Though Gaddafi may have fallen to the NTC forces under the brutality of a seemingly western induced revolution, Hilary Damissah in this piece writes that Gaddafi's Pan-African vision was incontestable and that his story is beyond that of a monstrous specimen of humanity as painted by the west.

No doubt, Muammar Gaddafi was a tragic hero. Unlike other oil producing countries in Africa, Libya under the erstwhile Libyan strongman, Muammar Gaddafi, the self prophesied “African king of kings” witnessed tremendous improvement in the welfare of citizens' infrastructural development and investments. Gaddafi aided the liberation movements in the struggle against colonialism and imperialism. Though his killing was greeted with so much euphoria by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries that provided the military muscle for the rebellion and some world leaders especially the United States, Britain and their allies, however, the Gaddafi story should be told as a whole as he was not all a monstrous specimen of humanity as painted by western cronies.

All his errors and misdeeds would not obliterate his unquestionable anti-imperialist and progressive credentials. He was a leading light in the legitimate battle against imperialists and colonialist control of Africa. One of the greatest issues of democracy especially in the second half of the last century was colonialism in Africa. Gaddafi evidently supported the forces of national liberation in Southern Africa.

He stood for freedom and against apartheid which was declared by the United Nations as a crime against humanity. Gaddafi was on the side of freedom fighters when the United States, Britain and their stooges in NATO were opposed to even the imposition of sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. This was a period when Americans and the British, who are now waving the banners of democracy and freedom while throwing missiles to support Libyan rebels, called the African National Congress (ANC) a “terrorist organization”.

Today, the ANC, the oldest and arguably, the best organized political party on the continent, is ruling in South Africa. Yes, apartheid is dead and Nelson Mandela is a free man today; but we must not forget those who stood for freedom and those who opposed it or frustrated its attainment. Democracy is not about free elections alone. Issues of national freedom and human dignity under apartheid and other parts of Africa under colonial subjugation were as relevant to democracy as free elections and human rights that NATO countries enforced with the flow of blood in Libya.

Gaddafi's Libya is one of the five big brother African nations with the highest investment in the African Union alongside Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt and South Africa and Libya's Arab African Investment Company (LAAICO), with presence in 25 African countries, has seen its deposits rise from $ 25 min 1991 to $1.5bn in 2008. With enormous oil wealth and small population of about six million, Gaddafi invested in human capital and infrastructure. Free and quality education and health care were made available and there was a fairer redistribution of the national wealth.

Good roads, electricity and water supply were evidence governance under Gaddafi. Little surprise that despite the crises, Libya was still rated highly in 2011 under the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance. The nation was relatively better invested in the welfare than some other African countries.

As the euphoria of NATO –imposed democracy dies down, it would be clear that at the heart of the Western intervention in the Libyan crisis is oil. Early under Gaddafi, Libya was able to shake off the foreign domination of its oil industry . In the course of the disputes with oil executives, he reportedly once told them: “people who have lived without oil for 5,000 years can live without it again for a few years in order to attain their legitimate rights.”

With the oil resources, Gaddafi was able to sustain an anti-imperialist campaign in Africa. He was never forgiven for this original sin. As a slap on the face of the west, the Colonel tore a portion of the United Nations Convention when he addressed the UN General Assembly in 2009. Unfortunately, with the derailment of his leadership in later years, Gaddafi became erratic and played into the hands of the imperialists. Africa should have a dialectical view in telling the Gaddafi story. His failure to work out an exit strategy following the formidable rebellion that begun in the wake of Arab spring was his gravest mistake. He ought to have responded positively to the nudge to quit power and go on exile. He ought to have learnt from the tragedy of Sadam Hussein.

A little over 15 years ago, no serious-minded parent would probably have given his/her ward a listening ear if he/she decided to take to acting as a professional calling but such notion have since changed owing to the growth of Nollywood in leaps and bound so much so that stars of the industry today command national and international respect.

This was the case when President Goodluck Jonathan conferred the 2011 national honours award on some leading light of Nollywood artistes/actresses. Among them are Ginevive Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke, Olu Jacobs and Kanayo O Kanayo who all received the prestigious honour of Member of the Federal Republic, MFR award.

Mr. Osita Iheme popularly known as Pawpaw of the Aki and Pawpaw fame was also honoured with MFR as Chinedu Ikedieze known as Aki was last year previously conferred with same honours.

The Nigerian Nollywood industry commands global recognition and is rated as the third biggest film makers in the world behind America's Hollywood and Indian's Bollywood. Nigerian movies are watched in leading hotels and cities across the world including the Caribbean, South America, US, Europe, Australia and Asia.

The Osun State government has won the hosting right of the 2012 West Africa Arts and Culture Showcase after beating Niger, Cross River and Edo states to emerge tops. Expressing the state governments delight to host the regional arts and culture forum recently in Oshogbo, the governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stated his administrations readiness to promote ethics, culture, tourism and the peoples socio-historical heritage and African values. “We are desirous of partnering with you to host the 2012 edition of this cultural showcase and so we will like to have our own contribution towards it” He directed the body to liaise with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism to know the requirements and work out modalities for the hosting of the event. Earlier, the governor was honoured with the Most Outstanding Chief Executive award for his governments promotion of culture, ethics and values by Tribe Media and Pan-Africa Ghana organizers of the Ghana/Nigeria Culture Showcase which has now transmuted into the West African Arts and Culture Showcase. Aregbesola said his government will continue to do whatever is required for the promotion of culture, tourism, ethics and values in Africa.

At the presentation of the award to the governor at his official quarters in Osogbo, the state capital, the Editor, Tribe Times Magazine, Mr Hilary Damissah, who led the delegation on behalf of the Presidents of Tribe Media and Pan-Africa Ghana, said that Aregbesola was chosen among the governors in the 36 states of Nigeria and 10 Regional Ministers in Ghana. Hilary noted that there was a nomination of Chief Executive of states and regions in Nigeria and Ghana who are keying into promotion of African values and culture, where Aregbesola eventually emerged.

“At the end of the screening, the organizing committee resolved that his Excellency Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was deservedly nominated to be honoured with the most outstanding Chief Executive Award for the promotion of culture and tourism.”

Responding, the governor said that whatever the body might have seen in his promotion of culture, ethics and values should be taken as the beginning of the commitment of his administration in promoting culture, ethics values of the people of the state. “Whatever it was that you saw should be taken as the very beginning of our commitment to the promotion of the culture of our people”
He revealed that it is the desire of his administration to develop a pan-Africa Heritage Centre in Ile-Ife, which, according to him, is considered to be the sources of all humanity. “I will quickly let you into some of the programs that we have; it is our desire to develop an African heritage centre in Ile Ife which to us is the source of all humanity”

The governor added that his administration has been discussing with those who have anything at stake in the promotion of culture to assist the government to initiate whatever they believed would ensure the realization of the project.

View More Pictures Here

The Nigeria Breweries have yet again demonstrated just why they remain the undisputed leader in the industry as it chose a unique historical date of a hat trick of eleven, 11:11:11 (11 th November, 2011 ) to unveil a hat trick of new brands on the company's stable.

The event itself which was rightly dubbed the “Hat trick” mega launch was one of an electrifying atmosphere that was full of grandeur, razzmatazz and ambience.

The crème de la crème of the corporate world, entertainment industry and the media were well represented as the brewery giants lunched the three new products which are; the Heineken Magnum, Legend CAN and the Fayrouz “garment”-the PET bottle.

The Hollywood-like, highly entertaining brand event unveiling, witnessed an innovation in the lager segment of the market called Heineken Magnum, appropriately dubbed “the only beer that pops.” The Magnum comes in the shape of a classic champagne-style bottle complete with cork and cage seal.

Popular stout brand, Legend extra stout had another variant as Legend CAN which was also unveiled. Also, was the unveiling of Fayrouz in a new ‘garment'– the PET bottle. These brands, according to an industry expert having proved their mettle in the market place and have now been positioned as breakaway brands to give consumers the satisfaction they yearn for.

Some of the side attractions included comedy performance by the hilarious “I Go Die” while the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel & Suites was literarily agog with the rhythmic tunes of rave-making Africa Rapper Number One-M.I and the ever sonorous, multiple awards winning Tuface.

View pictures of activities here

The First Nation Airline during the week announced the airline's commencement of its Lagos-Abuja- Lagos flight operation.

The commencement of flight followed the receipt of its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

In a statement, the airline's Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Pelu Awofesan, said the airline would extend its operations to Port Harcourt and Kano as from December first. Awofesan added that the airline would operate a fleet of modern Airbus A320 passenger aircraft, stressing that the aircraft is the best selling and most successful single selling passenger aircraft over the last decade.

According to the statement, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, commended the management of First Nation for its dedication and courage throughout the certification process. First Nation applied for the AOC on April 5, 2010, and the processing took about 18 months, including extensive flight proofing across Europe and Nigeria.

It quoted Demuren as saying that the airline was among the first new airlines to pass through the NCAA's certification after Nigeria attained the United States of America Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Category 1 status.

Following the successful take off of its flight schedules on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, the new carrier will add Port-Harcourt and Kano from December 1, 2011 before expanding to other African cities and Europe in the second quarter of 2012.

Every October in the city of Lagos is now beginning to have a new meaning as it has seemingly become synonymous to the celebration of the life of the late legendary music maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti “Abami Eda”. This year's Felabration event was simply mind -blowing as it took a carnival-like form through different parts of the Lagos metropolis before culminating at “The Afrika Shrine” for the grand finale.

For a long time to come Lagosians will not forget in a hurry t his year's event, with the theme “Buy Africa” which according to Yeni Kuti, the eldest child of the Fela music dynasty was coined from one of the late icon's classics with the subject of educating Africans to “buy” and honourably align with all that is African and to promote proudly African values, ideas, goods and brands.

Felabration which at the beginning was only intended to create a forum to reminiscence the life and times of Fela popularly known as Baba 70 has today assumed a bigger and African-wide dimension of some sort as an Afro-cultural music festival to the admiration of many.

Fela literarily came back to life at Felabration 2011 , as the annual show was well attended by people from all walks of life despite the one thousand naira gate fee. The ‘smoky' Africa Shrine auditorium, located at the Agindigbi axis of Ikeja, was filled to its capacity as the adjoining streets to the “Afrika Shrine” to other parts of Ikeja were overcrowded with people who could not find their way into the main auditorium.

The historical event held every October to coincide with Fela's birth day, 16th of October as no doubt translated into an annual festival of music, culture, arts and ideological bridge for celebrating an African icon just as it has now become an international showpiece with visitors coming from all over the world.

The Nigerian Oil and Gas industry is set to witness one of the biggest gathering of its key players at the 2011 Upstream and Downstream Expo,

The Nigerian Oil and Gas industry is set to witness one of the biggest gathering of its key players at the 2011 Upstream and Downstream Expo, a first of its kind oil and gas technology event in the West African sub-region that will bring together over 4,000 key industry players and visitors.

The event which is endorsed by OPEC and other industry leaders is expected to be declared open by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement made available to Tribe Times , Chief Kune Igoni, the Director of Events West Africa Exhibitions and conferences, organizers of the trade show, noted the forum will be a global gathering of key petroleum industry players, equipment manufacturers and contractors in West Africa.

Chief Igoni said, with crude oil production over 2.6 million barrels per day (mbd) in Nigeria, the recent oil discoveries off the coast of Ghana and the hope of an increase in West Africa regional potential in 2011, top nations across the world have increased desires and quest for petroleum products in the region thereby, enforcing a powerful, active and increasingly up-to-date upstream and downstream petroleum market. The event is expected to serve as the window for further development and growth of the market in the region, making U & D Expo the ideal place for concluding contracts, equipment delivery, as well as, expansion of companies' potentials. The conference will also examine issues on how to reshape government energy policies and legislations such as the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and the Nigerian Content Development Act 2010, with a view to expanding Exclusive Economic Opportunities, Exploration Zones, and Licensing of Operators in West African Countries.