OLU IBEKWE

Kola nuts have only just begun to make an appearance in the western world, but they have a lengthy history of use throughout West Africa. The cultural, religious and spiritual importance runs deep throughout countries like Nigeria and Niger. Perhaps originally chewed during social occasions, and to alleviate moments of hunger, the kola nut now has deep spiritual meaning. It’s used throughout religious ceremonies to aid in divination, prayer, communication with ancestors, and during funeral ceremonies. It was brought outside of West Africa in the 1800’s by a man named John Pemberton. He was a pharmacist responsible for the creation of the original cola flavored (the word cola comes from Kola nut) carbonated soda. Originally the soda was created with kola nuts, coca leaves and sugar and had strictly a medicinal purpose. However, considering coca is now a banned substance, it’s not surprising that the recipe quickly changed in order to become the cola we see sold everywh...

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has said that the lack of political will by African leaders to implement good policies is harming the continent. He indicated that most of Africa’s challenges persist “not because of a lack of knowledge, plans or technical solutions but a lack of political will”. The Chairman of the Africa Progress Panel made these remarks at the closing ceremony of the 52nd Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Board of Governors. Mr Annan, who could not make the trip to India, said in a video recording that, contrary to the perception that the continent is underdeveloped, Africa “is not poor but a wealthy continent”. He said “economic growth has taken root in recent years” but African governments are failing to convert the growth into opportunities for their people. He emphasised that the continent needs an economic transformation that harnesses growth for many rather than the benefit of a few. For him, a new sense of...

Colon cancer is the third – most leading cancer in the world. Fewer than one million cases are recorded every year. It’s terrifying, isn’t it? With the help of a few easy tips, you can avoid colon cancer and protect yourself from the polyp cells which sometimes, changes into cancerous cells. Symptoms Easily Overlooked Diarrhea or constipation Changes in stool consistency Narrow stools Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool Pain, cramps, or gas in the abdomen Pain during bowel movements Continual urges to defecate Weakness or fatigue Unexplained weight loss Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)  Routinal Steps To Avoid This Growth 1. Proper Vitamin D and Calcium :- Getting a proper calcium efficient diet, like, 1.2 – 1 mg for both women and men is essential. Vitamin D should be taken— 600 IU/ day. Get in the sun, or get it from your dairy foods, like, eggs, milk, yogurt, etc. but try to add an ample amount of Vit. D and calcium in ...

It is usually teenagers who love to consume sugary and energizing drinks that we can find in supermarkets. However, it’s beverage contain large amounts of additives, sweeteners, artificial flavor and many other ingredients that are toxic to the body. Excessive consumption of this type of drink could cause the development of a health problem, some of which could be fatal. In this article we share with you the story of a teenager who succumbed to death after consuming these famous drinks. A dangerous cocktail to banish from its refrigerator Davis Cripe was a 16-year-old who had a very normal life. He was studying at the Spring Hill High School in South Carolina when the drama unfolded. He loved his friends and his family very much and was known for his sense of humor. Like many teenagers, Davis consumed sugary drinks, sodas and other energy drinks. But the young man did not know that it was going to be fatal to him. It was on April 26th that the young man after consu...

This is amazing and coming in at the very tight time! As Europe seems to be threatening to fall apart and the US is tightening it’s borders Africa is opening up. The African Union wrote in a statement last year: The Twenty seventh (27th) Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government kicked off on 17 July 2016 at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), Rwanda, with a strong call for unity and love for the continent. The opening ceremony was marked by a symbolic act of Pan-Africanism with the launch of the African Union (AU) passport aimed at facilitating the free movement of people on the continent. H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, Chairperson of the AU and President of the Republic of Chad, and President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda received the first passports handed to them by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. “I feel deeply and proudly a true son of Africa after receiving this passport”, said Pres...

Guinea’s president, who also serves as African Union (AU) chairman, has called on African countries to “cut the umbilical chord with France” so as to initiate the continent’s development. Speaking at the 12th International Salon of Agriculture, held in Morocco’s northern city of Meknes late Monday, Alpha Conde harshly criticized western countries — singling out France in particular — for what he described as their policy of interfering in African domestic affairs, Anadolu Agency reported. “Western countries should no longer dictate what we should do,” he said, going on to assert: “Africa must define its own path to development.” “No one should decide for Africa,” he said. “It is true that there are universal principles governing democracy, but it is important to allow African countries adapt these principles to their conditions.” Referring to the experiences of certain Asian countries, Conde said that Southeast Asia — especially Malaysia — had managed to develop the...

The Permanent Representative Committee  and the Executive Committee of the African Union have both expressed concern the slow pace at which member states respond to ratify and domestic the AU legal instruments. Speaking at the Press Conference on the 28th January, the  President of the Pan African Parliament said the 2017 theme of the African Union Summit; “harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the youth” is an excellent reminder to respective legislatures to lay proper foundation if Africa is to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030, as well as the African Union Agenda 2063. " The apparent slow ratification of the Pan African Parliament (PAP)’s new protocol by African states; some three years after the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government adopted the protocol is of grave concern to the continental Parliament. The Pan African Parliament is currently unable to play its expected pivotal role of prom...