For 67 years Nelson Rolinhlanhla Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity. The first democratically elected President of South Africa was born on this day the 18th of July 1918 and this day has since 2009 been celebrated as the Nelson Mandela International Day.

The #African continent has many talented people who have been able to bring about #innovative solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing issues, among them is #Nigerian Samuel Achilefu, whose development of high-tech goggles help surgeons “see” and kill #cancer cells, which are often difficult to see.

The question of population control in relation to economic growth in Africa continues to be a subject of interesting conversations. Some people have argued that birth control methods have taken away Africa’s capability to develop its economies. The question though is which comes first, a population boom or economic growth which enables a population increase?

A hearty congratulations to South Africa’s Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka who has been appointed for a second term as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for a period of four years.

The University of Cape Town (UCT) will award an honorary doctorate (LLD honoris causa) to activist Abdurrazak ‘Zackie’ Achmat at a graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday, 14 July 2017. The award will be conferred in recognition of his contribution to activism for social-justice in South Africa.

Small to medium enterprises are the backbone of most developing economies particularly #Africa where most young people are developing the entrepreneurial spirit as a mitigation measure against the high unemployment rates.

The abuse of drugs among young people on the continent is a major concern. The social, economic and psychological ramifications can be catastrophic for families and communities. Today we observe the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a day in which we should come together to showcase and strengthen our efforts to end the abuse of drugs.

#Widows globally and particularly in #Africa are victims of all types of harassment and discrimination emanating from several myths and misconceptions. After losing their husbands, widows may suffer a double blow of being accused of witchcraft, suffer inheritance denial and can even be shunned and neglected by society. Today is International Widows Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to bring attention to the plight of widows globally.

School going girls in Kenya will now have to be provided with free sanitary wear in schools following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s signing the Basic Education Amendment Bill (2016) among eight other bills at State House yesterday.

Not being able to live in one’s own home country because of disturbances such as violence and natural disasters can be an emotionally and socially disturbing issue. Finding #refugee in another country hoping for a better life but then being subjected to humiliation and non-acceptance is a double blow. How can we avoid displacements when conflicts are the order of the day?