On May 4, Nigeria’s federal government gradually started easing a five-week lockdown in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos State, along with Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory. The aim was to gradually reopen some businesses, with a view to eventually fully re-opening critical sectors of the economy. Laila Johnson-Salami, a 23-year-old Correspondent from Lagos, Nigeria, …

Lagos: Lock down or open up? Read More »

This has not been the best of times for Africa’s largest economy. Even before the Coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices hit them, Nigerians knew that Vision 20:2020 would not be realized this year. Omeye Chimaobi Kenechukwu, a 24-years-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria argues that it is unacceptable that yet again, his country has failed …

Nigeria’s lost 2020 vision Read More »

Can any good come from a global pandemic that has devastated economies, crippled the health sector, left more than 380,000 dead and thrown millions into poverty? Erandi Thanippuliarachchi, a 27-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Sri Lanka, looks at some of the silver linings coming out of COVID-19 in her home country, including an initiative cultivate paddy …

COVID-19: The silver lining Read More »

It may sound bizarre for one to say that the coronavirus pandemic has a positive side, but it does. How about we take a small break from discussing the negative effects of COVID-19 and examine the flipside of the pandemic on Nigeria, writes Commonwealth Correspondent Folmi Yohanna, 29, from Abuja in Nigeria. What gains can COVID-19 provide to …

COVID-19: Time to reboot in Nigeria? Read More »

Coronavirus has brought more than the risk of physical illness. It poses a real threat to mental health due to the fear, panic, stress, and anxiety, that many people are suffering from, writes Omer Fayshal Pavel, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since its discovery in November 2019, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread to …

Staying mentally fit for the fight Read More »

Education and skills-building have been among the first casualties of the coronavirus pandemic. As social distancing continues to challenge training and learning, and with unemployment at an all-time high, 28-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent Sherita Sharma from Suva, Fiji, explores what opportunities young people have for skills-building both during and after COVID-19. Investing in youth by building …

Youth skills in a post COVID–19 Pacific Read More »

Securing a job is often daunting even for those with the requisite skills and qualifications, but it gets worse if you’re applying for a job for which you are not trained. 27 year old Wathsaridu Karunarathna, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Sri Lanka argues that more young people in his country need to be trained to …

Sri Lanka’s youth falling into the skills gap Read More »