The daughter of Cameroon's long-serving president, Paul Biya, has come out and declared that she is dating another woman called Laoncita. The Brazilian had been seen with Brenda Biya several times, though it was only suspicions. Now the first daughter says she cannot hide it anymore, coming out as a Lesbian on her official Instagram account. 'I am crazy about you and want the world to know,' she wrote. One Instagram user engaged her in the discussion, reminding her that where her father is the President of Cameroon, LGBTQ is prohibited. But Brenda said, 'Nobody will have anything to say because only love shall win' She added, 'I don't condone hate, I think the mentality should change, but it will change once the people are ready.' An ordinance issued in September 1972 by President Ahmadou Ahidjo introduced Article 347 which is now 347-1 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes gay practices. Since then the courts have judged and sanctioned persons who openly declared the practice of gay or lesbianism in Ca meroon. The question remains if President Paul Biya, the first enforcer of law will allow her lesbian daughter to bring her girlfriend to Cameroon. Source: Cameroon News Agency
Month: June 2024
Ebolowa Bishop, others receiving treatment after surviving accident
On Saturday, June 29, 2024, a serious road accident occurred near Ngalane, involving a vehicle belonging to Bishop Philippe Alain Mbarga of Ébolowa. The incident occurred around 9 AM as the Mercedes, registered CE 438 JT and driven by Mr. Belinga, was leaving the bishop's residence. Reports indicate that the vehicle lost control, swerving to avoid a ravine and colliding with an embankment. The accident resulted in three serious injuries, including Bishop Mbarga and two other passengers, identified as Monique Sophie Beyala, a nun, and another individual. All three are currently receiving intensive care at the Ngalane Reference Hospital. Preliminary investigations suggest a mechanical fault in the braking system as the likely cause of the accident. Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the incident. Source: Cameroon News Agency
Nigerians turn to Cucumbers and Watermelon as Tomato prices skyrocket
Nigerians are facing a double whammy in the kitchen: soaring food prices and limited options. A recent tomato scarcity has driven prices through the roof, making the essential ingredient a luxury for some families. This comes at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with the recent removal of fuel subsidies, leading to increased transportation costs, and a devaluation of the Naira currency. But Nigerians are known for their resilience and resourcefulness. Social media has become a vibrant hub for sharing culinary creativity. Recipes featuring cucumber and watermelon as substitutes for stews are trending. These readily available vegetables offer a refreshing and affordable alternative, proving that even in challenging times, Nigerians can find ingenious ways to adapt their beloved dishes. A small bucket of tomatoes that usuall sells at most 5000 nairai is now sold for 18,000 Naira. Food prices have seen an upward experience leaving many to live in hunger and uncertainty. Source: Cameroon News Agency
Cameroonian Lawyer Junior Angabua Chuo Angabua makes history, graduates with master’s in international maritime law
Cameroon celebrates a historic achievement in the legal field as Junior Angabua Chuo Angabua becomes the first Cameroonian lawyer and Public Notary to graduate with a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Maritime Law from the prestigious International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta, Established under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization a specialised agency of the United Nations, UN. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for both Chuo Angabua and Cameroon's legal landscape. The IMLI is a world-renowned centre for maritime law education and research. Graduating from this esteemed institution signifies Chuo Angabua's dedication to the field and his expertise in international maritime law. Chuo Angabua's impressive journey Junior Angabua's legal journey began in 2012 as a law firm intern, specializing in assisting with criminal and civil litigation. Throughout his career, he gained valuable experience working with top-tier law firms and government sectors in both Camero on and Nigeria. This exposure provided him with a solid foundation and strategic development, ultimately leading him to establish Prime Time Law Offices in 2020. As a prominent advocate for the Cameroonian maritime flag, Junior's dedication to the industry shines through. He champions the interests of clients across a broad spectrum of maritime legal issues, including ship registration and compliance, marine insurance disputes, carriage of goods by sea, admiralty and salvage, human rights at sea, maritime regulatory compliance, and even pollution and environmental issues. The Significance of the IMO-IMLI Program The IMO-IMLI program is a world-renowned centre for maritime law education. Graduates from the program go on to work in a variety of sectors, including government agencies, shipping companies, and international organizations. Chuo Angabua's qualification from this esteemed institution will undoubtedly open doors for him in the international maritime legal community. Looking ahead Chuo Angabua's g raduation is a significant step forward for Cameroon's legal community. His expertise in international maritime law will be invaluable in promoting the country's maritime interests and fostering collaboration on a global scale. We can expect Chuo Angabua to play a leading role in shaping the future of maritime law in Cameroon and beyond. Source: Cameroon News Agency
Kagogi Young Stars pip Koro FC to lift Kitoro IV Unity Cup
Kagogi Young Stars on Friday pipped Koro Young Stars 1-0 to lift maiden Kitoro IV Unity Cup in Borgu, New Bussa, Niger. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the maiden U15 grassroots tournament was sponsored by ChatmyCause (CMC) Initiative. The tournament which was organised in honour of the Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV. No fewer than 250 players and 16 teams participated in the competition. The teams were grouped into four groups, consisting of four teams in each group. Teams in Group A were City Rulers FC, Kagogi Young Stars Karabonde, Flamingos FC. In Group B, we had Frontliners FC, Kainji Pillars, NATA, and Dodo Jnr FC. Group C comprised of Koro Young Stars FC, Highlanders FC, Borgu Yield FC, and Hotline FC. While Group D was made up of Gbere, 'A Academy Wawa, Golden Stars FC, 221 TNK Battalion and Monnai FC. After several rounds of hostilities in the group stage, Round of 16 and the quarter-finals, four teams qualified for the semi-finals at the end of a pulsati ng encounter. The teams include Gbere, 'A Academy, City Rulers FC, Kagogi Young Stars Karabonde, and Koro Young Stars FC. Both Kagogi Young Stars and Koro Young Stars advanced to the finals after defeating Gbere 'A' Academy and City Rulers, respectively, in the semi-finals. The third place match played on Thursday saw Abdulgafar Abidoka grab a brace, while Musa Dantalo added the third goal as Gbere 'A' Academy beat City Rulers 3-0. The final match played on Friday lived up to the expectations of a mammoth crowd, which tropped in their hundreds to watch the thrilling encounter. Koro Young Stars began the game on the strong footing and looked to assert their dominance early in the match. But they squandered a lot of goal scoring chances, which came their way, with only the goalkeeper to beat on several occasions. However, it was Kagogi Young Stars who opened scoring through Haliru Karabonde in the 18th minute against the run of play. Karabonde's early effort proved to be the winning goal after Kagogi Yo ung Stars' defence withstood a barrage of attacks from their opponents to emerge winners of the tournament. NAN also reports that the gold, silver, and bronze medalists received mouth-watering cash rewards courtesy of the Emir. Lily Grace, the Executive Director of CMC Initiative, told newsmen after the match that the winners had also qualified to take part in a scouting programme billed to take place in Abuja from July 5 to July 7. She said that as part of her Initiative's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a total of 50 of the best players selected during the course of the tournament and 10 coaches would be sponsored to take part in the U15 Scouting and Coaching programme in Abuja. The Emir thanked CMC for providing children of the Emirates with the opportunity to showcase their God-given talent. He said that it would go a long way to ensure that the youths achieve their dreams and become great. The programme organised by Patoz Football Concept Ltd. in collaboration with Chatmycause (CMC) Initiati ve and OTP United FC, Finland is for youth academies across Nigeria at the Aguyi Ironsi Cantonment football pitch, Abuja. The programme is to discover and support less privileged talented players at the grassroots, develop and launch the 'NEXT NAIJA FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR'. Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Trade Modernisation Project as tool to combat trade-related corruption
Generally, one menace countries seeking to facilitate ease of doing business to generate revenue, especially through direct foreign investment, face, is corruption along the chain of service delivery. Analysts have, thus, argue that the first step to boost international trade is to deal with corruption and other sharp practices that could hurt investors' confidence. They have always emphasised the need for transparency, accountability and the need to establish deep trust, particularly in global trade. Analysts believe that a deep trust in the trade operations processes will encourage and attract investors to the country, with their activities boosting the country's economic profile and facilitating implementation of more developmental projects. Even though the World Bank's Annual Ease of Doing Business Report states that Nigeria has greatly improved in the ease of doing business, ranking 131 out of 190 countries in 2020, stakeholders still observe that there are many factors impeding business operations i n the country. They say top on the list is corruption, with public officials often accused of often taking advantage of administrative bureaucracies to force trade operators to give bribes to expedite the lengthy chain of procedures. The say that the labyrinthine bureaucracy, lack of transparency and inefficiency have continuously created fertile ground for corrupt practices. Similarly, reports by LEAP and NOI polls indicate that 85 per cent of Nigerians believe that the prevalence of corruption in the country is responsible for the difficulty in the ease of doing business. Stakeholders have noted that corruption is impeding trade operations at land borders and sea ports accross the country, while business operators are reported to constantly complain on dealing with too many government agencies and illegal clearing agents, who make corrupt demands or arbitrary fees during port calls. Even though the Trade Policy of Nigeria (TPN) 2023 to 2027, hinges on government's commitment to an open and transparent trade policy, and is described as a significant effort to promote trade as a tool for economic growth and development, achieving this goal requires deliberate efforts to address constraints such as corruption. To salvage the situation, trade modernisation offers a beacon of hope in the fight to address the menace. By leveraging technology, streamlining processes, and enhancing transparency, Nigeria can significantly reduce the opportunities for corruption and create a more efficient and fair trade environment. It is in line with this that the Public Private Patnership (PPP) of Trade Modernisation Project, which has three phases, was embarked upon in 2022. The project is a 20-year concesssion, with the execution agreement signed on May 30, 2022, between the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board, and the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Ltd. The TMP is the automation of the business processes of the NCS. It seeks to simplify and enhance the experience of sta keholders in the trade value chain. It is aimed at making it easy to obtain export and import clearances. It will also ease the payment of duties and the release of goods. In summary, it is a long-term rescue plan aimed at ensuring predictable and transparent processes and procedures for imports, exports and transit trade. The project will deploy a software described as the Unified Customs Management system(UCMS), allowing trade operators the advantage of monitoring all stages of their transactions. According to the Head of Business Processes for the project, Mr Usman Abba, the system is an improvement over the current system, with enhanced features that use Artificial Intelligence(AI) to assist in the classification and validation of documents or data that is being uploaded. He also mentioned that it includes third-party sources for verifying documents, which simplifies the work of customs officers in terms of registration and document processing. In time past, stakeholders had sought such a rescue pla n. In 2020, for instance, Dr Muda Yusuf, the former Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the need for Nigeria to transit to automated processes. At a webinar on corruption in the cargo clearance at the Nigeria port, he said that delays and the cost of border trade operations could be reduced if manual processes were automated. The General Manager of TMP Ltd, Ahmed Ogunshola, while throwing more light on the project, said recently that it creates a foundation for improving NCS' services, which include improving revenue generation, facilitating trade development and minimising corruption in trade facilitation. Experts have noted that such digital systems help to reduce human interaction, thereby by minimising opportunities for corrupt practices, and increasing transparency in customs operations. A tech expert, Ibrahim Yahaya, has said that if properly implemented, TMP would unify custom activities and management, and effectively combat corrupt practices within the sys tem. He added that it would also help ensure transparency and efficiency in the discharge of NCS' activities, especially in verifying the issuance of fake customs duties documents. 'Mostly, we see a lot of fake customs duties documents, while the mode of production and issuance is obsolete. ' Traditionally, it makes it easy for people to manipulate, but automation will help in addressing that; it will improve efficiency. 'I belive that there is AI in the system. It will help to predict an estimated target for government revenue, and if there is any deficiency. it would address it,' he said. Stakeholders say that the TMP is a beacon to combat corruption in trade operations, and they are excited that the UCMS is to be inaugurated so that they start reaping the benefits. The President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Capt.Tajudeen Alao, believes that TMP will facilitate quicker cargo clearance at the nation's ports, boost Internally Generated Revenue and enhance the country's global visibili ty. With the backlog of clearances being a concern for operators due to extended clearing times, resulting in increased cost, TMP managers say that 200 containers can be scanned within an hour using the gantry scanner, which the project will deploy. This is in addition to helping traders comprehensively monitor all processes and avoid falling prey to agents extorting them even after customs clearance. An ex-ray of the process indicates that it is transparent as it gives traders full visibility in the system to know the specific documents being worked upon, who is handling them, the amount required for customs charges, the causes of any other delays in the transaction, and how to follow up to address them. With its clear features, analysts believe that TMP will address the agitation by stakeholders for the reduction of desks that importers pass through - for several weeks - to clear their goods, which has become a window to indulge in corrupt practices. Simply put, the time allotted to assess documents up loaded to the system could be shortened by half with the deployment of the new system. 'It is a complex coming together of different aspects in terms of being efficient, which includes human efficiency, system efficiency in terms of hardware and software,' a key player at the Lagos port recently observed, while craving anonymity. 'We have made significant progress with respect to the deliverables of the project,' he added. To curb leakages in revenue collection and drive trade reforms, transparency in creating a trustworthy trade environment is crucial, analysts say. They also point out that corruption at various stages of the trade process can significantly increase costs and deter both domestic and foreign businesses from engaging in trade activities. While stakeholders are receptive to the gains of the TMP, even though it is still at its first phase, observers hope that the implementation will be smooth and not follow the typical scenario of many initiatives that were full of errors, hitches, and not sustained. It is hoped that the PPP would increase revenue accruals as the project is expected to generate in excess of 250 billion dollars for Nigeria with the concessionaire investing 3.2 billion dollars to deliver the project over the 20-year period. Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Association seeks end to sexual abuse in barracks community
The President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Musa, has advocated effective collaboration to address the menace of sexual exploitation and abuse, especially in military barracks. She stated this at a seminar with the theme: 'Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse,' to mark her one year in office as the 15th President of DEPOWA, on Saturday in Abuja. Musa said the menace was prevalent in the society, adding that many occurrences were unreported without exemption of barracks community and its environs. According to her, the event is an opportunity to discuss the issue and echoed the voice of Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary General in stating that, 'sexual exploitation and abuse have no place in our society. 'We recognise the severity of the consequences and we aim to work towards reducing its prevalence within our communities and immediate environs. 'We also thought it necessary to sensitise the youth on the menace of drug abuse and how to avoid it so t hey can have a promising future. 'In all of these, it is important to know who you are, know what you want to achieve in life and develop some personal values that will guide you into achieving your goals'. The DEPOWA president said that resource persons have been brought in, to guide barracks teenagers and youth to be able to adopt the lessons from the sessions, into their daily living and eventually attain the future they desired. She pledged support to the victims who report any form of sexual exploitation, or attempt to be initiated into the use of illicit substances within the barracks' domain. She urged the authorities to investigate reported cases to address the menace, adding that, 'indeed, perpetrators ought to be held accountable'. According to her, the event is being organised to celebrate the association's significant milestone, reflect on its achievements, acknowledge their challenges and look forward to the future. She said the association had in the past one year, done as much as it could in making positive impacts in the lives of youths and women, especially the vulnerable within their sphere of influence. 'As we all know, DEPOWA is the melting pot that unifies wives of serving officers' in the Armed Forces and the Police. 'I am glad to note that we have witnessed remarkable achievements from the various spousal associations that make up DEPOWA and by God's grace we will continue to impact lives within and outside the barracks communities in diverse ways. 'The activities of DEPOWA within the past one year have focused on adding value in the lives of women and youth, especially in the areas of healthcare, fitness, education, agriculture and skills training. 'All of these align with my vision of 'Seeing Women and Girls Become Productive and Contributors to Family and Society Driven by Deep Sense of Values and Hard-Working Spirit'. 'We will not relent in our efforts to keep touching lives in ways that are necessary,' she added. One of the resource persons, Dr Chika Anozie, said that alcoho l, illicit drugs and substance abuse have their negative impact on young people. Anozie, who delivered a paper titled, 'the Risk of Teenage Drug Abuse: Prevention and Awareness,' enjoined the youths to take charge of their environment, circle of friends, and peer pressure. According to her, there have been 20 per cent increase in drug use in the past 10 years, and that Africa will experience the largest growth in absolute numbers of drug users while four of 10 drug users in Africa will be youths by 2030. On her part, Dr Olajumoke Jenyo, who presented a paper titled: 'Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Prevention and Response,' said that two of every 10 male child have been sexually abused. She said that more of sensitisation was required to address the menace of sexual abuse in the society, saying that more girls have been victims of such abuse unreported. Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Yakub tasks TAC volunteers on discipline in Sierra Leone
Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC), has urged the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers, deployed to Sierra Leone to uphold discipline and behave as patriotic citizens. Yakub stated this in Abuja on Saturday at a deployment exercise for 18 TAC volunteers to be sent to Sierra Leone. He said the deployment was in line with the mandate of the directorate to bridge the educational gap in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries. The TAC helmsman lauded the volunteers for deciding to serve humanity and their country by volunteering to give their professional service to other African countries. According to him, the volunteers are to serve humanity and their fellow African country that is in need of professionals to bridge the educational gap. 'We also send volunteers to ACP countries to bridge the educational gaps in these countries as soft power diplomacy. 'Nigeria has been deploying TAC volunteers for the past 37 years. So, as you go there, we expect you to conduct yourselves and be good ambassadors of this great country Nigeria. 'That is why you are wearing the Nigerian colours as a symbols of respect and honour. So, be of good behaviour, uphold our integrity by bringing us a good name to our country. 'This is a very strong foreign policy of the Nigeria government which we use to deploy soft power diplomacy through technical aid to our brothers in the ACP countries. 'So, Nigeria as one of the super powers among the community of nations has introduced this very important foreign policy for the past 37 years and has been sustaining it. 'Through foreign policy instrument, we have developed friendship with so many countries of the world which is of great importance to our dear country Nigeria,'' he said. Some of the volunteers said the initiative of the Nigerian government to render soft power diplomacy to other African countries was a commendable one. Mr Benham Batari, a Nurse, and Ukoma Nnoma, a Medical Doctor, expressed readiness to make Nigeria proud b y being good ambassadors while rendering professional expertise in that country. The TAC volunteers went through a selection process from over 10,000 entries made from various medical fields ranging from doctors, nurses and researchers, amongst others, to be volunteers. After the exercise, 18 qualified TAC volunteers, who are professional practitioners, were selected to render their services to humanity to Sierra Leone. Other previously sent were 11 to the Gambia, and 11 to Uganda from engineering and Academics fields. Source: News Agency of Nigeria