By Success Kanayo Uchime
The Nigerian Government is making concerted efforts to recognize the traditional institution in the country. This is as a result of the proposed bill it’ll soon present to the National Assembly next year.
The nation’s President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan stated this on Monday December 27 during the formal coronation ceremony of HRH, King Lot Justin Ogiasa, Oke X, as the Obanema of Otuoke Kingdom in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State.
He said his administration will present before the National Assembly next year, a bill that will grant the traditional institution in the country due recognition in the nation's constitution.
He noted that while traditional rulers nationwide play key roles in engendering peace and development in the country, there is no national law that accords them constitutional recognition.
"I will work with the National Assembly to give proper recognition to the traditional institution in Nigeria. There is no national law that recognizes the traditional rulers, who play key roles in the unity and development of our country, and we have to correct this. I will submit a bill on this before the National Assembly next year," the President said.
In his remarks, Governor Timipre Silver of Bayelsa State said all Bayelsans are proud of President Jonathan's emergence as commander in chief of Nigeria from a little community as Otuoke, and are totally in support of his bid to return to office as President in 2011.
Other dignitaries at occasion included First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Bayelsa Dep Gov, Hon. Wenimipre Seibarugu, members of the National Assembly, members of the Bayelsa executive council and legislature, HRM King Alfred Diette-Spiff, and presidential aides.
And to read more stories from Success Kanayo Uchime, click here: http://www.allvoices.com/users/success4u
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Badjao Tribal People in the Philippines Celebrate Christmas
By Success Kanayo Uchime
The Bajao Tribal Peopl at the
Christmas party 2010 pix by KMO-INTER
It was a great day for the Badjao tribal people in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental as they celebrated the 2010 Christmas together as one family.
Organized by Nigerian missionary couple Success and Ngozi Uchime, missionaries under the South East Asia Mission Teams (SEAMIST) (www.seamist.org/uchime), the event was used to minister both the spirit, soul and body of the poorest of the poor in the Philippines – the Badjao tribal people.
Speaking at the event that was held in Boulevard area of the city, Ngozi Cynthia Uchime admonished them to look at the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the Cross at Calvary in anything they do stressing that Jesus came and died for them too.
Quoting John 3: 16, she emphasized on the love of God that made Him to send His one and only Son Jesus Christ to come to earth to die for the entire world.
According to her various activities were held to lighten and lift up the spirit and soul of the Badjao who gathered there for the event adding that the people had a lot to eat and drink all for the spirit of Christmas.
She called on philanthropist all over the world to come and assist their mission work among the Badjao people stressing that funding is the greatest challenge their mission is facing in reaching out to the Badjao in Dumaguete City.
“The Badjao here in Dumaguete City are open to the gospel, they’ve a willing heart, but tracking them down is a big challenge and that’s where we need help – to start livelihood projects for them,” Ngozi also stated.
It needs to be pointed out that the Badjao are a Filipino Muslim Ethnic group of sea gypsies: groups of boat-dwelling people. They are one of the largest Sama people groups and their ethnic neighbors, the Tausugs and the Samals, often call them Samal-luwaan (“outcasts”) or Samal-laud or Pala-u (“people of the ocean”).
The Badjao are the poorest ethnic group in Sulu. They depend mainly on fishing for their survival and their communities fall under the category of government’s depressed, deprived, and underdeveloped areas (DDU). And those that move to urban areas often become beggars.
And to donate to the missionary work of this Nigerian missionary couple click on this link: www.kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonation.htm
The Bajao Tribal Peopl at the
Christmas party 2010 pix by KMO-INTER
It was a great day for the Badjao tribal people in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental as they celebrated the 2010 Christmas together as one family.
Organized by Nigerian missionary couple Success and Ngozi Uchime, missionaries under the South East Asia Mission Teams (SEAMIST) (www.seamist.org/uchime), the event was used to minister both the spirit, soul and body of the poorest of the poor in the Philippines – the Badjao tribal people.
Speaking at the event that was held in Boulevard area of the city, Ngozi Cynthia Uchime admonished them to look at the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the Cross at Calvary in anything they do stressing that Jesus came and died for them too.
Quoting John 3: 16, she emphasized on the love of God that made Him to send His one and only Son Jesus Christ to come to earth to die for the entire world.
According to her various activities were held to lighten and lift up the spirit and soul of the Badjao who gathered there for the event adding that the people had a lot to eat and drink all for the spirit of Christmas.
She called on philanthropist all over the world to come and assist their mission work among the Badjao people stressing that funding is the greatest challenge their mission is facing in reaching out to the Badjao in Dumaguete City.
“The Badjao here in Dumaguete City are open to the gospel, they’ve a willing heart, but tracking them down is a big challenge and that’s where we need help – to start livelihood projects for them,” Ngozi also stated.
It needs to be pointed out that the Badjao are a Filipino Muslim Ethnic group of sea gypsies: groups of boat-dwelling people. They are one of the largest Sama people groups and their ethnic neighbors, the Tausugs and the Samals, often call them Samal-luwaan (“outcasts”) or Samal-laud or Pala-u (“people of the ocean”).
The Badjao are the poorest ethnic group in Sulu. They depend mainly on fishing for their survival and their communities fall under the category of government’s depressed, deprived, and underdeveloped areas (DDU). And those that move to urban areas often become beggars.
And to donate to the missionary work of this Nigerian missionary couple click on this link: www.kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonation.htm
Call2All California 2011, Extraordinary Event
By Success Kanayo Uchime
Long Beach Convention Center, venue for the
Call2all Global Congress
The forthcoming Call2ALL California 2011 has been described as an extra-ordinary event, even as the organizers prepare to host one of the greatest global events.
The President Global Pastors Network (GPN)/Call2All, Mark Anderson in a statement said: “I have a strong sense from the Lord that this California Congress will help bring each of us into new levels of effectiveness.”
He noted that the Congress will opening up possibilities that Christians have never seen and will also help participants to achieve the best results possible in their various callings. “I hope God makes a way for you to join us."
Anderson said the Global Congress which comes up in Los Angeles, California on November 28 - December 2, 2011, will hold at the Long Beach Convention Center and will bring the Call2all movement to a new level.
According to him, leaders from all around the world are saying they are going to attend and also bring a group of key influencers with them adding that over the last three years the Call2All congresses have had proven results, accelerating Great Commission activity in several key areas.
He said the activities include work among unreached people groups, expanding global prayer movements, church planting, and evangelism stressing that key spheres like business have had a new platform to gather and start initiatives.
“The Round Table Discussions are the strategic highlight of the Call2all Congress. What is deliberated together in these sessions form the strategy to be implemented to reach all and also disciple the nations in the seven spheres. To maximize these strategy sessions and networking opportunities, you will be asked to indicate an affinity group,” Anderson also stated.
For more information on this Global Congress and many more on Call2All, log on to their website: http://www.call2all.org/
Long Beach Convention Center, venue for the
Call2all Global Congress
The forthcoming Call2ALL California 2011 has been described as an extra-ordinary event, even as the organizers prepare to host one of the greatest global events.
The President Global Pastors Network (GPN)/Call2All, Mark Anderson in a statement said: “I have a strong sense from the Lord that this California Congress will help bring each of us into new levels of effectiveness.”
He noted that the Congress will opening up possibilities that Christians have never seen and will also help participants to achieve the best results possible in their various callings. “I hope God makes a way for you to join us."
Anderson said the Global Congress which comes up in Los Angeles, California on November 28 - December 2, 2011, will hold at the Long Beach Convention Center and will bring the Call2all movement to a new level.
According to him, leaders from all around the world are saying they are going to attend and also bring a group of key influencers with them adding that over the last three years the Call2All congresses have had proven results, accelerating Great Commission activity in several key areas.
He said the activities include work among unreached people groups, expanding global prayer movements, church planting, and evangelism stressing that key spheres like business have had a new platform to gather and start initiatives.
“The Round Table Discussions are the strategic highlight of the Call2all Congress. What is deliberated together in these sessions form the strategy to be implemented to reach all and also disciple the nations in the seven spheres. To maximize these strategy sessions and networking opportunities, you will be asked to indicate an affinity group,” Anderson also stated.
For more information on this Global Congress and many more on Call2All, log on to their website: http://www.call2all.org/
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sierra Leone Gets New Cassava Processing Center
By Success Kanayo Uchime
An African Farmer at work
Hope has come alive for the West African country Sierra Leone as another cassava processing center has been establish there. This will help to strengthen the value chain and boost the processing of the root crop.
This revelation was made at the inauguration of the centre which is part of a bigger project that is funded by the United States Agency for International Development but being implemented in seven African countries by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
The goal for establishing the processing center is to cushion the negative impact of the 2007/2008 food price crisis that precipitated into food riots in some countries of the region.
The micro-processing centre which is located in Sagila, Kailahun District—about eight hours drive from Freetown in eastern Sierra Leone, will among other things absorb and process cassava roots being produced by resource-poor farmers in that community.
Project Will Help Transform the Local Community
Speaking at the event, Senior Program Officer with the Catholic Relief Services which partnered with IITA, Ibrahim Tarawally said: “We are glad and we are saying thanks to the American people in the construction of the micro-processing center, as the project will help transform the local community.”
He noted that since 2008, IITA and partners working on the ‘Unleashing the Power of Cassava in Africa’ (UPoCA) project with support from the USAID have stepped up efforts in rebuilding Sierra Leone—a country once ravaged by war— by improving crops’ yield, and creating wealth in local communities through cassava value addition activities.
Cassava Production in Sierra Leone
“Consequently, cassava production in Sierra Leone has increased prompting the need for value addition and diversification of cassava utilization. We are happy for your pledge to keep this center running, “ Tarawally said
Also speaking at the event, the Paramount Chief of Sagila, Chief MK Mustapha stated: “Currently, we have cassava on our farms that are rotting in the ground but with this processing center, the situation will change.”
He said that apart from processing the cassava in the community, the center will also create jobs for youths.
Chairman, Moamaleh Farmers Marketing Association, Mohammed Vande in his own contribution said that with the center and the products that we will be producing, they are sure that poverty will be reduced in the community. “We also promise to make this enterprise viable.”
Rice Production and Consumption
“Known for rice production and consumption, Sierra Leoneans are gradually turning to other cassava food products such as gari—roasted cassava granules and fufu—a powdered form of cassava that is prepared into porridge or paste and consumed with stew. Cassava flour is also becoming popular as bakers compose it with wheat flour for the baking of bread and cake,” he added.
It need to be observed that to ensure the sustainability of the project, Vande and his team of more than 30 youths are cultivating two acres each of improved cassava. The improved cassava stems for the planting are being supplied by IITA.
Vande and his group reiterated the potential of cassava as a poverty alleviation crop, citing its tolerance to the vagaries of climate change and urged the farmers to cultivate the root crop, and to make judicious use of the center.
IITA develops agricultural solutions with their partners to tackle hunger and poverty and its award winning research for development (R4D) is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. Further to that, it work with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and generate wealth from agriculture. It is an international non-profit R4D.
For more story from Success Kanayo Uchime, log on to:
An African Farmer at work
Hope has come alive for the West African country Sierra Leone as another cassava processing center has been establish there. This will help to strengthen the value chain and boost the processing of the root crop.
This revelation was made at the inauguration of the centre which is part of a bigger project that is funded by the United States Agency for International Development but being implemented in seven African countries by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
The goal for establishing the processing center is to cushion the negative impact of the 2007/2008 food price crisis that precipitated into food riots in some countries of the region.
The micro-processing centre which is located in Sagila, Kailahun District—about eight hours drive from Freetown in eastern Sierra Leone, will among other things absorb and process cassava roots being produced by resource-poor farmers in that community.
Project Will Help Transform the Local Community
Speaking at the event, Senior Program Officer with the Catholic Relief Services which partnered with IITA, Ibrahim Tarawally said: “We are glad and we are saying thanks to the American people in the construction of the micro-processing center, as the project will help transform the local community.”
He noted that since 2008, IITA and partners working on the ‘Unleashing the Power of Cassava in Africa’ (UPoCA) project with support from the USAID have stepped up efforts in rebuilding Sierra Leone—a country once ravaged by war— by improving crops’ yield, and creating wealth in local communities through cassava value addition activities.
Cassava Production in Sierra Leone
“Consequently, cassava production in Sierra Leone has increased prompting the need for value addition and diversification of cassava utilization. We are happy for your pledge to keep this center running, “ Tarawally said
Also speaking at the event, the Paramount Chief of Sagila, Chief MK Mustapha stated: “Currently, we have cassava on our farms that are rotting in the ground but with this processing center, the situation will change.”
He said that apart from processing the cassava in the community, the center will also create jobs for youths.
Chairman, Moamaleh Farmers Marketing Association, Mohammed Vande in his own contribution said that with the center and the products that we will be producing, they are sure that poverty will be reduced in the community. “We also promise to make this enterprise viable.”
Rice Production and Consumption
“Known for rice production and consumption, Sierra Leoneans are gradually turning to other cassava food products such as gari—roasted cassava granules and fufu—a powdered form of cassava that is prepared into porridge or paste and consumed with stew. Cassava flour is also becoming popular as bakers compose it with wheat flour for the baking of bread and cake,” he added.
It need to be observed that to ensure the sustainability of the project, Vande and his team of more than 30 youths are cultivating two acres each of improved cassava. The improved cassava stems for the planting are being supplied by IITA.
Vande and his group reiterated the potential of cassava as a poverty alleviation crop, citing its tolerance to the vagaries of climate change and urged the farmers to cultivate the root crop, and to make judicious use of the center.
IITA develops agricultural solutions with their partners to tackle hunger and poverty and its award winning research for development (R4D) is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. Further to that, it work with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and generate wealth from agriculture. It is an international non-profit R4D.
For more story from Success Kanayo Uchime, log on to:
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
US Agency Funds Cassava Value Addition in Africa
By Success Kanayo Uchime
African farmer at work
The United States Agency for International Development is at present funding a very unique project in Africa known as Unleashing the Power of Cassava (UPoCA).
In a statement by the Program Manager, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA-UPoCA) Braima James he said that cassava value addition in Africa has offered women farmers another income stream, improving livelihoods and food security, and making them smile.
He noted that the project which is implemented in seven African countries—Nigeria, DR Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone by IITA has benefited thousands of farmers in these countries.
“Today, the Tongea Women farmers in Sandeyalu community are filled with joy. Located 486 km from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sandeyalu was once overrun by rebels in 1991,” he stated.
Nearly 4,000 People Took Refuge in Camps
According to James, the entire population of nearly 4,000 people took refuge in camps in Kenema where they lived for over 10 years as internally displaced persons (IDPs) until the war was declared over in 2002.
He said that interactions in the camp brought the Sandeyalu people together to form a formidable association called 'Tongea women's development association' comprising of 54 women and four men. It was named after one of the three mountain peaks overlooking their home township called Tongea.
He stated: “The group initially raised funds through “coping mechanisms,” such as cutting and selling firewood and soap making as IDPs in Kenema. With the advent of the IITA-UPoCA project and subsequent inauguration of a micro-processing center (MPC), cassava is now an added financial window of opportunity to farmers. Incomes from USAID projects such as UPoCA have helped the people of Sandeyalu in rebuilding their community.”
IITA-UPoCA Intervention and the Micro-processing Center
A member of the Tongea women's development association, Marie Borbor, described the IITA-UPoCA intervention and the micro-processing center as a “living bank” in Sandeyalu community.
She stated: "Now we can fulfill our financial obligations to educate our children and improve our livelihoods. We will do all within our power to sustain the MPC as a viable asset. Long live the American people.”
Also speaking on the project, the Secretary General of the group, Mariama Koi-Braima, stated: "We have come a long way to where we are today. The journey has not been easy most times but we have determined to stay together. Handing over this MPC to our group is going to reinforce cohesion among our members as it has demonstrated that worthy ambitions can be achieved through unity for a common good."
US Ambassador to Sierra Leone Speaks on the Project
Adding his own voice to the project, the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Michael S. Owen, described the transformation at Sandeyalu and the resilience of the Tongea Women as “wonderful.”
"We are very happy to partner with you in all you have accomplished in these years. We are very happy to be your partner. Not too many years ago, this town was in ruins but, now, look at what you have accomplished. We are very proud to work with you," Owen said while handing over the keys of the IITA-UPoCA-built cassava micro-processing center to the Tongea women farmers.
It is to be noted that since 2009, IITA-UPoCA scientists have backstopped the Tongea women farmers, opening up more than five hectares of their land for cassava cultivation and distributing over 2,500 bundles of improved cassava varieties to more than 500 cassava farmers.
African farmer at work
The United States Agency for International Development is at present funding a very unique project in Africa known as Unleashing the Power of Cassava (UPoCA).
In a statement by the Program Manager, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA-UPoCA) Braima James he said that cassava value addition in Africa has offered women farmers another income stream, improving livelihoods and food security, and making them smile.
He noted that the project which is implemented in seven African countries—Nigeria, DR Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone by IITA has benefited thousands of farmers in these countries.
“Today, the Tongea Women farmers in Sandeyalu community are filled with joy. Located 486 km from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sandeyalu was once overrun by rebels in 1991,” he stated.
Nearly 4,000 People Took Refuge in Camps
According to James, the entire population of nearly 4,000 people took refuge in camps in Kenema where they lived for over 10 years as internally displaced persons (IDPs) until the war was declared over in 2002.
He said that interactions in the camp brought the Sandeyalu people together to form a formidable association called 'Tongea women's development association' comprising of 54 women and four men. It was named after one of the three mountain peaks overlooking their home township called Tongea.
He stated: “The group initially raised funds through “coping mechanisms,” such as cutting and selling firewood and soap making as IDPs in Kenema. With the advent of the IITA-UPoCA project and subsequent inauguration of a micro-processing center (MPC), cassava is now an added financial window of opportunity to farmers. Incomes from USAID projects such as UPoCA have helped the people of Sandeyalu in rebuilding their community.”
IITA-UPoCA Intervention and the Micro-processing Center
A member of the Tongea women's development association, Marie Borbor, described the IITA-UPoCA intervention and the micro-processing center as a “living bank” in Sandeyalu community.
She stated: "Now we can fulfill our financial obligations to educate our children and improve our livelihoods. We will do all within our power to sustain the MPC as a viable asset. Long live the American people.”
Also speaking on the project, the Secretary General of the group, Mariama Koi-Braima, stated: "We have come a long way to where we are today. The journey has not been easy most times but we have determined to stay together. Handing over this MPC to our group is going to reinforce cohesion among our members as it has demonstrated that worthy ambitions can be achieved through unity for a common good."
US Ambassador to Sierra Leone Speaks on the Project
Adding his own voice to the project, the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Michael S. Owen, described the transformation at Sandeyalu and the resilience of the Tongea Women as “wonderful.”
"We are very happy to partner with you in all you have accomplished in these years. We are very happy to be your partner. Not too many years ago, this town was in ruins but, now, look at what you have accomplished. We are very proud to work with you," Owen said while handing over the keys of the IITA-UPoCA-built cassava micro-processing center to the Tongea women farmers.
It is to be noted that since 2009, IITA-UPoCA scientists have backstopped the Tongea women farmers, opening up more than five hectares of their land for cassava cultivation and distributing over 2,500 bundles of improved cassava varieties to more than 500 cassava farmers.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Nigerian Missionaries Making Exploits for God in the Philippines
By Ejikeme Omenazu
ejike_omenazu@yahoo.com
(Nigerian Journalist)
He is a Nigerian from the Ndikelionwu town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. For about five years now, Success Kanayo Uchime, a Missionary Apostle, left the shores of this country with his wife and four children. When they left, Uchime and his family had one thing in mind. That is, to do exploits for the creator, though not in their fatherland, but in far away Philippines, in the Far East or South East Asia.
Uchime, by the time he left for this assignment, was not new in missionary work. The journalist cum missionary told this writer in an online interaction that he and his wife, Ngozi, have been in active missionary work since 1994, with the lady being very supportive, especially in areas of providing health care and education to those they minister to.
(Apostle Kanayo & Ngozi ministering to the Badjao
tribal people in Dumaguete city, Philipines Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
Operating under an organisation, Kingdom Missions Outreach Inc. (KMO), which he founded as a mission agency, this makes it 16 years they have been labouring in God’s vineyard as career missionaries.
Uchime, while in Nigeria, worked as a rural missionary in a little community of people called Ejila Awori and specifically lived in one of the towns called Odan Abuja in Ogun State.
“In fact, we were there for over 10 years and the community opened up for the gospel as a result of our presence there. Prior to our going, there were no gospel churches in the whole of Ejila Awori (12 Awori) communities.
“We have some gospel churches there now and all of them came in through us. We faced a lot of challenges then and principal among them is funds,” Uchime stressed.
Of all areas one could go for missionary work, the Uchimes chose Far East and Philippines in particular. Why Far East? Why Philippines?
To this, he responded: “This is God’s call and we have to go where ever He wants us to go. It was not easy going at the first instance. “Philippines is an interesting place to be; it’s a typically Catholic nation and the only Christian nation with English background in the whole of Asia.
“Philippines is an open country for mission work out of other nations in Asia and what we intend to do here is to use it as a stepping stone to reach other Asian nations and even beyond”.
(Apostle Kanayo & Ngozi Uchime)
Since he moved into Philippines with his family, Uchime confessed that it has not been easy with them, but for God’s hands upon his family.
“And mind you, we’re coming from a context where the awareness for mission support is still developing. The Nigerian church is yet to come to terms with missions generally, both indigenous and foreign mission. To some, the era of mission has come and gone with the old apostles, therefore no need to commit resources to missions.
”Missionaries from other nations get their support from home, but ours is different. We’ve to look for support from abroad, which is not a healthy trend when it comes to foreign missions,” he stated.
(What a sacrifice - Apostle Kanayo Uchime
going to meet his converts in a bicycle Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
He continued: “We are really facing a lot of challenges here as you know Philippines is also a developing nation like Nigeria, there’re not opportunities for tent-making works and that puts us in very dangerous position.But in any case we must keep moving by faith believing God to meet us at the very point of our needs”.
On his impressions on Filipinos, especially in the way they embrace the gospel, Uchime stated that because of the influence of Catholicism there, which is so profound, about 85 per cent of a population of about 98 people, so this makes gospel witnessing somehow difficult.
“But despite that, Filipino people are lovely people; they’re very accommodating and ready to share their things with you. They live a communal life, they are people centered, just as in Nigeria. In fact, if not for there light (brown) color, you may not be able to differential between them and Nigeria.”
“In fact, I still see Philippines as a fertile ground for the gospel; the true gospel is yet to penetrate so well in the country. Can you imagine a situation where the percentage of all evangelicals is still put at a low five per cent or thereabout? But the spirit of God is moving speedily in the entire country. There’s still very much to do.”
“I told someone sometimes that this is the time for African missionaries, especially Nigerians to invade Philippines and the entire Asia. And I believe that God is preparing army of Nigerian missionaries for this End-Time divine assignment.”
“God has blessed the Nigerian church so much so that it’s time for her to move to the frontiers of Asia to be involved in the harvest of souls. Believe you me, Asia is waiting to be harvested; despite all the victimization missionaries are going through here, especially among the closed nation of Asia found mostly in the Middle East regions.”
(Apostle Kanayo Uchime with some of his converts - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
On the state of Christianity in Far East in general and Philippines in particular, he noted that almost all the Far East countries are regarded as “closed nation,” closed in the sense that they do not welcome missionaries openly.
Uchime stated that some missionaries face death penalty, through what they call blasphemy laws. The situation, he added, is so much in all the Far East countries, especially the Muslim nations. He stressed that almost over 80 per cent of the countries in the Far East are mainly Muslims and they are very antagonistic to the gospel message.
He however maintained that in the Philippines, “the situation is not the same. The case is quite different. Remember, as I said, they’re 85 per cent Catholics and as such a very tolerant to the gospel spread, not that there’s no persecution here and there. It’s just the extent and manner of persecution is the question here”.
Since their arrival in that country, the Uchimes are known to have been doing a lot of exploits among the Badjao people of Philippines. Giving a brief lowdown on their efforts there and successes recorded so far, he noted that the Badjao tribal people, as they are called, are one of the unreached peoples group in the Philippines.
He explained that they are similar to the Fulani people in Nigeria and parts of Africa, in the sense that they are nomads as they move from one place to the other.
Uchime said: “In actual fact, in the Philippines they’re called the NPAs, meaning ‘no permanent address.’ He also said the Badjao people are one of the poorest there and Moslems by religion, thereby making gospel witnessing among them very challenging.
“They are also called the sea gypsies as they live in the seas being fishermen by trade, although there fishing is a subsistence type of fishing and this is because of the poverty life that’s prevalent among the people.
(Apostle Kanayo Uchime, with two of his Badjao converts - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
“Our goal is to plant what in missions is referred to an indigenous church – that is a church fully owned and run by the indigenous people. And this has not been so easy for us as these people keep moving from one place to the other, especially to the city centers where they go to beg for money.
“Work among them requires a lot of funding which is not in our disposal, bearing in mind the country where we came from. And that is the reason why we are appealing to the Nigerian church to come to our aid. We recently launched an appeal online asking for at least 100 dedicated and faithful missions supporters that can afford to be giving us a monthly donation of at least $25”. He informed that his ministry intends to properly launch this fund in Nigeria by March 2011 to seek for faithful and dedicated partners to support their works.
On other works he and his team are involved in Philippines, Uchime said they have been involved in training through workshops and also give encouragement to the Filipino church, through preaching engagements in churches.
In addition, Uchime, a missionary cum journalist, said he is also involved in writing and publishing of articles in some local media and online too.
(Apostle Kanayo sharing the gospel with kids in the Philippines - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
He stated that he also has some interests in Thailand and China and other places in Far East. He said that he plans to extend his activities to these countries.
He maintained that as a missionary one must be mobile, as mobility is an essence of missionary endeavor. As he put it, “One cannot be stagnated. In fact from here, as I said earlier, we’re going to be launching to other regions beyond, to China, a lot of things are happening in that atheistic nation where communism is at the centre stage. And as mentioned, even Thailand, where Buddhism dominates. In fact, there is a lot of work to be done in this side of the globe, only that one is being constrained as a result of very low funding”.
On his challenges since he and his family moved to that country, Uchime has this to say: “As I said earlier, and I say it again, funding is the major challenge to African missionaries. We have all it takes to be compared to Western missionaries, but funding is the greatest challenge we face here in Asia.
“Well, we may identify other challenges like language barriers, as we have to learn native languages in order to be very effective and, adjusting to the kind of food they eat here isn’t so easy.”
“But all in all, God is helping us to surmount these challenges and what is more, with the prayers of God’s people, we’ll do great exploits as prayer is paramount in missionary enterprises.
Apostle Kanayo with his entire family & some Filipinos - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
On his plans for the future, Uchime said that he and his team, and his support staff would continue to move to where the Lord wants them to be. He said in mission, “there’s no retiring, but we refire”. According to him, there are so many lands to traverse, as the Lord would give them the grace.
He said: “The fields are really ripe for harvest, as the Bible puts it, and we must be ready to be part of the world harvest of souls, for our Lord’s coming back soon”.
In areas of collaboration and support, he disclosed that he networks with churches in Nigeria and few others in other places. But he lamented that “the level of support from home is very discouraging because of lack of awareness on the part of the Nigerian church of what mission work is all about.”
(Apostle Kanayo Uchime & the entire family during their training
at the South East Asia Mission Teams, Philippines in 2008 - Pix by KMO-INTER 2008)
“I need to mention this irony; most people in Nigeria do not realize we still need fund to continue in our work, some even ask us to send them money believing we are abroad and as such we must have money to send home. And again, the people here are asking us to bring money believing we are foreigners that came to their country with a lot of money. “This is sheer ignorance on the part of some who do not have an understanding of what missionary enterprise entails. So, the question is always this: Where do all these lead the missionaries like us?”
To know more about the mission work of the Uchimes and how you can donate to their work, please click here: http://kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonation.htm or send an email to them kmo4missions@yahoo.com
ejike_omenazu@yahoo.com
(Nigerian Journalist)
He is a Nigerian from the Ndikelionwu town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. For about five years now, Success Kanayo Uchime, a Missionary Apostle, left the shores of this country with his wife and four children. When they left, Uchime and his family had one thing in mind. That is, to do exploits for the creator, though not in their fatherland, but in far away Philippines, in the Far East or South East Asia.
Uchime, by the time he left for this assignment, was not new in missionary work. The journalist cum missionary told this writer in an online interaction that he and his wife, Ngozi, have been in active missionary work since 1994, with the lady being very supportive, especially in areas of providing health care and education to those they minister to.
(Apostle Kanayo & Ngozi ministering to the Badjao
tribal people in Dumaguete city, Philipines Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
Uchime, while in Nigeria, worked as a rural missionary in a little community of people called Ejila Awori and specifically lived in one of the towns called Odan Abuja in Ogun State.
“In fact, we were there for over 10 years and the community opened up for the gospel as a result of our presence there. Prior to our going, there were no gospel churches in the whole of Ejila Awori (12 Awori) communities.
“We have some gospel churches there now and all of them came in through us. We faced a lot of challenges then and principal among them is funds,” Uchime stressed.
Of all areas one could go for missionary work, the Uchimes chose Far East and Philippines in particular. Why Far East? Why Philippines?
To this, he responded: “This is God’s call and we have to go where ever He wants us to go. It was not easy going at the first instance. “Philippines is an interesting place to be; it’s a typically Catholic nation and the only Christian nation with English background in the whole of Asia.
“Philippines is an open country for mission work out of other nations in Asia and what we intend to do here is to use it as a stepping stone to reach other Asian nations and even beyond”.
(Apostle Kanayo & Ngozi Uchime)
Since he moved into Philippines with his family, Uchime confessed that it has not been easy with them, but for God’s hands upon his family.
“And mind you, we’re coming from a context where the awareness for mission support is still developing. The Nigerian church is yet to come to terms with missions generally, both indigenous and foreign mission. To some, the era of mission has come and gone with the old apostles, therefore no need to commit resources to missions.
”Missionaries from other nations get their support from home, but ours is different. We’ve to look for support from abroad, which is not a healthy trend when it comes to foreign missions,” he stated.
(What a sacrifice - Apostle Kanayo Uchime
going to meet his converts in a bicycle Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
He continued: “We are really facing a lot of challenges here as you know Philippines is also a developing nation like Nigeria, there’re not opportunities for tent-making works and that puts us in very dangerous position.But in any case we must keep moving by faith believing God to meet us at the very point of our needs”.
On his impressions on Filipinos, especially in the way they embrace the gospel, Uchime stated that because of the influence of Catholicism there, which is so profound, about 85 per cent of a population of about 98 people, so this makes gospel witnessing somehow difficult.
“But despite that, Filipino people are lovely people; they’re very accommodating and ready to share their things with you. They live a communal life, they are people centered, just as in Nigeria. In fact, if not for there light (brown) color, you may not be able to differential between them and Nigeria.”
“In fact, I still see Philippines as a fertile ground for the gospel; the true gospel is yet to penetrate so well in the country. Can you imagine a situation where the percentage of all evangelicals is still put at a low five per cent or thereabout? But the spirit of God is moving speedily in the entire country. There’s still very much to do.”
“I told someone sometimes that this is the time for African missionaries, especially Nigerians to invade Philippines and the entire Asia. And I believe that God is preparing army of Nigerian missionaries for this End-Time divine assignment.”
“God has blessed the Nigerian church so much so that it’s time for her to move to the frontiers of Asia to be involved in the harvest of souls. Believe you me, Asia is waiting to be harvested; despite all the victimization missionaries are going through here, especially among the closed nation of Asia found mostly in the Middle East regions.”
(Apostle Kanayo Uchime with some of his converts - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
Uchime stated that some missionaries face death penalty, through what they call blasphemy laws. The situation, he added, is so much in all the Far East countries, especially the Muslim nations. He stressed that almost over 80 per cent of the countries in the Far East are mainly Muslims and they are very antagonistic to the gospel message.
He however maintained that in the Philippines, “the situation is not the same. The case is quite different. Remember, as I said, they’re 85 per cent Catholics and as such a very tolerant to the gospel spread, not that there’s no persecution here and there. It’s just the extent and manner of persecution is the question here”.
Since their arrival in that country, the Uchimes are known to have been doing a lot of exploits among the Badjao people of Philippines. Giving a brief lowdown on their efforts there and successes recorded so far, he noted that the Badjao tribal people, as they are called, are one of the unreached peoples group in the Philippines.
He explained that they are similar to the Fulani people in Nigeria and parts of Africa, in the sense that they are nomads as they move from one place to the other.
Uchime said: “In actual fact, in the Philippines they’re called the NPAs, meaning ‘no permanent address.’ He also said the Badjao people are one of the poorest there and Moslems by religion, thereby making gospel witnessing among them very challenging.
“They are also called the sea gypsies as they live in the seas being fishermen by trade, although there fishing is a subsistence type of fishing and this is because of the poverty life that’s prevalent among the people.
(Apostle Kanayo Uchime, with two of his Badjao converts - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
“Our goal is to plant what in missions is referred to an indigenous church – that is a church fully owned and run by the indigenous people. And this has not been so easy for us as these people keep moving from one place to the other, especially to the city centers where they go to beg for money. “Work among them requires a lot of funding which is not in our disposal, bearing in mind the country where we came from. And that is the reason why we are appealing to the Nigerian church to come to our aid. We recently launched an appeal online asking for at least 100 dedicated and faithful missions supporters that can afford to be giving us a monthly donation of at least $25”. He informed that his ministry intends to properly launch this fund in Nigeria by March 2011 to seek for faithful and dedicated partners to support their works.
On other works he and his team are involved in Philippines, Uchime said they have been involved in training through workshops and also give encouragement to the Filipino church, through preaching engagements in churches.
In addition, Uchime, a missionary cum journalist, said he is also involved in writing and publishing of articles in some local media and online too.
(Apostle Kanayo sharing the gospel with kids in the Philippines - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
He maintained that as a missionary one must be mobile, as mobility is an essence of missionary endeavor. As he put it, “One cannot be stagnated. In fact from here, as I said earlier, we’re going to be launching to other regions beyond, to China, a lot of things are happening in that atheistic nation where communism is at the centre stage. And as mentioned, even Thailand, where Buddhism dominates. In fact, there is a lot of work to be done in this side of the globe, only that one is being constrained as a result of very low funding”.
On his challenges since he and his family moved to that country, Uchime has this to say: “As I said earlier, and I say it again, funding is the major challenge to African missionaries. We have all it takes to be compared to Western missionaries, but funding is the greatest challenge we face here in Asia.
“Well, we may identify other challenges like language barriers, as we have to learn native languages in order to be very effective and, adjusting to the kind of food they eat here isn’t so easy.”
“But all in all, God is helping us to surmount these challenges and what is more, with the prayers of God’s people, we’ll do great exploits as prayer is paramount in missionary enterprises.
Apostle Kanayo with his entire family & some Filipinos - Pix by KMO-INTER 2010)
On his plans for the future, Uchime said that he and his team, and his support staff would continue to move to where the Lord wants them to be. He said in mission, “there’s no retiring, but we refire”. According to him, there are so many lands to traverse, as the Lord would give them the grace.
He said: “The fields are really ripe for harvest, as the Bible puts it, and we must be ready to be part of the world harvest of souls, for our Lord’s coming back soon”.
In areas of collaboration and support, he disclosed that he networks with churches in Nigeria and few others in other places. But he lamented that “the level of support from home is very discouraging because of lack of awareness on the part of the Nigerian church of what mission work is all about.”
(Apostle Kanayo Uchime & the entire family during their training
at the South East Asia Mission Teams, Philippines in 2008 - Pix by KMO-INTER 2008)
“I need to mention this irony; most people in Nigeria do not realize we still need fund to continue in our work, some even ask us to send them money believing we are abroad and as such we must have money to send home. And again, the people here are asking us to bring money believing we are foreigners that came to their country with a lot of money. To know more about the mission work of the Uchimes and how you can donate to their work, please click here: http://kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonatio
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
OUR MID-MONTH MISSION REPORT/PRAYER ALERT FOR NOVEMBER 2010
By Success Kanayo Uchime
How’re you today, hope all is still well with you? We feel very excited sharing our mid-month mission report to you and hope you're still uplifting us in your prayer.
You'll recall that we told you about our son Victory's 8th birthday, yes, he celebrated it on the 12th! Although just like Miracle's own it was low-keyed as a result of our very low budget here. But we still thank God for all things.
(Behold the birthday boy!)
Our daughter Nkeoma’s studies is still running at the University and she’s doing very well, after completing all the necessary enrollments.
We still believe God for funds to go for our yearly visa renewals which, from all indications will be approved this month and we still need prayers on that direction.
Our planned mission fundraising in Nigeria is still in focus. Through it we intend to mobilize at least 100 faithful and dedicated mission supporters that’ll be giving us at least $25 monthly. The only challenge we’re having now is getting a good signal in connection with the venue and the moment that’s settled, we’ll let you know ok!
We never failed to meet with our Badjao brethren every Thursday afternoon at the Boulevard area of Dumaguete City, though we’re having lots of challenges right now as we had already told you in our last report. So, please lift our work among the Badjao tribal people up to God in prayer.
(Some Badjao in the Boulevard area)
Please keep praying for us, as the Lord has kept opening for us great doors for effective ministry here in Dumaguete City, but as the apostle Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 16: 9, there is much opposition (adversaries). And one of the major opposition is funds! Nevertheless, we’re convinced that with your unalloyed prayer support, we’ll surmount this opposition.
Thanks for your prayer support and again we request that you help us mobilize for prayer awareness in your church/fellowships and also to forward this mail to as many Christian friends you have. Or better still to send us emails of your friends that you feel can help us in prayers!
And if the Lord's leading you to sow a seedfaith offering to our mission work, please follow this link: http://kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonation.htm
Yours in Missions
Kanayo & Ngozi Uchime
(Nigerian Missionaries in the Philippines)
Tel: (GSMs) Kanayo +639089857499 & +639324712532, Ngozi +639283901971, (Office/Home) +6335 4212070
Visit our websites: http://www.kmointer.webs.com/ OR www.seamist.org/uchime
Follow us on Facebook, click here: http://www.facebook.com/successkuchime
Yahoo messengers: successkuchime@yahoo.co.uk OR ngoziuchime@yahoo.com
Skype Add: success.uchime OR ngozi.ogbu
How’re you today, hope all is still well with you? We feel very excited sharing our mid-month mission report to you and hope you're still uplifting us in your prayer.
You'll recall that we told you about our son Victory's 8th birthday, yes, he celebrated it on the 12th! Although just like Miracle's own it was low-keyed as a result of our very low budget here. But we still thank God for all things.
(Behold the birthday boy!)
Our daughter Nkeoma’s studies is still running at the University and she’s doing very well, after completing all the necessary enrollments.
We still believe God for funds to go for our yearly visa renewals which, from all indications will be approved this month and we still need prayers on that direction.
Our planned mission fundraising in Nigeria is still in focus. Through it we intend to mobilize at least 100 faithful and dedicated mission supporters that’ll be giving us at least $25 monthly. The only challenge we’re having now is getting a good signal in connection with the venue and the moment that’s settled, we’ll let you know ok!
We never failed to meet with our Badjao brethren every Thursday afternoon at the Boulevard area of Dumaguete City, though we’re having lots of challenges right now as we had already told you in our last report. So, please lift our work among the Badjao tribal people up to God in prayer.
(Some Badjao in the Boulevard area)
Please keep praying for us, as the Lord has kept opening for us great doors for effective ministry here in Dumaguete City, but as the apostle Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 16: 9, there is much opposition (adversaries). And one of the major opposition is funds! Nevertheless, we’re convinced that with your unalloyed prayer support, we’ll surmount this opposition.
Thanks for your prayer support and again we request that you help us mobilize for prayer awareness in your church/fellowships and also to forward this mail to as many Christian friends you have. Or better still to send us emails of your friends that you feel can help us in prayers!
And if the Lord's leading you to sow a seedfaith offering to our mission work, please follow this link: http://kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonation.htm
Yours in Missions
Kanayo & Ngozi Uchime
(Nigerian Missionaries in the Philippines)
Tel: (GSMs) Kanayo +639089857499 & +639324712532, Ngozi +639283901971, (Office/Home) +6335 4212070
Visit our websites: http://www.kmointer.webs.com/ OR www.seamist.org/uchime
Follow us on Facebook, click here: http://www.facebook.com/successkuchime
Yahoo messengers: successkuchime@yahoo.co.uk OR ngoziuchime@yahoo.com
Skype Add: success.uchime OR ngozi.ogbu
Friday, November 12, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Filipino Women Prefer Food More than Sex
Filipino Women Prefer Food More than Sex
By Success Kanayo Uchime
It has been discovered that women in the Philippines, Southeast Asia lay more emphases on the food they eat even above sexual life.
In a recent survey conducted by the government in Manila, the state capital, it’s found that the women folk consider food higher than their sex life when putting into consideration the main things that bring them joy.
Speaking on the survey, the Secretary-General, National Statistical Coordination Board Romulo Virola said that it’s also an obvious fact that both Filipino men and women ranked family, health and religion in that order as the three most important things that make them happy.
He noted that female respondents, however, put food in fifth place, just ahead of work adding that love life came 10th while sex life is put at 18th, just one rank above the bottom adding that this can lead to trouble and that for men, love life figured in 6th place and sex life 10th, with food at 9th.
"This is easy to trivialize, but the unmet expectations for love and sex by either partner can surely lead to problems, and must be managed properly and professionally," Virola stated.
He continued: “For the Philippine poor, the survey found that men ranked their sex, love lives and food at the top while women said family, love life and food were top of their lists.”
He noted that in the four months since Benigno Aquino became President of the Philippines, the impoverished country's population has grown by about 600,000, the fastest rate of increase in Southeast Asia.
According to Virola, it now stands at around 94 million and that there have been calls to increase access to contraception in the devoutly Catholic nation. “The non-random 2010 poll covered 356 respondents in two Manila districts, a nearby province, staff of two government offices and one private firm.”
By Success Kanayo Uchime
It has been discovered that women in the Philippines, Southeast Asia lay more emphases on the food they eat even above sexual life.
In a recent survey conducted by the government in Manila, the state capital, it’s found that the women folk consider food higher than their sex life when putting into consideration the main things that bring them joy.
Speaking on the survey, the Secretary-General, National Statistical Coordination Board Romulo Virola said that it’s also an obvious fact that both Filipino men and women ranked family, health and religion in that order as the three most important things that make them happy.
He noted that female respondents, however, put food in fifth place, just ahead of work adding that love life came 10th while sex life is put at 18th, just one rank above the bottom adding that this can lead to trouble and that for men, love life figured in 6th place and sex life 10th, with food at 9th.
"This is easy to trivialize, but the unmet expectations for love and sex by either partner can surely lead to problems, and must be managed properly and professionally," Virola stated.
He continued: “For the Philippine poor, the survey found that men ranked their sex, love lives and food at the top while women said family, love life and food were top of their lists.”
He noted that in the four months since Benigno Aquino became President of the Philippines, the impoverished country's population has grown by about 600,000, the fastest rate of increase in Southeast Asia.
According to Virola, it now stands at around 94 million and that there have been calls to increase access to contraception in the devoutly Catholic nation. “The non-random 2010 poll covered 356 respondents in two Manila districts, a nearby province, staff of two government offices and one private firm.”
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Buglasan Festival Promotes Filipino Art, Culture
By Success Kanayo Uchime
For sure the Buglasan Festival, an annual fiesta being celebrated by the people of Negros Oriental, a Province which constitutes the largest land area of the Central Visayas province has become a veritable tool for the promotion of arts and culture not only for the over one million people of the Province, but for the entire country.
The event which is seen as the biggest tourism booster of a Province that occupies 5, 402.30 square kilometers of the southeast fraction of Negros Island is celebrated every 3rd Friday of October and this years festival kicked off on the 15th of October and stretched till the 24th of October at the Sidlakang Negros Village, Dumaguete City, headquarters of Negros Oriental.
With five main objectives as, the stimulation of tourism development, promotion of agricultural endeavors, preservation of cultural and arts heritage and what’s more, as a community-based promotion of culture and arts events as tourism assets, the Buglasan Fiesta has come to stay as a unifying force, which binds the entire Province.
Buglasan drummers
Buglasan, it’ll be noted derived its name from two origins, first, in the pre-colonial era, natives were said to have called the Island (Negros Oriental) Buglas, that is, after the legendry tall reeds that were the predominant vegetations in the Island. Second, there’s this other story that links it to buklas or to “wrench,” making reference to an earlier cataclysmic event that forcibly tore the Island from a bitter land mass.
Described as Negros Oriental movable province fiesta, the Buglasan Festival was first inaugurated in 1981, when a search was conducted to compose a contingent that would represent the Province in the Folk Arts Festival convened at the time by the then First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos.
It would be recalled that at the inaugural event, only five Local Government Units (LGUs) fielded contingents that were subsequently chosen to compose the Provincial delegation to the first Folk Arts Festival, which took place at the Folk Arts Theater and the five contingents were Inagta from Siaton, Polka Biana from Zamboanguita, Kasal Dauinanon from Dauin, the Sinulog from Tanjay and the last but not the least the Manjuyad.
Buglasan dancers
The first Festival which was organized by just five dedicated individuals then, namely Bobby Villasis, Bobby Café, Prodi Sirilan, Attorney Larot and another Attorney, Coleta Arana was held under the auspices of Foundation University, one of the premier Universities in the Province.
And it has since moved out of the premises of Foundation University and it was not until 2002 that the Provincial Board passed the Ordinance No. 15, which formerly established the Buglasan Festival as an annual Provincial Fiesta to be held every October. It had a serious input from the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran-NCRFW Negros Oriental Chapter and as it’s expected with a backup support coming from the Provincial Government.
Further to that, it was on October 14, 2005, three years after the Provincial Ordinance that the then President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared that the fiesta will be held on every 3rd Friday of October as the “Buglasan Day,” with a special public holiday for the whole of the Province.
Celebrated in Dumaguete City, ever since its inception, the 2010 Buglasan Festival which was officially declared open by the Provincial Governor, Augustine Perdices was described by the organizers as very unique. It has its theme as, “Sustaining Economic Growth Through Value-Driven Culture of Tourism,” and was nevertheless used to showcase the Province’s achievements in arts and culture and even tourism.
In fact, the ten-day fiesta witnessed over 20 performing arts competitions and booth’s exhibition of the finest tourism products of the Province’s 25 LGUs, and with thousands of Filipinos and other foreigners alike trooping out everyday to witness an event that has been sustained for close to 20 years now.
The Festival as it is being organized today consists of several components or segments which are, tourism and agric-fair theme booth presentations by all the LGUs; corporate participants and educational institutions; the selection of the Festival’s King and Queen. Others are performing arts; open air band concerts; games and sports and firework competitions of various sorts.
Buglasan dancers
These key component events that make the Fiesta thick not withstanding, the climax of the fiesta is the event which the organizers call the “Buglasan Festival of Festivals” and in this special event, all the finest performing contingents are gathered and celebrated.
Giving a brief account on how this year’s Festival was celebrated; one of the organizers who saw it all at the inception in 1981, Mr. Bobby Villasis, said that the 2010 fiesta is very unique in the sense that the event witnessed a zero crime rate, unlike the previous ones that recorded some pockets of criminal activities. He attributed this to the high security network put in place by the organizers.
According to him, about 30 to 50 security agents including the police, both the Provincial and the City Police and the Tanod – the Barangay (local) police, were on duty at any given day of the fiesta adding that two communication outfits, REACT and DOPE were also on ground to beef up the security at the arena.
Mr. Villasis who is also a staff of the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) said that P8 million was budgeted for the event and that the budget went for various prizes to participants, logistics, honorarium for Judges of different events, security, entertainment etc. He also said that for cogent reasons the regular sponsors of the fiesta were not contacted, thereby making it inevitable for the Provincial Government to bankroll a lump some of the expenditure this year.
Although he’s hopeful that by the next year’s event adequate plans will be on ground to contact the regular sponsors like Coca-cola, Globe Communication, LBC, San Miguel Breweries etc. to put money on ground for the event.
He also noted that out of 25 local units that usually participate in the fiesta, only eleven of them participated fully this year, giving the reason as the nation’s 2010 general election which disrupted the planning, as new political office holders came on board.
(c) Dr. Success Kanayo Uchime is a Nigerian missionary-journalist based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. He’s into research and writing and for more information on him log on to his website: www.kmointer.webs.com or email: successkuchime@yahoo.co.uk
For sure the Buglasan Festival, an annual fiesta being celebrated by the people of Negros Oriental, a Province which constitutes the largest land area of the Central Visayas province has become a veritable tool for the promotion of arts and culture not only for the over one million people of the Province, but for the entire country.
The event which is seen as the biggest tourism booster of a Province that occupies 5, 402.30 square kilometers of the southeast fraction of Negros Island is celebrated every 3rd Friday of October and this years festival kicked off on the 15th of October and stretched till the 24th of October at the Sidlakang Negros Village, Dumaguete City, headquarters of Negros Oriental.
With five main objectives as, the stimulation of tourism development, promotion of agricultural endeavors, preservation of cultural and arts heritage and what’s more, as a community-based promotion of culture and arts events as tourism assets, the Buglasan Fiesta has come to stay as a unifying force, which binds the entire Province.
Buglasan drummers
Buglasan, it’ll be noted derived its name from two origins, first, in the pre-colonial era, natives were said to have called the Island (Negros Oriental) Buglas, that is, after the legendry tall reeds that were the predominant vegetations in the Island. Second, there’s this other story that links it to buklas or to “wrench,” making reference to an earlier cataclysmic event that forcibly tore the Island from a bitter land mass.
Described as Negros Oriental movable province fiesta, the Buglasan Festival was first inaugurated in 1981, when a search was conducted to compose a contingent that would represent the Province in the Folk Arts Festival convened at the time by the then First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos.
It would be recalled that at the inaugural event, only five Local Government Units (LGUs) fielded contingents that were subsequently chosen to compose the Provincial delegation to the first Folk Arts Festival, which took place at the Folk Arts Theater and the five contingents were Inagta from Siaton, Polka Biana from Zamboanguita, Kasal Dauinanon from Dauin, the Sinulog from Tanjay and the last but not the least the Manjuyad.
Buglasan dancers
The first Festival which was organized by just five dedicated individuals then, namely Bobby Villasis, Bobby Café, Prodi Sirilan, Attorney Larot and another Attorney, Coleta Arana was held under the auspices of Foundation University, one of the premier Universities in the Province.
And it has since moved out of the premises of Foundation University and it was not until 2002 that the Provincial Board passed the Ordinance No. 15, which formerly established the Buglasan Festival as an annual Provincial Fiesta to be held every October. It had a serious input from the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran-NCRFW Negros Oriental Chapter and as it’s expected with a backup support coming from the Provincial Government.
Further to that, it was on October 14, 2005, three years after the Provincial Ordinance that the then President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared that the fiesta will be held on every 3rd Friday of October as the “Buglasan Day,” with a special public holiday for the whole of the Province.
Celebrated in Dumaguete City, ever since its inception, the 2010 Buglasan Festival which was officially declared open by the Provincial Governor, Augustine Perdices was described by the organizers as very unique. It has its theme as, “Sustaining Economic Growth Through Value-Driven Culture of Tourism,” and was nevertheless used to showcase the Province’s achievements in arts and culture and even tourism.
In fact, the ten-day fiesta witnessed over 20 performing arts competitions and booth’s exhibition of the finest tourism products of the Province’s 25 LGUs, and with thousands of Filipinos and other foreigners alike trooping out everyday to witness an event that has been sustained for close to 20 years now.
The Festival as it is being organized today consists of several components or segments which are, tourism and agric-fair theme booth presentations by all the LGUs; corporate participants and educational institutions; the selection of the Festival’s King and Queen. Others are performing arts; open air band concerts; games and sports and firework competitions of various sorts.
Buglasan dancers
These key component events that make the Fiesta thick not withstanding, the climax of the fiesta is the event which the organizers call the “Buglasan Festival of Festivals” and in this special event, all the finest performing contingents are gathered and celebrated.
Giving a brief account on how this year’s Festival was celebrated; one of the organizers who saw it all at the inception in 1981, Mr. Bobby Villasis, said that the 2010 fiesta is very unique in the sense that the event witnessed a zero crime rate, unlike the previous ones that recorded some pockets of criminal activities. He attributed this to the high security network put in place by the organizers.
According to him, about 30 to 50 security agents including the police, both the Provincial and the City Police and the Tanod – the Barangay (local) police, were on duty at any given day of the fiesta adding that two communication outfits, REACT and DOPE were also on ground to beef up the security at the arena.
Mr. Villasis who is also a staff of the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) said that P8 million was budgeted for the event and that the budget went for various prizes to participants, logistics, honorarium for Judges of different events, security, entertainment etc. He also said that for cogent reasons the regular sponsors of the fiesta were not contacted, thereby making it inevitable for the Provincial Government to bankroll a lump some of the expenditure this year.
Although he’s hopeful that by the next year’s event adequate plans will be on ground to contact the regular sponsors like Coca-cola, Globe Communication, LBC, San Miguel Breweries etc. to put money on ground for the event.
He also noted that out of 25 local units that usually participate in the fiesta, only eleven of them participated fully this year, giving the reason as the nation’s 2010 general election which disrupted the planning, as new political office holders came on board.
(c) Dr. Success Kanayo Uchime is a Nigerian missionary-journalist based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. He’s into research and writing and for more information on him log on to his website: www.kmointer.webs.com or email: successkuchime@yahoo.co.uk
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
TRIOND Offers Good Pay for Writers
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Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Hope Rises for Nigeria’s Power Sector
Arc Mohammed Namadi
Nigerian Vice President
Hope Rises for Nigeria’s Power Sector
By Success Kanayo Uchime
Reprieve is coming to the Nigerian near-dead power sector, with the present administration effort in intensifying bilateral relations with key countries especially the United Kingdom (UK) on power sector reforms.
The Vice President, Arch. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, disclosed this while receiving the British Minister on African Affairs, Mr. Henry Bellingham and the Parliamentary under Secretary of State (Minister, DFID) for International Development, responsible for Africa, Mr. Stephen O’Brien at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Thursday, October 21.
The Vice President stated that Nigeria currently has in place a power sector reform roadmap with a proper vision and plan geared at a total overhaul and revitalization of the sector, adding that the sector is very dear to the heart of the present administration and the people of Nigeria.
In his remark, the British Minister of African Affairs noted the historical ties between the two countries stating that Nigerians in the diaspora have made remarkable contributions to the economic advancement of the UK since most of them are noted to be vibrant men and women who earn a lot of money in the UK and invest at home.
He expressed their keenness to assist in actualizing the aspirations of Nigeria’s power sector reforms amongst other areas of development.
In a related development, the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) organized a Lunch in honor of the Vice President at the Reform Club, London. At the occasion, Arch. Sambo stated that Nigeria is at a power investor’s haven with millions of potential power consumers, determined to attract high quality investors.
“As such, the present administration is determined to attain power reliability and sustainability within the shortest possible time so as to catalogue the much needed development,” Sambo stated.
At the occasion, Dr. Mohan Kaul of the CBC noted that the restructuring of Nigeria’s power sector is an important priority as a means of eliminating poverty through the encouragement of investments and job creation.
He informed the Vice President of a major power summit which will take place in London come March next year, where case studies on the sector’s reforms will be examined and investment opportunities made known to high level delegates expected to be in attendance.
Dignitaries on the entourage of the Vice President include Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoki, SAN, amongst many others.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Anti-Gay Protesters Clash with Police in Serbia
Boris Tadic, Serbia President
Belgrade the Serbian capital on Sunday witnessed what observers referred to as the worst violence in over two years, when a gay rights parade erupted in serious violence.
Adam TannerAdam Tanner report in Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/) said that thousands of police deployed to protect marchers clashed with anti-gay protesters, who rioted and attacked the headquarters of the ruling parties.
He observed that more than 110 police were injured in pitched battles with gangs of nationalists and skinheads, and that one of the 1,500 marchers was badly beaten as he arrived home in a nearby suburb.
“Pushed back from the parade area by 5,000 police in riot gear, protesters turned to other targets, breaking into the lobby of the state television network, scaling scaffolding to try to enter parliament, smashing windows at the Austrian embassy and burning a car in front of the French embassy,” he stated.
According to him, firefighters extinguished a blaze at the headquarters of the Democratic Party, led by President Boris Tadic and the premises of their coalition partner adding that the Socialist Party was also attacked before calm was restored by early evening.
In a statement, the Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac called it a "really sad day for Serbia" and vowed to bring the people behind the violence to justice. "Serbia will secure human rights for all its citizens regardless of their diversity. No one will tolerate attempts to threaten them.
Tanner further said that the clashes highlighted the intolerance that still pervades Serbian society a decade after the country ousted strongman Slobodan MilosevicSlobodan Milosevic, ending the pariah status that dogged it during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.
He noted that the parade, the first of its kind in Belgrade in nearly a decade, had been seen as a test of Serbia's readiness to become a more modern, open society after years of conflict fuelled by ethnic hatred.
“The violence occurred just two days before a planned visit of United States (U.S) Secretary of State, Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton, who wants to highlight Washington's support for Belgrade's European Union (EU) aspirations,” he also said.
For more reports on this and many more cick here: http://www.allvoices.com/users/success4u
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Nigerian Government to Implement Local Content Law
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured that it’s now ready for the full implementation of the Nigerian oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board which was established under the Act, the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan said that the move will facilitate the rapid industrialization of the country.
He noted that Nigeria must use the increased application of local content in its oil and gas industry to stimulate investments that will positively transform other sectors of its economy and create more jobs for the unemployed.
He said that his administration is painfully aware of the limitations of local capacity in manufacturing for upstream and downstream operations adding that the situation, coupled with weak participation of Nigerian’s operating and service companies in the industry; and the non-inclusion of indigenes of producing communities in the economic activities of the sector must be reversed.
Dr. Jonathan said that to convert Nigeria’s oil and gas industry from one that imports most of its essential goods and services, the Federal Government will be “consistent and unwavering” in the implementation of the local content law.
“This will domicile significant proportions of industry derivatives and keep commensurate revenue in Nigeria to drive the rapid industrialization of our economy,” Dr. Jonathan said.
Congratulating the members of the council headed by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke on their appointment, the President told them that they had a unique opportunity to reposition Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for the greater benefit of its citizens. “You cannot afford to fail in this important national assignment,” he said.
It needs to be noted that other members of the council are Dr. Joseph Dawha, Mr. Emmanuel Bekee, Dr. Shaibu Teidi Sani, Mr. Shawley Coker, Prof. Mike Onyekonwu, Chief Olumuyiwa Ajibola and Mr. Fola Daniel.
Philippines International Book Fair to Attract Notable Publishers
OMF Literature Philippines
It’s expected that notable book publishers will grace this years Manila International Book Fair (MITF), holding in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
In a release by the Overseas Ministries Fellowship Literature (OMF Lit), one of the leading Christian book publishers, it noted that it is right in the thick of things adding that it’s that time of the year once again when all book lovers come together for the biggest book event of the year.
It stated: “Now on its 31st year, the MIBF gathers publishers, booksellers, and book lovers for five days of the unveiling of the latest titles, big discounts on new and old titles, plus lots of activities to keep book fanatics entertained and educated.”
According to the release, the Fair is due to hold on September 15-19, by 10am to 8pm at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, with the theme, “Words Without Borders.”
“OMF Lit will be at Aisle G and prominent Pinoy Christian authors will be unveiling new titles and you'll have the chance to meet and greet them. Ardy Roberto's Ang Pera Na Hindi Bitin offers easy and practical ways for people struggling with managing money,” the release said.
It noted that OMF Lit will be giving away discount coupons that will entitle its customers to a 30% discount on three new titles. “Because we want to give you an early Christmas present and to let you complete your gift list early too, we’re giving you 50% off on the following hot-off-the-press devotional: The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional, Gary Chapman’s The One Year Daily Insights, among others.
“Of course, the most important book and the source of inspiration for all the writers mentioned is the Bible. And for the MIBF, we have a wide selection of new Bibles, ranging from the New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT) and King James translations to devotional and study Bibles to Bibles specifically designed for teens and kids,” it also said.
It observed that there’s something for everyone, “drop by the OMF Lit booths at Aisle G (184-187, 194-197, 208-211) not to just buy books but to win premium items, meet and greet your favorite local authors, enjoy storytelling and fun activities for kids and a lot of other surprises to make your MIBF experience even more memorable.”
It further stated: “If by some unfortunate chance you miss the MIBF, we do have good news for you. We now have ten OMF Lit Bookshops all over the country, ready to provide you with inspiration, instruction and insight.
For more information on OMF Lit, visit their website http://www.omflit.com/
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
TBII Workshops to be Held in the Philippines
Dr. John Jauchen and his wife
The Thompson Bible International Institute (TBII) in its efforts to empower Christians in the Philippines on how to maximize the use of the Thompson Chain Reference Bible is organizing series of workshops.
In a recent release by its National Director, Pastor Johnny C. Gaco he said that this is an opportunity for Filipinos to avail themselves of this priceless Thompson Chain Reference Bible which is being giving out free to registered participants only.
According to him, the workshops will be held in Tagbilaran on September 9-11, Zamboanga, September 20-22, Pagadian, Sept 23-25, Maddela, Sept 27-29. Others are Dumaguete City, November 29-December 1, Bacolod City, December 2-4, while that of CSM Paranaque, will come up on December 9-11
Gaco noted that TBII seeks to motivate God's workers toward Spirit-directed Bible study, which will enable clear and effective communication of God's word adding that the ultimate aim is produce mature reproducing followers of Jesus Christ who live their lives in accordance with His Word.
On how TBII came to be in the Philippines he stated that in 1982, when Dr. John Jauchen, who’s the International Director & Bible Teacher, TBII, U.S.A., was ministering on the remote island of Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines, and he noticed that good study tools were rare and in great demand in the country.
“Responding to the requests of Filipino pastor-friends therefore, Dr. Jauchen made an informal study of the major Study Bibles available at the time. He came to believe that the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible is one of the best one-volume study tools for people who were teaching and preaching on a regular basis. It has no study notes, forcing the student to rely on the Holy Spirit for his primary understanding of a passage,” he added.
Gaco stated that the Thompson Bible has more than 600 pages of reference material including a concordance, maps, and biographical helps and that its foundation is an excellent study system containing more than 4,200 topics, organized in an easy-to-use fashion.
In his words: “This study system facilitates the preparation of message series in a short amount of time. Using this Bible, the servant of God can preach topical, verse-by-verse, and biographical messages - all for the building up of strong Christians who will reproduce themselves in the lives of other people.”
In his own contribution, the facilitator, TBII workshop in Dumaguete City, Dr. Success Kanayo Uchime said that the TBII Dumaguete City workshop is going to be awesome. “You need to do an early registration to avoid last minute rush as limited space is there for participants - only 100 participants.”
He said that the venue for the Dumaguete workshop is Victory Christian Fellowship, located at #2/F Japi Building, 56, Ma. Cristina, (Beside Mero Bank), Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and that the date is still November 29 - Dec. 1, 2010, starting at 7.00 am
“This is a two and a half day Seminar featuring the latest version of the Thompson Chain- Reference NIV Bible. Upon graduation the delegate will receive the latest copy of the Thompson NIV Bible direct from the USA, for free, a diploma qualifying the delegates to teach the Thompson Bible course and a personalized name inside the Bible,” he noted.
On the number of delegates required for workshop, Dr. Uchime said that the number of participants is limited to one hundred only, and that the registration fee is only P1, 600, “But early registration is P 1, 400.00, which is only on until October 30, 2010. Meals will also be served during the workshop.
For more information on the workshop, log on to TBII website: http://tbii.multiply.com/
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Call2All Set For Next Global Congress in Los Angeles
Mark Anderson the President GPN/Call2All
Flowing from the experiences of the last year’s Hong Kong world congress, the Call2All is again warming up for another epoch making global event this time in Los Angeles, United States of America (USA).
Speaking on this latest development, the President, Global Pastors Network/Call2All (GPN/Call2All), Mark AndersonMark Anderson said that the work on the Great Commission is accelerating rapidly. “What you and I do in this next season will be critically important. As a key Christian I would like to ask you to invest some of your time with Call2all over the next year.”
He further stated: “We are going to hold another global congress like Hong Kong but it will be much larger at the end of next year. This will be held in Los Angeles. Leading up to this five-day event we will be holding congresses in six other locations around the world. Some of them have just been posted on our website www.call2all.org.
He pointed out that the schedule for the regional congresses are as follows: November 9-12, Bogota, Columbia; November 22-23, Amsterdam Consultation, Holland; January 30-February 2nd, Malta and then May 16-19, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Mark Anderson noted that soon they will be adding two dates in India to join this list adding that these regional congresses are designed as a build-up toward the global event in Los Angeles.
“Could you help with three things, set one of these dates aside on your calendar, mobilize Christian leaders from your region to participate and also be part of the Los Angeles event,” he stated.
He observed that in the coming days he will be expanding on the elements of this 14 month vision adding that they are going to trust God for specific outcomes with each of their seven themes including unengaged, unreached people groups.
“Be watching for registration information over the next few weeks. Go to our website for more information,” he added.
Mark Anderson said that the Amsterdam consultation is aim at bringing together Christian leaders from across the world to focus and strategize together on what it will take to complete the Great Commission in our lifetime.
He noted that the Malta Consultation will ensure that specific organization goals and commitments are set at these Congresses, while the same applies to that of Jakarta, Indonesia.
For more information on these events, log on to Call2All website: http://www.call2all.org/
Nigeria Police Accused of Undermining the Rule of Law
A team of the Nigerian police
The widespread corruption in the Nigerian Police Forces has been identified as the reason for the abuses against ordinary citizens which undermines the rule of law in the country.
This is the thrust of the report recently released by the Human Right Watch in Nigeria and it has therefore called on the Nigerian authorities to take immediate steps to improve budgetary transparency in the police force and to investigate and bring to justice police officers at all levels implicated in corrupt practices.
With the title of the 102-page report as: “‘Everyone’s in on the GameGame’: Corruption and Human Rights Abuses by the Nigeria Police Force,” it documents the myriad forms of police corruption in Nigeria.
The report also shows how institutionalized extortion, a profound lack of political will to reform the force and impunity combine to make police corruption a deeply embedded problem.
Basic Rights of all Nigerians Threatened
Commenting on the report, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, Corinne Dufka said: “The long-term failure of the Nigerian authorities to address police bribery, extortion, and wholesale embezzlement threatens the basic rights of all Nigerians.”
She noted that the report is based on interviews with more than 145 victims of and witnesses to police corruption in Nigeria and that they include market traders, commercial drivers, sex workers, criminal suspects, and victims of common crimes; rank-and-file and senior-level police officers; federal government officials; judges, prosecutors, and lawyers; religious and civil society leaders; journalists; diplomats; and members of an armed vigilante group.
Police Works in Difficult and Often Dangerous Conditions
According to her, HRW’s research revealed that many Nigerian police officers conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, working in difficult and often dangerous conditions. “However, it also showed that corruption and abusive behavior within the Nigeria Police Force is endemic. One police sergeant lamented to Human Rights Watch that corruption is like ‘a disease in all of us’.”
On the high level of extortion and bribery, Dufka said that the report documents how, on a daily basis, countless Nigerians traveling on the country’s roads, buying or selling at markets, running daily errands, or working in their offices are accosted by armed police officers demanding bribes.
She observed that to extort money, these officers frequently threaten victims and commit human rights abuses adding that in some areas the extortion at police roadblocks, ostensibly put in place to combat the rampant crime that afflicts many Nigerian communities, has taken on the nature of a standardized “toll.”
“The officers at the roadblocks make little attempt to hide their collection of money, exposing the near total lack of will on the part of senior police officers and government authorities to hold officers accountable,” she added.
Nigerians Routinely Subjected to Arbitrary Arrest
She further said that the research revealed that people refusing to pay bribes are routinely subjected to arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, and threats until they or their family members negotiate payment for their release.
“Extortion-related confrontations between the police and motorists often escalate into more serious abuses. The evidence suggests that police officers have on numerous occasions severely beaten, sexually assaulted, or shot to death ordinary citizens who failed to pay the bribes demanded,” she noted.
Dufka said that the research also shows that the frequency of such acts of extortion has also led many Nigerians to become as complacent about police corruption as they are distrustful of the police adding that as one market trader put it to Human Rights Watch: “When you have a problem, you should expect the police to help you, to safeguard life and property – but instead, they go the other way. The police are not protecting us; they are fetching money for their own pockets.”
Christian Aid Mission’s Relief Assistance in Pakistan Makes Great Difference
Pakistani Children line up for food
The Christian Aid Mission’s (CAM) relief assistance to Pakistan is really making great difference, though there are still now many more needs in the country as a result of the worst flooding in 80 years that struck the country recently.
This indication is contained in a report by the organization adding that Christians in Pakistan, who have been suffering a new a wave of terror from Islamic extremists and criminals, are now facing terrible flooding.
It noted that they are desperately in need of more emergency help now stressing that the eye-witness reports from indigenous missionaries say that Christians in many areas are under a virtual state of siege.
According to the report, more than 1,500 people have died and 200,000 Christian families are among the 20 million affected by the disaster adding that three million are homeless. “The flooding began in the frontier regions of Peshawar, northwest Pakistan and across the border in Taliban-infested Afghanistan. However, they have now spread downward throughout the country.”
It further stated: “Christian Aid Mission had established an emergency fund to help care for survivors after Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother were murdered during a court appearance in Faisalabad, Pakistan last month. The brothers were brought to court under draconian blasphemy laws designed to persecute Christians and other minorities. Since then, the needs have expanded beyond persecution.”
“Those wishing to help the widows, orphans and other survivors of anti-Christian violence in Pakistan and the flood victims may give online or send contributions to Christian Aid Mission, Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Gifts should be designated to fund code 470PERS,” it added.
The CAM report has it that the native missionaries are grateful for the help they are sending but the needs are increasing every day, hence the need for them to send more help.
It observed that most of the central provinces have been flooded including the rich agricultural heartland of Punjab and that bridges are out everywhere downstream, and in some places, like the Swat Valley, all the bridges are gone! “There is a growing fear that cholera will spread and the reconstruction will take years.”
“Meanwhile, there is still a need for ongoing relief to thousands of Christian families who were burned out of their homes and shops during the organized persecution campaigns that began last month,” it addedd.
It noted that after the murders of the Emmanuel brothers by masked gunmen, thousands of Muslims went on a rampage in the nearby Christian communities of Warispura and Daunagar and that automatic weapons fire and rioting continued for days. “Christian lawyers say the police did nothing to stop the looting of Christian shops and homes.”
It continued: “Christian leaders begged Christian Aid to alert Christians in America and around the world to pray for them - and response is starting to arrive. We will continue to send help to both the flood victims and persecuted believers in Pakistan, just as we have for many years."
We note that Christian Aid Mission sends financial support to 732 indigenous ministries that deploy over 75,000 native missionaries and they are taking the gospel of Christ to more than 3000 previously unreached tribes and nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
These 732 indigenous missions operate hundreds of Bible institutes and missionary training centers (146 in China alone) where thousands of Christian workers are being trained for future missionary service. These missionaries evangelize unreached people in countries where American missionaries are no longer allowed to go.
For more information on this and others, log in to Christian Aid Mission website: http://www.christianaid.org/.
Monday, August 16, 2010
German Police Chief Advocates Updating of Human Rights Education in the Philippines
Philippines President
Benigo Noynoy Aquino
The German Police Director, Hubert Müller, has advocated the updating of the Human Rights Education curriculum in mandatory career courses in the Philippines National Police (PNP).
Müller, who is also the Head of the Police Training Institute in Bavaria, Germany, stated this during his last month’s official visit to the country to meet with partner organizations of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) – a non-profit organization (NGO) based in Munich, Germany.
He appreciated the support of HSF and its other partner organizations in the country for facilitating his visit to the Philippines acknowledging that the time he spent meeting with top-level officers of the PNP, briefings from key PNP offices is very rewarding.
Müller, stated that the sharing of experiences through the talks and presentations he delivered to key police officers especially the field officers, gave him the opportunity to broaden his knowledge and also have a first hand experience about police work in the country.
He gave lectures/presentations on key topics in relation to the observance of the rule of law and human rights in police operations, professional ethics in police training and service, and the training program in Bavaria, Germany.
And as a result of his high-level meetings and office/unit briefings, Müller, identified specific policy and operational areas in PNP for possible review and/or enhancement.
Apart from the interaction with the PNP, Müller also attended the regional “Community-based Dialogue Session on Human Rights between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP,) and Civil Society Organizations and Local Communities” for Region 3 held at the Aquino Convention Center in Tarlac City.
Speaking to the participants, he expressed his positive feedback on the results of the dialogue session, noting that the discussions were candid, and that the interaction between the security forces and the civilian sector were cordial.
According to him, this is an important and interesting activity to help better understand each other’s situation and work together toward the common good.
It needs to be observed that HSF has been active in the Philippines since 1979, extending development assistance mainly in human resource development from training and education, research and publications, to project development.
The organization is also involved in the implementation of human rights programs and projects, in particular the PNP Human Rights Development Program and the regional dialogue sessions between local communities and the security forces.
It also initiated programs towards Asian integration and the Association of South East Asian Nation – European Union (ASEAN-EU) cooperation, specifically in the areas of economic and political cooperation and integration, trade and investment, and environmental management
Further to that, HSF main intervention comes in the form of technical assistance provided in cooperation with local partners. The project activities are based on long-term partnerships, at least over a three-year project cycle, implemented together with its partners. And its current project term covers the period 2008-2010 in priority areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
For more information on HSF’s activities log on to their website: http://www.hsf.org.ph/
Monday, August 9, 2010
Nigerian Govt. Lauds the ICT Sector
Nigerian President, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan
The Nigerian Federal Government in giving appraisals to the Information Communication Technology (ICT) of the economy said that the sector is as much important as the power sector to the nation’s development.
The Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, stated this in Abuja the nation’s capital, during the flagging off ceremony of the third Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Communication and Information Technologies Ministerial Conference which took place at the Transcorp Hilton hotel.
Conference an Opportunity to Brainstorm
Vice President who represented the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, described the conference as an opportunity to brainstorm and come up with a holistic approach to the rapid development of ICT in the country stressing that ICT has become the life wire of both business and governance and as such, Africa cannot be left behind.
He noted that the benefits of the appreciable progress already made in ICT advancement in the country includes the massive inflow of investment in the sector from USD50 million in the year 2000 to the present USD12 billion.
Arc. Sambo said the investment has generated employment for millions of Nigerians as well as promoted business and services, and also improved efficiency and productivity.
“Our next focus must be on the development and application of broadband and improvement in internet services to accelerate development in areas of national security, e-governance, tele-medicine, public safety and education, amongst others,” he stated.
In her welcome address, the Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili, said that in order for Africa to harness ICT for sound economic and social policies, continental and national ICT strategies must be integrated into broader policy agendas and coordinated with different policy agenda such as Poverty Alleviation Programs.
ICT Crucial to National Development
She added that the conference, as the highest ICT policy making entity has set up policies that will make ICT affordable to the people as well as exploring the best ways to promote the development of the ICT sector in the continent.
The Minister stated: “The ICT’s role in national development is crucial for the overall process of development. South Africa is slated to host the Extraordinary Session of this conference from November 2nd - 5th, 2010.”
It would be noted that the conference is a follow up to the first and second editions which was hosted by Egypt and it signifies a collective vision for ICT as a fundamental premise for establishing an economy based on knowledge and innovation.
The conference was attended by African Ministers of Information and Communication, heads of Telecom Agencies, stakeholders in the industry and delegates from other African countries.
Federal Appointments
In a related development the Government has made some appointment into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) following the appointment by the President, Dr. Jonathan of the Chief Economic Adviser and Special Adviser on Policy.
The new Chief Economic Adviser is Professor (Mrs.) Precious Kassey Garba and until her appointment, she had served as Professor of Economics and Dean, Faculty of The Social Sciences at the University of Ibadan. She was also Vice President of the Nigerian Economic Society between 2003 and 2007.
She is also a recipient of several prizes in academic research and author of many research works on Economics.
Also appointed is Professor Dan Adebiyi as the Special Adviser on Policy Monitoring and Performance Evaluation the President.
Professor Adebiyi is a seasoned policy analyst who has served government in various capacities and at present a member of the Presidential Advisory Council. He has his degrees in Political Science, International Relations, and Government and Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan and the Harvard University, USA.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Nigerian Vice President Admonishes Politicians on Good Conduct - By Success Kanayo Uchime
Nigeria Vice president
Arc. Mohammed Namadi
The Nigerian Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has called on Nigerian politician not to see politics and elections as fighting of wars, but to see it as a means of marketing of ideas and beliefs for national development.
The Vice President made this fact known to politicians at the meeting he had with the Executives and members of the coalition of political parties from Kaduna State who paid him a courtesy call in the State House, Abuja, the nation’s capital on Thursday, August 5.
New Concept of one and new Nigeria
The overwhelmed Vice President who met with a total of about 44 political parties described the meeting as “a new concept of one and new Nigeria” adding that for any meaning full elections to take place, politicians must co-operate for its success and delivery.
Arc. Sambo noted that as Nigeria is celebrating its 50th anniversary, government is determined to conduct a civilized election come 2011 stressing that the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is vigorously pursuing the one man one vote concept and promised that each vote will count.
He used the occasion to extol the qualities of the President describing him as a detribalized and patriotic Nigerian whose disposition is against ethnic, sectional or regional divides.
He further stated that government is fully committed to the provision of basic infrastructure needed for the development of the country citing the efforts of the government in the areas of Hydro Power generation to include the planned award of contract in the next eight weeks of the Zungeru Hydro Power project, which is expected to generate over 700 megawatts of power to the national grid.
“The other one is the Mambilla Hydro Power project which has three different Dams and whose documentation and award is slated for the first quarter of 2011. It is also expected to generate 2600 megawatts,” he stated.
The Vice President observed that an Eextra-ministerial committee that was set up on April 27 this year and chaired by Engr. Olapade, which comprises of members from Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Power, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and three co-opted members from the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and Nigeria Electricity Energy Commission (NERC) were charged with the responsibility of examining the potentials of establishing a coal power plant.
Visit is to Show Solidarity
In his own contribution, the leader of the delegation and who is also the National Chairman of National Democrats (ND), Mr. Abdul Isiaq stated that the purpose of their visit is to show solidarity to the Goodluck/Sambo initiative toward contesting in the 2011 polls.
He congratulated the Vice President on his assumption of office and felicitated with him on his birthday while enjoining him to replicate all the laudable foot steps he had left behind in Kaduna State at the national level noting that he had laid a solid foundation in Kaduna for all to see.
The New Beginning
Mr. Isiaq noted that this shows a new beginning as various political parties are going out of their political parties to nominate candidates that have distinguished themselves in the pursuit of their endeavors.
He posited that this is the beginning of a new era and that they owe it as a moral duty to come out and support both the President and his Vice ticket as it is the guaranteed ticket for moving Nigeria to the next level.
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