Fast food is a growing presence among food options, but Ashley Foster-Estwick, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados, raises concerns about what it means for health and nutritional literacy. It is fast, processed, reasonably priced and often times delicious. If it takes you a little longer to figure out the answer to my opening line, …

“Fast food marketing targets children” Read More »

Despite being outlawed in May 2015, the advocacy to end female genital cutting in Nigeria may take longer than anticipated, writes Sola Abe, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria. Female Genital Cutting in Nigeria is an age-long tradition that is rooted in deep cultural beliefs. It is still being done in many societies, …

“Why FGM may be difficult to end in Nigeria” Read More »

Positive projections for economic growth are misleading as long as infrastructure improvements ignore the capacity to improve the rural economy, writes Munguongeyo Ivan, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kampala, Uganda. Uganda’s economic outlook report 2017 as usual projected that the economy would grow by five per cent in real terms before accelerating to six per …

“More rural investment could boost economy” Read More »

Elections give citizens a voice, but Lyn-Marie Blackman, a Commonwealth Correspondent alumni from Barbados, argues for methods to hold politicians accountable to citizens during the term of office. An election is a process that many of us all over this globe have gotten familiar with over time. Many of us go to the polls seeking …

“Do set terms of office serve the electorate?” Read More »

Aisha Anne Habiba, 28, a Correspondent from Mombasa in Kenya, uses the DRC as an example of the convincing evidence that conflict is a cause of poverty: a global situation that has become commonplace in contemporary society.  In his book, The Bottom Billion, Oxford professor Paul Collier provides a detailed description of people living in deplorable conditions …

“Blood minerals: the paradox of the Congo” Read More »

Child begging has almost become a culture thing in Northern Nigeria and is a normal feature in other states, writes Musa Temidayo, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria, who recently had a first-hand look at the lives of the children involved. Children between the ages of three to 15 roam the streets of Nigeria, sometimes in …

“Child beggars and the Almajiris” Read More »

Examining the myths behind epilepsy takes on a personal meaning for Ashlee Burnett, 20, a Correspondent from Couva in Trinidad. We were introduced to each other when I was 16 years old. Before that, I heard it in a dance hall song, ““Hold mi like yuh really, really, really, really miss me Baby, yuh move …

“Epilepsy awareness with the colour purple” Read More »

A proposition for a third party on the national stage has introduced a new element in Nigerian politics and interesting time for the electorate, writes Nnadozie Onyekuru, 29, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria now studying in the USA. There is much ado in Nigeria over the electoral viability of a potential political platform that would …

“Politics facing strategic change in Nigeria” Read More »

The Brexit vote could usher in a new trade opportunity for the Commonwealth, writes Muhammed Badamasi, 22, a Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria, who calls for the issue to be discussed at this months’ CHOGM. In June 2016, Britain conducted a referendum where British citizens decided on the fate of Britain’s continued membership in the European …

“The Commonwealth as a trading block” Read More »

A recent election gave Ariana Joseph, 18, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Antigua and Barbuda, opportunity to reflect on the factors that can help build a strong and secure future. Recently, the nation of Antigua and Barbuda was called to action to determine which of the political parties would lead the twin island state for the …

“Powering towards our common future” Read More »