Africa: Powell Speaks for Africa At ThisDay Festival
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This Day (Lagos)
6 October 2008
Posted to the web 6 October 2008
Lagos
All is now set for the grand finale of the 2008 THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival holding at Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom, with former United States Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, scheduled to talk on the Festival's theme of "Africa Rising".
The first leg of the Festival was held on Friday, July 11, in Abuja, while Lagos hosted the second leg on Sunday, July 13. Washington DC, USA, was the venue of the third in the series on August 1.
The final leg of the four-city festival will hold on Tuesday, October 14, and will feature artistes such as Seal, Youssou N'dour, D'Banj, Asa and 2Face, with Christina Aguilera as the main act.
Naomi Campbell, Tyson Beckford, Oluchi, Alex Wek and Liya Kebede will feature on the catwalk show starring other internationally renowned designers and supermodels.
In line with the central message of the festival, aimed at showcasing the best of Africa and sending a powerful message to the world that what the continent needs is investment and not aid, Powel is expected to make a strong case for the continent.
General Powell was appointed Secretary of State on January 20, 2001, becoming the 65th person to hold the position and the first African-American in a portfolio considered one of the most powerful in the world.
He had earlier made history as the first African-American to be appointed Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States military.
When he was appointed Secretary of State, he had said the guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy during his tenure was that "America stands ready to help any country that wishes to join the democratic world."
Before becoming Secretary of State, Powell had also served as a key aide to the Secretary of Defence and as National Security Advisor to President Ronald Reagan.
He also served 35 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Four-Star General and serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989 - 1993). During this time he oversaw 28 crises, notably the Panama intervention of 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
A fervent purveyor of democratic values, Powell stressed that fighting the war on terrorism is not just a military but also a diplomatic task - the two go hand in hand, he believes.
He led the State Department in major efforts to solve regional and civil conflicts - in the Middle East, between Israel and its Arab neighbours; in Sudan, Congo and Liberia; in the Balkans, Cyprus, Haiti, Northern Ireland and elsewhere.
He was at the forefront of the administration's efforts to advance economic and social development worldwide - in the fight against HIV/AIDS, in the promise of the Millennium Challenge Account, the most significant change in helping needy nations since the Marshall Plan, and in pursuing a freer trading and investment climate worldwide.
In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Iraq war, then Secretary Powell affirmed that the main purpose is to extend democracy, prosperity, and freedom "to every corner of the world". It is a process that is establishing a balance of power that favors freedom across the globe.
Born in New York City on April 5, 1937, General Powell was raised in the South Bronx.
His parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. General Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from Morris High School and the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor's degree in geology.
He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.
General Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. military awards and decorations including the Defence Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart.
General Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. He has received awards from over two-dozen countries to include a French Legion of Honor and an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
Since returning to private life, General Powell has become a strategic limited partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm. He is also on the Board of Directors of Revolution Health Group, a company developing strategies for consumer-directed health care.
He is the Founder of the Colin Powell Policy Center at his alma mater, the City College of New York, and he is helping to raise funds for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC and for the construction of an education center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Relevant Links
Powell is the author of his best-selling autobiography, My American Journey. He is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. They have a son Michael and two daughters - Linda and Annemarie.
Read comments. Write your own.
I believe, when Secretary Powel made the statement that all Nigerians are corrupt, it may be some truth on it. He was at the time dealing with the most corrupted and Dangerous Nigeria leader Sani Abacha. Powell is very intelligent man and we can forgive for such stupid mistake. But, Nigeria from bottom to top must change or we all will perish.
There is a difference between "some" and "most" and "all". For instance, we can't say that because there are "some" 419 kingpins hiding in the Senate and calling themselves "honorables" then we generalize and say that "ALL" Nigerian Senators are 419 kingpins or corrupt. Certainly, I am not corrupt neither am I a 419er but a Nigerian who is proud of his roots but for Colin to generalize and say that "ALL" Nigerians are corrupt is to accuse me personally of such criminal behavior. Colin, as he turned out to US Sec of States ended up LYING to the… [Read Full Text]
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The same Colin Powell that said during Abacha's corrupt regime that "ALL Nigerians are corrupt" thereby giving the US media the carte blanche to generalize that ALL Nigerians are corrupt elements. With "brothers" like Colin, who needs enemies.