South Africa Vision

Twenty-eight year-old Mia Le Roux has won the Miss South Africa title at glitzy event held at the Sun Bet Arena in Pretoria.

According to the Miss South Africa website, Le Roux she was born in Sasolburg, Free State and raised in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape.

‘She is a marketing manager, model and part-time B Com Marketing student. She was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and her community rallied behind her to give her the gift of hearing; inspiring her desire to make a positive impact and break barriers. She describes herself as resilient, dedicated, graceful and kind,’ the website said.

In a post on Saturday night on the social media platform X, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie said: ‘Congratulations to our South African Queen Mia le Roux. I know you will represent us well at Miss Universe.’

The Miss South Africa pageant describes itself as a leadership platform for ambitious young South African women.

‘Through a pageantry process, contestants receive world-
renowned coaching in addition to advanced networking, business and life skills. Shaped into brand ambassadors for our country, they become champions of women’s rights, thought leaders and savvy career women who inspire other young South Africans to fulfil their potential, recognise their self-worth and find their place in the world,’ the website said.

Source : South African Government News Agency

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Friday reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s determination to address, support and empower more Nigerian youths to excel in their careers.

Shettima said this when he received the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing in Abuja.

The wing was led by the party’s National Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel, during the visit.

He said Tinubu holds Nigerian youths in high esteem, adding that his commitment was evident in his appointments and the administration’s policies and initiatives.

Shettima said some of the initiatives are the Youth Investment Fund, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, and the National Youth Development Bank.

He added that apart from addressing genuine concerns affecting the youths, the administration’s focus on young persons was premised on the trust and confidence Tinubu has in them.

He explained that ‘the youths are the lifeblood of any nation and Mr President acknowledges this fact.

‘I want to assure you tha
t President Bola Tinubu has the best interest of the youths at heart.

‘Tinubu has demonstrated this in most of the programmes that this administration is doing and has undertaken to do.’

The vice-president further expressed confidence in the ability of the present administration to address all concerns raised across different quarters.

He appealed for more time for the government’s plans and programmes to begin to manifest and commended the leadership of the APC youth wing for the commitment and patience.

Shettima gave the assurance that all the group’s requests would be addressed in due course.

Earlier, the APC National Youth Leader had thanked the vice-president ‘for the love and commitment to the affairs of young people in the country.’

He informed Shettima of the body’s programmes aimed at engaging youths in the country, regardless of their socio-political backgrounds.

According to him, the APC Youth Wing has developed a four-year strategic plan to help young Nigerians to understand and overcome ch
allenges.

The plan, he said, would also help the younger generation to harness opportunities across diverse fields within and outside the country.

He listed the Enterprise-Skills Development Training (EDET) Programme, Workplace Readiness and Employability Skills Training Programme (WREST-P), among others, as some of the initiatives to engage youths across the country.

Israel also requested the presence of the vice-president at the forthcoming Progressive Youth Leadership Summit with the theme ‘Shaping the Future We Want: Restiveness, Inclusion, Development, Action.’

Source : News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Li Xuda, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, says tourism volunteers will boost the tourism sector between Nigeria and China if strategically used.

He said it would also strengthen the bilateral cooperation between both countries.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Li made the call during the ‘Nihao China’ Tourism Course 2024 in Abuja.

Li, who is also the Director of the China Cultural Center in Nigeria, said cultural and tourism exchange played special role in social progress and national development.

He also noted that the tourism sector has been described by the UNWTO as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing industries.

‘China and Nigeria are cultural giants with fabulous ancient civilizations and rich tourism resources and to tell this story, it is important to harness the power of tourism volunteers,’ he said.

Li also commended the Nigerian Tourism Volunteers Network for its valuable contribution to the development of the Nigerian tourism industry and the improvement of Nige
ria’s image in the world.

Mrs Nenadi Dogo, Acting Director of the Tourism Department, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, said that investing in capacity building would elevate the quality of tourism services.

She added that it would also ensure that efforts in fostering friendship are successful and sustainable.

Dogo said that to fully unlock the benefits of this exchange, the language barrier between the countries must be addressed.

‘Just as the Silk Road connected diverse civilisations, so too must we connect through a shared language and mutual understanding.

‘While we hope to say ‘Nihao China’ really soon, it is our firm belief that in no distant time, a huge number of Chinese will be saying ‘Barka ka dai Nigeria,’ ‘Ba woni Nigeria,’ or ‘Kedu Nigeria,’ she said.

On his part, Phil Roberts, Director of the Tourism Volunteers Network, said; ‘Our collaboration with China is a strategic step towards harnessing the transformative potential of cultural exchange through volunteers.

‘By merging our passi
on for volunteerism with China’s rich cultural heritage, we aim to create a catalyst for positive change in Africa,’ Roberts said.

Source : News Agency of Nigeria

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has commended MTN Nigeria for donating N1 billion to the Federal Government’s Food Support Programme.

Shettima also thanked the telecommunications company for donating 4,600 units of digital devices for distribution to schools.

The Vice-President made the commendation on Friday when he received the Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Mr Ernest Ndukwe, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the gesture would complement government’s efforts in addressing hardship and indicated its commitment to the development of the Nigerian economy.

‘I am hugely proud of your (MTN’s) stability as a company and commitment to the progress of our country.

‘We have witnessed a couple of changes in the industry, but you have remained stable and strong.

‘ On behalf of my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I want to sincerely thank you for this gesture.’

The Vice-President said the donation by the company would be judiciously managed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Offi
ce of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

On the distribution of 4,600 digital devices, each pre-installed with the U-lesson application, Shettima said the MTN team should liaise with his office to work on the beneficiary criteria.

He also explained that the MTN team and the Office of the Vice-President would facilitate the distribution of the devices to secondary schools in the six geo-political zones.

He expressed confidence that the gesture would go a long way in supporting the government’s efforts to boost the nation’s economy.

According to him, this includes support for the educational needs of the poor and vulnerable.

Shettima, therefore, called on other companies in the country to emulate MTN in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility.

He assured the business community that Tinubu’s administration remained pro-business and its policies would begin to manifest for all to see.

Earlier, Ndukwe said the N1 billion donation was to support the most vulnerable, marginalised, and underserved commu
nities.

This, according to him, will ensure that no one is left behind through increased collaboration and partnership with the Federal Government.

He expressed hope that the devices donated by the company would support the Federal Government’s objective to increase digital literacy in secondary schools.

He added that the devices would improve creativity, analytical thinking, adaptability, and students’ access to current information in science and technology.

He commended the Federal Government for its efforts to revive the economic fortunes of the country through various initiatives rolled out across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

He pledged the company’s support to the present administration, noting that the gesture was in line with MTN Nigeria’s shared value objectives of ‘the AMBITION 2025 strategy.’

‘In the strategy, MTN seeks to support strategic initiatives of the Federal Government.’

Source : News Agency of Nigeria

Unity and pride took center stage at the inaugural Savvy Initiative Recognition Awards (SIRA), celebrating the outstanding achievements and remarkable contributions to development of Africans in the diaspora.

Mr Agod Savage, SIRA Chief Executive Officer /Founder, in a statement, on Friday in Lagos, said the initiative emphasised the importance of unity and pride within the African community.

According to him, SIRA acknowledges individual excellence and galvanises a sense of unity and pride, setting the stage for future leaders.

‘The SIRA Awards aim to become an annual celebration of African excellence, providing a platform for remarkable stories to be heard and inspire positive change.

‘The awards held at The Keep Memory Alive Event Centre in Las Vegas, USA, recognised the awardees contributions to development across various disciplines.

‘The event also spotlights talented industry leaders, advocates, innovators, and community champions,’ he said.

The awardees, including, Joyce Agbanobi, Almaz Negash, a
mong others were all honoured for their philanthropic efforts, outstanding achievements, and impact in history and entertainment.

They were also celebrated for their impacts, positive representations, advocacy, innovation and community engagement.

Joyce Agbanobi, a Nigerian from Delta, who is an enthusiastic Tech Leader, a Data Analytics expert and one of the top 100 women in Tech, Utiva, 2021, was honoured for her passion and commitment to closing the gender gap for women of colour in technology.

Almaz Negash, Founder and Executive Director at African Diaspora Network (ADN), home of the African Diaspora Investment Symposium and a member of the White House Council on Diaspora Engagement is known for her social innovation work.

Negash, who is also the advisor to the United States President Council on Diaspora Affairs, was recognised for empowering entrepreneurs and innovators of African descent, emphasising the power of collective efforts in unlocking greatness.

Others are; Irene Xanderena, an healthcar
e advocate; Bola Adeniyi, a cybersecurity expert; J. Hackett, a social scientist and entrepreneur; Femi Ojo, agile coach and project management expert and Coach J, who was awarded for his influence in technology and humanitarianism.

One of the recipients, Negash reiterated the importance of empowering the African diaspora to succeed.

‘When we come together as a community, we unlock the potential for greatness.

‘Our collective efforts can pave the way for a brighter future for the African diaspora,’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Savvy Initiative is a non-profit organisation with a mission to empower lives through knowledge, community, and recognition.

Its diverse programmes include ‘eMentor’, connecting people worldwide; ‘Youth Tech Connect’, inspiring high schoolers; and ’empowHER’, supporting young girls in Nigeria, nurturing talent and driving positive change.

Source : News Agency of Nigeria

The Rotary Club of Abuja, Kubwa (RCAK), District 9127, says it has concluded plans to sponsor 30 out-of-school children in Abuja by paying their school fees and basic academic needs.

Mrs Olayemi Idowu disclosed this during her investiture as the 10th President of RCAK in Abuja.

According to Idowu, the gesture is to reduce the number of out-of-school children from the streets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

‘We are going to sponsor 30 out-of-school children; we will bring them back to school.

‘We will pay their school fees and provide basic needs such as school bags, sandals and writing materials for them,’ she said.

On health, she urged the government to increase investment in the sector, especially at the grassroots.

According to her, there is poverty in the land and most people at the grassroots cannot afford basic healthcare.

She added that rotary would continue to work with the government in the area of conflict prevention and resolution by partnering with security agencies.

The newly insta
lled president of RCAK, while reeling out the projects she intended to execute during her tenure, said maternal and child health, basic literacy, among others would be her focus.

‘We will assist pregnant women in our adopted community with birthing kits and mosquito nets among others,’ she said.

Commenting on the #Endbadgovernance protest, she urged the youths to embrace dialogue, adding that protest was not the solution to the issues they were protesting against.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Mr Emmanuel David said that the club would embark on projects that would impact on the lives of people of the host community.

The outgone president of the club, Mr Emmanuel Abonta said that in spite of the economic hardship, the club was able to execute a number of projects.

Abonta said the projects included the construction of a traffic post and road rehabilitation at Aso Savings junction in Kubwa, Abuja.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards of excellenc
e to individuals who had distinguished themselves in the area of humanitarian services.

The awardees included, Dr John Gabaya, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Chief Sheriff Agbebaku, the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and Sen. Philip Aduda, former Senate Minority Leader, among others.

Gabaya, who was present at the occasion thanked RCAK for its humanitarian services, especially in Bwari Area Council, and pledged to continue to support the club.

Other awardees were represented at the occasion.

Source : News Agency of Nigeria