What began as a Christmas carnival has grown into a massive celebration of Africa’s culture and heritage, writes Adebayo Victor, 25, a Correspondent from Ibadan in Nigeria, who attended this year’s Calabar festival in Nigeria. Since 2004 a festival that started as a Christmas celebration for local residents has grown in leaps and bounds to …

“A stratospheric display of Africa’s culture” Read More »

Akande Olanrenwaju Kabiru started the ‘Clippers and Pegs’ laundry and barber business when he was admitted into Obafemi Awolowo University. Oluwafemi Ogunjobi, 21, a Correspondent from Gbongan in Nigeria, ran into him, and discovered his joy of washing his colleagues’ wears.  When Kabiru Olanrenwaju Akande bagged a National Diploma at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), …

"I barb, I wash my colleagues' clothes for money" Read More »

Political and administrative drama is shaking up Nigeria’s government, writes Abubakar Umar, 24, a Correspondent from Katsina in Nigeria, who argues the political awakening is an opportunity for positive leadership. The change of tune in the politics of Nigeria has immensely reshuffled the dancing structure of the key players and the usual path of the …

"Pace of hope changes for Nigeria's democracy" Read More »

Africa needs fresh leadership to solve persistent problems, writes Abubakar Umar, 24, a Correspondent from Katsina in Nigeria, as he argues for youth to be given leadership opportunity. The youths are the leaders of tomorrow, they say. This saying I have known since infancy and I have been wondering if that’s true in its real …

"Are youths the leaders of tomorrow – or today?" Read More »

Whistle blowers uncover corruption and government abuse, writes Abubakar Umar, 24, a Correspondent from Katsina in Nigeria, sometimes earning reward for their work. He argues that Nigeria needs laws to protect those who expose problems at high levels. In 1777, a midshipman in the United States Continental Navy by the name Samuel Shaw, together with …

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Sport can unite people across ethnic and social divides and be a welcome respite for book-weary students, writes Oluwafemi Ogunjobi, 21, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Gbongan in Nigeria as he describes a massive event hosted by his university. Especially in Nigeria, a country with a diverse religion and ethnic set up, sport is regarded as …

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Technology start-up companies could offset youth unemployment that is growing at an estimated one million a year, writes Ayo Morakinyo, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria, but entrepreneurs need infrastructure help at the government level. Recent statistics on youth unemployment have shown that millions of young people in Nigeria are still unemployed and more than …

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Education is vital to the development of third world countries, writes Musa Temidayo, 23, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria, who offers solutions to some of the problems facing Nigeria’s education system. The Longman Dictionary of contemporary English defines education as “the process by which your mind develops through learning at school, college or university; the knowledge …

"Quality education depends on workable policies" Read More »

The abduction of Nigerian school girls is an atrocity, writes Lyn-Marie Blackman, 27, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Bridgetown, Barbados, as she calls for world-wide support to reunite the affected families. In the country of Nigeria several young school girls were kidnapped in the month of April. The continent of Africa has had several traumatic, eventful occurrences …

"Join voices to seek justice: #BringBackOurGirls" Read More »

Ayo Morakinyo, 26, an electrical engineer and Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria, argues that parents need help to take better responsibility for their children and encourage them to actually be in school, where they can learn the skills that will set them up for life. There is a group of six girls I sometimes see when …

"Uneducated parents need help with parenting" Read More »