Monday 4 July 2016
Sunday 3 July 2016
AFRICAN SCIENTISTS GRADUATE WITH MASTERS' DEGREE
47 AFRICAN SCIENTISTS GET THEIR DEGREES
SCIENTISTS DESCRIBED AS "AGENTS OF CHANGE"
Bagamoyo: Forty
seven young scientists graduated with their Masters Degree at the African
Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) at the historical town of Bagamoyo.
Thirteen of them are women and all the Graduates are from 13 African countries
with Tanzania having a majority graduates of 17 scientists.
The
colourful graduation ceremony on Saturday morning was held on the terrace of
Alfa Zulu complex overlooking the Indian Ocean a few meters away. One wing of
the huge complex is given on lease to AIMS where students are sponsored by AIMS
for their entire studies and other expenses. The colourful ceremony was
attended by the former Minister of Education & Vocational Training and
current Members of Parliament for Bagamoyo, Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa as Chief Guest
and Chief Academic & Research Officer of AIMS NEI, Prof. Barry Green.
Apart
from Tanzania, the other twelve African countries which benefited from the academic
scheme were Rwanda. Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Burundi,
Ghana, D.R. Congo, Zimbabwe and Sudan. Dressed in their graduation attire, the
scientists danced and sang in one voice “….we are one family…together we stand….we
are students of AIMS Tanzania leading the trsnformation of Africa….” As a sign
of gratitude they presented their appreciation large-size colourful cards to
staff members of the institute.
Chief
Guest Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa who was instrumental during the formation of the
institute in Tanzania (fifth in Africa and next Rwanda) assured the management
of Tanzania’s cooperation in furthering the interest of the institute. The
historical German Boma which has undergone major renovation works (yet to
complete) was earmarked to accommodate the AIMS.
Prof.
Barry Green who conferred the Masters’ Degrees advised the students to be
significant in their field as scientists and “don’t stop asking questions” in
their quest for scientific developments.
The
Rector of the AIMS, Prof. Mark Roberts narrated the achievement of AIMS in
Africa, major one being Scientists numbering 1212 from 42 African countries had
graduated through the scheme. By 2023, twenty AIMS Centres will have been
established on the Continent of Africa. Next in line is Rwanda and Morroco.
The
MC of the function was Deputy Rector, Dr. Mahera Charles who conducted the
entire ceremony up to the required standard. In his welcome speech he mentioned
the graduates as “agents of change to transform Africa”
Story &
Pictures by Abdul Hai
Bagamoyo News.
The Rector of AIMS Tanzania, Prof. Mark Roberts speaking about the huge achievements of AIMS in Tanzania and Africa as a whole at the graduation ceremony at Bagamoyo. |
Chief Academic Officer Prof. Barry Green conferring the Masters' Degree on a young Tanzanian Scientist Janeth Mroki at the graduation ceremony. |
Prof. Barry Green talking to fresh graduates at Alfa Zulu complex where AIMS is accomodated. |
Wednesday 29 June 2016
ISLAMIC HELP HOLDS RAMADHAN GATHERING
Dar es Salaam: Islamic Help which is a registered and international NGO held a Ramadhan fellowship party and followed by fund raising for the needy people in Tanzania.
The function was held at the Hayatt Kilimanjaro Hotel where hundreds of Muslims from various organizations and societies attended the event. The attendees also included children from orphanage centres which is organized and administered by the Islamic Help ngo.
Islamic Help is a registered charity and international NGO etablished in 2003 in the UK by a group of young people determined to make a difference to the lives of those afflicted by poverty and suffering. The Islamic Help in Tanzania has been working in the seven poorest capital districts, targeting the most deprived in rural areas.
A documentary on the various charitable works in Tanzania was shown to the public. A stage presentation of performance (reciting Islamic qasida) by girls from Children's Eco Village in Mkuranga District about 35 kms from Dar es Salaam. Some of the major achievements of Islamic Help include establishment of 114 water-wells/bore holes installed for a total number of 56,780 people; 100 eco friendly mosques (28 fully completed) with solar panels, bore-wells, toiletes, and other facilities.
About 514 orphans and widows families being provided food every month. The volunteers of Islamic Help have planted more than 50,000 seedlings of trees to improve the environments in villages. Apart from these projects, more than 5,000 students have been supported through improved school facilities. Modern school education up to Cambridge syllabus is being provided at Cordoba School in Dar es Salaam.
The lively evening included an Iftar Party (break fast after day long fasting), evening prayers in the conference room and a speech by the Imam of Maamur Mosque, Sheikh Issa. One of the main high ranking officer Kamraan Fadhil spoke about the many projects accomplished by Islamic Help in Tanzania and other African countries.
Story & Pics by Abdul Hai
Sheikh Issa of Masjid Mamur speaking about the benefits of fasting at the function held by Islamic Help at hotel Hayatt, Dar es Salaam. |
Some of the participants at the function at hotel Hayatt. |
A young Muadhin, Hashim from Sunni Muslim Jamaat Madressa reciting the call for prayers. |
Young students from the Eco Village at Mkuranga, being managed by Islamic Help, drew attention of the people by reciting a qasida about the Holy Month of Ramadhan. |
Saturday 11 June 2016
TB CHECK-UP ADVISABLE
Bagamoyo:
TB CHECK-UP ADVISED
A
doctor from the United States (USA) recommended people going for routine health
check-up should also be screened for Tuberculosis. This recommendation also
comes from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The
young female doctor, Chandler Church MD,MSc, whose father is also a medical
doctor connected with Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) presented her views on the
subject “TB incidence and prevalence in Africa” at the Bagamoyo Branch of IHI.
Present at the meeting were doctors, research Scientists, Health Workers and
members of the Community Advisory Board connected with new TB Drug Trials at
IHI.
During
her discourse, she observed that TB incidence in Tanzania was 327 people in
100,000 with 37% of cases in HIV/AIDS plus individuals. Hence general check-up
of TB incidence was advisable for people who go for routine medical check-up.
She
pointed out that 13 vaccines and new drugs were in clinical trials. Such new
treatments hope to cut down the lengthy period of current drugs and would be more effective.
The drugs used currently take nine to 12 months to get results. The drugs and
treatment are available free of charge.
She
also remarked that the current TB drugs which have been in use since the last
fifty years does not appear to be a major factor of resistance of TB in Tanzania and Africa as a
whole.
Story & Pics by
Abdul Hai
IMAM QASIM ibn ALI KHAN SPEAKS ABOUT RAMADHAN
Dar es Salaam:
IMAM QASIM SPEAKS ABOUT ISLAMIC
VALUES
A world-famous
Islamic Orator from the United States of America (USA), tall and hefty Imam
Qasim ibn Ali Khan reminded Muslims at
the 8th Welcome Ramadhan Conference in Dar es Salaam that the Holy
Month was not a seasonal feasting time but to intensify prayers and re-kindle
the Islamic values of life.
Addressing
a gathering of just over one thousand Muslims (Ladies and Gents) at the Julius
Nyerere International Conference Centre, he said Ramadhan (the fasting month
and one of the five pillars of Islam) was not about eating but fating for
Allah.
“Stay
away from extravagant feasts,
back-biting, slandering, gossiping. The ear is more dangerous than the tongue,”
he told the Muslims as they
prepared for the Holy Month
of Ramadhan.
He
advised the Muslims thus: “When you read the Quraan, Allah is talking to you,
read as much as you can, every day.”
The
Chief Guest at the occasion was immediate Past Vice President of the United
Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilal, a nuclear scientist by academic
qualification, who spoke in intermittent three international languages,
Kiswahili, Arabic and English. He quoted verses from the Quraan to narrate the
values of fasting. “You should always do good to others and at the same time
advise others against bad habits,” Dr. Bilal said.
The
conference was also enlightened about the ethical principles of administration
of Amana Bank, in accordance with the Islamic Values of financial transactions,
by the Managing Director Dr. Muhsin Salim Masoud. Amana Bank was one of the
main Sponsors of the Ramadhan Conference.
Additional
information:
Imam Qasim ibn Ali Khan, speaking to Sunni Muslim Jamaat members at Golden
Tulip Hotel disclosed that he was the personal Body Guard of Late Mohammed Ali,
the internationally acclaimed boxing Champ during the mid 1980s. The Late
Mohammed Ali, a boxing legend was buried at Louisville, the largest city of
about 600,000 people in the southern state of Kentucky. The Imam paid tribute
to this great legend after a member of the audience asked him to say something about
the Champ who had a remarkable boxing career and a civil rights activist.
Story
and Pics by Abdul Hai
The Immediate Past Vice President of Tanzania, Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilal (2nd left) presenting a memento to the Main Speaker Imam Qasim. |
People listening to Speakers during the two-day conference which was the 8th Welcoming Ramadhan Conference 1437 at the JNICC in Dar es Salaam. |
"JUSTICE OF ANGRY CROWD"
Bagamoyo:
ANGRY CROWD BEATS ALLEGED THIEF
A man in his teens
attempted to steal a mobile telephone at a shop in Bagamoyo but his plans
failed and instead received a good beating by an angry crowd.
The
young man, whose name or identity was not immediately known, visited the mobile
phone shop and asked the shopkeeper to show him the mobile phone which wanted
to buy. The phone was at the far end of the shop. And as the shopkeeper turned
his back to fetch it, the young man fished out another phone from the front counter.
Unfortunate
for the alleged thief and fortunate for the shopkeeper, a potential customer
who was approaching the shop saw something “fishy” with the abrupt movement of
the person. With a lightening speed he caught the hand of the alleged thief and
alerted the shopkeeper by screaming “mwizi, mwizi” meaning “thief, thief”.
Within
no time, a crowd of not less than one hundred people gathered, most of them
visibly young people of almost the same age as the alleged thief. The angry
crowd started showering blow after blow and some even landed forceful slaps on
his cheeks. As the “people’s justice” continued for some minutes, a Militia man
in plain clothes sprang into action and protected the young man, already
terrified with the punishment. The Militia man succeeded in calming the
onslaught actions of the angry crowd and instead whisked him away to the
nearest police station.
The
shopkeeper later stated that he declined to open the file of complain as there
was no need to do so. He had already recovered his phone and the beatings was
enough to teach him (the alleged thief) a good lesson!
Petty thefts involving bicycles, motor cycles, telephones and ladies hand bags are rampant particularly in large towns and cities. A couple of weeks ago, a thief attempting to steal a motor cycle was caught red-handed and an angry crowd beat him to death. This incident took place just at the gate of the main Bagamoyo Bus Stand in the day time.
Story
and Pics by Abdul Hai
An angry crowd surrounds the alleged thief who attempted to steal a mobile telephone from a shop near the busy market area. |
The number of people started increasing as soon as they got news that a thief was caught attempting to steal a mobile phone from a shop close to the main market of Bagamoyo. |
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