A recent development in oil-rich Nigeria has all but been overlooked in recent news coverage as the violence in Kenya continues to garner most media attention. The forced leave of absence of an anti-corruption chairman in Nigeria could lead to tensions and international implications similar to those unfolding in Kenya.

Nigeria's failure to encourage positive and widespread development is often attributed to heavy corruption within its governing bodies. Corruption is blamed for the loss of millions in oil revenues; money that is critical for the country to address issues like rampant poverty and a failing infrastructure. Nigeria has great potential to be a positive model for other African countries in the area of international trade and population management. Its success in these areas, though, are directly linked to whether or not Nigeria can curb its corruption problems.

Shock, outrage and, in some quarters, relief, greeted news that Nuhu Ribadu was being sent on a year-long training course in the midst of launching the biggest graft prosecutions ever seen in Nigeria, perhaps in Africa. Although far from universally popular, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was credited with doing the most to bring some of the country’s hitherto untouchable politicians to book.

The ambitious project to create a $100 laptop for the developing world is finding itself in the headlines once again. Mary Lou Jepsen, a top executive of the One Laptop per Child program is leaving the non-profit to start her own for-profit company to market the technology she developed for OLPC. Jepsen believes that by working with greater volume, she believes she can have a greater impact.

Since founder Nicholas Negroponte announced his intention to create $100 laptop in 2005, the project has not quite met it's lofty goals. Despite pilot projects in a few countries, many foreign governments aren't buying. Critics are also questioning whether the laptop is living up to its educational expectations.

"We don't have any reports that this play and enjoyment is transferring into real learned knowledge and real growth and development of the child," Wayan Vota, editor of OLPCNews.com said. "And that's really the key metric Negroponte needs to show to have OLPC grow and take off with the developing world."

The Nano car. Photo: Tahir Hashmi (flickr)

The world’s cheapest car has just been rolled onto the showroom floor in India. Known informally as the People's Car, Indian automaker Tata Motors stated that its goal was to give access to people who otherwise could only afford to drive scooters by selling a car that cost only $2,500, reports Nation Public Radio.

"I observed families riding on two-wheelers — the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family," Company Chairman, Ratan N. Tata said.”

The car is said to meet all safety and environmental requirements for India, with reasonably low emissions and a solid gas mileage of 50mpg. However, an October report by The New York Times cites worries about the safety and environmental implications of a car with no airbags that will be accessible to millions of first-time drivers. Pollution and traffic are already big issues in the country, where “nearly 60 percent of India’s cities have pollution levels that are considered critical.”

Is it possible to create an ultra-cheap green car, one that will meet the strictest fuel emission standards with the potential to actually reduce pollution levels?