During the 2024 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Speaker Memounatou Ibrahima highlighted the urgent need to address this issue.

Ibrahima pointed out that many youths emigrate through dangerous and irregular means, emphasizing that strategies must be adopted to stop this perilous trend.

She called on Members of Parliament to propose initiatives that invest in the skills and capacities of West African youth, aiming to harness their potential for the subregion’s development.

This exodus, often referred to as the ‘Japa Syndrome’ in Nigeria, has resulted in a significant loss of skilled youth from Africa to Europe and other developed nations.

Ibrahima’s remarks followed a presentation by Teresa Boteli, Policy and Liaison Officer of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Boteli discussed the hazardous journeys African youth undertake to reach Europe and North America, exposing themselves to severe risks such as human trafficking, exploitation, and death.

In 2023 alone, an estimated 5,000 migrant deaths were recorded.

While migrants contribute to cultural exchange and diversity, Boteli noted that they also encounter significant challenges regarding integration, discrimination, and legal obstacles in their destination countries.

According to the IOM’s 2023 report, approximately 300,000 West African migrants use perilous routes through the Sahara Desert and across the Mediterranean Sea annually.

The ECOWAS Parliament’s call for action underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to invest in youth skills development, aiming to create opportunities within the subregion and reduce the urge for dangerous migrations.

The report underscores the significance of cost of living for expatriates when choosing relocation destinations, affecting their quality of life and financial stability.

The affordability of Abuja and Lagos is attributed to currency depreciations, significantly reducing living costs for international assignees.

Among the least expensive cities globally, Islamabad, Lagos, and Abuja stand out for expatriates.

This ranking provides insights into economic trends, helping individuals and organizations make informed decisions on global mobility.

In Africa, Bangui rose 12 places to rank 14th globally, followed by Djibouti and N’Djamena at 18th and 21st, respectively. Conversely, Blantyre, Lagos, and Abuja are among the least expensive African cities, ranking 221st, 225th, and 226th globally.

Top 10 Cheapest Cities to Live in Africa (Global Rank)

1. Abuja, Nigeria
   • Global rank: 226
2. Lagos, Nigeria
   • Global rank: 225
3. Blantyre, Malawi
   • Global rank: 221
4. Durban, South Africa
   • Global rank: 219
5. Windhoek, Namibia
   • Global rank: 218
6. Gaborone, Botswana
   • Global rank: 215
7. Lusaka, Zambia
   • Global rank: 213
8. Tunis, Tunisia
   • Global rank: 210
9. Cape Town, South Africa
   • Global rank: 209
10. Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Global rank: 206

Johannesburg and Cape Town, despite being prominent South African cities, offer relatively low living costs for expats, particularly in housing and utilities. Tunis, Lusaka, Gaborone, and Windhoek are notable for their affordability in housing and daily essentials, making them attractive for cost-conscious expatriates.

During a meeting with a delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), led by Managing Director Makhtar Diop at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu stressed the need for international financiers to see Africa as a destination for growth and prosperity.

He urged global financiers to invest strategically in agriculture, infrastructure, and research and development on the continent.

Tinubu highlighted the importance of changing the global perception of Africa, noting the potential for growth, peace, stability, and prosperity.

“The IFC and the World Bank need to see Africa differently,” Tinubu said.

“The world has to see us as a continent that can help the rest of the world, and not perceive us as backwards, unstable, and with leadership problems. We are ready to change the narrative and work with you. Africa is open for business.”

Tinubu expressed pride in his African heritage and reiterated his commitment to collaborating with global partners to reposition Africa as a key player in global development.

The 2024 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report highlights a significant increase in attacks on national ID cards across African countries in the past two years.

South Africa’s national ID card took the lead in 2023 with the highest percentage of fraud attempts at 34%, securing the top spot.

Tanzania’s national ID followed closely as the second most attacked, with a 32% attempted fraud rate, while Kenya’s national ID claimed the third spot with a 26% attempted fraud rate.

Nigeria’s national ID recorded an 18% attempted fraud rate, ranking it 9th on the continent.

The report emphasizes that national ID cards have become the primary target for fraud attacks, constituting 80% of all document fraud attempts in the last two years.

Out of the top 19 most attacked document types, 11 were identified as national IDs.

This preference for national ID cards by fraudsters is attributed to their widespread use as the primary government identification in most countries, mandatory for the majority of adults.

With an increasing number of national ID documents in circulation, the report highlights the heightened risk of loss or theft, exposing holders to potential document fraud.

The statement came after he met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday, during his visit to Nigeria as part of a broader tour of African nations.

Blinken emphasized that the success of American initiatives in the region would be closely tied to the concerted efforts made by African nations to ensure the safety of civilian populations.

He underscored the importance of supporting partners in finding effective ways to provide security, citing collaborative efforts with Nigeria and Lake Chad region partners.

Addressing the security challenges faced by Africa, particularly in countering extreme terrorism, violence, and criminal activities, Blinken voiced the U.S.’s concerns.

He lamented instances of insecurity and undemocratic means used to change democratically elected leaders, citing the situation in Niger Republic as an example.

Highlighting the need for synergy between African countries and the United States, Blinken stressed that such collaboration must be built on critical regional strategies to effectively address security challenges and ensure stability.

The U.S. Secretary of State’s visit reaffirms the commitment of the United States to work alongside African nations in fostering lasting peace and security on the continent.

Okonjo-Iweala secured the 87th position in the global Most Powerful Women list, surpassing South African businesswoman Mpumi Madisa, who holds the 88th spot.

The Tuesday-released ranking also featured Tanzanian President Samia Hassan at the 93rd position and Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu in the 98th spot.

Topping the global list is Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission for Impactful Policy and Budget.

Christine Lagarde, the European Central Bank President, secured the second position, while U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris claimed the third spot in the prestigious list of the world’s most powerful women for 2023.

Speaking at the International Conference on Public Health in Africa during a parallel session on Youth Mental Health in Africa, Dalal underscored the need to challenge prevailing cultural norms.

The conference, organized by the Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (AfricaCDC), is an annual event, with the 2023 edition hosted by the Government of Zambia.

Dalal, a Psychiatrist from Lusaka, Zambia, revealed that statistics indicate a higher incidence of suicide among men in Africa.

He explained, “There is more active suicide amongst men. For every 50 per cent of it, it is amongst the men that die, and this is because men use more lethal means with dying.’’

He highlighted the cultural barriers that prevent men from seeking mental health assistance, noting societal expectations that men should be strong, responsible, and providers. Dalal identified the challenge of vulnerability not being widely accepted in African communities.

To tackle these issues, Dalal outlined solutions being implemented by AfricaCDC, including mental health advocacy programs, men’s health initiatives, and mental health fellowships to build healthcare workers’ capacity in mental health.

Dalal also emphasized the importance of advocacy among the younger generation, citing that the third leading cause of death by suicide occurs between the ages of 15 to 29.

He commended Nigeria for recent strides in mental health legislation.

Obasanjo criticized the Western style of democracy for its failure to consider the majority’s views, describing it as a “government of a few people over all the people or population.”

He proposed the adoption of ‘Afro Democracy,’ emphasizing that African countries should define and design their governance systems.

Obasanjo highlighted the weaknesses and failures of liberal democracy, emphasizing the need to move beyond the current system that neglects the majority.

He questioned the relevance of a system brought by colonial powers and urged a shift in mindset to develop a government that better serves the welfare and well-being of the people.

Former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, echoed concerns about the challenges facing liberal democracy in Africa, emphasizing the importance of addressing the non-delivery of development outcomes to improve the welfare of the people.

According to a press statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President said this while meeting with United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, at his UN Headquarters Office in New York City.

“We are facing the great challenge of scavengers ravaging our lands and oppressing our people on illegal mines—taking our gold and mineral wealth back to developed economies by stealth and violence against Nigerians.

“Where one’s human right ends, the rights of another begin. Most especially for self-protection, If we fight, they say ‘human rights,’ but we will now be aggressive and we will question motives. We will stop what is happening in our land. We require your effective collaboration,” the President firmly stated.”

The Nigerian leader noted that the United Nations must transform from being one of the world’s foremost talk shops to discuss global issues into becoming the world’s foremost action coordination center, saying that a situation in which 70% of the resources being devoted to the world’s poorest countries are being spent and sent back out on overheads and administrative costs, will defeat the purpose and objectives of the organization where help is needed most.

“The poverty ravaging our continent and the question of security and counter-terrorism requires us to work in close and effective synergy. The world will ignore Nigeria at its own peril. If we engage in talk shops as real challenges wreak real havoc in real time, we will fail. The time to strike is now. The time to achieve real results is now. I fought for democracy. I was detained for democracy. I am now President and I am determined to prove that democracy can provide the development that our nation and our continent so urgently demands.

“Trace those of us here to our foundations and you will find that we have ties and links with poverty. We must not be ashamed of that history, but poverty is unacceptable. I am one of the lucky survivors of gripping poverty. Nigeria is truly a giant. 240 million people and counting with a massive youth population. We are done saying too much. We seek much action. We have arisen out of poverty as individuals, but until our people have arisen out of that, we will not rest, even if it requires decisions at home that make me temporarily unpopular,” the President affirmed.

In response, the UN Secretary-General emphasized that the UN system is in the process of real reform that will largely address some of the institutional frailties and lack of decision-making power for the developing world, on whose behalf more than 75% of UN resources are accrued.

“We now recognize the need to reform the institution to represent the world as it is today. The questions of debt and SDRs. The fact that middle-income countries have only marginal access to concessional funding. In the SDGs Summit, we believe we have a growing political consensus and now, a declaration, in this regard. We are pursuing this with great determination,” the UN Secretary-General said.

The UN Secretary-General further assured President Tinubu of the fullest support of the UN system for ECOWAS in light of the series of military coups which have occured in the West African sub-region in the past few months and years.

“Mr. President, we have high expectations for your presidency after the many bold steps you have taken. Nigeria is an indispensable voice in the sub-region. We will give you every support needed for your success to be achieved. Your success is Africa’s success and we wish you well,” the UN leader concluded.

Speaking during the opening day of the 78th session at the UN Headquarters, President Tinubu voiced Africa’s determination to neither be subservient nor dominate others, seeking to replace old oppressions with new ones.

Addressing fellow heads of state following speeches by US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, President Tinubu centered his remarks on the theme, ‘Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and Its Sustainable Development Goals Towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability for All.’

Tinubu acknowledged that despite numerous declarations, Africa’s challenges persist, attributing much of this struggle to governance failures and the enduring effects of broken promises, unfair treatment, and foreign exploitation.

Reflecting on the establishment of the United Nations and its origins in the aftermath of the Second World War, the Nigerian leader highlighted how that era marked a pinnacle of trust in global institutions, fostering the belief that humanity had learned valuable lessons to advance global solidarity and cooperation.

President Tinubu drew parallels to the Marshall Plan’s commitment to post-war Europe, asserting that Africa has long sought a similar level of political dedication and resource allocation.

He recognized, however, that the root causes of Africa’s current economic challenges differ significantly from those of post-war Europe, requiring unique solutions.