AfricanLoft

African Billionaires in 2010

News Desk — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:45:30 +0000

Eight of the 937 billionaires listed on 2010 Forbes’ Billionaire ranking are Africans; four Egyptians, three South Africans, and one Nigerian. African billionaire photoslide: Who they are: #1 Nassef Sawiris (48), 127th wealthiest man in the world; took over leadership of Orascom’s construction and fertiliser division in 1998. Youngest son of the Sawiris (#3). Net worth: $5.9 billion. Country: [...]

Happy Birthday, Ghana! Long live Nkrumah! (An Ode to Pan-African-ism)

Emmanuel.K. Bensah — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:07:35 +0000

It is always difficult to talk about Ghana's March 6 independence day without talking about Dr.Kwame Nkrumah--quintessential Pan-Africanist. I cannot wait to see what the African Union (AU) has in store to commemorate his birthday on 21st September, and what they also have for AU day on 25 May!

Ghana goes Green with Bamboo Bikes

CareTaker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:51:39 +0000

Ghanaian entrepreneurs earn about USD 150 for every frame they build, while the finished bikes are sold in United States for about USD 950 each.

The Riots in Nigeria: Missing Out on the Bigger Picture Again

Codrin Arsene — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:17:55 +0000

In my experience as a young researcher in Africa there are three factors that have been a part of most of the violent clashes I have heard of or lived through: politics, ethnic rivalries and economics.

Nigeria, JOS: A Crisis Triggered by Inequality

News Desk — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:59:08 +0000

Many commentaries on the Jos crisis touched on the role of religion, politics, and even geography. However, the common denominator in the crisis -- as in most sectarian crises in Nigeria -- is traceable to the deep inequalities in the society. The elements of religion or politics are just mere facilitators in the conflict.

Poverty on the Decline in Africa

News Desk — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:48:54 +0000

The conventional wisdom that Africa is not reducing poverty is wrong. A recent study published by US-based National Bureau of Economic Research shows that: African poverty is falling and is falling rapidly; If present trends continue, the poverty Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people with incomes less than one dollar a day will be [...]

Chicago Doctor Plans to Give Back to his Native Nigeria

Guest Author — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:39:07 +0000

Now at age 65 -- and with his four children out of college, Dr Godwin Onyema, obstetrician/gynecologist is preparing to return to Nigeria to open a women's hospital. It would be Onyema's chance to make good on a promise he made to his father in 1974 when he came to the United States to study medicine.

Ivorians get Toxic Waste Payout

News Desk — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:01:35 +0000

Around 30,000 people who claim to have fallen ill over the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast are set to receive a 45 million US dollar payout. Tens of thousands of people fell ill after a contractor for Dutch oil trader Trafigura dumped 500 tonnes of toxic waste in landfills around the Ivorian capital [...]

Nigerian VP can’t Run for President

News Desk — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:50:34 +0000

Nigeria’s ruling political party has said it wants a Muslim from the north to stand as its candidate for the oil-rich nation’s presidential election next year, blocking the country’s Christian acting president from seeking the office. The announcement by Vincent Ogbulafor, national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, late Tuesday appears to cut acting President Goodluck [...]

If You Were An African President, What Will Do Differently?

Misi Coker — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:15:21 +0000

Nowadays, I feel like every African President get into power with only one agenda: Steal national money and stay in power forever. Elected power in Africa has become a right rather than a service. And it seems almost all Africans given the opportunity will follow that agenda or are you different? Talk to Misi: If You [...]