WATER & SANITATION...The Swedish government is about to make a huge decision that could vastly improve countless lives around Africa & the world

The Swedish government has newly approved extra funds from their aids budgets to be made available to help countless people get access to water and sanitation globally. In the next few days from now, the government will have to decide on how to spend these funds, meant to help the billions of people suffering from disease and malnutrition, missing school, and dying before the age of 5, because they lack access to safe water and sanitation due to extreme poverty.

Sweden has already committed itself to the movement for global access to water and sanitation. In fact, Sweden committed at the 2015 Global Citizen Festival to provide 60 million people with water and sanitation by 2030. Sweden also listened to Global Citizens when they handed over a petition to its government during Stockholm World Water Week, calling for delivery on its water and sanitation commitment and to maintain its strong contributions to development aid. And it worked. After the petition handover, Sweden announced that it would increase its ambition toward meeting its commitment as well as maintain its strong aid, overturning the precedent set earlier that involved reallocating aid dollars to pay for refugee resettlement costs.

Now Sweden is prioritizing its aid development budget, thanks to the GLOBAL CITIZEN movement petition. Once again, let's encourage the government and make sure they and other capable wealthy countries, organizations, emulates & continue on this path that Global Citizens helped pave.   What better time to announce new support as Swedes and many others around the world prepare for the holiday season.

By giving these funds to organizations with a proven track record on delivering sanitation results at scale, as Sweden continue its leadership in the push for universal water and sanitation. The expectation is that NGO’s / Charity organizations in Africa, with proven track records on delivering on water & sanitation would key in to tap from these funds for a great impact on the continent.  

Source {Talia and the Global Citizen Team}

Nigerian Customs Service Officials on the highways this festive season.

Ehizibue Suzy   took to her Facebook account to share her thoughts on the activities of the Nigerian Customs Service Officials on the highways this festive season.  . Read what she wrote after the cut...

 

Please if you plan to travel with your vehicle (that was imported less than 6 years ago) I plead that you pause and think about those sheets of paper known as "custom papers".The Nigerian Customs Service officials are not smiling; they are very willing to impound your vehicle for any irregularity on your custom papers, you then have to discharge all your personal effects from your vehicle and look for alternative transportation means of returning to your base or continue to your destination. This option is often after you and your vehicle have been detained, you would be of course offered bail but with attendant tough conditions – remember you are probably about 300km away from your base and about 250km to your destination – meeting those conditions is no tea party.

By the time you get to the compound / warehouse, humility would have become your second nature and anything they tell you, you will be in a hurry to comply. You will probably also understand that your case is small and insignificant when you see the assortment of exotic vehicles already impounded, and you hear people discussing the imminent forfeiture of some of those exotic vehicles to the Government.

My Christmas advice to all who might fall into this group is to please take your custom papers to any customs formation to confirm the validity of the documents you have, first they would likely check to see if adequate duty was paid then they would also check if the said duty was actually paid. If you have a friend that works with the Customs service better ask the person to help you check your documents before you set off rather than call them to help you beg when you have been caught.

The sad fact is that all these issues are caused by the collusion of some Customs officials and clearing agents, then another set of Customs officials would deal with your situation on the highway.We currently have about seven (7) Customs check point between Ijebu-Ode and Asaba. The experience is not what you would wish your enemy, especially not during the end of year festivities. Wish everyone a wonderful and blissful festive period, as you drive safe to arrive alive.

Best Model Nigeria winner Ejiro Joy Akpokiniovo wins the 29th edition of Best Model of the World

 Best Model Nigeria winner Ejiro Joy Akpokiniovo wins the 29th edition of Best Model of the World Shortly after winning the Best Model Nigeria 2016 modeling contest, Modelslink organizers of the Best Model Nigeria contest sent the winner and the first runner up Ejiro Joy Akpokiniovo and Pamela Orizu accompanied by the Nigerian National Director Mrs Augustina OKITIAKPE to the Best Model of The World contest to represent Nigeria as their prize.

Best Model of The World grand finals held on the 3rd of December in Istanbul Turkey with models from over 40 countries participating.  Best Model of the World is one of the world biggest modeling contest for male and female from all over the world. In its last 29 year, it has produced many international models one of whom is Naomi Campbell. The competition which showcase the models in their casuals, Traditional costumes, swimwear and dinner appearance.

Ejiro Joy Akpokiniovo the Nigeria representative came top in the female category of the contest beating other contestants from Europe, America, Asia and other African countries represented while Pamela Orizu was the Best Catwalk Model of The World.

Modelslink owners of the Best Model of The World franchise in Nigeria has used this platform to empower many Nigeria youths in the Modeling / Fashion industry in Nigeria and it has also been a very good medium of promoting Nigeria rich culture and tourism potentials to the outside world. Modelslink in the last six years has used the platform to send Nigerian models to countries like Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, USA, Egypt, Dubai (UAE) and United Kingdom. 

Through these achievements, Nigeria currently has the right to host the world in 2017. We are therefore using this medium to call on the government, cooperate, media  organizations and well meaning Nigerians to support this great event because it has the potentials that will help change the perception of Nigeria image and promote our rich cultural heritage.