Monthly Archives: February 2011

The Audacity To Run

Photobucket My Special Guest on the next Let’s Talk Africa is Clement Esebamen, set to make history as the first Nigerian born to run for Senate seat in Dublin West Constituency, Ireland. Esebamen is the Executive Director at Ireland West Africa Business Council (IWABEC). He was appointed to the Irish Central Government as Senior Policy Adviser at office of Minister for Integration. Also, he was a Special Adviser to Minister in Departments of Justice, Education and Community becoming the first immigrant to hold such position. Esebamen was Ireland Coordinator for European Commission Project on Integration and Participation of Immigrants. Deputy leader of Ministerial Delegation to European Council (French Presidency 2008), Ministerial Delegation to Nigeria (March 2009) and Trans-Atlantic Council on Migration, Long Island, NY. Please join me next week Sunday, 03/06/2011 at 5:30 pm, EST (US. One Love!

Lets Talk Africa 3/6/2011 – AfriQtalk | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio.

Nigerian runs for Parliament in Ireland

Nigerian born Clement Esebamen is set to change the political landscape of Republic of Ireland. Election will be held this Friday, February 25, 2011. Esebamen is running for one the seats in Dublin west constituency for the Irish Parliament called Dail Eireann which was dissolved 1stFebruary after the collapse of the coalition government. Ireland like the United Kingdom operate the parliamentary system from where members are chosen to form a government as Ministers. If elected, he becomes the first African to be voted into the highest organ of Irish government. It won’t be new to Esebamen who has continued to set a number of firsts in the Irish nation.

Esebamen has lived in Ireland for 12 years and before his advent into politics, he had served as  Senior Policy Advisor to the Departments of Justice, Education and Community, as Special Adviser to previous Irish Ministers for Integration in the outgoing government. Providing specialist advise and policy options to multiple government departments, setting out a national framework on Integration, as agreed in Programme for Government 2007.

As part of a team of public officials developing policy and establishing a new government unit to address a cardinal social policy area of paramount societal interest. He  built consensus amongst disparate groups of stakeholders and also achieving the political consensus necessary to retain and progress government interest, and in outlining new costs -based proposal in times of massive economic uncertainty. The government published his policy document, Migration Nation in 2008.

From Uromi, Edo State and educated at University of Benin, with a BSc 2.1 Degree in Political Science as top graduating student. Esebamen moved to Ireland in 1999 obtaining a Masters in Economic Development Studies from University College Dublin in 2002. He is now completing  the Doctorate in Governance Programme at the School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast. He previously for and worked for 8 years in West Tallaght, Dublin with communities experiencing disadvantage having been employed by Dodder Valley Partnership where he rose to the position Equality & Diversity Coordinator.

After a decade in community sector in South Dublin leading innovative projects at local, national and EU level, he was appointed to the Irish Central Government as Senior Policy Adviser at office of Minister for Integration; he was Special Adviser to Minister in Departments of Justice, Education and Community becoming the first immigrant to hold such position. Esebamen was Ireland Coordinator for European Commission Project on Integration and Participation of Immigrants. Deputy leader  of Ministerial Delegation to European Council (French Presidency 2008) and Ministerial Delegation to Nigeria (March 2009) and Trans-Atlantic Council on Migration, Long Island, NY

Esebamen has been a major talk point in Ireland and most especially his constituency for having the audacity to run in a constituency that parades top Irish politicians and the current Minister of Finance. Esebamen has been discussing his plans in the Irish Dail and has even invited politicians to steal his ideas. Among an articulate policy document to get Ireland back to her glorious years are; Guided by principles, and passion for service, he is born to run.

Save Our Plateau

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHzzhzPEllM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmOJ6JvPwfc

Dickson Iroegbu, is the  author of  “SAVE OUR PLATEAU”, Nigeria‘s most anticipated contemporary literary masterpiece of a sublimely rich, evocative and timely collection of Poems.  The movie director joined Nollywood in 1997, turning out scripts that became blockbusters, won Best Director at the first African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). His turning point in his career came in 2001 when he directed a film entitled ” Days of Glory”. The multiple award-winning writer is also, a poet.

Save Our Plateau is a great read, it draws attention to the values inherent in the entertainment industry, and  Dickson’s love for his country, Nigeria. In my interview with Dickson, we talked about the ongoing ethnic crisis in Jos, President Goodluck Jonathan, President Barack Obama, Nigeria in 2011, challenges and his new found ………? Well, your guess is as good as mine! Take a listen.

In this Photo: Dickson Iroegbu

First sound tracks used in recording of the show, entitled “Fast Life” was provided by Yunghussle, 9jia, an  up and coming hip hop artist for more information visit http://www.reverbnation.com/Hussleking.  Second sound track, entitled “Rhema” was provided by Echo-Elijah, Afro Pop group from Ghana.

THE MIRROR BOY INTERNATIONAL TRAILER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05qMM-lR9KM

Mirror Boy was one of the highly anticipated movies in 2010, starring Genevieve Nnaji. Great movie, as seen through the eyes of a London-born 12 year old boy, by the name Tijani. The synopsis of the movie goes like this:  Tijani, gets involved in a street fight in which a boy is hurt, convinced that Tijani needs discipline, Teema, his mum decides to take him to the Gambia to live with her sister.

On their arrival in Banjul, Tijani encounters what he considers to be a simple apparition- a boy smiling at him in a mirror and vanishing afterward. However, seeing the same boy in a crowded street market the next day sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in him getting lost. While the panic-stricken Teema struggles with the Police Force to find her son in an intriguing game of survival brinkmanship, Tijani is left alone in the company of the enigmatic MIRROR BOY who is only visible to him. As a bruising spiritual rite of passage, the Mirror Boy takes Tijani on a magical journey through the dark belly of the forest.

Facts About the Movie

The Venue of the movie was originally set for Nigeria,  but was later moved to Gambia because the Cross Rivers State Government was unable to provide the Nollywood film company with competitive rates and logistics to shoot the film in Nigeria. Miraculously, from nowhere, the Gambian President,  Yahya Jammeh, a big fan of Nigerian movies came to the rescue. According to sources, President Yahya Jammeh, could not hide his love for one of the actresses, who featured in the movie, London based Gambian, Fatimah Jabbie, also, a deal broker between then president and Nollywood. President Yahya Jammeh,  gave close to  300,000 pounds sterling to the movie industry in Nigeria, amidst the face of massive unemployment and economy hardship in his country. But not so fast! The President ensured that Gambia’s beautiful landscape and culture was captured in the making of the film and that the trailer movie met the deadline for a state function in Gambia. Now that’s what I call, movie of the year!

The movie was produced by OH Films in association with The Nollywood Film Factory. Starring Genevieve Nnaji, Osita Iheme, Edward Kaguzuti, Fatime Jabbe with Victor Carvahlo, John Charles Njie, Momodu Musa Cisse and Felix Cisse.

Go check it out on DVD!

In this Photo: Gambian President,  Yahya Jammeh

Nigeria Healthcare Crisis?

The vast majority of Africans in the diaspora cannot afford to pay for health care due to problems such as poverty and hunger. The World Health Organization‘s definition of health is not merely the absence of disease but the attainment of a state of physical, mental, emotional and social well being.

To sustain a healthy economy and steady economic growth, Nigeria needs a functioning health care system from the federal, state, and local government. Healthcare should be considered a national emergency because is in crisis. Access to quality healthcare is Nigeria is either limited or nonexistent, and people die of minor illnesses that can be prevented with healthy life style and/or health education.

  • The life expectancy of the country is low and about 20% of children die before the age of 5.
  • The 2000 WHO report on the performance of health care systems rank the country 187 out of 191.

Please take a listen to my panel of  expertise: Dr Olayiwola Ajileye, specialist in Psychiatry/Mental Health in the United Kingdom. Also, a Publicity Coordinator of Champions for Nigeria, and Omoh Tsatsaku Ojior, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Political Science Executive Director/CEO of Onima Institute, Atlanta, GA, as we tackle Nigeria Healthcare Crisis. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jYXPcfEiuA