Nigeria's Online Blog

First lady Michelle Obama met with former South African President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday as part of a weeklong visit to the continent, according to a spokeswoman for the first lady.

Accompanying her on her visit with Mandela were a nephew, Avery Robinson, 19, and a niece, Leslie Robinson, 15, children of Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, according to Semonti Stephens, deputy communications director for the first lady.

Obama also was expected to visit other luminaries in the country Tuesday after arriving in Pretoria Monday night.

The first lady's trip highlights the value of South Africa as a viable partner with the United States in issues other than politics, said John Campbell, who holds the Ralph Bunche chair in African Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"What is significant about the trip is that it underscores the fact that South Africa, since the establishment of nonracial (politics) has had a string of credible elections, is a country characterized by the rule of law, and is a democracy," Campbell said. "Twenty-five years ago I think relatively few of us would have predicted such a happy outcome."

Obama is scheduled to visit several historical sites, including Robben Island, where Mandela was held for much of his 27-year imprisonment in his fight against apartheid.

Obama, traveling on what officials have said is her second solo official visit to the continent, has brought her daughters, Sasha and Malia, and her mother in addition to her niece and a nephew.

"One of the things bringing them along demonstrates is the closeness of the Obama family," Campbell said. "And this is something that the people of Africa respond very well to. Certainly before her, Laura Bush made a number of trips to Africa as well and was very well received."

The visit will further raise the profile on the continent of the first lady and the president, whom many Africans regard as a favorite son.

"The Obamas as a couple are extremely popular in Africa and obviously 100% well-known there," Steve Howard, director of African studies at Ohio University, said Tuesday. "Her husband can't spend that much time there so they are dividing the labor, and she is representing them in South Africa, which is a major media market as well."

Howard said Michelle Obama's visit especially will resonate with the nation's youth.

"It has an enormous young population, probably more than 60% of the population is under 18," Howard said, "and they have a lot of health-related issues, particularly AIDS, and so everything she does there will help bring attention to global health issues."

She is also expected to visit Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu as well as Soweto, just outside Johannesburg.

In addition to visits with top leaders, Obama will be a distinguished guest at several public events, meet embassy officials and take part in community service projects in both South Africa and Botswana.

"The trip is a continuation of Mrs. Obama's work to engage young people, especially girls and young women, at home and abroad," the White House said.

Her visit to neighboring Botswana on Friday will include attending a tribute to girls overcoming obstacles as well as a luncheon with women leaders.

She will also meet with President Ian Khama before retreating to a local game reserve for the weekend. After a safari, she is scheduled to depart from the Botswana capital of Gaborone on Sunday.

"Good Leaders employ others, great leaders deploy themselves and others"

What makes a leader? - purpose, passion, integrity, trust, curiosity and daring.

The essence of becoming a leader is knowing and becoming yourself. To become the leader you were born to be, you must discover who you are, your purpose in life and understand God's design for your existence.

Leaders are more concerned with expressing themselves, than with proving themselves.

Differences between Leaders and Managers
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1) The manager administers, the leader innovates.
2) The manager is a copy, the leader is the original
3) The manager maintains, the leader develops
4) The manager focuses on systems and structure, the leader focuses on people.
5) The manager relies on control, the leader inspires trust
6) The manager has a short range view, the leader has a long range perspective
7) The manager asks how and when, the leader asks what and why
8) The manager has his eyes on the bottom line, the leader has his eyes
9) The manager imitates, the leader originates
10) The manager accepts the status quo, the leader challenges it.
11) The manager is the classical good soldier, the leader is his own person
12) The manager does things right, the leader does the right thing

Leaders are individuals who have declared independence from the expectations of others.

A leader is one who deploys himself; and by so doing inspires others to do the same.

"True leaders do not try to be; they just are."

Abuja — The Federal Government said yesterday it had begun moves to secure the jobs of Nigerians resident in the United States and the United Kingdom threatened following the recent economic meltdown that hit those nations.

Nigerians in the diaspora have lost many jobs in the global recession encountered by many developed nations.

Specifically, the United Kingdom recently took a decision to limit certain skilled jobs to only citizens of European Union (EU), thereby shutting out Nigerians and citizens of the other countries.

The decision prompted India to begin negotiations with the UK in a determined bid to address the issue. It resulted in moves by the UK to reconsider the decision in relation to India.

In addition, the Federal Government would, in the emerging scenario, allow only skilled expatriates who have something to contribute to national development to take residence in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja during her maiden press briefing since assuming office, Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Rose Uzoma, said the service was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other stakeholders to realise this objective.

"Our admission process will only allow those that will enter Nigeria and contribute to its development rather than the selfish exploitation of its human and natural resources. In the current global economic crisis where jobs have become scarce, we will do all things possible to ensure that only highly skilled persons who contribute to the economy have the right to take up employment in Nigeria.

She urged foreign companies that employ foreign labour to utilise the expertise of Nigerian citizens at home and in diaspora.

"We shall continue in collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other stakeholders to engage governments of those countries who have restrictive policies for employment of non-nationals to ensure that Nigerians are protected. Nigerians are being forced to return home from all parts of the world", she said.

The immigration boss noted that Nigerian migrants were becoming endangered species in many developed economies leading to increased deportation of Nigerians.

She said the organisation in conjunction with Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to pursue citizen-centred diplomacy of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration maintaining that majority of Nigerian citizens abroad were good ambassadors contributing to global development hence the need to protect their rights by providing them with secure travel.

"We shall collaborate with relevant organisations and authorities such as National Union of Road Transport Workers (NUTRW), travel agencies, Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and foreign embassies in Nigeria and other stakeholders in Nigeria to deter irregular migration while facilitating structured and regular migration.

"We shall liase with IOM to offer facilitation and assistance to Nigerians who may be affected by the impending British Cap on migration and in other countries", she said.