Professor Dora Akunyili Passes Away in India Aged 59

As family sources have disclosed to Sahara Reporters, former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and ex minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, has died today.

She passed away at the age of 59 at an Indian Hospital where she has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

She was born Dora Nkem Akunyili in July 1954 in Makurdi, Benue State. Apart from holding highest offices in the NAFDAC and Ministry of Information and Communications, she was a pharmacist and governmental administrator. For her achievements, she gained international recognition and won hundreds of awards for her work in pharmacology, public health and human rights sectors.

In April 2011, Akunyili ran for the post of the Senator for Anambra Central on the All Progressive Grand Alliance platform, but lost to Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In late May 2014, former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has visited her at an Indian hospital and reported that she was "responding well to the treatment".


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Marilyn Monroe MOVIE ACTRESS

Marilyn Monroe Facts  

ABOUTIcon and sex symbol who starred in Some Like It Hot and became the most famous woman in the world during the 1950s. Her other famous films include 1955's The Seven Year Itch and 1953's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 1953

BEFORE FAMEShe modeled for Blue Book before changing her name from Norma Jeane Mortenson to Marilyn Monroe.

TRIVIA FACTShe started out as a farm girl, but ended up a glamorous blonde in Hollywood who had affairs with JFK and Robert Kennedy.

FAMILY LIFEShe married Joe DiMaggio in 1954; the marriage ended in divorce nine months later.

ASSOCIATED WITHTony Curtis co-starred with her in the 1959 film Some Like it Hot.

Morgan Freeman MOVIE ACTOR

                         

Morgan Freeman Facts  

ABOUTActor, director, and narrator who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Million Dollar Baby in 2005. He has appeared in hits such as Bruce Almighty, The Dark Knight Trilogy, The Sum of All Fears, and Dolphin Tale.

BEFORE FAMEWhen he was nine years old, he played the lead role in a school play. He turned down a drama scholarship at Jason State University to work as a radar mechanic in the U.S. Air Force in 1955.

TRIVIA FACTHe has spoken in opposition to Black History Month, saying that black history is American history.

FAMILY LIFEHe was married to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw from 1967 to 1979. He married his second wife, Myrna Colley-Lee in 1984. The couple separated in 2010.

ASSOCIATED WITHHe won an Oscar Award for his role in The Shawshank Redemption with Tim Robbins.

Willow Shields MOVIE ACTRESS

Willow Shields Facts  

ABOUTYoung actress who rose to stardom after playing Primrose Everdeen in the Hunger Games and its sequels. She also appeared in the 2013 film The Wonder and the 2009 series In Plain Sight.

BEFORE FAMEShe made her debut on the TV Drama In Plain Sight.

TRIVIA FACTShe appeared in a TV movie called Beyond the Blackboard, which was filmed in her home state of New Mexico.

FAMILY LIFEHer twin sister Autumn Shields also became an actress.

ASSOCIATED WITHHer career, like that of Josh Hutcherson, took off as a result of The Hunger Games.

South Africa bans Camera drones

                              

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has executed an immediate prohibition on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or camera drones in South Africa. Film shoots intending to use this type of production equipment, now deemed illegal, will no longer be able to obtain film permits.

The SACAA stated that the ban is due to a lack of regulations guiding its use, as it is a relatively new technology, and that the organisation along with others around the world, is in the process of understanding, outlining and incorporating UAVs into the civil aviation sector.

Kabelo Ledwaba, Communications Manager at the SACAA remarked, “There is ongoing global research in this area to overcome this deficiency.”

Professionals in the local film industry are rightly concerned, as there are some substantial implications to this ban. Not only are UAVs used in feature film production, but in tourism adverts and in the tracking of rhinos.




Denis Lillie, Chief Executive of the Cape Town Film Commission (CFC), has already had to refuse two film permits for Cape Town productions and said, “The ban will not only affect feature films but also tourism promotion agencies often look for aerial shots. South Africa runs the risk of losing production activities to other areas who approve the use of drones.”

In response to the ban, the CFC has been in discussion with the SACAA, the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the Deputy Mayor of Cape Town and has requested that the SACAA implement their model aircraft policy for use of the drones.

If approved, the policy will require adopting the below guidelines, which are similar to those used in Europe and Australia




• Flying only under 120m
• No flying within 4.2 nautical miles of an airport
• Flying only in line of sight of the operator (500m)
• No auto pilot flying or night flying
• No flying over public property and roads without permission.

Air connectivity key to seizing Africa’s tourism potential

UNWTO African Members States, gathered on the occasion of the 56th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa, highlighted the need to have better coordination between tourism and air transport policies to fully explore the tourism sector’s capacity to deliver on growth and development in the continent. The meeting also discussed the on-going poaching crisis in Africa and its negative impact on tourism (28-30 April 2014, Luanda, Angola).

Over the last decade, international tourist arrivals to Africa have repeatedly outgrown results in other regions. By 2030, Africa’s international tourist numbers could grow from its current 56 million to 134 million and a rising number of African countries have embraced tourism as a priority for their development.

Amazing! Agbani Darego Chosen As VIP Guest To Attend The 2014 French Open

                                         



This year, Moet & Chandon has chosen beautiful, versatile Nigerian model and first Black African Miss World, Agbani Darego as the VIP Guest to represent Moet & Chandon at The 2014 French Open.

Annually, one celebrity is chosen to represent Nigeria as a VIP Guest on behalf of Moet & Chandon at the yearly Roland Garros Tournament in France.

Over the past few years, celebrities like Kemi Adetiba, Dolapo Oni have been privileged to be a part of the wonderful opportunity.

This year, Moet & Chandon has chosen beautiful, versatile Nigerian model and first Black African Miss World, Agbani Darego as the VIP Guest to represent Moet & Chandon at The 2014 French Open.

Some of the activities scheduled for the trip include; a visit to the Moet & Chandon headquarters, champagne cellar tour with other VIP guests, tasting session with Chef Pascal, an evening at The Chateau de Saran – former residence of Moet family, great seat at The 2014 French Open and more.

Tourism and Nation Branding: Why Nigeria Tags Behind Despite Potentials

In 2013, the IBISWorld global tourism market research report showed the tourism industry globally was worth $1.4 trillion. The report also revealed that emerging economies accounted for a much improved share of the tourism industry. The mobilization and packaging of unique locations and activities for visitors to experience and admire, is increasingly becoming an expanding source of income for many countries across the globe. For economies like Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Mauritius and Kenya, tourism has always been a priceless source of revenue. With the number of visitors clocking 8-9 million, Morocco and South Africa have remained table topers in Africa’s tourism league


                               

JUST IN: AU To Assist Nigeria Rescue Abducted School Girls In Borno State

The African Union, AU, has announced plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Federal Government and other stakeholders to rescue the kidnapped schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno.

More than 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state on 14 April, 2014.

The statement was made on Saturday, 31 May, 2014 by AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, Mrs Benita Diop, at the close of the Conference of Ministers of Social Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Diop, who is to lead a delegation to Abuja on Monday, June 2, stated that he is to intimate the Federal Government on the “new approach’’ to rescue the girls, abducted right inside their school's dormitory.

Tinubu Set To Join Presidential Race?

Former Governor of Lagos State and a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who declared in April that nobody can stop him from contesting for Presidency in 2015 elections if he decides to run is said to publicly make his intentions to seek the party’s presidential ticket known after the party’s national convention slated for June 13 and 14 in Abuja.
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