30th January 2018:– After much planning and arrangement, the Voice magazine publisher, Pastor Elvis Iruh accompanied by Ms. Ifeyinwa Ezeagabu where at the Police Academy in Apeldoorn where Police officer Sidney Mutueel received the Voice Achievers Award as African Diaspora community Award winner for his contribution in inspiring cordial relationship with the African communities in The Netherlands particularly in Amsterdam.

Officer Mutueel with his award & certificate.
In the presence of his colleagues which included Peter Gieling, Gerdo Elzinga and Maureen Bellmann, Police Officer Mutueel received his award.
According to him, he expressed his apology for not being able to attend the award ceremony in November of 2017. It was due to unforeseen circumstances in his family.

From left is Ms. Ifeyinwa, award winner, Sidney Mutueel, Pastor Iruh, Peter Gieling & Gerdo Elzinga. Photo by their colleague, Maureen Bellmann
In his words of appreciation, he said, "on behalf of the Dutch police force, I thank you and your team very much for this award and the trust you have in me. Thank you for being a partner with us in this mission of police/community relationship building. Thank you for being here with us at our office and that we as police, we are very proud of this award and we will continue the good job. Thank you very much again".
Pastor Elvis Iruh thank the police force for the good community work and the opportunity given for the Voice magazine team to visit their office to present the award. He also said the African community are proud of officer Mutueel and his colleagues for the good job they are doing with policing the community.

You are sick, but you don’t have a health insurance. What can you do? You receive a high bill from the hospital, but you don’t have papers and no health insurance. What can you do? Many migrants in the Netherlands without a residence permit don’t know that they have the right to visit the doctor for a medical consult and that their safety is guaranteed.

Everyone is entitled to medical care, with or without papers, with or without an insurance, with or without money. Doctors of the World helps people without a residence permit to gain access to healthcare because we believe that everybody, regardless of their background, is entitled to physical and mental wellbeing.

How does Doctors of the World help people without a residence permit?

1. Consultation hours in Amsterdam and The Hague

We help with healthcare-related questions, such as enrollment with a General Practitioner (‘huisarts”) or midwife. We will also contact other institutions when there are any problems in your way to healthcare.

Justina Mutale has been named in the 2018 Powerlist of the top 100 Most Influential Black People in the UK. The Powerlist recognises and celebrates 100 of Britain's most influential people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage. Nominees are rated on their ability to change lives and alter events. Influential personalities previously listed on the Powerlist include Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland; former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos; and world-renowned Philanthropist, Mo Ibrahim.

Laila El Atfani Rahhal is a business woman of Middle East/ North Africa origin resident in Dubai in United Arab Emirate. She is one of the awardees for the Voice Achievers Award 2017.
Not only is she being recognized for her involvement in promoting businesses in the Middle East but as well as in the African continent. She is also a goodwill Ambassador for many charitable organizations around the world for her humanity works.

Pastor Elvis Iruh of The Voice magazine & Laila El Atfani Rahhal of Businessgate.com

She is very versatile and with good communication skills in English, French, Spanish, Turks and Arabic fluently. She will be our gateway to many African/Arab businesses in the near future.
Having gone through copies of the Voice magazine, she has accepted a partnership deal with the Voice magazine to make the publication more visible to the Arab world which are very interested in doing business in and with Africa.

This partnership according to the Voice magazine publisher, Pastor Elvis Iruh is mutual for the development and prosperity of Africa. “Many times we have acted as if North Africa is not part of Africa but this is not true and that is what we are trying to correct with this new partnership deal with our friend and colleague, Laila El Atfani Rahhal.

By Collins Nweke

Nigeria and Belgium have a 56 year diplomatic relations. When the new Ambassador of Nigeria to Belgium presents her Letters of Credence to His Majesty, Phillipe I, King of the Belgians today, Wednesday 13 September 2017, the relationship will witness a new era. Ambassador Nonye Udo will make history as the first female Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Belgium. With this, one can say that Belgium has a lesson to learn from Nigeria on gender equality and gender balance because unless I am mistaken, no woman has ever had the opportunity to be appointed Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria. For a change, Belgium is therefore welcome to play the catch-up here.

Nigeria new Ambassador to Belgium, Her Excellency Nonye Udo with Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria in Abuja

That is on the lighter side. On a more serious note, Ambassador Nonye Udo was not sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to represent his Government in Belgium, with concurrent accreditation to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Mission to the European Union because he is desirous to making history. Far from it! The plain fact is that a seasoned diplomat who knows her onions was appointed on merit into one of the most strategic diplomatic posts for Nigeria. That seasoned diplomat simply happened to be a woman, one whose appointment made history!
That raises the curious question of what is Her Excellency’s story? Who is Nonye Udo? Those in the know of her person and career would, before anything else, describe her as “A fine Foreign Service Officer” Ambassador Nonye Udo is a career diplomat. Having served at different diplomatic posts worldwide including Nigeria’s Mission to the United Nations, was until her appointment the Director of the Department of International Organizations at the Abuja Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. The strategic nature of Brussels in the scheme of things in Nigeria’s global aspirations perhaps gives one a sense of why President Buhari made that decision to send unarguably the best to Belgium.
As I reflected on the shape of this new diplomatic era, the challenges that face the Nigeria-Belgium relations, but also the huge opportunities awaiting Nigeria and Belgium to explore, and in a funny way, what readily comes to mind was one of the trickiest media questions I’ve had to answer as Belgian of Nigerian origin. A cheeky journalist, bent on testing my loyalty or allegiance to these two countries that mean the world to me. This was on the occasion of a football match between Nigeria and Belgium. He went: which country do you favour to win this match – Belgium or Nigeria? I paused and looking him straight in the eyes and without thinking, I responded that the better team will win and whichever it is, it’s a WIN for me all the way. I am not sure, but walking away, the mischief-maker looked disappointed. He appeared not to have gotten the answer he wanted that would create certain kind of news sensation for him.
In a note I sent earlier today to the amiable Ambassador, I opined that beyond confirmation of her formal diplomatic accreditation as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, I am sure that I will be expressing the sentiments held deep in the hearts of many Nigerians and Belgians with interests in both countries that her historic appointment as first female Ambassador could not have come at a better time. “You must have every reason to feel a great sense of honour to be head of mission in a country with which Nigeria has such a cordial, mutually beneficial, long-standing diplomatic relations dating back to 1961, and with which there are so many opportunities for collaboration across many fields of endeavour including trade and investment, manufacturing, agriculture, machinery, energy or power production and distribution, sports and culture, to name but a few” I said this with confidence because long before Her Excellency assumed office, the Belgium Luxembourg Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, a network of business people and players, Belgians and Nigerians, of which I have the privilege to serve on the Board as Director Business Development and a number of other groups and individuals, have been working to reinforce these ties, and to forge new alliances. My personal goal, which I am sure a significant number of peers share with me, is to set the ball rolling towards taking the Nigeria-Belgium bilateral relations a notch higher, outside the multilateral sphere. Contacts with our Belgian friends and associates do confirm their favorable disposition and readiness to enhance engagement with Nigeria. My immediate constituency of West Flanders boasts of the finest industries in pharmaceutical manufacturing, food and beverage as well as tourism and agriculture, exactly the sectors that Nigeria is impatient to delve into, since the future is no longer oil. When I close my eyes, these are the industries I see and wish to get business people from both sides talking business. The Embassy could be an omissible arranger and facilitator.
I also thought of my Nigerian-Guinean Diaspora friend that works as International Civil Servant at the European Commission who once called me a “dreamer” after listening to one of my TV calls for a better balance between bilateralism and indirect international development model where the civil society organisations and the NGO’s are more involved in development projects with a lessening of Government-to-Government traditional approach. I do hope to take this dream to our new lady in town in the coming months. Who knows, we might set the ball rolling gradually.

The counting and waiting is over, the Nollywood Film Festival Germany and NEGA 2017 taking place in Frankfurt, Germany picks off tomorrow 8th & 9th September and guests have started arriving in the city from various place around the world according to event organizers, Izoya Entertainment.

According to the Director of this show, Cultural Ambassador Isaac Izoya, “Frankfurt is in festive mood already, all our part we are set to go, and our guests are beginning to arrive already in the city, more will arrive today and all through tomorrow. This is the biggest of the festival since we started and we are showcasing the movies of artistes in Europe with collaborations from Nigeria, Ghana and other parts of Africa” You have nothing to lose for coming but you have everything to lose if you don’t come, so don’t be told, join the train to Frankfurt says Mr. Izoya.

For those attending, this is a preview of the NFFG & NEGA AWARDS PROGRAMS

*08/09/2017*
17:30 prompt:
*OPENNING CEREMONY*
18:00; Premiere of - *"DIPLOMATIC STRINGS"*
Venue; Filmforum Höchst, Emmerich-Josef-Strasse 46A 65929 Frankfurt am Main

Date; *08/09/2017*
*NOLLYWOOD SINGLES NIGHT*
TIME 10 PM till Dawn.Venue. NOLLYWOOD EVENTS CENTER
BORSIGALLE 35 60388 FRANKFURT AM MAIN
*DJ DON Jokolo & DJ Gaga*

The Rwandan Diaspora around the world have started casting their votes in the Presidential elections taking place tomorrow, 4th August 2017.

Depending on where you live around the world, Rwandans are already casting their votes to elect a new President for the Republic. In The Netherlands, Rwandans at press time are busy casting their votes. Led by the country’s ambassador, Ambassador has casted his voted this morning and member of the mission and the general public are visiting the mission house in The Hague to peacefully cast their votes. The official address of the Embassy is Johan van Oldenbarneveltlaan 9-B, 2582 NE The Hague, Netherlands
It is a plus and admirable to see this taking place where many other bigger African countries are yet to accomplish Diaspora voting system.
According to the Ambassador, H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga the election is going on peacefully and the people are free to make their choice of any of the candidates on the ballot. The polling station is open from 7am to 7pm on 3rd August 2017.
According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), it was decided that Rwandans in the Diaspora vote a day before.
Reports across the world says, at various Rwandan Embassies, the elections are taking place peacefully and the people are happy that they can participate in the electoral process of their mother land.
“Voting on a working day has been difficult for the Diaspora because they don’t get a holiday like us here. This has been affecting their turn up at the polls, said the Executive Secretary of NEC Charles Munyaneza in a recent interview.

In recent days, our publication The Voice magazine have been bombarded with all sort of mails alleging that former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi has held secret meeting with Governor of Kaduna State, El Rufai and some other Northern leaders on the agenda to have Nnamdi Kanu returned to prison.

Early this morning, our Editor-in-Chief, Pastor Elvis Iruh spoke to Peter Obi on telephone on his return to Nigeria from Nantes, France where he has gone to attend a conference. The fact is that Peter Obi was actually not in the country as of the time they purported that he was holding a meeting with Kaduna State Governor and other Northern leaders.

Chief Peter Obi

Peter Obi said on telephone chat, “I laugh at these jokers because they don’t even know anything about me or following me. I was out of the country while they claimed I was having a meeting. I have not followed the news trend because I just arrived back this morning. They should go and read the news and follow the developments, I was among the first set of people who demanded unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu by the government.

Over 200 women received FREE Job readiness training from the NekoTech Center for Peace and Development's initiative, SOSJOBS4WOMEN, in Accra, under the auspices of the Ghana Ministry for Employment and Labour Relations on May 8th at the Accra International conference center.

A charity organization in Eket, Nigeria, the Child's Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) has commended the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for donating food and other items to the street and abandoned Children taking refuge at CRARN Children Centre in Eket.

Gov. Udom of Akwa Ibom State.

As we celebrate yet another independence anniversary in Sierra Leone – April 27th 2017, it brings to mind, the July 12th Ghana - Accra visit by former U.S. President Barack Obama. Talking to a mammoth crowd of Ghanaians in Accra, he condemned African leaders who enrich themselves on the ticket of dictatorship, and urged Africans to demand better governments with stronger institutions. He said: “Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions”.

All way leads to Dublin, Ireland where African gospel music sensation and multi-award winning artiste, Pat Edo will launch her latest album on 9th April 2017 at Christ Embassy in Dublin, Ireland (See photo).

Pat Edo has come a long way dating back to her early years as a singer in the church choir, learning how to play musical instruments, spending hours on vocal lessons, but it has all paid off years on. She is an anointed gospel musician, born in Edo State, Nigeria. She started ministering as soon as she arrived in Europe, living and traveling around the world to bless the body of Christ with her grand of gospel music.

For years, she lived in Amsterdam, The Netherlands where she also engaged herself in helping to fight exploitation of young Nigerian girls brought to Europe for prostitution and child slave trade popularly called child trafficking. In 2001, she moved to Ireland for better opportunity to pursue her gospel musical career and that decision has paid off for her where she reaches out to hundreds of people weekly with the word of God through gospel melody. In 2013, she won the Diaspora artiste of the year award at the Voice Achievers Award and ever since more awards have come her way including the best Diaspora artiste award at Nigeria gospel music award in 2014. She has released three albums till date including “His name is Jesus; “Make no great mistake” and “Sing along with me”. Her latest work to be released on 9th April is titled, “Ebelebe God”.

Nearly five years after Cynthia’s murder, two men charged with her murder in 2012 have been sentenced to death by hanging at a Lagos High court yesterday.

Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere found Ezekiel Eloka and Okwuoma Echezona Nwabufo guilty of Cynthia’s murder and both men sentenced to death. They were also found guilty of conspiracy, rape and stealing.

Two of the most popular Europe base gospel singers, Iyobo4chrit and Masterdon are coming out with a new master piece single titled, “Ebube” and they are already making waves across the media as their fans look forward to receive this new gospel music, both song and video are prepared for release by 15^th of April 2017. According to Iyobo4christ, she co-produce the hit single with Masterdon.

Wife of the President, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari prayed for peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. She made the prayer shortly after her arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she performed Umrah or the Lesser Hajj as it is known.

A Dutch court sitting in Breda has found a Surinamese man guilty of manslaughter and sentence to maximum jail term of 12 years without the possibility of early release in the murder of Steven Kantaga. (His asylum name in the Netherlands). He has since been recognized as a Nigerian born as Steven Osaigbovo Ekunwe, he was born on 27th of June 1971 at Benin-City, Edo State Nigeria. He was killed through knife wounds on 5th of June 2015 at Oosterhout, Noord Brabant, The Netherlands after he has been attacked.

Late Steven Osaigbovo Ekunwe

A friend of his, Ms Monique-Brigitte Klamer had for the last two years fought to get justice for the deceased and for his children as she felt he was unjustly murdered in cold blood because he is a foreigner and nobody to fight his course in the Netherlands.
According to Monique when she spoke to the Voice magazine on the decision of the court, she says it is a relief after two years of fighting to get justice for Steven. “He was a good man and a dear friend, he has children who are now without a father because someone decided to take his life”.

Every week at his office in Amsterdam this young lawyer is attending to hundreds of people in need of assistance to clear them from unnecessary debts and bills incurred from tax office, in some cases they have been wrongfully taxed. Recently I met him on his campaign train and chatted with him on his mission to become a parliamentarian. Meet Don Ceder, a candidate on the ticket of the Christian Union, No 7 on the list. Read his interview and why we have to vote him into the parliament.

Excerpts:
TV: Give a short introduction of yourself?

Don Ceder: I was born 27 years ago in the city of Amsterdam. I’m an offspring of a Ghanaian mother and a Surinamese father. I am currently practicing as a lawyer and I own a law firm based in Amsterdam.

TV: Congratulations, and what does your work entails as a lawyer?

Don Ceder: As a lawyer I chose to advocate for citizens whose rights are being violated by unlawful additional costs by collection agencies (in the Netherlands they are known as ‘Incasso bureaus’), tax authorities, big companies, CJIB and banks. Many people lack the language from minority communities and even those who have the language are scare to death whenever they get bills they do not clearly understand, out of panic many goes to pay it and some even get more bills after paying so some people are in serious debts. Through my legal representation I have helped many to correct the mistakes and even get them payback the over charges they have received in the past.