What's Going On? Eyes on Africa and the Caribbean

Moronke Oshin-Martin & Grace Oshin

"What’s Going On? Eyes on Africa and the Caribbean" brings a biweekly conversation with people who know and work extensively and at the ground level in African and/or the Caribbean to the people of the African diaspora to keep us connected to the events and the places we love and left behind. Join us as we follow social and economic development issues in and around Africa and the Caribbean, including issues about youth, health, education, business, and emerging entrepreneurs. "What’s Going On? Eyes on Africa and the Caribbean" wants you to stay connected to the people and places that you love. Podcast cover photo by Etty Fidele on Unsplash read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Remembering Abimbola Ogunbanjo and His Vision of Transforming Nigeria
Feb 28 2024
Remembering Abimbola Ogunbanjo and His Vision of Transforming Nigeria
This episode is dedicated to the memory of the late Abimbola Ogubanjo, former head of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and an esteemed figure in Nigerian corporate law, who died in a helicopter crash in California on February 9. The crash also claimed the lives of the CEO of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and son. Their legacy continues to resonate around the world. Our conversation with Abi, a pivotal force in Nigeria's legal landscape, sheds light on the transformation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the evolving specialization within the legal profession. Abi's unique journey from banking to becoming a cornerstone in Nigeria's oldest indigenous law firm is an odyssey that mirrors the country's own legal metamorphosis.The narrative then shifts to the frontlines of Nigeria's capital market, where the digital revolution is making waves. We peel back the layers of MTN's digital IPO success and scrutinize the strategies that could magnetize foreign investment to Nigeria. Join us in the conversation about infrastructure, foreign exchange stabilization, and the pivotal question of privatization.As we cast our gaze towards Nigeria's horizon, we consider the unmined potential of Nigeria's youthful populace and the fintech sector's explosive growth. We explore the profound link between taxation, quality governance, and the social contract that underpins Nigeria's society's fabric.  Abi's conversation not only covers the intersections of political stability and economic sustainability, but he also shares a deeply personal crusade against cervical cancer, reminding us that behind every statistic, there's a human story waiting to be told.
"Switch It or Ditch It": Taking Charge of Your Career and Life!
Jan 5 2024
"Switch It or Ditch It": Taking Charge of Your Career and Life!
When your career is no longer fulfilling, it's time to explore how to switch it or ditch it, says author, human resources expert and executive coach Dr. Shelley Cameron, who joins us to illuminate the path to success and work-life balance. Dr. Cameron unpacks her empowering book, "Your Career: Ditch It or Switch It," which not only provides insight into the success strategies of African American and Caribbean American leaders but also doubles as a practical workbook for your own journey. If you're at a crossroads in your career, seeking to navigate through the complexities of leadership, or simply searching for a blueprint to self-directed achievement, tune in. Dr. Cameron says: “The top signs to identify when it is time to leave your job:You lack passion—that fired-up feeling you had when you started You are miserable every morning and dread going to work Your company is sinkingYou really dislike the people you work with or your bossYou are consistently stressed, negative, or unhappy at workYour skills are not being tappedYou have been passed over for promotion or more challenging assignmentsYour job duties have changed or increased, but your pay has not.  If you identify with any of these signs, it might be time to ditch that job!”Dr. Cameron explains the decision-making process necessary to determine the right moment to make a career switch and the strategic steps necessary to ensure a smooth transition.Finally, this episode tackles the complexities of leadership and self-leadership, providing insight into handling difficult bosses and fostering a positive workplace environment in a post-COVID-19 landscape. Join us, and arm yourself with the knowledge to steer your career course with confidence.
Tech Entrepreneur Segun Johnson Discusses the Plight of Small Business Owners in Nigeria
Jul 31 2022
Tech Entrepreneur Segun Johnson Discusses the Plight of Small Business Owners in Nigeria
This episode features Segun Johnson, a young entrepreneur,  who explains the struggles of small business owners in the tech industry in Nigeria. Segun owns Johnsonscode, a digital agency that does web development, graphic designs, and branding. Johnsonscode services clients from all over the world. It's no secret that entrepreneurism is the backbone of a growing economy. Over the years, entrepreneurism has fueled the economies of countries such as India, China, Brazil, and many Eastern European countries. Yet for the most part, despite its enormous youth population and high smartphone usage, many African countries lag behind. In Nigeria, for example, where the information communication and technology sector is one of the fastest growing, according to a 2021 report by the Center for Global Development for the World Bank. In 2020, despite the COVID 19 pandemic, the tech industry contributed 15% of Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP), second only to agriculture. And this trend has been growing over the last five years. The sector grew by 18% between 2016 and 2019. According to the report, this growth has positioned Nigeria as the largest tech market on the African continent with 90 tech hubs and a growing and vibrant customer base. The report estimates that the sector will add at least $88 billion to the economy by 2027. Yet, this growth hasn't translated into jobs for Nigeria's growing youth population. In fact, in 2017, the sector only employed 497,000 people or 1% of the population. So what's going on? The report suggests that one problem is a lack of digital skills among the youth population. We put the question to our guest, Shagun Johnson.  To find out how he's coping and what's going on. If you are interested in supporting Segun's business, you can contact the company by email at Info@johnsonscode.com.ng.  Or by phone at: +234 8100852872. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review, and subscribe to our podcast.If you are interested in being a guest on the show or you would like to recommend a possible guest, please contact us on our website to let us know.
"The time has come to invest in different parts of Africa,"  Says New York City Pension Fund Trustee, Gregory Floyd
May 30 2022
"The time has come to invest in different parts of Africa," Says New York City Pension Fund Trustee, Gregory Floyd
In 2015, The New York State Common Retirement Fund, one of the largest US Pension Funds began investing in Africa-- with plans to invest as much as 3% of its assets on projects on the continent in the next five years to diversify its portfolio and boost returns. The New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS) may be following suit, according to Gregory Floyd, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 237 union and a NYCERS trustee.In this episode, Floyd discusses NYCERS’ investment possibilities in Africa and why he is committed to making it happen. Two years ago, the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP) and USAID signed an investment partnership for “Mobilizing Institutional Investors to Develop Africa’s Infrastructure” or “MiDA.” The initiative seeks to facilitate and expand opportunities for infrastructure investments in Sub-Saharan Africa for investors seeking higher returns while making an impact on development and advancing U.S. interests in the region (https://nasphq.org/africa-initiative/)Floyd was among the U.S. delegation that participated in one of the first USAID/NASP-sponsored trips to Africa to discuss investment opportunities with Asset Managers, financial and banking professionals, and high-ranking government ministers in several African countries. The US delegation included fund trustees from Maryland, California, Virginia, New York, and Philadelphia, as well as a cross-section of business leaders and investors.NASP is the premier organization that helps Blacks, ethnic minorities, and women achieve inclusion in the financial services industry.  Floyd stated: "Hopefully we can find a fund in Africa in one or two countries that we can invest in that will bring both good returns to our funds and also help Africa, whether it's in South Africa, Kenya Senegal, one of these regions, maybe even Nigeria.”
"Because Your Life Is Worth Playing": How Scott Hilton Clarke Helps Leaders "Find and Live their Music"
Mar 6 2022
"Because Your Life Is Worth Playing": How Scott Hilton Clarke Helps Leaders "Find and Live their Music"
In this episode, we talk to Scott Hilton Clarke of Trinidad and Tobago. Scott is the Founder and Managing Partner of Inspiration Laboratories, a firm that is focused on advancing early-stage ventures and helping later-stage companies expand internationally.For over 25 years, Scott has been advising and inspiring senior executives and entrepreneurs to raise their level of personal leadership effectiveness. His work has revolved around helping leaders “find that thing which makes their heart sing,” and inspiring others to achieve their goals, dreams, and aspirations. Scott points out that:1. Employees of his clients frequently complain that their “their leader would go on a leadership course or have the latest leadership book on their desk, by the way, there are over 70,000 books on leadership on Amazon, yet when the leader comes back from these courses they don't have any experience of them being a better leader.”2. “A big part of what I do is helping leaders have what I call presence. It’s helping them own what makes them great. I help them find their music. I have observed that when they are able to own what makes them unique, [and discover] what their music is, they're able to have presence as a leader.”3. Scott’s focus is on helping his clients “find their music”, which he defines as [00:05:00] “the intersection of one's talent, one's passions and then what makes one unique. And those three windows, three domains come together. It really makes you out in a really powerful way…Your music is the dynamic expression of what’s inside of you.”4. Scott, who has clients all over the world—from the U.S, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, identified Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley as an example of a leader with presence; a leader who has found her music, and as a result is able to excite and empower those around her and beyond.  Check out Prime Minister Mottley's speech at #COP26 in Nov. 2021 https://youtu.be/rhlcN3_9tvwTo learn more about Scott Hilton Clarke or to inquire about his executive coaching, leadership development, training, management consulting, and Diversity & Inclusion training services, check out the links belowhttps://scotthiltonclarke.com/https://mpath.global/https://tedxportofspain.com/portfolio/scott-hilton-clarke/
Abi Ogunbanjo Talks about the Opportunities and Challenges for Investors and Government in Nigeria
Dec 31 2021
Abi Ogunbanjo Talks about the Opportunities and Challenges for Investors and Government in Nigeria
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to batter economies worldwide, people around the world are reassessing the state of affairs and their country's wellbeing. In November 2021, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo,  the head of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), hosted the first annual NGX Capital Markets Conference that brought together leading policymakers, financial experts, business leaders, investors, international development partners, and regulators to brainstorm ways to elevate the capital markets in Nigeria.  Specifically, the conference explored ways to increase the collaboration among key players in the nation’s economy in order to drive productive investments that would accelerate an elevated and digitized capital market. This episode features Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo,  Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, formerly the Nigerian Stock Exchange.  Abi, as his friends call him, discusses the opportunities and challenges for business and government in Nigeria, including the growth industries in Nigeria going into the future.   Abi recently engineered and oversaw the transition of the 60-year-old Nigerian Stock Exchange into what it is today with the goal of making, access to market easier.  As a demutualized entity, NGX, Mr. Ogunbanjo said is looking to: accelerate new growth platforms. invest in new payment platforms. invest in central counterparts, declaring houses. NXE just launched a company called NG Clearing, which is a clearinghouse for derivatives.  "There are a number of areas that we're looking to strengthen our core in data and analytics and technology services, and to form strategic partnerships with fintechs."According to Abi Ogunbanjo, the conference is "the beginning of the dialogue that the exchange is having with its stakeholders because we believe that it requires a collective effort to improve the fortunes of the exchange on the economy."
Part 2: The Caribbean Mosaics: A Home Away from Home
Jul 14 2021
Part 2: The Caribbean Mosaics: A Home Away from Home
We continue our conversation with Dr. Fiona Vernal about an oral history project on the life and times of early West Indian settlers in the State of Connecticut. Dr. Vernal is an Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies,  and Director of the Center for Engaged, Public, Oral, and Community Histories (EPOCH) at the University of Connecticut. In our previous episode, Dr. Vernal talked to us about her research and current exhibit called The Caribbean Mosaic:  A  Home Away From Home, which is an oral history of the Caribbean migration to Connecticut beginning in the 1940s. The exhibit opened on June 23rd in Hartford, Connecticut. In this episode, we're talking about some of the challenges facing this aging community of former migrant workers and their legacy, including: How to preserve the institutions they created {Fiona Vernal: "the importance of these organizations is now. Let's not wait until these organizations disappear and then we get really romantic about missing them. And let's say, these are the organizations that are on the ground, doing the work in the community that have the legitimacy and the authority to do some of this work and funds need to be flowing to us so that these agencies, subcontract with us to get some things done, [for example] to run tutoring programs that are culturally relevant..."Intervention to establish a functional and more updated leadership structure to advocate for and build financial support for the institutions.Encouraging the younger generation to embrace and protect the legacy. Dr. Vernal notes: "When we build organizations, whether we're like West Indian people or Nigerian people, or Cubans, whoever we are, [when] we build our community organizations, we have got to do succession planning." BiographyDr. Fiona Vernal is Jamaican and grew up in Trenton, New Jersey. She is a graduate of Princeton and Yale, and teaches courses on pre-colonial, and colonial Africa, the history of South Africa, slavery, and the African diaspora. In addition to creating a number of exhibits on her research, including the one we are discussing today, The Caribbean Mosaics, Dr. Vernal has written extensively on her research and consults with the Connecticut Historical Society on oral history projects.  Her current exhibit, “A Home Away From Home” is an oral history of the migration of West Indians to Connecticut.
The Caribbean Mosaics: A Home Away from Home
Jun 22 2021
The Caribbean Mosaics: A Home Away from Home
This is part one of two episodes on The Caribbean Mosaics: A Home Away from Home in which Fiona Vernal, professor of History and Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut, explains how West Indians became the largest ethnic group in one New England State.  In this episode, Dr. Vernel takes us through the history of the West Indian Social Club and the migrant workers from the West Indies who founded it when they settled in the region in the 1940s.  They came as guest workers from all over the Caribbean.  Facing discrimination, they founded their own social, religious, and athletic organizations as autonomous cultural spaces and networks beginning with the West Indian Social Club in 1950, followed by the Caribbean American Society, the Barbados American Society, the Trinidad & Tobago American Society, the Jamaica Progressive League, the St Lucia American Society and the Cricket Hall of Fame among others. The Social Club is a veritable treasure trove of memories that documents the lives and experiences of the farmworkers. Dr. Vernal started preserving these memories through an exhibition in collaboration with the Connecticut historical society. "It has been a long-term goal of mine to build on that experience from the 1940s and continue the oral history project and then share and showcase the oral histories. So that's what we are doing now, " said Dr. Vernal. She added: "This pandemic has demonstrated to us how critical foreign guest workers are to the infrastructure of this country. And I think that with renewed attention on the fact that folks are coming here, a lot of them are invited here and they make really important contributions to our food security and to our economic prosperity and productivity. And I want to do something to showcase the origins of those programs in the 1940s.The latest exhibit called the Caribbean Mosaic opens on June 23, 2021, at the West Indian Social Club in Hartford Connecticut.  You can also view it online at:  https://www.caribbeanmosaics.com/If you are interested in supporting the Oral History project or would like to borrow the exhibit for your own showing, contact:Dr. Fiona VernalAssociate ProfessorHistory and Africana StudiesDirector, Engaged, Public, Oral, and Community Histories (EPOCH)University of Connecticut(203)-687-3479http://history.uconn.edu/faculty-by-name/fiona-vernal/Let us know what you think.  Leave What's Going On? Eyes on Africa and the Caribbean a review on the podcast platform.
UK Government's Hostile Environment Policy Targets Black Communities and Deports thousands of Black immigrants
Apr 21 2021
UK Government's Hostile Environment Policy Targets Black Communities and Deports thousands of Black immigrants
This is Part 1 of two episodes on the British Government's immigration policy called the "Hostile Environment Policy" instituted under then Home Secretary Theresa May, who later became prime minister.  The "Hostile Environment Policy" targeted UK's Black immigrant population and forced the deportation of thousands of immigrants from the Caribbean, many from the Windrush generation who had entered the United Kingdom legally and at the invitation of the British Government in 1948 to help rebuild the country after its devastation during World War 2.       In this episode, our guest, British lawyer, lecturer, and author Colin Bobb Semple helps us to understand how Theresa May's racist immigration policy called the Windrush Hostile Environment policy targeted the Black community and led to the deportation of countless people of the Caribbean and African descent from the UK from 2014 onward. We learn what is the Windrush, and the Hostile Environment Policy, what took place in the UK, and why the Windrush forced deportations occurred. Colin is an experienced law lecturer tutor, accredited advocacy trainer. He trained prospective barristers as a Senior Lecturer at the City Law School, City University in London for over 20 years. He was awarded the lifetime award by the Black Solicitors Network Group in 2007 for contributions to legal practice and legal education. He also received teaching excellence awards by the City Law School, City University, London, and was a law revision consultant. And he's going to explain what that is to the government of Guyana from 2010 to 2012. He has authored several books, including "English, Common Law, African Enslavement, and Human Rights" in 2012, "Race, Jail, and Bail" in 2012, as well as numerous articles including "English, Common Law, Slavery and Human Rights" in 2007.
Is Telemedicine Here to Stay?  Alex Martin Discusses the Use of Telemedicine During the Pandemic
Mar 31 2021
Is Telemedicine Here to Stay? Alex Martin Discusses the Use of Telemedicine During the Pandemic
In this episode, Alex Martin an African Caribbean medical student at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra /Northwell Hospital in New York discusses telemedicine and how it has been aiding the COVID-19 pandemic, based on research from his recently published co-authored article: Wound Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Improving Outcomes Through the Integration of Telemedicine.The following is the abstract for the article by Alisha Oropallo, MD, FACS; John Lantis, MD, FACS; Alexander Martin; Ammar Al Rubaiay; Na Wang in the Journal of Wound Care, Vol. 30, No. Sup2.,  February 11, 2021.COVID-19 is highly contagious and its rapid spread burdens the healthcare system. As the number of confirmed cases goes up, the shortage of medical resources has become a challenge. To avoid the collapse of the healthcare system during the fight with COVID-19, all healthcare workers, including wound care practitioners, should adapt to new roles and use any appropriate methods available to slow the spread of the virus. Integrating telemedicine into wound care during the outbreak helps maintain social distancing, preserve personal protective equipment and medical resources, and eliminate unnecessary exposure for bothvulnerable patients and high-risk healthcare workers.A graduate in Neuroscience at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, Alex Martin went on to complete a master's degree in biology at NYU before attending the Zucker Hofstra School of Medicine. Working with Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Oropallo, director of the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center, Department of Vascular Surgery, Northwell Health, NY, Alex Martin said the article describes how the healthcare system will change in response to how COVID affects what you can see in person,  who you can see in person; and how you take care of those patients. "Because one of the things that is really important, especially for something like wound care is that you really need to see these patients and their wounds to make sure that they're being treated effectively to prevent infection, especially as many of these patients often have some kind of underlying C's condition, diabetes, hypertension, and these things can make wound healing a lot worse."Telemedicine gives medical providers the ability to visualize and see changes in the patient without having to have them in the office when they can't be in the office.The article discusses some of the barriers to actually implementing telemedicine technologies and how do we get around them and how to adjust them for older, less tech-savvy patients and in acute settings as COVID raged.
Opening Doors to a Career in Architecture for Young People of Color through Mentoring
Mar 6 2021
Opening Doors to a Career in Architecture for Young People of Color through Mentoring
In today's episode, we are talking to LoriAnne Jones about her work as one of few Black women in the field of architecture in the United States and her efforts to bring in candidates from underserved communities into the profession through long-term mentoring.LoriAnne is a licensed architect, and project manager at DIGroup Architecture, one of the largest black-owned firms.  DIGroup is driven by the philosophy of architecture for change. During her 14-year professional career, she's been responsible for design through delivery of a variety of projects, including those in K-12, higher education, the healthcare industry with a focus on community health center design With her affinity for design technology, Lorianne has helped strengthen her firm's capabilities in Building Information Modeling and Information Technology to grow the firm's competitive advantage.LoriAnne Jones is currently President of the Central New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects.Last year, LoriAnne Jones became the first black female to be named the 2020 Young Architect of the Year, a coveted AIA title.  The award acknowledges LoriAnnes' exceptional leadership and significant contributions in the field of Architecture.Balancing motherhood with two children, ages five and 10 months, is no small feat as a working professional and during a pandemic.  However, LoriAnne Jones is not only juggling motherhood and work, but she is also making time to mentor young minority high school students who want to become architects and college students in architectural programs to navigate and manage the rigor of the Architect Construction & Engineering (ACE) program to realize their dream as registered architects.To encourage the love of learning and interest in careers in architecture, LoriAnne is a reader in AIA New Jersey Storytime for children to introduce them to the profession and real architects.  While the pandemic has limited in-person contact to many activities, it has not stopped storytime. The program, LoriAnne explains, has gone virtual.  "We're doing online storytime, and architects are reading books about architecture and posting them on YouTube and making it, you know, something that families can enjoy together." LoriAnne says she is passionate about her mentoring role to open the door to more people of color in the field of architecture. She has spoken on the issue of diversity in the profession as a panelist in AIA New Jersey's six-part Diversity in Architecture Series.According to recent research, less than 2 % of architects in the U.S. are Black; and many students who study architecture do not become licensed architects often because they graduated from non-accredited programs.   LoriAnne grandmother is an architect who owned and operated an architectural firm in Georgetown, Guyana long before the professional started recognizing women.LoriAnne is a graduate of Rutgers University with an MBA from its business school and a Bachelor of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.