The world currently seems gripped in a cycle of violence that is causing death and destruction on a terrifying scale. Africa too is locked into several such cycles across the continent. When the drums of war are being beaten so loudly, it is the peace-makers that the world needs to restore calm. One such supreme example is the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf profiles this warrior turned a man of peace. Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, ‘Baba’ to his admirers, is Africa’s man of peace. How he got to this role is unusual, since it was via a mili ..read more

Chief Obahami Awolowo, serves as a compass for each of us and a guiding light for several generations of leaders in Nigeria. His principles have withstood the tests of time and geography.He stands as a testament to the resilience of his convictions. His life also provides a compelling narrative for every student of leadership- an inspiration that continues to resonate across our community, our nation, and the global stage. To comprehend Chief’s Awolowo’s teachings, we must confront the obscured realities of leadership. The initial trial for every leader lies in overcoming the conspiracies of m ..read more

Art has always been a powerful medium of expression, evoking a myriad of emotions in its audience. It has often been a refuge during times of turmoil, a handmaiden of revolution and activism and a reflection of society and its norms and values at quieter times. It can capture the public mood and stimulate ideas, debates and innovations. Tunisia has a long and distinguished history of art and the appreciation of art. Young artists are exploring new visions and building bridges to the rest of the world through a growing proliferation of art spaces. Omar Ben Yedder visits the Selma Feriani Galler ..read more

A veritable who’s who of Nigerian society as well as international heads of state attended the glittering award ceremony in Lagos held to honour Dr Adesina. The 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership was formerly presented to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) during a glittering ceremony held at the Lagos Continental Hotel on the 6th of March. The large guest list was virtually a who’s who of Nigerian society past and present and also included Presidents and Heads of State of other African countries.   Among the foreign leaders was Tanzania’s Presid ..read more

Dr Adesina to receive prestigious biennial award and join select group including Dr Wole Soyinka and Thabo Mbeki. The President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, becomes the fourth winner of the highly prestigious and much sought after Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. The Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership set up in April 1992 is dedicated to immortalising the democratic and development-oriented ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Chief Awolowo, (1909 – 1987 played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement and was renowned as a man of deep integrity and dis ..read more

Nigerien /French Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan stood conventional European anthrophony on its head when brought in local researchers to work on projects. The result was a far more realistic portrayal of African societies than had been hitherto the case. The 82 year old anthropologist and writer is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Marseilles. He is also Emeritus Director of Research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris and associate professor at Abdou Moumouni University  ..read more

The African Union (AU) has designated 2024 as The Year of Education, the first time that the AU has themed a year around education, thus sending a powerful signal on what it considers its development priority. However, going to school and actually learning are two different issues. For education to be effective, it must be based on sound science about how children learn best – argue Kwame Akyeampong and Ross Hall Much of Africa has made admirable strides in increasing the rates of in-school children. A 2021 report from UNICEF and the African Union found the percentage of primary school-aged ch ..read more

From Gaza to Ukraine, the shifting of geopolitical plates is disrupting all strategic balances. The old model of Multilateralism cannot cope with the rapid changes but the world does need global governance. To be effective, this must include the South which is currently kept out of the main power structure. Opinion by Hamza Hraoui, co-founder of the international public affairs firm, MGH Partners. The crumbling of the bipolar power game, marked by the rise of states previously considered marginal, poses a major challenge to the current architecture of global institutions, prompting their refor ..read more

Cross border payments continue to be hampered by inconsistent regulation and policy coordination, mobile money industry leaders claim. The success of efforts to deepen intra-continental trade, including the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), depends in large part on the existence of cross-border payments systems. However, despite the success of mobile money on the continent, cross-border payments still add unnecessary costs and delays to businesses and individuals, industry leaders claim. During the Africa Prosperity Dialogues in Aburi, Ghana, panellists called on governmen ..read more

One of the greatest and most gruelling motor sport has been the iconic Paris-Dakar Rally but following troubles along the route, the Rally is now staged exclusively in Saudi Arabia – although the title brand has been retained. Gus Anyim assess what this loss has meant to the continent and if the rally can be re-incorporated into its natural African habitat. On 19th January, the final competitor crossed the sand dunes of Saudi Arabia to finish the 46th Dakar rally. 2024   the fifth year of the race since it was moved from its original home in Africa to the Middle East. The event, originall ..read more