South Korea’s top trade official is dropping her bid to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation, making it likely the job will go to former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She would become the first woman to lead the organization. South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a statement Friday that its minister for trade, Yoo Myung-hee, will soon tell the WTO she is withdrawing her candidacy. The WTO, which makes world trade rules, announced in October that Yoo and Okonjo-Iweala were the two finalists to become its next director-general, ensuring a woman will fill the top job for the first time. The WTO had ben expected to announce a winner before the end of 2020, but the process dragged on because of disagreements between member states over the candidates, the South Korean ministry said. While it appeared Okonjo-Iweala had broader support, the WTO…
Namibia: Bank Windhoek Supports Women Entrepreneurship Growth
Some 48 mentors and mentees will officially kick off this year’s Katuka Mentorship Programme in Windhoek tomorrow. Well-known human resource specialist Sabine Ruegg will conduct the three-day orientation programme. Sponsored by Bank Windhoek, the Katuka Mentorship Programme aims to empower and encourage entrepreneurs, business and professional women to succeed in their careers through mentorship by seasoned business and professional women. The late Lena Markus, former Businesswoman of the Year 2000 in the category of Corporate/Professional, founded the programme. In its twentieth year, the programme has produced significant results in the careers of the participating mentees. To date, 401 entrepreneurs and businesswomen have completed the programme. “The Katuka Mentorship Programme is a method of advancement, which provides support and training through relationship building. It is about matching a mentee and a mentor with a similar personal and professional interest in the process of support, sharing, and learning to help entrepreneurs and…
Stacey Abrams Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
U.S. voting rights activist and Democratic Party politician Stacey Abrams has been nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for her work to promote nonviolent change via the ballot box, a Norwegian lawmaker said on Monday. Abrams, whose work was credited with boosting voter turnout last year, helping Joe Biden win the U.S. presidency, joins a long list of nominees, including both former President Donald Trump and his son-in-law, former White House adviser Jared Kushner. “Abrams’ work follows in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s footsteps in the fight for equality before the law and for civil rights,” said Lars Haltbrekken, a Socialist Party member of Norway’s parliament. King, a Baptist minister who became a leader of the 1960s civil rights movement, won the Nobel prize in 1964 and remains among its most famous laureates. “Abrams’ efforts to complete King’s work are crucial if the United States of America shall succeed…
Dear Bride Don’t Let Your Bond Fall through the Cracks
By Miracle Nwankwo I thought I would be the first bride-to-be to make history with planning a stress-free wedding, but as my big day inches closer, I have had to swallow the bitter truth that my wedding is not going to be all about me, and it involves a lot of things and people. Let’s be real, planning a wedding can be extremely stressful and can take a toll on your relationship if you are not mindful. No matter how much we thought it we would be different, and how much we had planned on keeping it cool and simple, the reality often turns out poles apart. No bride wants to go into their wedding day feeling frustrated with their partner. I don’t even want to plan a successful wedding day and then lose the bond and friendship I have built in years. It’s true that we all want to…
Preparing Her for Puberty – 1
By Miracle Nwankwo The puberty stage is very crucial in a child’s life and it may come with a bit of stress and confusion. This may be as a result of the growth that their bodies experience at the time. This stage can be very frightening if they have no one to talk or relate with. This is why, as a parent, you have to prepare them on time and be there for them when it finally comes knocking. As a child, I knew a lot of my friends who changed from who they used to be immediately puberty set in. They suddenly became uncomfortable playing with other kids whose puberty were delayed. Most girls are often unprepared for puberty, so it takes them by storm and leaves them feeling differently about themselves. With the feeling of being different, they tend to withdraw from their peers and suddenly develop the culture…
Action Coalition Leaders on Technology and Innovation unite and call for bold, collective solutions to spark a gender-diverse digital reset
The World Economic Forum Davos Agenda is taking place from the 25-29 January and is this year embracing collective action by public and private partners for bold solutions to improve the state of the world and manage the direct consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. The Generation Equality Action Coalitions build on and reflect this imperative as innovative, multi-stakeholder partnerships that will mobilize governments, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector to catalyze action, drive investment, and deliver concrete, game-changing results for gender equality. It is in this spirit of cross-sector collective action that leaders from the Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality have released a joint statement calling for extraordinary collaboration and solidarity – among people, organizations, and countries. The diverse Action Coalition partners express their unwavering commitment to design and implement transformative ideas that will drive a more equal and inclusive digital transformation as we…
Eating Late at Night May be Particularly Bad for You and Your Diet: Here is Why
By Walcott Aganu Reluctant as you may be to admit it, chances are that at some point you may have found yourself in the kitchen late at night, devouring some sweet, salty or carb-rich treat even though you are not hungry. For years, we have said a calorie is a calorie no matter when you consume it. While grabbing the occasional midnight snack may not be of any precise problem, making a habit out of it can have serious long-term impacts on your health and your overall well-being. There’s a reason why all health experts, nutritionists and doctors will advise you to beat the habit of eating late at night or noshing on oily and fried snacks to satiate your late-night hunger pangs. Late-night snacking may be more insidious than just a poor eating habit as it could get addictive and may even degenerate into a full-blown eating disorder known…