Mootbox - Latest Comments

Re: Africa: Universities Ranking

imnakoya — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:01:42 -0000

90% of the top 10 African colleges are in South Africa! The impact of the internet is really strong in the ranking (South Africa is #1 Internet country in Africa) ...is this the best approach?

Re: Arrested Bloggers: The Street Is Speaking

The Traveling Economist — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:15:29 -0000

These type of situations don't only happen in Nigeria. They are common in many Latin American countries too. That's why blogging through a nickname is a matter of personal safety.

Re: Notes On The Arrest Of Nigerian Bloggers

Armel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:18:38 -0000

Oz,
I think this new thing about Secret Services (SS) spying on dissidents online is now all over African countries. Cameroon SS's also went to harass the family of the owner of a forum critical of the government policies. The guy lives in Europe but most of his family still resides back home. They actually attempted to intimidate them and put pressure on him to stop writing negatively on his blog / web site.
I think all it shows is that we are in a new time and new age, the way people are getting involved with issues concerning their lives so directly trough the internet is SCARY to those guys. So I expect it to get worse as more platforms are launched allowing people around African countries to weigh in their opinions without running the risk of being censored !

Re: Farafina Magazine Issue 15

Oz — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:05:38 -0000

Oh yeah Aloofar I am the one. Nice to meet you too.

Re: Farafina Magazine Issue 15

AlooFar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:44:22 -0000

So you're the Oz who wrote that Farafina entry.

Well, it's nice to be published in the same magazine as you ;)

I wrote the Obama speech that appeared on pages 50 and 51.

Cheers.

Re: Getting To Know Africa

Oz — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:01:39 -0000

Thanks for giving us some more insight African Aspects. Sokari could you give us a list of blog you would point people to. Thanks for stopping by.

Re: Getting To Know Africa

sokari — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:52:14 -0000

It's simple - read African blogs written by African people. A month and you will begin to get the knowledge :)

Re: The Real Gangster Rapper

zen — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:05:16 -0000

Get the Emmanuel Jal album Out now

Follow this link

http://www.sonic360.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?...

Sonic360

Re: Getting To Know Africa

africanaspects — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:25:48 -0000

I agree with you on many fronts. For a start I agree that the question asked by the lady from Google at BCA08 didn't get the respect it deserved. I totally agree on the need to "experience" Africa. I also agree on the need to have a keen understanding of what makes each specific market different by honing in on specific countries and geographical regions. I do however think that there is room to make it easier for outsiders to get a more coherent view of the continent before setting foot on African soil. I think the continent has more to lose by not having a collective resource portal for interested external potential investors or social change agents. This is something African countries should be investing in and not dismissing as impossible due to the diversity of the continent's constituencies. The reality is we can't change the fact that Africa will be viewed as one lump of sprawling landmass by many outsiders before they scratch the surface to discover otherwise. We need to accommodate and educate outsiders with that initial mindset, and then go on to educate and help them navigate through the continent's diversity thereafter. I personally believe African countries should be investing in a pooled Pan African resource of this nature. Short of that we'll continue to lose out to other emerging markets that are doing a better job of packaging themselves. This by no means would replace "experiencing" Africa but would go a long way in establishing a conceptual framework of Africa before one sets foot on the continent. Don't forget many African countries have relatively small populations that potentially limit the sustenance of economies of scale on their own (eg Botswana, Malawi etc). A failure to view countries of this nature within the bigger picture of a collective Africa would mean they stand to always lose out to the likes of South Africa and Nigeria that have historically provided a competitive one-stop shop for investors.

Re: Is It Time To Dig Up A Little Creative Capitalism

Oz — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:39:29 -0000

There is the problem of motivation or if you will 'scoring'. Not all business make for substantial result by having a social edge to them. Also sheer greed fosters innovation, thats an undeniable fact. social enterprises will become more relevant once there is a direct reward for being kinder.
Thanks for stopping by.

Re: Is It Time To Dig Up A Little Creative Capitalism

imnakoya — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:28:07 -0000

The recent global financial events triggered by Wall St capitulation have confirmed that capitalism as we know it today is full of flaws and loop holes, that enables the rich to always get richer, and benefits the political connected over the ordinary folks. Today's brand of capitalism needs a counter-balancing force, to make it more meaningful and useful to just not folks on Wall street but those on mainstreet as well. What is the solution? Social Business. Yunus Mohammed of Grameen Foundation in Bangladesh has shown this is possible.

Re: Catch BarCampAfrica Tomorrow

Oz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:54:07 -0000

Please follow the link about and check out the wiki, I am sure you would get a better idea from there than I can possibly explain.

Re: Catch BarCampAfrica Tomorrow

Jeremiah — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:52:56 -0000

What exactly happens at all this event. Is just one other opportunity for the tech crowd to gather.

Re: Catch BarCampAfrica Tomorrow

Dave — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:52:03 -0000

Oh snap! How did I miss this.

Re: Catch BarCampAfrica Tomorrow

Salami — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:51:30 -0000

Thanks for letting me know about this. I will watch it.

Re: Catch BarCampAfrica Tomorrow

Oz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:50:56 -0000

Me too

Re: Catch BarCampAfrica Tomorrow

ADEKUNLE SAMUEL OWOLABI — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:08:11 -0000

IMPRESSIVE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT

Re: Nigeria: Bracing Up For The Global Economic Downturn

Oz — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:44:01 -0000

Armel, I include private equity in the short run but not infrastructure financing. The problem in the NSE is not really about the global credit crunch though. It is mostly structural. Thanks for coming by my blog. I seem to have lost your feed, I'd add it once again.

Re: Nigeria: Bracing Up For The Global Economic Downturn

Armel — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:34:06 -0000

So OZ, do u mean to say it's a wrap for decoupling as it relates to African Stock Markets only? Or do you include Private equity and Infracstructure Financing also ?

Re: Nigeria: Bracing Up For The Global Economic Downturn

Azafi — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:43:43 -0000

Coz well written as usual. Just yesterday Yar adua and the Senate called on the finance minister to explain to them what impact deline of the US economy would have on our economy. So its good to know we at least know we are in trouble...

As usual I've seen it we've read it, Ive dragged others to read it and we are interested in this topic for Farafina and at this rate we propose that you just handle a business column for us. What do you think? Of course we'll put in an official request.

We're still interested in the other piece on Nigerians coming home, we'll most likely have to run both pieces in the next edition. So please let me know soon if this can be developed for us.

Re: Is It Time To Dig Up A Little Creative Capitalism

deji — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:10:42 -0000

Serves them right

Re: Speedlinks 10082008

Ogedengbe — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:57:39 -0000

I always enjoy your links

Re: Speedlinks 10082008

Tony — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:57:00 -0000

thanks

Re: Nigeria: Unintended Consequences Of Recovered Monies

solomonsydelle — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:54:03 -0000

The unintended consequence in this situation is one that if not addressed immediately will only serve to hamper Nigerians. Nigeria is a nation of unintended consequences, unfortunately. All that is necessary is a simple guide/regulation on spending procedure that can be applied to a majority of agencies , ministries. They can work the kinks out from there. Clearly, no one guide will apply to all, but there needs to be one (assuming there isn't). Sounds like common sense to me, and it would lessen the fears of an EFCC-attack.

Um, the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies might also want to learn to do their investigations as quietly as possible and not create unnecessary fear, particularly as they continue to shoot first and ask questions later, it seems.

Re: Speedlinks 10052008

africanaspects — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:57:54 -0000

Excellent collection of links Oz! I feel you on the proliferation of charts lately (and the corresponding interest in them lol).