Sanders' Blog Bits: January - March 2024

 Sanders' Blog Bits: January - March 2024

Our new format over last 18 months is to convert to a 'Blog Bits," format of issues we are involved in through the year. When feasible and warranted, the longer more traditional blog articles that The Africa Post, prepared in the past will appear. Entries are in ascending order:

March 2024:

--  Amb. Sanders was invited to attend the CFR session "In Conversation" with 4 former USG National Security Advisors: Tom Donilon, Stephen Hadley, Condolezza Rice, and Susan Rice. #USGNSC #USG #CEOFEEEDS #USGNationalSecurityAdvisors #SecRice, #AmbRice, #AmbSanders

--  Dr. Sanders was invited to a key security briefing by the National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) on how the agency is addressing new
threats, strategic defense competition between the United States, China, and
Russia, and how emerging technology is shifting the defense landscape.
#NGA #China #Russia #US #technology #nationalsecurity

-- -- Dr. Sanders was invited to attend the UN Economic Commission on Africa's flagship Conference of Ministers. The focus of the 3-day event was transitioning African economies. #UNEconomicCommissionAfrica #CEOFEEEDS #AfricaEconomy

-- Amb. Sanders attended the recognition dinner for Ugandan Royal Highness
Sylvia Nagginda Luswata. The dinner focused on the importance of African
culture in society, and the key role of Her Highness' organization, and women
overall, in ensuring cultures’ legacies and future roles are nurtured and protected.
#Uganda #AfricaCulture #AfricaWomen #CEOFEEEDS

-- As a Board Mentor, member of the London-based Criticaleye organization, Dr.
Sanders has contributed to several of their articles and interviews on key issues
related to leadership and boards. See articles:  

      

1. Global Economic Outlook 2024: https://www.linkedin.com/.../ambassador-dr-robin-renee...

2. Making the Leap from Executive to NED: https://www.linkedin.com/.../ambassador-dr-robin-renee...

3. Putting ESG at the Heart of Your Strategy: https://www.linkedin.com/.../ambassador-dr-robin-renee...

#Global2024Outlook #ExectoNED; #CEOFEEEDS. 

February 2024:

-- Ambassador Sanders attended Gallup's Center for Black Voices (CBV) Program, as part of her Black History Month activities. The event was opened by Gallup's CEO, with Gallup's CBV Director present key data. The event focused on CBV data and polling on life experiences in the U.S. Other notable attendees included students from Morgan State University (MSU), Howard University, as well as MSU's Career Center Associate Director. #Gallup #MSU #CenterForBlackVoices #CEOFEEEDS

January 2024:

-- Amb. Sanders attended a CFR policy session on “The Future of China and
China-U.S. Relations” & highlights of the Biden-Xi meeting as part of “A
Conversation With Liu Jianchao”, Minister, International Department, Central
Committee, Communist Party of China. #USChina, #BidenXi, #AmbSanders,
#CEOFEEEDS, #CFR

 -- Amb. Sanders attended the joint World Bank & Center for Global Development
session entitled “2024 Global Economy: Turning a Corner?” The session focused
on both challenges and prospects such as: the world economy facing a turbulent
period: growth projected to remain subdued in 2024; tight monetary policy;
restrictive credit; financial stress; climate disasters; and a weaker Chinese
economy. This is concurrent and/or on top of current escalating Middle East
conflict. #2024EconomicOutlook #WorldBank, #CFGD, #AmbSanders,
#CEOFEEEDS

 -- Amb. Sanders participated in the Brooking's Institute's "Foresight Africa 2024 Launch," seminar on Africa's 2024 economic and growth outlook. This includes a further slowdown as a result of high inflation, severe currency depreciations, heavy debt burdens, and more climate change-driven environment, weather and food security challenges (NB: 2023 already was the hottest year on record). All this keeping in mind still in 2024, the Continent will still be the fastest growing region in the world, with the youngest population in the world. Despite this outlook, there are a number of pluses such as a thriving entrepreneurial and innovative framework -- all points Amb. Sanders wrote about in her noteworthy 2014 book: "The Rise of Africa's Small and Medium Size Businesses: Spurring Development and Growing the Middle Class” (Foreword & Introductions by Amb. Andrew Young and Aliko Dangote). #AfricaEconomy2024, #Brookings, #AmbSanders, #CEOFEEEDS, #Innovation, #Entrepreneurship, #AfricaSMEs

-- Amb. Sanders was invited to attend the Washington, DC dinner and discussion
between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and China's new
Ambassador to the United States. #USChina, #USNationalSecurityAdvisor,
#ChinaAmbassador, #CEOFEEEDS, #AmbSanders

-- Amb. Sanders invited to attend the Council on Foreign Relations dinner with
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the new Chinese Ambassador to
the U.S. #CFR, #USChina

A FEEEDS Series BlogBit

FEEEDS-GALLUP 8th Annual Africa Forum - Join Us! - "Africa's Business Economy & the AfCFTA — The Key Role of SMEs"

This Press Announcement First Appeared in Allafrica.com

FEEEDS Initiative (Washington, DC)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
Time: 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Time Zones: 3:00 p.m. (Cairo & Jo'burg); 4:00 p.m. (Addis & Nairobi); 2:00 p.m. (Lagos & London)
Duration: 2 hours

Event Theme: "Africa's Business Economy & the AfCFTA — The Key Role of SMEs"

Register Now

Co-Hosts Ambassador Robin Sanders and Gallup Global Managing Partner Jon Clifton, in partnership with allAfrica.com, the African & Caribbean Business Council (ACBC), United People for African Congress (UPAC) and U.S.-Africa Trade Council, invite you to the 8th Annual FEEEDS-Gallup Africa Forum: Africa's Business Economy & the AfCFTA — the Role of SMEs.

This is an opportunity to hear firsthand from the event's honored featured speakers: Dr. Hippolyte Fofack of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Dr. Francis Mangeni, advisor to the Secretary General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Each will discuss how their institutions support the critical role Africa and the Africa diaspora's small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) serve in the region's economy and the broader success of the AfCFTA. Gallup's leading Africa research director, Magali Rheault, will scene set with relevant polling data on the current business environment for Africa SMEs and regional economies.

SPEAKERS
Ambassador Robin Sanders
CEO of FEEEDS
Ambassador (Dr.) Robin Renee Sanders served as one of the U.S. Government's top diplomats on African issues over a long career in the United States Diplomatic Corps reaching senior positions ranging from Ambassador to the Republics of Nigeria, Republic of Congo, two stints – NSC Director for Africa at the White House, and U.S. Permanent Representative to the West African Regional Organization ECOWAS. Dr. Sanders received her doctor of science degree from Pittsburgh's Robert Morris University, where she also holds the title of Distinguished Public Service & Rooney Scholar; has MA and MS degrees from Ohio University; and, a BA from Hampton University. She is a recognized thought-leader on Africa's political, economic, technology, security (e.g. Boko Haram, Al Shabab) and policy issues, as well as on region's thematic topics such as SDGs, food security, democracy/elections, education & climate change. She has testified before the U.S. Congress on these topics. Her advisory firm is divided into two parts: The FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative and FE3DS, LLC. FEEEDS focuses on Africa economic development, Diaspora, Entrepreneurship/SMEs issues. FEEEDS also advises several organizations; co-hosts the annual Africa event with Gallup World Poll; and publishes @The FEEEDS Index. Sanders' national security expertise is based on her work at the White House; as Deputy Commandant-Eisenhower College, the National Defense University, the U.S. military's premier institution for strategic studies; her diplomatic postings; and her work on global issues. She is sought after by media such as Al Jazeera, China Television, VOA, and CNN for her Africa expertise. FE3DS, LLC provides business strategies on Africa trade, technology, power, renewables, affordable housing and aviation.

Jon Clifton
Global Managing Partner, Gallup
Jon Clifton is the Global Managing Partner of Gallup, an advisory firm that specializes in big data analytics of employees, customers, students and citizens. Jon's mission is to help 7 billion citizens be heard on their most pressing work and life issues through the Gallup World Poll, a 100-year initiative spanning 150 countries. Because of his expertise, Jon has been interviewed on BBC News, C-SPAN's Washington Journal, and Al-Jazeera, and has testified in front of the U.S. Congress on the state of American small business and entrepreneurship. He is a frequent contributor on Gallup.com and has written for The Hill, The Diplomatic Courier, and The Global Action Report.

Dr. Hippolyte Fofack – Honored Featured Speaker
Chief Economist, Director of Research and International Cooperation, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
Speaker Topic: "How Afreximbank Leverages Its Programs to Support the SME Sector."
Dr. Hippolyte Fofack has more than 20 years of experience in development economics, international trade, banking and international finance and academia. Prior to joining the African Export-Import Bank, he was with the World Bank Group, where he served in several capacities, including as senior economist and head of the Macroeconomic and Growth Research Program. In 2005, Dr. Fofack was elected to the African Academy of Sciences, a continental organization dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for economic development and welfare improvement. He has served on the advisory board of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and is a member of the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa Board of Directors. He is also a member of several leading professional and scientific organizations, including the American Economic Association and the African Finance and Economic Association. Dr. Fofack has been a guest editor of several prominent journals, including The World Bank Economic Review and Economic History of Developing Regions. Dr. Fofack has been published extensively, is Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Issues in African Trade and Trade Finance (CIAT) and is a member of several editorial boards, including the Journal of African Development, the Journal of African Trade and the Gulf Economics Journal.

Dr. Francis Mangeni – Honored Featured Speaker
Head of Trade Promotion & Programs, Advisor to AfCFTA Secretary General
Speaker Topic: "AfCFTA: How It Supports SME Participation in Regional Trade."
Dr. Francis Mangeni has worked and consulted extensively on the multilateral trade system and African economic integration. He is a senior fellow with the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and has served as head of trade promotion and programs with the AfCFTA and director of trade customs and monetary affairs with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. He has served as advisor to the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the government of Malawi, senior economist at the Permanent Delegation of the African Union to the United Nations and regional trade policy advisor at the Commission of the African Union, and acted as a consultant for numerous regional and international organizations. His analytical work has focused on the social and economic implications of economic reforms, negotiation preparation and trade opportunities. Dr. Mangeni's analyses have informed key initiatives for economic integration throughout Africa and served as a basis for advice to African diplomats attending World Trade Organization conferences and trade negotiations with Africa's major partners.

Magali Rheault
Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Gallup World Poll
Topic: "Current Africa Business Environment for SMEs & Regional Economies."
Magali Rheault is Regional Research Director for sub-Saharan Africa for the Gallup World Poll. As the largest independent source of global survey research, the World Poll measures the most important issues people around the world face. Ms. Rheault leads survey research operations across the African continent and is responsible for sampling, questionnaire design, field staff training and quality control. Her main research interests focus on the intersection of governance, economic growth and human development in sub-Saharan Africa. As an academically trained urban planner, Ms. Rheault focuses on big-picture thinking to better understand how people's surroundings shape their perceptions and opinions. She is passionate about translating data into information and knowledge to help clients incorporate survey findings into impactful initiatives.

7th FEEEDS-Gallup Africa Forum Provides Closer Look @ Future of US-Africa Trade Relationship

"With Regional Trade, FTA’s & SMEs Playing Key Roles" 

1st Appearing in allAfrica.com: https://allafrica.com/stories/202007230908.html

Other International Wire Service Placements of the Forum's Post-Event Press Release follows below:

• Brazil Business Today
• Central Europe Online
• Inside China Today
• Sea Piracy News Today
• The Russia News Service
• Trans-Pacific Partnership News Today
• World News Report
• Corporate Governance News Today
• Corporate Social Responsibility News Today
• Credit Rating News Today
• Crowdsourcing News Today
• Due Diligence News Today
• Eurozone News Today
• Fairtrade News Today
• G20 News Today
• Business News Today
• TELEMUNDONM  View Release
• 
  

A FEEEDS Series Blogspot

Amb. Sanders-GALLUP INVITE: Constance Hamilton, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, USTR - Keynote on "Today’s US-Africa Trade Relationship"

INVITE: FEEEDS-Gallup World Poll - July 23, 2020, 10:30am-12pm EDT

Constance Hamilton, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa-Keynotes on “Today’s US-Africa Trade Relationship," (AfCTA, Kenya Talks, AGOA, SMEs). And, Gallup's Africa Regional Director, Magali Rheault, discusses data on Africa SMEs. Date: July 23, 2020 Times: 1030am-12pm (EDT); 330pm-5:00pm (BST); 3:30pm-5pm (WAT); 5:30pm-7pm (EAT); 4:30pm-6pm (SAST); 8pm-9:30pm (New Delhi). REGISTER BELOW (see press announcement:  https://allafrica.com/stories/202007150002.html)

 

SAVE THE DATE – Virtual Event! The 7th Annual FEEEDS-GALLUP Africa Forum With Event Partners  allAfrica.com, IDI & ACBC “Update on Today's US-Africa Trade Relationship: AfCTA, US-Kenya Talks , AGOA & Role Small Business” KEYNOTE SPEAKER Ms. Constance Hamilton  Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative FEATURED SPEAKER Magali Rheault Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director, Gallup World Poll Program Date: 1030am-12pm (EDT), July 23, 2020 Time Zones: 1030am-12pm (EDT); 330pm-5:00pm (BST); 3:30pm-5pm (WAT); 5:30pm-7pm (EAT); 4:30pm-6pm (SAST); 8pm-9:30pm (New Delhi)  Co-Hosts  Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders, CEO-FEEEDS (M.C.) Jon Clifton, Global Managing Partner, Gallup World Poll (Welcome) Greetings from Event Partners Parashu Nepal, International Development Institute, Founder/MD Stanley Straughter, African Caribbean Business Council, Chairman Annual Forum’s Objective: Highlight Africa topics with dialogue & data              Click Here to REGISTER! See above hyperlinks for bios & websites A FEEEDS Blogspot

Sanders Featured Speaker in June 25, 2020 Event on COVID-19 Impact on Africa Small Businesses (SMEs/MMEs)

Also see Dr. Sanders COVID-19 Impact on Africa Small Business article:https://blogitrrs.blogspot.com/2020/06/covid-19-africa-smes-refocus.html

To register for the June 25, 2020 event at 10 am (EST) and 5pm EAT click here: Register via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3hR0o0L

A FEEEDS Blogspot

Ambassador Sanders Wraps Up Her 2019 Fall Rooney Scholar Speeches & Lectures

Ambassador Sanders wraps up her Rooney Scholar 2019 six month stint at Robert Morris University (RMU) with a major keynote speech entitled "Why Africa Should Be Important to the United States," at the Pittsburgh's World Affairs Council luncheon at the famed and iconic Omni William Penn Hotel. The packed room received the perspective and real world examples from Sanders' extensive diplomatic and business experiences in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sanders business colleague Ms. Span &
RMU University Professor Kohun

Dr. Sanders laid out the US National Security reasons for more sustained engagement in the region such as security and trade, but underscored the need for more direct contact with African presidents and leaders on a regular basis, along lines of holding comprehensive heads of state level meetings at least once a year or biannually -- similar to what China, and now Russia does (the later held its first Africa heads of state meeting in Sochi this past October 2019). In addition Sanders outlined both Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSAfrica) positives as well as the challenges that remain in key development sectors from agriculture to manufacturing to infrastructure. She also discussed further what she calls the "China Factor," in Africa, providing her take on what sectors as well as what approaches are ready made for U.S. intervention and where the U.S. value-added can be better such as improved and fairer business, trade, training, negotiation and training practices -- avoiding many of the debt-driven deals currently plaguing many SSAfrica nations, where key land and/or single major commodity countries are driven back into the old debt burdens of the 1960s-early 2000s. (Sanders herself work on the Africa debt burden issue for many years in the mid-2000s). It took decades for most African countries to overcome these historic debt burdens, and many still suffer the consequences as they struggle with social and economic reform or seek to achieve or maintain global best practices on "debt-to-GDP" (gross domestic product) ratios. The Ambassador also called on the U.S. to begin now to help the region in these areas as its rolls out and stands up the landmark Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), which will make the Region's  one of the world's largest trading bloc with an estimated  $3 trillion value. Dr. Sanders also talk extensively as an advocate for Africa's small and medium size businesses (referred to in the Africa Region as SMEs). The event was followed by a book signing of Sanders' second book "The Rise of Africa's Small and Medium Size Business," which has been well-received in the field for its meshing of both policy and practice. The Pittsburgh World Affairs Council book signing for Sanders, the 35th event for the book, followed the keynote.

Sanders other keynote lectures included a Davos-style lecture of the various SSAfrican cultures that the Ambassador has worked with or lived with over her diplomatic and advocacy work in the region, stressing the importance of one of her signature messages "understanding human cultural communications," and given her expertise in information systems and communications lecturing on the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the "Future of Work," in general (from AR-VR-IOBs-IOTs)*,  and in particular how young entrepreneurs and development sector advocates in SSAfrica are using technology to help address many of the Region's development issues in areas from infrastructure to manufacturing to agriculture. 



RMU President Dr. Howard (l),
wife Barbara &
Dr. Sanders in front
Rooney Scholar House, RMU Campus

Other subjects taught to RMU's undergraduates, graduate and doctoral students by Sanders while serving as the Rooney Scholar included topics as far ranging as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Health, Education, and Food Security (as Sanders', as CEO-FEEEDS, is a major advocate of the SGDs); Africa & Technology; Global Writing for journalism students; Technology & Security in the Developing World; A Political Scientist View of World Challenges, Intercultural Communication, Cultural Intelligence -- to name few -- along with participating in panels on careers for women's leadership, public policy, and the challenge of electricity in Africa -- Guinea as a case study. The Rooney Scholar program is a result of the generous support and commitment of the Rooney Family to global learning, where Global Scholars such as Ambassador Sanders, share their scholarly academic and practical experiences with the students of RMU.

*Augmented Reality-Virtual Reality-Internet of Biologicals/Bodies-Internet of Things

A FEEEDS BlogSpot

Sanders Serves as Visiting Woodrow Wilson Scholar at CBU, Riverside, California

CEO-FEEEDS, Dr. Robin Sanders served as the 2019 annual Woodrow Wilson Visiting Scholar at Catholic Baptist University(CBU), Riverside, California. Her worked focused on educating students about world affairs, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSAfrica), implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, particularly in the health and education sectors, sharing the goals of the U.S.' trade facilitation program called the African Growth and Opportunity Act (or AGOA), and stressing the importance of Americans seeing SSAfrica differently as a

strategic investment, trade, and security partner.


Dr. Sanders was also given a tour of CBU's upgraded air fleet  of Piper 2-seater planes at its flight school, which included a  hands on flight with the school's flight director and Sanders taking the plane controls for a short period to loop over the famous, but rare " super blooming poppy fields," of California's Lake Elsinore and Walker Canyon of Western Riverside County.

As part of her subject matter expertise on Africa, Sanders also discussed the China-Africa and US-Africa relationships, noting that these were separate relationships and not a tripartite or 3-dimensional relationship. "Africa will chose its partners, and we can work with the region to help in better scrutinizing contracts, sharing best practices, and pushing our competencies, our value-added expertise, and assist with capacity building" Sanders added.

While at CBU Ambassador Sanders, in addition to her lectures with students, gave a public speech entitled The U.S & 21st Century Africa," as part of a joint CBU-World Affairs Council event that also included a book signing of both Sanders books -

The Rise of Africa's Small Businesses and The Legendary Uli Women of Nigeria. See video at end of blog

  

Gallup Interviews Dr. Sanders on Nigeria Upcoming Elections & Issue Beyond Elections

Interview Questions by Gallup &; Article first published by Gallup on February 13, 2019, and republished in Allafrica.com*


"A Conversation With Robin R. Sanders CEO-FEEEDS, former U.S. ambassador to Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Congo, and U.S. Permanent Representative to ECOWAS "

What has changed in Nigeria since the last election?

Over the course of the past two elections, particularly in 2015, Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has greatly improved its ability to execute and administer elections, including preparations, cleaning up election rolls, improving voter registration and education processes (especially with young voters), and establishing a fixed timetable for both the presidential and governors' elections, and even encouraging up throughout pre-election week registered voters (via text and media) to get out and vote. There are 84 million registered Nigerian voters, of which 42 million are between the ages of 18-35 years of age, the biggest block of the current voting electorate.**

Equally important, Nigerian citizens are demanding and expecting their leaders to respect transparency and hold free, fair and peaceful elections because they know it can be done in their nation, and they expect even more so for the 2019 elections. A peace accord was signed February 13, 2019 among the presidential candidates which called for non-violent election.

Furthermore, civil society, as a stakeholder, is more active in its election watchdog role, adding its voice to ensure transparency in every step of the process (for example, registration, holding Election Day parallel vote tabulation, and calling for a peaceful election and post-election period).

Then there is the press. Nigeria's media have always been dynamic. But what one sees over two decades is a sophistication in established media outlets. They too contribute to the calls for improved democratic processes. This doesn't mean there isn't sensationalism in the press (as
there is elsewhere), but the well-respected, established media outlets (inclusive of respected television, print, radio, online outlets) have played a positive Fourth Estate role in the last decade and will do so this election.

What are Nigeria's biggest challenges or opportunities this year? The next decade?

Nigeria is reportedly a country of more than 190 million people and growing, with most of its population younger than age 35. That being said, I see Nigeria's large, young population as an opportunity for the nation's future, but that opportunity must be taken advantage of and harnessed. Meaning, that job creation -- note I am not saying the word "employment," but job creation -- is going to be key.

What is the difference you might ask between the two -- job creation and employment? Well, think of one as digital (job creation) and one as analog (traditional 9-to-5 employment). Job creation includes traditional formal jobs, but more so developing entrepreneurs and small business, referred to in the region as small and medium-size enterprises or SMEs, with a specific focus on women, young girls and skills training.

I spent the last two years researching the impact and potential of SMEs on the region's growth and development in my book, The Rise of Africa's Small and Medium Size Enterprises. The data there, including some from Gallup on how people feel about starting a business in their country, show that with job creation through SMEs/entrepreneurs comes an emphasis on training, technology and the use of new educational platforms (e.g. online courses).

The Africa region will have the largest working age population in the world around the year 2035, according to the IMF.*** A large part of that population certainly will be in Nigeria. But the region has hard development issues, as does Nigeria. It will be important for the region to see certain elements as part of the same four-legged stool for growth, stability, democracy and development to thrive, and to provide opportunities for its young people.

For Nigeria, these elements include improving health, education and infrastructure; addressing poverty and food insecurity; further combating corruption; and improving and managing security. The latter point includes Boko Haram as well as Sahel climate change issues, which exacerbate historical and traditional pastoral and herder tensions in the central regions, producing more conflict, which can and has devolved into further political/ethnic tensions.

These are challenges for Nigeria to resolve to have a sustainable, enabling environment for development and to provide opportunities for its young people. Some security progress has been made in the Northeast over the past two years, but there are a series of pockets of instability which remain, young girls are still missing, and many internally displaced persons (IDPs), remain displaced, or are food insecure -- although some IDP-focused projects exist, and INEC has done a lot to register and establish IDP polling sites, and these efforts for IDP's are good things.

On corruption, Nigeria has made important inroads in addressing illicit enrichment, demanding more transparency in government accounts, reporting of personal assets and money transfers, and working with foreign governments to return stolen monies to Nigeria's treasury -- with some success.
Clearly more can be done to reduce corruption. But I like to remind people that this is not the whole story of Nigeria, and I get dismayed when the country's story gets reduced to this single (albeit important) issue, or just to the challenges.

This is a vibrant nation, with a vibrant, growing, creative, business and entrepreneurial population. These are the good news stories. Furthermore, its democracy and election processes have improved, and all of us who are friends of Nigeria want to see continued progress in these areas, especially during the upcoming 2019 elections, which we hope are peaceful, and beyond.






*https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/246653/job-creation-holds-key-nigeriafuture.aspx
*https://allafrica.com/stories/201902140928.html
*https://www.panafricanvisions.com/2019/a-conversation-with-robin-r-sanders-ceo-feeeds-former-u-s-ambassador-to-republic-of-nigeria-republic-of-congo-and-u-s-permanent-representative-to-ecowas/
**Voice of  America, Africa News Tonight, stream broadcast, Tune-In, February 11-12, 2019; INEC
*** International Monetary Fund. (2015, April). Sub-Saharan Africa - Navigating headwinds. Retrieved July 24, 2016 from https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2015/afr/eng/pdf/sreo0415.pdf


Article updated February for TAP Blog


FEEEDS Series Blogspot