All Posts in "Day: July 1, 2022"

Afreximbank renews $1bn facility for AfCFTA 

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

The Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) at its 134th meeting in Cairo, Egypt, renewed its approval of a $1 billion facility to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Adjustment Funds.

It added that a $10 million Grant Funding to seed the Base Fund of the AfCFTA Adjustment Funds, was equally approved yesterday

Afreximbank and the AfCFTA Secretariat were mandated by the AfCFTA Council of Trade Ministers and the African Union Heads of State and Government to establish and operationalise the AfCFTA Adjustment Funds, which consists of the Base Fund, the General Fund, and the Credit Fund.

The Base Fund will be used to mobilise grants to address tariff revenue losses and to support AfCFTA State Parties to implement the various protocols under the Free Trade Agreement.

The General Fund will be used to mobilise concessional funding, while the Credit Fund will be used to mobilise commercial funding that will be used to support the public and private sector including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), youth and women to adjust to the new trading environment arising from the AfCFTA.

Commenting on the approvals, Professor Benedict Oramah, President, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said, “Afreximbank is delighted to have been appointed the Fund Manager of the AfCFTA Adjustment Funds following the extensive collaborative work it has done with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Union Commission during the past few years.

“The renewal of the US$1 billion facility and the US$10 million grant funding represents resounding entrustment by our Board of Directors of these efforts. These facilities will again be contributing to making a great idea a reality. We thank the AfCFTA Secretariat for the solid partnership that is bringing the aspirations of the AfCFTA within reach.”

The funding required under the Adjustment Funds is estimated at $8-10 billion. The AfCFTA Adjustment Fund will be managed by Afreximbank, through its subsidiary, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat.

“We urge other development partners and financial institutions to provide additional resources required under the Adjustment Funds to support the implementation of the AfCFTA”, said Mr. Wamkele Mene, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

“The endorsement by the Afreximbank Board brings the continent closer to operationalising the AfCFTA Adjustment Funds before the end of 2022

Patoma Admin by — July 1, 2022 in Banking & Finance 0
From Bondage to Freedom (Numbers 33:38) by Pastor Favour Onoja

FROM BONDAGE TO FREEDOM (NUMBERS 33:38)

 

Introduction
Bondage is the state of being bound usually against your will. It’s when someone is bound by a particular habit or character. Bondages are like little, little foxes that destroy the vine if they are not checked.

Bondage can hinder you from serving God effectively and becoming all that God has purposed for you. Beware of bondages. It is a weakness that must be expose and dealt with so that your work with God shall not be destroyed like Samson (1Samuel 16:1-25).

TYPES OF BONDAGES:

1. Fornication And Adultery.
The sin of fornication and adultery has bedeviled our generation today. These has led to so many homes being destroyed (1Corinthians 5:1-2; 6:15-20).

2. Fear.
Fear is false evidence appearing real. It is a torment that can paralyze and cripple your abilities and initiatives. It hinders you from taking a step of faith. Fear also hinders you from operating in love (Job 3:25; Matthew 8:26).

3. Greed And Covetousness.
This is when you are never satisfied with what you have and want to collect what belongs to others (1Timothy 6:10; Matthew 26:15).

4. Worry And Anxiety.
It is a state of being anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems. Worrying is a sin, so be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-8; Luke 21:34)

5. Addiction.
This limits and contradict moral beliefs. It also destroys good health. Examples can be seen in taking of hard drugs, illicit sex, masturbation, social media, etc. It can lead to the waste of lives.

6. Materialism.
This is the attitude of someone who attaches a lot of importance to riches and wants to possess a lot of material things (1Timothy 6:9; Matthew 16:26).

7. Pornography.
This is the depiction of sexual behaviors in books, pictures, statues, films and other media that is intended to arouse and sexually satisfy the viewers (1Corinthians 6:9, 13, 18-20; 2Timothy 2:22; Colossians 3:5; Galatians 5:19-21; Job 31:1; Proverbs 7:21-27).

THE WAY TO FREEDOM FROM BONDAGES:

1. Knowledge.
The first step to your freedom is knowing who you are in Christ Jesus. 2Corinthians 5:17 says “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new”.
Therefore, if you are in Christ, you cannot be bound by any inhibiting forces of darkness. Also Proverbs 11:19b states that “but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” John 8:32 says “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”

2. Walking In The Spirit.
Walking in the spirit is something that cannot be brought about by our own volition but is something only the Holy Spirit can give. Galatians 5:22-23 talks about the fruits of the Spirit. Fruits in the life of the believer is something only the Holy Spirit can give.

3. Declaration.
A closed mouth is a closed destiny. You can enforce your freedom through the declaration of the Word of God through your mouth (Isaiah 43:26).

4. Stand In Your Authority.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1).

5. Service.
Service to God is a platform through which your liberty can be established. The reason for their freedom primarily from bondage in Egypt is to serve God (Exodus 4:23).
In the place of service, your character and weakness are exposed, molded and handled.

6. Prophetic Decrees.
The ministry of the prophets are veritable tools and instruments for your liberty and freedom from every bondage and oppression (Hosea 12:13).

7. Prayer And Fasting.
This kind goeth not but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Prayer and fasting energizes your spirit to deal with the works of the flesh and it’s desires.

8. The Word Of God.
The Word is a deliverance tool. It purges, purifies and cleanse you from every form of defilement, dirt and guilt.
Therefore, arm yourself with the Word of God (Psalm 119:9; Proverbs 3:1-4; 7:1-5).

9. Counseling.
This is a way of seeking spiritual or professional guidance in solving personal/psychological problem. Victory can be achieved by this means (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22).

10. Fellowship.
It is a place of communion/ renewal of strength. Church is a service centre where you are serviced, ministered to, refreshed and transformed. Therefore, do not neglect the fellowship of the brethren. It is where you are loved and valued despite your infirmities (weakness)- Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 84:7; Obadiah 1:17.

If you are bound by any of these bondages and you want to give your life to Jesus Christ, kindly pray this prayer with me:

Lord Jesus, I come before you today to surrender my life completely to you. I have lived a self-centered life that is far separated from God. I have had priorities that are not eternity-centred. I have always lived in rebellion, disobedience and sin up till now.

Lord, I am sorry for the way that I have lived and I ask for your forgiveness and mercy. Lord, please cleanse my sins by your Blood and take your place in my life. Fill my heart Lord with the right desires and priorities. Give me the grace to live in righteousness and represent you well to my world.
Help me escape the tragedy of eternity in hell. Help me to make Heaven at the end of my journey on earth.

Thank you Lord for hearing and answering me in Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.

If you pray this prayer, kindly reach me through these platforms:

PASTOR FAVOUR ONOJA

+234(0)805 584 2594

+234(0)703 489 3375
E-mail:onojaaf@yahoo.com
Twitter/Instagram

Patoma Admin by — July 1, 2022 in Metro 0
Kenyan first female Boeing 787 Dreamliner Captain

By admin

 

 

Captain Irene Koki Mutungi, Africa’s first female Boeing 787 Dreamliner Captain. She is Kenya Airways’ first female Pilot and Captain, she commanded first father/daughter flight and first all female flight crew in Africa.

Her father was a Pilot at Kenya Airways, flying with him from a very young age ignited her passion to became a Pilot and she never looked back.

At age 17, she attended flight school at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, where she obtained her Private Pilot’s License. She went to obtain her Commercial Pilot’s License from the Federal Aviation Administration, USA.

After obtaining her Commercial Pilot’s License, Captain Irene Koki Mutungi returned to Kenya and was hired by Kenya Airways, as their first female Pilot and she has been with the airline for more than 2 decades.

She is currently commanding a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Kenya Airways.

“My first flight was just few days before I turned 18 and it was the most amazing experience. My most memorable flight was the one I got to do with my father, it was his last flight in the airline, he chose to retire early and wind up his career with a flight he did with me and that was very memorable,” said Captain Irene Koki Mutungi.

Patoma Admin by — July 1, 2022 in Aviation 0
Nigeria, Germany to sign agreement for return of Benin bronzes in Berlin

By admin

 

An agreement between the governments of Germany and Nigeria on the return of the Benin artefacts in German museums to Nigeria will be signed today in Berlin.

The historic signing of the ‘Joint Declaration on the Return of the Benin Bronzes and Bilateral Museum Cooperation between Germany and Nigeria’ is the culmination of years of agitation for the return of the cultural goods – famous Benin bronze heads and other artefacts – that were pillaged from the royal palace of the Oba of Benin in 1897 during a punitive expedition of the British Army.

The Nigerian delegation to the event, holding at the Federal Foreign Office, includes Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Alhaji Yusuf Tuggar, and Professor Abba Tijani Isa, Director General of the Nigeria Commission for Museums and Monuments. The German government will be represented, among others, by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, and Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth.

After Germany announced that it would return its collection of the world-famous artefacts early last year, a Nigerian delegation, led by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, visited Berlin in July to conduct negotiations with their German counterparts. Other members of the high-powered delegation from Nigeria were Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Professor Isa, and the Benin Crown Prince, HRH Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare.

It was at the meeting of the Nigerian delegation with German officials that a firm commitment was made by Berlin on the return of the artefacts.

In October, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Nigeria and Germany in Abuja on the repatriation of the about 1,130 pieces of artefact.

“The German Government and the German people have taken a bold step by agreeing to voluntarily, without too much coercion on the part of Nigeria, to return these artefacts. Because what the return of the artefacts will do is that it’s going to really cement further relationship between Nigeria and Germany. Culture today has become one of the effective tools for soft diplomacy,” Culture Minister Mohammed said at the event, at which a visiting German delegation, led by the Director General for Culture and Communication of the German Federal Foreign Office, Dr Andreas Gorgen, participated.

In his remarks, Gorgen said the release of the artefacts was part of a cultural policy that would contribute to healing the wound inflicted by the looting of the artefacts from Nigeria and to establishing new relationship between Germany and Nigeria.

In a related development, the Berlin-based Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation has announced that it would return artefacts taken from three African nations during the German colonial era.

The Foundation, which manages the city’s various museums, said on Monday it had begun negotiations to return the artefacts to Namibia, Tanzania and Cameroon.

Among the artefacts is a goddess statue, known as Ngonnso’, which will be returned to the kingdom of Nso’ in northwestern Cameroon.

“Bring Back Ngonnso,” a civil society initiative, has been campaigning for the statue’s return for years, as the Nso people say they have suffered numerous calamities since the statue was stolen. “The Ngonnso’ has a central role for the Nso’, as she is considered a mother deity,” the foundation said in a statement

Patoma Admin by — July 1, 2022 in Metro 0