What's Going On? Eyes on Africa and the Caribbean

This episode is dedicated to the memory of the late Abimbola Ogubanjo, former head of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and an esteemed figure in Nigerian corporate law, who died in a helicopter crash in California on February 9. The crash also claimed the lives of the CEO of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and son. Their legacy continues to resonate around the world. Our conversation with Abi, a pivotal force in Nigeria's legal landscape, sheds light on the transformation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the evolving specialization within the legal profession. Abi's unique journey from banking to becoming a cornerstone in Nigeria's oldest indigenous law firm is an odyssey that mirrors the country's own legal metamorphosis. The narrative then shifts to the frontlines of Nigeria's capital market, where the digital revolution is making waves. We peel back the layers of MTN's digital IPO success and scrutinize the strategies that could magnetize foreign investment to Nigeria. Join us in the conversation about infrastructure, foreign exchange stabilization, and the pivotal question of privatization. As we cast our gaze towards Nigeria's horizon, we consider the unmined potential of Nigeria's youthful populace and the fintech sector's explosive growth. We explore the profound link between taxation, quality governance, and the social contract that underpins Nigeria's society's fabric. Abi's conversation not only covers the intersections of political stability and economic sustainability, but he also shares a deeply personal crusade against cervical cancer, reminding us that behind every statistic, there's a human story waiting to be told.

When your career is no longer fulfilling, it's time to explore how to switch it or ditch it, says author, human resources expert and executive coach Dr. Shelley Cameron, who joins us to illuminate the path to success and work-life balance. Dr. Cameron unpacks her empowering book, "Your Career: Ditch It or Switch It," which not only provides insight into the success strategies of African American and Caribbean American leaders but also doubles as a practical workbook for your own journey. If you're at a crossroads in your career, seeking to navigate through the complexities of leadership, or simply searching for a blueprint to self-directed achievement, tune in. Dr. Cameron says: “The top signs to identify when it is time to leave your job: If you identify with any of these signs, it might be time to ditch that job!” Dr. Cameron explains the decision-making process necessary to determine the right moment to make a career switch and the strategic steps necessary to ensure a smooth transition. Finally, this episode tackles the complexities of leadership and self-leadership, providing insight into handling difficult bosses and fostering a positive workplace environment in a post-COVID-19 landscape. Join us, and arm yourself with the knowledge to steer your career course with confidence.

Ever wanted to decode the mysteries of the Caribbean fantasy genre? Our riveting exchange with author Maurice M McCallum gives you an insider's glimpse into this captivating world in his novel, "Return of the Owl." In an intricate blend of Jamaican folklore and fantasy, McCallum weaves the tale of the Ol Hige, a shape-shifting witch, alongside three young protagonists on a quest to uncover a nefarious secret. McCallum speaks candidly about his passion to exert Caribbean stories and perspectives in the fantasy realm, ensuring a rich, diverse narrative. "Return of the Owl" by Maurice M. McCallum is available now on Amazon online bookstore. Grab your copy today!

Several traumatic experiences encouraged Jamaican author, Kadian Snow, to follow her therapist's advice to write about her experiences. Four books later, Kadian is living her best life and looking to help others to heal through writing by coaching writers through the process of writing. Her books, all of which are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, include: Black Woman is Queen: Pamper Up "encompasses self-care and self-love tips for Black Women all over the world to start incorporating in their daily life in order to take care of ourselves a lot better in this ever-changing world." F@ck Him and Keep it Moving, deals with life after divorce and domestic abuse. The book, Kadian said "was written at a time in my life when I was going through an illness and a divorce while living in a new country." Kadian draws from her own experience to write the book The Silent "P" which she says "highlights a hidden problem in our society today, Period Poverty. This is where girls are unable to afford sanitary products. Many young girls miss school as a result of it because they can’t buy sanitary napkins."

Dr. Catherine Ngila, Africa's leading expert on water technology, is on a mission to make clean drinking water a reality for people in Africa, particularly those in rural areas, but accomplishing that goal will require more than just her scientific skills and prowess. In the meantime, she is also devoting her energy to helping African girls and women become leaders in science and technology. The Kenyan-born scientist is the head of the Chemical Sciences Department at the University of Johannesburg. Her work focuses on applying nanotechnology for water purification. Dr. Ngila is passionate about water research. Why? Because “Water is life! Nanotechnology can play a vital role in water purification techniques. My dream is to produce a commercially viable water nano-filter that removes contaminants in one filtration cycle, enabling rural African families to install affordable water filters in their homes.”

In December 1994, a peace concert took place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, during a civil war. You won’t find much information about it online, but you will find the story on Afropop Worldwide and here on Eyes on Africa, courtesy of Afropop Worldwide. In this episode, Yinka Rickford-Anguin delves into the story behind the making of Jamaa Fest and gives us a first-hand account of the show’s inception, evolution, aftermath, and legacy by one of the primary organizers of the concert in 1994. Jamaa Fest, Sierra Leone’s Forgotten Festival, first aired on Afropop Closeup, Afropop.org, in September 2022. It was Produced and Narrated by Yinka Rickford-Anguin. Producer & Narrator: Yinka Rickford-Anguin Artists: Abdul Tee-Jay; Culture; King Masco Country: Sierra Leone

This episode features Segun Johnson, a young entrepreneur, who explains the struggles of small business owners in the tech industry in Nigeria. Segun owns Johnsonscode, a digital agency that does web development, graphic designs, and branding. Johnsonscode services clients from all over the world. It's no secret that entrepreneurism is the backbone of a growing economy. Over the years, entrepreneurism has fueled the economies of countries such as India, China, Brazil, and many Eastern European countries. Yet for the most part, despite its enormous youth population and high smartphone usage, many African countries lag behind. In Nigeria, for example, where the information communication and technology sector is one of the fastest growing, according to a 2021 report by the Center for Global Development for the World Bank. In 2020, despite the COVID 19 pandemic, the tech industry contributed 15% of Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP), second only to agriculture. And this trend has been growing over the last five years. The sector grew by 18% between 2016 and 2019. According to the report, this growth has positioned Nigeria as the largest tech market on the African continent with 90 tech hubs and a growing and vibrant customer base. The report estimates that the sector will add at least $88 billion to the economy by 2027. Yet, this growth hasn't translated into jobs for Nigeria's growing youth population. In fact, in 2017, the sector only employed 497,000 people or 1% of the population. So what's going on? The report suggests that one problem is a lack of digital skills among the youth population. We put the question to our guest, Shagun Johnson. To find out how he's coping and what's going on. If you are interested in supporting Segun's business, you can contact the company by email at Info@johnsonscode.com.ng. Or by phone at: +234 8100852872. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review, and subscribe to our podcast. If you are interested in being a guest on the show or you would like to recommend a possible guest, please contact us on our website to let us know.

In 2015, The New York State Common Retirement Fund, one of the largest US Pension Funds began investing in Africa-- with plans to invest as much as 3% of its assets on projects on the continent in the next five years to diversify its portfolio and boost returns. The New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS) may be following suit, according to Gregory Floyd, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 237 union and a NYCERS trustee. In this episode, Floyd discusses NYCERS’ investment possibilities in Africa and why he is committed to making it happen.

In this episode, we talk to Scott Hilton Clarke of Trinidad and Tobago. Scott is the Founder and Managing Partner of Inspiration Laboratories, a firm that is focused on advancing early-stage ventures and helping later-stage companies expand internationally. For over 25 years, Scott has been advising and inspiring senior executives and entrepreneurs to raise their level of personal leadership effectiveness. His work has revolved around helping leaders “find that thing which makes their heart sing,” and inspiring others to achieve their goals, dreams, and aspirations. Scott points out that: 1. Employees of his clients frequently complain that their “their leader would go on a leadership course or have the latest leadership book on their desk, by the way, there are over 70,000 books on leadership on Amazon, yet when the leader comes back from these courses they don't have any experience of them being a better leader.” 2. “A big part of what I do is helping leaders have what I call presence. It’s helping them own what makes them great. I help them find their music. I have observed that when they are able to own what makes them unique, [and discover] what their music is, they're able to have presence as a leader.” 3. Scott’s focus is on helping his clients “find their music”, which he defines as [00:05:00] “the intersection of one's talent, one's passions and then what makes one unique. And those three windows, three domains come together. It really makes you out in a really powerful way…Your music is the dynamic expression of what’s inside of you.” 4. Scott, who has clients all over the world—from the U.S, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, identified Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley as an example of a leader with presence; a leader who has found her music, and as a result is able to excite and empower those around her and beyond. Check out Prime Minister Mottley's speech at #COP26 in Nov. 2021 https://youtu.be/rhlcN3_9tvw To learn more about Scott Hilton Clarke or to inquire about his executive coaching, leadership development, training, management consulting, and Diversity & Inclusion training services, check out the links below https://scotthiltonclarke.com/ https://mpath.global/ https://tedxportofspain.com/portfolio/scott-hilton-clarke/

Global African Business Association, led by President and CEO Akindele Akinyemi, is on a mission to foster a pipeline for two-way business opportunities in community development between investors in Africa and those in the United States. Global African Business Association (GABA) accomplishes this by becoming a business education, business support network for African- and African-American-based businesses and investors and linking them with a municipality in Michigan and other cities in the United States and cities on the African continent. According to Mr. Akinyemi: "We come in as an organization to explain to those stakeholders and say, listen, you need a pipeline to help you get into this country. You need to understand the visa process. You need to understand investor visas. ...And we help them navigate that process to showcase the opportunities and that your nation can play ball in a city like Inkster or a city like Romulus, Michigan, or Detroit. "

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to batter economies worldwide, people around the world are reassessing the state of affairs and their country's wellbeing. In November 2021, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the head of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), hosted the first annual NGX Capital Markets Conference that brought together leading policymakers, financial experts, business leaders, investors, international development partners, and regulators to brainstorm ways to elevate the capital markets in Nigeria. Specifically, the conference explored ways to increase the collaboration among key players in the nation’s economy in order to drive productive investments that would accelerate an elevated and digitized capital market. This episode features Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, formerly the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Abi, as his friends call him, discusses the opportunities and challenges for business and government in Nigeria, including the growth industries in Nigeria going into the future. Abi recently engineered and oversaw the transition of the 60-year-old Nigerian Stock Exchange into what it is today with the goal of making, access to market easier. As a demutualized entity, NGX, Mr. Ogunbanjo said is looking to: NXE just launched a company called NG Clearing, which is a clearinghouse for derivatives. "There are a number of areas that we're looking to strengthen our core in data and analytics and technology services, and to form strategic partnerships with fintechs." According to Abi Ogunbanjo, the conference is "the beginning of the dialogue that the exchange is having with its stakeholders because we believe that it requires a collective effort to improve the fortunes of the exchange on the economy."

The story of Roy Hastick is not your typical immigrant story. On arriving in New York from his native Grenada in the early 1970s, Roy had a dream beyond just improving his own economic status. His dream was to create access to business opportunities and wealth for people, particularly those in underserved communities so that their families have a chance to grow and to develop successfully. Roy Hastick accomplished his dreams and more before he passed away in April 2020. In this episode, his daughter, Camille, talks about her father's legacy and the brand new development of commercial and housing space on Flatbush Avenue and Caton Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, which is now the home of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce. As CEO of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce, Roy Hastick created the project to be The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce Trade Center. Roy Hastick's Trade Center was officially dedicated in his honor on November 24, 2021. From starting out as a doorman to leading trade missions to the Caribbean region and representing the U.S. at the UN on economic development and business issues, Roy Hastick's story is a powerful story and one you will want to listen to.

In this episode, What's Going On? Eyes on Africa and the Caribbean brings you powerful and inspirational messages about life and happiness from Sandra Elaine Scott, an award-winning American author of adult and children’s books. Her much-acclaimed book, Mañana Starts Today! is an Amazon bestseller. She has appeared on several national and local news shows to discuss her books and other projects. She is a dynamic international speaker and coach who shares her joy of writing and life lessons. And being a boss author. Her best-selling strategies make her a highly sought-after presenter to speak to diverse audiences. Sandra Elaine Scott’s mission is to inspire joy and transforms lives with empowering messages and move people to action. If you enjoyed what you heard today, you can learn more about Ms. Scott’s work and services at her website and social media sites: Website: sandraelainescott.com Instagram: Sandrasvision Twitter: @SandraElaineSco Facebook: Sandrasvision1 You can purchase her books from her website or at your favorite online bookstore. If would like to contact Ms. Scott as a keynote speaker, or for coach services, you can reach her at: Email: sandra@sandraelainescott.com

We continue our conversation with Dr. Fiona Vernal about an oral history project on the life and times of early West Indian settlers in the State of Connecticut. Dr. Vernal is an Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies, and Director of the Center for Engaged, Public, Oral, and Community Histories (EPOCH) at the University of Connecticut. In our previous episode, Dr. Vernal talked to us about her research and current exhibit called The Caribbean Mosaic: A Home Away From Home, which is an oral history of the Caribbean migration to Connecticut beginning in the 1940s. The exhibit opened on June 23rd in Hartford, Connecticut. In this episode, we're talking about some of the challenges facing this aging community of former migrant workers and their legacy, including: How to preserve the institutions they created Intervention to establish a functional and more updated leadership structure to advocate for and build financial support for the institutions. Encouraging the younger generation to embrace and protect the legacy Biography Dr. Fiona Vernal is Jamaican and grew up in Trenton, New Jersey. She is a graduate of Princeton and Yale, and teaches courses on pre-colonial, and colonial Africa, the history of South Africa, slavery, and the African diaspora. In addition to creating a number of exhibits on her research, including the one we are discussing today, The Caribbean Mosaics, Dr. Vernal has written extensively on her research and consults with the Connecticut Historical Society on oral history projects. Her current exhibit, “A Home Away From Home” is an oral history of the migration of West Indians to Connecticut.

This is part one of two episodes on The Caribbean Mosaics: A Home Away from Home in which Fiona Vernal, professor of History and Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut, explains how West Indians became the largest ethnic group in one New England State. In this episode, Dr. Vernel takes us through the history of the West Indian Social Club and the migrant workers from the West Indies who founded it when they settled in the region in the 1940s. They came as guest workers from all over the Caribbean. Facing discrimination, they founded their own social, religious, and athletic organizations as autonomous cultural spaces and networks beginning with the West Indian Social Club in 1950, followed by the Caribbean American Society, the Barbados American Society, the Trinidad & Tobago American Society, the Jamaica Progressive League, the St Lucia American Society and the Cricket Hall of Fame among others. The Social Club is a veritable treasure trove of memories that documents the lives and experiences of the farmworkers. Dr. Vernal started preserving these memories through an exhibition in collaboration with the Connecticut historical society. "It has been a long-term goal of mine to build on that experience from the 1940s and continue the oral history project and then share and showcase the oral histories. So that's what we are doing now, " said Dr. Vernal. She added: "This pandemic has demonstrated to us how critical foreign guest workers are to the infrastructure of this country. And I think that with renewed attention on the fact that folks are coming here, a lot of them are invited here and they make really important contributions to our food security and to our economic prosperity and productivity. And I want to do something to showcase the origins of those programs in the 1940s. The latest exhibit called the Caribbean Mosaic opens on June 23, 2021, at the West Indian Social Club in Hartford Connecticut. You can also view it online at: https://www.caribbeanmosaics.com/ If you are interested in supporting the Oral History project or would like to borrow the exhibit for your own showing, contact: Dr. Fiona Vernal Associate Professor History and Africana Studies Director, Engaged, Public, Oral, and Community Histories (EPOCH) University of Connecticut (203)-687-3479 http://history.uconn.edu/faculty-by-name/fiona-vernal/ Let us know what you think. Leave What's Going On? Eyes on Africa and the Caribbean a review on the podcast platform.

This is Part 2 of two episodes on the British Government's immigration policy called the "Hostile Environment Policy " that targeted UK's Black immigrant population and forced the deportation of thousands of Caribbean and African immigrants. In our last episode, British lawyer and University Law Lecturer, Colin Bobb-Semple explained what is now known as the Windrush Scandal, what caused it, and how UK’s Caribbean population from the Windrush Generation became victims of a "Hostile Environment Policy" even though they were legal citizens of the UK. In this episode. we continue our conversation with Colin Bobb-Semple who discusses the devastating impact of the immigration policy on the lives of generations of British citizens from the Caribbean and Africa and explains why the UK's Hostile Environment Policy remains a threat to Black Britons even as government leaders acknowledge that they were wrong and the policy was bad.

This is Part 1 of two episodes on the British Government's immigration policy called the "Hostile Environment Policy" instituted under then Home Secretary Theresa May, who later became prime minister. The "Hostile Environment Policy" targeted UK's Black immigrant population and forced the deportation of thousands of immigrants from the Caribbean, many from the Windrush generation who had entered the United Kingdom legally and at the invitation of the British Government in 1948 to help rebuild the country after its devastation during World War 2. In this episode, our guest, British lawyer, lecturer, and author Colin Bobb Semple helps us to understand how Theresa May's racist immigration policy called the Windrush Hostile Environment policy targeted the Black community and led to the deportation of countless people of the Caribbean and African descent from the UK from 2014 onward. We learn what is the Windrush, and the Hostile Environment Policy, what took place in the UK, and why the Windrush forced deportations occurred. Colin is an experienced law lecturer tutor, accredited advocacy trainer. He trained prospective barristers as a Senior Lecturer at the City Law School, City University in London for over 20 years. He was awarded the lifetime award by the Black Solicitors Network Group in 2007 for contributions to legal practice and legal education. He also received teaching excellence awards by the City Law School, City University, London, and was a law revision consultant. And he's going to explain what that is to the government of Guyana from 2010 to 2012. He has authored several books, including "English, Common Law, African Enslavement, and Human Rights" in 2012, "Race, Jail, and Bail" in 2012, as well as numerous articles including "English, Common Law, Slavery and Human Rights" in 2007.

In this episode, Alex Martin an African Caribbean medical student at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra /Northwell Hospital in New York discusses telemedicine and how it has been aiding the COVID-19 pandemic, based on research from his recently published co-authored article: Wound Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Improving Outcomes Through the Integration of Telemedicine. The following is the abstract for the article by Alisha Oropallo, MD, FACS; John Lantis, MD, FACS; Alexander Martin; Ammar Al Rubaiay; Na Wang in the Journal of Wound Care, Vol. 30, No. Sup2., February 11, 2021. COVID-19 is highly contagious and its rapid spread burdens the healthcare system. As the number of confirmed cases goes up, the shortage of medical resources has become a challenge. To avoid the collapse of the healthcare system during the fight with COVID-19, all healthcare workers, including wound care practitioners, should adapt to new roles and use any appropriate methods available to slow the spread of the virus. Integrating telemedicine into wound care during the outbreak helps maintain social distancing, preserve personal protective equipment and medical resources, and eliminate unnecessary exposure for both vulnerable patients and high-risk healthcare workers. A graduate in Neuroscience at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, Alex Martin went on to complete a master's degree in biology at NYU before attending the Zucker Hofstra School of Medicine. Working with Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Oropallo, director of the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center, Department of Vascular Surgery, Northwell Health, NY, Alex Martin said the article describes how the healthcare system will change in response to how COVID affects what you can see in person, who you can see in person; and how you take care of those patients. "Because one of the things that is really important, especially for something like wound care is that you really need to see these patients and their wounds to make sure that they're being treated effectively to prevent infection, especially as many of these patients often have some kind of underlying C's condition, diabetes, hypertension, and these things can make wound healing a lot worse." Telemedicine gives medical providers the ability to visualize and see changes in the patient without having to have them in the office when they can't be in the office. The article discusses some of the barriers to actually implementing telemedicine technologies and how do we get around them and how to adjust them for older, less tech-savvy patients and in acute settings as COVID raged.

In today's episode, we are talking to LoriAnne Jones about her work as one of few Black women in the field of architecture in the United States and her efforts to bring in candidates from underserved communities into the profession through long-term mentoring. LoriAnne is a licensed architect, and project manager at DIGroup Architecture, one of the largest black-owned firms. DIGroup is driven by the philosophy of architecture for change. During her 14-year professional career, she's been responsible for design through delivery of a variety of projects, including those in K-12, higher education, the healthcare industry with a focus on community health center design With her affinity for design technology, Lorianne has helped strengthen her firm's capabilities in Building Information Modeling and Information Technology to grow the firm's competitive advantage.

In this episode, we talk to Mark Dalgety, an entrepreneur, founder, and CEO of Dalgety Herbal Teas in the UK. The company is said to be one of the most successful Caribbean-owned businesses in Europe. Dalgety Herbal Teas muscled its way into the highly competitive and well-established tea markets in 1993. Dalgety Herbal Teas and other natural products are sold worldwide from China to Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. And, of course, in the UK where the company is headquartered. Guyanese born and raised, Mark Dalgety earned his degree in chemical engineering in the UK. His venture into the tea business started as an opportunity to make some quick money part-time while visiting Guyana, but quickly became a passion and an enterprise. Dalgety Teas has been going strong since 1993. Dalgety Herbal Teas offers a range of herbal teas in many flavors. They are available for purchase at supermarkets and specialty stores or from Dalgety's website at https://dalgety.co/shop. You can also email the sales department at Dalgety.net. for specific store locations.