programs. He thinks that the Kenyan Government should establish a space agency. The fact that Kenya lies on the Equator means that it could be one of the most ideal locations for rocket testing.
But until Kenya makes it mind whether to join in on the space race, Nigeria and South Africa continue to forge ahead into space. At the end of last year, Nigeria signed a contract with the British firm Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) for the construction of its second earth observation satellite NigeriaSat-2. The space craft is expected to replace NigeriaSat-1 will be launched in 2009.
Several months ago, Director General of Nigeria’s NSRDA Professor Robert Borrofice said Nigeria will send it first astronaut to space by the year 2015 and launch an indigenous satellite from the country without foreign assistance by 2018.
Whether Nigeria make good on its space targets like America did in its race to the moon almost fifty years ago remains to be seen. But Nigeria and South Africa’s commitment to bring the benefits of space technology and transport "down to earth" will potentially help win the continent’s race against underdevelopment, poverty, and hunger.
Engineers test a satellite news gathering unit. Previously, Kenya had to seek approval from Italy before being granted access to data generated by the satellite facility based in Malindi. /Peterson Githaiga
By Allan Odhiambo and Mwaura Kimani (email the author) Posted Monday, June 8 2009 at 00:00
Kenya will now have access to climatic and disease surveillance data from an Italian owned satellite hosted in the country after the countries reviewed a pact signed more than four decades ago.
The deal will boost the Kenya’s response to natural disasters like floods and diseases such as Rift Valley Fever that have continued to wreck havoc on the country due to lack of early warnings systems.
Previously, Kenya had to seek approval from Italy before being granted access to data generated by the satellite facility based in Malindi, a lengthy process that has been hindering the country’s response to disasters.
Early this month the government was granted the rights to tap into the data mine without seeking the nod of the Italian authorities following the two year talks that sought to review the rules of access signed in 1962.
“This project is in our land and meant for our own interests so we have been pushing to get a stake in its management which has finally come,” Defence minister Mr Yusuf Haji told the Business Daily in an interview.
“Previously, we had to seek approvals from the Italians to access the data collected.”
Kenya has not signed access deals with other countries such the US have hosted their satellites, which besides monitoring climatic and disease patterns keep tabs of security situation in the region.
Latest satellite The US government launched its latest satellite on Kenya’s soil in November 2008 in Nairobi that is supported by the US. Agency for International Development (USAid) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa).
To kick off its use of the Malindi satellite, the Defence ministry has moved to establish a fully fledged national space secretariat (NSS) fashioned along the US’s Nasa in effort to boost local capacity in the use of space science and technology.
In a gazette notice on Friday, Mr Haji said the secretariat will help in the creation of a fully fledged Kenya Space agency, training of experts in space technology and help in conducting research with the view of updating the country’s space science policy.
The secretariat will also enter into pacts with other space agencies operating in Kenya and other countries for research and data acquisitions.
“It will help promote peaceful uses of space science applications including but not limited to satellite earth observations, navigation, telecommunication and disaster management,” the minister said noting that the secretariat would be based at the Defence ministry headquarters.
According to the gazette notice, Mr Haji will appoint the chief executive officer of the NSS secretariat whose membership will include Attorney General Amos Wako, Communications Commission of Kenya director-general Mr Charles Njoroge and his counterpart at the Kenya Civil Association Authority Nicholas Bodo, who is currently serving on an acting capacity.
Bad track record Others to serve at the secretariat will be the directors in charge of Military Intelligence, National Military Command Centre, Kenya Meteorological Department and department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing.
The rest are the Lead Scientist and the secretary, National Council of Science and Technology. Kenya has had a bad track record of disaster preparedness as witnessed in the recurrent cases of flooding in parts of the country that leave scores of people dead and property lost.
Troposphere 5 Troposphere 5 is a two stage solid-propellant rocket with a thrust of 7 tons, launched on March 29, 2009. It is the third rocket (Troposphere I and III rockets could not take off) of Congolese Space Program, Troposphere. It was initiative of the private enterprise Developpement Tous Azimuts (DTA) with headquarters in Lubumbashi (Katanga Province), created in 2007.
Troposphere 5 carrying a rat named Kavira on board was designed to reach an altitude of 36km and a speed of Mach 3. Rocket was launched 150 km away from Kinshasa, DRC. Launch ended in failure - rocket took off but has deviated from its course and was lost in the distance. The cost of this rocket has been estimated at about $50 000.
sudan calls for using outer space Why Space? Over the past 50 years, a remarkable bounty of scientific and technological skills has been spawned by the space program, yielding an ability to better understand the Earth, the universe, as well as ourselves. Advances in space technology have resulted in numbers of "spinoffs" – commercialized products that are made possible. As humankind pushes the boundaries of space exploration ever-deeper, the opportunity to apply aerospace technology to other fields is strengthened. Consider it as a dividend from the national investment in space exploration.
sudan calls for using outer space
Vice-President of the Republic Prof. Moses Machar has stressed the importance of using space technology for natural resources' management and environmental monitoring.
Addressing an inauguration of a workshop on the Use of Space Technology for the Natural Resources Management, organized by Sudan Remote Sensing Authority in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the European Space Agency, yesterday, the Vice-President called for using modern technologies in the use of outer space, stressing the importance of the implementation of space technologies in building the nation's capabilities. The Minister of Sciences and Technology, Prof. Al-Zubair Bashir Taha, also addressed the importance of the workshop, and underscored the use of the space technology in national projects in water, studies of the Nubian Base and even the campaign of eradication of mosquitoes in Sudan, indicating that Sudan is planning to possess a satellite soon. He said that the aim of the workshop is to map out a strategy for Sudan and Africa on the use of the technologies of outer space. Director of Sudan Remote Sensing Authority Dr. Amina Ahmed Hamid, explained in statement to SUNA, that the Workshop seeks to make partnerships for application of space technologies in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, the European Space Agency and the African Economic Commission. She referred to the importance of establishing joint projects for exchange of expertise and handling the development problems. An expert on information and remote sensing, Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hassan, presented a key paper in which he asserted the importance of environmental information in realization of economic development. He pointed to the substantial role of outer space technologies to follow up environmental changes, sustainable development, population and human development studies. He said that the economic gap between the developed and developing countries could be removed through using environmental information systems.
Nigeria: NASRDA Gets Technical Advisory Team A new technical advisory committee has been inaugurated for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The Committee is saddled with the responsibilities of functioning in advisory capacities in actualizing the goals and objectives of the National Space Policy and programmes.
Inaugurating the 10-man Technical Advisory Committee, the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Mohammed K. Abubakar said that the Federal Government is irrevocably committed to its position in utilizing space technology to address some problems militating our growth and development as well as actualizing a better society and virile nation of our dream. According to him, space science and technology is a catalyst for radical development and has formed the bedrock upon which most developed nations in the world hinged their development programmes.
"Our collective decision as a nation to venture into space was not an ego trip, but for the socio-economic development of our country and for the overall benefits of our people", he said.
He urged the committee members to use their wealth of experience in complementing the efforts of management of the agency towards actualizing the desired goals.
Director-General of NASRDA, Seidu Mohammed, stated that the committee were carefully selected from different sectors of space technology like space application, climatology, soil science amongst others adding that Nigeria is not lagging behind in the space contest in view of the modest achievements in the national space and development agency.
"If Nigeria is to the challenges of the 21st century, space science and technology must be given a pride of place because it is quite evident that the technology is fast changing the global community and altering the pattern of business and society" he added.
In his remark, the Chairman of the Committee, Vincent Olulonyo stressed the need for Nigeria to streamline its activities of the space agencies as done in other countries.
posted
How Africa is Becoming the New Asia How Africa is Becoming the New Asia February 19, 2010
China and India get all the headlines for their economic prowess, but there's another global growth story that is easily overlooked: Africa. In 2007 and 2008, southern Africa, the Great Lakes region of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and even the drought-stricken Horn of Africa had GDP growth rates on par with Asia's two powerhouses. Last year, in the depths of global recession, the continent clocked almost 2 percent growth, roughly equal to the rates in the Middle East, and outperforming everywhere else but India and China. This year and in 2011, Africa will grow by 4.8 percent—the highest rate of growth outside Asia, and higher than even the oft-buzzed-about economies of Brazil, Russia, Mexico, and Eastern Europe, according to newly revised IMF estimates. In fact, on a per capita basis, Africans are already richer than Indians, and a dozen African states have higher gross national income per capita than China.
More surprising is that much of this growth is driven not by the sale of raw materials, like oil or diamonds, but by a burgeoning domestic market, the largest outside India and China. In the last four years, the surge in private consumption of goods and services has accounted for two thirds of Africa's GDP growth. The rapidly emerging African middle class could number as many as 300 million, out of a total population of 1 billion, according to development expert Vijay Majahan, author of the 2009 book Africa Rising. While few of them have the kind of disposable income found in Asia and the West, these accountants, teachers, maids, taxi drivers, even roadside street vendors, are driving up demand for goods and services like cell phones, bank accounts, upmarket foodstuffs, and real estate. In fact, in Africa's 10 largest economies, the service sector makes up 40 percent of GDP, not too far from India's 53 percent. "The new Africa story is consumption," says Graham Thomas, head of principal investment at Standard Bank Group, which operates in 17 African countries.
Much of the boom in this new consumer class can be attributed to outside forces: evolving trade patterns, particularly from increased demand coming out of China, and technological innovation abroad that spurs local productivity and growth like the multibillion-dollar fiber-optic lines that are being laid out between Africa and the developed world. Other changes are domestic and deliberate. Despite Africa's well-founded reputation for corruption and poor governance, a substantial chunk of the continent has quietly experienced this economic renaissance by dint of its virtually unprecedented political stability. Spurred by eager investors, governments have steadily deregulated industries and developed infrastructure. As a result, countries such as Kenya and Botswana now boast privately owned world-class hospitals, charter schools, and toll roads that are actually safe to drive on. A study by a World Bank program, the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic, found that improvements in Africa's telecom infrastructure have contributed as much as 1 percent to per capita GDP growth, a bigger role than changes in monetary or fiscal policies. Shares of stocks in recently privatized local airlines, freight companies, and telecoms have skyrocketed.
Entrepreneurship has increased at the same time, powered in part by the influx of returning skilled workers. Just as waves of expats returned to China and India in the 1990s to start businesses that in turn attracted more outside talent and capital, there are now signs that an entrepreneurial African diaspora will help transform the continent. While brain drain is still a chronic problem in countries such as Burundi and Malawi—some of the poorest in the world on a per capita basis—Africa's most robust economies, such as those in Ghana, Botswana, and South Africa, are beginning to see an unprecedented brain gain. According to some reports, roughly 10,000 skilled professionals have returned to Nigeria in the last year, and the number of educated Angolans seeking jobs back home has spiked 10-fold, to 1,000, in the last five years. Bart Nnaji gave up a tenured professorship at the University of Pittsburgh to move back to Nigeria in 2005 and run Geometric Power, the first private power company in sub-Saharan Africa. Its $400 million, 188-megawatt power plant will come online this fall as the sole provider of electricity for Aba, a city of 2 million in southeast Nigeria. Afam Onyema, a 30-year-old graduate of Harvard and Stanford Law, turned down six-figure offers in corporate law to build and run a $50 million state-of-the-art private hospital with a charitable component for the poor in southeast Nigeria.
Many experts believe Africa, with its expansive base of newly minted consumers, may very well be on the verge of becoming the next India, thanks to frenetic urbanization and the sort of big push in services and infrastructure that transformed the Asian subcontinent 15 years ago. Just as India once harnessed its booming population of cheap labor, Africa stands to gain by the rapid growth of its big cities. Already the continent boasts the world's highest rate of urbanization, which jump-starts growth through industrialization and economies of scale. Today only a third of Africa's population lives in cities, but that segment accounts for 80 percent of total GDP, according to the U.N. Centre for Human Settlements. In the next 30 years, half the continent's population will be living in cities.
Nowhere is this relationship between the consumer class and urbanization more apparent than in Lagos, Nigeria, a megalopolis of 18 million that has the anything-goes pace of a Chongqing or Mumbai. On Victoria Island, the city's commercial center, real estate is as expensive as in Manhattan. Everywhere you look, there is construction: luxury condos, office buildings, roads, even a brand-new city nearby being dredged from the sea that will hold half a million people. "Everything is in short supply, so everything's a high-growth area," explains Adedotun Sulaiman, a venture capitalist and chairman of Accenture in Nigeria. "In terms of opportunities, it's just mind-blowing." Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest black entrepreneur, has also cashed in on this consumer culture, with a net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. His empire, which began in 1978 as a trading business that imported, among other things, baby food, cement, and frozen fish, is focused on Nigeria's burgeoning domestic growth, producing cement for shopping and office complexes; renting luxury condos; making noodles, flour, and sugar; and now expanding into services such as 3G mobile networks and transportation. "There's nowhere you can make money like in Nigeria," says the 53-year-old Dangote. "It's the world's best-kept secret."
Not anymore. A recent study by Oxford economist Paul Collier of all 954 publicly traded African companies operating between 2000 and 2007 found that their annual return on capital was on average 65 percent higher than those of similar firms in China, India, Vietnam, or Indonesia because labor costs are skyrocketing in Asia. Their median profit margin, 11 percent, was also higher than in Asia or South America. African mobile operators, for instance, showed the highest profit margins in the industry worldwide. As a result, foreign multinationals like Unilever, Nestlé, and Swissport International report some of their highest growth in Africa. So even as foreign direct investment fell by 20 percent worldwide in 2008, capital in-flows to Africa actually jumped 16 percent, to $61.9 billion, its highest level ever, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Even Chinese companies are thinking of outsourcing basic manufacturing to Africa. The World Bank is now helping China set up an industrial zone in Ethiopia, the first of perhaps several offshore centers akin to the sprawling free-trade zones that opened up China's economy in the 1980s.
Still, Africa remains at the very frontier of emerging markets. Despite its gains, the difficulty and cost of running a business there are the highest in the world, according to data from the International Monetary Fund. Couple that with pervasive corruption—Transparency International calls the problem "rampant" in 36 of 53 African states—and it's no wonder Africa is often regarded as a toxic place to operate. But World Bank president Robert Zoellick says that in the aftermath of the economic crisis, long-term investors have recognized that "developed markets have big risks too." Like China and India, Africa is exploiting that fact, and perhaps more than any other region it is illustrative of a new world order in which the poorest nations will still find ways to steam ahead.
Has Africa's manufacturing revolution started ? While most developing regions were laying the foundations of a manufacturing-driven economy, Africa continued to rely on the export of low-value raw materials. But it now seems that the trend is changing and local value addition is increasing - from cutting and polishing diamonds to exporting finished manufactured products. Sarah Rundell reports.
Eurostar, an Indian-owned diamond trading and cutting company, is one of the latest businesses to open a factory in Botswana; it cuts and polishes diamonds in the capital Gabarone. Botswana accounts for an estimated 27% of global diamond production, but until recently the delicate art of polishing and cutting happened overseas. Although Africa is home to five of the top seven global diamond producers, the bulk of exports remain rough or uncut stones.
But this is changing as a new trend begins to take root. Over the span of a few years, 16 factories, like Eurostar, have set up in Botswana while six have sprung up in Namibia. It is the beginning of a new industry, adding value to gems back home. Botswana now competes with manufacturing centres such as India, which employs one million people in the polishing business, and can now add around 40% to the value of its sparkling export. "They are taking the rough diamond and turning it into a finished product. This way Botswana is able to compete with other polishing centres and it has created a whole new industry," says Mervin Lifshitz at the Botswana Diamond Manufacturers Association.
Botswana's burgeoning diamond-polishing industry is indicative of a wider effort across the continent to add value back home and boost Africa's own manufacturing sector. Economists have said for years that without a strong manufacturing industry - South Africa has the most vibrant - countries will struggle to reduce the cost of manufactured imports, create jobs and accelerate industrialisation.
How healthy is Africa's manufacturing sector?
Companies say power supply is the biggest challenge. The World Bank's December 2009 Kenya Economic Update estimates domestic manufacturing loses almost 10% in potential sales due to power outages and transport bottlenecks. It is making Kenyan goods uncompetitive, warns Betty Maina at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM). "With energy cost constituting over 40% of total manufacturing costs, Kenya's products are increasingly finding it difficult to compete with those from other countries, especially Asia," she says.
It is a similar story in Nigeria, where companies rely on their own generators. This helps ensure power supply but the cost is unbearable for many, causing factories to close or temporarily shut and lay off staff, says Alhaji Bashir Borodo, the president of Nigeria's Manufacturers Association.
"Manufacturing is dying in Nigeria because of the power supply," bemoans Lagosian entrepreneur Seyi Boroffice. "The government still believes it can fix the problem but it has to be driven by the private sector."
It is a call being answered. Nigerian energy firm Oando has invested Ni6bn ($i04.6m) through its subsidiary Gaslink in iookm of distribution pipeline to service over 90 customers in Lagos's industrial centres. It is part of an overall massive investment to provide Nigeria's industrial and commercial centres with a reliable and cheap fuel option, the company says.
In South Africa, where state-owned power utility Eskom produces 90% of its electricity supply from coal-fired power stations and struggles to meet demand, companies say they are exploring other power sources. A near-collapse of the grid in January 2009 shut the country's gold and platinum mines for five days and sent metals prices soaring.
The recession has not helped manufacturers. Inflation and consumer belt-tightening has led to increased competition from cheaper imports. Mohit Manglani, president of the Carpet Manufacturers Association of Nigeria urges the importance of buying local: "It is the only way to encourage manufacturers to continue to produce high quality and affordable carpets in this country. Patronising locally made carpets will save the country foreign exchange as well as create job opportunities. We believe in the Nigerian manufacturing sector and we encourage more consumption of locally made carpets," he says.
Local brands thriving Domestic demand is fuelling new industries. Lagos-headquartered mattress maker Mouka says sales grew by 40% in 2007 and 50% in 2008 on the back of Nigeria's growing middle class and lifestyle changes. The manufacturer has three factories around the country and employs around 600 people producing foam mattresses, pillows and foam material for industrial use. Manglani says carpet manufacturers in Nigeria have invested over N5bn ($33m at today's exchange rate) in the industry in the last two years in state-of-the-art machinery and technology in response to domestic consumer demand.
Manufacturers with strong brands are thriving, argues African equity analyst Christopher Hartland-Peel at investment banking boutique Exotix. Strong sales for Nigeria Stock Exchange-listed (NSE) manufacturers of soaps and beauty products - such as PZ Cussons Nigeria, Unilever as well as GSK Consumer Nigeria (part of GlaxoSmithKline and makers of brands including Aquafresh toothpaste), prove it. "Multinationals play a big part in the domestic manufacturing sector," says Hartland Peel. "They have introduced low-cost manufacturing of valueadded products based on very strong domestic demand."
Industry research group Canadean says Nigeria is one of the top 10 fastest-growing drinks markets in the world. British drinks company Diageo manufactures and sells more Guinness in Nigeria than in any other country apart from Britain.
But it is not just foreign manufacturers that are doing well. McDonald's-style fast food chain, Mr Biggs, part of NSE-listed United Africa Company of Nigeria, has grown from io outlets to 125 in 10 years.
Breweries are amongst the strongest exporters. Kenya's East African Breweries exports its Tusker brand to markets in the UK, US and Japan. Its bottling plant exports 15-20% of production regionally.
Also in East Africa, Nairobi-listed Bamburi Cement, Athi River and East Portland Cement export 15% of their products overseas. Flower producers add value selling readymade bouquets to Europe and to new markets in Australia, Japan, Russia and America, says the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya.
Regional exporters will get a leg-up from the East African Community Customs Union due on stream in July 2010. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi will all allow the free movement of goods, services, people and capital within the bloc. This will offer the region's manufacturers enlarged market size, economies of scale and increased intra-regional trade.
However, protectionism is stili a worry. Governments such as Uganda have already given in to internal pressures to protect their industries from imports to save jobs. Kenyan firms say they struggle to sell processed animal products and galvanised iron sheets into Uganda for example. Nevertheless, the union will enable manufacturers to target crucial regional markets, says KAM's Maina. "Last year, Kenya's exports to Africa accounted for Kshi24bn ($1.6bn) compared to $9om earnings from Europe. The value of exports to Uganda alone topped $42m - less than half of the earnings received from exports to Europe."
Expanding manufacturing base
China is also investing in Africa's manufacturing sector, relocating factory work such as toy and shoe making from China to start-up projects in Zambia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Ethiopia in special economic zones.
During the February African Union summit in Ethiopia, the World Bank's president, Robert Zoellick promised to back African manufacturing with expertise and cash. "If you look back at the growth of East Asia, starting with Japan, and then Korea and Taiwan and Southeast Asia and China, they've used the model of basic manufacturing to slowly move up the value-added chain." He said that the World Bank would look for opportunities to co-invest and build infrastructure with China.
Africa's manufacturers say governments need to do more. Tokunbo Talabi, managing director of Lagos-based Superflux International that makes envelopes, wants the government to support businesses through tax breaks and incentives. "I don't think the Nigerian government values Nigerian companies enough. It feels to us like they are happy for a foreign company to come over here and take away our business rather than to support domestic business."
Red tape and hidden costs are a common complaint. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria cites a recent hike in shipping costs by the Nigerian Ports Authority as an example.
For other manufacturers, like Botswana's new diamond polishing and cutting factories, staff training is the biggest challenge. "Investors have to put lots of time and money here," says Lifshitz.
Despite the obstacles caused by inadequate infrastructure, high transport and production costs, red tape and the lack of skills, manufacturing in Africa is still profitable thanks to a huge domestic market and a growing export market. Africa will only really begin to move towards prosperity if and when its manufacturing output matches that of the strong emerging markets. Has the process started in earnest?
Africa's manufacturers need the support of local consumers to build their businesses.
Africa will move towards prosperity when its manufacturing output matches that of the strong emerging markets SIDEBAR
Betty Maina (right) says Kenya's regional exports outstrip those to Europe.
Domestic manufacturing loses almost 10% in potential sales due to power outages and transport bottlenecks SIDEBAR
Africa's manufacturers need the support of local consumers to build their businesses.
Africa will move towards prosperity when its manufacturing output matches that of the strong emerging markets
Industrial Revolution going on in Africa. Some people don't know that their is a begin of an Industrial Revolution going on in Africa. A lot of countries are starting to build their industry. For example in Nigeria they now manufacture their own car parts, part of motors and in 5 years they will build for 100% their own motors. A lot of western products are been copied. The same what happend 20 years ago in China before their Industrial Revolution is now happening in Nigeria.
Quote: Western scientists confirm the beginning of an industrial revolution in Nigeria. For example in the city Nnewi, 300 kilometres at south of the capital Abuja, their are more then thirty industrial companies who are making car components. On average each company has a small hundred employees in service.
Industrial revolution: African tigers
Les Celliers de Meknes is one of the many industrial companies in Morocco. The firma is owned by Brahim Zniber, who produces especially foods: soft drink, cattle fodder, vegetable oil, textile. Also car components ' The industrial revolution in Morocco stands in the start block-systems
The industrial revolution in Morocco is beginning to start' , according to Bouchaara . ' Except local companies also the foreign investments are growing . Renault builds in Tanger one of the largest car factories in the world. Within ten years our economy is at the level of Spain.' The infrastructure has improved enormously. We have recently a fantastic new motorway from Tanger to Marrakesh. ' Morocco is not the only country in Africa where the industry is starting to begin. Except in a number of other countries in North Africa industrial companies are also strong in rise in particularly Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan, Mozambique and South Africa. In Nigeria much industrial companies rice slowly from a deep valley. Because of the enormous income from the oil-export other sectors were neglected for decades. The current government tries to change this . Johnny Ekewuba, marketing manager of the Nigerian Ibeto Group. Its company, that especially manufacters car components . ' We grow 5% a year. The products of the Ibeto Group still remain cheap. A set of their brake block-systems costs 300 naira or less than two euro, what ten times are cheaper than in the Netherlands. The beto Group even already started to exports components to the foreign countries. In neighbouring countries Cameroon and Niger Nigerian car absorbers, oil filters and brake block-systems from Nigeria are evrywhere . ' Also we export to India and Great-Britain.'
African economies grew the previous time more strongly than economies in Europe. Except with the industry also companies in the agrarian, financial sector and communication . The coming years the economies are expected further to increase.
Of lot of influential improvements have taken place the previous years in Africa, like the extension of mobile network . In a large number African countries the network were build by the Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim, director of Celtel. ' Western investors claimed that it was risky to invest in Africa ' , says Ibrahim : ' I found that fear exaggerated and decided to show that they were wrong.' Good telecommunication is very important for companies. Cable phones in Africa have always had problems ' , thus Ibrahim. ' A connection was expensive, there were technical problems'. Current mobile network is, however, more reliable.' Also Internet has come thanks the mobile network for much more Africans available. Cell Celtel was a huge success., in 2006, he sold his company to an investor in Kuwait, and the the name was changed in Zain. Ibrahim got 3.5 billion dollar,and is now one of the richest Africans in the world. Ibrahim is now seeking to invest in other things ' The foodstuff industry in Africa has huge potential'
Posts: 2688 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
Ethiopia has launched an electric car, despite suffering from power shortages. It is only the second African country to do so, after South Africa.
Two versions of the Solaris Elettra will be manufactured in Addis Ababa, costing around $12,000 and $15,000.
The cars will be sold in Ethiopia and exported to Africa and Europe.
Carlo Pironti, general manager of Freestyle PLC, the company producing the Solaris, told the BBC's Uduak Amimo in Addis Ababa that Ethiopia's electricity shortages were not a major obstacle to operating an electric car.
"Ethiopia in future will have lots of power supply," he said.
"In any case, the car can be recharged by generator and by solar power."
Taxes on cars in Ethiopia can be more than 100% and many Ethiopians with low incomes will struggle to afford an electric car.
To overcome this problem, Mr Pironti says his company will develop a credit system for less affluent customers.
Six Solaris Elettras will be produced every week for the next three months, rising to 30 per week when Freestyle's factory in Addis Ababa is fully operational, he says.
Mr Pironti says he wants to take the Solaris "from a green country to a green world," referring to the company's plans to export the car from Ethiopia to Africa and beyond.
But Wayne Batty, senior writer at South Africa's Topcar magazine, believes only a small percentage of Africa has the necessary infrastructure to support an electric car.
Mr Batty told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that electric cars are fine for short trips of 40 to 50 km (25 to 31 miles), but African countries lack the recharging points for longer journeys.
Ethiopia's electric car comes after Rwanda launched its first bio-diesel bus last week.
It is currently building a huge hydro-electric dam on the Omo river and hopes to become a major exporter of energy when that is completed.
___________________________________________ After the Asian tigers, will it be the turn of the African lions?
INTERNATIONAL. Sub-Saharan Africa is likely to remain the second-fastest growing region after Asia in the near future, predicts Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, but “we can catch up with Asia, as the prospect of Africa as the last unexplored territory in the world and the potential of growth remain.”
For this to happen, Sanusi says Africa needs to put in place the right policies, address its infrastructure deficit, and provide the right environment and incentives for businesses and capital to come in. “That includes policy consistency, political stability, the fight against corruption, and improved efficiency in business processes. If we did the same thing that the Asians, such as the Indonesians and the Malaysians, did and if we did it right, we should be able to repeat the experience.”
Raadiya Begg, director of INSEAD Africa Initiative, says exciting developments are taking place in Africa. Out of an increasing number of opportunities for investment in a variety of sectors, there is a focus on growth sectors related to development such as healthcare, alternative energy, logistics, finance, agriculture, technology and telecommunications.
“Take wireless telecommunications, for example. Mobile telecommunications has levelled the economic landscape, and led to the rapid growth of mobile banking and internet usage,” says Begg. “Improved access to information has had profound economic impacts such as more highly competitive pricing – farmers, for instance, are now able to access real-time prices of goods to make informed decisions on whether to participate in a trade; increased worker productivity; and business models geared towards the less wealthy segments of the population.”
Another area of development is in venture capital. “The viability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is essential to the health of any economy and the frontier markets are no exception,” argues Begg. “It is the growing entrepreneurial companies that create a multiplier effect.
It is not possible to create sustainable business with microfinance alone. Due to a virtual absence of capital, an equity base in the capital structure, which is almost non-existent in the developing world, is required. Thus, to achieve real impact on societies, expanding venture capital opportunities is a very practical approach.”
Nigeria - a case in point
Citing developments in his own country, Sanusi says the Nigerian economy is about to move to the next level with power reforms, which will bring about rapid growth in manufacturing and processing, as well as double-digit GDP growth.
In the last six years, the economy has been growing at a rate of seven to eight per cent per annum, mainly on the back of growth in agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and services.
Chronic power outages have, on the other hand, held back economic growth. “Once we address the power infrastructure problems and put the right policies in place, we can easily get to double-digits,” he told INSEAD Knowledge, on the sidelines of The Economist’s Emerging Markets Summit held here recently.
While Nigeria is the leading oil and gas producer in Africa, oil and gas account for only 11%-12% of GDP. So the great potential for growth really comes from agriculture, manufacturing and services, with a lot of room for diversification, says Sanusi. “In the oil and gas and agriculture sectors, there is a lot of upside in processing. This is the country that is the number one producer of cassava in the world. Besides being used for consumption, cassava is now also used as ethanol biofuel feedstock. So there are opportunities for innovation and virgin territories that have not been explored.”
Begg concurs: “As Africa’s biggest oil producer, Nigeria boasts tremendous oil resources and business dynamism. However, of greater interest, is the growth in non-oil output, which is increasing steadily -- such as telecommunications. Nigeria has the eighth fastest telecommunications market in the world and the fastest one in Africa. Together with Kenya, they account for roughly half of Sub-Saharan Africa’s total mobile telecoms revenue.”
Nigerian banks have been consistently outperforming their counterparts in South Africa and Ghana over the past two years, Begg told INSEAD Knowledge. Other sectors showing considerable growth potential include the agricultural sector, building and construction, as well as the hotel and restaurant sectors. “This is barely touching the surface of growth potential that Nigeria has to offer. It has even made a mark in the film industry -- Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, is the third largest, not far behind Hollywood (US) and Bollywood (India).”
Implications for Western competitors
Africa presents unique first-mover advantages for western organisations that recognise serving ‘bottom of the pyramid markets’ as more than just corporate social responsibility, says Begg. New markets in regions such as Africa present companies with opportunities to innovate their value chain. Companies are forced to refocus their strategic growth efforts and change the way they think about doing business, moving towards providing solutions to customers’ needs instead of ‘pushing products’.
To achieve sustainable growth, organisations venturing into markets such as Africa need to have a long-term view of doing business in the region and aim for a triple or at least double bottom line. “It is not a region for quick wins,” says Begg. “Patience and nerves of steel will take you a long way too.”
China-Africa trade
South Africa and Nigeria are now China’s largest African trade partners. The Chinese have traditionally been involved in construction, textiles and light manufacturing, however they have now gone into oil and gas in Nigeria and would also like to get into power and extractive industries, says Sanusi. “While the Chinese have been active in Nigeria, they are at this moment nowhere near being the biggest investor or trading partner of the country, but (China) is increasing its presence.” The country’s biggest trading partner is the US, followed by France.
Some have expressed concerns about China’s investments in Africa. However, Sanusi says he has never understood “why anyone should have concerns about anybody investing anywhere. We need to continue to attract investments but the investments need to be in the real economy. Diversification of investment resources is useful for African countries.”
He says he would be concerned if there were an undue concentration and over-reliance on one partner, but feels that anything that allows capital to come in from different parts of the world on terms that are not detrimental to the long-term economic interest of the country should be encouraged.
Tainted world views?
Think of Africa and many think of a region rife with crime, poverty, poor health, and poor infrastructure. Are these conditions keeping investors away? Sanusi doesn’t think so. In fact he believes these difficulties provide opportunities for people to come in and address these issues.
Poverty only gets alleviated with investments and economic growth, he argues. And if you’ve got a country in a post-conflict situation that has had an economy that’s badly managed, and it suddenly finds good governance, places like Zimbabwe, Angola, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, for example, offer tremendous opportunities for investments as things improve.
“I don’t think the reality of Africa is exactly the same as the perception; a lot of that is exaggerated, probably based on incomplete information,” says Sanusi. “I’ve had many people comment on Africa who’ve never been there. They are making comments based on what they heard many years ago and they have no idea of the amount of changes that have taken place. Go to places like Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Senegal. A lot is happening in terms of governance, democracy, the fight against corruption, reforms. Many people are not aware of the changes in Africa.”
So how do you change perceptions? Sanusi says one way is to continue doing the right things and doing them consistently. Another is to look the world in the eye and say this is simply not true.
With so much going for Africa economically, will it be the turn of the African lions after the Asian tigers? “I hope it will be, and the first lion will be Nigeria,” says Sanusi.
Note. The Economist’s Emerging Markets Summit was held in London September 15-16, 2010.
This article is republished courtesy of INSEAD Knowledge (http://knowledge.insead.edu)
Nigeria: Manufacturing - 3.6 Percent Contribution to GDP
20 years ago it was 13.8% ___________________________________________________________
Industry in Sudan Sudan enjoys huge agricultural resources (plant and animal), as well as various types of energy and mining resources and skillful manpower at reasonable cost, which constitutes a base for comprehensive industrial development. The concern about manufacturing industry lies in the fact that this sector is an important sector in transforming these resources into commodities and products of high quality and value, to be used for intermediate and final usage. The application of the programs of economic reform and structural adjustments in the economy have a positive impact on the manufacturing industry sector, through the intensification of its participation in the national economy, the enhancement of its competitive capacity and the widening of its productive base.
The manufacturing industry sector contributed to 8.4% of the GDP in Sudan in 2006, with a growth rate of 7%
_________________________________________
Nigeria-MANUFACTURING Courtesy Embassy of Nigeria, Washington
While agriculture's relative share of GDP was falling, manufacturing's contribution rose from 4.4 percent in FY 1959 to 9.4 percent in 1970, before falling during the oil boom to 7.0 percent in 1973, increasing to 11.4 percent in 1981, and declining to 10.0 percent in 1988. Whereas manufacturing increased rapidly during the 1970s, tariff manipulations encouraged the expansion of assembly activities dependent on imported inputs; these activities contributed little to indigenous value added or to employment, and reduced subsequent industrial growth. The manufacturing sector produced a range of goods that included milled grain, vegetable oil, meat products, dairy products, sugar refined, soft drinks, beer, cigarettes, textiles, footwear, wood, paper products, soap, paint, pharmaceutical goods, ceramics, chemical products, tires, tubes, plastics, cement, glass, bricks, tiles, metal goods, agricultural machinery, household electrical appliances, radios, motor vehicles, and jewelry.
25 June 2010 How non-oil exports drive real GDP growth Lagos — The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Wednesday revealed that Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of this year grew by 7.23 percent with the Nominal GDP with non-oil sector
being the major driver of growth. The NBS in its 2010 first quarter report on the Nation's GDP and endorsed by the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Vincent Akinyosoye, revealed that the non-oil sector played a dominant role in the real GDP with growth rate of 8.15 as against the previous quarter.
"On an aggregate basis, the economy when measured by the Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), grew by 7.23 percent in the first quarter of 2010 as against 4.50 percent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
"The 2.73 percentage point increase in Real GDP growth observed in the first quarter of 2010 was accounted for by the increase in production in the oil sector of the economy. The nominal GDP for the first quarter of 2010 was estimated at 6,399,716.09 million naira as against the 5,404,850.00 million naira during the corresponding quarter of 2009, thus, indicating an increase of 994,866.09 million naira," the NSS report read in part.
Stating that the oil sector plays a pivotal role in the Nigerian economy as a dominant source of revenue period NBS disclosed that the sector witnessed increased production within the period under review than in the corresponding quarter of 2009.
It cited that about 202,358,601 barrels of crude oil and condensates were estimated for the first quarter of 2010 with an average daily production of 2.25 million barrels per day compared with the 184,661,774 barrels produced within the first quarter of 2009 with a corresponding average daily production of 2.05 million barrels per day.
The NBS explained that the observed increase contribution of oil to the GDP was attributable to the improvement in output, which could be traced to the various interventions by government in the peace process in the oil producing regions.
"The Oil sector contributed about 18.70 percent to real GDP in the first quarter 2009, while the contribution in first quarter of 2010 was however 18.00 percent. The Non-oil sector continued to be a major driver of the economy in the first quarter of 2010 when compared with the corresponding quarter of 2009.
"The sector recorded 8.15 percent growth in real terms in the first quarter of 2010 compared with 7.90 percent achieved a year ago. The Nonoil sector experienced a declining growth in the first quarter of 2010 when compared with the preceding quarter of 2009" the read further observed.
On the subsectors of the non-oil sector of the economy, the NBS noted that during the first quarter of 2010, the manufacturing activities decreased relative to the same period in 2009 as it recorded a decline in growth rate from 7.03 percent in 2009 to 6.43 percent in 2010.
It attributed the development to the low manufacturing activities usually recorded in the first quarter after the festivities in the last quarter of the previous year, poor electric power supply, and inability to access credit from banks arising from the credit crisis in the banking sector.
The Telecommunications sector continued to perform impressively and has remained one of the major drivers of growth in the Nigerian economy. The report pointed that following intensive marketing strategies and value added services by telecommunication companies in Nigeria, the sector recorded a real GDP growth of 32.54 percent in the first quarter of 2010 compared with 31.75 percent recorded in the corresponding period of 2009.
posted
Botswana bets on technology to save rural economies
Botswana is home to one of the most stable and successful economies in the whole of Africa.
But most opportunities are based in the bigger cities and towns.
That has led to worries that small villages could face a lingering death unless there are moves to boost their economies.
The village of Mookane - 120km from the capital, Gaborone - is typical of many rural areas around Botswana.
Boisterous children, impeccably turned out in uniform, make their way to school. A handful of shops are open to sell basic everyday items.
Kitsong centres have a telecommunications mast that links rural villages up to the rest of the world
The village has a population of 10,000. But where is everyone? During the working week, this is an eerily empty place, because much of the adult population lives and works in Gaborone.
Sense of identity
The village is an important part of a person's identity here. But the pull of economic advancement elsewhere is proving irresistible.
This is why the government has embarked on a public private partnership with the country's biggest mobile phone company, Mascom, to bring advanced data, web and voice services to 42 villages.
It's part of a wider programme to connect 197 villages to communication services.
The centres are run by franchisees like Keolebogile Baatweng (right)
The government sees connectivity as a major socio-economic driver, and intends to make the most of the improved power supply in rural areas to bring 21st-Century services to remote villages.
Earlier attempts in some parts of the country were hampered when solar energy panels, powering local systems, went missing at an "alarming rate".
Today, so-called Kitsong centres are built to house computers, telecoms services and less hi-tech facilities, such as typing and fax machines.
It's run by a local entrepreneur on a franchise basis - and constitutes a sort of rural virtual office for other local businesses.
The aim is to provide services usually only available in town. Is it working in its aim of keeping more people home?
Farmer Vincent Christopher is just coming out of the centre. "I'm buying and selling cattle," he explains on the hot dusty road outside.
Farmer Vincent Christopher uses the centre to buy and sell cattle
"When I want to find out prices from the Botswana Meat Commission, I can just find out here over the internet. I can even communicate with customers from different places."
So he has saved himself a long, arduous, expensive journey to a distant town.
Student Melba is a regular customer at the centre, doing a distance learning course at a college in Gaborone. She has big ambitions.
"I'm looking forward to doing my degree and masters and I can still stay in this village " she explains. "I used to travel long distances to get services that are are rendered in this village."
So she believes that by being able to access an education from the comfort of her own village, she is helping to keep the place alive.
Urban v rural
Economist Keith Jefferies doubts that people will stay in the country
But not everyone thinks that improving communication services in rural areas will help boost local economies and reverse the flow of people into the cities.
"For all sort of reasons, people prefer living in larger settlements," says economist Keith Jefferies.
"It's just the range of entertainment on offer and more interesting lifestyle. I'm a bit sceptical that people will stay in the rural areas."
Mascom's Tebogo Lebotse, not surprisingly, takes a different view. She says that village life has a real pull for most people in Botswana.
"We all very much love our village. What you can see as a trend is that at the weekend, every holiday everybody goes home."
Most people would rather spend more of their lives their home village than in town, she maintains.
If the centres can help keep jobs in the villages, these boys may have a future here
"I truly believe that if there were more opportunities in rural Botswana, more people would want to set up businesses where they are from. There's more opportunity in the village, there's less competition."
The local Kitsong centre is planning to increase the suite of services it offers in order to meet rising demand.
So local businesses will be offered bulk-airtime deals and special rates for web connections.
The success of business expansion plans like this will determine whether the children now on their way home from school will be able to continue to call this village home.
________________________________________
SOME Cars,Trucks,Bus MADE in Africa. FOR THE REST SEE LINK BELOW.
Rwanda build tractors :
Wisconsin Engineering based in the Czech Republic, has announced it will open a tractor-assembling factory in Rwanda to supply the eastern Africa region.
This will be the first tractor factory in Rwanda and the second in East Africa following Ugiran, a tractor-assembling factory established in Uganda early this year, by the Ugandan government in partnership with a Iranian tractor maker.
Wisconsin Engineering (WE) this year granted exclusive rights to WayInvest, a Slovak firm to market, sell and produce its tractors in the region. The Rwanda factory will be the second WE's factory in Africa adding to the first one under construction in Nigeria to cater for other regions.
The Marketing Director of WayInvest Mr. Robert Doman said that they have partnered with Top Technologies, a Rwandan firm, and construction of the factory is expected to start in January next year.
The factory will employ 50 to 60 people and produce 500 tractors per year.
WayInvest seeks to send 3 to 4 Rwandan mechanics for tractor assembling training in Czech who will in turn train others in the local factory.
The Kigali based factory will assemble two brands of small tractors for the farmers and export to Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi and Malawi.
The factory will assemble W5000 Yukon and W4000 Farmer, two small tractors suitable for rural farming activities and compatible with various implements.
The W4000 Farmer tractor has varying agricultural uses, which include crop cutting and harvesting, spraying, seeding, cultivating, and ploughing.
Currently, the company seeks to hire a hall and start assembling as they wait for the factory. The first tractor assembled in Rwanda should be on the market by January next year. Imported W4000 Farmer Tractor currently costs about Rwf15 million (US$26,315) while W5000 Yukon Tractor which is bigger than W4000 costs about Rwf20 million (US$35087).
Doman said that the tractors made in Rwanda would be 50% cheaper than the imported ones.
He said the Rwanda factory would have qualities similar to those of the parent factory in Czech Republic, which has been operating for 130 years. Relevant Links
* Central Africa * Rwanda
"Our idea is to have a tractor made in Rwanda .There is plenty of things and money and technology that we've already invested and we are prepared to invest more," said Doman.
He said they have already talked to the government, banks, business community and other potential partners for support in establishment of the factory.
The Czech tractors will compete with a Yugoslavian Rakovica R76 tractor being demonstrated across the region by Brazafric, a Brazilian owned Kenya based firm, with presence in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia.
Last week, Brazafric Rwanda demonstrated the tractor made by Industrija Motora Rakovica of Yugoslavia. The same tractor has been in use in Kenya for about a year.
Nigeria Launches worlds most advanced Satellites into Orbit. Nigeria launched NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X into orbit Wednesday morning from a Russian launch pad in the town of Yasny, President Goodluck Jonathan said on state-run television.
According to Mr.Jonathan "This is another milestone in our nation's effort to solve national problems through space technology."
Nigeria Sat-X, which was built by Nigerian engineers trained at the same time the Sat-2 was being built as a demonstration that Nigeria can build and launch its satellite was launched alongside NigeriaSat-2.
With the launch of the two satellites, NigeriaSa-1, which has since overstayed its life span in orbit would be replaced.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja shortly after showing the live coverage of the launch site, in Russia to the audience, the project manager of the NigeriaSat-2 and X, Mr. Francis Chizea, said that NigeriaSat-2 and X, have five years life span, just like NigeriaSat-1, and "will continue the work which NigeriaSat-1 is doing, but is more advanced in technology."
Explaining further, Mr. Chizea, noted that the satellite was designed for five years, just like NigeriaSat-1. "It is still in the orbit functioning and providing images as it used to be. They are two different satellites on their own; Nigeria Sat-2 is a higher resolution satellite, carrying 2.5m resolution camera on board.
"It also has 32m camera on board, because we expect that very soon, Nigeria Sat-1 will expire, and stop working. So to ensure that there is data continuity, we also have that 32m camera in Nigeria sat-2. It is a more advanced space craft. Whatever Nigeria sat-2 is doing in the orbit now is to carry out earth resolution that Nigeriasat-1 has been carrying out for the past 8 years, but with 32m camera, it has better grand meter set, which we never had before. Now, we can have our own high earth resolution data from our grand station whenever we want it."
Nigeria Launches 2 Satellites Into Orbit
On the economic implication of the satellite, he said, it is not just launching of the satellite that matters but to improve the socio-economic life of Nigerians, adding that data from Nigeria-sat-2 will be used for various applications "in agriculture, urban mapping, environmental monitoring, etc. nigeriasat-2 is one of the most advanced satellites of its kind that is in the orbit today."
Explaining why the satellite is the most advanced of its kind in the world, Chizea pointed out that the Nigeriasat-2 unlike any other satellite can image lots of images, "for example, it can image a still image, under a very low skill which was not possible in Nigeriasat-1. Nigeriasat-2 is very agile, you can image and offload at the same time to the grand station, this is the facility that is not available in satellites of its kind. It can carry out images from security, pipeline monitoring to coastal monitoring, depending on what we have on ground." Last edited by Naija Attitude; Yesterday at 06:43 AM. Reason: Typographical error.
[QUOTE=Naija Attitude;82992131]Yeah.. With South African technology and her defacto capability to build Launch Pads African countries could build and launch satellites into orbit on African soil , not paying $70 million USD per launch. Nigeria has showed the world that Africans can indeed build satellites by itself.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Tbite;82993763] Nigerians have been learning the trade.
And we will be launching our own satellite ourselves in 4 years time.[/QUOTE]
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]In Use[/COLOR], [COLOR="Red"]No longer in Use[/COLOR], [COLOR="DarkRed"]Yet to launch[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Tbite;82996470]The sources I read said a satellite will be launched in Nigeria in 2015[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Tbite;82997681]That tag simply means it is in the league of the most advanced satellites, It is stated in another article.
Nigeria has already taken steps in place, our engineers are fast becoming some of the best in the world in this field and I think our space development is developing quite rapidly and impressively. By 2015/2017 there will be some impressive developments coming out of Nigeria.
The engineers dubbed it one of the world's most advanced satellites based on its specifications.
here is why sources all over the world have went with the tag "one of the world's most advanced satellites".
Now if someone like A darter that has a background in engineering can come out with a reason why the engineers should be faulted then fine.
EARTH OBSERVATION SSTL successfully launches two further Earth observation satellites by Staff Writers Guildford UK (SPX) Aug 18, 2011
Quote: SSTL's NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X satellites were successfully launched Wednesday at 07:12:20 UTC onboard a Dnepr rocket from Yasny in southern Russia. The highly advanced Earth observation satellites will significantly boost African capabilities for natural resource management, as well as aid disaster relief through the Disaster Monitoring Constellation.
Following confirmation of separation from the launch vehicle, ground stations in Abuja and Guildford established contact with NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X respectively and commissioning of the satellites in their 700 km sun-synchronous orbit is now progressing.
The two satellites, built under contract with the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), will provide Nigeria with the ability to enhance food security through monthly crop monitoring, assist with burgeoning urban planning demands and, through the development of engineering skills, will advance the growth of new technologies in Nigeria.
Science Minister David Willetts said: "The completion of this significant engineering project is testament to the success of the rapidly growing UK space industry. Not only are we producing technology and services that are in global demand but we are also helping more countries use satellite imagery to tackle important issues, including urban development and disaster relief."
NigeriaSat-2, one of the most advanced Earth observation small satellites launched, will provide high-resolution (2.5-metres) images whilst, under a 3-year training and development programme, 26 Nigerian engineers have worked alongside SSTL engineers in Guildford, assembling the accompanying 100kg NigeriaSat-X. After completion of the commissioning phase, NASRDA engineers will control both satellites from their ground station in Abuja.
SSTL's Executive Chairman, Sir Martin Sweeting, commented: "We congratulate the Nigerian Government on the advancement of their Earth Observation capability. SSTL's training programmes give testimony to space being a truly international endeavour. Continuing to change the economics of space, SSTL prides itself in providing highly capable and affordable spacecraft for our customers' operational needs."
NASRDA head, Dr S.O Mohammed, said: "This is a great day for the Nigerian space industry and builds on the success of NigeriaSat-1, launched in 2003. NigeriaSat-2 will significantly boost African capabilities for remote sensing applications, specifically for natural resource management. This high resolution satellite will also greatly enhance image data available to the Disaster Monitoring Constellation. Through a comprehensive training programme, Nigerian engineers have worked on the design and build of NigeriaSat-X, benefiting Nigeria's growing space industry and inspiring development of new technologies." http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/SS...lites_999.html
Quote: The mission launching from Yasny, in Southern Russia, will give Nigeria the ability to pinpoint individual buildings for urban planning in its sprawling cities, and to monitor crops more precisely.
Based on the SSTL 300 smallsat platform, the satellite is designed to deliver 2.5-meter panchromatic and 5-meter multispectral resolution, with a 20-km (12-mi.) swath. It will be able to roll 45 deg. off center to provide stereo imaging and faster response.
Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) plans to use it in conjunction with NigeriaSat-1, another SSTL product, to map the country every four months. The newer spacecraft has 20 times the data-delivery capacity of its predecessor, and Nigeria’s space agency plans to make it available commercially as well as to use it for national needs.
The information also will be supplied to the Data Monitoring Constellation (DMC), which will use it along with other small Earth-observing satellites to provide global daily monitoring coordinated by DMC International Imaging Ltd.
Launching with NigeriaSat-2 will be NigeriaSat-X, built by a group of 26 Nigerian engineers in an SSTL training program at the company’s facilities in Guildford, England. The spacecraft will supplement NigeriaSat-2 data with 22-meter resolution across a 600-km swath. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...ch%20Aug.%2017
If you have specifications then post it.
This is Right from the Manufacturers Website, they are the world's leading small satellite company
Highly advanced NigeriaSat-2 small satellite launch date announced
SSTL has today announced that it will launch the NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X satellites on behalf of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) by a Dnepr launch vehicle from Yasny, Russia on 29th October 2010.
NigeriaSat-2 is the most advanced small satellite ever to be launched, defining new standards in Earth observation and avionics. The spacecraft, which is based upon SSTL’s flagship SSTL-300i platform, will be used primarily for resource management and mapping of the Nigerian territory.
Its mission objectives include providing high resolution maps of Nigeria every four months, monthly monitoring of Nigerian crops for food supply security, and supporting the development of the Nigerian national Geographical Information System (GIS) by providing high quality geospatial data.
The NigeriaSat-2 spacecraft utilises one of the most capable platforms in its class, which when combined with its two SSTL-built optical payloads provides highly capable and flexible multi-mode operation for spot imaging, strip imaging, area mode imaging and stereo mode imaging.
High resolution images are provided by SSTL’s Very High Resolution Imager (VHRI). This sophisticated multispectral imaging payload was developed from the highly successful imager onboard Beijing-1. It provides 2.5m ground sample distance (GSD) panchromatic imagery and 5.0m GSD 4-band multi-spectral imagery at 20km swath widths. The satellite’s wide area mapping capability comes from a 32m GSD 4 band Disaster Monitoring Constellation imager that has a very large 300km swath width and can capture up to 400 scenes per day.
The small satellite’s imaging capability is further enhanced by the SSTL-300i satellite platform’s avionics, allowing 45° roll/pitch off-pointing for high resolution spot imaging and also stereo mode imaging. Stereo mode imaging is an exciting new development that makes it possible to build digital terrain maps which include, for example, heights of buildings, hills and mountains - useful in the planning of wireless communications.
NigeriaSat-2 also features dual 105Mbps downlinks, which can also be operated as a 210 Mbps data connection for fast transfer of large images to either the SSTL or Nigerian groundstation. The new satellite can be controlled both directly from Nigeria and also from SSTL’s groundstation to provide rapid imaging, with a typical 3-day turnaround from satellite tasking to GIS-ready images.
The NigeriaSat-2 programme includes ground segment equipment and advanced training, and follows on from the successful NigeriaSat-1 programme to provide data continuity for end users.
NigeriaSat-X will be launched into the Disaster Monitoring Constellation, where it will assist with disaster relief and global environmental monitoring campaigns alongside satellites from other consortium members ASAL (Algeria), BLMIT (China), Deimos Space (Spain), and SSTL (UK).
http://www.sst-us.com/news-and-events?story=1569 __________________ TBITE stands for; Thriving Better In Things Essential In Architecture we find a way of celebrating Humanity and of raising ourselves above the concerns of the matter of fact - Jonathan Glancey
Lagos State of Mind Last edited by Tbite; Yesterday at 11:40 AM.
[QUOTE=Naija Attitude;83000154]A Darter is right. Its not the most advanced in the world but it does fall into the league.Authorities said NigeriaSat-2 can detect anything wider than 8.2 feet (2.5 meters), such as cars. That means the satellites also could be used for military and intelligence purposes. Thats pretty impressive if you ask me for a country whose space programme is less than 10 years old. In 2015 Nigeria is set to independently launch its own satellites, weather this is achievable is up for debates, personally i dont see this happening.
The satellite launch also spotlights Nigeria as a main African player in space technology development, rivaling countries such as South Africa and Algeria, which also have space programs. Despite the strides Nigeria's space technology industry has made in recent years, it remains largely dependent on other nations launch platforms. NigeriaSat-X was built by a team of Nigerian engineers and scientists at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in the United Kingdom, while NigeriaSat-2 was built entirely by Nigerian engineers and tecchnicians.
Nigerian officials hope this launch goes better than the country's last. In May 2007, Nigeria launched its first communication satellite, built by a Chinese team and launched from a Chinese pad. NIGCOMSAT-1 was expected to provide phone, broadband Internet and broadcasting services in Africa's most populous country, but it was lost in space just over a year later. Authorities said a replacement satellite will be launched before the end of the year.
I believe South Africa has space launch or can have space launch capabilities anytime soon. Should these happen African countries can use Launch pads in SA at a much cheaper rate. I once told people on here that Nigeria and by and large Africans are smarter than the Chinese. If conditions are right Africans can really be a global player in the tech field, we don't resolve to clandestine covert espionage activities like the Chinese to show the world we can do stuffs.
Africa to the world media is portrayed as hungry, backward and impoverished people with little intelligence, news like this will never make it tot he Western Media.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Tbite;83000269]I have posted the overwhelming evidence so there is nothing further to discuss.
Also nobody said it was the most advanced satellite...it is a grammatical error and it is being misconstrued.
The Manufacturers however who are the world's leaders in the field have stated it is the most advanced small satellite ever launched so that really substantiates the posts that I have been making.
I guess you guys learn something new everyday, just take it on the chin.
Moderator change the title to "Nigeria Launches one of the worlds most advanced Satellites into orbit" or "Nigeria Launches the worlds most advanced small Satellite into orbit"[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Naija Attitude;83000768]Well people on here refuse to acknowledge the fact that something good technologically can come out of a %100 black country. We all agree that Algeria, Egypt, South Africa can make pretty advanced stuffs but not an overwhelmingly black Nigeria... perfect logic.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=HerachioBlo;83001216]^i noticed that too. Ppl on here have more peace of mind giving those countries credit then nigeria
but is issue is calling it the WORLDS MOST. thats where the thread starter went wrong though Tbite has shown how it was most likely an error, but i still think if it was called One of the worlds most, which it is, there would still be a negative blacklash
either way just post this is the nigeria section, idk why you people waste your time arguing on the oasis[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Naija Attitude;83001343][QUOTE=abesha;82998859]LMAO. Yeah, I think it's a bit of a stretch, to say the least, to claim that Nigerian satellites are the world's most advanced (even more than the US' satellites??? Please!).
ohh pleeaaze dont say that... just because Ethopia does not even have research institute much less a space programme does not mean Africa or Nigeria cannot boast of satelites in the league of those of the West.
Nigeria is one of the fewws countries in sub-saharan Africa where modern astronomy is taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The astronomical community has been involved in main stream research activities in modern astronomy and astrophysics. Between 1980 – 2007 Astronomers in Nigeria have made significant progress in the area of theoretical High Energy Astronomy. In observational astronomy, there are astronomers who have been trained in astronomical observations at different observatories including Hartebesthoek Radio Observatory (HartRAO) South Africa, National Astronomical Observatory Japan (NAOJ) among others.
It is important to note that the Nigerian Space policy statement emphasizes that Nigeria wills vigorouly pursue the attainment of space capabilities as an essential tool for its socio-economic development and enhancement of the quality of life for its people. The National Space Research and Development Agency, (NASRDA) was created just a couple of years ago.the Agency responsible for the actualization of this lofty idea hopes to achieve this through research, rigorous education, engineering development, design and manufacture of appropriate hardware and software in space technology and antennas for scientific research and applications. And it is for these reasons that CBSS, an activity centre of the (NASRDA) has embarked on this ambitious project of setting up a 25m Radio Telescope in Nigeria for frontline space research. as well as the bringing to fruition Nigeria's ambition to independently launch payloads into orbit this decade.[/QUOTE]
The above PDF documents states the steps that Nigeria is taking and needs to take to be able to effectively launch satellites from within Nigeria.[/QUOTE]
Nigeria Launches world's most advanced satellites Into Orbit
Nigeria launched NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X into orbit Wednesday morning from a Russian launch pad in the town of Yasny, President Goodluck Jonathan said on state-run television .
According to Mr.Jonathan "This is another milestone in our nation's effort to solve national problems through space technology."
Nigeria Sat-X, which was built by Nigerian engineers trained at the same time the Sat-2 was being built as a demonstration that Nigeria can build and launch its satellite was launched alongside NigeriaSat-2.
With the launch of the two satellites, NigeriaSa-1, which has since overstayed its life span in orbit would be replaced.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja shortly after showing the live coverage of the launch site, in Russia to the audience, the project manager of the NigeriaSat-2 and X, Mr. Francis Chizea, said that NigeriaSat-2 and X, have five years life span, just like NigeriaSat-1, and "will continue the work which NigeriaSat-1 is doing, but is more advanced in technology."
Explaining further, Mr. Chizea, noted that the satellite was designed for five years, just like NigeriaSat-1. "It is still in the orbit functioning and providing images as it used to be. They are two different satellites on their own; Nigeria Sat-2 is a higher resolution satellite, carrying 2.5m resolution camera on board.
"It also has 32m camera on board, because we expect that very soon, Nigeria Sat-1 will expire, and stop working. So to ensure that there is data continuity, we also have that 32m camera in Nigeria sat-2. It is a more advanced space craft. Whatever Nigeria sat-2 is doing in the orbit now is to carry out earth resolution that Nigeriasat-1 has been carrying out for the past 8 years, but with 32m camera, it has better grand meter set, which we never had before. Now, we can have our own high earth resolution data from our grand station whenever we want it."
Nigeria Launches 2 Satellites Into Orbit
On the economic implication of the satellite, he said, it is not just launching of the satellite that matters but to improve the socio-economic life of Nigerians, adding that data from Nigeria-sat-2 will be used for various applications "in agriculture, urban mapping, environmental monitoring, etc. nigeriasat-2 is one of the most advanced satellites of its kind that is in the orbit today."
Explaining why the satellite is the most advanced of its kind in the world, Chizea pointed out that the Nigeriasat-2 unlike any other satellite can image lots of images, "for example, it can image a still image, under a very low skill which was not possible in Nigeriasat-1. Nigeriasat-2 is very agile, you can image and offload at the same time to the grand station, this is the facility that is not available in satellites of its kind. It can carry out images from security, pipeline monitoring to coastal monitoring, depending on what we have on ground."
posted
WOw!! Kenndo alot of info to wade through so this is not a time for folks who want to caste Africa as doom and gloom only to be causally lazy you have provide a wealth of info..thanks
Ish Gebor thanks for that interview I have never seen that one, the one I saw was done in Japanese with Japanese interviewers so your vid gave me something new.
quote:I am familiar with that interview, I have seen it on YouTube. Also during the pre-Olympics, I saw an interview of a Chinese hostess who presented African athletes. She said that the phenomenon of African-China wasn't new. And she explained the historical connection. I think it was on CCTV.
quote:Originally posted by Brada-Anansi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwEbk8t0pgY When one see selectively picked images of Africa and Africans in the media or right here on E/S remember the same can be inverted for Euro majority nation dominated nations the next time Cassis AkA Parahu or even Rahotep101 with their ubiquitous mud huts,remember these images above.
The demonizing of the Black identity is very profitable enterprise for them. The Imperialists write their story as they please for profit. It just so happens that the traditionalists of the bushes of Africa who live in Huts are commonly used as a prime example to further justify the suppression of Black people, not that we should see anything detestable with their way of life, we know the image they perpetuate about Africa is not impartially or more or so factually truthful because it doesn't serve their political program. This is why is it vital that we as a people are in control of our own information and communication so we expect nothing less than to be misinterpreted and vilified. No one can tell our story better than we can. Once black people have come to a consensus with this concept it is fruitless trying to convince them to change or accept it. We can't help it if some people are in denial. Above all, its not our responsibility to change our image in the minds of theirs but ourselves. What we think of ourselves is more important than what they think about us.
Posts: 535 | From: From the Darkest of the Abyss | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Brada-Anansi: WOw!! Kenndo alot of info to wade through so this is not a time for folks who want to caste Africa as doom and gloom only to be causally lazy you have provide a wealth of info..thanks
Ish Gebor thanks for that interview I have never seen that one, the one I saw was done in Japanese with Japanese interviewers so your vid gave me something new.
quote:I am familiar with that interview, I have seen it on YouTube. Also during the pre-Olympics, I saw an interview of a Chinese hostess who presented African athletes. She said that the phenomenon of African-China wasn't new. And she explained the historical connection. I think it was on CCTV.
STAY,TUNE, I WILL post a few more,please read all of it. Take your time if you have too. Posts: 2688 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
One critcism, The person should of posted more pics of Africa instead of slagging europe.
Kenndo has shown just how advanced Africa is becoming and I could not say anything but that I am Happy for the People. Hopefully the stigmas heaped up on Africa, will go the way of the dodos.
Peace
Posts: 9651 | From: Reace and Love City. | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:The demonizing of the Black identity is very profitable enterprise for them. The Imperialists write their story as they please for profit. It just so happens that the traditionalists of the bushes of Africa who live in Huts are commonly used as a prime example to further justify the suppression of Black people, not that we should see anything detestable with their way of life, we know the image they perpetuate about Africa is not impartially or more or so factually truthful because it doesn't serve their political program. This is why is it vital that we as a people are in control of our own information and communication so we expect nothing less than to be misinterpreted and vilified. No one can tell our story better than we can. Once black people have come to a consensus with this concept it is fruitless trying to convince them to change or accept it. We can't help it if some people are in denial. Above all, its not our responsibility to change our image in the minds of theirs but ourselves. What we think of ourselves is more important than what they think about us.
Well said brother.
Posts: 6546 | From: japan | Registered: Feb 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks king i was going to that too,post some pictures of the cities,i may post a links.
maybe you could start a new thread,i had one before maybe you could post some more along with some forum members here.
But first i will send i private email later so look out for it.
THESE comments i got from two nigerian on a african forum.
quote- Outside Egypt and perhaps SA no other country in Africa has deployed its forces and engage in peacekeeping operations in hostile enviroments. We have sent forces to Liberia, Sierea leone, Former Yougoslavia,Angola, Rwanda, Somalia, DR Congo etc. Nigerian forces are present in all of the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa which are Cote D'Ivoire, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Western Sahara. In total, Nigeria commits 2,462 soldiers to U.N. missions across the globe.
Nigeria's status in Africa cannot be denied. Nigeria is the only country to set up a trust fund in the African Development Bank for poorer countries to borrow money. After drafting economic reforms within its own borders, Nigerian leaders helped policy makers in other countries with their own reforms.
The Nigerian government has organized and finances a program to send doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professionals to work in other countries.
Nigeria is at the moment maintaining a largely scaled down peacetime army with less than one percent spent on GDP yet Nigeria's neighbors are be wary of its power.
Nigeria's airforce assets of 15 Chengdu F-7s,24 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets and 12 MIG-21s, 11 Suoer Hercules C-120 aircraft and two surveillance craft plus countless other support craft, trainers and Helicopter gunships is still amongst the most formidable on the Continent even though Nigeria perhaps spends less on defense than many other african states. Nigeria can easily raise defense spending to the likes of Egypt and South Africa without raising a brow, thats what you call a natural African power.
________________________________________ I ask this guy from nigeria the list of nigerian hardware manufacturers(computer makers of nigeria,and he gave me a list.
kenndo- quote- I know south africa make computers,and i am glad to hear nigeria makes them too,but i knew this for a while now.
Akwafina quote- Nigeria makes its own computers too in addition to importing. We even export to Ghana (Omatek Computers). See the day we get that ELECTRICITY issue solved, just wait and see what will happen. Then you will start seeing more of this MADE IN NIGERIA in your household and offices, on you, stores, streets,etc...
kenndo- List the names of the nigerian companies if you can.
[QUOTE=Akwafina;82576671]Zinox Computers, Omatek Computers, etc OEM hardware manufacturers. We have many software companies.[/QUOTE]
HERE are software companies and top software earners of nigeria too.
GOT THIS FROM ANOTHER WEBSITE TOO. Subject: Africa Joins the Space Race/Nigeria approves nanotechnology plan and other good news
It's alot but take your time and read,you could look at pictures first then come back to read.this stuff you do not see or read from mainstream u.s.a. tv OR WBAI.
Quote: Originally Posted by Mr. Eritrean View Post
April 27, 2010 Convinced that Space Science is critical in the development of any nation, Nigeria has completed work in the building of two more earth observation satellites, NigeriaSat 2 and Nigeria Sat X, said Seidu Mohammed, the Director General of National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA.
Mr. Mohammed, who stated that the satellites will be due for launch on October 2010, adding that specifically, the Nigeria Sat X was designed and built by 27 Nigerian Engineers.
________________________________________________ [QUOTE=popa1980;81571326]Mr Eritrean, there is NO need to re-invent the wheel. All these nations like Malaysia, Singapore, China etc would not have developed so quickly if they had tried to do everything on their own. They used foreign-local partnerships as the base for industrialisation. Its called "transfer of technology".
If they had did what Eritrea had done they wouldnt be anywhere near the level of development they are today.[/QUOTE]
By Elizabeth Archibong August 14, 2009 02:47 A Nigerian made armoured car was on Thursday launched by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua at the eagle square in Abuja.
It is the first home made armoured car, with most of the materials used in its production sourced locally, while others were imported.
It was built by two Nigerian brothers who recently relocated from the United States of America. The brothers; Victor and Johnson Obasa, came back home to use their talent to boost security and also create employment in the country.
The brothers are based in Ekiti State and the duo own a company named Mobile Truck Technology where they nurtured and built the first Nigerian armoured car.
According to Johnson Obasa, the local production of the armoured car would help in upgrading the nation's security status. "It will promote up to 50 percent security in the country, it is something to protect the armoured personnel in their line of duty and it can work anywhere. It is designed to help the nation's security; we also did it to create employment," he said.
Also, Victor Obasa in a conversation with the press stated that they were in a better position to create this kind of cars since they are in Nigeria and understand the Nigerian terrain.
He added that they were willing to do it for the government at almost half the price of importing it. "We would do it for Nigerians for almost half the price they get it outside," he said.
The truck which was tested with different kinds of ammunitions, from a far range had little or no mark left on it, but from a close range left peripheral marks.
On how they created such a truck with products from Nigeria, Johnson said: "It's been a little bit of up and down's. When we encountered some challenges, the Senate president encouraged us and at the end of the day we were able to put this together."
The other brother Victor pledged that they would produce a vehicle carrier that would meet international standard at a reasonable price.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Adamu Aliero who represented the president at the launch said it was commendable that Nigerians with talents will come home and contribute to the nation's development.
He disclosed that the President had directed the Inspector General of Police to meet the fabricators on what they required to produce the vehicle to specification.
He also called on Nigerians within and outside the country with such talents to come out and contribute to the development of their country.
"This is also to call on other Nigerians with similar talents to also come back home and join us to contribute their own quota to the country and for other Nigerians with this kind of talent to put it to use," Mr. Aliero said.
Present at the event to inspect the vehicle were top police officers and the Minister for science amd Technology, Al-Hassan Zaku who said the ministry would send a team of engineers to the base where the truck was fabricated to further examine the pr oduct.
"We will examine it thoroughly and work with the police to ensure that it is properly produced to the standard they want," he said.
Celebrities like to portray it as a basket case, but they ignore very real progress. By William Easterly WILLIAM EASTERLY is a professor of economics at New York University, Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the author of "The White Man's Burden: How the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have
JUST WHEN IT SEEMED that Western images of Africa could not get any weirder, the July 2007 special Africa issue of Vanity Fair was published, complete with a feature article on "Madonna's Malawi." At the same time, the memoirs of an African child soldier are on sale at your local Starbucks, and celebrity activist Bob Geldof is touring Africa yet again, followed by TV cameras, to document that "War, Famine, Plague & Death are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and these days they're riding hard through the back roads of Africa."
It's a dark and scary picture of a helpless, backward continent that's being offered up to TV watchers and coffee drinkers. But in fact, the real Africa is quite a bit different. And the problem with all this Western stereotyping is that it manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of some current victories, fueling support for patronizing Western policies designed to rescue the allegedly helpless African people while often discouraging those policies that might actually help.
Let's begin with those rampaging Four Horsemen. Do they really explain Africa today? What percentage of the African population would you say dies in war every year? What share of male children, age 10 to 17, are child soldiers? How many Africans are afflicted by famine or died of AIDS last year or are living as refugees?
In each case, the answer is one-half of 1% of the population or less. In some cases it's much less; for example, annual war deaths have averaged 1 out of every 10,800 Africans for the last four decades. That doesn't lessen the tragedy, of course, of those who are such victims, and maybe there are things the West can do to help them. But the typical African is a long way from being a starving, AIDS-stricken refugee at the mercy of child soldiers. The reality is that many more Africans need latrines than need Western peacekeepers -- but that doesn't play so well on TV.
Further distortions of Africa emanate from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's star-studded Africa Progress Panel (which includes the ubiquitous Geldof). The panel laments in its 2007 news release that Africa remains "far short" of its goal of making "substantial inroads into poverty reduction." But this doesn't quite square with the sub-Saharan Africa that in 2006 registered its third straight year of good GDP growth -- about 6%, well above historic averages for either today's rich countries or all developing countries. Growth of living standards in the last five years is the highest in Africa's history.
The real Africa also has seen cellphone and Internet use double every year for the last seven years. Foreign private capital inflows into Africa hit $38 billion in 2006 — more than foreign aid. Africans are saving a higher percentage of their incomes than Americans are (so much for the "poverty trap" of being "too poor to save" endlessly repeated in aid reports). I agree that it's too soon to conclude that Africa is on a stable growth track, but why not celebrate what Africans have already achieved?
Instead, the international development establishment is rigging the game to make Africa look even worse than it really is. It announces, for instance, that Africa is the only region that is failing to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs in aid-speak) set out by the United Nations. Well, it takes extraordinary growth to cut extreme poverty rates in half by 2015 (the first goal) when a near-majority of the population is poor, as is the case in Africa. (Latin America, by contrast, requires only modest growth to halve its extreme poverty rate from 10% to 5%.)
This is how Blair's panel managed to call Africa's recent growth successes a failure. But the reality is that virtually all other countries that have escaped extreme poverty did so through the kind of respectable growth that Africa is enjoying — not the kind of extraordinary growth that would have been required to meet the arbitrary Millennium Development Goals.
Africa will also fail to meet the second goal of universal primary education by 2015. But this goal is also rigged against Africa, because Africa started with an unusually low percentage of children enrolled in elementary school. As economist Michael Clemens points out, most African countries have actually expanded enrollments far more rapidly over the last five decades than Western countries did during their development, but Africans still won't reach the arbitrary aid target of universal enrollment by 2015. For example, the World Bank condemned Burkina Faso in 2003 as "seriously off track" to meet the second MDG, yet the country has expanded elementary education at more than twice the rate of Western historical experience, and it is even far above the faster educational expansions of all other developing countries in recent decades.
Why do aid organizations and their celebrity backers want to make African successes look like failures? One can only speculate, but it certainly helps aid agencies get more publicity and more money if problems seem greater than they are. As for the stars — well, could Africa be saving celebrity careers more than celebrities are saving Africa?
In truth, Africans are and will be escaping poverty the same way everybody else did: through the efforts of resourceful entrepreneurs, democratic reformers and ordinary citizens at home, not through PR extravaganzas of ill-informed outsiders.
The real Africa needs increased trade from the West more than it needs more aid handouts. A respected Ugandan journalist, Andrew Mwenda, made this point at a recent African conference despite the fact that the world's most famous celebrity activist — Bono — was attempting to shout him down. Mwenda was suffering from too much reality for Bono's taste: "What man or nation has ever become rich by holding out a begging bowl?" asked Mwenda.
Perhaps Bono was grouchy because his celebrity-laden "Red" campaign to promote Western brands to finance begging bowls for Africa has spent $100 million on marketing and generated sales of only $18 million, according to a recent report. But the fact remains that the West shows a lot more interest in begging bowls than in, say, letting African cotton growers compete fairly in Western markets (see the recent collapse of world trade talks).
Today, as I sip my Rwandan gourmet coffee and wear my Nigerian shirt here in New York, and as European men eat fresh Ghanaian pineapple for breakfast and bring Kenyan flowers home to their wives, I wonder what it will take for Western consumers to learn even more about the products of self-sufficient, hardworking, dignified Africans. Perhaps they should spend less time consuming Africa disaster stereotypes from television and Vanity Fair.
__________________________________________________ GOT THIS FROM ANOTHER WEBSITE TOO. Subject: Africa Joins the Space Race/Nigeria approves nanotechnology plan and other good news
It's alot but take your time and read,you could look at pictures first then come back to read.this stuff you do not see or read from mainstream u.s.a. tv OR WBAI.
Quote: Originally Posted by Mr. Eritrean View Post
April 27, 2010 Convinced that Space Science is critical in the development of any nation, Nigeria has completed work in the building of two more earth observation satellites, NigeriaSat 2 and Nigeria Sat X, said Seidu Mohammed, the Director General of National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA.
Mr. Mohammed, who stated that the satellites will be due for launch on October 2010, adding that specifically, the Nigeria Sat X was designed and built by 27 Nigerian Engineers.
________________________________________________ [QUOTE=popa1980;81571326]Mr Eritrean, there is NO need to re-invent the wheel. All these nations like Malaysia, Singapore, China etc would not have developed so quickly if they had tried to do everything on their own. They used foreign-local partnerships as the base for industrialisation. Its called "transfer of technology".
If they had did what Eritrea had done they wouldnt be anywhere near the level of development they are today.[/QUOTE]
By Elizabeth Archibong August 14, 2009 02:47 A Nigerian made armoured car was on Thursday launched by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua at the eagle square in Abuja.
It is the first home made armoured car, with most of the materials used in its production sourced locally, while others were imported.
It was built by two Nigerian brothers who recently relocated from the United States of America. The brothers; Victor and Johnson Obasa, came back home to use their talent to boost security and also create employment in the country.
The brothers are based in Ekiti State and the duo own a company named Mobile Truck Technology where they nurtured and built the first Nigerian armoured car.
According to Johnson Obasa, the local production of the armoured car would help in upgrading the nation's security status. "It will promote up to 50 percent security in the country, it is something to protect the armoured personnel in their line of duty and it can work anywhere. It is designed to help the nation's security; we also did it to create employment," he said.
Also, Victor Obasa in a conversation with the press stated that they were in a better position to create this kind of cars since they are in Nigeria and understand the Nigerian terrain.
He added that they were willing to do it for the government at almost half the price of importing it. "We would do it for Nigerians for almost half the price they get it outside," he said.
The truck which was tested with different kinds of ammunitions, from a far range had little or no mark left on it, but from a close range left peripheral marks.
On how they created such a truck with products from Nigeria, Johnson said: "It's been a little bit of up and down's. When we encountered some challenges, the Senate president encouraged us and at the end of the day we were able to put this together."
The other brother Victor pledged that they would produce a vehicle carrier that would meet international standard at a reasonable price.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Adamu Aliero who represented the president at the launch said it was commendable that Nigerians with talents will come home and contribute to the nation's development.
He disclosed that the President had directed the Inspector General of Police to meet the fabricators on what they required to produce the vehicle to specification.
He also called on Nigerians within and outside the country with such talents to come out and contribute to the development of their country.
"This is also to call on other Nigerians with similar talents to also come back home and join us to contribute their own quota to the country and for other Nigerians with this kind of talent to put it to use," Mr. Aliero said.
Present at the event to inspect the vehicle were top police officers and the Minister for science amd Technology, Al-Hassan Zaku who said the ministry would send a team of engineers to the base where the truck was fabricated to further examine the pr oduct.
"We will examine it thoroughly and work with the police to ensure that it is properly produced to the standard they want," he said.
posted
Now people let me take you to the Congos. We always hear how violence racks the Congos, but even still, Things are looking up for the people Look at these Pics:
Brazzaville Congos:
Posts: 9651 | From: Reace and Love City. | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
June 23, 2011 11:29PM All is now set for the launch of Nigeria’s second earth observation satellite, NigeriaSat-2 and one other satellite, NigeriaSat-X, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has said.
Seidu Mohammed, director general of NASRDA told journalists on Thursday in Abuja that the two spacecrafts will be launched using the Dneper launch vehicle, which has launched over 50 satellites successfully in orbit on various missions.
“The official launch date of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X is Thursday July 7, 2011,” he said. “The two satellites will be launched into orbit at exactly 8:12am Nigeria time from the launch site.”
Mr Mohammed also stated that Nigeria’s voyage into space is not for showmanship, but in a bid to realise space-based solutions for the myriad problems encountered in the nation, adding that satellite technology remains a veritable tool for strategic planning.
“Space science and technology application is needed in all facets of human life including health, security and defence, agriculture, information communication, among others,” he said. “A step in the development of space science and technology is indeed a giant stride towards improving the socio-economic life of the nation.”
The two satellites will be launched on the same launch vehicle along with other satellites namely RASAT for Turkey, EDUSAT for Italy, ARSAT-5 and 6 for United States of America and Sich-2 for Ukraine.
There are 1,000 satellites in orbit around the wrold, with USA having 443, Russia 100, China has 69 while Egypt has 4; Nigeria has only one. As at today, Egypt is leading the African continent in space science and technology. Useful for all things
Mr Seidu also revealed that the two spacecrafts and their launch vehicle have been adequately insured in line with global practice.
NigeriaSat-2 is a high resolution satellite with a 2.5m GSD in the panchromatic channel, and it is an improvement on NigeriaSat-1 which has a resolution of 32m but NigeriaSat-X was built by Nigerian engineers.
“NigeriaSat-X is the ingenuity of our engineers who have undergone training in the design and building of satellites. NigeriaSat-X depicts Nigeria’s first efforts at developing satellites and will be launched alongside NigeriaSat-2,” he said.
The two new satellites will be Nigeria’s fourth satellite in the orbit.
The first, NigeriaSat-1 was launched in 2003 and has five years design life span. It has outlived this span and is now eight years old and still operational while the second satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1 was launched in 2007 but failed 18 months after. He said the impact of NigeriaSat-1 on the nation was tremendous but that Sat-2 has better potential.
“NigeriaSat-1 was the first to capture the images of Hurricane Katrina which was made available to the United States government. Also during the tsunami in Asia, floods in Sudan and forest fires in Australia, the satellite captured images which were of immense support to government of these countries. “On volcano eruption, NigeriaSat-1 was used in addressing problems of oil spill in Lymw-Bey, UK; as well as hurricanes in Nicaragua and Mexico, Nigeria and some parts of West Africa,” he said.
Frank Chizea, project manager of NigeriaSat-2, said 25 Nigerian engineers worked on the project and that the satellite has the capacity to take 150 raw data every day.
“It was built to replace Sat-1 and has design life span of seven years,” he said.
Africa Joins the Space Race By Allen Herbert Posted Saturday, August 22, 2009
With the recent visits of Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama to Africa emphasizing economic development, little is mentioned much less known that many African nations are emerging as viable participants in the space technology space race, joining other countries such as India, Brazil, South Korea and China.
Leading the pack are Nigeria and South Africa. Both African countries have opened space agencies to begin their trek to space with an eye on developing space technologies ranging from satellites to other areas such as telemedicine for health, land mapping and telecommunications.
Nigeria established the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in 1998 and developed a 25-year roadmap for the Nigeria Space Program. The focus includes basic space science and technology, remote sensing, satellite meteorology, communications and information technology, in addition to defense and security. Furthermore, three years ago, Nigeria became the second country in Africa, after South Africa, to launch its own satellite.
South Africa has also pledged to develop its astronomy and space sector, and in July 2006, its cabinet approved the South African Space Agency as an institutional vehicle to look at space science and technology.
In a recent ABC news section, South Africa's space program was mentioned as a sector that could boost their economy. "South Africa aims to become a regional center for space technology, investing in satellite and telescope projects to support its ailing economy," said Science and Technology Minister, Naledi Pandor. (Reuters, August 5, 2009)
Africa's Satelite Potential The continent of Africa's growing appetite for satellite images is honing the attention of South Africa's SunSpace satellite manufacturing company.
"The international market for very high resolution remote-sensing data is expanding... and Africa obviously has massive potential to sell our technology," Ron Olivier, executive director business development at SunSpace, told Reuters on Aug 6, 2009.
Oliver estimated the annual global market value for this type of data at 1.2 billion rand ($151.7 million U.S.).
African Astronauts While the satellite technology industry is expanding the economic potential of Africa, the goal of Nigeria's manned space program is to send a man to space by 2016 and to the moon by 2030.
Again, South Africa has beaten them to the punch - technically. In 2002, Mark Shuttleworth became the first African astronaut to experience outer-space. He was one of the initiators of the burgeoning space tourism industry becoming the second self funded space tourist. According to the South African Space Program Aerospace Guide, Shuttleworth spent his time onboard the International Space Station (ISS) conducting AIDS experiments and research in order to understand a virus that affects so many Africans and African Americans.
In Africa, the space race is just beginning. This means more countries will participate than just the United States, Russia, and other space and technology leaders. Indeed, more is on the horizon than just the opportunity to economically enhance industries across many spectrums. There is a need to facilitate information exchange, worldwide, as new African technologies and fresh mindset enhance collaboration towards the cosmos.
It is my belief that these emerging space programs present an opportunity for the private sector as well and inter-governmental cooperation, which is the true vision of space - as a catalyst of development, commerce, and goodwill.
About JAKA Consulting Group JAKA Consulting Group is a minority-owned government relations, business development and strategic marketing company offering a trademarked process of incorporating sports to accomplish business goals for its partners Visit www.jakaconsulting.com and SpaceSportilization.com to learn more..
Posts: 2688 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
(Nanowerk News) The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the deployment of nanotechnology under the fourth national development plan, an official has said.
Olusegun Adewoye, Director General, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. According to him, the technology would be deployed in the energy, health and water sectors.
"Nanotechnology provides scientists and engineers the opportunity of taking control of atoms and molecules individually, manipulating them and putting them to use with an extraordinary degree of precision.
"It refers to the projected ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high performance products,’’ he explained.
Adewoye said nanotechnology, a general-purpose technology, in its advanced form, would have significant impact on almost all industries and all areas of society.
"It would offer better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general.
"Like electricity or computers before it, nanotechnology would offer greatly improved efficiency in almost every facet of life.
"The technology offers not just better products, but a vastly improved manufacturing process,’’ he said. According to him, the technology referred to as "the next industrial revolution" is a diverse collection of fields, touching on biology, medicine, materials, computers, manufacturing, physics,and several others.
Adewoye said that Nigeria was exploring the technology to address the epileptic and erratic power supply situation as well as precision in medical practice.
He said that already a roadmap was been developed to harness the potentials of the emerging technology to fast track Nigeria’s development efforts.
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), a coordinating agency for biotechnology activities in Nigeria recently commissioned its Biotechnology Information Core Facility (BICF) at the University of Ibadan.
The Director General of NABDA, Professor Bamidele Solomon explained that the facility will be used for bioinformatics, education, training and research as part of the agency’s effort to promote food security, eradicate poverty and engender rapid economic development in the country.
According to him, the very large personnel within the University informed the location of the centre within the zone.
Professor Solomon identified Biotechnology as one of the technologies driving economic growth in the world but lamented that although it has become well established in developed countries supporting their economies, it remains untapped in Africa.
He said, “Biotechnology can be used to drive the world bioeconomy which Nigeria can safely engage in as one of the tools to revolutionise her agriculture, health care and industrial processing in a sustainable environment.”
The Director General disclosed that the agency has commenced the development of Tissue culture/molecular Biology laboratories in six selected Universities, one in each of the six geopolitical zones.
“These will serve as centres of excellence providing reference centres and opportunities for human capacity building and the conduct of relevant research and development programmes for Universities, Polytechnics, and the research institutes within the zone”, he added.
He noted that the development of biotechnology in Nigeria will contribute to the building up of critical infrastructure and human capacities. “The laboratories in the Universities, Polytechnics and Research Institutes will be overhauled to meet the state –of –the-art equipment to cope with the demands of modern biotechnology”
While noting that 2009 is a year of refocusing the agency, he added that the agency will collaborate with state governments to boost agricultural production through the use of tissue culture.
He called on government to support the agency with more funding. On his part, the minister of Science and Technology, Dr Al Hassan Bako Daku who commissioned the project called for more collaboration with the universities and other stakeholders in the sector.
He said, “The federal government places a lot of emphasis on Science and Technology, more collaborations like this will move the country forward.We could not achieve much due to lack of collaboration”.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olufemi Bamiro while receiving the Minister in his office thanked the federal government for choosing the institution as the administrative zone for South West.
Hear him: ”You can rely on us that we will give all the support to ensure that the laboratories are in good shape. We are grateful and expecting more support in other areas.”
The minister later inspected another faculty at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB).
http://www.innovativebiotechng.com/ ^nigerian biotech firm's site (ps. nigeria almost completely self sufficient in making it's own medicine now)
Nigerian student invents bio-diesel from vegetable oil
From Emeka Anuforo and Abosede Musari, Abuja
CALL him the Albert Einstein of Nigeria, and you may be right. Nwakaire Joel from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has recorded a major breakthrough with the invention of bio-diesel from vegetable oil. To achieve this, he had to solve a problem, which even Rudolf Diesel could not tackle back in 1912.
Scientist Diesel encountered the problem while researching to use vegetable oil from peanut to drive motor vehicle and other mechanical engines.
Taking up this challenge, which has defied solution for about 100 years, Joel from the department of Agricultural and Bio-resource Engineering used non- consumable vegetables such as Jatropha and algae, to produce what may emerge as Nigeria's first bio-diesel. Rudolf Diesel had in 1912, predicted that "The use of vegetable oils (bio-diesel) for engine may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become, in course of time, as important as petroleum and coal tar products of the present time."
The Guardian learnt that Nwakaire solved the problems that stopped Diesel's research, by inventing a scientific refining process called verification, which helped him to scale the obstacle of viscosity and clogging.
He not only had the task of designing a refining process that is functional, he also had to design one that can be replicated easily at minimal cost; and most importantly, one that is affordable, easy to construct, environmentally and that is climate-friendly.
Experts say that if this project is adopted by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders, the country may have as well found an alternative to crude oil, spelling an advancement in science and technology and ensuring less importation of fossil fuel.
"It may as well be a solution to the energy problems that make long queues a common sight at filling stations across the country. It will also provide solutions to the accompanying problems of fuel scarcity and wastage of quality time at filling stations," one expert said.
Nwakaire, who has already won a star award with the breakthrough in a competion held in Kenya recently, narrated at the weekend how it all began: "When I wanted to do the project for my B.Eng, I had decided to do engine design, but Prof. A.P. Onwualu in the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Resourse Engineering suggested that I do cutting-edge research, using vegetable oil to drive diesel engine. I was wondering how possible that was, but he gave me the challenge. I started the research and found that it is possible to drive diesel engine on vegetable oil.
"Rudolf Diesel, the manufacturer of the diesel engine in 1912 used peanut oil to run diesel engine; but the problem with using the common vegetable oil is the viscocity and clogging of the injector. So we thought about modification. When I brought my report about the use of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel for diesel engine, I told Prof. Onwualu about the problems I encountered.
"He suggested that since this problem stopped scientist Rudolf Diesel from using peanut oil, I should find modifications. I went into research again and I was able to change the vegetable oil, with some reactants into what is called methyl estal which is called bio-diesel.This was done through the verification process."
According to the young inventor, who currently drives his diesel engine Triumph car with the bio-fuel produced by him, the goal of his degree (B.Eng) project was to produce the bio- diesel without using a complicated system but by just using a stove, cooking pot and the right temperature to produce diesel. And it worked.
Studying the oil refineries in Nigeria, he came up with the Flow System refining process, did more research on this system and arrived at a new system called the Floater. With this system, he had to fabricate a vegetable oil tank, the reactant tank, a reactor and a separator. The separator separates the methyl estal which is the bio-diesel from the glycerine. "I also thought about the heating system because in the process, you need heat input. I thought about mixing and separation. In most of the systems examined, I saw that they used a lot of mechanical systems, but I needed to design an affordable system. So, I designed one that uses only one pump. The pump will do the mixing, and after reaction, it will transfer the mixture, so it does mixing and transferring. "But this is time-dependent. So, while the reaction finishes, the pump now tranfers the material into a separator. The pump is not idle after this, this system starts again to initiate another reaction while the separation is going on. There is no time the system is dormant. After looking at the flow chart and engineering principles in design and construction, and taking into consideration every system requirement like temperature, pressure and time, we had a good system to do the refining," he explained.
The project at the pilot stage was funded by the Raw Materials Research and Development Centre (RMRD).
"In engineering, what we do about plants at the pilot stage is scaling up and that is why we are going into awareness creation. Individually as researchers in the university, we see that other stakeholders must be involved and that is why we are creating the awareness. If these stakeholders, especially the government and relevant agencies, can buy into the project, and the scaling up of this production plant, we can produce the bio-fuel in commercial quantity," he said.
Nwakaire added that the production plants could be built within the resources available to the nation, thereby avoiding the construction of huge refineries that could not be maintained by experts within the country. "We don't want to build a plant that is too huge to be maintained in Nigeria." He assured that in getting the raw materials for the production, that is, non-consumable vegetables such as Jatropha and Algae, a home-grown technology that would be affordable to farmers would be used, with UNN providing extension services and trainings to farmers. This, he said, is affordable because even the invention did not cost a fortune.
"RMRDC did not spend huge millions of naira on the project, it was within thousands," he said.
He said: "We had an experiment in UNN where we ran a stiff engine on fossil diesel, it had problem starting, we then cleaned out the fuel and injected the bio-diesel, the engine started fast and it ran smoothly within 15 minutes. Again, the engine smoked heavily with the fossil diesel but it did not with the bio-diesel.
"I drive my car with the oil, I can repeat this demonstration over and over again. I produce the fuel I use in my car and it gives a very interesting feeling. The department will organise extention programmes for farmers to arrange how the project can start on a bigger scale with the planting of the raw materials - vegetables", he said.
Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Peter Onwualu, who initiated the sponsorship for the project, said at a ceremony in Abuja at the weekend that the bio-diesel did not necessarily have to use edible vegetables but that oil-bearing plants like Jatropha could be used.
He assured that the process would not compete with food production as there were crops that could be used for the production without affecting food production.
"Even if we have to use consumable vegetables, we have a programme called boosting, we can encourage farmers to plant more of the particular vegetable by giving them improved varieties, management practices and other technical inputs that will enable the farmer increase his yield per hectare. That way, we can produce bio-diesel without affecting our food security.
"I feel happy to be sponsoring the project on behalf of the government through RMRDC, this is a little contribution we are making, government gives us the fund and we administer it to the citizens. Nigerians can actually do these things if they are well empowered. If we didn't give this grant to this young man, somebody may sit by the side and say Nigerian young men and women are lazy.
"Somebody may say that people in the universities are not performing, but the little grant we gave the young man has enabled him to achieve this feat - which means if we do more, more people will begin to perform better and our economy will be driven by science and technology," he said.
Posts: 2688 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
WITH the invented device known as Emagnetodynamics, a Nigerian, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, has yet again recorded a scientific breakthrough in the field of electronic motor.
The equipment, if engaged, could be the solution to the constant energy crisis needs in the country and also earn foreign exchange when eventually patented by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva.
Also referred to as "the self sustaining machine", when finally built, is expected to facilitate the manufacture of electric cars and also power computers, television sets, fans, air-conditioners, among others.
For now, however, it is non-self sustaining. Izuogu, while demonstrating the machine with the aid of several interconnected batteries to journalists at weekend in Abuja, noted: "The machine, which we have designed to work without current... I have called it the new machine-like electric motor and could someday replace the electric motor in most devices".
A young Nigerian, Kenneth Okpeki says he has designed a programme which warehouse managers and storekeepers can use to monitor and keep accurate records of their inventory. Mr Kenneth Okpeki According to him, the programme was basically designed for warehouse as it would enable those in charge detect when items are taken away from the stock. ' The programme I am designing is basically for warehouse. It is like an inventory program that will help the supervisor, the manager and others directly involved in the warehouse business to make quick assessment of what is in the warehouse.'
He said without a program like his, a supervisor will have to go round and count what they have in their stock. But with my program, he could tell from the computer what they have and what they don't have in the stock without going round to count them. 'So it makes inventory stock-taking faster for the supervisor'.
Speaking on how the software works, Okpeki who graduated from the London School of Management, United Kingdom, explained that the software is a three-tier programme where you have data base, user interface and middle layer which does the actual manipulation of data.
The data base part of the programme, according to him, stores all the information concerning the stock while the user interface helps to enter information of what goes in and out of the warehouse. 'So with this, you can upgrade information about what you have in your stock with your user inter-face, while your middle layer basically does the manipulation of data.'
He however added that his programme would not detect theft, that is, it can not tell who took an item away or how the item was taken. 'The software won't detect that because that is theft. It can't detect theft. What it can detect is a missing item like if what is in the computer and what is in the warehouse do not match, or if you suddenly notice goods being finished in the warehouse and you still have them in the computer, that means there is something wrong in the warehouse', he explained.
The software developer disclosed that some of the challenges he was facing is how to make people buy into the program. 'My main challenge in developing the software is that people and places for which I'm designing the program are not readily available', he said while remarking that Nigeria's ICT market is quite profitable.
'The ICT market in Nigeria is quite profitable. For example, a brand new Microsoft office sells for about N50,000, for one CD. So it's very profitable market but people are not very interested in getting these materials and it will be as if you are not making progress in that area.'
Mr Okpeki however, called on the government to make Nigeria an investment attractive country so that people like him would find doing business in Nigeria easy and bearable, and to invest in the education system, stressing that it is only way we can witness changes in our own environment concerning information technology.
Nigeria affirms interest for nuclear technology From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 09.25.2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its interest for acquisition of nuclear technology, saying its aspiration to develop nuclear technology capability may be realised within the next 10 years. Presenting Nigeria's case at the 50th regular session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the weekend, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Prof. Anthony Olusegun Adegbulugbe, quoted President Olusegun Obasanjo as expressing optimism that Nigeria would be able to generate electricity from her own nuclear power plants in about a decade from now. The special adviser said although the country was fully committed to the spirit and letter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, it would, however, strive to build nuclear plants and to derive maximum benefits from its application for power generation. "The Federal Government hereby reiterates her commitment to utilizing nuclear science to solve some of her developmental problems", he said. According to him, the recent establishment of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) to coordinate activities leading to the development nuclear technology capacity is a reaffirmation of the country's determination to deploy the facility for purely peaceful applications. He said the President while inaugurating the Board of the NAEC, had charged the body to develop and implement a proactive energy programme, which would lead to the generation of electricity from nuclear power reactor within the next 10 -12 years. While assuring the international community of the country's readiness to abide by safety standards, the presidential adviser said Nigeria had "set in motion the process to fast-track the development and deployment of nuclear power plants for electricity generation in the country" To give vent to the country’s quest for nuclear technology capability, he said the President last July charged the board of the NAEC to take on the primary responsibility for the formulation and implementation of the country's nuclear energy programme. Adegbulugbe said the country had embarked on a number of preparatory activities that was necessary to launch it into the nuclear age, among which were the strengthening of nuclear regulatory framework and cooperating with the IAEA in observance of international treaties on nuclear non-proliferation. He solicited the continued support of IAEA in fostering regional cooperation towards effective utilization of some of the nuclear technology projects, which included the Gama Irradiation Plant, (a multi-purpose facility for industrial and research applications located in Abuja) and a miniature neutron source reactor in Zaria. The presidential adviser said Nigeria had benefited immensely from the agency's support to the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Training and Development (AFRA) related to nuclear science and technology in education and training. He said the country is currently engaged in the mobilization and information programme aimed at enlightening the public on the benefits of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in electricity generation, agriculture, and health care delivery and pest control.
Congo Space.
A private Rocket program by a Congolese Scientist.
Congo Sends a Rocket into Space .Sunday, 12 April 2009 01:28 Quote: The Democratic Republic of Congo though experiencing war and turmoil has sent a spatial rocket from Kinshasa in the first week of April. The privately funded programme has attracted much praise from the Congolese Government that promised to totally fund the next space rocket project. The rocket, called Troposphere V, was made with primary materials made in Congo. In an interview with Africa Matata, the engineer behind the project Jean-Patrice Keka was thrilled with the results though the rocket did not reach its obective of 36 Km in space, travelling 3 times than the speed of light. "I hope to send the first African controlled satellite and you never know what dreams like these can lead to" Keka said from his home in Kinshasa. The Congolese Government sent the Vice Prime Minister Emile Bongeli and the Minister of Scientific Research to attend the launch of Troposphere V. The advancement of scientific research has been hampered by the lack of funds and encouragement from the authorities especially because for more than 30 years, Congo was ruled by the ruthless Dictator Mobutu Seseko. From his base in Kinshasa, Jean-Patrice Keka is working on his next space rocket; Troposphere VI. http://www.africamatata.com/index.ph...mid=82〈=en __________________ Butembologie
Quote:
Mr. Eritrean There's no country that's completely developed, every country is still developing, including the U.S.
Till a country reaches a Type 1 economy and a Type 1 civilization, then every country on this planet can be regarded as a developing country.
The highest type of civilization is a Type 4. Right now, the world's most advanced civilization are a type 0.
Type 1 civilization: Ability of living forever, and having flying cars, robots and nano-technologies being common. Futurist predict the first nation to reach this will be around 2100. All these technologies are in their early stages right now, so it's not science fiction, but a reality in the making.
Type 2 civilization:
Type 3: civilization:
Type 4 Civilization: Ability to colonize a galaxy and manipulate time and space, including hopping around from universe to universe and even having the ability of building their own universe. Reality will be stranger than fiction in a type 4 civilization and the human body as we know it will be different - in fact, we may be completely robots at this stage.
cars, tv, and small planes made in Ghana i would invest in this if i had big money
Anyways. Couple things done by Congolese individuals.
Quote: Originally Posted by MBA-Congo View Post Sandrine Ngalula is a Congolese engineer from Congo-Kinshasa. She works and lives in Ohio (USA) where she graduated in Electrical Engineering. She is particularly gifted and has succeeded to transform an electric car prototype into a hybrid car by integrating a fuel cell.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen into electricity. The car's main fuel becomes hydrogen which releases only water as waste. The idea of developing a car that runs on hydrogen is not new. But it may be that Sandrine Ngalula Mubenga has found the solution because, in addition to making the car hybrid, she has conceived a hydrogen station (as opposed to petrol stations). The hydrogen station she has developed is solar-powered. Its working principle is simple: splitting water (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen and collecting the hydrogen in tanks (reservoirs). An American car manufacturer is considering marketing the hybrid system developed by Sandrine Ngalula.
Before Sandrine Ngalula made the prototype a hybrid car, the car's maximum speed was 42 mph (miles per hour) or 67 km/h. With the hybrid system, the prototype reached a speed of 119 mph (191 km/h). Another feature of this car is that it is silent. Proof of the importance of the work of the Congolese lady: the visit of Ohio's Senator, Mr. Voinovich, who met and saw the results of her work.
She also wants to use her genius to serve her country. As a result, she has started developing a plan to electrify villages in Congo-Kinshasa. This plan is primarily designed around solar technology. Congo-Kinshasa has a solar energy potential of about 5 kWh / m² / day. In other words, the sun provides 5 kW of energy on 1 m², or the power required to power about 2 houses. Now, Congo-Kinshasa has an area of 2.3 million sq. km², which should facilitate Sandrine Ngalula's noble ambition if political authorities in her home country pay attention to her work.
Sandrine Ngalula is currently working for Orbital Technical Solutions that specializes in the construction of power plants. She shows to all women that they can also contribute to industrial development in Africa.
Quote:
The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
16 year old kid. Congo-Kinshasa: Refugee Wins Sh200 Million Peace Prize . Vicent Mnyanyika 9 December 2009
A young Congolese refugee, Baruani Ndume, 16, resident at a reguees camp in Kigoma Region, has scooped a Sh200 million (euro100,000) international peace prize for producing a radio programme for refugee children in Kigoma.
The prize organised by a Dutch foundation, KidsRights, is awarded annually to a child 'whose courageous acts made a difference in countering problems that affect children around the world.'
In a statement sent to newsrooms by the organisation's associate external relations officer Ms Eveline Wolfcarius, said the programme has helped parents in the DRC trace children they were separated from.
Ms Wolfcarius said the radio progamme mostly focuses on education for children facing difficulties and acts as a family reunification mode.
Ndume who is the programme coordinator for "Children for Children" show at the Lugufu refugee camp, has been championing the rights of other childrens living in difficult conditions.
The prize was handed over to him by the Kenyan Nobel Peace laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, during an event organised in the Hague, before the Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and UNHCR regional representative for Western Europe, Mr Wilbert van Hövell.
Ndume said "boys and girls with similar stories like his could not easily express themselves and thus keep their pain inside. Our radio programme makes them feel less alone."
Ndume was born in the DRC's south Kivu province. His father died when he was four, while his mother and younger brother were murdered when conflict erupted in the country in 1998.
A villager took Ndume across Lake Tanganyika to Tanzania. At Lugufu, he received assistance from UNHCR and other agencies.
Ndume said he was approached the World Vision which was running a radio programme dubbed 'Child Voices Out' where he was selected to be the youngest journalist for the programme.
The programme is aired every Sunday, said Ndume.
ETC.... __________________ Butembologie
Last edited by BUTEMBO21; Today at 06:49 AM.
Solar Panels being built in Eritrea
-
A Senegalese Company invests $15 million for a solar energy company in Senegal
TRANSFORMING VILLAGES OUT OF POVERTY, ONE VILLAGE AT A TIME USING SOLAR TECHNOLOGY ASSEMBLED IN KENYA.
by Hadrami King of the Sahel
A Senegalese Company invests $15 million for a solar energy company in Senegal
Four billion CFA francs, the cost of the solar energy investment made by the Group Spec (Sustainable Power Electric Company) whose production unit based in Dakar was visited yesterday, Friday July 1 by the Minister of Renewable Energies. A manufacturing photovoltaic solar panels commonly known, has just been opened in Dakar. It is the work of the group Spec.
One step has been taken to defuse the field of solar energy. The trend showing the cost of the equipment previously inaccessible to Senegalese households should begin to be reversed.
To believe its CEO, Mr. Mamadou Saliou Sow, “the production line is the best available technology in the world today, in the photovoltaic field.” He said it is the result of nearly four billion CFA francs of investment, production solar energy capacity of 25 MW per year, flexible production, with boards ranging from 50 to over 300 W.
Which in his view, “allows us to offer solutions for almost all needs (rural, urban, professional, large power plants, etc.).” In this same vein, Mr. Sow was assured that the number of jobs created by this project is 40 today, is expected to reach more than 100 in a year and that the unit is fully controlled by Africans. Adding that “we took a step, the solar energy production will start.”
Investors expect the authorities a stronger commitment to renewable energy, through the establishment of appropriate regulations to better control the quality of equipment on the market, using incentives to help households and companies to be equipped with solar energy, and supporting local industry with a statement of actual bias.
Currently, he said, “we have finished preparing draft implementing decrees in which there is provided a number of incentives to enable people who will intervene in areas of renewable energy, to see how lower their investment costs. But also to allow Senegalese who will purchase equipment manufactured locally or imported. There are incentives of a fiscal to lower acquisition costs. We believe that once these decrees are signed, we will see a boom in solar energy in Senegal. “ http://www.spec-solar.com/qui-sommes...s-de-spec.html
Originally Posted by A Darter View Post
Currently, the largest defence acquisition programme for the South African National Defence Force is the Ground Based Air Defence System. A key element of this system is its radar. Armscor has the option to import this radar or to use a radar developed and manufactured in South Africa. It was decided that a local radar will only be considered if it is internationally competitive on both price and performance.
In response to this, the second phase of what was probably the largest collaborative radar technology development project ever undertaken in South Africa, the DBR-XL Radar Technology Development Programme, has been successfully concluded. It has been described by defence stakeholders as superior to all international offerings and suitable as a missile fire control radar for the current, and future, model of the Umkhonto missile.
The CSIR provided independent evaluation of the technical concepts based on previous radar experience and detailed radar and algorithm level modelling and simulation; developing optimised signal processing algorithms; participating in missile fire control system level performance analysis workshops and providing specialist input based on its advanced radar signal processor design and development experience.
Collaborators included the CSIR, Armscor, the universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch, industry stakeholders such as Reutech Radar Systems, Denel Dynamics and Denel Integrated Systems Solutions, and the Ground Based Air Defence System Programme Office.
Quote: Originally Posted by Akwafina View Post @A Darter: Do you guys have any Integrated Circuit/Silicon wafer facility in South Africa? I think this is one technology Africa really needs. yeah we do.....
MeerKAT engineers SA innovation
Cape Town - The MeerKAT radio astronomy project has illustrated the engineering prowess of local companies in delivering world class hardware.
The development of the hardware to process the signal for the MeerKAT (Karoo Array Telescope) is one such example that was designed in SA and the second generation PC board is being manufactured by a local company.
"Every one of the components on the Roach board is critical, not just in terms of placing, but also checking," Tellumat business development manager Eugene van der Watt told News24.
The Roach (Reconfigurable Open Architecture Computing Hardware) is integral to the MeerKAT project which aims to place 64 linked radio antennae near Carnarvon in the Northern Cape Province.
This project is part of South Africa’s bid to host the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) telescope in competition with Australia. The MeerKAT forms a test bed to determine which technologies will best suit the international project.
Second generation
The MeerKAT team have been designing hardware to survive the harsh environment of the province and there have been ongoing design modifications as the instrument is fine-tuned.
Three cold receivers are installed and the remaining four should be ready by May. These receivers amplify the signal received by the antenna, without adding any radio noise which would destroy the radio waves from deep space.
"We're still doing engineering tests and toward year-end, we'll do science tests and then there'll be more images," said SA SKA project director Dr Bernie Fanaroff.
The first generation Roach board was manufactured in the US, but the second generation was designed and manufactured in SA.
The board has other applications because of its use of field-programmable gate array technology.
"It's got very high speed networks and could be used in telecommunications," Roach lead designer David George said.
He said that the team was looking to take advantage of Moore's Law which postulates that computing power will double every 18 months to build better hardware in the future.
"Tellumat has skills in design and manufacturing and we guided the SKA team in small ways. They supplied all the components, and we populated the two, but it takes a full day to produce this board," said Van der Watt.
In comparison to an ordinary computer motherboard which has around 700 - 800 components, the Roach board has 1 414 components, some of which are quite expensive because of the specialised functions they are required to perform.
Van der Watt rejected suggestions that shipping manufacturing of the board to China would be more cost-effective.
Ecosystem
"This is specialised production and because you need world-class manufacturing, you can't just ship off to China.
"Sure, in some areas where the margins are tight it's okay to move manufacturing overseas, but where you need this level of quality, that may not be appropriate."
The Roach board is open sourced which means that the SKA bid team has opened the specifications to any company to build and sell the boards.
It is hoped that this will create an ecosystem where the board's functionality can be expanded into other fields that require digital data processing and the team is already looking at the next generation of the hardware.
"We're definitely looking at Roach 3 or whatever it will be called," said George.
"If you've got a bunch of digital data, then this is the board. And if the boards are sold, it builds a community," said Van der Watt.
"For Tellumat, it's a confirmation of our world class ability."
This development is expected to lead to further development of the local radar industry as well as export opportunities.
Sandrine Ngalula is currently working for Orbital Technical Solutions that specializes in the construction of power plants. She shows to all women that they can also contribute to industrial development in Africa.
A Senegalese Company invests $15 million for a solar energy company in Senegal
TRANSFORMING VILLAGES OUT OF POVERTY, ONE VILLAGE AT A TIME USING SOLAR TECHNOLOGY ASSEMBLED IN KENYA.
quote- Originally Posted by A Darter Currently, the largest defence acquisition programme for the South African National Defence Force is the Ground Based Air Defence System. A key element of this system is its radar. Armscor has the option to import this radar or to use a radar developed and manufactured in South Africa. It was decided that a local radar will only be considered if it is internationally competitive on both price and performance.
Quote: Originally Posted by Akwafina View Post @A Darter: Do you guys have any Integrated Circuit/Silicon wafer facility in South Africa? I think this is one technology Africa really needs. yeah we do.....
MeerKAT engineers SA innovation
Cape Town - The MeerKAT radio astronomy project has illustrated the engineering prowess of local companies in delivering world class hardware.
__________________________________________________ Nigerian buys London Gatwick Airport for $1.4 billion A Nigerian is reported to have acquired London Gatwick Airport. Adebayo Ogunlesi bought Gatwick for £1.4 billion from the British Airports Authority (BAA Airports Limited). Ogunlesi was last month appointed to Callaway Golf Company's board of directors. The technocrat said the acquisition of Gatwick is a landmark deal. ''We see significant scope to apply both our strong operational focus and our knowledge of the airports sector to make Gatwick an airport of choice." He began stacking up his big deals profile when he joined the top-shelf New York law firm, Cravath, Swain & Moore. It was at the law firm that he jumped at the chance to advise First Boston (which later acquired Credit Suisse in 1997 to form Credit Suisse First Boston or CSFB) on a hugely lucrative Nigerian gas project.
The 56 year old Nigerian is Chairman and Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Management, LLC, which is a private equity firm with over $5 billion in assets and which invests worldwide in infrastructure assets in the energy, transport, and water and waste industry sectors. Prior to founding Global Infrastructure Management, Ogunlesi spent 23 years at Credit Suisse where he held senior positions, including Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Client Officer and prior to that Global Head of Investment Banking. Ogunlesi has lived in New York for 20 years and is active in volunteer work. But he also cultivates his ties to Africa. He informally advises the Nigerian government on privatisation. And last summer Manute Bol, former NBA center, visited Ogunlesi in his Park Avenue office, seeking donations for a charitable foundation in former basketball star Manute Bol's homeland, Sudan. Ogunlesi walked Bol around the hallways, introducing him to junior staff. It was just another day in the Bayosphere. Ogunlesi attended the prestigious King's College, Lagos. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association. He was a lecturer at Harvard Law School and the Yale School.
Posts: 2688 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
Sandrine Ngalula is currently working for Orbital Technical Solutions that specializes in the construction of power plants. She shows to all women that they can also contribute to industrial development in Africa.
nigeria-
CONGOLESE WOMAN- Sandrine Ngalula is currently working for Orbital Technical Solutions that specializes in the construction of power plants. She shows to all women that they can also contribute to industrial development in Africa.
Mastering a foreign language can be great for a wide variety of reasons. You get to learn about a new culture and its peoples, give your brain a workout and perhaps even prove yourself a more qualified potential employee once you graduate from college. While learning any language can be good for you, there are some that offer more financial and employment benefits than others. Here are a few — in no particular order — that may help you make more money, find more work and be a more versatile employee. Depending on the kind of industry you choose to pursue, of course.
Chinese: With China playing such a big role in the global economy, it’s no wonder that so many students are flocking to Chinese classes. While the bulk of business with China still takes place in English, knowing Cantonese or Mandarin could be a big asset to a resume, depending on your choice of career – especially since it’s often a very difficult language for English speakers to master. Those who want to enter international business will likely see the biggest salary boost, which is on average 4% higher than non-Chinese speakers.
Japanese: If you’re planning on working in a tech industry or with international business, you may want to consider learning Japanese. Japan has the second largest economy in the world, making it hard to ignore. With so much business in the tech sector, those in programming, development or other similar industries may also prove well-served by the knowledge. While there are no stats on just how valuable being able to speak Japanese is to college grads, it can open up doors and might even win you jobs in companies who do a lot of business over there.
French: This popular romance language can help you do more than navigate the streets of Paris. Students who learn French can expect to earn a 2.7% wage boost from their language knowledge. Why is knowing it such a big deal? French is spoken around the world as a secondary language, with millions of speakers in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
Arabic: Enrollments in Arabic classes have spiked 157% in the past few years, with students interested in business, journalism, education, finance and geopolitics alike taking up learning the language. Depending on your chosen career, knowing Arabic can be a big help, as it is the 5th most spoken language in the world. Speakers live not only in the Middle East, but Africa and other small pockets around the world. Since few Americans ever learn the language despite an increasing demand for those who can, learning Arabic could be a great investment. With numerous scholarships available to students who want to learn, you might not even have to put in a dime of your own money to get started.
Swahili: If you’re interested in a career working in global politics, learning Swahili can be a huge asset. The language tops the FBI’s list of most desirable languages, followed by Urdu, Farsi and Bahasa. Spoken mainly in Kenya, Tanzania and the DRC as well as many other nations in East Africa, this language can be an amazing tool for those who hope to work there in education, business, military or the FBI.
Spanish: Spanish is the most popular foreign language in American colleges and high schools, accounting for 52% of total foreign language enrollments — though among second tongues it commands one of the smallest wage increases. Even with many areas of the country being saturated with Spanish-speakers, students can expect to see only a 1.7% bump in their salary for knowing it. Still, it’s better than no increase at all; many jobs are open to the bilingual, giving you more options and more flexibility in the market over the long haul.
German: You might not think of German as an in-demand language, but learning it will earn you a higher premium in salary than many others spoken in Europe. How much? Researchers estimate that German language speakers get about a 4% wage premium. It is actually the most popular tongue in Europe, with 68 million speakers in Germany alone, not counting those who live in Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Liechtenstein. Additionally, with one of the most powerful economies in the world and ranking as number one in exports, knowing German can go a long way for any student interested in international or domestic business. German companies employ over 700,000 workers in the U.S.
Russian: With over 170 million native speakers and another 120 million who use the language secondarily, Russian is one of the most common languages in the world. While not always simple for English speakers to learn due to complicated grammar rules, many students may find the language rewarding because it offers a bit of a salary boost in some careers. Studies have shown a 4% boost in salary for college grads who know the language. American Sign Language: While not a foreign language per se, sign language does take some coursework and practice to master. For those who want to go into teaching, work as translators or help out those in the hearing impaired community, learning it can be an invaluable skill. Currently, sign language is actually the 4th most popular language course with college students. And if you’re not planning a career in education or translation, sign language can still be a great asset, Many employers seek out those fluent in ASL as a way to improve their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Italian: Italian can not only help you to woo a mate or understand just what those opera singers are bellowing about, but it may land you some job benefits as well. While it might not seem like the first choice for a second language in terms of salary benefits, students should consider the wide range of fields that use it. Not only do 6 of the 100 biggest global companies have their headquarters in Italy, the language can be a boon to those in government and international relations and academia and research. Learning Italian can earn students as much as a 4% salary premium, which isn’t too shabby.
______________________________________ Kenya girl scores the highest marks in the world in English Examination Kenya girl scores the highest marks in the world in English Examination
Quote: Thursday, August 4, 2011
By LAWANI MIKAIRU, with agency report
Shiro Keziah Wachira, a local 16year old Kenya girl, has scored the highest marks in the world in English Language when she sat for her Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) O-level examinations in June 2010.She beat more than 420,000 students from all over the world.
Reports say the former student of St Austin's Academy, Nairobi, is extremely articulate, almost disarmingly so. She is only 16, but speaks like a person twice her age.
According to reports,the first time one meets her, one is taken aback by her eloquent and coherent speech, devoid of redundancies like "umm", "as in", "like" and "yaani" that characterise a typical Kenyan teenager's speech.
Shiro says Nigeria's Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun is one of her favourite books as she "enjoys fiction that is linked to historical events". The work is a fictional account of the 1967-70 Biafra War in Nigeria.
The Cambridge IGCSE examinations are taken in 135 countries. Students at more than 2,500 schools around the world do the course. First,English Language in which Shiro excelled, is the third most popular IGCSE subject worldwide.
But her talent is not restricted to English alone. She obtained two As and seven A*s in the IGCSE examinations. The A* grade is a score of 90 per cent or more.
Miss Shiro said "we only speak English at home. I read everything, and that's mostly due to the influence of my mum and dad. We have a big library in our house. I can't really say I have a favourite genre of literature, I give anything a shot. The news was unexpected, but I was very proud of myself."
Her English teacher at St Austin's, Mr Frank Atuti, says she is an exceptional student and that her command of the English language is far beyond that of her peers. According to Mr Atuti,"I taught her for five years, from Year 7 (equivalent of Standard 7). She is very bright.
By Year 9 (equivalent of Form 1), she easily got bored during English lessons, so I ended up setting special work for her at a level higher than her classmates. She would help me teach some of the lessons, and sometimes even mark work from the lower classes."
Her teacher attributes her skill to her voracious appetite for books, saying that he shared all kinds of literature with her. They included Shakespeare's works, Ngugi wa Thiong'o's Weep Not Child, newspapers and magazines.
"She reads very widely, regardless of genre, but her forte is in analytical skills. She is able to think abstractly, and is very clear in the way she puts things across," Mr Atuti says.
Posts: 2688 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
The above is what I am talking about stories of Africans taking the Bull by the horn and trying to forge a new future,one can easily see the same contrast in any part of the world today but in Africa the San,Twa,and others gets all the press or wars hunger and poverty but stuff like stability,growth, infrastructure gets side lined only the hardest of potential investors before would even think of putting down $$ such is the image displayed for the entire continent why even the dreaded and much derided Congo is on the upswing Africa's Space program I hope they do more than launch telecommunications satellites and start thinking about mining asteroids and no I am not suggesting that Africans stand on a flying pc or rock with a jack hammer,but developed such technology as to mine the rocks remotely using robot technology for it is said to mine even one of small asteroid would generate as much as the GNP of the United States a year, it's a challenge and they might the under dog right now but that doesn't mean with a lot of hard work and creative thinking they can't become top dog. Brains and Beauty going together
Posts: 6546 | From: japan | Registered: Feb 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
SOME LINKS GOT MESS UP ABOVE,BUT ANYWAY MORE ON. A FEW THINGS.oh and i mention awhile ago africa 26 african nation have nucluer tech.a few are ahead,of course south africa,ghana and nigeria have research reactors and plant to get normal ones.nambia is on themove on this and some other down the road like angola,ethiopia etc..
INCREASING africa countries are making phones with computers like ghana,zambia,south africa is doing it,and nigeria.nigeria has robotics and a flat screen tv industry.
YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP TO SEE ALL THE NEWS. SPACE Thread of Africa - Intergalactic discoveries, astronomy, space travel, tourism, colonization etc.
Nigerian-built Satellite Acquires First Image Just Days After
http://images. .com/news/2011/Auckland-2-1-lores_3.jpg Image caption: 22m multispectral image of Auckland, New Zealand acquired 20th August 2011. Image credit: Image acquired by NigeriaSat-X, copyright NASRDA, supplied by DMCii.
The Nigerian-built satellite, NigeriaSat-X, has acquired its first satellite image just three days after the successful launch on 17th August.
Revealing buildings and the landscape surrounding the city of Auckland, New Zealand, this image demonstrates that the satellite's enhanced 22m wide-area multi-spectral imagery for mapping, agricultural monitoring and disaster relief programmes works well.
NigeriaSat-X was built by engineers from Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) under the supervision of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). The new generation of Nigerian scientists and engineers trained up under the NigeriaSat-X project will continue to support Nigeria's space programme, ensuring its continued success and sustainability. In total, 26 Nigerian engineers were located at SSTL's facilities in Guildford for 18 months throughout the design and test phases.
Currently two joint NASRDA-SSTL teams are working in parallel in Abuja and Guildford to commission NigeriaSat-X and NigeriaSat-2, which was launched at the same time. After the initial commissioning phase is complete, the NASRDA team in Guildford will return to Nigeria to continue NigeriaSat-X operations from the Abuja ground station.
SSTL Executive Chairman, Sir Martin Sweeting, commented, "NigeriaSat-X is the product of Nigeria's training and development programme here at Surrey. It is a great credit to NASRDA and their engineers that this satellite is performing well and its operations are progressing so quickly. These highly skilled engineers will not only help Nigeria to manage its resources, but also bootstrap its fledgling high tech economy alongside a growing nucleus of highly trained people."
The launch of NigeriaSat-X adds a third 22m imager to the seven-satellite Disaster Monitoring Constellation that is coordinated by DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii) to provide governmental and commercial imaging campaigns.
posted
MOST OF AFRICA IS NOT POOR. ABOUT HALF IS MIDDLE CLASS NOW,WHILE SOME ARE RICH,SOME POOR AND SOME WORKING CLASS.
Africa's Blossoming Middle Class
Published on Tuesday, 05 July 2011 Africa is often painted as a continent of misery, despair, and hopelessness. On a daily basis, news and pictures are presented by the media which perpetuate this image. Although media like newspapers cannot be faulted for presenting the public newsworthy events, they often paint a partial, biased picture of the continent. The result is distorted perceptions of African countries and circumstances, fuelled by stereotypes.
This CAI paper highlights Africa's burgeoning middle class as key to the African Renaissance. Earlier this year, the African Development Bank (AfDB) released a report entitled "The Middle of the Pyramid: Dynamics of the Middle Class in Africa."(2) The report shows that Africa's middle class has tripled over the last three decades to 313 million, or approximately 34% of Africa's population.(3) It states that the rapid increase in the number of middle class citizens can be attributed to strong economic growth and a shift towards a stable, salaried job culture as well as entrepreneurial activity, as opposed to traditional agricultural activities.(4) The continent is clearly developing itself and this paper serves to promote the fact.
The AfDB report emphasizes the rapid increase in middle class citizens, which has occurred since 2000. In 1980, there were approximately 111 million middle class citizens: 26% of Africa's population. In 1990, the number had risen to 151.4 million (27%), and in 2000, to 196 million (27.2%). By 2010, the number stood at 313 million (34%).(5) The North African countries of Tunisia (90%), Morocco (85%) and Egypt (80%) had the highest percentage of middle class citizens.(6) It is therefore not surprising that both Tunisia and Egypt toppled their oppressive governments.(7) Botswana, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, and South Africa also have a high percentage of middle class citizens.(8)
Vijay Mahajan, author of Africa Rising, terms Africa's middle class "Africa 2s" and notes that Africa's middle class collectively is approximately the same size of the middle class of India or China.(9) Vijay uses different criteria than the AfDB to measure Africa's middle class and estimates that between 300 and 500 million of Africa's population of 1 billion can be defined as middle class.
The general media has highlighted the AfDB's report. It is generally held in democratic theory that a burgeoning middle class indicates a blossoming society, and that a powerful middle class which is collectively wealthier than the elite and more numerous than the poor invariably leads to a healthy, functional, and truly democratic society which is both accountable and responsive to the needs of its citizens and centered upon ensuring the welfare of all of its citizens, which often results in greater economic growth. For example, BBC News recently highlighted the technology revolution occurring in Africa by drawing attention to Kenya's increasingly sophisticated mobile phone market, ShopAfrica53 in Ghana, and the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) in South Africa - a deep space telescope project.(10) Africa's burgeoning middle class is a promising sign of a more prosperous Africa in the future. A burgeoning middle class is, most importantly, a sign of strong economic growth, which implies that (at least parts of) Africa have been creating the conditions that facilitate the rise of a powerful middle class.(11)
"Africa's middle class is not only crucial for economic growth but it is essential for the growth of democracy… The middle class in Africa, like everywhere else, supports democratic governments that function well and that are accountable... Africa's middle class support states that provide public services like education, health, electricity and water… Africa's middle class is strongest in countries that have robust and growing private sectors,"(12) Vijaya Ramachandran, author of Africa's Private Sector.
Although the AfDB noted that Africa's burgeoning middle class is far from becoming a powerful, established middle class and still faces the danger of slipping into poverty again, we must focus on the fact that development in Africa is occurring all the time.(13) Africans are taking the initiative and taking important steps towards a brighter future, despite what is often portrayed by the media. The next century might just be Africa's.
___________________________________________ UN: Resource-rich Africa well placed to transition to ‘green economy'
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Africa is well poised to take advantage of a host of opportunities on the continent for building a ‘green economy,' one that generates decent jobs in an environmentally sustainable way, a senior United Nations official said this week.
"This continent is in many ways the envy of the 21st century world," Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), told African ministers of finance, planning and economic development gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
"Africa is rich in the kinds of natural resources that in many parts of the world have been over-exploited and diminished by centuries of unsustainable development," he stated.
This includes not just precious and semi-precious metals, but also nature-based resources such as forests and biodiversity, which support tourism and could also underpin inventions and pharmaceutical breakthroughs.
At the same time, many parts of the continent are rich in so-called natural fuels such as wind, solar and geothermal.
"The fundamental question," said Steiner "is how will all this potential be harvested for the benefit of Africa's citizens and in a way that promotes stability in Africa and beyond."
He noted that the green economy is not a substitute for sustainable development, but a way of realizing it. "It is as relevant to developing economies and it is to developed ones; it is as central to more state-led economies as it is to more market-led ones. It is not a straitjacket, nor is it prescriptive."
In February UNEP released a report outlining how investing 2% of global gross domestic product (GDP) in 10 sectors can catalyze the transition to a green economy.
It also provided a global compilation of case studies from across the globe, including Africa, where forward-looking policies by governments are "watering the green shoots" of the global green economy.
One example is South Africa, whose Green Economy Plan focuses on investments that create more decent jobs, and where nearly $1 billion is being spent on railways, energy-efficient buildings, and water and waste management.
He also highlighted Kenya's new green energy policy, including a feed-in tariff and 15-year power purchase agreement, which is catalyzing an initial target of 500 megawatts of energy from geothermal, wind and sugar wastes systems.
Later this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Kenya's main geothermal sites, located north-west of Nairobi, to learn first-hand how these developments have been achieved, as well as how they are set to generate thousands of new jobs in the clean energy sector while reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels.
"The rest of the world can learn from Africa, but Africa can also learn from other continents," said Steiner.
He added that the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development, set to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 - 20 years after the Earth Summit of 1992, could prove to be one of the most transformative moments in international affairs.
"In 1992, we could only perhaps glimpse the scale some of the challenges emerging on the radar from climate change and the loss of healthy, productive cropland," he noted.
"But in the world of the here and now, many of those challenges have become all too real. There is an urgency to swiftly and decisively evolve the sustainable development agenda onto a far more focused and far reaching level."
He said that the question now emerging is not whether a green economy is desirable but how to realize a green economy in practical terms.
"Rio+20 offers an opportunity to accelerate and scale-up transitions, already under way across this region and indeed across the world in order to catalyze growth and employment opportunities for around nine billion people by 2050," he stated. "But in a way that also maintains and enhances the regional and global planetary services that underpin wealth generation in the first place.
"Africa's experience on what has worked and what has not worked over the past two decades offers an invaluable foundation upon which a transformational outcome next year can be built."
I did not see this one yet,but i will post it anyway.
West Africa's Next Top Model West Africa's Next Top Model was a planned reality documentary based on Tyra Banks America's Next Top Model which would have featured contestants from all West African countries including Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Liberia and Nigeria against each other in a variety of competitions to determine who would win title of West Africa's Next Top Model and a lucrative modelling contract with an international model agency in hopes of a successful future in the modeling business.
The competition was supposed to be hosted by Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba.[1][2]. Auditions began in March 2009. However due to unknown reasons the show never aired and was left without any TV station.
We must be fully aware that racist euro suck puppets will not accept any of this beneficial development for Africans.
Always keep an eye out, and open. Not just in politics, science and economy. Also in the spiritual realm.
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
It seems that out of a population of 1 billion africa is about half middle class now or close to to it.If the middle class in africa is about 500 million at most now like the article above says then that's even greater progress that happen in the last decade. ________________________________________________
quote:Originally posted by Masonic Rebel: Man I wish I had time to speak on this well anyway
Feed America
"We believe that hunger will cease to be a problem in America when we refuse to allow our neighbors to go hungry."
Americans living in tunnels
"We get the stuff late at night so people don't see us because it's kind of embarrassing"
The Ghettos are like concrete jungles, and the tunnels like artificial caves.
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
[/IMG]
.com/news/2011/Auckland-2-1-lores_3.jpg
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic