On August 3, 2024, I found myself in a very dark place and considered taking my own life. A few days earlier, l had signed my will, then rang or texted a few people. It was my farewell. I wanted to die. Exit this world for good. There was simply too much pain, grief, and trauma in my life that I couldn’t bear it any longer. I couldn’t continue watching helplessly as our country was sucked into a sickening, deadly vortex of State-sanctioned violence, targeting innocent Kenyans. In writing this now, I am aware that it might attract ridicule and trolling…
Author: King Jaja
Read More
Despite its status as a ‘Christian nation,’ many individuals in Zambia merely identify as Christians, because they were born into Christian families. Christianity is the preferred religion nationally, but many people’s professions are empty. When asked to provide a testimony of their salvation, many Zambians can’t articulate one. Often, they believe they are saved through good works; or because their parents or guardians are Christian. Consequently, there is a pressing need to deepen the understanding of salvation within Zambian communities. When asked to provide a testimony of their salvation, many Zambians can’t articulate one. This article seeks to examine the…
Ramy Rabia of Al Ahly celebrates goal during CAF Champions League 2024/25 match between Al Ahly and Gormahia FC at Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on 21 September 2024 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix by Graeme Jackson Sunday Sep 22, 2024. 13:00 Africa’s football heavyweights all won through to the group stage of the 2024-25 CAF Champions League following a busy Saturday of second-round, second-leg qualifying matches across the continent.TP Mazembe, defending champions Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Esperance de Tunis and Raja Casablanca all ensured that they will be present for the group stage of the top-tier continental competition, which…
A lawmaker representing Iwajowa State Constituency at the Oyo State House of Assembly, Anthony Ogunsola, has distributed 5,000 exercise books and bags to both government and private primary/secondary school students in his constituency. Speaking at the distribution event held at Community Basic School Ayetoro-Ile in Iwajowa LG, Ogunsola emphasised the importance of education as a cornerstone of development. The Lawmaker representing Iwajowa LG in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Anthony Ogunsola presenting education materials to one of the beneficiaries. This is contained in a statement issued and sent to PUNCH Online by Ogunsola media oganisation, Toluwalase Media Team, on…
Our world continues to reel from multiple crises, facing a trifecta of challenges related to financing, climate, food and energy that are exacerbated by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we should “Never let a good crisis go to waste,” as a former statesman reportedly said after World War Two, a difficult period in human history that ultimately led to the creation of the United Nations. The parallel is fitting as we mobilize to address the challenges of our time by answering the call of the current United Nations chief, Secretary-General António Guterres, who says, “We cannot construct…
ABANTU FOR DEVELOPMENT/FACEBOOKThe new law comes after decades of stallingWomen’s rights advocates are demanding the immediate implementation of a nearly 30-year-old gender equity bill which Ghana’s president signed into law on Thursday.This ends a process which began in 1998, with the bill shuffling between parliaments until the legislature passed it in July this year. Many campaigners faulted Ghana’s law-making body for the long delay.Ghana now joins Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Mozambique and others in Africa that have working affirmative action laws.These countries have a 30% quota for women in decision-making bodies, in parliament and other state agencies.What changes does Ghana’s new…
Recent reports that President Biden plans to travel to Angola in the months ahead suggest that the White House is sensitive to the perception that it has been insufficiently engaged on Africa policy matters. If true, presumably, the trip is intended as a signal of U.S. commitment, and an opportunity to highlight Washington’s investment in the Lobito corridor, a transnational infrastructure project intended to link mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola’s Lobito port. It would be a capstone to the charm offensive that included the first ever visit of an American secretary of…
The Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) has opened its situation rooms for the Edo state governorship election, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024. Members of the coalition will work from two situation rooms in Abuja and Lagos, monitoring, fact-checking, and debunking misinformation and disinformation that could incite violence, engender voter apathy, undermine trust in the electoral process, and affect the outcome of the election. Launched in June 2022, the coalition includes three International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) signatories – Africa Check, FactCheckHub and Dubawa. Other partners are the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development…
BAMAKO, MALI- A terrorist attack on Mali on Tuesday 17th September left the country’s militant government on the hot seat by many diplomats with questions on the security of the country. The attack occurred at Faladie Gendarmerie School, a military police centre in Bamako, near the military airport. Gunmen tried to infiltrate the training school. There was massive damage to property and several soldiers especially trainees were killed. The government has however not confirmed the number of those who died. The Qaeda-linked group, Jama ‘at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) took complete responsibility for the attack. This confirms that it was…
The Federal Government has announced that the 115 Federal Unity Colleges in the country will soon be unbundled into basic and secondary schools. The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made this known during the opening of the Annual General Meeting of Principals of Unity Colleges in Abuja on Tuesday.The event is themed: “Entrepreneurship Education: A Panacea for Self-Reliance and National Development.” Sununu stated that the plan to unbundle the Unity Colleges aligns with the National Policy on Education. The Minister explained that the unbundling of Federal Unity Colleges would, among other things, attract more funding to improve…