By Sunday Oyinloye
To the glory of Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth, one of Africa’s most respected weekly online magazines, Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable will clock two years on the 16th of June 2019. I am greatly indebted to God, the foundation of the magazine who also gave me divine wisdom to start this project. I return all glory to Him. Without God, this unique online magazine wouldn’t have made such a great impact on the continent of Africa and other parts of the world within a short period. Indeed, it can only be God.
Our impact has been felt in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho, USA, Canada, Jamaica, Netherlands, Sweden, UK and some other countries across the globe. We have been able to give visibility to young men and women who are doing good works through their Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and this has inspired more people to embrace community development. In the two years that we have given visibility to these NGOs, we have never collected a cent from any of them. Our joy is that these organisations are impacting positively on communities, especially here in Africa.
The feedback we are getting from some of them and their encouragement is what has been keeping us going. For instance, after we ran an article on “The Girl Squad Mentorship Group” a Non-Governmental Organization in Kenya, what they wrote on Facebook drew tears of joy from my eyes and I felt fulfilled as a journalist. The NGO said “Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable picked us from the middle of nowhere and gave visibility to what we are doing”.
There are indeed other encouraging words from diplomats and other professionals from different countries who have featured in or read our magazine.
To be sure, this magazine is also unique because we have given visibility to young and upcoming African entrepreneurs, artists, poets, and professionals in other fields. We have equally done so much on health issues and others on human capital development. The reason why we are doing all these is to encourage entrepreneurship spirit in African youth and to encourage others through “grass to grace” stories of some of these young businessmen and women and others who have exceled in their chosen professions. We have done a lot on food security as well as culture and tourism, not forgetting impressive political interviews and articles.
We can say with all boldness but with gratitude to Almighty God that we have been working hard to ensure the world becomes a better place. Our tagline is “Path to a peaceful world”. This has made us to give voice to the opposition in some countries. The world can only be a better place when those in government and the opposition are free to express their minds, especially in many African countries where there are no strong institutions of government.
By the grace of God, we shall not relent in our efforts to make the world a better place as we continue to give voice to the voiceless and pay premium attention to issues of human rights. As we enter the third year with hope and sheer determination, attention will be given to the issue of the environment because it has direct impact (positive or negative) on the wellbeing of the people.
To those who have played one role or the other in our success story, we say a big thank you. And to our advertisers, contributors, readers and other stakeholders in the Africa Project, we thank you for your positive impacts. I must not fail to mention my mentor and boss, Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Publisher, Diplomat Magazine, in the Netherlands. She is a rare human being who is always looking for the advancement of those working under her. I also have to thank this bundle of knowledge and great woman of God, Professor Esther Hunter in the USA for being one of the pillars of this magazine. To my immediate and extended family and friends, I say thank you for your encouragement. To God alone be the glory.
