African countries can build a brighter future

By Angel Navuri, Member of the Agenda 2063 Media Network
Africa Day is an annual celebration of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on May 25th, 1963. It is a day to reflect on the continent’s progress and challenges, and to renew commitment to the African Union’s (AU) goals of unity, peace, and development. One key question that arises is whether Africa is in the right direction in terms of development.  This article will explore this question, examining the progress that has been made in various sectors, as well as the challenges that remain.  READ MORE>
 

A mixed bag as AU turns 60
By Ndamu Sandu, Member of the Agenda 2063 Media Network

In his inaugural speech at the first summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, Emperor of Ethiopia, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, said Africa was at midcourse, in transition from the Africa of yesterday to the Africa of tomorrow.
 
“Even as we stand here, we move from the past into the future. The task, on which we have embarked, the making of Africa, will not wait. We must act to shape and mould the future and leave our imprint on events as they slip past into history," he said.
 
Sixty years after that historic meeting in Addis Ababa, the Africa of yesterday is to a large extent gone, ushering in the Africa of tomorrow.  READ MORE>
 

The prospect on the horizon can be brighter - Analysis of Africa towards the achievement of the Agenda 2063 dream

By Baboloki Semele, Member of the Agenda 2063 Media Network
They call it Africa, and I call it home. I have travelled the length and breadth of Africa from 2008, as a journalist and young African activist, in pursuit of advancing the Africa we want. Whenever I am given a platform to speak, i always tell people I am from a village called Botswana in Africa. Well before my discovered introduction, it always irked me to have one person not accustomed to Africa, asking me to convey greeting to a certain Mary in Kumasi, or Sarah in Entebbe or Tewodrowos in Bahir Da.  READ MORE>

Mr. Melaku Yigzaw  Teferi, a national of Ethiopia has been appointed as Programme Officer, Energy Planning and Modelling CAPP, within the Economic Integration Division, with effect from 01 March 2023. Mr. Teferi holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Power Engineering) (2017) and a Bachelor of Science  in Electrical Engineering (2007) from Mekelle University in Tigray, Ethiopia. 

 
Before his appointment as Programme Officer, Energy Planning and Modelling CAPP, Mr. Teferi was a Manager, Transmission Strategy and Investment, within Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP).  He has also held other positions including Strategy and Business Analyst III within theEthiopian Electric Power( EPP), System Planning Engineer II at Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), System Planning Engineer II at Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo), System Planning Engineer I at Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo ).
 

Mr. Gift Chindebvu, a national of Malawi has been appointed as Programme Officer, Energy Planning and Modelling SAPP, within the Economic Integration Division, with effect from 01 March 2023. Mr. Chindebvu holds a Master of Science in Management (2022) from theUniversity Of Illinois Urbana Champaign in the USA and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (2007) from the University of Malawi, The Polytechnic. 
 
Before his appointment as Programme Officer, Energy Planning and Modelling CAPP, Mr. Chindebvu was a Projects Engineer, Planning and Projects Development, within Electricity Generation Company Malawi Limited.  he has also held other positions in Malawi including Project Manager, Malawi Country Office within Hexing Electric Company, Infrastructure Development Project Specialist, MCC at Millennium Challenge Account, Power System Planning Engineer, Planning and Development and Assistant Control Engineer, Power System Operations at Electricity Supply Corporation Of Malawi (ESCOM) and Management Trainee at PressCane Limited.

 
Mr Samwel Opana, a National of Kenya has been appointed as Programme Officer, Energy Planning and Modelling EAPP within the Economic Integration Division, with effect from 01 April 2023. Mr. Opana holds a Master of Science in Nuclear Power Plant Engineering, (2019) from KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, Republic of South Korea, and a Bachelors of Science inElectrical and Electronic Engineering (2012) from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology.
 
Before his appointment as Programme Officer, Energy Planning and Modelling EAPP, Mr. Opana was a Power System Planning Engineer within Kenya Power & Lighting Company. He has also held other positions including Technical Engineer within Typotech Imaging Systems.
 

Mr. McNeil Mhango, a National of Malawi has been appointed as Senior Programme Officer, Information Management Specialist within the Economic Integration Division, with effect from 01 April 2023. Mr. Mhango hold a Master of Science in ICT Leadership & the Knowledge Society (2019) from the University of Mauritius , and a Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences (2009) from the Mzuzu University in Malawi. 
 
Before his appointment as Senior Programme Officer, Information Management Specialist, Mr. Mhango was an IT Manager for e-Government Procurement and e-Marketplace within The Public Procurement and Disposal Authority (PPDA) in Malawi.  He has also held other positions in Malawi including Senior National Technical Manager – Data Management within GIZ - The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Technical Manager – Data and Information Management at GIZ - The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and  Information Management Specialist at UNICEF.
 

Mrs. Motsei Patience Tiego, a national of Botswana has been appointed as an Administrative and Finance Assistant within the Centre of Excellence Management with effect from 01 April 2023. Mrs. Tiego holds a Bachelor of Accounting (2001) from the University of Botswana.
 
Before her appointment as Administrative and Finance Assistant, Mrs Tiego was a Finance Manager CI-GCF Project within Conservation International – Botswana Country Office. She has held other positions including Finance and Admin Officer at OKACOM Secretariat, Accountant - Admin and Payroll at Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Accountant at Associated Fund Administrators Botswana, Finance Officer at OKACOM Secretariat, Accountant at Botswana Savings Bank, Accounts Officer at Air Botswana, Accounts Officer - Credit Control Section at Air Botswana and Accounts Officer - Management Accounts Section at Air Botswana.

Mr. Christopher Okonji, a National of Kenya has been appointed as Programme Officer, AUDA NEPAD Fund within the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation, with effect from 01 April 2023. Mr. Okonji holds a Master of Economics -Cooperation and Human Development (2019) and a Bachelor of Economics and Finance (2015) from Kenyatta University.
 
Before his appointment as Programme Officer, AUDA NEPAD Fund, Mr. Okonji was a Research Associate within African Union Commission in Ethiopia. He has also held other positions in Kenya including United Nations Volunteer at Rwenzori Center for Research and Advocacy, Programme Management Support at International Labour Organization, Programme Assistant at Huruma Rescue Mission, Research and Programme Management Support at the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT), Research Assistant at Kenya School of Monetary Studies and Programme and Finance Assistant at Orphan Outreach Organization.