writing competition

Young Ugandan Wins International Writing Competition

A young Ugandan school student, Lydia Adero, has won the top international prize in this year’s Commonwealth Essay Competition.

The seventeen year old, who attends Iganga Secondary School, was awarded the first prize in the prestigious writing contest for a captivating essay in which she explores life in a ‘traditional polygamous family’.

Lydia Adero and other Ugandan winners of the Competition will be presented with their prizes by the Hon. G.N. Bitamazire, Minister of Education & Sports, Republic of Uganda , at a Commonwealth ceremony in Kampala on 19 November.

Scooping the top prize from amongst 6,300 final entries submitted by 1,350 schools across the Commonwealth, Lydia ’s triumph reflects the exceptionally high standard of Ugandan entries for the 2007 Competition.

Lydia’s delightful portrait of a type of family which she believes to be “too rare and truly African”, contains a depth of perception and subtlety which impressed the Commonwealth Essay Competition’s judges.

The competition’s Chief Examiner, Charles Kemp , said: “ Lydia ’s writing demonstrates a remarkable talent for observation and a wonderful storyteller’s gift for sharing information with her audience. As a writer, she has a lightness and sureness of touch which enables the reader to step over the cultural boundaries which frame all our lives. In so doing, we are able to glimpse without judgement or criticism another family’s very different realities and values.”

Ugandan participation in the Essay Competition reached a record-breaking high this year ahead of the Kampala Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Some 30,000 students took part in the national competition and an impressive 215 final entries were received by the Royal Commonwealth Society in London .

The awards ceremony will take place on Monday 19 November 2007 from 6.30pm, at the Africana Hotel, Kampala , Uganda , as part of the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Friends of the Commonwealth” reception.

A writing workshop with the Ugandan winners will take place at the People’s Space, Africana Hotel, on Monday 19 November, from 1pm-3pm.

Tanzania on the GPS

Why should you join us?
The role of Linguists within GCHQ cannot be understated. Translating and analysing all kinds of foreign language material, Linguists use their specialist knowledge and expertise to assess pieces of information and provide valuable intelligence. Through their versatility and attention to detail, Linguists can help inform policy decisions, protect British interests and even save lives.
What you'll be doing
As a Linguist Trainee, you'll join GCHQ on a four year training scheme that will make you a fully-qualified Linguist. After promotion to this role, you'll read, listen and evaluate a wide range of foreign language material, producing gists, full transcriptions and assessing its value as intelligence.
The material may be highly technical and specialist, but you'll have enough training and support to become an expert. Aside from regular translation and assessment work, you'll produce intelligence reports for other government departments and the military. This will involve visiting customers in Whitehall so you can fully grasp their requirements. Elsewhere, you'll advise on technical intercept issues and, later in your career, have the chance to get involved in language research, technology and language training.
Training and Support
The four year training scheme starts in September 2008. Years one and two consist of full-time language re-training in a non-European language, carried out at GCHQ's language training facility, next to our main site in Cheltenham. In the final two years, you'll continue your structured training and start to gain valuable, on-the-job experience.
Entry Requirements
You must be a British citizen with at least one Modern Foreign Language 'A' level at grade B or above. If you're sitting an 'A' level in 2008, you'll need a projected grade of B or above.
For further information go to: http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-jobs/profile-advertiser-vac-details-2130emp_1580.aspx .

PUTTING TANZANIA ON THE GPS The president of Tanzania H.E Jakaya Kikwete , Hon Magret Beckett MP and the Commonwealth secretary general Hon Don Mackinon
The Tanzania First Lady and Mrs Cherie Blair

Dully Sykes European Tour 2007

Dully Sykes is conducting an end of the year European Tour. The tour is brought to you by Gadi Promotions and scheduled to take place in Holland, Germany and Belgium. This tour features Dully's Holland based DJ's Erick Barack and Zouk. The tour's first dates to be announced is the Holland concert at Centrum Wesseling, Houttuinenstraat 26, Delft 2611 AJ on 30th of November 2007. The show begins at 22:00hrs until 04:00hrs. E-mail Gadi Promotions for more information: charlesmwagadi@yahoo.com

Statement from the Office of the Spokesperson
On the President of the UN Security Council's 13th November Statement on Ethiopia and Eritrea
Ethiopia takes note of the statement of the Security Council President on the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea . The Presidential Statement, made last night, stressed the importance of the commitment of both parties to lay the foundation for sustainable peace in the region, and urged them to implement immediately, and without preconditions, the Delimitation Decision of April 2002. The Statement underscored the acceptance of this decision by both parties, without preconditions. Ethiopia has repeatedly made clear its commitment to demarcation according to international practice and norms. Ethiopia pointed out that it fully accepted the President’s call for: “..the parties to refrain from using force, and to settle their disagreements by peaceful means, to normalize their relations, to promote stability and to lay the foundation for sustainable peace in the region.”

The Presidential Statement noted the necessity to comply “fully with the Algiers Agreements and prior Security Council resolutions”. It also underscored the need to provide UNMEE with all necessary access, assistance, support and protection to fulfill its mandate. The Secretary-General, in his latest report earlier this month, drew attention to the violations of the Algiers Agreements by Eritrea in its deployment of troops into the Temporary Security Zone and in the restrictions imposed on UNMEE. These points were underlined by Ethiopia in its Notification to Eritrea in September. What is necessary now is an acceptance by both parties of the need to assume their responsibilities with seriousness, and to co-operate fully with the Secretary-General to find the way forward.

Ethiopia accepts the President’s statement that the primary responsibility for the resolution of the border issue and other differences now lies with Ethiopia and Eritrea . Ethiopia believes that this is the only way to break the current stalemate and move the demarcation process forward. Ethiopia also strongly supports the reference of the Presidential Statement to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to facilitate the process. Ethiopia believes that there is a need for a facilitator for the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts in this direction. Ethiopia will fully support any such efforts.

Ethiopia underlines once again its full commitment to the demarcation process, to the peaceful resolution of all disagreements with Eritrea , to the normalization of relations and to establishing a sustainable peace in the region. Ethiopia hopes these aims will be reciprocated as soon as possible.

From the Office of the Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

November 14, 2007
Jos Mtambo:
Mr Siza from KigamboninoHis birth name is Jonathan Siza but his well known by the name 'Jos Mtambo'. A native of the fastest growing district in Dar es salaam, Kigamboni or as he likes to call it 'Kigambonino'. Jos made a step into hip hop seriously in 1994, founding a clique called 'Fun With Sense' [FWS] with his friend Omar Musa aka 'Ommy'. Read more by visiting http://www.swahiliremix.com/

I wish i was here

I WISH I WAS HERE ON HOLIDAY

AT LAST! THE WORLD TRAVEL MARKET IS HERE.IT STARTS TODAY Photo: Ayoub mzee

Photo: Ayoub mzee Photo: Ayoub mzee

Photo: Ayoub mzee

Its not just cricket

It’s just not cricket:
Commonwealth must suspend Pakistan
Things have gone very wrong in Pakistan . Its journey towards democracy was further derailed last Saturday, when General Musharraf, the head of army, declared a state of emergency that suspended the Constitution, sacked members of the Supreme Court and suppressed all dissent across the country. The declaration came days before the Supreme Court was due to hand down a decision that may have stripped the General of the presidency, on the basis that it was illegal for him to head both the army and the Government. The response of the global community has ranged between outright condemnation of a virtual coup to reserved comments based in alliance, rather than recognition of the absolute disregard for democracy, the rule of law and judicial independence.

Next Monday – the 12th of November – a little known mechanism, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, or CMAG, will meet to consider the declaration of emergency in Pakistan . The Group will look at whether the declaration of emergency represents such a strong blow against the commitments to democracy and human rights underpinning Commonwealth membership that Pakistan should be suspended. This is a critical moment, both to confirm the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth, but also for the world, as CMAG is one of the few mechanisms that has the power to sanction a government treading so far from globally accepted standards of good governance. The United Nations doesn’t have this power – and its actions are moderated by eternal deliberation.

No one – least of all its South Asian neighbours – want an unstable, fragmented and ungovernable Pakistan . General Musharraf claims that the emergency is a move to ensure stability – and uses the threat of terrorism to justify the suppression of political opposition. The reality is that the emergency is creating exactly the environment that it seeks to prevent, and is putting regional security, democratic governance and the wellbeing of Pakistani communities at grave risk.

CMAG is the opportunity for the Commonwealth to reaffirm unequivocally that democracy, democratic processes and institutions, the rule of law and just and honest government are the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth (as set out in the Harare Declaration, the set of principles that CMAG is mandated to protect). Swift action signalling total disapproval of the General’s actions will reinforce that membership of the Commonwealth is predicated on an absolute promise to protect and promote these values. CMAG has taken action before – in Nigeria following the imposition of military rule in 1995 and in Fiji late last year, after Commodore Bainarama overthrew the democratically elected government.

Pakistan itself was suspended from the Commonwealth following General Musharraf’s military coup in 1999. It was readmitted as a member of the Commonwealth in 2004, on the basis of a promise to entrench democratic governance. General Musharraf also promised to hang up his army uniform, in recognition of the clear breach of democratic standards that comes with a leader heading up both the army and the government. General Musharraf has not kept this promise, despite further prodding from the Commonwealth Heads of Government in late 2005, international pressure, and the latest rounds of legal action inside Pakistan that precipitated the declaration of emergency. Pakistan has remained on CMAGs agenda since it rejoined the Commonwealth, in recognition of the tenuous state of democracy and human rights in the country.

CMAG must suspend Pakistan from the Commonwealth on Monday. It is a particularly significant moment, as the Commonwealth Heads of Government come together in a little over a fortnight for their biennial meeting, to discuss issues of concern in the Commonwealth and to set policy for the next two years. Pakistan ’s attendance at this meeting as a member of the Commonwealth would make an absolute mockery of the very basis of Commonwealth membership. It would also be the loss of a real chance for the world to demonstrate that internationally accepted principles of good governance and democracy are true standards and not just comforting words.
Regards
Daniel Woods
Coordinator
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

A month with Dr alistair Soyode

I spent a month trailing Dr Alistair Soyode , the Founder and CEO of BEN Television, just to see how he copes with the demands of his job .HIS meetings ranged from meeting youths from a deprived area, working experience, making a keynote speech in the commons or the london assembly,meeting heads of state, ministers , ambassadors,businesses people and so on Photo: Ayoub mzee
As the founder and initiator of the African Diaspora Investment Forum, the leading non-governmental organisation mobilising the Diaspora to invest in Africa by organising forum and seminars between African businesses in Africa and the Diaspora

Photo: Ayoub mzee

And through the African Business Forum aims to help, train, support and seek funding and partners for African businesses in the UK.

Photo: Ayoub mzee

Alistair Soyode is a pivotal member of the UK's black community, bridging the gap between the mainstream and grassroots

Photo: Ayoubmzee

Hands on approach

Photos: Ayoub mzee
Photo: Ayoub mzee

DR Alistair Soyode, "It shows that people recognise the fact that we are doing something positive. People recognise that BEN TV is delivering positive content. We give a fair representation of the society at large and the whole team has worked very hard this year to get this far. ." Photo: Ayoub mzee

As an initiator of the African Business Roundtable (http://blackukonline.com/admin/www.abrnet.org), he was instrumental to the publishing of Invest Africa 2004, in association with Alhaji Bamanga Tukur's NEPAD Business Group (http://blackukonline.com/admin/www.nepadbusinessgroup.org).

Photo: Ayoub mzee
He is also a board member of the NICA organisation. A private sector organisation dealing with farmers and ensuring fair pricing and trade in Nigeria (http://blackukonline.com/admin/www.nicanig.org).

Photo: Ayoub mzee
Obalende Suya chief

Photo: Ayoub mzee

Alistair is the founder of Jadergroup Publishers, which operates as a marketing, publishing, event and sporting management firm in the UK.

Photo:Ayoub mzee
A much-sort-after speaker, he takes delight in mobilising youths to rise up as leaders of tomorrow.

Photo: Ayoub mzee

Alistair sees himself as an entrepreneur and visionary to get Black and Ethnic communities working together for the benefits of self-empowerment in the localities they find themselves

Business

open day

open day

John Uche - scheduling

other media gurus

guests
guests


dialogue

Mr ebere- Marketing at work
big business staff party
staff party
staff party

staff party
Staff party
Staff party

part of the admin office

A work experience intern
Among many of Awards won by BEN TV include Black Charisma Magazine, Prime Magazine’s Achievers Award (Black Pioneer TV station, UK), Black Business Initiative Award (Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, Presented by the Mayor of Southwark) and the Nigerian Achievers Award (Best Media Outfit).

TO BE CONTINUED...............on http://www.ayoubmzee.blogspot.com/