Professor Chinua Achebe has called on the Nigerian and South African governments (two of the largest economies on the African continent) to more vigorously join the international community - particularly the remarkable and admirable example of the United States and the European Union - and provide much needed funds and other forms of aid to the people of Haiti for disaster relief.

The legendary author of Things Fall Apart and other African masterpieces, also called on the international powers to allow ousted former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, now exiled to South Africa, to return to his country of birth and join the efforts there to rebuild that Caribbean nation at this time of greatest need.

He lamented the state of affairs in Nigeria today and blamed decades of political ineptitude and corruption amongst several other ills, on Nigeria’s inability to emerge as an important global economic, political, and in this case humanitarian player; even though the country had earned over half a trillion dollars from petroleum since independence.

He called on all eligible Nigerians to participate in the democratic process, insist on free and fair elections and choose competent leaders as a first step in addressing this decline.

http://news.book.co.za/blog/2010/01/18/haiti-chinua-achebe-calls-for-south-africa-nigeria-to-do-more/

WOW ! ! nice one

[size=16pt]Lagos, Nigerian Eagle Airlines Raise Funds for Haiti
•Lagos donates $1m[/size]
01.19.2010

[size=16pt]The Lagos State Government on Monday responded to the global appeal for aid for the earthquake victims in Haiti, as the State Executive Council launched an appeal fund with $1 million (One Million Dollars) on behalf of the people and Government of the State.
According to a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, the State Executive Council under the Chairmanship of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) took the decision after a review of the plight of Haitians in the aftermath of the recent devastating earthquake in the country.[/size]

The Statement said the fund will be lodged at the Skye Bank Plc for subsequent transmission to the on-going aid programmes in Haiti adding that members of the State Executive Council have also made individual donations of N150,000 each in support of the fund while all well meaning members of the public and corporate organizations are also encouraged to support the fund.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Eagle Airlines, formerly Virgin Nigeria Airways, is to introduce special on board envelopes on flights across its route network, to raise funds to support the ongoing humanitarian and rescue activities in Haiti. This, the airline said, is an integral part of its corporate social responsibility to help curtail the devastating effect of the earthquake, which affected Port-au-Prince and other neighbouring cities in Haiti.

While formally introducing the specially designed envelopes in Lagos, the Airline's Chief Executive Officer, Captain Dapo Olumide, said the Airline is deeply concerned about the scale of disaster left in the wake of the earthquake and pledged the airlines’ commitment towards raising funds to make a difference in the support of ongoing humanitarian activities.

He said, “Nigerian Eagle Airlines is a responsive and caring airline that pays serious attention to issues that concerns humanity; and it is our wish that this humble gesture to identify with victims of the quake will bring succour, as well as improve the health conditions of the survivors through."
Olumide said the airline has equally initiated discussions for transfer of proceeds that will be realised through the medium provided by the airline.
He said network wide flights will be used as the vehicle to raise donations for the worthy humanitarian course, adding that the airline’s crop of dedicated staff are committed to the success of the fund raising programme to assuage the sufferings of the Haitians.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=164538